Lost my mojo

Some days it is just WORK. It's not fun or remotely exciting, the scale doesn't move, and my clothes stay tighter then I'd like.
For those days I keep a running list that I add to each time I notice a change in my fitness or measurements (because actual weight loss doesn't always happen). When I get discouraged I look at that list and notice that yes, of course things are improving....but also that Rome was not built in a day

I went through a four month period of simply not being motivated to watch what I ate or do any real exercise and I totally agree with the above post. You don't have to be motivated you simply do what you do and keep doing it. I wish I had instead of having to start over...well almost over, lost twenty gained back ten. Ouch! Anyway, couple things I realized...don't think about it so much, simply keep at it. I found myself thinking more about how I didn't want to try to be a new self than just getting on with it. I truly believe the mind tries to pull us back to our old ways because its what we do best. It takes a long time (forget the 'six weeks to get into a new habit...only takes ten seconds to break it and slide backwards). It wasn't my first time falling off my new path, but I learn something every time. I've learned to forgive myself because I always (eventually) get back on track). If I don't feel up to a strenuous session, then I do something different that is less strenuous, if I want to eat something indulgent, I have it, only a smaller portion than my old self would have AND I find something or do something that makes me laugh, a movie a book, a friend whatever. And if all that doesn't work and I fall off my path (again), I know I will find my way back, eventually. Over the last ten years I've been up and down but have lost 50 pounds and managed to keep those pounds off, but it is the last 30 that I trying to face head on. The struggle is there, but I will make it.

Reframe thinking about everything.

I reached a point in my life where I gave myself permission to do everything on my own terms. I'm never going back to the gym again. I don't like it and I never did. I simply took it back outside. That's where I belong.

I threw all of my dieting books into the bin, tore down all of the celebrity pix I had plastered all over the house and on the fridge. I rid myself of any and everything that reminded me of dieting and resets and miracle cures for weight loss.

The half has not been told of the nitwittery I've put myself through in search of the optimum setpoint. When I look at the grocery store checkout counter shelves filled with weekly weight loss cures...it's now yuck, I need a bucket. I stopped looking at social media sites and instas living perfect lives by eating clean and pristine.

I shifted my mindset away from dieting, dieting, dieting. I track my food and data points here but that's it. It is more than enough. I eat everything I want and found movement that I enjoy. That might be hiking a ridge with a backpack or fishing. Doing yardwork, irrigating and mowing the lawn. I have to shovel snow in the wintertime and I lift heavy things. I swim all year round, like a fish.

Open. Mind. Insert. Possibilities.

Take back the reins. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. Nobody has to live in our bodies and we don't have to live through someone else's life. Most of those instas we see are filled with imaginary thinking and engineered image crafting. They're leading a perfect life with a perfect rearend and I no longer give two hoots about any of it. Frankly, if I saw them across the street I would not walk over and shake their hand.

But there are whopping boatloads of real people here. People who've struggled all of the days of their life with food and weight. They inspire me and I would most definitely shake their hand. Hugs and kisses all around. They're real. I like this joint. My data point tracking is just like fueling my truck. I have to keep the levels of everything up or the truck won't run. I'm fueling my body and I keep tooling along...without diets and gyms and instas filled with food hacks, slick marketing and imaginary miracle cures.

I totally understand. I am in maintenance too and there are days that I find it really hard. I make myself weigh weekly and that has kept me at the top of my maintenance range. Each day is a struggle but I feel today like I'm coming out the other side. I finally just had to say no to myself. I was logging and still walking but each day a bite or two here and there was affecting me. I've cut down the carbs and sugar and increased protein and that seems to help. Prayer too.