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Trouble keeping a healthy routine.

brookenorth
brookenorth Posts: 2
edited February 18 in Motivation and Support
A couple of years ago I lost 35 pounds and was maintaining a healthy lifestyle with what i ate and the exercise that I was doing, A year later i gained 40 pounds back and since then have wanted to get back to being a healthier version of me. Problem is, I a having a hard time getting back into a healthy routine because I did it for so long and am burnt out on it. I know that it will be worth it in the long run (it felt so great before) but even knowing that I can't get motivated..3 days healthy, 2 days of cheating, do it again the next week. Help!

. any suggestions? Thanks!

Replies

  • angel_of_harmony
    angel_of_harmony Posts: 188 Member
    My recommendation is to start out small. I have had several failed attempts at being healthy and normally I derail myself because I try to go overboard. Make small changes to your routine and add healthy options to your current lifestyle. For example, I switched from 2% milk to 1%, then skim and finally almond milk over the past few years. It may be frustrating at first because you want to loose weight, but these changes will pay off in the long run and you will see results. If you keep focused on having a healthy lifestyle rather than being on a diet, it really helps.
  • jillian_fan2425
    jillian_fan2425 Posts: 167 Member
    For me, variety is key in both my diet and exercise routine. I follow general rules about eating - eat food I enjoy, just in moderation, and try to feed my body the nutrients it needs - but I do switch up how those rules are satisfied. For example, I tend to pack a few different things in my lunch every week. I'll generally have some kind of fruit, yogurt, maybe a sandwich or chips and a treat for dessert. But I'll change up what I buy at the grocery store. For the fruit, I'll do apples and peanut butter one week, then tangerines, then bananas, then pears. Once I did celery and carrot sticks with Greek dressing instead of fruit. For exercise, I change up the muscles I'm targeting and my routine by rotating through a bunch of different DVDs. I always like to try something new if I can.

    I think angel_of_harm is right in that you really do have to think of it as a lifestyle. I don't believe in "cheat" days for the most part; instead of worrying about always "eating clean," I try to eat things I like in appropriate portions. That way I don't really feel deprived.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Short answer... you got to want it hard enough, or you'll never succeed. It's way easier to get off track than to stick to it, and if you're not that motivated... you won't do it.

    If it was that easy, everyone would do it. You're the only one who can make that step. There's no magic trick.
  • brookenorth
    brookenorth Posts: 2
    Good suggestion! Thank you. I think that will help me out instead of trying to do too much at once.
  • cebreisch
    cebreisch Posts: 1,340 Member
    After just having spent a year "off the wagon", and just clawing my way back to it, I certainly understand how hard it is to get your groove back.

    It is really just one step at a time. Soon enough, it'll become comfortable again, and you'll start feeling like, "Oh yeah....I remember what this feels like....this is very familiar.....I liked it when I was doing this...." then all of the sudden BAM. There you are.

    I'd start with food journaling like a nazi, then adding things to it. You'll be back in action before you realize it.
  • Jayma375
    Jayma375 Posts: 60 Member
    I've found that I'm not successful at most anything but especially diet and exercise if I'm not ready. It took me a while to decide it was finally time to eat better. I've done it fast and furious in the past but this time I decided it was better to start slow. I think this is best for me to make it a gradual process so it becomes ingrained in my routine and brain. We had a nutritionist help us to come up with things we can eat that are quick and easy. After several months of eating better but not perfect it is kind of remarkable that although I still don't like veggies, the thought of fast food is not appealing to me one bit.

    It then took me another 3-4 months to decide it was time to start working out. This helped me because I hate exercise and at my starting weight it was just too painful. After losing 15 pounds or so it's been easier although still not easy.... I am lucky that I live in a small condo but we have a decent gym and so I got a trainer once a week for 30 minutes to help me get started and I don't have to workout in front of dozens of other people.

    Betting on slow and steady this time!!!
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