dieting alone

Are you doing this for you or someone else? Don't validate yourself through their eyes. From your picture it looks like you have a child. Staying in shape for your children is noble, use that. I have teenage sons, one of my motivations is to be around and active when they are men.

I hold myself accountable by telling myself that I'm only "hurting" myself to not stay on track.

By that, I mean that I could put myself at a higher risk for illnesses and such. I want to be healthy. I can be healthy and go over my goals once in awhile, but if it's a regular habit, I know my risks increase.

I also think about how important my lifestyle is to me. If it's important, I'll make it work. If it's not, I'll let it slide.

It's important - so I hold myself accountable and I stay on track.

I guess you need to learn to find a diet which suits you and your lifestyle .. set realistic short term goals and just focus on smashing them .. we are all bound to have slip ups but take each day as it comes and focus on eating as healthy as you can per day

The only person you are accountable to is you regardless of any other factors. In fact you can't not be accountable to yourself.

I'm definitely on team alone.

Nobody else bringing food in, nobody distracting, nobody telling me I'm messing up their Saturday with my early morning run. etc.

nowine4me wrote: »

That’s funny, I find it sooooo much easier when solo. Make time to plan and prep meals. Use your alone time for yoga, cardio or simple meditation. There are lots of great podcasts about how NOT to soothe boredom or loneliness with food.

@nowine4me - I love a good podcast! Please hit us up with the links or the names so we can enjoy

kballsocc wrote: »

Team alone all the way when starting out, I find it easier to stick to healthy choices when i'm not watching tv with someone who is eating a steak with mac&cheese for dinner every night or bringing thai or ribs or pizza or wings takeout back to eat.

I think the hardest food experience was when my bf had to work late and didn't want to make food but wanted some company so I went with him and watched him eat an entire plate of loaded nachos. But I had all my calories already and didn't want to go over, so I sat there and talked to him while sipping water. I know he appreciated the company but it was painful for me since I was 2months-ish into losing weight. I love mexican food and definitely could have eaten a bunch of nachos, so in the end I ate one nacho with cheese after he was finished.

What's wrong with steak and MacnCheese every night?? besides monotony.

I guess I don’t see the problem. I live with my husband and kids but they have nothing to do with my food intake or exercise I do that all on my own. I don’t even talk about it with my husband. We have different interests.

I log in here every day. I prelog my food most days to help me make better choices.
I weigh myself every week and record it.
I got a pedometer and set step goals for myself to increase my activity. Sometimes I do other exercise alone. Sometimes I exercise with other people.
I live with two people who have different calorie needs and goals. I come to MFP for support and understanding I guess.
My motivation to lose weight is so I can do the things I want to do and be healthier. I don't really need to be monitored or held accountable by someone else. No one else cares as much as I do about this. If I don't want it enough to follow through for me then nothing anyone else says or does is going to help.

Get some friends here or join a group. Start logging and weighing yourself regularly. Make small sustainable changes. Find something active that you enjoy.
If you are an emotional or stress eater work on new tools to deal with those things.

I really understand where you are coming from pippywillow! Without someone there you feel like no one is watching you, so maybe you sneak that extra portion size, or don't log that afternoon snack. Who will call you on it right?

Possible suggestion is to give yourself a non-food reward. When I first started trying to lose weight, the dedication to fitting into my wedding dress or being a fitter person wasn't there. So I bribed myself. I love video games, and I made myself a responsibility list (like a kid's chore list) and gave myself a check mark if I did the activity in full. The reward for having no "X" marks or blank spots? Gave myself an allowance to be spent on new games, and would NOT allow myself to spend any other money on games.

Was I still tempted to cheat? Yes. But now if I cheated I wasn't only harming my well-being, I was lying to myself in a way I found unacceptable. Maybe this will work for you, if you have a reward that you can think of that will keep you honest

Think of the alone time as an advantage! It's easier (for me) to keep only healthy foods in the fridge and schedule workouts if I have the place to myself. You will feel great next time you see him and the happiness will be radiating from you! Plus, when we look at ourselves every day it's harder to notice gradual changes. He won't see you for a while and then when he does he will be so proud to see all the hard work you've put in!

Sorry, OP, but if I were in a long distance relationship, I'd look like a kitten fitness model by now! As much as I love my SO, nothing hinders me more than him coming over after work. That means no workout and a big dinner. It is much easier when I get to plan my own meals and activities.