What is driving you to stick with your diet?

gregfrompenn · February 2017

I have tried every diet and for one reason or another I quit. My wife says I can only stick with a diet for a week!. So I was talking to my son-in-law and we challenged each other to lose weight. If I lose I cannot go to the casino. If he loses he has to put his mother on speed dial and call her twice a week plus no going to the movies. The competition really seems to be helping me. I am committed to not losing and making my 180 pound goal by the end of January 2018. What is driving you to stick with your diet?

Hello_its_Dan · February 2017

The overall health benefits from following a 70-80% whole foods diet has given me back my youth.
When I was 190lbs I looked 5 years older.
Now I look a decade younger.

Having the 20-30% processed foods allows me to have fun!

TavistockToad · February 2017

I want to look good naked.

And get a new Half marathon PB

bgh707 · February 2017

I just physically feel and look much better.

Rocknut53 · February 2017

Up until yesterday it was all about finally being a normal weight and feeling much better. Last night I found out my sister who is 10 years older than me and has for the past 15 years had multiple health problems is dying from stage 4 lung cancer. Gave me another bump in the motivation department.

nomorepuke · February 2017

I stick to it because it doesn't feel like a chore. I love what I eat. The enormous weight loss, health improvement and the new life style don't make me want to change a thing.

gregfrompenn · February 2017

Rocknut, my heart goes out to you! I know every case is unique but from experience they continue to make amazing improvements in cancer care.

malibu927 · February 2017

My health. My dad was diagnosed with diabetes at 42, both parents have HBP. I'm 35. I don't want to end up in their shoes.

That said, it's not about dieting. It's about making changes that you can stick to once you reach your goal weight. Cut your calories to an appropriate level and log everything as accurately as possible.

Machka9 · February 2017

Short term goals.

When I started, I decided to stick with it for 5 weeks. Whatever I lost in 5 weeks would be it ... and it had to be better than where I was.

When I got to 5 weeks, I decided to go for another 11 weeks for a total of 16 weeks.

I took a 1-month diet break then (holiday and diet reassessment). I had hit my goal weight ... but I might be able to lose more.

So I went back on for another 16 weeks.

I maintained for almost a year and then just recently put on a little bit, so right now I'm in the midst of a 3.5 week diet. I'll see where I am on March 10th and then go from there.

arrghmatey1 · February 2017

I quit making my body the enemy!

Most say I am being deprived of cheese cake or fast food or whatever the implication being that your body needing the maintenance of weight reduction is the cause of this deprivation hence "The Enemy".

I have turned a corner emotionally and intellectually where I now realize that it is the cheese cake and the fast food or whatever that is depriving me of a medium shirt and size 34 jeans.

Further I have NO plans to return to shoveling that garbage into my body once the maintenance is done.

The sodium content alone is more than enough reason to steer clear and the havoc it creates in your system.

RemoteOutpost · February 2017

I am hyptertensive and pre-diabetic. If I don't do it now, I'm gonna die way early. I'd like to see my grandkids.

jagodfrey08 · February 2017

I beat prediabetes and PCOS. That was by losing 45 lbs. Now, I have a cruise coming up in June. My first. I want to rock a two-piece for the first time in 10+ years. I'm vain. I just want to look good and feel good about myself. Being healthy is a bonus.

sijomial · February 2017

So that challenge has got you started - you need to add what will keep you going when the novelty wears off.

What drives me?
Neither of my parents had a long and healthy retirement, sister died young after years of misery from self-inflicted illness and obesity.
Hoping to add as many good years as possible. Making up for the 20 years I compromised by being fat.
I want to inspire and set an example for my children.
Love living in a healthy, pain-free, fit, strong body capable of doing what I want to do.
Very self-competitive and goal oriented (weight training and cycling suit me perfectly).
Hoping random women will swoon and throw their knickers at me - I live in hope!

JeromeBarry1 · February 2017

The thing that got my attention to the imperative of losing weight was a sharp change in my blood cholesterol numbers. They had been 'good' for years and suddenly were 'bad'. My choice was to exercise and lose weight, or take statin drugs. I hate drugs. So I exercised and lost weight. A few months ago my Dr. suggested I stop losing at 180. I'm at 178.6 this morning. There's more to go and work on, but it's not a diet. It's a way of living in which I don't spend as much money on casual dining as before and I don't spend as much money on fast food as before. It's an opening of new discoveries as I've learned to bake bread and pizza, and ferment dairy. It's different for everybody, but your challenge is going to have to be replaced with your own way of living change.

gracemaryx · February 2017

Feeling more confident and happier
Not as self conscious when meeting new people
Confidence in my relationship, less insecure
Setting little goals gives me something to focus on and work towards

Might I just add I was in the exact same position as you, could never ever stick to a diet and looking back now the reason was they were just too restrictive. You shouldn't need to 'go without' anything. I've lost 20kg over the past 8 months and the entire time I've stayed at a minimum of 1500 cals and some days I'll even go up to 3500 - average daily intake probably being around 1800. There is no such thing as perfection. If you fall off the track just have a laugh, pick back up and keep going. Consistency over a long period of time is the most important thing.

TonyB0588 · February 2017

gregfrompenn wrote: »

I have tried every diet and for one reason or another I quit. My wife says I can only stick with a diet for a week!. So I was talking to my son-in-law and we challenged each other to lose weight. If I lose I cannot go to the casino. If he loses he has to put his mother on speed dial and call her twice a week plus no going to the movies. The competition really seems to be helping me. I am committed to not losing and making my 180 pound goal by the end of January 2018. What is driving you to stick with your diet?

First thing is - don't think of it as a diet, it's a lifestyle change. Temporary diets don't give lasting results. Everything can be different if you simply change a few little things for the rest of your life.

Secondly - a word of caution. The usual recommended rate of weight loss is between 1 and 1.5 lbs per week. Check whether this makes your goal realistic or not. There are 49 weeks between now and your chosen date.

Are you trying to lose 180 lbs, or get your weight down to 180 lbs?

hhof · February 2017

* What started me was the scale topping over 200, I couldn't do stairs because me knees hurt, I had just turned 50 and lost my career position after almost 10 years. It took a year of logging and excersizing and I shed almost 50 pounds.

* What motivates me? At first it was the bagginess of my clothes and people noticing, then being able to climb and descend a flight of stairs, finding a new career where I can live a normal life and not feel like my job controls me.

Why do keep doing it? Now, it's how I feel about myself, I am happy, I have control over my life, I can physically feel my muscles and overall, feel I feel healthy and happy. I'm not where I want to be, now, I am within that last 10 pounds, but I am sticking with it because it is a lifestyle not a fad.

MFP friends are inspiring and are good sounding boards too when you just want to brag or vent.

Lizzy622 · February 2017

I also do not call it a diet. I find that I just feel better when I stick to my eating and exercise plan. Most of my health issues tend to be tied to weight and lack of movement. If I want to feel good, I need to keep on course.

danibopp · February 2017

I've been sticking to it more because I have found like minded people to share recipes and strength progress with! I also joined a group personal training class at my gym and so I am slowing growing into my gym community. Other than the social aspects, I love how eating well and exercising has made me feel! I feel refreshed and satisfied. My boyfriend and I set three mini goals for the week and have a reward or consequence set up. That is also a huge help. I have hit every single workout I scheduled and I've cut cheese out of my diet for the past two weeks now. That's a huge success for me

MEWarner89 · February 2017

Cancer and being as big as I am while being under 30. Its a horrible feeling. I know it took a while to get here and it'll take a while to get it off but it needs to be done.

KeepRunningFatboy · February 2017

I sign up for races: half marathons & marathons. I use those as goals to keep my diet in check.

LivingtheLeanDream · February 2017

I don't stick to a diet because I'm not on a diet

I cut back on portion sizes (counted calories), still ate/eat the foods I love, started moving more and whaddya know, weight loss happened

....and what's more: have been maintaining goal weight for 4 years now.

Machka9 · February 2017

KeepRunningFatboy wrote: »

I sign up for races: half marathons & marathons. I use those as goals to keep my diet in check.

Yep ... mine are long distance rides.

When I moved to the area where I now live, I couldn't do the long distance rides I used to be able to do because I'd put on a bit of weight and this area is very hilly. I might have managed on flat ground, but hauling that weight up hills put me out of the time limits for my events.

So I lost the weight so I could get back into my events ... and I keep it off so I can keep doing my events.

frawley23 · February 2017

I had gestational diabetes which is a pretty good indication that I will develop type 2 diabetes in the future. I'm.dedicated to changing my lifestyle so that I can avoid diabetes as long as possible. Being a positive role model for my little girl as she grows up will be an added bonus.

Tacklewasher · February 2017

What is making me stick to it is that it is working. I now understand how to lose weight (thanks MFP) and have been losing consistently since September. as the weight comes off, I want more to come off.

I'm doing this for me. Not for my wife or family or anything like that. This is all about what I can do for me. And it's working.

courtneyfabulous · February 2017

Tacklewasher wrote: »

What is making me stick to it is that it is working. I now understand how to lose weight (thanks MFP) and have been losing consistently since September. as the weight comes off, I want more to come off.

I'm doing this for me. Not for my wife or family or anything like that. This is all about what I can do for me. And it's working.

Same here- I've wanted to lose weight/not be overweight my whole life but nothing was working or if something did work it was temporary (like crash diets)... I was ready to give up when I discovered tracking macros and counting calories with myfitnesspal and figured "why not"... not expecting it to work but I'd tried everything else so might as well give it a shot... and it WORKED!!

I also had a health crisis in my early 30s which made me truly value my health. Once you lose your health you realize how valuable it is and will do anything to get it back and keep as healthy as possible!!

So yeah a combo of a major health wake up call, having wanted to lose weight for practically ever, and finally finding something that works!!! Yay!

OP remember to plan for maintenance once you lose the weight. You don't want to do all that work, win (or lose) the bet, and then go back to your old ways of eating and end up gaining it all back!! Make sure when you're finished losing weight to do a reverse diet and then keep tracking everything but at your maintenance calories instead of a weight loss deficit. Losing the weight is only HALF the battle! The other half is keeping it off!

Boland_D · February 2017

My hot bod from two years ago.
Jk, but kinda not.
I just feel how out of shape I am in everyday activities. It's a lot to carry around and it's weighing me down.

Budjola · February 2017

overall feeling of being healthier and looking good while doing so

comeonnow142857 · February 2017

On the negative influence side, I'm sick of alcoholism and obesity, and see what is happening to people who don't make the changes, people I know, from heart attacks to prison and other forms of misery and denial. It's terrifying.

On the positive side, literally everyone I work with in my new office job weight train really seriously and eat reasonably and helped influence me to make these changes quietly and painlessly. It's very easy to not worry about how motivated you need to be, and just get stuff done, when you're on duty with people 40-60 hours a week, and have those examples to step up to.

gregfrompenn · February 2017

I probably should be eating a little heathier but I am sticking to counting calories, 1,600 per day and I have been satisfied.

everher · February 2017

I was slowly killing myself.

My mother died relatively young last year from heart failure. My grandfather died from heart failure as well.

I made up my mind I was going to fight genetics as much I could for as long as I could. I might pass away young one day too from heart failure, but I'm not going to contribute to my risk one cheeseburger at a time.

What is driving you to stick with your diet?

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