Constantly on a diet

I am a 59 year old woman that has lived the last 35 years off and on diets. I frustrate myself, hate myself, disgust myself. Sometimes....then others? I'm proud of myself, love myself, love the way I look. I was very thin growing up. I'm not tall, 5'4. So when that extra weight started piling on in my mid 20's all I had to do was say oh I need to lose 10 pounds and I could in a week. No problem. Then I had kids in my late 30's, early 40's. Then I went through early menopause. All during those times though if I gained some weight I could very easily take it off. Issue was the maintaining of that weight loss. So frustrating and so hard. Then one day about 6 years ago, my husband and I said 'enough'.....we did the Micheal Thurmond 6 week body makeover. I ended up losing a total of 75 pounds in about 10 months. I loved how I felt, looked, how I looked in clothes everything about it. I learned how to cook differently, I learned to love to exercise again. Everything about it was great. Honestly we only lasted about 3 weeks on the 6 week body makeover. I would only suggest that if you want to lose some weight really fast. Now that I look back I felt like it was near starvation. We started eating more of a diabetic diet and that's what really worked for us. I had a heart attack about 6 months into that weight loss journey. I had lost the rest of the weight after my heart attack. I even had some tell me I had gotten too thin!
Once I could start exercising again after my heart attack, I did and I did every day. Never missed a beat. I kept that weight off for 3 years. Then it went downhill and I've been struggling for the last 2 years. As of today, I've gained back 65 pounds of the 75 that I lost. It went downhill because I found out I had an allergy to a medication they had put me on which caused muscle damage in my legs. I couldn't exercise any longer like before. I became depressed. Then some money issues hit us very hard, I became even more depressed. I'm off the medication and have been for about 8 months and my legs are definitely stronger and I can exercise again. When I woke up today, I cried because I've let this happen to me again. I've lost my motivation for some reason. I have boxes of clothes that I can't wear that I'll look through and cry the entire time but it doesn't seem to make me want to change. What does it take? I get frustrated with the eat fresh fruit, don't eat fresh fruit too much sugar. Eat dairy, don't eat dairy. Eat lean protein, don't eat protein. I've tried that kick again to get me going and I can't last 3 days. I get so hungry and just lose my motivation. I guess I just need a kick in the butt. Someone to push me. I know there are so many others going through the same thing I am.

Replies

  • MissPiixxii
    MissPiixxii Posts: 13 Member
    I can definitely relate to some of things you said, it is so hard to know what is right and wrong to eat cause everything you read tells you something different. For the motivation maybe sit down and write out a list of your goals, why you want to achieve them and how you can do them. Maybe also add some pictures that motivate you, the when your having low motivation days pull it out and read over it to remind you of what you're doing this for :) Hope that helps a little and feel free to add me if you'd like. Maybe we can help motivate each other!
  • bailey697
    bailey697 Posts: 3 Member
    Thank you! It's always nice to know there are others going through the same thing. I'm digging deep to find the motivation I need. Every day is a new day.
  • fiddletime
    fiddletime Posts: 1,868 Member
    I'm 61 and one day just decided that I wasn't going to be an overweight senior. I needed to take back my life. I discovered MFP and lost the weight. Then I stopped logging my calories and gained it all back. I came back here and decided to try a slower approach. A lifetime approach. I lose 3# a month on 1200 calories. I'm 5'2". I'm not in a rush as its coming off and I want to keep it off.

    I read the Maintenance boards on here to hear the psychology of successfully maintaining. I have a bad foot so can't jog anymore and switched to weights. I spend a lot of time on the Exercise and Fitness boards to read about non-cardio exercising. I bought a stationary bike a few weeks ago and found I can do that with my foot, so bike 2 days a week as well. Just start logging and get on here daily. It'll help you find the desire to get started. Once you get started new habits will be born, but they take a long time so be patient. This is a marathon. You can do it!
  • bcarmalita
    bcarmalita Posts: 9 Member
    Hello,
    I understand your frustrations! I turn 50 on Wednesday and I am Ina near panic that I won't be able to lose the weight I already have. Alter you had your H.A did they give you an option to speak with a nutritionist ( like a heart healthy diet or along those lines)? That may help.
    You have already made an accomplishment, you are on MFP today! Day one done! Let's do this, I need help too.
  • bailey697
    bailey697 Posts: 3 Member
    I did meet with a nutritionist after my heart attack. At that point I had already changed my diet and the way I was cooking and she said to me 'you actually eat healthier than I do'. I think my anger at myself comes from letting life get to me and reacting in the way that I did by eating and giving up. I just need to keep trudging along and I'll get there again. I need to dry my tears and quit feeling so sorry for myself. It's my own fault and I always thought I was a little tougher than that and I just let things get to me. Thanks for all of the encouragement and we'll all do this together.