Why can't I stay committed?

Joy_Ryder · July 2014

OMGosh, I had to check to make sure I didn't write this ... I don't need to lose as much as you do, but everything else is on tap with me. I could stand to lose about 40 lbs and even that is hard to achieve when your head is in two different places. The difference being "Knowing" and "Doing". I think what helped me before was PREPLANNING and PRE-PREPPING MEALS - you would never believe how much that helped and I'm definitely going to start doing that again (once I get to the grocery store that is!). Take a day and cook your meals - your breakfast, lunch and dinners for the week. A lot of stuff you can repeat eating if you really like it. For instance, I would make 4 stuffed peppers at a time (stuffed with ground turkey, brown rice, salsa and black beans) - that would be two lunches and two dinners. I also loved sweet potato and tuna patties - again a couple lunches/dinners. I also stocked up on steamable frozen vegetables where you just cook them right in the microwave in the bag ... not as "good for you" as fresh produce, but when you're on a tight budget and time constraints, these work wonderfully. Anyway, this has always helped me and stopped me from going to McDonald's because I was too lazy that morning to pack a lunch .. this way all your lunches are already prepared for you to just grab.

Hope this helps a little!

loser4realz · July 2014

Most of all, though, don't let one mistake deter you. If you lose control and eat a whole box of doughnuts, ok. Fine. Have a light dinner that night. maybe go for a brisk walk, and keep on truckin'. Don't "give up" for the rest of the day. If you stumble down one stair, do you throw yourself down the rest of the staircase, because you failed at one step? :noway:

So true, AllOutof_Bubb. That whole 'start over tomorrow' mentality when I indulged at lunch, or even worse 'start over on Monday' when I've slipped by Thursday was just me giving myself a free pass. What I needed to do was kick myself in the butt to get back on track THAT day at the very next meal.

Lot's of good info from everyone else too. I know I'm not the OP but this has been a very helpful post!

brandeka · July 2014

Hi, I can totally relate to what you are saying. I am 5'2" and 240 lbs. This is my second time trying MPF. I am an emotional eater and that is one of the reasons I went off the rails the last time. I also hear the same thing from my husband about "just eat less". On top of that, I have asthma & COPD which makes it difficult to exercise due to breathing problems. I know from past experience that the more I can exercise, the better the breathing is, but it's hard to get out there when it is so difficult. I am really hoping I can stay the course this time.

smashley_mashley · July 2014

The other thing I'll add is mental outlook. No one realy talks about the mental/psychological aspect of weight loss but it's a huge factor. You need to really be ready for these changes and you really need to want these changes. I used to think I just wanted to be skinny but it wasn't a "real" enough reason for me to stick with it. As I aged, my family history of heart disease started becoming more of a problem as my cholesterol and blood pressure rose. So I made it more about improving my health and a couple years in really focused on fitness as well. Makes it a lot easier to stick with AND makes me less likely to ever go back to where I was.

I would agree that the psychological component is the biggest obstacle. I've been on the wagon and off the wagon since I joined in 2009. Usually I would go about 2 weeks before giving up and just doing what I was doing and not lose anything.

After university (2009) I got a desk job (im addition to other life events at the same time) which caused me to start packing it on (hence the reason joining mfp). I kept gaining and peaked at 211 but plateued for several years at 204. After a while i just got complacent. I switched jobs which found me more busy and taking longer breaks which equalled me sitting more and exercising less. Fast forward to mid 2013 and I felt tired and sluggish all the time and my back hurt from not moving. I work in occupational rehab and saw the effect of not exercising has on the body yet I wasn't practicing what I preached.

December 2013 I am finally fed up with myself...tired of feeling tired, sluggish, lazy, and just overall feeling like poo. So I got in touch with a personal trainer at work and she put an exercise program together and we tried changing diet alone by cutting portions. I stuck with the exercise bit the portion control didn't work...after the first six weeks my weight didn't change (but I gained muscle). I tried adding mostly veggies and green smoothies. That didn't work. At the beginning of May this year we tried doing just a food journal ( no calorie counting). That lasted two weeks. Finally I resigned myself to do I doing mfp.

I am now in my longest streak since I joined in 2009 and am at my lowest since I signed up.

I know it is a long story but my point is, is that your head needs to be in the game. Sure there are days I go over but I don't stress about because now it is a reminder for me to stay on track the next day. I've noticed I don't crave salty or sweets as I used to and I have significantly cut back on snacking between meals (I.e
Grabbing a piece of cheese when I walk by the fridge). The best partvos that i don't feel tired or sluggish and my back doesn't hurt. I feel so much more confident and seeing the(slow) progress is what keeps me going because this isn't a quick fix but a long term lifestyle change

robocats9 · July 2014

I think one key for me is that when I do have success sometimes I allow myself to slip into old, bad habits I DO notice it happening but I don't do anything about it. I get into that, I'll get back on the wagon tomorrow sort of mentality.

I bet a lot of people who gain back weight lost do have signs that they are slipping but choose to ignore those signs. Soon eating one more cookie becomes two, skipping one workout becomes skipping one week of working out, slipping up on watching your portion sizes leads to feeding yourself more than intended to the point of weight gains.

I have lost about 40 pounds since December and I started falling off my own wagon, instead of just letting that turn into the slippery slope back to being 40+ pounds heavier than when I started I have re-upped my commitment to myself. I am re-reading some nutrition books, looking through my cookbooks and making grocery lists and menu plans for my family so that I can get myself back on track.

I really don't want to go through all what I did to get that first 40 pounds off. I just have to keep reminding myself and noticing those signs when i start slipping.

You can do this, you just have to look at a small picture, like 5 or 10 pound increments, one meal at a time successes, one workout at a time success. Find your small wins every day and let those add up.

cincysweetheart · July 2014

Thanks ladies for your advice! I think for me it is a mental thing. I know that when I get down near my goal weight I tend to start easing up on exercise and thinking it's okay to eat this or that and pretty soon I've gained 10 lbs. I think some of it has to do with the extra attention I get when I am thinner. I don't think mentally I am prepared for it and so I gain the weight back because I feel more "comfortable" being what I refer to as "invisible" to others. I guess I know what I need to work on but how... Are there any good books out there to read about this type of issue?

Taming the Feast Beast by Lois Trimpey

Yes! I love anything by Jack and Lois Trimpey. You may also enjoy Rational Recovery by Jack Trimpey. It's more geared toward alcohol and drug addictions, but I find it very applicable across the board with all addictions.

jennyofmiller · July 2014

You should every day tell yourself that you will achieve your goal. I love the quotes I found on Pinterest and Tumblr regarding fitness motivation. But, you can find more to motivate stay on track. For example. you can read about life coaching or the power of the unconscious. It will guide you to stay positive because your life is what you believe, as you know. Try to find a person who has the same goal and who can motivate you and teach you more about exercising.

emccand · July 2014

Im having the same issues staying committed, please feel free to add me, I need friends that are active to help me stay on track!

aprilflower18232 · July 2014

Don't think of having to lose 100 pounds....set smaller short term goals along the way. When I started out I weighed 325, my first goal was to get out get out of the 300's, next it was 275, and so forth....I now weigh 191 and my goal is 162 (half my body weight from when I started) also please don't put time limits on your goals, that can set yourself up for disappointment....just vow that you will reach your goals in your own time.....you can do this, I believe that you can...weight loss is an incredible journey with MANY ups and down along the way but I believe it's worth it!

likitisplit · July 2014

Most of all, though, don't let one mistake deter you. If you lose control and eat a whole box of doughnuts, ok. Fine. Have a light dinner that night. maybe go for a brisk walk, and keep on truckin'. Don't "give up" for the rest of the day. If you stumble down one stair, do you throw yourself down the rest of the staircase, because you failed at one step? :noway:

So true, AllOutof_Bubb. That whole 'start over tomorrow' mentality when I indulged at lunch, or even worse 'start over on Monday' when I've slipped by Thursday was just me giving myself a free pass. What I needed to do was kick myself in the butt to get back on track THAT day at the very next meal.

Lot's of good info from everyone else too. I know I'm not the OP but this has been a very helpful post!

Yes. If you forget to brush your teeth one night because you are busy and tired, do you wait until Monday to start brushing your teeth again?

Why can't I stay committed?

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