Struggling

Don't give up! Try to think of this as making small changes that you are willing to live with most of the time - so there's no wagen to fall off of! Look at what is your worst eating habit and work on changing that - replacing it with something healthier and make it your new habit! Change the way you think about it - and focus on what you are getting - not what you are giving up. Make better choices!

For me, I just started reading and researching about what foods to eat that would be healthy and help me lose weight. Then I got those foods and I eat them. Not all of them are my favorites but I found a lot that I do like. I'm not always perfect, but my slips are small and I don't let myself veer off course.

Once I started really reading about different foods and reading labels, I decided I didn't want to put all of those old foods in my body any more. I think it was like a puzzle for me. I had a calorie goal, protein, carb, fat and sodium goals and I try to fit all my foods into that puzzle and I enjoy the challenge of that. That forces me to make good choices.

Maybe setting some smaller short term goals will help. It can be daunting to think of a big number to try to lose or to just have a general goal of losing weight. I decided to give running a try and started the Couch to 5K training program and signed up for a race that was around 9 weeks out. That way, I wouldn't back out of my training routine.

I know a lot of people use the moderation technique and it works for them but for me, I just had to say this is how it's going to be and just do it. I like to look at it as one day at a time and think "It's just 24 hours, I can do this for 24 hours"

For me, it was the realization that dieting was never going to give me what I truly wanted. Which is a stronger fitter body and better overall health and well being. This cannot be a diet. It must be a lifestyle change. If you don't accept it as that, you will just yo yo back and forth.

If you want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to resign yourself to the fact that you just can't eat the way you once did. And, you cannot live a healthy life, without regular exercise. Sure there are a few people out there that seem to be able to eat whatever they want, never exercise and seem to not gain weight. They are the exception to the rule. For the majority of us, it just does not work like that.

I wish you success on your journey and I truly hope you achieve your goals. Friend request me if you would like support. I must warn you though, that if you are going to take week long breaks, I will unfriend you eventually. I need the support too.

Michelle

I did the same thing for years, and unfortunately you just have to "want it" . . . more than the taste of anything. You have to push yourself every day to be dedicated to YOU. The same way you are loyal and dedicated to your family and have taken care of them you need to turn around and do it for you for a change.
I have a sign hanging on my closet door so is the first thing I see every morning when I sit up and swing my legs over the side of my bed . . .
I create myself with the choices I make each day.
I have the courage to make permanent and positive changes to my live.

Plus I have on my fridge . . . "nothing tastes as good as slim and healthy feels!"

I had to break it down into 24 hour periods, promising myself that even I could remain dedicated to eat healthy and within my calories that day, and to get up and move for at least 30 minutes. I have a typically stressful and long days type of job so didn't actually make the time to exercise every day, but made sure I was spot on with my diet . . . and I don't mean a "temporary" diet either. I have completely changed the way I shop, cook, and eat . . . my whole outlook on food has changed. This is not just about calories in Vs. calories out . . . it is an emotional journey that you have to take.
Take 1 day at a time and know you are worth the effort.

Maybe you are trying to do too much at once. Take it easy and figure out what would be the easiest thing for you to do later when you reach goal. For me, I can eat "diet" most times( I actually like salad veggies) but I like to go out to eat once a week. Also I wouldn't like to cook two meals for the rest of my life, it would never stick. So that means I have to learn portion control. I eat measured portions of whatever I cook for dinner. Make up more with the veggies and fruits during the day. I make an omelet for breakfast with one egg, some 2% cheese, mushrooms and some kind of meat protein. Since it is only one egg, can't be too much on the added stuff but it is filling and keeps me going for quite a while. I love green and red peppers so I add them to pretty much anything. I still eat bread and potatos but I have found that skipping the pasta doesn't bother me. Find out what you can't live without and try to get it in smaller portions. I found that avocado is great in a sandwich so I get my healthy fat. when I want a snack. I love fruits so I always have fruit and veggies in the fridge. My hubby is great in preparing them for me. As soon as they get bought, they get cut in slices, put on zip bags and they are ready for me anytime I need them. I love salty and crunchy stuff so I bought some stuff in the beginning that was baked, since it was a lot of calories I never seem to find place to fit it because I was eating other stuff, before i knew it, I was not missing it anymore and even when I did eat it, again, I portioned to one serving and ate just that to take the craving away. I found a cereal that is healthy that I like and at the end of the day if I have a craving I get a serving or 2 depending on the calories left. Everyone brings sweets at work all the time, the first couple of times it was hard but then I'm not much of a cake person so It was not hard, donuts is another story but if I wait long enough there are gone since we have a lot of guys who can eat plenty. Lie to yourself, tell yourself to wait a little longer. Get busy, I'm sure with 4 kids you can find somenthing else that needs doing. Find healthy snacks when you have cravings and drink water before any item of food. It fills you up.
I have RA so my excercise is limited, I try to do the best I can but most times I can't. I don't let it get to me. My portion control is working fine for now. Later as my weight comes off, I'm sure I will be able to up the excercise. For know the Wii is a godsend. I have some "games" that make me sweat. Maybe I only average 200 calories when I get to it but I figure it is better than nothing.
You can do it but you have to really make the decision this is your life. Find what works best and try it. I just hit 20 lbs lost today and I'm ecstatic. It is working and I want more! When I started my goal was to be 180 and now I'm thinking I'm going to keep going to see how far I can go.
I know you can do it. I started at 231 just like you and I'm a shortie so I really need to lose a lot but I'm tired of been tired. I'm tired of always been in pain. I just want to have as normal a life as I can and this weight is not allowing me to.
You got to do some work (it takes a lot of organizing and pre-planning) but make it your plan. Whatever is that will make you stick with it. You have to sit down and figure that out.
Good luck!