What do you do if you start to go off track ?

psmith64
psmith64 Posts: 102 Member
in Motivation and Support
I thought with the new year starting when a lot of us put weight loss at the top of agenda and after maybe the first couple of weeks you start to let your best intentions drift after maybe a bad a day or two, what do you do to get back on track quickly.

Maybe it would be good to share a few ideas for when the demons strike. Instead of reaching for the nearest quick fix, maybe a look at this thread might just stop a few unecessary calories being taken in.

I just think of my own goals, know that I really want to acheive them and then go and look at some success stories. Keep a few of those weight loss magazines lying around and look at and read some of those amazing stories. All of that is possible for each and everyone one of us if we really want it.

That normally does get me back on track, as I do want to get to my end goal. If you are new here, this is defiantely the place to help acheive it.

Never worry about a slip up, we do all get them, but if you are clear with your goals, and really do want to achieve them, you will !!

Unfortunately I have not listened to my own advice over the last few years and have let excuses get in the way hence the reason that after losing 7 stone during 2007 here I am kicking off 2013 with 5 stone of that 7 to lose again. Thats just under 1 lb per month on average. When you look at it that way it means around 3000 extra calories per month, just 100 calories per day, one chocolate biscuit per day over calorie in take. That is how easy it is to pile weight on over a long period.

With the help and support of this place, along with all the like minded and inspirational people with the same goals, we can acheive in 2013 and beyond.

Regards

Paul

Replies

  • Tat2dDom0105
    Tat2dDom0105 Posts: 661
    First, i realize that i'm human and that we aren't perfect, then i think positively and see how far i have come in losing weight. Also, looking at the many members here, and seeing their success stories, really gets me inspired to keep going..........and to NOT QUIT! If you have people on your friends list that are motivational, and will help you when you slip or "fall of the wagon", that's a BIG plus too.
  • danamariers
    danamariers Posts: 155 Member
    When I find my motivation wandering away, I try to put on my skinny pants that I don't yet fit in to. Seeing how far I've come and how much further I have to go reels me back to reality and I pull an "Arnold" and get my "pump on".
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    I just think about my goals, how far I've come, how much work and dedication I've put into this so far, and that usually discourages me from bad behavior. I also think about how difficult it is to undo even one bad day.

    The more time, energy, and effort I put into this, the less I want to mess it up.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    Keep moving foward! Remember this is for life, so everyday is a new chance to start over and do better until you die. Sometimes you have to step back and look at why you arent moving foward why are you stagnant or worse moving backwards. Those are the times not to beat yourself up, and look at why you are going back to that destructive behavior. Keep the goal in mind always though that you will stay on track because the ultimate story of success is maintenance.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I think about the heart attack I'm trying to avoid and the full blown metabolic syndrome I'm trying to avoid. I also let myself have those days from time to time...where I don't really worry about it and don't really think about it. That said, for the most part, I enjoy eating the foods I'm eating these days. I will be very happy when I can get back to maintenance, but my food choices won't be changing...I really like eating the way I'm eating and feel better than I have in years. Even when I let myself have "those days" I always feel like crap...not because I'm beating myself up, but because I ate heavy and just feel tired and sluggish after a day like that. When I'm eating my fruits and veg and lean proteins, I feel like $1M.
  • rachael52
    rachael52 Posts: 87 Member
    Every time I start my Diary in the a.m. it's a clean slate, a time to start again. I totally blew it for the last three weeks and today I'm starting all over. I was just hungry and had a clementine nectarine instead of a cookie. yay. I need to get back on track and I can do it. Logging food in my mind is the best way. Even if you end up with -200 at the end of the day, just the act of logging it means you are aware of what you are doing. To me that is key. Good luck.
    Rachael
  • NCchar130
    NCchar130 Posts: 955 Member
    -I look at my progress pics to remind myself how far I've come.

    -I repeat my weight loss total to date like a mantra to try to let that really sink in my brain.

    -I think of the various health problems that run in my family that I'm hoping to avoid.

    -I go back and look at my spreadsheet that I keep (with daily net calories, daily weigh-ins etc) and see that over-eating/not exercising for a day or even four days in a row as I did at Christmas did not cause me to regain any weight (other than brief water retention) or lose my forward progress. I don't have to be perfect every day!

    -I remember how great I feel when I eat clean and exercise. If I've been eating badly (while staying within calorie goal) I don't feel as great, I'm less energetic, and I struggle more with my workouts. I want to feel good and to some degree, this is within my control.

    -I go to the success stories on here and marvel at all the awesomeness of people, many of whom started out in far worse shape than me at much higher weights and have succeeded. If they can do it, why not me?
  • psmith64
    psmith64 Posts: 102 Member
    Thanks for the reply's folks, some great ideas to keep on track. Its nearly the end of my first week so will be referring to some of these in the coming weeks.

    Paul

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