heeeeellllp !

Take it a day at a time... you'll be shocked at how much better you feel once you've gotten the other crap out of your system. Plus, your energy will be better, so the exercise will follow. Take one step at a time and you'll see the momentum pull you along from there!

Personally, when I made the decision to break the bad food cycle, I went cold turkey and did a 5-day, 5-food, 5-meal challenge, cutting everything out but those 5 foods (it was the kick-start from the Cinch diet, if you're interested). I knew that if I just cut something here or there, I'd think about what I'm missing, but if I changed everything, I'd concentrate more on how to spice up those 5 to make it through 5 days. After 5 day, I'd lost about 10 pounds and felt so great that I never reintroduced a lot of things.

Good luck - you CAN do this!

Sometimes it is very hard to change your whole life all at once. Pick one thing that you know is unhealthy and work to improve it. When you are comfortable with your change, and comfortable that you have really developed a new habit, tackle the next trouble spot. Try not to fall into the trap of thinking you have to be perfect. You will be amazed at the progress you will make if you do a great job about 90% of the time. Another thing that has helped me tackle a tough change in the past is to make a list of pros and cons for my change. When I feel a moment of weakness coming along, I review my list. Even with the "cons" right in front of me, the pros almost always win. Also helpful is keeping a journal of how great I feel when I'm exercising regularly and eating like someone with some sense. Remember, this is about YOU being the healthiest you possible.

Downsize your sweet tooth . Rather than having the big candy bar , cookie, carb....- make sure you have the mini's/smallest version you can around. They usually only have 50 calories - mini candy bars, so as long as you don't go overboard it is a great treat. The other odd thing, rather than banning sweets / carbs from my house all together - I actually overstocked the shelves. I have found i eat less that way. It is there and I know it is, so less need to binge on them. Go figure?

So, I am having an awfully hard time attempting to motivate myself to eat clean and exercise- I feel super lazy and I know what I need to do to achieve my goals but I just cannot seem to break my bad habits! I love carbs and I love sweets, I want to change.. but I just keep disappointing myself! I don't know why I sabbotage my plans EVERYTIME! Its not like I want to fail! Anyone have any tips or pointers to finally succeed?!
Thank you,
Ashley

Just change the kinds of carbs and sweets you eat. Eat whole wheat and whole grain carbs, and for "sweets", eat fruit or drink some milk or juice. Your body doesn't distinguish between the kinds of carbs and sugar it's asking for, it's just your brain associating those cravings with processed food. Just eating the more natural types of nutrients will allow your body to adjust and your brain will begin associating those cravings for those natural sources.

Love yourself. You are the most important person in your world and deserve to be happy.

The exercise part I am struggling with myself... I am using the "you can do anything for 5 minutes at a time" method. I start the timer and vow that I am going to make it thru the 5 minutes.. once I get going, it might be 5,6 or 11 minutes.. but I conquered the getting started part. (Plus, I have made it a condition that each time I want a cup of coffee, I MUST get on the treadmill)


but the eating clean part... I can answer that with absolutely NO authority what so ever!

Cleaning out the cupboards and snack stashes helped me. Take a cupboard or shelf and set a timer for 5 minutes and toss everything that you know you should NOT be eating then do not go into the dark dangerous interior of the grocery store, there be dragons there!