What do you do when you feel like giving up?

kidagakash88
kidagakash88 Posts: 3 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm not there yet, I don't think. I don't find myself craving fast food or anything like that, except for the usual sweet that I satisfy with "healthy" cookies. But I'm scared that I will before I've gone far enough, so I want to know what you do, or what you've done when you want to give up, when it becomes easy to just start getting take out and junk food without even caring about what the goal was to begin with.

Replies

  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    Well, I take a moderated approach that allows for the occasional fast food and non-"healthy" cookie, so I don't feel like giving up.

    My advice is to reevaluate what you are doing and modify it so it will meet your needs for the long term.
  • courtney_love2001
    courtney_love2001 Posts: 1,468 Member
    You pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and continue on. If what you were doing was working and you were losing weight, why not go back to it? Everyone has bad days and those thoughts. It's just about not totally giving in and letting yourself go back to how you were before. There's a reason you're here--you weren't happy. Keep thinking about the happy you in the future and don't give up!
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    Also, I see that your headline and wonder if you haven't come to the conclusion that you can still love food and also make changes. It's not one or the other -- food is still something to be enjoyed and definitely isn't the enemy.

    I would really encourage you to think about long term sustainability and the process of losing weight and adopting better food habits as something evolving over time. Are you really never going to eat take away or fast food again? Are you really only ever going to eat "healthy" cookies?

    Don't look at this as a short term process. If what you are doing now is something you know for sure isn't sustainable after you get to your goal, don't do it now. Instead practice moderation. Learn how to make choices that satisfy your cravings but don't derail your progress.

  • kcd1961
    kcd1961 Posts: 126 Member
    edited January 2016
    You make sure you have a plan that allows you to have some satisfying options and "junk" - if that's what it takes to stay on track. For me, some of the staples which made it possible to minimise the feeling of "denial" were 1) My home made banana choc chip muffins (105 cal), 2) Soft serve Ice creams (130-150) and getting to know the best options at the local pattisserie (caramel kisses - 200, salted caramel eclairs - 220). Or no added sugar ice cream and berries. Sure they are not the most nutritious, but they are way better than the worst options.

    Also - "Don't give up"

    And if you do - "Give up for the shortest period of time possible before getting back on track".
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,368 Member
    Giving up isn't an option. Having a day off ('cheat day') because you really need not to care about calories for once, sure. But you get back on track the next day.

    Also... don't give up the foods you love. That's the bigger thing. If you deprive yourself, you won't be able to stick to it, guaranteed.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Giving up isn't an option. Having a day off ('cheat day') because you really need not to care about calories for once, sure. But you get back on track the next day.

    Also... don't give up the foods you love. That's the bigger thing. If you deprive yourself, you won't be able to stick to it, guaranteed.

    that. ive come way too far to give up. ill have periods where i eat at maintenance to give myself a break.... but im not willing to un-do all the hard work ive put in. i also dont keep clothes that are too big, so if i give up.... i have to buy bigger clothes.

    SO. NOT. AN. OPTION.

    i eat the same foods (mostly) i always have- sweets and booze and whatever. just much smaller portion sizes. i also eat out all the time (usually for lunch)- and plan the rest of my day accordingly.
  • jeepinshawn
    jeepinshawn Posts: 642 Member
    Key to my success so far has been making sure to fit some "junk" food into my calorie allotment for the day.
  • kidagakash88
    kidagakash88 Posts: 3 Member
    Thanks so much for all the replies. It also helps me knowing I'm not alone in this struggle. So far I've done well with not compromising my love for food in exchange for weight loss. I've managed to reinvent the way I cook and it makes me feel a small sense of accomplishment. As I said, I don't think I'm at that point where I'm going to give up. Right now I feel like nothing can make me stop and I'm trying to hold on to that mentality until this no longer seems like I have to make an effort, more like it is my way of life.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I feel like it isn't an option to give up in the sense that I eat over my maintenance level.
    I'm mostly eating the same food just smaller portions so giving up is just eating at maintenance basically. I don't want to go back to the way I was a year ago but I have no deadline so a maintenance period is okay for awhile.
    I am not tired of logging. It is just something I do.
    I am not tired of monitoring my weight once a week.
    I did stop exercising as frequently so I am stepping that up again. I found a couple of new workouts to make it a little more interesting.
  • kidagakash88
    kidagakash88 Posts: 3 Member
    kcd1961 wrote: »
    You make sure you have a plan that allows you to have some satisfying options and "junk" - if that's what it takes to stay on track. For me, some of the staples which made it possible to minimise the feeling of "denial" were 1) My home made banana choc chip muffins (105 cal), 2) Soft serve Ice creams (130-150) and getting to know the best options at the local pattisserie (caramel kisses - 200, salted caramel eclairs - 220). Or no added sugar ice cream and berries. Sure they are not the most nutritious, but they are way better than the worst options.

    Also - "Don't give up"

    And if you do - "Give up for the shortest period of time possible before getting back on track".

    I would like to try those muffins. I love banana flavor! I've attempted several desserts before but they're really not my thing. I have a lot more success with cooking spicier foods.

  • allenpriest
    allenpriest Posts: 1,102 Member
    I think about why I got so sick and tired of where I was in the first place.
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