I used to be on the success stories board.

I am in the same position. I got within 5 lbs of my goal weight of 10 stone (140lbs) from being more than 18 stone (250+ lbs) over the course of 14 months. I managed to maintain under 11 stone (154) for a year, I would work out about 5 times a week and had booked myself into a 10K race for June 16. Then I broke my toe and had to give up the fitness classes and running for a while back in March, as I recovered from that I ended up in hospital and have just come out the other side of a 8+ week recovery. I’m back up to 12 stone 5lbs (173lbs) and now need to lose 28 Lbs to get back to where I was, it feels like an epic journey again!

I can’t tell you what works because I’m back at the beginning myself, however I can tell you how I’m approaching it. When I lost the weight before it was such a massive task that I broke it down into smaller challenges and goals, so I plan on doing the same again. I’m going to set my first goal as attending fitness classes again, just 1 a week to start with and then up the amount slowly until I’m back to 3 a week. I’m going to run at least once a week, but not set myself a distance to achieve and see how my stamina builds back up. As for my weight management, well I’ll start off by getting back under 12 stone (168lbs) at which point I’m no longer classed as overweight, then I’ll set myself 7lbs challenges until I get back under 11 stone. I won’t set myself a timescale and if I put weight on, or miss a fitness class or 2 I won’t beat myself up, I’ll just start again. I’ve come too far from where I was to give up and head back down the path where I hated my body.

I’m very lucky in that I have a very supportive boyfriend who will join me when I run and will eat whatever I do and won’t buy takeaways or complain that there’s no chocolate in the house, I can see how people can easily become disenchanted by the process and give up. What I need to change the most is my image of myself, I still talk to myself in a way that I wouldn’t let anyone else get away with. Rather than telling myself what I don’t like, I need to start finding things that I do like and build on those, then I know I’ll want to do this for me! Wishing you good luck.

Stop and decide where you want to be a year from now, back at your original weight or really close to your goal weight?? Be grateful that today's the day you're turning it around-there are a LOT of people on here that gained back their original weight and then some. ALL IS NOT LOST!! But you can still 'lose it all'. smile:

Noamsh wrote: »

Thank you everybody for the kind advice.
Yes, I do know what works for me and what I need to do, and I don't want to change the things I did before, because it took me a long time to figure out what's right for me and what's the (only) workout that I like and can actually stay consistant with.
Yet honestly, the biggest problem I'm facing right now, is motivation.
Yesterday I already started getting myself back on track, and right now I just hope that I can find the motivation that I desperately need.
Thank you all!

I think part of the issue for a lot of people is that they see an end goal when it comes to weight loss. They have the mindset that they are going to change their life for a set period of time and then when they reach their goal weight they can go back to their "normal" behavior. Rather than fall into that mindset why not change your behavior now to what you'll have to do to maintain your goal weight, not to what you need to do to get to that goal weight?

Seriously, if 140 pounds is your goal weight how many calories do you need to eat to maintain that weight? Make that your daily goal now. You'll lose the weight a little more slowly, certainly, but you won't have to make any changes once you reach your goal and you will eventually get there. Also, decide now how much exercise you need to do to be at the fitness level you want. Do only the things you like to do and that you know you'll keep doing into the future. If you hate to run, don't run. If you despise the gym, don't join one.

Thanks for the encouragement! I will look into some counseling and take all your advice! I appreciate you taking the time to write.

@tbullucks2006, you are posting here! That means you are aware of what is happening and not willing for it to continue unaddressed. Hooray!

What may help you cope with the missed exercise sessions is to actually drop your expectations over the summer months.
I drop formal exercise altogether as I have active summers. Try saying I will work out 3 days a week for the summer, and get back on track after the September holiday. A small calorie adjust ment may be needed to compensate depending on how you count your exercise calories.

As for things like 'Burt's to die for BBQ', try looking at your weekly calories. Quite often it is easy to drop a couple of hundred calories a day or two mid week to give you the extra for the weekend.


Cheers, h.

I went through the same thing - lost almost 50 lbs, then gained it all back,and am starting over and hoping to get back to what I had already achieved.

I know (basically) how to incorporate exercise, calorie counting, macros, all that stuff. But knowing how isn't the same as motivating to do it every day.

When I was successful before, I made this my whole focus. Every day I thought about exercise, calories, weight loss. I rarely went out with friends, I rarely ate out, unless it was somewhere that I could track calories from via their website. As soon as I loosened up those restrictions and started going out to dinner/ drinks with friends more, skipping the gym, etc, the weight came back.

So this time around, I'm trying really hard to just modify my normal life to include better eating and more exercise. But the motivation is HARD. I know that. A couple things I've found that help are:

* Pre-logging meals for the week, then just adjust if necessary as you go.
* Talk about it somewhere every day - I am part of a group on here that's not big or super active, but just writing to people every day about how i'm doing really helps keep this whole process in the forefront of my mind
* Liking people's statuses on here. For a while I was just logging in to keep my streak. When I actually take a minute or two to engage with people, it makes me feel more accountable.
* Reminding myself that this has to be a priority, and that unfortunately it's going to take consistent effort on my part to be successful at it.
* Setting a goal per week for activity. I'm part of another group that has the goal of 150 minutes per week. Start by including any activity - stretching, walking, gardening, whatever... then increase it once you start to get more motivation for it.

I so laughed out loud when I saw the title "I used to be on the success story boards" I know that feeling to well, thing is you have the knowledge and you can do it again, I also lost around 90lbs and gained it back after an accident, puck yourself up, you only have half the amount to lose this time

Maybe it's a mindset thing ... you 'see' weight loss as a temporary measure that you have to struggle with and deprive yourself while doing it ... and that's why it's so hard to get started again.

It's not a stop-gap ... well, losing weight IS a temporary thing that might be a long, long, long temporary thing, but eating properly is what you are, or should, be figuring out and incorporating along the way so that when you don't have to lose any more weight you can just continue with your now 'normal' way of eating but with a bit more food, and yes, perhaps a bit less exercise.