I can't do this...

I suggest getting a monthly calendar to have the satisfaction of putting big red 'X's on the days as you count down. That being said, it takes 21 days to change a habit. So just stick with it. Your body and brain are at odds with the new changes and that will change. I'm not saying you're not going to hit periods that seem like set backs (the dreaded plateau) but it will happen. And I've seen my weight creep up to 15 pounds over my last weigh in at times (my story is water weight and I'm sticking to it). Just keep it going! Seeing all the red Xs you've made so far when you hit those periods is a great sense of accomplishment and a fantastic reminder of the excellent work you're doing!

I think you need to set realistic goals, and once u see the scales moving down, it gives you encouragement......now that that is out of the way, just get to it, u started this yourself because u want to change. Well ok then, no one else can change u, you need to do it....come on champ, get going....u are what u put in to your body.....keep at it!

Add some friends who are going through it too. Add me if you'd like.

I'm currently struggling.
I have come to the conclusion that I am literally a food addict.
Every day is a battle. Some days are great, some not so great, and some that I should be proud of
but was emotionally exhausting.
It's getting better, as I'm retraining my brain.
I recently saw something someone had written. I cried when I read it.

Alcoholics can stop drinking, heroin addicts can go to rehab,
but overeaters can't just stop eating. They NEED to eat.
All it takes to fail is one more bite...

Yes, every now and then. And it is completely normal, and I always come out on top.

I'm not sure what your situation is like, but I started off with over 100lb to lose and it seemed so daunting, and every now and then I'd think about it too much and I'd lose all confidence in myself.

I started off by breaking my big goal into little goals, i.e, 'when I reach x amount I'd have lost 10% of my body weight', etc. That made it seem much more manageable.

Also, don't cut out anything you can't give up forever. Treat yourself, just in moderation. I think sometimes we make living healthily much harder than it has to be, which is why so many people give up.

Yep happends all the time to me but you need to keep going because it gets easier, after 3 weeks you will feel like your amazing coz you have lost alot of weight already and that you never want to turn back. At the stage you are at its difficult because you have just started! Please keep going you will thank me in 7 weeks time

I feel like that too sometimes, most days you WON'T feel like eating healthy/exercising. What makes the difference is you just have to do it anyway. I don't always feel like washing my dishes, or brushing my teeth, but does that mean I don't do it? No! Just do it anyway until the feeling goes away.

I started my diet on the same day, 3 days later my monthly visitor dropped on, which threw off my weight-loss goals. I know this is both bad and good motivation, but I used something someone said to me that really hurt, and I'm using that as my motivation. The hurtful quote is posted on my door, with the word "NOT" inserted in the put-down. I was told, when I turned 30, that my cheating fiancee was leaving me for another woman, because I was "Too Old and Too Fat to be Loved." That quote stuck around with me, now it's on my door, "I'm NOT Too Old and NOT Too Fat to be Loved." I have a new man, a Navy man, and he's gone for awhile on deployment. He thinks my body is beautiful, "Gods natural canvas, a work of art, beauty at it's finest." I want to lose some weight by the time he gets back. Every time I want one of my comfort foods, or something I shouldn't have, I look at the quote on the door, and I think about when my sweetie comes home and sees me pounds lighter!
I have almost strayed so many times, just have a fixed goal in your mind, summer beach weather, a trip, a wedding, whatever will push you through this, and if you mess up 1 day, it's 1 day, push a little harder the next day, and work toward that goal!
So, my advice, YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! Have a fixed goal in mind (an event, a date, something that can't be undone), and work toward that goal. If you mess up 1 day, it's 1 day, or 1 meal. Don't beat yourself up over it, it's 1 out of 7 in a week (when I was in school 6 out of 7 was still a passing grade), just figure out an alternative, make a better choice next time, and work through this!
If it's a sugar craving in the middle of the night, I have found a way to deal with that for myself. If you's soda (for me soda and I had a long love affair, over 25 years!), I found a way to cut it out of my life. If you can't resist office sweets, bring fruit, or something you just can't resist (it also makes you feel fuller, and full of vitamins).
Just keep your head up, walk tall, and push past this, it's normal, but you can do it!!!

It's easier to stick with it than to start over - I just heard that quote at the weekend and I think it's awesome.

If you've changed your food recently, you're bound to feel differently. All those hormones flying all over the place will definitely change if you've changed your food. If I was you I'd introduce a little of the foods you used to eat into your diet, that might help with the mood - it might hinder weight loss in the short term, but it's worth it if it keeps you enjoying the diet/ weight loss. If you associate bad feelings with eating healthy then you're not likely to keep at it.
Rach

When you are feeling like you can't do this, log in and read the posts on the Success forum. I guarantee that you will find someone on there that absolutely inspires you to keep going.

All you have to do is get through the next hour. The next minute, if need be. Take the minutes and hours after that when they come.

I am definitely feeling my motivation flag today. Reading thus forum and looking at success stories has helped.

The fact that you came here for support instead of eating is a huge success!! It is hard to make these changes in our eating patterns and it does take time. One thing I would suggest is to make sure you aren't eating the same things every day as that will cause you to derail down the line. Variety makes this new way of eating far more interesting. Good luck and keep us posted.