Weight Loss is a mental thing!

farmers_daughter
farmers_daughter Posts: 1,632 Member
in Motivation and Support
What does it take mentally to keep on track??? I know what works for me I lost 5 lbs over the summer and I felt really good. For me it's lower carb, and continuing to exercise. But gosh darn it.
I know I've been like stupidly busy and unorganized lately but too many times I've caught myself saying "I'm too tired to cook" I'm either going to run thru the drive thru or not eat tonight. And because at the time I think I"m starving, I don't go without.

That has nothing to do with physical stuff, it's mental.
How do you keep your mental game going? WHat does it take????

Replies

  • jrline
    jrline Posts: 2,353 Member
    consistency is the key. Track everything you eat and drink. set minigoals on the way to your goal. Good Luck on your Journey

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  • Trishism
    Trishism Posts: 79 Member
    For me, eating well is definitely correlated with planning ahead. Dinners especially. We have our meals for the next week planned out, plus I have a few servings of soup and chili in the freezer if things get too hectic to actually make dinner.

    But really it's just willpower. You just have to tell yourself that you planned it, therefor it will be done.
  • shadowloss
    shadowloss Posts: 293 Member
    Life happens and you have to be prepared for it. If it's sudden there's not much you can do about it, so improvise and make the best of it.

    In your examples, there are many "Better" options at every drive through, you just have to make the right choice. I eat out ever day with people in my office, and no matter where we go, there is always a option that is better than the others. Granted Grilled chicken sandwiches are getting old, but it's about how bad you want it.

    There is nothing you can't do if you get creative. But you are 100% correct, it is all mental.
  • farmers_daughter
    farmers_daughter Posts: 1,632 Member
    Correct when I hit the drive thru it's a huge mental battle to say grilled chicken or whatever they have that's the better option. Ugh.
    I just wish it wasn't will power...I want some of the willpower other people have!!!!
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,753 Member
    It IS mental, you're right! Ironically, it's best to not over think what you need to do and just DO it. You're rushed for time, hit the drive-thru, and then spend time thinking about what you should order, what you want to order, etc. Eliminate that step. Just order the best thing that you can and move on. It also saves you the time and stress of worrying about it later or wishing you made other choices.
  • angela233Z
    angela233Z Posts: 314 Member
    i have the same issue - so i found a few freezer things i can stock up on that i like and can always pull out. My go to is MF tomato basil patty, frozen brocolli, frozen mango. if i want to get fancy, i pour some spaghetti sauce on the patty and a little mozzarella. It is delicious, fast, easy and cheap! Then while driving by fast food, i think, well i can go home and warm up my food in same amount of time as going thru drive thru. It is cheaper and tastier and I am such an amazing person for choosing the healthy option!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I think part of the problem many people have is that they have a very narrow view of their diets and what constitutes a healthy and balanced diet. This is evidenced by the multiple, "is this good or bad" threads...and frankly, a lot of these kinds of threads are in reference to whole, nutritious foods...it's just that so many people are vastly uneducated about actual nutrition.

    It really helps to take a broader view of your overall diet. As an example, I'm having pizza tonight with my boys. My thoughts don't turn to, "ermergerd...PIZZA...HALP...how do I stay on track?" My thoughts are, "awesome...I enjoy myself some pizza from time to time...I'll have a couple slices and a beer and enjoy the time spent with my boys...it's not going to undo all of the other awesome nutrition I've taken in today or my 20 mile ride or my 30 mile ride I have scheduled for tomorrow." It's no biggie...in the grand scheme of things, this less than stellar choice is pretty meaningless.

    All in all, I enjoy eating healthfully...eating healthfully doesn't mean your food has to be tasteless and blah...I'm a foodie, I'd never settle for that. Even my most healthful choices are packed with flavor and dynamic textures. You have to get out of the mentality that it has to be all dry salads and celery sticks to be "healthy."
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    BZAH10 wrote: »
    It IS mental, you're right! Ironically, it's best to not over think what you need to do and just DO it. You're rushed for time, hit the drive-thru, and then spend time thinking about what you should order, what you want to order, etc. Eliminate that step. Just order the best thing that you can and move on. It also saves you the time and stress of worrying about it later or wishing you made other choices.
    QFT

  • RoseyDgirl
    RoseyDgirl Posts: 306 Member
    totally a mental thing. You have to enjoy it, to make it work and last. How many times have I dieted and been miserable doing it, I can't even count them... but, now - I'm realizing that making good food a commitment to me is priority number one. If I look at everything going in, and label it as nutritious or junk - and try to eat more of the nutritious ones. I'm also focusing on learning to cook everything because I will have control of the ingrediant list, and processing/chemicals. And lastly - moving - not because it's a chore and good for us - but because you do it enough, and you begin to love it. Walking to and from the train - a way to appreciate the day and breathing, and being thrilled to be alive and well enough to do it. Every day is a new day; and I try to make each day more successful than the last one.

  • craftymommy
    craftymommy Posts: 57 Member
    Loving how I'm feeling keeps me going. I feel better physically and mentally, that is what gives me more confidence. I like that I can run up the stairs and not feel out of breathe and unhealthy. I like that I can fit into the cute jeans that doesn't carry the larger size that I was before. I like that I can walk my puppy and keep up with her. Every little victory keeps me motivated while I'm making decisions.

    I'm a single mom and due to work and extracurricular activities and family, many nights we don't get home until 8. I try to get her in bed by 9-9:30. So between dinner and bedtime routines and other stuff that needs to be taken care of, we have a time crunch. I keep a freezer full of frozen vegetables for emergencies. So if we do have to (I try not to, but it happens) stop by the drive thru or I only have time to throw a frozen lasagna/pasta in the microwave. I do a small portion of the pasta or the grilled chicken wrap, and I have a lot vegetables. They only take 5 mins to heat up. That won't work for everyone, but it does for me for now. I'm working at doing more home cooked meals; that's my next big hurdle on my journey.

    Find something that will work for you for quick no-time-emergencies (or even those nights that are I'm-too-lazy-emergencies) that you stick to, keep motivating yourself with the small and large victories and most importantly: keep going. Hit a drive-thru bump in the road - keep going. Go to your parents and they order pizza when they've never done that in your life (that was me two nights ago) - eat the pizza, then the next day (and the day after that) keep going with making healthy choices.
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    The mental thing is the biggest thing to sort out and the most important. Of you havent got the right mindsey then you are going to find it hard, whereas if you have it sorted out then everything becomes possible and the whole process is stronger.

    How to keep it going. I want the results and am prepared to pay the price to achieve them. That means for the vast majority of times when it comes to making a choice that moves me towards target or away from it, then I choose towards it.

    Having small targets and reaching them reminds me im making progress.

    Having good planning including thinking everyting through and ood knowledge about whats needed and how it works also backs up everything.

    Working with yourself and knowing when to push as well as when to give yourself a break also helps.

    My mind manages the plan quite well. I keep myself honest, dont slack, but I dont panic if I want to miss the gym for a few days as I know I will make it up. Just makes everything comfier.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    RoseyDgirl wrote: »
    totally a mental thing. You have to enjoy it, to make it work and last. How many times have I dieted and been miserable doing it, I can't even count them... but, now - I'm realizing that making good food a commitment to me is priority number one. If I look at everything going in, and label it as nutritious or junk - and try to eat more of the nutritious ones. I'm also focusing on learning to cook everything because I will have control of the ingrediant list, and processing/chemicals. And lastly - moving - not because it's a chore and good for us - but because you do it enough, and you begin to love it. Walking to and from the train - a way to appreciate the day and breathing, and being thrilled to be alive and well enough to do it. Every day is a new day; and I try to make each day more successful than the last one.

    Well said ☺

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