What's your biggest challenge?
laurenelha21
Posts: 33 Member
what is your biggest challenge while trying to lose weight?? Comment and maybe someone can comment back some tips to help!
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Replies
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I love food. Like, copious amounts of greasy fried foods. I lost 54lbs a couple years ago, stopped counting and gained 30lbs back. If I am not aware of what I eat daily, I can very very easily overeat (by hundreds or thousands of calories).
This will be a life long journey. It took me gaining that weight back to realize that.12 -
Evening snacking, I love to eat tons of crisps and drink red wine. I still allow myself wine and crisps on Fridays and sometimes Saturdays, but if I am not careful that also becomes Sundays, then in creeps a Wednesday here and there and before I know it I am back to square one.7
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Saying "no" to old habits is hard for me. For example there's a location at work where there will always be snacks and i used to get some because with work it's generally "eat while you have a chance." Now when i go by i need to remind myself that's not supposed to be automatic, that i have healthy snacks if needed but most importantly that I'm not actually hungry!4
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Work travel.
Alcohol.4 -
Getting moving. I sit at work all day. Working on walking more each day3
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Wine & Gin!!!3
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1.love food
2. Can't do with small portions as I have a big appetite
3. Sweet tooth
4. Socialising generally goes hand in hand with food
5. I'm 5 feet in height which doesn't help either
144lb need to be 120lb5 -
Generally, losing weight has been quite easy when I stopped trying and started doing. I could do it for a year, no problem. But maintaining weight was impossible before I realized some things:
I love food and I need good taste, texture, mouthfeel.
I need to feel I'm in charge and can make my own decisions.
My diet has to be flexible enough to account for all the things that just happen.
I grew up with too large portions, I need to readjust my perception of appropriate amounts of food and how "full" should feel like.
I have to ignore the scaremongering ("every week, a new fear, don't eat that, you'll die, horribly!")
I have to not keep trigger foods lying around.
I need to plan my meals in some detail, and schedule shopping, and shop with a list, and focus on the list.
I love to cook, and find great satisfaction in preparing delicious meals.
I hate to exercise, but I love to dance, walk, run and play - when I feel like it.
I don't have to be athletic to be healthy. I'm fit and healthy.
I have to challenge feelings of envy. Yes, many other people can eat more than I can, but they are also bigger and/or more active.
I don't have to accept every offer of food.
My mouth gets bored easily, and I tend to feel sorry for myself when I say no. I still have to say no, and mean it.
On special occasions, I must allow myself to eat whatever I want of what is offered, and enjoy it, without regret.
I have to accept that my perception of "normal weight" is flawed; I see underweight people as healthy. I'm at a BMI of 21-22, and this is how I'm supposed to be.15 -
Emotional/stress eating. I am one of those people who stuff their faces when stressed, sad or annoyed so that I don't have to think about it. Permitting snacks has helped to some extent.
Oh, and I have to try a bit of everything at occasions. Doesn't matter if it's a tiny amount: I have to try and make it fit my calories or I feel I'm missing out!4 -
Snacking. Eating greasy cheeseburgers, fries, wings. Beer everyday. Chips! Chocolate when I want, pretty much anything when I want even when I'm not hungry. Smoking. Have that up 4 years ago September 30. And throw this on top going to work part time and leaving 5 small children home with the hubs! Haha1
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Alcohol and junk food..usually in combination. I was always a pretty healthy eater until I would drink...then I needed all the junk food. But I thought these things were cancelling each other out. 60+ pounds weight gain over 3 - 4 years said otherwise though.1
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Hardest thing for me would be genetics I guess. I am only 5'3" and have a small frame, plus I have a desk job, so I really get very few calories to work with. Add needing a deficit to the mix, and I don't get to eat much, about 1300 on an average day.
(Yes, I still eat above my BMR. I don't undereat for my size.)
Needless to say, the rate of loss is soo frustratingly slow. But, I'm almost at my goal weight!3 -
I have so little motivation to get up and move, and my nasal allergies interfere with exercise, even when I am in my own home.1
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Mkneedtogetfit wrote: »1.love food
2. Can't do with small portions as I have a big appetite
3. Sweet tooth
4. Socialising generally goes hand in hand with food
5. I'm 5 feet in height which doesn't help either
144lb need to be 120lb
@Mkneedtogetfit Fellow shortie! It really does stink for us petites trying to lose weight.
A few thoughts ...
Eat a lot of protein if you don't already. I know that personally, protein keeps me feeling full, whereas with carbs (what I crave!) I will be hungry again in 2 hours. Also, eating more veggies since you can get a large volume for a small amount of calories.
For social occasions, I try to eat something before I go out, even if it's just a salad or a bowl of soup, so you're not hungry when you get there. Try to identity someone in your friend group who can keep you accountable. I tell my husband, "Don't let me eat any of your fries!" Plan your days out as much as you can ahead of time, so you can allot extra calories for social occasions. Try to find alcoholic drinks you enjoy that are low-calorie, such as vodka & Sprite Zero. I can have 2 glasses of wine instead of 1 margarita, and I'll still be happy.
For the sweet tooth, do you like dark chocolate? Have one small square of 70-90% - the darker the better, you won't be craving more!1 -
My biggest challenge was not being able to eat anything and everything I wanted3
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Wine, chocolate, cocktails, warm bread & butter...1
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I have a lot of small challenges. I don't particularly think of any of them as 'biggest'. Perhaps the fact that I am the grocery shopper in the household is one of the bigger challenges, as I'm always shopping from a list assembled by people who are not on my particular weight loss wagon. Coca Cola, Cheetos, Doritos, Tostitos, and various cookies and candies are just going to have to get into my basket. I do get what they want, and have to face to opportunity to want something, too.1
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Emotional/stress eating. I am one of those people who stuff their faces when stressed, sad or annoyed so that I don't have to think about it. Permitting snacks has helped to some extent.
Oh, and I have to try a bit of everything at occasions. Doesn't matter if it's a tiny amount: I have to try and make it fit my calories or I feel I'm missing out!
Me too!!!! Eating when happy, sad, excited, stressed, bored, celebrating. I have to find something else to occupy myself with now.2 -
brianneangell08 wrote: »Hardest thing for me would be genetics I guess. I am only 5'3" and have a small frame, plus I have a desk job, so I really get very few calories to work with. Add needing a deficit to the mix, and I don't get to eat much, about 1300 on an average day.
(Yes, I still eat above my BMR. I don't undereat for my size.)
Needless to say, the rate of loss is soo frustratingly slow. But, I'm almost at my goal weight!
Just a bit of unsolicited advice. I'm the same height as you, and I'd guess twice your age, and I lose weight just fine; calorie need is proportional to size - a smaller portion of food is enough for a smaller person. And keep in mind that weight loss IS and is supposed to be slow when you approach goal weight. Nothing you can do about it except be patient.brianneangell08 wrote: »Mkneedtogetfit wrote: »1.love food
2. Can't do with small portions as I have a big appetite
3. Sweet tooth
4. Socialising generally goes hand in hand with food
5. I'm 5 feet in height which doesn't help either
144lb need to be 120lb
@Mkneedtogetfit Fellow shortie! It really does stink for us petites trying to lose weight.2 -
Changing my macros wasn't difficult... controlling portions was, and will continue to be as my BMR/TDEE decrease.
Working around physical challenges has also been difficult. I get overzealous when I work out and end up hurting myself (or just face planting in the middle of the hallway and getting stupidly hurt). I get hurt or burn out and then don't exercise, which decreases my deficit, so I don't lose as slowly and get discouraged. There's a huge mental game involved in exercise for me.
My S/O is VERY fit, and I hate admitting that I can't keep up... especially given that I was about a hundred pounds more than him when I started.1 -
Knowing how long it will take for me to see the progress I want to see, but sticking with it anyways. It's long term goals vs instant gratification.4
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Emotional/stress eating. I am one of those people who stuff their faces when stressed, sad or annoyed so that I don't have to think about it. Permitting snacks has helped to some extent.
I've decided on face masks as a treat instead of food. Added benefit of making me keep my mouth shut for 20min or so until i have a bit of control over the craving!3 -
kommodevaran wrote: »brianneangell08 wrote: »Hardest thing for me would be genetics I guess. I am only 5'3" and have a small frame, plus I have a desk job, so I really get very few calories to work with. Add needing a deficit to the mix, and I don't get to eat much, about 1300 on an average day.
(Yes, I still eat above my BMR. I don't undereat for my size.)
Needless to say, the rate of loss is soo frustratingly slow. But, I'm almost at my goal weight!
Just a bit of unsolicited advice. I'm the same height as you, and I'd guess twice your age, and I lose weight just fine; calorie need is proportional to size - a smaller portion of food is enough for a smaller person. And keep in mind that weight loss IS and is supposed to be slow when you approach goal weight. Nothing you can do about it except be patient.
You're so right. I've been going at 0.5 lbs/week since I started in February. I know that any faster would not be healthy for me. Just getting antsy now that I'm only 4 lbs away from goal - beyond ready to start recomp!
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Yup. Jokes and food
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Rice, potatoes, bread, and CHOCOLATE2
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Not eating every time my fiance does. He has an INSANE TDEE (4000+ cals) and mine is half or less. So obviously i can't eat as much. Not a problem at meal times as I dish him up a larger portion but it's when he is snacking and he offers me some and having to say no. Some occasions are harder than others1
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My problem weirdly isnt eating less, Or of what i eat. Im a bit opposite of most here lol. Let me point out first i dont have an eating disorder lol.
My main issue has always been my obsessive nature. I went from 235 to 127 - I had planned to stop at 140 (180 originally wow) I lost at a very healthy rate in a very healthy way, but since 140 iv been working VERY hard to slow things down. Focusing my obsession on eating more healthy foods to up my calories and remain healthy and fuel the sheer amount of movement i now do (its alot lol)
I love math so i turned to weight loss as a constant in my life. I could take down all the math, Activities i did, Foods i ate etc. And i found it comforting i could then calculate what was going to happen, And when it did i found it comforting. I need to work on new comforts.
I have always had to fight to keep things healthy. Eating healthy is never my issue, I very much enjoy fruits and veg and 99% of my diet is them. The issue comes when i walk say 10 miles a day + have a job as a mover i burn ALOT and to keep things healthy i need alot of calories, Working to get the right ones in the right amounts has been difficult. after a year and a half of this trying to keep food from being an obsession has been hard. I LOVE food. But im unwilling to let it take over to much. I eat pretty constantly in order to get the calories i need-so hard to not always be talking about yummy food and be THAT girl.
I dont have a whole lot more weight on my body to lose, So upping my calories and relaxing my movement a bit will be my main trouble basically. Im just so used to weight loss and being very active lol. Iv set myself up so perfectly for it, Going to take another full life overhaul to stop it. Which seems funny to me, To have my life set up so perfect in a healthy way i really enjoy, Lots of physical activity and amazing food eating big bulk often, And have to change my mindset to it no longer being healthy after a certain weight lol.0 -
I so relate to this and love how you worded it. My mouth also gets bored! So snacking, continually is my challenge I need to change my habits of always feeding my face.kommodevaran wrote: »My mouth gets bored easily, and I tend to feel sorry for myself when I say no.
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SNACKING. I could snack ALL DAY.0
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