Can't stop gaining and losing cycle

stephaniewest1234
Posts: 2 Member
Anybody else keep gaining back what you lose? I've done that so many times and I'm so mad at myself every time I do it. It's like every time I get close to my goal I'm burned out on tracking and worrying about my food so I let any excuse (holidays, birthday, trip, etc) send me on a downward spiral. I've gained back half of what I lost this most recent time as of now. Ugh. Back to almost square 1..........again.
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Plan for special occasions, they are part of your life. And don't plan to eat food you like only on special occasions, eat food you like every day. Decide if it's the tracking or something else (unrealistic expectations, emotional conflicts, fear of success, change of pace etc etc) that holds you back, and handle that.0
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This is why completely changing around your way of eating in order to lose weight doesn't work for most people. As soon as the weight is gone, they go back to the way they actually like to eat so the weight gets regained.
I did things differently this time around. I started by tracking what I was eating without making any changes. I then looked back through to see what small changes and substitutions could be made. Just little tweaks here and there like smaller portions or baked fish rather than fried.
I'm learning how to eat my foods in moderation. That way, I can just keep eating my new way (which looks a whole lot like the old way) with a slightly bigger calorie budget once I'm done losing weight.0 -
Ugh I am having the same exact problem. At square one right now and I have horrible headaches as a result of the off-track eating. I just keep asking myself if the choices I'm making are getting me closer or further from my goals... You have to want it more than you want to eat crap unfortunately0
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This is why completely changing around your way of eating in order to lose weight doesn't work for most people. As soon as the weight is gone, they go back to the way they actually like to eat so the weight gets regained.
I did things differently this time around. I started by tracking what I was eating without making any changes. I then looked back through to see what small changes and substitutions could be made. Just little tweaks here and there like smaller portions or baked fish rather than fried.
I'm learning how to eat my foods in moderation. That way, I can just keep eating my new way (which looks a whole lot like the old way) with a slightly bigger calorie budget once I'm done losing weight.
I agree with this 100%.0 -
Incorporate life long habits. Treats and special occasions need to be a part of your weight loss journey as well.0
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You need to put it in your mind that this is a life style change. Crash diets don't work. And it's why so many people gain all the weight back... You need to continue to enjoy life. Don't take out anything you don't plan to keep out forever. You need to learn moderation. We all have those days we over eat, no biggie. But we need to learn we can't over eat everyday.0
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Thank you, EVERYONE! Getting such nice suggestions really helps!0
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blues4miles wrote: »Incorporate life long habits. Treats and special occasions need to be a part of your weight loss journey as well.
^^^^^ This!
I've lost 18lbs since January which I'm delighted with. But it's my birthday tomorrow, and believe me, I will be going over my calorie limit. I'm going to a hockey game and will be having beers, burgers, and a slap-up meal in the evening. I've done a bit of damage limitation by 'banking' a few extra calories this week and doing a little bit extra in the gym. If my weight goes up next week, then meh. I'll just think to myself, damn I had a great day now it's back to what I was doing before.
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I had the opportunity a few times to take the helm of a large sailing vessel. The first few times, I did a terrible job holding a steady course. I'd go a little off in one direction and then swing too far back in the other direction. Before I knew it sails were luffing, and sailors were laughing. The first mate said, "Steering this thing is like driving a semi on ice. Just make a tiny adjustment and wait longer than you think." Weight management's like that, too.0
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This is why completely changing around your way of eating in order to lose weight doesn't work for most people. As soon as the weight is gone, they go back to the way they actually like to eat so the weight gets regained.
I did things differently this time around. I started by tracking what I was eating without making any changes. I then looked back through to see what small changes and substitutions could be made. Just little tweaks here and there like smaller portions or baked fish rather than fried.
I'm learning how to eat my foods in moderation. That way, I can just keep eating my new way (which looks a whole lot like the old way) with a slightly bigger calorie budget once I'm done losing weight.
100% this.
And planning for special occasions. Even if it's just telling yourself 'I'll enjoy it today and won't care about calories but go I'll get back on track tomorrow'.
Honestly for me it's about logging though. I log the bad days too. Huge eye opener when you know that 3500 calories = 1 pound. So yeah, I enjoyed that Holiday and ate 3500 calories, but it means I'll gain half a pound if I don't make up for it somehow.
That's how I've been the same weight for 2 years now, more or less 2 pounds.0 -
samwiserabbit wrote: »I had the opportunity a few times to take the helm of a large sailing vessel. The first few times, I did a terrible job holding a steady course. I'd go a little off in one direction and then swing too far back in the other direction. Before I knew it sails were luffing, and sailors were laughing. The first mate said, "Steering this thing is like driving a semi on ice. Just make a tiny adjustment and wait longer than you think." Weight management's like that, too.
I love this and I've found it to be so relate-able when it comes to weight loss and gain.
Maintenance seems pretty easy at first! Wow look, I can eat soooo much more and I haven't gained any weight! I've figured this out! Then I stop logging and stop weighing myself, and one day I'm suddenly up ten pounds. I've found that I can't go off course for very long before I'm stuck on a reef again. Steady, mid-stream course. Can't get in any trouble there. I have to keep logging food and keep weighing myself. Small corrections are so much easier than coming about.
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This is one of those areas where I see a huge correlation between "food budgeting" and "money budgeting". For 10 years, my husband and I wondered where our money went every month. We would write down all our bills and we should have had money left at the end of every month but it seemed like WHAM, every month something happened. Surprise events like Christmas or birthday would happen and our surplus was gone. Obviously, they weren't actually a surprise we just didn't know how to account for them. And now we do, and our life has completely changed.
Same goes for food. When you log everything, you can maintain because you can make adjustments. You can see date night coming on Saturday night and either add an extra mile on to your run and/or cut back a little all week so you can enjoy those special occasions without packing back on the pounds. The way to have long term success is by being aware and having control.0 -
This is why completely changing around your way of eating in order to lose weight doesn't work for most people. As soon as the weight is gone, they go back to the way they actually like to eat so the weight gets regained.
I did things differently this time around. I started by tracking what I was eating without making any changes. I then looked back through to see what small changes and substitutions could be made. Just little tweaks here and there like smaller portions or baked fish rather than fried.
I'm learning how to eat my foods in moderation. That way, I can just keep eating my new way (which looks a whole lot like the old way) with a slightly bigger calorie budget once I'm done losing weight.
Excellent post, spot on!0
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