No discipline!

Looks like you need to reflect on what is really going on. What is causing you to derail? Food cravings? Lack of sleep? Depression? Low self esteem? No real plan other than I need to eat less?

Weight loss and gain can be complicated for some, it may not necessarily be just about food. For me it’s about having focused healthy meal plans with exercise goals while managing SAD and mild depression.

Only you can do this for yourself. Really think about why you are sabotaging yourself and then come up with a plan. You can do this.

histomum, I could've written your post...I want to do it so much, and lose the weight and be more healthy...but then I get tired/bored and just reach for sugary snacks. I know I'm cheating myself but everyday after 4pm it seems to go to pot! I need to change things up and make sure I'm doing something else rewarding with my time around then as it's become a habit!

I'm also going to get booked in at the docs for a blood test as I am so so tired at around this time, even when I've had a healthy lunch, I'm struggling to make it through the day without a nap or a load of sugar!

Good luck with your journey no real advice, but sending support!

Histomom - Are you incorporating any exercise? The biggest mistake we make is trying to change all things at once! One thing at a time. Master your discipline by establishing an exercise routine, and then incorporate your eating plan.

Good thread.

Maybe silly sounding question but you say you don’t log and then eat something high in calories, is it the other way around? Do you eat something high cal, think I’ve messed it up, and then quit tracking?

As suggested, embrace the process. Crunch the numbers but embrace the process. Track no matter what, good, bad and ugly. It’s not possible to not make mistakes, but turning your back on your food diary is a deliberate act. The process is more important than the numbers.

Also wonder if you’ve got your calories set too low.

Have you always had to get up to see in the middle of the night? That can be indicative of glucose/insulin issues, which in turn could make you feel hungry.

It can be overwhelming, and trying to do it all at once is a recipe for failure.
I suggest logging for a while, even before making any serious changes to your diet.
Weigh (with a scale is best) everything you eat, and write why you are eating it (i.e, lunchtime, hungry, kind of bored, out with friends, watching tv) and how you are feeling right before, right after and an hour after (hungry, comfortable, normal, full, very full bloated, drowsy).
This gives you a baseline pattern for your normal habits and routine. From there, it's just a matter of experimenting. Are you very full after dinner? Cut back on a few things. Does lunch leave you bloated and gassy after an hour, try less or no mayo, and see if there's something you don't mind dropping each meal (fries, or cheese, or maybe only 2 tacos instead of 3).It's amazing how quickly these small and easily sustainable changes will add up to big calorie cuts. Only cut one or two things at a time, until they become habit instead if trying to do everything at once. That way they become individual habits instead of one big "diet". So when you backslide you won't drop everything at once, just one or two habits, that you can fix again more easily.

After work- that was a very challenging time for me. Things that helped me-

I just had to get out passed the vending machines. It wasn’t too bad because I wanted to get out. And there were no good choices there.

I could have better snacks in the car but didn’t as I figured this would just lead to more snacking at home anyway.

I was hungry during my hour commute. I told myself that it was only some temporary discomfort. And it was what weight loss felt like. Helped.

I had good snack choices at home and easy to get. Front of cabinet and fridge. Planned for
in advance.

Some days I got into the house and just sat in a chair for a few minutes. Stopped me from charging into the kitchen to eat.

I have found that planning has worked best for me. I prepare my breakfast, lunch and snacks the night before. I too have a long commute and find that the morning snacks help with hunger until I arrive at work. Approximately an hour later, I eat my breakfast. I'm not as successful with dinner just yet. Baby steps!

I know it's frustrating in the beginning and this journey is not without its challenges. The beauty is having the 'aha' moments and persevering. Don't be afraid to be flexible and try new things!