Starting Over and over

Otterheart
Otterheart Posts: 9
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Does anyone ever feel like you're constantly starting over? What's your take on that? Do you think there's a better way of thinking that thought? I'm looking for an affirmation to replace the not-so-positive spin I put on that question. OR maybe a reality check.

thanks peeps!

Replies

  • littlelol
    littlelol Posts: 539
    DITTO, I feel the same as you hun xx
  • busygirl1
    busygirl1 Posts: 217
    and me, every other week I fall off the wagon, eat everything in sight then start over. Why? I have no idea, how to stop? I have no idea. :mad:
  • amymlb
    amymlb Posts: 1 Member
    Every morning when we open our eyes we are starting over. It is perfectly OK to feel that way and I even think it is a healthy attitude. Every day each of us does something we are not particularly happy with. We overeat, don't take that walk, speak a bit too sharply to someone we love or even just give up on ourselves. Each morning is a new beginning. We can forgive ourselves for the missteps and just resolve to make the day a little better than the one before. A new day is always new, it is always full of hope. One day at a time is all we have, if we are lucky.
  • Clairebryant36
    Clairebryant36 Posts: 21
    I think if it's about weight loss then there are some who start over and over and go up and down, I have met some people like this, and I just feel that they are not ready to make the change just yet, they think they are, they know they should but you have to be in the "zone" so to speak and it's not that they are weak or anything they are just not ready, maybe too many other things going on in their lives, or maybe they have depression/anxiety which makes it hard, or a medical condition. For me I lost 24kg because I had a mini wake up call last year when a doctor advised me to lose weight as it would help with my sinus and sleep problems. He said it in a nice way and within 6 weeks I was on track:) I have to say I feel amazing and I love the compliments. I would like to lose another 5kg and I hope to within the next few months, but I am being gentle on myself and not aiming too high. Also when people have unrealistic expectations when it comes to weight loss, e.g. to lose heaps in a small time frame that can stop the efforts!
  • WolffEarl
    WolffEarl Posts: 379 Member
    Here are my thoughts on this.
    Imagine you are on this amazing trip called life and every morning you wake up, plan to make an excursion to some beautiful landmark, maybe a mountain top, a lovely beach, a walk to the forest, a healthy meal, a date with the treadmill, whatever. So, every day involves these lovely "hikes". Of course at the end of the day you are tired, in need of rest to awake refreshed, ready for the next day and wondering what adventures it might hold. Now, with that in mind, you might think "Time to CONTINUE this wonderful trip". You would hardly think: "What, I got to do this over and over again?" So every day, you think of what you do as NOT only a necessary thing but a worthwhile, important and rewarding adventure (may it be exercising, eating better, eating differently, etc). Than there is no "starting over and over" only "Allright, I get to do this again, what a privilege!.
    And if somewhere along this journey you stop and retrace old paths again, maybe some better left unexplored, (backsliding so to speak) that is okay too, because you are simply continuing on. It certainly works for me. So, I view any exercise I do or healthy meal I eat as a reward, rather than a unwanted punishment b/c I was "bad" before. So yes, when I do different exercises or good eating "over and over again" I am "RIght on". Be well. Life is good.
  • Alegions
    Alegions Posts: 2
    I think about it in terms of persevering just because you slip up one day doesnt mean you have to quit. You pick up the peices and keep moving forward. Nothing is impossible. Ive lost 61 pounds and I start over all the time. Just keep your eye on the prize and you wont go wrong.
  • Alegions
    Alegions Posts: 2
    Thanks for that post, its very inspiring.
  • TourThePast
    TourThePast Posts: 1,753 Member
    Maybe you FEEL as if you are starting over and over because you ARE starting over and over! Take a step back and try and figure out what's happening here.

    Are you really ready and prepared to make long term changes to your lifestyle? Because if you're not, you're wasting your time and making yourself unhappy.

    If you are, take a look at what you're doing that makes it too hard, that makes you give up, then have to start all over again.

    Are you trying to make changes that are so huge that you can't stick with them? If you're trying to lose weight, are you eating so little that you're hungry all the time? If you're trying to get healthier and fitter, are you putting enough time aside for exercise. Or, are you trying to do so much that the rest of your life gets in the way.

    Whatever changes you make, you're going to have to do it for the rest of your life, so it's a mistake to leap in at the deep end and try and do things that you can only do for a few weeks at a time - that is setting yourself up for failure.

    Take small steps, that you KNOW you can stick to. E.g. giving up that calorie packed starbucks coffee, only eating desserts on one day a week, or parking at the far end of the car park, or always using stairs or whatever. When you've mastered one, take another step. Then another.
  • Otterheart
    Otterheart Posts: 9
    Thank you everyone!

    WolfEarl and TourthePast: Thanks for the in depth perspectives!
    WolfEarl you are so right! There's the affirmation for me when I wake in the morning (not just for this goal but all). RIGHT ON! I GET ANOTHER DAY TO BE MY BEST! I'm saving your post and posting it on my vision board (hope that's ok) as a reminder.

    TourThePast: Yes, I do tend to over commit myself to things and people and so put MY PRIORITIES aside and/or get distracted. Along with what WolfEarl said I'm going to use a trick a friend taught me and start putting up reminder cards/notes around the apartment (at the door, fridge, bathroom, etc.) with affirmations.

    I am also reminded that, while an old thought process lends me to think I've failed and that's why I'm starting again, I really am making better choices everyday. I realized this as I was doing and inventory of my fridge and pantry (suggestion from a program/book I'm reading) and found that I only had 4 items that were on the "Avoid" list. 4!!! and 2 of those were my mom's!

    Thank you!
  • karen7856
    karen7856 Posts: 4
    The only failure is in not continuing to try. I just know you can do it, and so can I. Keep your chin up and don't give up. An old saying says that a journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single step. Just take it one step at a time and you will eventually reach your goal.
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