Can't stop gaining and losing cycle

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.

seska422 wrote: »

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%.

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.

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.

seska422 wrote: »

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.

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.