Lost the will to carry on

I totally get where you are coming from. That is a lot of changes. But, eating better will help you cope better even if it doesn't seem like it. I won't get into all my problems, but they do make it difficult to prepare a lot of meals from scratch. So, if your budget allows it find convenient healthy foods. Fruit is a good example. It takes nothing to prepare an apple to eat, wash it off and it's good to go. A jar of nuts is a handy snack for getting in some healthy fat and protein. Boiled eggs are good if you aren't vegan. My fall back "junk" food is soy burgers, easy to zap in the microwave and it makes me feel like I am cheating. Baby carrots are also good, they come all prepped in a handy package. So, the thing is to be a little creative see what healthy foods you can find that take little to no prep. And when you are up to it you can work up to making more difficult healthy foods like a lot of chopped and stir fried veggies for a whole grain pasta. That is what I have been doing anyway and I have not had any desire since October to go back to having my diet consist of mostly junk food.

As for working out/exercising today my motivation to work out was that I wanted to eat more and still have a sizable deficit to record. Sometimes the math will be a good motivation. The other thing that motivates me to take walks is my dog, she loves walks and if I give her an extra walk above and beyond the one she gets with her dad it makes us all happier.

I didn't make these changes at once.

First, I started logging what I ate. Not counting things, or picking a magic number to stop at; just measuring (for accuracy) and logging.

Second, I saw how bad my choices were. I started unconsciously eating less or picking better choices.

Third, I chose to start changing my eating habits. I picked those magic numbers and made those calorie counts my weight-loss priority.

Fourth, I figured that being more active wouldn't hurt. I just tried to move more when I could. I did not log it.

Fifth, I felt like I was cheating myself to put this effort into moving more and not getting rewarded for it, so I started doing planned "exercise" and logging it.

Sixth (where I am now), I realize that I feel like crap when I do not exercise, both physically and emotionally, so I exercise more days than I rest.

Nowhere in these steps did I say I was perfect or did everything right all of the time. I fall off the wagon every once in a while, and sometimes I just fall into maintenance mode (although I am not even close to my goal weight) until I can resume my routine.

The hardest thing I had to learn was how to forgive myself and pick myself back up. We all start out as "self-defeaters". When I started out, if I ate 100 calories over, I felt guilty. Now I don't care, because it all checks out in the end. For the past three days I've eaten 1000 calories over my goal and I don't feel guilty about it. Apparently I was hungry. If I gain a pound this week, it's not a big deal in the long run.

Just follow these steps and you'll do just fine

It sounds like you're really struggling. All I can say is don't give up on yourself, because you're totally worth the effort.

My sister and I work full time jobs and don't have a lot of time to cook during the week. What we do is on a Friday or Saturday we go through our recipe books and pick a whole bunch of recipes that we want to have and then go shopping. The next day we have a big cook-up so that we have healthy meals to take to work, and then eat for dinner during the week if we finish late or can't be bothered cooking. You can find recipes for quick and easy healthy meals that you can cook if you're a little short on time.

I moved to Sydney about 5 years ago and still have hardly any friends so I understand how hard it can be. Add friends here who can be there for you until you meet some new people where you are. That way hopefully you won't feel quite so lonely.

Hope things get better for you and remember DON'T GIVE UP :flowerforyou:

All of the above!! Also, I notice that 50% of your friends have not logged on in a while. No wonder you are feeling a bit isolated, what with being in a new town and everything else!!

I have got involved in the MFP community and feed off their support and enthusiasm, so that support network is vital to me. Also, walking Gizmo would be a great way to get out and about in your new town and meet people.

It is hard to deal with change, but now in many respects you are in a place where you have to embrace change. Changing the way you eat is a HUGE change on it's own and can be sooooo hard, but the only time you have lost is when you give up.

So, add me as a friend if you want. I tend to say things as I see them, so I come across as being a bit blunt sometimes. Most importantly, you can do this - baby steps over time.

Good luck, and have fun!!

This may not be helpful to you but I spent the last 10 years putting on weight and hearing from all corners that I needed to exercise and eat better but even if I cried in dressing rooms while trying on clothes and hurt everyday in my knees and legs and never felt confident enough to even go on dates, I never wanted to lose the weight. I honestly embraced the idea that if people didn't like me then they could keep on walking, I didn't care about whether someone liked the way I looked or not. I truly felt at peace with my body most of the time because I could avoid those things that made me feel bad about my weight, I did not swim, I only shopped when I had to and I found that maternity clothes fit my overweight body shape in a wonderful way, so what did it matter if I didn't have to deal with the depressing realities of being overweight on a daily basis.

Fast forward 10 years and 125 lbs overweight, the day after Christmas last year I got sick, just a really bad cold/flu nothing serious but I spent three weeks lying around barely able to move. I don't know if it was a medication induced stupor or just something that happened but the day I finally got well enough to move again, I just had this revelation! I realized that I no longer wanted to be in my body, I wanted a different body and what's more, I wanted to work for it. In ten years I've joined gyms a few times just because I felt the need to exercise, not out of a desire to lose weight and I did well with it, but I never really cared about results, I just wanted something to do. This time around, I did not join a gym, I was doing this for myself and I was going to do it "without help" if that makes sense.

So I laced up my five year old sneakers and started walking. And it was painful and hard and I could only walk for 15 minutes a day for the first week or so and I hated it!!! I was so disappointed in myself, but instead of giving up I felt challenged, I felt like there was no way I was capable of only walking for 15 minutes at a time. I mean, seriously, if I had to run for my life, what would this mean? It would mean that I'd be killed because there would be no way I could run far enough and fast enough to save myself! That's a truth that is so hard to accept, that you couldn't even save your own life, much less the life of someone you care about!!!

So I kept going and eventually I have reached the point where I can walk for three - six miles at a time and I'll tell you 'IT FEELS SO GOOD'. I cannot imagine going a day without walking now! It is my time away, my time to clear my head and my time to think through the things that I want and what would make me happy. I imagine what clothes I want to buy when I can fit them, I imagine the looks I'll get when I can go out in an outfit that just looks good and feel confident. I imagine running a 5K, I imagine living a more active lifestyle, like hiking up to beautiful vista and being able to enjoy seeing something so amazing that only a few people have to drive to reach!

So, my advice, it will happen when you truly want it to happen! There is no key to turn in a lock that will wake up your drive, but I will tell you that if you can find the motivation to start, and keep going for a few weeks, you will reach a point that you cannot imagine a day without a workout because you will not feel like the day is complete unless you have done your favorite activity.

Also, no one size fits all when it comes to working out, you have to try out different activities and find the one that allows you to feel free, then keep doing it. Eventually you can add in other things to sculpt, but if you're having trouble starting, then find the one thing that you truly enjoy and if you only do that each day, that's fine, at least it will get you in the habit of doing something positive for your body!

You are probably feeling like this because you're stressed and not exercising. Just get back into it gradually with some walking here and there. Gradually, you'll start feeling better about yourself and it will get easier! Exercising makes you feel a whole lot better! Have one of these (hug)

You have to fight it! Carry on, its one of the hardest things that you will do but will be worth it. You are worth it aren't you?

maybe you're trying to make too drastic of a change?

remember why you started! keep something in eye site so that you are reminded of that every day! weather its on the bathroom mirror, your computer screen,or sitting on your coffee maker! You started for a reason so find that emotion of WHY and build from that!

Me personally i keep a b4 picture close by and when i feel like its easier to just do what the heck ever i want i look at that picture and it reminds me that i dont want to be that person again/anymore!

You can do this! once you get back into a routine you will feel so much better and it will push you to do even more! Good luck to you!!! Remember every day doesnt have to be perfect but every day just TRY and one day it wont even be a thought you will just do it!

STOP STOP STOP!!!!!! You fell off the wagon, so what get back up and keep movnig...Gizmo needs a walk take him for walk and play a little ball with him, 15 minutes. I will echo some of the other postings. Pick a small goal and make it consistent; I will do 10 jumpingjacks once a week.....and do that just that...then up the ante. Fast food items can be carrots (myfavorite), pretzels, fruit, nuts, and plain old crackers throw them in your purse to keep munching healthy....

Subcribe to a exercise website that has postiive quotes, they are on facebook and twitter....I just can remember one right now...it'll keep you motivated...addicted to the gym has a facebook page, with positve quotes, motivation and lifestyle change stories.....

Since I run, on twitter I following Running...they have a lot of motiviational quotes.....keep at it no matter what get back up and try again.....repeat!


GUESS WHAT? YOU HAVEN'T LOST THE WILL OTHERWISE YOU WOULDN'T OF POSTED..

Life is an adventure, enjoy it!

Your posting this here tells me that you haven't quite given up, or you would have just stopped logging and drifted away. There is lots of good advice here. This time of year many of us feel like giving in and sitting in the warm, in front of the fire and eating comfort food. But as someone said above you can start by doing small things.

You could just log your food and make sure you don't put any more weight on for now.
Then you could maybe do some exercise DVDs at home so you don't have to go out into a city you don't know.
Add a few more friends on here for motivation and support. I'm happy to be added, though these days I'm only here to log food and maintain my current weight, I do log in every day and try and support my friends.

I don't only work full time, I have to travel away for my job. This means I eat out all the time, I stay in hotels a lot and I'm always on the train where the food choices are less than healthy. I had to rethink my whole way of eating when out (only have a main course, eat things that aren't full of cheese/cream), I also got exercise DVDs that I could do in my hotel room in the evening in case the hotel didn't have a gym. And I made sure I planned my food for my journeys so I wasn't stuck with crisps and sandwiches. I didn't do it all in one go, I started with thinking about meals out and planning those, then built the rest in.

So don't give up, you know you don't want to really. :happy:

This thread is the reason I love this site- complete strangers offering support to someone that is struggling, because we've all been there before!! You all are awesome, and you are all good people, first and foremost. There MAY be hope for humanity yet!! :-D

One of the main things that keeps me going- my MFP friends. Offering encouragement to THEM helps ME immensely. Getting the encourangement and accountablity from THEM is what keeps me going. I've made specific changes to my lifestyle and diet because I didn't want to 'let them down', so to speak. A strong support network is how people everywhere get through anything. Weight loss and lifestyle change is no different. Build your support network up and let others help you. They need your help, too..

With all that said, please add me as a friend, if you'd like. I am a daily logger, and would love to be a part of your team, in your corner. :-)

Spring is the time to start anew. New growth, new learning, new movement.
Forget the past. Clean your life of clutter.
I was three pounds lighter last year at this time.
But I was 6 pounds heavier in January.
It happens. Start over.

@iamliprell That was so inspirational! Thank YOU! I feel a little tear!! Sign up for a 5k or 8k your doing them already! :flowerforyou:

Aww, thank you, just sharing my story hoping it helps because I honestly never believed I could do it either and what's more, I didn't even want to!

It's not hard to stay committed when you know you no longer want to be fat. It's not hard to have the willpower when you never want to be stared at for being fat but instead stared at for suddenly being hot.