how do you stay committed?

I try to accept that I'm not perfect. What is your biggest challenge? Binging? Unhealthy food choices? Logging? Getting moving?

Try to choose one thing that you can really commit to as a lifestyle change. Maybe it's logging your food every day. That doesn't mean always being under. Just logging. Just commit to that and say this is the one thing I'm going to do. It's amazing how just being MINDFUL makes a big difference. Just remembering that when you put food in your mouth you are making a choice that is about more than what tastes good at that moment.

I try to remember that I want to feel good. I have learned from trial and error that when I eat well and stay active I feel so much better physically and mentally. Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes I screw up. But I keep coming back to how much sense it makes.

Use the support you find on this site to help you to keep it fresh and to stay motivated. Set goals. Be happy and good luck!

Commitment isn't a feeling, it's a decision. Lots of decisions, every day.

DIETS DONT WORK. I REPEAT... DIETS WILL NOT WORK! I am the queen of dieting, restricting, depriving. I was miserable and felt hopeless.

Eating healthy CAN be satisfying, yummy, and filling girl! Trust me, go on google and type in your favorite meals then search for a low cal or skinny option. I can almost guarantee there is one. This to me is one of the most important factors to weight loss and keeping it off. Exchanging high cal favorites to low cal by a few simple modifications. & honestly to me the taste just as good if not better!

Example. mcdonalds caramel frappuccino probably close to 500 calories. (guessing here) I switched that to a starbucks skinny coffee frappuccino like 250 calories. Truvia instead of sugar. Zucchini noodles instead of wheat (saves like 400 calories) home made dressing instead of store bought (saves like 150) diet stevia drinks instead of coke or aspartame diet drinks. If im craving something salty and fatty I have a 90 lean small portion burger on brown rice bread with all the greens fixins i can fit. If Im wanting a martini i go with a skinny, if I have a sweet tooth a nice cup of hot coffee sometimes clears it up if not i do some damage with a banana, cocoa powder, truvia, and almond milk in a blender. If i'm craving pizza, I HAVE pizza just not the kind from dominos. & yes occasionally I do go out and eat at restaurants. Ociasilly i will help myself to a donut.

Whatever it is your craving, whatever your favorite foods are, or "troubled" foods, look online for a healthier alternative.

I promise you that will help you out SO much.

Besides that, eat whatever you want, just stay within your calorie goal.

I would also recommend taking vitamins & really limited anything made by man. Your body needs nutrients and if its deprived it will send hunger signals to your brain for more food because it really needs the good stuff in the food to help your body function.

YOU CAN DO IT GIRL! Stay focused, set REALISTIC goals for yourself, if you cant picture it or look forward to it in a year from now, you need to prioritize. I feel like I have so much compassion on posts like this because I understand the misery that comes with dieting, restricting, caving, & binging.. Its so destructive. There is hope.

is this a poem?

It can't be a poem ... it doesn't rhyme.

Poems don't have to rhyme unless you are still in nursery.

From what you've said - you are looking too far ahead..

Don't get me wrong you have to have an idea of your eventual goal - but you need to set some smaller goals.

For me that could even just be getting through that particular day - or just that hour.. most days it works, the odd one it doesn't - if this happens, start the next day and just get through that day.

Next thing you know, weeks have gone by and only one or two of those days have been bad ones - and you are closer to your goal.

You can also set a smaller goal, then when you reach that celebrate in a small way and set your next one.

Hope this helps..

Beth could not have said it better! The goal is not to deprive yourself of what you want but to limit, stick to the serving size and look for the low cal versions. Also if you consider this a diet....you will fail because you then consider it a temporary thing. You must look at it as a complete lifestyle change, that is why diets never work because you think they only last for so long when in truth...if you want to have that healthy look and life you must change your life to be that person. Just believe in yourself and surround yourself with motivating people that will help when you get down...even if you dont want to hear what they have to say...they will get into your head. Good luck with your journey, I struggle with this myself but remember if you have one bad thing .... you can start over with the next thing you eat...just be honest with yourself and believe that you have the power to take your life back!

I stay focused on my health, nutrition, and fitness...the rest just falls into place. When people treat diet like a verb rather than a noun, they tend to fail because it implies that you start something and eventually stop...it usually also comes with a bunch of unnecessary and unrealistic prohibitions and the like.

I eat better most of the time...veg, fruit, lean proteins, and healthy fats are a way of life for me...but that doesn't mean I can't indulge in something that is generally lacking in nutrition from time to time either. It's all about balance and creating a sustainable diet for now and the future. The only thing that changes for me when I cut vs maintain is the number of calories...food doesn't really change.

Maybe that was a little too remote a reference.