How do you get motivated diet -wise?

Jankatherton · February 2015

Hi just wondering if anyone can offer me any advice on how to get motivated diet wise?
I am super motivated with my fitness and am at the gym 5 days a week without fail over consistantly for the past year. However I just can't seem to stay motivated diet wise. I have not lost a single pound in this last year and feel I have wasted all my time at the gym because my diet sucks.
I do pretty good through the week but every weekend my husband and I go out for dinner at the pub ( so eat things like wings, pizza , beer) plus often go to Sunday brunch as well. I also enjoy a couple glasses of wine over the weekend ( I'm taking a wine course) and usually paired with some nice cheese. These are just things I enjoy so much in life and look forward to all week. I just don't know what to do or how to give this up or if I even want to! I am so torn! How can I enjoy life and reach my goals at the same time? Is that even possible?
Help!

Amanda4change · February 2015

herrspoons wrote: »

Like everything else in life, sometimes you can't have your cake and eat it. In this case that's a literal statement.

Pick what your goal is - to have fun and stay as you are, or to take a sabbatical and change to what you want to be.

^^^^This^^^^ For me losing the weight is more important than not eating whatever I want.

Elise4270 · February 2015

Its not possible. Ugly truth. You can indulge once in a while, but not like you have been. Its no fun.

There are probably ways you could change most of your foods, like eat clean 90% of the time. So you have built in room to indulge a little. Maybe once a month?

All the time at the gym was not wasted. If you hadn't gone you'd probably be 20-30 pounds heavier right now. That's pay-off.

I want wings and wine every day... So good... But I think I'll pass so I can put my pants on... Just a concenquence of being female. Good luck finding your balance.

Jankatherton · February 2015

herrspoons wrote: »

Like everything else in life, sometimes you can't have your cake and eat it. In this case that's a literal statement.

Pick what your goal is - to have fun and stay as you are, or to take a sabbatical and change to what you want to be.

Good advice. I guess I really need to look at how badly I want to reach my goals.. I stick to pretty clean eating all week but just can't seem to control myself on the weekend. Any tips on how to keep motivated on the weekend?
My goal is to lose 10 pounds by July 1st. It's nothing too extreme and should be doable with some minor modifications...

SconnieCat · February 2015

Oh I totally drink wine on the weekends. Love it. And I couldn't imagine a world where I couldn't have a glass of Malbec while I'm relaxing with friends, cooking, or eating a steak.

For me, it's all about finding stuff I love and planning ahead. I find that if I take the time on the weekends or when I get spare time during the week and make a list of the meals I want to make for the following week, and then grocery shop Saturday morning as well as do prep-work on Sunday, I'm a lot more ready and it takes the guesswork out of "what am I eating for dinner tonight?" I am too exhausted from coming home from work during the weeknights to spend a ton of time trying to figure out what to eat. Plus I go to the gym in the evenings. By planning ahead, it's so much easier to toss something that has been marinating on the flattop or have a homemade crock-pot meal already simmering in the Crock Pot.

A couple of other helpful things: I weigh everything I put in my mouth (bazing) so I know where I am calorie-wise.

And I still don't give up bar nachos, wings or beer (mmmm beer). I just make sure to plan ahead and cut back on calories in another area or spend a little extra time at the gym to make my lifestyle and my goals fit. And if I haven't made as much room as I should, I just order something that will fit. Instead of ordering waffles and bottomless Bloody Mary's at brunch, I'm having an egg white omelet. I think it's all about balance.

Hope that helped. Sorry if it was long-winded. This is what I get for trying to multitask at work

Laurend224 · February 2015

I decided I want to be a fit mom not a fat@as. I make that decision daily when I do things like pre log my meals, moderate my portions and choose not fall back into old habits.
I did this to myself, now I have to undo it....that's My motivation.

Elise4270 · February 2015

Do you weigh your food? That might help you get there. Its really helped me.

Jankatherton · February 2015

Elise4270 wrote: »

Its not possible. Ugly truth. You can indulge once in a while, but not like you have been. Its no fun.

There are probably ways you could change most of your foods, like eat clean 90% of the time. So you have built in room to indulge a little. Maybe once a month?

All the time at the gym was not wasted. If you hadn't gone you'd probably be 20-30 pounds heavier right now. That's pay-off.

I want wings and wine every day... So good... But I think I'll pass so I can put my pants on... Just a concenquence of being female. Good luck finding your balance.

Thanks I guess I just really need to suck it up and be glad I am still in healthy weight range considering what I've been eating. I think part of the problem is that as a younger person I was really blessed with a fast metabolism and now that I'm 33 am realizing I can't just eat whatever I want anymore

Elise4270 · February 2015

Jankatherton wrote: »

Elise4270 wrote: »

Its not possible. Ugly truth. You can indulge once in a while, but not like you have been. Its no fun.

There are probably ways you could change most of your foods, like eat clean 90% of the time. So you have built in room to indulge a little. Maybe once a month?

All the time at the gym was not wasted. If you hadn't gone you'd probably be 20-30 pounds heavier right now. That's pay-off.

I want wings and wine every day... So good... But I think I'll pass so I can put my pants on... Just a concenquence of being female. Good luck finding your balance.

Thanks I guess I just really need to suck it up and be glad I am still in healthy weight range considering what I've been eating. I think part of the problem is that as a younger person I was really blessed with a fast metabolism and now that I'm 33 am realizing I can't just eat whatever I want anymore

LOL! Wait til your 44.. I started hormone replacement therapy this week. It just seems to get harder to do the right thing the older you get. I'll run to "earn" dinner. Its sad.

Jankatherton · February 2015

SconnieCat wrote: »

Oh I totally drink wine on the weekends. Love it. And I couldn't imagine a world where I couldn't have a glass of Malbec while I'm relaxing with friends, cooking, or eating a steak.

For me, it's all about finding stuff I love and planning ahead. I find that if I take the time on the weekends or when I get spare time during the week and make a list of the meals I want to make for the following week, and then grocery shop Saturday morning as well as do prep-work on Sunday, I'm a lot more ready and it takes the guesswork out of "what am I eating for dinner tonight?" I am too exhausted from coming home from work during the weeknights to spend a ton of time trying to figure out what to eat. Plus I go to the gym in the evenings. By planning ahead, it's so much easier to toss something that has been marinating on the flattop or have a homemade crock-pot meal already simmering in the Crock Pot.

A couple of other helpful things: I weigh everything I put in my mouth (bazing) so I know where I am calorie-wise.

And I still don't give up bar nachos, wings or beer (mmmm beer). I just make sure to plan ahead and cut back on calories in another area or spend a little extra time at the gym to make my lifestyle and my goals fit. And if I haven't made as much room as I should, I just order something that will fit. Instead of ordering waffles and bottomless Bloody Mary's at brunch, I'm having an egg white omelet. I think it's all about balance.

Hope that helped. Sorry if it was long-winded. This is what I get for trying to multitask at work

Yeah I do pre plan my weekday meals as well but it's just those darn weekends where I fail! I like your idea of keeping those bar nights but just doing a little more planning around it.

snarlingcoyote · February 2015

I have enough shorts that I like and that are comfortable to go to WDW every year for 8 days, plus a couple of spares for extra changes of clothes. I am not going through the headache and heartache of finding that many more shorts that I like. After we came back from WDW last Fall, I sluffed off, pure and simple. Ate what I liked when I liked it, didn't run regularly and gained 6lbs. . .

Went to pull on a pair of my shorts because the weather was nice and the inevitable happened.

So that's it. That's my bellwether. My WDW shorts collection has to fit and look nice. I will do whatever it takes to achieve this; I am NOT buying an entire shorts wardrobe just for 8 days once a year.

Jankatherton · February 2015

herrspoons wrote: »

Jankatherton wrote: »

herrspoons wrote: »

Like everything else in life, sometimes you can't have your cake and eat it. In this case that's a literal statement.

Pick what your goal is - to have fun and stay as you are, or to take a sabbatical and change to what you want to be.

Good advice. I guess I really need to look at how badly I want to reach my goals.. I stick to pretty clean eating all week but just can't seem to control myself on the weekend. Any tips on how to keep motivated on the weekend?
My goal is to lose 10 pounds by July 1st. It's nothing too extreme and should be doable with some minor modifications...

Ok, don't know your stats, but let's say that you target 0.75 pounds over the next 16 weeks. That means you should achieve your goal with enough room for a few 'whoopsies!' along the way. So that's 375 calories you have to reduce daily to do that.

Were it me, I'd go for a 500 deficit during the week so I have a few bonus calories at the weekend. That way I can still enjoy a glass of wine or two.

I like this!! I'll maybe work in giving myself more of a deficit during the week so I have a little more room for weekend indulgences.
I'm 5"7 and about 148 lbs. I've been aiming for about 1500 calories during the week.

JessicaP327 · February 2015

Two things, first ^^ no. Well, half no. You can have your cake and eat it too. Just not the whole cake. Everything in moderation. Of course, if you are having chicken wings and alcohol, cheeses and pizza clearly, you are putting yourself well beyond the calorie limit.

You have to create a deficit. Pick and choose the foods you want to eat. Everyone has a "cheat" now and again, but if you're saying you've been at it a year without any success even with the gym 5 days, you're most definitely not creating a deficit.

Maybe try not to go to the pub EVERY weekend and opt for some delicious home-cooked meals instead. Experiment with flavors and seasonings. There are delicious things are not pizza and chicken wings. Alcohol is wasted calories, drink in moderation. Cheese, 1oz. Every cheese has different caloric intake, so choose the cheeses with discretion.

If your husband isn't on this journey with you, have a conversation with him about what your goals are and tell him that you need his support and encouragement to stay on track. Its difficult when you are watching everyone eat pizza and you're stuck with a salad, but that's the moment you have to decide is enjoying the pizza the goal or not?

I started this, super difficult. I love food, various flavors, textures, I love to cook. Cooking food of all kinds was my hobby. Now, I modified my hobby to be "healthier" foods so I can still enjoy cooking and eating, but in moderation and low calorie.

Lastly, remember that this is a lifestyle change, not just a physical and mental challenge. You need to decide if you're ready to make the change and commit, otherwise its fruitless. Good luck!

Jankatherton · February 2015

Elise4270 wrote: »

Jankatherton wrote: »

Elise4270 wrote: »

Its not possible. Ugly truth. You can indulge once in a while, but not like you have been. Its no fun.

There are probably ways you could change most of your foods, like eat clean 90% of the time. So you have built in room to indulge a little. Maybe once a month?

All the time at the gym was not wasted. If you hadn't gone you'd probably be 20-30 pounds heavier right now. That's pay-off.

I want wings and wine every day... So good... But I think I'll pass so I can put my pants on... Just a concenquence of being female. Good luck finding your balance.

Thanks I guess I just really need to suck it up and be glad I am still in healthy weight range considering what I've been eating. I think part of the problem is that as a younger person I was really blessed with a fast metabolism and now that I'm 33 am realizing I can't just eat whatever I want anymore

LOL! Wait til your 44.. I started hormone replacement therapy this week. It just seems to get harder to do the right thing the older you get. I'll run to "earn" dinner. Its sad.

Ugg so not fair

zyxst · February 2015

Log consistently every day. When you can see in black and white what and how much you're eating, you might be able to cut back a bit and still enjoy yourself.

NikiChicken · February 2015

Laurend224 wrote: »

I decided I want to be a fit mom not a fat@as. I make that decision daily when I do things like pre log my meals, moderate my portions and choose not fall back into old habits.
I did this to myself, now I have to undo it....that's My motivation.

This is pretty much it. Every day I have to make a decision about what I want more: to eat/drink the treat(s) or to get fit. I still indulge on occasion and I absolutely still eat all my favorite things but now I just eat less of them/smaller portion and/or they are not every day occurrences.

lemurcat12 · February 2015

Are you logging your weekend indulgences? Basically, you seem to be eating at maintenance, so you'll want to cut either some portion of them or more calories the rest of the week to cover them. If you want to make it easy on yourself, say 250/day or 1750/week. If you make sure you log everything, you can look at what might be cut-worthy. For example, changing your pub order or going to a different restaurant or just eating low cal the rest of that day could help. Keep the wine but cut it down a little. Seeing if there are some wasted calories or things you could switch up without pain at other places in the week. Stuff like that.

Jankatherton · February 2015

JessicaP327 wrote: »

Two things, first ^^ no. Well, half no. You can have your cake and eat it too. Just not the whole cake. Everything in moderation. Of course, if you are having chicken wings and alcohol, cheeses and pizza clearly, you are putting yourself well beyond the calorie limit.

You have to create a deficit. Pick and choose the foods you want to eat. Everyone has a "cheat" now and again, but if you're saying you've been at it a year without any success even with the gym 5 days, you're most definitely not creating a deficit.

Maybe try not to go to the pub EVERY weekend and opt for some delicious home-cooked meals instead. Experiment with flavors and seasonings. There are delicious things are not pizza and chicken wings. Alcohol is wasted calories, drink in moderation. Cheese, 1oz. Every cheese has different caloric intake, so choose the cheeses with discretion.

If your husband isn't on this journey with you, have a conversation with him about what your goals are and tell him that you need his support and encouragement to stay on track. Its difficult when you are watching everyone eat pizza and you're stuck with a salad, but that's the moment you have to decide is enjoying the pizza the goal or not?

I started this, super difficult. I love food, various flavors, textures, I love to cook. Cooking food of all kinds was my hobby. Now, I modified my hobby to be "healthier" foods so I can still enjoy cooking and eating, but in moderation and low calorie.

Lastly, remember that this is a lifestyle change, not just a physical and mental challenge. You need to decide if you're ready to make the change and commit, otherwise its fruitless. Good luck!

Yes it definitely makes it difficult that my husband does not have the same goals. Do you have any tasty weekend meal ideas?

tigerblue · February 2015

SconnieCat wrote: »

Oh I totally drink wine on the weekends. Love it. And I couldn't imagine a world where I couldn't have a glass of Malbec while I'm relaxing with friends, cooking, or eating a steak.

For me, it's all about finding stuff I love and planning ahead. I find that if I take the time on the weekends or when I get spare time during the week and make a list of the meals I want to make for the following week, and then grocery shop Saturday morning as well as do prep-work on Sunday, I'm a lot more ready and it takes the guesswork out of "what am I eating for dinner tonight?" I am too exhausted from coming home from work during the weeknights to spend a ton of time trying to figure out what to eat. Plus I go to the gym in the evenings. By planning ahead, it's so much easier to toss something that has been marinating on the flattop or have a homemade crock-pot meal already simmering in the Crock Pot.

A couple of other helpful things: I weigh everything I put in my mouth (bazing) so I know where I am calorie-wise.

And I still don't give up bar nachos, wings or beer (mmmm beer). I just make sure to plan ahead and cut back on calories in another area or spend a little extra time at the gym to make my lifestyle and my goals fit. And if I haven't made as much room as I should, I just order something that will fit. Instead of ordering waffles and bottomless Bloody Mary's at brunch, I'm having an egg white omelet. I think it's all about balance.

Hope that helped. Sorry if it was long-winded. This is what I get for trying to multitask at work

This!!!

Log everything. And make choices. When I know I am going out for dinner and would like a glass of wine with it, I eat a smaller breakfast and lunch and cut out snacks. Same for food celebrations like holidays or birthdays.

And if I know I REALLY need some extra calories for a special occaision, I add extra minutes to my run, or add in a run on a day where I wouldn't normally run.

Sometimes, you can even eat lightly for a couple of days and "bank" the extra calories.

I am very motivated, but I am not perfect every day. The problem comes when I have several special occaisions too close together!

It really is all about choices and there is never just one way to handle it!

This is my mantra: Mostly healthy choices. Most of the time!

KruCrew · February 2015

I find making small changes over the weekend has helped me, for instance.. instead of usually drinking one bottle of wine over a weekend, cut back by one glass. If you know that chicken wings and chips will be your go to, maybe try a new restaurant and order something different - break the pattern. And lastly.....I know its a drag but do something....visit a friend, take a walk, go for a swim, visit a gallery, take up a hobby, just get busy :-) These strategies have helped me and yet there are days that I've reverted because depriving myself only makes me feel resentful and unhappy. However on the good days, I feel strong, in control and one step closer to my goal.

thrashscara · February 2015

Instead of cheat days I occasionally have "cheat meals" usually Saturday evening and Monday evening, although I tend to find that I am choosing healthy options but having a small bit of something I really could die for. For me it's not about depriving myself, it's about controlling those cravings, tonight for instance I've just returned from the gym, had my home cooked low cal pasta and now tucking in to a small slice of chocolate cake I've had my eye on since it came out the oven

as long as it's all logged I tend to find that it's "not as bad as you think" when looking back at what you have consumed, remove the guilt and just see it as a journey.

So basically cake occasionally keeps me going!

af_wife2004 · February 2015

A lot of your weekend activities seem to revolve around food and alcohol. Perhaps start with one or two days a month to try something different such as indoor rock climbing, a bicycling club, museum, etc. If these are things you do with a certain set of friends, you may all try something new together perhaps even cooking at each other's house and enjoying the evening around the fire pit. I personally wouldn't give up brunch w/girlfriends, but since you go every week you should know what they serve. Log it ahead of time and stick to your menu choices.

dawnmcneil10 · February 2015

Have you considered instead of beer, wings and pizza to have a salad? Take the wings and use them to top the salad or have a side salad with a slice of pizza.

If you're having brunch out skip the alcohol and pastry type foods. If they have an omelet bar load up and egg white omelet with veggies, maybe some seafood or whatever else you desire.

I personally wouldn't give up the wine and cheese pairings but perhaps you could drink less of the wine or eat half the cheese?

Just a couple options there from my brain. I'm sure with a little modification you'll find your own personal balance.

Missbodyrocker · February 2015

I've not got a lot to lose either at the very most 10 - 14lbs and its hard. I too am a gym freak totally love it. My down fall is alcohol and I have a sweet tooth. As of today I'm going to 1400 calories without eating exercise calories back, part of these calories includes an alcoholic drink. I tend to go off the rails at the weekend also with the wine but as an experiment I'm going to let myself have more calories at the weekend for 2/3 bottles of wine so I'm thinking on Fri, Sat and Sun allow 1800 calories per day. Either way I would say I'd still be consuming less calories over the week in total.

Jankatherton · February 2015

Missbodyrocker wrote: »

I've not got a lot to lose either at the very most 10 - 14lbs and its hard. I too am a gym freak totally love it. My down fall is alcohol and I have a sweet tooth. As of today I'm going to 1400 calories without eating exercise calories back, part of these calories includes an alcoholic drink. I tend to go off the rails at the weekend also with the wine but as an experiment I'm going to let myself have more calories at the weekend for 2/3 bottles of wine so I'm thinking on Fri, Sat and Sun allow 1800 calories per day. Either way I would say I'd still be consuming less calories over the week in total.

I like this plan

Jankatherton · February 2015

Is there any amount of exercise that you guys think would allow me to continue my habits and still lose about 0.75 lbs a week?

entropy79 · February 2015

Have you looked into meeting with a personal trainer? Also it can depend on what you are doing at the gym. If you are only doing cardio without any weight training it may not be as beneficial. I totally understand how hard it is when you want to enjoy stuff like pub food and drinks. The important thing is to eat clean as much a possible and not just during the week. I find it helpful to educate myself on what others are doing, especially people who are fit. They will enjoy cheat days, but they are usually between longer spells of clean eating. I hope this helps. Good Luck

kbmnurse · February 2015

Can't have everything. Sacrifice leads to results. If your not willing to do that be thankful you didn't gain any weight over the past year.

gothchiq · February 2015

LOL! Wait til your 44.. I started hormone replacement therapy this week. It just seems to get harder to do the right thing the older you get. I'll run to "earn" dinner. Its sad.

YASSSS. I'm 46, am short, been on HRT for 2 years, propping up a dead thyroid with medications. I KILL myself in the gym and weigh every bite I eat due to these factors.. Better to start the good habits now and get used to them than to have to turn it around in middle age. I achieved my goal in 2014 and am staying there but I won't lie and say it's easy or anything. A packet of instant oatmeal can put me over. WHARRRBLARGL lol

Liftng4Lis · February 2015

For me, seeing how all my hard work at the gym is paying off, is motivation enough!

tulips_and_tea · February 2015

herrspoons wrote: »

Jankatherton wrote: »

Is there any amount of exercise that you guys think would allow me to continue my habits and still lose about 0.75 lbs a week?

Given you're training five days a week already, no.

I have to agree with this. Theoretically, COULD you do enough exercise to keep the same eating habits? Possibly. For a short time. Then you risk over use injury or just injury in general. Then what happens if you're reliant on that amount of exercise and cannot do it for a while? Then you will REALLY have a hard time changing your eating habits. Might as well start making small changes now, as other posters have mentioned.

How do you get motivated diet -wise?

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