Desperately seeking advice from any and all perspectives, pl

lawn_gnome78
lawn_gnome78 Posts: 11
edited September 26 in Health and Weight Loss
So, lately I've been stuck. Losing and gaining the same 10-15lbs over and over again it feels like for years. I was on my way to getting way under 200, coming from over 300lbs - and after so long, or maybe it was something I didn't change or did change, I stopped losing (I hover now between 190 and 200). Then the more strict I became the more obsessed I felt, and I feel like that's not healthy either.

So, I've gone back and forth on: don't be so obsessive, quit making food a big deal, If you wanna be a normal eater, then just care less about food. Try to be nonchalant about the whole issue. Get over it, then back to the drill sargeant mode: maybe I should be strict, get a regime and stick to it! Junk food is poison, cut it out, just quit!

Now I'm toying with the idea of just for the month of may, when I have a sweet craving, instead of going for the uber processed sugar free candies, only permit natural fruits. But at the same time I feel hopeless, like I have no more willpower, and I won't make it past may 5th anyway.

I need new inspiration and hope. Any suggestions out there? I feel like I've tried everything.

Thanks,

April

Replies

  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    get back into it...strict routine..plan it out and stick to it YOU CAN DO IT...in 2 months you will feel glad that you did ..its all an uphill battle and your stop isnt yet so the train keeps moving ....this is the point where you pass or fail we all have them dont give in!...you dont want to gain weight because due to lack of will power you wont feel good in the end....Give it 120% and even if you only lose 1-5lbs this month thats better than feeling like you gave in ..hugs
  • dlaplume2
    dlaplume2 Posts: 1,658 Member
    first off cut yourself some slack. You have dropped over a 100lbs. That in and of itself deserves some applause.

    :drinker: :drinker:

    Maybe what you need to do is maintain for a little while. Work on that for like 2 months. set you goal to maintain. Then when you get back to trying to lose you will gain momentum and motivation. Set some other goals to work on while you maintain. They can be a fitness goal. Maybe a project aroung the house. maybe a summer reading list. maybe you could even learn a new sport.

    Best wishes
  • rharris86dc
    rharris86dc Posts: 635 Member
    I agree, just stick with it! Maybe your body is just used to what you have been doing, so you need to change it up!

    Try out a new workout, and definitely make sure you NET as close to your calorie goal as possible!! I know for about a month my weightloss pretty much stalled out, because I wasn't getting close enough to my goal, and now that I've started eating more (ironically), I can tell without even weighing myself that I have lost a little!

    Good luck, and really just stick to it and you will get back on track!
  • born2bskinny
    born2bskinny Posts: 8 Member
    A friend of mine had the same problem. Her doctor told her to cut out all fruit except apples and pears. She cut them out and started lowing weight again! It's worth a try. She also has 3 oz. of protien with every meal and doesn't have snacks. Good luck. You will do it!:smile:
  • propjetprop
    propjetprop Posts: 60 Member
    A couple of things that might help you or anyone that reads this:

    1. IT IS OK TO BE HUNGRY... The sooner you accept this fact the sooner you will shed the lbs. You are changing your metabolism and habits, and you body is going to fight you... you have to control this and tell yourself every second of every day that it is ok to be hungry.... Make sure you are sticking to your caloric intake to stay healthy, but accept hunger... HUNGER PANGS ARE FAT LEAVING THE BODY!

    2. EAT LIKE A CAVEMAN.... what I mean by this is if caveman had access to it or could make it you CAN eat it... if cave man could not access or make it, you CAN NOT eat it.... Very simply, our bodies are designed through evolution to be hunter/gatherers... we hike 20 miles, kill an animal, eat it and repeat... So stay away from the processed foods.... ALL processed foods... If you look at the ingredients and can not understand, read or comprehend at one glance what is in it... DO NOT EAT IT..

    3. When you feel hungry, start chugging water... if it is not "time" to eat and you feel hungry your body might actually be slightly dehydrated. The water will satisfly the hunger pang temporarily and along with an apple or a a small veggi snack you will make it to your next meal...

    4. EAT BEFORE YOU EAT.... If you are going to be in a place that is tempting, ie: out with friends, at a party, holidays, etc. Eat cave man food before you put yourself in that situation.. Example: You are going to meet friends for a night out.. you know you will be around good food and drinks... before you leave the house chow down on a pouch of tuna, smoked salmon, bowl of soup, instant rice, etc.. something, anything, so when you sit down to dinner or are at the party you are not "Starving" and you order food that is appropriate for YOU!

    5. ALWAYS HAVE FOOD WITH YOU... this might mean you have to carry a fanny pack or purse/satchel, but it works.. keep it loaded with good stuff.... dried fruit, nuts, grapes, pouch of tuna, can of chicken, etc... if you feel temped to go in the convience store while pumping gas or cruzing the airport, grab your gut to remind yourself why your are doing this and then eat the good stuff you have with you, not the crap you could buy at the kiosk.... Check out my signature picture... I am an airline pilot and I carry that bag full of good stuff that last me 4-5 days on the road!
  • propjetprop
    propjetprop Posts: 60 Member
    double post.. sorry
  • CharlieBarleyMom
    CharlieBarleyMom Posts: 727 Member
    I can truly understand exactly what you've said. I've had the same argument with myself... too many times to count. I cannot decide which is better... there are "schools of thought" for both "camps" and they each have their merit. The bottom line however, will be how you feel more comfortable. If you "ignore it, and just live like a normal person" will you gain weight because you're not being careful? If you drill-seargent yourself will you binge because you're not getting what you crave? You know these answers because you've already lost a lot of weight. You've come a very long way in however long it took you to get there. If you ultimately want to care about the numbers on the scale... then care about the numbers on the scale. If you ultimately just want to feel comfortable with you, you need to use that perspective to find your answer.
    Which ever way you go, remember, if it doesn't seem to fit for you, try something else until you find what does work. You've come to a fighting time with your weight and now you need to show it who is boss. Good job so far.
  • Myastyme, you hit it on the head, really. I like your advice, because I do enjoy having a plan and sticking to it. Like a child craves routine, so do I. What I need to decide ultimatley is to invest in myself to eat healthy, exercise a certain number of times/week, not to lose weight, but to be healthy, and as a benefit of being healthy. I need to not count on nor expect any weight loss. Really, cutting out processed foods and eating healthy is a luxury and I'm very fortunate to be in the position that I am. I need to embrace this "burden" of diet and exercise: some people battle cancer or war injuries. If this is the worst thing I undertake in my life, I'm so lucky!

    Dlaplume2, I have been maintaining! For years, no kidding. Not on purpose. I'm ready to lose again, but I'm not willing to put in 6 hours of cardio a week, or limit myself to 1200 calories/day to get to 150, and that's a decision I've made. Gotta live with the outcome of that.

    Rharris86 - thanks - I'll try to get closer to my net! I appreciate the advice! =)

    Hey, Born - yeah, I could get down with some apples and pears! Been eating alot of oranges and bananas as of recent.

    propjetprop - thanks for all the tips, the carry the food thing is really handy. And I have tried the trick of "eat before you eat," and it does work. I just need to avoid that constant struggle of rebelling after being so "good" for so long. Wish it wasn't good or bad, and it just "was," and that's it.

    Charlie, thanks so much, kinda sounds like my journey: try this, then try that once you figure the first thing wasn't for me... I'll keep on truckin!
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