Depressed & disgusted

Hey Esther! Are there any other exercises that you like doing besides walking? I find my foot habits are better when my exercise is more on point I also find walking quite boring! X

Don't give up. You can do it. Do you have a digital food scale? If you are just eyeballing your portions or if you are using cups to measure then you are likely eating more than you think. Are you trying to be too restrictive? For me putting things off limits does not work. I don't classify foods as good or bad. I eat only things I like and just fit them into my daily goal. Are you walking outside, or on a treadmill? I walk every day at a park near my house that has a beautiful walking trail. My neighbor just walks in the neighborhood and occasionally goes to the park. She gets bored at the park. I get bored walking in the neighborhood. I would die of boredom on a treadmill, but some people use that time to watch tv and exercise at the same time. Try to find something that works for you. Weight loss is going to come from your diet, but exercise is really helpful to your body in lots of ways. But if you need to start by focusing on your eating then do that and add in exercise later. Sometimes it is easier to just focus on one goal at a time.

I know how you feel....but depressed is what keeps you where you are....Disgusted should get you moving in the right direction. Its about discipline and consistency. Be honest with yourself, do you REALLY want to get under 200lbs.... because if so, you will MAKE IT HAPPEN. Your goal has to be worth it, that you will not let anything stand in your way of it. Set some attainable goals, plan and ATTACK. If you re read what you typed, you will know why you aren't reaching your goals (I have to do this to myself too). Little goals and effort, little results, mediocre goals and efforts, equals some results, etc. etc. etc. I'm so tired of MYSELF and this weight, that I had to reset. Now I am going hard! Meal planning, waking up early going walking/jogging, hitting the gym, reading positive things that will keep me in line with my goals. My point is, YOU CAN DO IT.... NOW gooooooooooooooo get'em!

There are a few ways to keep walking from getting boring. My favorite is an app called Zombies, Run! I know a lot of people who are using it who walk, not run. If you like zombies and apocalyptic type shows, it's a great story and the app is free. My mom walks about 4 miles every day through our neighborhood. Since I run the same streets I can tell you how boring that can get and she has only her dog for company. She listens to audio books when she walks and she only listens to those books while she's walking. That's both motivation for her to go on her walks and the entertainment to keep it interesting.

As far as your back hurting, pay attention to your posture. Keep your shoulders back and stand as tall as you can. Many people who have a lot of weight to lose find that simply losing weight helps with back pain because a lot of times it's caused by weak core muscles compounded with too much belly fat. Reducing the belly fat reduces the strain.

All of that said, exercise is not needed to lose weight. It's definitely good for you, of course, but weight loss is about eating less calories than you burn and that can be done without adding exercise. Simply log everything you're eating and try to eliminate the "cheating". Remember that the only person you're cheating here is you. If you feel like your eating plan is too restrictive which is causing you to feel the urge to cheat, then loosen up a bit. Change your weight loss goal from 2 pounds per week to 1 pound per week and allow yourself some treats every day. You'll lose the weight more slowly but you'll be more likely to stick with it which is the important part, right? Better to lose 5 pounds per month and still be losing after 6 months than 10 pounds per month for the first month and then quitting.

As I'm sure you know, the thing about motivation is that it has to come from within. No one can give it to you and you can't give it to someone else, either. Every one of us has to find it for ourselves. You can, however, be inspired by others' motivation. Look at the success stories in these forums or strike up a conversation in the boards. Make a list of the reasons you want to lose/maintain your weight, post it where you can see it often and refer to it when you feel yourself slipping. Many here will tell you that rather than needing motivation, you need commitment, good habits and dedication. When motivation wears down, and it always does eventually, commitment, your habits and dedication will often take over and get you through the tough times.

Keep your chin up!

If you find walking boring, do something else. I find walking to be super boring too so I don't do it unless I have to get something in. What do you like doing? There's probably an exercise one of us can think of that might fit you better. The challenges section might also have some things you're interested in doing and this way you have friends to help motivate you.

Use that feeling as motivation to start tracking more accurately and get moving.

Esther, stop cheating a lot and you'll actually lose weight.

If you simply record every thing you eat you'll stop being frustrated because you'll see plain as day why you weigh 220. There ain't no other way around it.

Do you have any friends or family members who would support you or join you in your walks? Do you have a neighbor who needs their dog walked? A walking companion might make it less boring. In my hometown, there's a "mallwalking club" of folks who get together and make circles around the mall every morning. Have you tried bicycling? Maybe walking to a nearby destination instead of driving?

If you feel like the depression is causing you to be more sluggish and less motivated, you may be able to talk to your doctor. If you haven't had bloodwork lately, that might also be a start. I had some low blood levels that when brought up, greatly increased my energy level.