How do you stay committed?

I guess I needed a stick more than a carrot, but I remind myself that at this point, being obese—my starting BMI was 45, 8 months ago—doesn't just put me 'at risk' for medical issues, it's likely to trigger the one I've already got. (I have refluxed veins in my legs, due to the extra weight I was/am carrying. It also squeezed my lymphatic system. Result: much slower healing to any cut or scrape on my left leg, increased susceptibility to infection in those cuts and scrapes, which often requires multiple doses of oral antibiotics to heal. Which, yes, puts me at greater risk of developing a tolerance for those antibiotics if I need them often enough.)

Now, there are carrots involved, too. I like the way my clothes fit. I feel great. I have more energy and I know it's getting better. But I've lost weight before too and put it all back on. I really want this time to be different, not only because I worked hard and don't want to back to plus sizes, but because being a lower weight lowers my risk for lymphedema flare-ups and helps my circulation and I don't want to deal with another weeping wound that takes three months of daily visits from home-care nurses to change the dressing on it before it heals. I'm doing everything I can to avoid that. And 'everything' means compression stockings and weight loss.

motivation wanes, you need discipline when it does.

My commitment to fitness is mostly centered around self-respect. I love life and being active more than I like being lazy or habitually over-indulging. I like having my pants fit a little loosely, being able to run up the stairs 2 at a time, and getting a smile from my doctor at my annual physical.

The most common factor that I have seen across a lot of fit people here is consistency. Fad diets and exercise programs come and go, but find something that you like and works and just keep doing it, even when you don't feel like it. You will never regret exercising on a given day instead of laying in bed or on the couch, and you won't dwell long on passing up that last piece of pizza or pie and remaining within your calorie limits!

I'm 4 years into maintenance, doing this whole thing day in and day out, through good times and plenty of low times, because if I don't stay at it I'll regain the weight and eventually be a type 2 diabetic, (getting a pre-diabetic diagnosis is why I lost the extra weight). I refuse to put that burden on myself, my husband and my kids. That's what keeps me committed.

Staying focused on goal no matter the level of motivation. Keeping track in journal or app of diet (MFP) and exercise (I use a journal).

Kommodevaran, ..."living a good life" Simple and great phrase

Habit, honest logging even when I go over, a sustainable deficit (so I'm not gnawing my arm off) and a good mix of strength and cardio so I can earn more cals, keep more muscle and see results in the mirror as well as the scale. I also mix it up with my calories and have maintenance days and don't worry if I go over maintenance as long as it fits into my weekly deficit. I also haven't cut out anything from my diet but trrrrrry to have more protein.

Find what works for you and is sustainable for the long term and keep in mind it's a marathon not a sprint, however even with a moderate deficit I still struggled for the first month until I got my rhythm. Good luck x

Cause I like looking good.

animatorswearbras wrote: »

Habit, honest logging even when I go over, a sustainable deficit (so I'm not gnawing my arm off) and a good mix of strength and cardio so I can earn more cals, keep more muscle and see results in the mirror as well as the scale. I also mix it up with my calories and have maintenance days and don't worry if I go over maintenance as long as it fits into my weekly deficit. I also haven't cut out anything from my diet but trrrrrry to have more protein.

Exactly this. That pretty much sums up my experience.

I'm also making a concerted effort to try to support and celebrate other people's success. I admin a weight challenge group and spend time here browsing the forums. Sure, people fall off all the time, but even if it's not in real life I want to find the people who are currently motivated and successful and surround myself with those people. It really helps to change my perspective on those days when I'm struggling.

Planning and strategy, figure out what I can do, build a schedule and be flexible enough to adjust if I get out of schedule. Log all food consumed, aim to get enough sleep.