Always planning but never doing
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jennyannenguyen160884
Posts: 3 Member
Help!
I'm addicted to planning my weight loss but always fail to actually begin. I spend hours creating low calorie meal planners and exercise schedules, but I am yet to actually follow any of them. I understand that this is something I need to address for myself but I wondered if anyone out there also had the same start. Any insight as to what it was that actually clicked and got you motivated to begin? I have all of the tools to succeed (maybe too many??) but there is just something holding me back. There is always an occasion that seems to slip me up (a party this weekend and then a family meal the following week). Any advice on making that first move and how to not let general life get in the way is greatly appreciated
I'm addicted to planning my weight loss but always fail to actually begin. I spend hours creating low calorie meal planners and exercise schedules, but I am yet to actually follow any of them. I understand that this is something I need to address for myself but I wondered if anyone out there also had the same start. Any insight as to what it was that actually clicked and got you motivated to begin? I have all of the tools to succeed (maybe too many??) but there is just something holding me back. There is always an occasion that seems to slip me up (a party this weekend and then a family meal the following week). Any advice on making that first move and how to not let general life get in the way is greatly appreciated
2
Replies
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Follow through is the hardest part, do you make plans to start tomorrow or to start right now?1
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It's always tomorrow, maybe even next week depending on plans!
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There's a big problem! Start now. Right this moment. Your inertia never hits the "go" moment because you keep living in your hairs, not actually changing. Start right this second with your lunch or dinner plans, depending on time zone.7
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I can relate so easily! There is a great Ted Talk called the 5 Second Rule. It's all about how we subconsciously pull the emergency brake on change and keep ourselves from moving forward. After so many aborted missions, you start to convince yourself that living healthy is just not "your thing" so pay attention to the conversations happening in your head. You can choose to shut them down vs. make them your reality. Then remember that diets never work. There will always be things that will get in your way, so don't view it as an either/or - Either I'm eating perfectly or I'm failing. Know that 6 good days and 1 bad are better than 7 bad. Aim for at least 80% good days and it will keep you moving forward. It will also keep you from giving up when you have one bad day.5
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That is absolutely me!! I've pretty much already convinced myself that I will not get to goal and so have an almost why bother attitude, despite the fact I feel miserable in my current skin. I will try the new attitude of 6 good days/1 bad day is better than 7 bad because at the moment I'm the opposite. I definitely think that 1 bad day will ruin any progress and so never begin. I will start now and take each meal as it comes, making good choices as much as I can. My all or nothing attitude seems to be what's possibly holding me back!2
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Call it "NO EXCUSES". I do best with significant motivation, last year did a dietbet so had $ riding on it, that motivated me to start/stick with it. Now am back at beginning again as well. Think about the emotional side to it, what or how does eating reward you or bring relief. Or is this a reaction to boredom or procrastination. Or is this how your family socializes? What are the rewards, consequences both ways? I think people all do better with a carrot in front and something poking us out of the rut.2
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I will try the new attitude of 6 good days/1 bad day is better than 7 bad because at the moment I'm the opposite.
I'd say this is the right idea but think of it as 6 good choices and 1 bad choice is better than 7 bad choices. Thinking of it only in terms of days could lead to the mindset of "Well, I've already messed up today, so I'll forget about making healthy choices until tomorrow." Take it decision by decision.4 -
I found the best way to do this is start slow, change one thing, then wait at least a month before making the next change3
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That WAS me. Right up to the point where I developed a serious medical issue that was exacerbated by my obesity. I was heavier than I'd ever been. My dad was telling me to get on the wait-list for bariatric surgery. I was getting depressed buying size 3X and realizing that the store I was shopping at didn't carry much in higher sizes.
And then I got cellulitus which led to lymph edema, which got me a referral to a vascular surgeon and a diagnosis of refluxed veins in my legs. Caused in part by their having to support more weight than they were designed to do. So now, any time I have a cut or scrape on my leg, it runs a heavy risk of infection. Said infection usually needs multiple courses of antibiotics (which puts me at risk for developing a resistance to them). It's slow to heal; the last one needed months of daily visits from home-care nurses.
At this point, I guess I've been scared straight. If I don't take the weight off, bad things will happen. Not 'might happen at some point in the future'. Will.
On the upside, I saw my doctor yesterday and blew his mind when he saw I'd dropped 43 lbs in six months. I've still got a ways to go to get to a healthy weight, but it's going to happen. It has to. I don't want to face the consequences if I don't.9 -
https://goo.gl/photos/BpqG6dPGNfJdgxJLA
I love motivational quotes. Just get started and have fun with it.1 -
I only plan 5 days (Monday-Friday or Sunday-Thursday). Try sticking to a 5 day plan first. Also make the plan with the intention of sticking to it. Don't pick foods that are complicated or difficult to make or that you don't like to eat. Once you do it a few weeks it gets easier.1
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Just start. One itty bitty step forward. Like more water, and less sugary replacement not water alternatives. There that is step one. Start. Go. Do it. Yes you can.2
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I agree with the above! ^
It's interesting to me, because I study a theory in school called the stages of change or transtheoretical model. Behavior change is not as instant as we'd like to think. First you have to contemplate it, do some planning (which you are). Then action, and maintenance.
So next try doing some preparation. Sign up for a gym class, you'll probably go since you've signed up. Buy the ingredients for your recipe, you'll probably make it if you keep seeing the ingredients in the pantry. Buy new gym sneakers if they are needed, things like that. People move between stages in all different kinds of ways, not always linearly, and not all at the same speed. Keep up the good work you've done already by acknowledging you want to make change. To be honest, that's the hardest part, and the fact that you are having some hesitation between preparation and action is fine. You got this!2 -
Hahaha. I can relate to this!0
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I feel like I was reading something I wrote! Like you said, I spend SOOOOO much energy planning making cute little charts and it would work and I still don't understand why I can't stick with it. I love structure but I feel like if someone else challenged me to follow it, it would work but I don't have anyone that would be strict enough for me. I'm half way to being on track and I've been 'planning' weight loss since July of 2016.... seriously frustrating but I'm happy I'm not the only one that does this!0
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I do the exact same thing! I'll literally spend a week planning and then just keep procrastinating0
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Plans are nothing without execution. Focus on doing, and the rest will fall into place.1
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I like to think of the weight loss journey as being similar to Bloom's Taxonomy:
Creative Commons credit: Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching
https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/blooms-taxonomy/
Learning phases are not linear, and many of us are more creative than others. Creativity is where many of us accidentally start with, and become stuck on. We want to create workout routines, and diet plans. That would be great, except, we haven't learned what our bodies need, and how they react. We haven't established any sort of baseline, or stuck with anything to move forward through the learning process to get to this point.
You can easily start today, just by writing a simple note after you eat or workout. How many calories did you take in/burn? Try using the MFP tools. We all need to take baby steps, and simply get into the habit of just being mindful. If we are willing to learn, and just jump in, we can finally see some progress
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Then try not planning at all.
Wake up, weigh your breakfast and log it.5 -
gebeziseva wrote: »Then try not planning at all.
Wake up, weigh your breakfast and log it.
Yes.1
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