I don't know how you guys do it

Sounds like you are doing good things with your diet. I understand the low energy, but find something to do. Maybe take a walk around the block, take a dance class or try a sport you were always curious about. A couple of years ago, my son challenged me to try fencing. Let me tell you.. playing with swords is a lot of fun and burns a ton of calories! You will be amazed that as the pounds start to come off you find motivation to do more and try more challenging things.

L

Hi Leanne. I've been struggling with my weight for about 15 years. I believe I'm being most successful this round becasue I finally realized something. Motivation is great, but it's not about motivation. It's about COMMITMENT. Making good choices and doing the right things (like exercise and all that junk ;P) even when it's the last thing you want to do. It's all about a committed vow you make to yourself, and resolving to keep that vow. We all slip up, but just get right back to it and you'll be okay.

The best advice I can give is put motivation in the "awesome if you can get it" category, and program yourself to know it's really about commitment. Somehow it all turned around for me with that one little idea.

Good luck

Hi! I just decided that exercise was something I had to do, like going to work, taking a shower, or driving my daughter to school. It took about two months of sheer determination before the gym started to be fun and I actually look forward to it ( most days). I'm a terrible jogger, it's my weakest point. So I get out there and trick myself. Just make it to that trashcan. Made it, now just get to the second mailbox... Before I know it I've mailboxes my way a whole mile. Just get started and see where it takes you!

Iron deficiency can really do a number on your motivation and your moods. I had to have a blood transfusion last year because my hemoglobin was so low. My brain was filled with negativity all the time, and I felt like I had no "reserves" to draw on, mentally or physically. I had no idea this was all related to iron at the time, and so I just kept beating myself up for being lazy. In fact I was just exhausted utterly because my blood couldn't keep enough oxygen in it.

Now that I'm getting closer to having the right level of iron in my blood, things are a lot different! It took me a year to find an iron supplement that didn't wreak havoc with my intestines, but I finally found EasyIron and take it every day. Plus MFP has helped me track my iron and make sure I get enough each day, because what I was eating before wasn't cutting it, even though I thought it was. I'm a vegetarian and that was part of the issue - I figured leafy greens was all I needed, but it wasn't, at least not in the amounts I was eating them then. So, I think it would be very worthwhile for you to work on getting your iron issue taken care of first, and I think then the motivation part will come. I wish you all the best!

Sounds like you are on the right path!
try not to focus on losing pounds, that will come in time, but focus instead on making the best decision right now. Choose your foods wisely, choose wo exercise, not to lose weight but to use the machine that is your body! Choose to be positive and love yourself. Choose to move forward when you slip up (and you will, hou're only human) Choose to ignore the scale and instead focus on how you feel in your skin.
Once you forget it's not about the number on the scale (that fluctuates daily anyway!) and rather about how you see yourself...an active, young, healthy person...then you'll get the motivation you need to keep with it!

I have been reading a book and working with it called The Beck Diet. I recommend it. I have started to learn this is a lifestyle. I always felt like that was cliche. I wanted will power and motivation and all of that. NOw I am working on taking one day at a time. slip ups or bumps in one day are derailing me for the week or month.

Good luck.

I think you just have to find some form of exercise you love (or at least don't mind) doing. That's easier said than done I know but maybe try different things. Or you could incorporate 2 or 3 little walks into your day. For me, I adore swimming, so I swim every morning. It doesn't even feel like exercise! I love spin classes to so I incorporate them and a few weights sessions. A friend of mine loves to cycle, so he cycles to uni every day, to the shops etc. I think you'll find the more you exercise, the more energy you'll have! I certainly fell that way myself! Good luck! I'm gonna friend request you 'cause you sound like you need some support and I want to see how things go with some fun exercise!

I stay motivated by the sheer disappointment I've felt everytime I've lost weight and then gone right back and gained it all again. I don't want to feel like a failure this time around! I've stuck to good eating and working out now for 7 1/2 months which is a lot longer than I ever have before!! Before, other times I tried to lose weight, I had a different mindset and I was in it to just lose the weight so I'd look better. Now I'm in it to get HEALTHY and be happy with the way I am, before weight loss, during AND after.

I keep my befores & "durings" on my profile and look at them a LOT so I can see the difference my hard work is making! That way I don't get bummed and quit because I know what I've done is already working. Also, everyone on MFP motivates me! I look at the guys & girls who've lost 100+ lbs and I realize that if they can do it, so can I! I make sure to keep people around with similar height & weight and/or weight goals as me so that I can watch them and be encouraged by their success and know that I'm somewhat comparable and it can work for me as well!

The thing that seems to be working for me is eating frequently, watching my sodium and carbs, doing my best to stay within my calorie goal but not leaving a lot of calories unless I've exercised. I eat my exercise calories because it's always worked for me. I work out 6 days/week and basically have 3 separate routines I alternate. One day of core and ab work with 2 videos, followed by a walk or run done every other day, Couch to 5k 3-4 mornings/week and a strength routine (arms and legs - separate days) which is done after a warm up of jumping/skipping rope and then after the strength (all weights), I walk or run and that's also done every other day. My C25K run is usually Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and sometimes Saturdays. I also throw in other things when my schedule allows me. I try to switch up my routine every couple months once I either get tired of it or I feel I'm not getting stronger anymore. Switching can be anything from intensifying to changing completely or starting a new class at my gym (hopefully next month I'll be back at Turbo Kick which is an intense calorie burn for me and helps me with my balance and tightens up everything!!)

I log everything and try to drink a TON of water. Drinking a lot of water (for me, it's at least 12-15 8-oz cups of water) everyday keeps me from retaining water 'cause let's face it, sometimes we can't help but eat foods that are high in sodium.

find something you like to do. For me was dancing,
I have to take b12 due to lack of iron and i am overweight.