What do you say to yourself?

I tell my fat a** to get to the basement and workout. Usually I do what I tell myself to, sometimes I don't and make sure I'm at least tracking the food as that is the killer. Amazing how fast weight comes back when you don't log

I can totally relate. I struggle with self doubt all the time. I think it comes from being a perfectionist.
feel like I’ve started over a million times, getting more and more disappointed with myself each time.

But this time, I’m not focusing so much on the goal as I am trying to enjoy the day to day process of getting there. I tell myself that this is my “new normal” and I don’t feel so much pressure to be perfect.

I know there’ll be good days and bad days and that it’s part of the process. When I was slim and fit I had good and bad days then too. I just didn’t let my bad days be an excuse to go on a binge for 3 months. Lol

Hang in there! Be kind to yourself and you’ll soon be your own hero! I’m cheering for you!

I tell myself that I lost a ton of weight before (220+ down to 177) so I can do it again. I've been "back on the wagon" since January 2nd and I've lost 17 pounds as of today. I've got a long ways to go to get back to 170(ish), but all I have to do is not stop. Logging as I go from the MFP app and an hour of moderate level cardio 7 days a week. Just like old times

It's a tough place to be, I'm sorry you're experiencing it

I tell myself things very similar to the folk who have posted already. My biggest one is to tell myself that I can stop anytime I want...but that won't give me the results I want....so the choice is mine & mine alone. I'm over halfway to goal & had I given up when I first felt like it, I doubt I would've kept any weight off at all. In fact I'd wager I'd currently be heavier than where I began!

Sometimes the scales don't shift for days & even weeks at a time & some days I feel as graceful & capable as a baby elephant! But progress photos & measurements prove that what I do works regardless. I'm 7 months in & 4 stone down as of yesterday - I still doubt myself & my following of the process from time to time, but results say otherwise. One meal at a time, one workout at a time, one day at a time. My aim is always to not think about it too deeply, just get on & do it.

Best of luck & cheering you on

You had your reason to use this app, don't lose sight of it.

Every time I quit - I stagnate and then there is always an event that triggers me to start again. Whether it be discomfort in bending down to tie my shoes, struggling to stay awake after a carb heavy snack/meal or just feeling of inadequacy. Trust your gut - you KNOW what you need to do to feel good and that is the goal - to feel good. Every choice is a new choice. Whether you over ate on calories today or didn't get any exercise in. Tomorrow is a new day - new choices, new goals.

I think a big part of many people's problem is an all or nothing mentality and that if everything isn't 100% perfect then it's utter failure. To that end, people try to do complete 180*s and just flip a switch and think they'll be able to "just do it". Both are completely and utterly unrealistic. Nobody is on 100% of the time and trying to do a 180* overnight is completely ignoring that this is all a process over time.

I don't tell myself anything...but I remember when my oldest was learning to walk (a process) he would fall a lot and he'd get frustrated and I'd ask him, "what do we do when we fall down?" and he'd respond, "get back up."

I've been on this good livin' safari for over 5 years...there is no wagon (that's part of the all or nothing mentality)...there are good days and there are bad days and there are good weeks and bad weeks and good months and bad months...such is life.

It’s so tempting to just go and do what I have always done and eat everything in sight. The scale is not moving, but I’m always reminding myself that I didn’t get here in one day, keep on exercising and logging everything and eventually something will change. Also, exercising every day has given me a positive way to look at things. Good luck

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kommodevaran wrote: »

I don't tell myself I'm struggling. I have challenges, as in a constant flow of tasks that need to be done, mental resistance that needs to be overcome.

I don't aim to stay motivated - motivation is a fickle friend.

There is no wagon, so nothing to fall off. It's just day in, day out, of mostly everyday things, some boring, some painful, some difficult, some easy, some fun.

I gain confidence by practicing new skills and seeing the results over time. Patience is one of those skills that has to be learned and practiced.

Weight management is simple and straightforward, a single player game, not like love or even getting a job. It's basically don't eat too much all the time. So I don't try this, I do it.

Absolutely!!

Also, I find that a lot of negative feelings can be addressed with a nap.

You haven't failed until you stop trying.
So what if you have to try again?
Every day is a new day.
Better a small step than none at all.
This is the one body you get, so be kind to it and take care of it.

There is a reason you keep trying. You don't want to be overweight. I have lost the 10-12 pounds several times, but have always gained it back after I've stopped paying attention. This time I told myself (when I was at my high weight), look, you aren't feeling alright being at the weight you are or it wouldn't bother you. So, this time I remind myself that it is a long term effort, and once you've lost the weight, you have to continue logging and being hyper aware of what you are eating. Because for me, maintenance is much more difficult than losing, and losing isn't all that easy!

What has really helped me:
1. Bought a food scale.
2. I weigh myself every day and use an app (I use Libra). This doesn't work for everyone; I think this is a very personal issue. But for me it keeps me on track if I'm 2 pounds up from the day before.
3. Eat back your exercise calories - but you may have to experiment and determine how much - 50% to 70% is mentioned on here that works for some people.
4. Go on a week long diet break every so often - it helps psychologically - at least for me. I'm on a .5 pound loss per week which is a 250 calorie daily deficit. For a week, eating 250 extra calories each day really makes me feel better, then my motivation is renewed to go back to the deficit.
5. Be selective about who you share this journey with. Not everyone is supportive, and some people say hurtful things, maybe without meaning to, but still.

When I finally got on the fitness wagon again, it was as simple as I made it a priority. Not something I wanted, not something I was wishing for, not something I was doing to reach a "goal" - it was a priority, and that's all there was to it.

There would be times when it would suck and I'd just have to "embrace the suck."

Also, don't go with an all or nothing plan. Build up your fitness slowly - give your body time to adapt. Allow and plan to have your favorite foods as part of your diet. If you have trigger foods, find an alternative that can help with the cravings (for example, soda was really hard for me to give up until I realized that it was the bubbles, not the flavor, that I loved so much - got fizzy waters, and soda was easy to cut out).