So tired of this lifestyle

I've just had to make it my new normal. It doesn't have to be interesting or engaging, just has to be done. I cook foods I love, within my calories and change up my calorie goals to usit my needs. I eat low during the week (1200ish) so I can eat at 2000 or so on weekends. I walk my butt off, getting off a stop early, taking the long way to work etc.

I know where you're coming from and I have been there, but I owe my success this time around, and having been on track for almost 2 years now on redefining my 'normal'.

I used to be the same - always yo yoing! I think the change comes when you stop being so restrictive that it's not enjoyable. Have you heard of flexible dieting? I'd look into that, and also make sure your calories aren't too aggressively restrictive that you're hungry.. if you can stick to it then the weight stays off! Also, find a type of exercise you like. I LOVE weight lifting, it's the highlight of my day and I'm one cranky girl if I can't get to the gym.. a far cry from the girl who used to dread exercise and see it as a chore! If you find something you enjoy you'll want to do it, meaning it's more maintainable

It wont come back if you dont eat to excess or at a surplus. Its up to you to control your consumption. In part you can offset that with exercise , but to prevent it coming back you need to have an idea for maintenance and to keep on top of it.

It sounds like once you get to target you go back to your old ways and stop counting. Maybe dont stop or have a different method of keeping track. If you are looking to get back in and its difficult, then two approaches you cna consider are 1. Pick different exercise i.e a sport or a hobby that you might find more fun or new activities/ workouts at the gym. 2. Start with small gradual steps rather than going full throttle and burning out.

For me, I'll probably be counting calories forever. I've gotten used to it now and quite enjoy it.

If you stick to your maintenance calories, then you wont gain weight again. Use the tools MFP has provided.

What does your dieting and counting calories involve? If you are on restricted diets, very low calorie, limited foods etc, then of course this will nto be sustainable. Make lifestyle changes you can live with. Set a goal for slow weight loss, include foods you like, do your research to find alternatives to high calorie foods you enjoy, so you can make permanent changes to your eating habits, increase your physical activity. Just "getting back into this", losing weight and then going back to your old habits will mean the same thing again. Try small changes and plan to living with them, without a deadline.

aggelikik wrote: »

What does your dieting and counting calories involve? If you are on restricted diets, very low calorie, limited foods etc, then of course this will nto be sustainable. Make lifestyle changes you can live with. Set a goal for slow weight loss, include foods you like, do your research to find alternatives to high calorie foods you enjoy, so you can make permanent changes to your eating habits, increase your physical activity. Just "getting back into this", losing weight and then going back to your old habits will mean the same thing again. Try small changes and plan to living with them, without a deadline.

Very. Good. Advice.

Deprivation diets don't work, and lead to bingeing and yoyoing.

Instead, learn to eat whatever you like within your calorie limit.

I don't do obsessive.

In order for me to maintain my weight (and right now, continue to lose), I do have to closely monitor my intake. Maintenance is slightly easier, as when I do that, I have little more leeway, but i will always have to be mindful of how much I'm eating. I'm short. My maintenance will never be what I would LIKE it to be. And thats why I will be working out as long as I am physically able to! LOL

It's one of those things where, if it's important to you, you will continue to do it.

christinev297 wrote: »

For me, I'll probably be counting calories forever. I've gotten used to it now and quite enjoy it.

If you stick to your maintenance calories, then you wont gain weight again. Use the tools MFP has provided.

Same here!!

I am glad that someone else feels this way. I am almost 43 and I have been overweight for pretty much all of those years (to some degree or another) - I struggle constantly. I have good weeks and then not-so-good weeks. I Have yet to string enough good weeks together to see success (which for me is to be under 200 pounds). And I wonder to myself all the time - if it is this hard for me to even LOSE weight - how the heck will I maintain the loss?

I am sick to death of having to worry about everything that I put it my mouth. I just want to eat, dammit!!!

Ok first it's normal to gain water weight when you increase your calories suddenly. It's not fat. To avoid that, you have to increase your calories by 100 a week or something.

Second, you shouldn't go 'hardcore' working out to lose. You have to find a workout schedule that is sustainable to maintain once you've reached your goal weight... otherwise, if you start eating more and workout less, yes, you'll gain weight...

Also shakeology is just a meal replacement. It's expensive and isn't going to do anything for you that a protein shake wouldn't do... But definitely look up Youtube or heck, even Beachbody programs if you want to find something new that you'll enjoy (I LOVE Les Mills Combat from Beachbody, for example).

Pay attention to portions. Use the scale, but LOOK at the food. Learn what size your portions are and should be.

I know many people swear they will log every bite of food for the rest of their lives, but it think that if you could flash-forward to twenty years from now, you'd see that they didn't end up doing it. Most people will not be logging their food forever.

If you know you don't enjoy it, learn how to eat without it while you use that crutch. Then, walk on your own.

For me it is very simple.

I accepted the fact i will never NOT count my calories because i WILL gain weight.
So to not gain, i have to keep on counting. And i dont see it as a big deal because i want to maintain my weight.

Luckily i dont have to change much when i start maintaining because i am not really on a diet. I just ate less the last 11 months.
I only have to up it a bit ( portions) add some "skinny/light" products back to full ( like dressing and skimmed milk etc) and i am back to normal again.
I always ate a balanced diet, my whole life. Ate it all and still do. I only had to eat less.

Cooked and baked from scratch, so no changes there either.

At this point i am not far of maintenance so upped my calories already. And going like predicted. Keep losing and i keep weighing all my solid food on the food scale
It just takes a minute more to do so, and that minute more doesn't matter because the result is that i keep my desired/healthy weight.

I also dont see it as obsessive to weigh everything. As a former restaurant owner and chef it was normal for me to make recipes and weigh everything. Part of the job and my life.
I also dont stress when i cant weigh something ( when i am out) i just guess and i always say...that dinner out or that party or that donut i take or McDonalds didn't make me fat......it was all those times after that one time i took it over and over again.
All the times i ate more calories than i needed. In healthy lovely fruits and vegetables and a drink. In junk foods and other treats.
I know that i can eat everything i want ( and i do) as long as i keep counting. And when i indulge one day...the next day have to be less and normal again. portion control is the key for me.
So for me "a person who cant eyeball portions" it will be counting my calories for the rest of my life, not stressing about some food i cant count, just next day back to normal.

No obsession just acceptance that it is that way. And i am very relax about all of it.

and that is also how i lost my

I remember in college studying while standing up. I would find a desk or surface where I could study while standing. And while standing, I marched in place, did toe tapping, etc. anything to keep moving - much like I am doing now at age 43 in my office job. I make sure I wear my Fitbit everywhere and do anything I can to get my steps in. I went from about 2,000 steps a day to over 10,000 a day. My daily average is about 12-13,000 a day. If your school has stairs, you have a built-in cardio option right there!