Motivation to lose again
victoria_1024
Posts: 915 Member
After almost 2 years in maintenance, it’s been a rough winter for me and I’m up about 6-7 lbs out of my maintenance range. It’s hard to be motivated to enter into weight loss mode again after so long in maintenance! Plus all my clothes still fit (but barely) so that also makes it harder to have motivation. But it’s a slippery slope and I could easily just keep on gaining.
Fortunately I never stopped working out and weight lifting regularly and I would say I’m still making good choices with my meals and portion control there. It’s the handfuls of m&ms throughout the day and snacking that is really contributing to the weight gain. Plus an overall laziness that has been present for me this winter.
I started logging again today and updated my weight on mfp. How have others found motivation to lose after long periods of maintenance?
Fortunately I never stopped working out and weight lifting regularly and I would say I’m still making good choices with my meals and portion control there. It’s the handfuls of m&ms throughout the day and snacking that is really contributing to the weight gain. Plus an overall laziness that has been present for me this winter.
I started logging again today and updated my weight on mfp. How have others found motivation to lose after long periods of maintenance?
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Replies
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I don't think I have been looking for motivation. I have been micro-dieting many many times during these three years of maintenance, just by cutting out treats.10
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Victoria GOOD ON YOU for catching this 6-7 pounds out. That is so totally doable to fix quickly, Not sure how much you originally lost or how long it took, but I try to look at it like "if I fix this now, then it will be over with more quickly than if I ignore it and gain a lot more back". And the bright side is even if you just lose .5 per week, you will be right on track for Spring and Summer to be at your best again!12
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The fact that you have maintained most of your weight loss is an inspiration to me!!!! Keep up the fight and bless you.8
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Nice catch @victoria_1024.
You know how to do it, (little more daily movement, a little less snacking) and you will.
I book a holiday in the sun for March. That keeps me determined to keep my fitness level up and my calorie intake at an apropriate level.
My natural inclination would be to put on the winter 5 that I use to- piles of books and hearty stews.
Cheers, h.10 -
kommodevaran wrote: »I don't think I have been looking for motivation. I have been micro-dieting many many times during these three years of maintenance, just by cutting out treats.
Treats are definitely my weakness! I generally do pretty well including them in my diet without overeating but they’ve been making up way too big a part of my diet lately so time to cut back!SummerSkier wrote: »Victoria GOOD ON YOU for catching this 6-7 pounds out. That is so totally doable to fix quickly, Not sure how much you originally lost or how long it took, but I try to look at it like "if I fix this now, then it will be over with more quickly than if I ignore it and gain a lot more back". And the bright side is even if you just lose .5 per week, you will be right on track for Spring and Summer to be at your best again!
Thank you so much! I originally lost 90 lbs so my weight loss was a long process. And I never want to have to do that again because it’s a lot of work to lose that much! So yes, definitely want to catch it now.psychod787 wrote: »The fact that you have maintained most of your weight loss is an inspiration to me!!!! Keep up the fight and bless you.
Thank you! Maintenance isn’t always easy but I have come so far and I’m proud of that. Good luck with your loss and maintenance!7 -
middlehaitch wrote: »Nice catch @victoria_1024.
You know how to do it, (little more daily movement, a little less snacking) and you will.
I book a holiday in the sun for March. That keeps me determined to keep my fitness level up and my calorie intake at an apropriate level.
My natural inclination would be to put on the winter 5 that I use to- piles of books and hearty stews.
Cheers, h.
You’re right, I do know how to do it. I keep going back to that thought. I like the idea of motivation. I have a trip to Disney planned, not until next fall so it’s a ways away but if I kept gaining weight I would need to buy all new clothes! No way do I want to do that. I’ve been stockpiling size small shirts to design for that trip and I can’t afford to buy more.
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I'm in the same place, though I've gained back a few more pounds than you after a knee injury--but my ski pants are getting a little snug and I refuse to go a size up, so here I am! Well--I never really left, but I'm getting serious about tracking and not feeling entitled again.
Good luck to you!8 -
Motivation comes and goes for all of us. A few years ago saw me creeping above my higher goal range number by 3 or 4lbs. I didn't want to change things or admit weight creep was happening but after a few months of it still creeping up I had to get back to eating at calorie deficit. For me it just meant cutting out one snack a day and that usually was a bar of chocolate. (Yes a bar extra per day than I was already allowing myself!). Once I got my head in gear and got used to doing without that snack the weight fell off and stayed off for good - because I never did get back into that habit of allowing myself that one extra snack.6
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middlehaitch wrote: »Nice catch @victoria_1024.
You know how to do it, (little more daily movement, a little less snacking) and you will.
I book a holiday in the sun for March. That keeps me determined to keep my fitness level up and my calorie intake at an apropriate level.
My natural inclination would be to put on the winter 5 that I use to- piles of books and hearty stews.
Cheers, h.
I realized I have another reason for keeping my fitness up and weight down - I take 2 hours of dance class every Saturday, and in May I have a recital! Tight fitting costumes and tights, already paid for so they have to fit.I'm in the same place, though I've gained back a few more pounds than you after a knee injury--but my ski pants are getting a little snug and I refuse to go a size up, so here I am! Well--I never really left, but I'm getting serious about tracking and not feeling entitled again.
Good luck to you!
Good luck to you as well!! I feel the same way... never fully left, but just was getting pretty lazy about the whole thing. Time to step up our game!LivingtheLeanDream wrote: »Motivation comes and goes for all of us. A few years ago saw me creeping above my higher goal range number by 3 or 4lbs. I didn't want to change things or admit weight creep was happening but after a few months of it still creeping up I had to get back to eating at calorie deficit. For me it just meant cutting out one snack a day and that usually was a bar of chocolate. (Yes a bar extra per day than I was already allowing myself!). Once I got my head in gear and got used to doing without that snack the weight fell off and stayed off for good - because I never did get back into that habit of allowing myself that one extra snack.
Totally makes sense. It's funny how hard it feels just to think about cutting out a few handfuls of m&ms every day! But then once you do it, you realize it's not that hard.
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Feeling good after 2 days of eating in a deficit! I easily was able to stick to 1500 calories both days and didn't miss all the treats as much as I thought I would. I also increased my activity level, even though Monday and Tuesday are busy work days for me so I'm sitting around a lot. But I got my Garmin back on and just tried to be more mindful and even got a good work-out in today.
Also I love how the scale drops so quickly when you start eating at a deficit, lol. Yay water weight! I wish I could keep losing like that!8 -
If you did it b4, you can do it again.
Sounds like you already have all the motivation you need. You know that you gained wt and your clothes don't fit well.
All you have to do is resume logging all your food (as you already have) and control your diet by not eating those M&M's and other snacks.
If you drop just 250 cals/day below maintenance, you should lose about 1/2# per week and be back on track w/in 12 weeks.
If you want to be more aggressive, drop 500 cals/day for a 1#/wk loss and be done in 6 wks instead.
Good luck!
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victoria_1024 wrote: »Feeling good after 2 days of eating in a deficit! I easily was able to stick to 1500 calories both days and didn't miss all the treats as much as I thought I would. I also increased my activity level, even though Monday and Tuesday are busy work days for me so I'm sitting around a lot. But I got my Garmin back on and just tried to be more mindful and even got a good work-out in today.
Also I love how the scale drops so quickly when you start eating at a deficit, lol. Yay water weight! I wish I could keep losing like that!
That's great, a couple more days and it will feel even easier. WTG 3 -
Exact same boat here. I've been trying for a year to find the motivation to lose the 15 lbs I've gained back in the last 2 years! Same as you, just a few too many treats... which are very hard to cut because I just really don't want it enough right now... Just a lot of self talk about 'do I really want it that much'...
Right now I've been back to the 'do awesome during the week, mess it up on week ends' cycle. My excuse was that it was my kids' birthday this week end and we had friends over. I'm too hungry overall to keep a deficit much bigger than 250 a day so it's very easy to undo unfortunately. I do also have a Disney trip planned in the Fall but would really like to lose at least a couple lbs of fat before Summer. Ugh. But I really don't like how tight my clothes are getting!
So.. you're not alone. I'm hoping with the time change in 2 weeks I can go back to my after dinner walk instead of just spending it watching TV on the bed...5 -
Exact same boat here. I've been trying for a year to find the motivation to lose the 15 lbs I've gained back in the last 2 years! Same as you, just a few too many treats... which are very hard to cut because I just really don't want it enough right now... Just a lot of self talk about 'do I really want it that much'...
Right now I've been back to the 'do awesome during the week, mess it up on week ends' cycle. My excuse was that it was my kids' birthday this week end and we had friends over. I'm too hungry overall to keep a deficit much bigger than 250 a day so it's very easy to undo unfortunately. I do also have a Disney trip planned in the Fall but would really like to lose at least a couple lbs of fat before Summer. Ugh. But I really don't like how tight my clothes are getting!
So.. you're not alone. I'm hoping with the time change in 2 weeks I can go back to my after dinner walk instead of just spending it watching TV on the bed...
I think if you're happy enough with your weight then you wont feel the need to try harder. Maybe the weight you currently are is easier to maintain.
But you're right with longer days and better weather just around the corner that will help motivate.2 -
With me..I gained about 12 and I just couldn’t stick with it. At the moment I am losing..increased activity half a mile and logging carefully. Most of all, not letting myself get too hungry. My thought is even 5 off is good..better. Hoping that mentality will keep me going. I have to do this.5
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If you did it b4, you can do it again.
Sounds like you already have all the motivation you need. You know that you gained wt and your clothes don't fit well.
All you have to do is resume logging all your food (as you already have) and control your diet by not eating those M&M's and other snacks.
If you drop just 250 cals/day below maintenance, you should lose about 1/2# per week and be back on track w/in 12 weeks.
If you want to be more aggressive, drop 500 cals/day for a 1#/wk loss and be done in 6 wks instead.
Good luck!
Thank you! It's funny how just posting here helped me feel more accountable and pushed me over the edge to take some action.Exact same boat here. I've been trying for a year to find the motivation to lose the 15 lbs I've gained back in the last 2 years! Same as you, just a few too many treats... which are very hard to cut because I just really don't want it enough right now... Just a lot of self talk about 'do I really want it that much'...
Right now I've been back to the 'do awesome during the week, mess it up on week ends' cycle. My excuse was that it was my kids' birthday this week end and we had friends over. I'm too hungry overall to keep a deficit much bigger than 250 a day so it's very easy to undo unfortunately. I do also have a Disney trip planned in the Fall but would really like to lose at least a couple lbs of fat before Summer. Ugh. But I really don't like how tight my clothes are getting!
So.. you're not alone. I'm hoping with the time change in 2 weeks I can go back to my after dinner walk instead of just spending it watching TV on the bed...
I can totally understand the "do I really want it that much" mentality. I know as I was slowly gaining, I just kept thinking "but my clothes still fit, and I like eating more so it's fine". But the weight gain was finally enough that I needed to do something. I agree that it's so much easier to be active in the spring when the weather changes.With me..I gained about 12 and I just couldn’t stick with it. At the moment I am losing..increased activity half a mile and logging carefully. Most of all, not letting myself get too hungry. My thought is even 5 off is good..better. Hoping that mentality will keep me going. I have to do this.
Awesome! 12 lbs isn't that much, just take it pound by pound and you'll get there.
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I put this up, to hopefully make you laugh.
https://youtu.be/6ldAQ6Rh5ZI 1 -
I think all maintenance is is a series of ups and downs but on a smaller scale. You are 6-7 on top of your range. I am 2 over my limit. I have only been maintaining for 5 months - this is month 6 but it strikes me that my type of yo yo personality will never have just a stable weight. If someone had told me when I was 15 that dieting did this to you I would never ever have started down that road. ever. I hope women teach their daughters better than my Mom did for me. Just some thoughts. Glad you are getting the motivation to start dropping again here! me too. 2
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LOL!!! Stuart Smalley! Made me laugh! You'll figure this out - look where you've come from! I'm at the same place..fall/winter vacations and the holidays took their toll. Tighten up with the logging... Stay away from those evil little M & M's
(I love em, too!) It'll happen before you know it! 1 -
Seems to me that maintenance is just more of the same...being accountable. I think if we were all able to eat whatever we want, we wouldn't be here! It's amazing how tracking all you eat seems like such a chore, but once you get a day or two under your belt, it really is so easy to eat well. I get motivation from that - being accountable and seeing my streak days add up. Also, I chart my weight daily and it motivates me to see that graph going down!
Looks like you are back at it! Good for you catching it early!1 -
psychod787 wrote: »I put this up, to hopefully make you laugh.https://youtu.be/6ldAQ6Rh5ZI
Hahahaha I love it!!SummerSkier wrote: »I think all maintenance is is a series of ups and downs but on a smaller scale. You are 6-7 on top of your range. I am 2 over my limit. I have only been maintaining for 5 months - this is month 6 but it strikes me that my type of yo yo personality will never have just a stable weight. If someone had told me when I was 15 that dieting did this to you I would never ever have started down that road. ever. I hope women teach their daughters better than my Mom did for me. Just some thoughts. Glad you are getting the motivation to start dropping again here! me too.
I have that yo yo personality too, although I did maintain pretty well within a 5 pound range for almost 2 years so that was pretty good!LOL!!! Stuart Smalley! Made me laugh! You'll figure this out - look where you've come from! I'm at the same place..fall/winter vacations and the holidays took their toll. Tighten up with the logging... Stay away from those evil little M & M's (I love em, too!) It'll happen before you know it!
I've still been eating m&ms but weighing and logging them.
Seems to me that maintenance is just more of the same...being accountable. I think if we were all able to eat whatever we want, we wouldn't be here! It's amazing how tracking all you eat seems like such a chore, but once you get a day or two under your belt, it really is so easy to eat well. I get motivation from that - being accountable and seeing my streak days add up. Also, I chart my weight daily and it motivates me to see that graph going down!
Looks like you are back at it! Good for you catching it early!
It doesn't feel like a chore to log, but I just plainly didn't want to have to eat less, lol. I knew I was overeating but part of me was enjoying it. But it's been a good week seeing the scale move in the right direction.
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Lost 2 pounds this week. 5 more to go! I didn't eat back exercise calories this week so my deficit was a little bigger than normal, next week I might eat back some exercise calories. I feel good having that first week out of the way though. 7
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Good job! I did awesome this week, then hormonal hunger set in and undid all my deficit (I feel shaky and dizzy until I eat carbs). That's why I can't lose
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