Why can't I just do this?! How did you stick with it???

For me, it helps to know I'm not on a diet. There is no food I CANNOT have. I just make a choice before I eat anything regarding whether I'm willing to work for it. Sometimes I am (such as the eclair I had after my kickboxing class tonight). And I STILL have 250 more calories I could eat, if I chose. To stick with it, I had to have an attitude adjustment. Figure out WHY you're doing this, and WHAT you're willing to do for it.

Be accountable, log and participate. Find friends similar to yourself and build up relationships!!!!! Good Luck Commit!!! Cece

I gained 131 lbs from having 2 children and then battling depression after my mom died

I have tried all sorts of diets and am gung ho for a week or two or sometimes even a month but then i quit and gain back every pound i lost and sometimes a couple more

This time when I started my diet I knew it was different I knew I was going to do this and I knew I MUST do this for me!
Monday will make 10 weeks on this lifestyle change!
Don't consider it a diet make a change!
If you fall off one meal pick yourself up shake your boots off and hop back on the horse and make your next meal an awesome one!

When you start feeling like you wanna give up come and read this thread and all these encouraging thoughts

Make yourself feel guilty

What ever your currency is
Does having people compliment you motivate you - Then take pictures so you can watch your progress and post them here so we can motivate you

Will a reward work for you - Ok if your good for 6 days then on the 7th day you can go out and have some tacos or what ever you love!

Most imporantly make this change for yourself

I know it is my diet but how do you stick to eating healthy??? I eat emotionally too. I am just so absolutely disgusted and depressed!!! I haven't exercised regularly in a week ...

Sorry for the vent. I am just so down tonight.

Stop looking at it as a diet for one. It's a lifestyle change. Don't deny yourself just slowly wing yourself off of certain stuff. I feel like you can have that cookie just don't eat the whole row. The way I learned more about controlling myself is paying attention to serving sizes and finding alternatives to certain things I liked. If I wanted cheesy chips I tried quakers rice pop chips.. I think that's what it's called and they are delicious. If you want something sweet replace that cookie with an apple or your fruit of choice. Do something fun with it. If I really have a sweet tooth. I throw something together instead of going to the store and buying a bunch of junk. Like not to long ago I wanted something sweet so I cut up some apples fried em up and made a brown sugar and coconut sauce to go over it. It was like candied apples. It was so good and I was so satisfied that I didn't eat all of it. Sometimes it's hard taking that first step to trying to change little things that you usually eat. The most important thing is you don't restrict yourself and say "I'm quitting all junk food". A few days later your going to crash. Why? Because you basically jumped off the ladder to quickly.

You can do it. You just have to believe in yourself and want to seriously make this change.As far as working out goes. Find a workout that you enjoy and it won't seem like much of a workout. A lot of people see working out as punishment or torture. Find something you enjoy and it won't seem like that. If you like dancing then go to Zumba. Zumba is fun and your enjoying the music so much that you don't even realize it's a workout. Its about finding what works for you.. Everything works differently for everyone. If your having trouble with motivation and reason why. Just write down some goals and reasons why you want to accomplish them. Be realistic with your goals don't say you want to lose 25lbs in 3 weeks or you'll quit. Any progress is better than no progress. Doesn't matter if it's 1 inch, 1lb, or just being able to do 1 more squat than last time. Progress is progress. Good luck to you!

This is just what I needed. The ideas are terrific to persevere, go do the right thing next time, learn from each mistake. Don't beat yourself up about it. Words of wisdom, thank you. I joined MFP 2011 and since retiring I have gained weight. So I restarted Jan 2013 and have lost only 1 lb. But I have averaged 4-6 hours a week in the gym, and feel so much better. So much stronger and can tackle the physical demands of life easier now. I am looking to focus and add structure into my life so that I am more active. It did not used to be this hard to lose weight after pregnancies, and then later after menopause. I am not so active in my lifestyle anymore without a job, and I don't need as many calories as I usually eat. So making changes has come slowly as I realize what is not working for me. A whole lot of ups and downs this year, but I think spring is the best time for me to lose weight. The weather is better and energizing making it easier to go to the gym. Thanks for this topic, love it!

The only way I can do it is to log every single item I eat so I can see what i'm eating. (I also keep my diary open so others can see and critique what i'm doing wrong). I'm also very competitive so I joined a group on here where you are split into different teams and given a challenge every day to complete. It's kinda fun. I also challenge myself to do at least 30 minutes of cardio five days a week (Monday-Friday) and body weight exercises Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Saturday all I do is clean which is also pretty good exercise and Sundays are my lazy days.

I also suggest finding exercises you like doing or a selection so you aren't bored.
I bought the rockin' body dvds by shaun T and it's kind of fun. You do a lot of dancing and your so busy trying to figure out what you are supposed to be doing and what comes next and how to do certain moves you don't even realize the time.
I also play basketball on days I don't feel like jumping around like an idiot in front of my tv.

Btw fruit and veggies makes great snacks! so just get into the habit of sitting in front of your tv with a big bowl of cauliflower. (= Good luck! Feel free to add me!

It's pretty hard actually to get past the second day. Many people give right back in by the third day. I have often done so on my journey. The trick is to force yourself to get past the 3rd day at the very least (ok...not much of a trick) but seriously though...! What else is there to do, you know? Just make a decision and commit to it. Make a goal...whether it's a time-limit, event, or number...just make a goal...make it reasonable. Tell yourself all you have to do is get past the 3rd day...then once you do it...get past the 5th day....then take a break...couple days to ease the tension....but do it smart!! Don't pig-out and let all cares go. Even your cheat days have to adapt. You can't let yourself eat that whole family sized bag of chips in one sitting anymore. If you make it your goal to reach your smaller goals maybe the end result won't seem so hard.

Couple things that help me:

1. Finding a friend that is also interested in losing weight, being healthy and/or getting into shape. Positive reinforcement is key!
2. Reading diet (loosely termed) literature (ok not really helpful, but I find if I surround myself with diet books it helps me focus on what I want)
3. Being active. Short walks. Cleaning. Hobbies. Fill your life with activities. It will get you engaged in your life and allow your brain to rest from thinking about food all the time.
4. This is a little quacky ok...but it really helped me. It's visualization basically... If I ever get a craving I picture in my mind what I'm craving and I picture it floating away like a helium balloon released into the sky. The craving starts to get smaller and further and further away...far out of my reach. Then I move on to what I was doing or I engage my mind in something else.
5. Seeing real life stories. If you know anyone who has lost a noticeable amount weight, ask them if you can see their before picture. So helpful and inspiring!

I don't know if any of this applies to you, but maybe there's something here that appeals to you...

Anyway, GOOD LUCK DOLL! I know that you can do it if you put your mind to it

What makes you fall off? Remove that stimulus and you'll be well on your way.

I'll tell you what used to make me fall off the wagon after a week, and what fixed it. I have a VERY hard time not eating junk food when it's readily available. So I just make sure it's never readily available. I stock up on nothing but lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and whole wheat grains every couple of weeks. I do my cooking for the week on Sunday night, and pack it all away in tuperware.

I don't have to think about food the rest of the week. I just eat whatever's handy, and it's always healthy.

For me the workouts really fall into place pretty easily once you have your diet squared away. And if your diet is really tight, you don't need to workout all that much to get lean anyway.

But seriously-- think about what it is that makes you fall off your diet. How did you feel at the time, emotionally? What had you just been doing, or thinking about?

I went through the same stage. Then it just clicked and i started doing it!! You will get this!!! Just focus on why you want it and go get it

you should regroup and recommit to the process.

by your name, it would appear you have children. if you can't motivate yourself everyday to putting the best your forward do it for your children.

they need a mother who is healthy, positive, and happy with her body image.

every time you want to slip - just look at them or a pic of them and remember why your doing this.