Getting my head into the game?

vold94
vold94 Posts: 256
edited September 26 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everybody, I've been part of MFP for about 2 weeks now, and although the keeping track of calories and calorie burn is helping me, I just can't seem to get my head into the game of changing my lifestyle and getting away of bad food etc... that I always want to eat. I have anywhere from 100-120 pounds that I want to lose, so far I've lost 9. Haven't weighed myself yet this week, due to I didn't do that well this week. Thinking I'm going to wait until May 1 so I have this week to get back on track. If anybody out there has also had this struggle and has overcame it, please help me do the same. Feel free to make me a friend so you can help me over the hurdles on a daily basis.

I appreciate any advice somebody may have! Thank you!

Replies

  • vold94
    vold94 Posts: 256
    I appreciate any advice somebody may have! Thank you!

    I sure wish somebody would reply to my post. I'm sure somebody has some idea of what I'm going through!
  • CricketKate
    CricketKate Posts: 3,657 Member
    I know exactly what you're talking about. I hesitate to give advice because I posted the exact same question a week ago. Weight loss for me is a mental game. I have had successful periods in my life (all ended by pregnancy:blushing: ). I know what works to get me to lose weight, I just struggle to get myself there mentally.

    There are two things that I'm trying right now to get my head in the game. The first thing, is pretend that my head is already in the game. I was once told that if you want to believe something, then you need to act like you believe it. I think it may be the same with motivation. If I act like I'm motivated, then I hope that eventually motivation will take over. The second thing I'm trying to do is focus on daily goals. If I think about eating right and exercising forever, I want to quit before I start. It just sounds too hard. If I think about eating right and exercising for today, it seems a little more manageable.

    I hope that this helps:flowerforyou:
  • jojoworks
    jojoworks Posts: 315 Member
    Hi,

    I think the head game is a huge part of the weight-loss effort. I listen to self-hypnosis weight-loss CD's at bedtime. The messages are all very positive and helpful. The approach I use is basically replacing "mindless" eating with "mindful" eating. The CD's give me great affirmations and help me to relax and absorb positive ideas. No matter how determined you are in your conscious mind, you need to get your subconscious mind on board too.

    good luck and happy eating!
  • vold94
    vold94 Posts: 256
    I thank you both for your insight. I will give it a try!:flowerforyou:
  • music_lover_103
    music_lover_103 Posts: 118
    when i really want to eat something that i shouldnt, especially if im not even hungry, i try to figure out WHY i want to eat. habit? emotions? then i remind myself that food is fuel, we were made to eat to keep us physically going, not to make us temporarily happy. it helps a little to evaluate why, but it still takes a crap load of willpower. its gotten easier for me, though, and it probably will for you, too : )

    besides, that food will only make you feel better for a little while. in an hour, it wont matter to your mouth or your feelings that you ate that food - the food is gone and cant help your emotions anymore. but it DOES matter that the extra food set you back in your hard work to take off the pounds.

    good luck! God bless!
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    One thing I started doing that really got me to pay attention to what I was eating was to log before I eat. If I want a cookie as a snack, I log, then eat. Once you see in numbers what you are ingesting, it helps you get into the psychology of losing. Also, congrats on your loss so far!
  • kate1975
    kate1975 Posts: 31
    tbh i think the more you think your struggling the more you will, try making little changes instead of looking at the big picture which looks harder, small things mount up in the end and your in it for the long haul not a quick fix, i have had a bad week to so as of tomorrow I'm going to push myself harder and try and get to the gym at least once this week as taking that first step is hard and i keep putting it off just remember slow and steady wins the race, keep logging in and putting down how you feel as we all go through it one time or another good luck and chin up be positive change happens slowly x hope that made sence
  • fitnessjch
    fitnessjch Posts: 449 Member
    You have done a fabulous job already losing 9lbs. Its a marathon, not a sprint. It doesnt come naturally at first, but use MFP to its full advantage - I used it in the first couple of weeks to try and figure out the foods that I eat that are high in calories, but I can easily cut out. Then try a few other things, and see if you can replace those things with something you enjoy for lesser calories.

    Bulk everything out with veggies, use the message boards to find other peoples recipes to try etc.

    You will get there. It has taken me a couple of weeks to realise that its not all gonna happen straight away, and now I have come to terms with that, and re-aligned my goals with something more realistic.

    Feel free to friend me. I have days where I need encouragement, but days where I try to encourage others too. We can help eachother?!
  • karren1970
    karren1970 Posts: 14 Member
    Oh lordy have I been where you are..for many years.My weight has always went up and down and been and a constant struggle.But I have alot of medical issues going on now and the doctor's tell me - I will not walk in the end ....I refuse to believe it!!! I want to see all of my children (5 of em' )grow up and reach their goals in life. I want to hold my future grandbabies and grow old with my soulmate. For me I woke up up one day and said I HAD TO DO BETTER!!! My life depends on it...Everyday is a battle and I makes mistakes but I must go on..I live by "Today is all that matters " So I wake up everyday and only worry of this day not tomorrow or the next.One day at a time is hard enough. It is a daily challenge to eat right for I am a manager in a grocery store and surrounded by food all day. You CAN do this!!!! Just get up every day and try to do better,it does get easier along the way to the point you when you look at certain foods and say oh my gosh thats a whole days calories...Nope I don't need or want that.Good luck in your journey and getting your head in the game and please feel free to add me as a friend if you'd like.We all need a support group and sometimes someone just to say Good job you've done well !!!!:drinker:
  • pkpzp228
    pkpzp228 Posts: 146 Member
    I take a bit more of a hard line approach to this than many of the others that have spoken. Whatever works for you... Here's what works for me.

    First off, there are no tricks, magic pills, magic hypnotism cds, etc, etc. You are not a victim of fast food nor oversized proportions, living a healthy lifestyle is a choice and you either do it or you don't. For example:
    Haven't weighed myself yet this week, due to I didn't do that well this week.

    Why? Good or bad the scale is your litmus test, learning to understand the incremental results of your gaols in relation to your choices is essential to understanding what works and what doesn't. Don't hide from your decisions or make excuses for them either, make a choice.

    "Oh well it's just not that simple" yes it is, choosing a healthy lifestyle is nor more difficult than choosing a moral lifestyle. The sooner you stop making excuses for why you can't do it the sooner you will succeed at doing it.

    All of that said, this doesn't mean there aren't tools available to help you or to make it easier. Start by getting past the whole negativity cycle involved with making daily goals you, aren't doing anything but making it harder on yourself.

    Make a choice.
  • vold94
    vold94 Posts: 256
    One thing I started doing that really got me to pay attention to what I was eating was to log before I eat. If I want a cookie as a snack, I log, then eat. Once you see in numbers what you are ingesting, it helps you get into the psychology of losing. Also, congrats on your loss so far!

    I actually do that quite frequently. Especially when I work. I'll log what I'm going to eat during the day before I even go to work. I also do it when I'm home, and if I am way under calories, then I will allow myself a 1/2 cup of ice cream as a snack. I know it's not the best thing, but I figure it's an improvement for me considering I use to probably each 1.5 to 2 cups of ice cream before I started this. I'm slowly getting rid of the bad stuff.
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