I just keep failing

What do you think your biggest problem is? Is it lack of motivation to exercise, not having good recipes?

Personally, and this is just my $0.02 (for what it's worth), I think one of the best things you can do is show your child that you are dedicated to being active and preparing healthy meals, and not focused on reaching a certain number on the scale.

I think, a little more information is needed here.
Does the failure is more physical or psychological?
What do you eat, do you do some exercise?
Do you have a goal?
Many questions.
Any advise is a shoot into the blue

Don't try too much all at once. Start with your diet, and add exercise as you're able. You can even start with just walking.

For the food: don't label foods "bad" and avoid eating them. Usually, that will cause cravings, you "fall off the wagon", and then just keep giving up because it's not working. Instead, try eating the foods that you enjoy, but adding in fruits, veggies, and other lower calorie items and eat smaller portions. For example, on pizza night, have two slices and a salad (or whatever you prefer) instead of 4 or 5 slices (I could put down a large pizza if I put my heart into it).

Don't try a drastic reduction in calories. You may lose weight faster, but there is a good chance it's more likely muscle that you're losing, and often rapid weight loss is not easy to maintain. Again, you're more likely to fail. Instead, eat at a moderate deficit.

Here are some great links to read:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here

I found the book "The Power of Habit" very helpful in understanding why I keep doing the things I do and how to work on making permanent changes in my life. I would highly recommend it to anyone who struggles with making changes in any aspect of their lives (you can also get the Audiobook version and listen while you're working out).

I have also learned that I am, and always will be, a compulsive eater and a highly food centered person. It is who I am, and although I can change my habits and focus intently on managing my compulsion to eat "all the food all the time," it will be a lifelong endeavor.

I have found that focusing on behaviors instead of results is very helpful for me. Important behaviors that I need to engage in to manage my compulsivity include logging my food more often than not (I'm three years in, so I do skip some days), working out intensely and regularly, being aware of the reasons that I am eating, choosing to eat 80/20 (healthy/unhealthy), and monitoring my self-talk for negativity (otherwise known as my mother's voice in my head). I did attend several years of cognitive behavioral therapy to get to this point.

The other thing that changed for me during this process is my thinking that "If I lose the weight, I'll be done." I understand now that maintaining weight requires as much effort and intention as losing weight, and I'm in this forever. I don't "fall off the wagon" anymore. There is no wagon. There is just me making the best choices I can every single day. Some days are better than others, but I start over every day and try my hardest to be healthy, happy, fit and purposeful.

Logging and getting a good MFP friend support system will help heeps Not only will they be able to point you out but when you log everything down to the last gram you will see where your go wrong and maybe pinpoint why. Many of us have bad days my worst days are when im fed up but then tomorrow is another day and I pick myself up and start again . I pre make/plan all my meals the day before so I can eat/snack correctly when the need comes. We all gotta make mitakes and have a few bad days before we can get on track to the better days the main thing is you know where your going wrong and you are planning to improve it.

Yesterday, I saw a pic of myself & my almost 5 year old, I looked HUGE. My child could tell something was wrong, so I was honest, explained that I need to lose weight. What really hit me, she agreed I started this weightloss journey 5 years ago & keep yo- yoing! What do I do today, binge! I have awesome support at home, so what's my deal!?!

Anyone else overcome this?

You haven't really committed to it. It's not that high a priority or you would have found a way to do it by now.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

i agree, it's very easy to say I need to change. it's very different than getting up and doing something about it. I would start by cleaning out your pantry and keeping only things that fuel your body for exercise. even if you aren't exercising yet. throw it all away. ALL OF IT. do some research on what foods will fuel your body and buy those foods. remember we eat to live not live to eat. when you start to exercise you will find you need more of certain things to fuel your body. once you get in a groove and routine, you will be just like anyone of us. be strong. clean out that pantry. do it for your health. don't worry about the weight, worry about your health. I found a Cinnabon inge last night and said wow this would taste good. i put it back and had a salad. and tuna sandwich.

You are enjoying doing all the eating and to change is work and you have to be willing to do the work.

Honestly, you have to want it really bad to do it. Find your motivation and think of it often. Two other tips I have for you is to number one, make exercise a habit and a priority. If you screw up your diet, at least you can feel good that you worked out. It's something positive that you are adding rather than taking away or depriving yourself of. Do it almost every day and learn to love it. I am pregnant right now and discouraged because I can't seem to keep my weight gain under control. So I decided, after almost 4 months of constant nausea and fatigue to get back into my working out habit. I came to the conclusion that I may not be able to control how much I gain, but I can still stay fit and strong doing it so that I'm not starting from scratch being super out of shape after the baby is born. Again, I am adding, not taking away.

Second- maybe try Weight Watchers with the meetings. MFP is great, but I was really successful on Weight Watchers because I stuck to it, knowing that I had to face that "official" weigh in once a week and the number was recorded in my log. I made myself go even if I knew I really screwed up that week, and would use feeling like a failure to do better the next week.

Hope that helps!

Love this!

This is a struggle I have had my entire life. Just take your eating one day at a time. If that is too much to focus on take it hourly. Good luck.

Not being consistant is my biggest flaw, I think. I cook nightly, but no, I don't always track. I have a gym in my home, but slip from my daily workout routine after a few weeks. Thank you for the responses!

You should trying working out as soon as you wake up. Studies have shown that people who workout in the morning stay dedicated to it for a longer time. That way you're not coming up with excuses in the evening as to why you shouldn't work out. I've been doing this for quite some time now and I find that it always works for me. It's become a routine now. I usually do anywhere from 30-45 minutes. I also used to go to the gym and do the classes. Everyone inspires one another and it will help to make it more of a lifestyle. I think all you need is routine and some good motivation!