Attempting Again to Make a Serious Lifestyle Change

I too have had Myfitnesspal, and had started to loose the weight, but then went back to WW (which I was successful at) However I think I need to be more mindful, so I am back to this program. I lost 2lbs last week, I feel more in control of my caloric intake. Let's see if we can motivated together. Good Luck!

MFP works if you do. I've been on here at least five years, I'm now losing the weight I regained after initial success. Maintenance is the hardest part obviously. I learned there is what I call "MFP mojo", meaning a true mental committment to losing the weight. I had sort of "snap" in my head the day my wife bought me 42 waist pants. It was that last straw moment when you make a mental decision you have had enough. I caution you about seeking support to get you through this. It has to come from within or you will fail. That being said, you are dead on about picking yourself up and starting again. Getting back on the wagon is something I do at least once a week. When I eat an Oreo it's a minor fall off the wagon, when I stop at two and move on, I get back on the wagon. Repeat as necessary. Consider joining a challenge to help yourself, I find a little competition makes the journey more fun.

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/114605-weight-loss-challenge-and-support-group

When I wasn't working, keeping a routine and rituals/structure really helped me. Starting off the day with physical exercise put me on path to drop the weight (60+ lbs), but it ended up giving me so much mental clarity/strength/focus which helped me more than anything. I started feeling like I could tackle the day, and do more things that were self-care and self-love. Whether it is just going for a walk, or taking a class, or something that gets you out up and out of bed and moving your body, I found the rest started to follow.

That's awesome, @jalindhorst! Great job getting your walk in!!! One of the hardest parts after not having a job was keeping my body in motion. I was so de-conditioned. All I could do was walk. The more you do, the more conditioned your heart will get. Do you wear a fitbit or any kind of step tracker? I liked to set different goals as a way to motivate - whether it was distance, duration, etc. The more you keep going, you can also add in little ways to get your heart rate up.

The more I started taking care of my body (and mind), the more motivated I was to fuel it the right way and for me, the nutrition followed. You will find what works for you!

Just get a good pair of running sneakers, I agree. You want something that gives good support. I also like a good cushion sock - balega, feetures, etc.

Keep at it!

The way to think about it is to try to make a lot of very small changes, and these then add up to a big change. Also its more manageable, and if you fail at one of them you don't give up on them all. Thats the way I looked at it.

Its very easy at first to look at everything and try and half your calories, do tonnes of exercise, cut out lots of things but the danger of that is that it can be too much of a change, so if something happens you can quite easily go back to the old ways.

One bad day doesn't ruin a week, one bad week doesn't ruin a month, one bad month doesn't ruin a year. There's always the rest of the time to be on target.

Commitment is a lot easier when its dealt with in smaller more manageable packages.

So you didn't get to go to the gym in the morning? Park a bit farther from work and walk a bit more.
So you ate too much last night, just eat a bit less the day after.

There is always the optimal thing you want to achieve in the day with regards to diet, food, exercise but if you plan how to mitigate day by day if you don't achieve one of those you are far less likely to just give in on all of it.

Just try and make it easier to do.

Running is ok during summer, but when its wet or cold its a different story. You can see where the failure could be, so either plan to do in a gym, or pick another exercise for when the weather is bad.

Exercise is one of the best forms of beating depression, so it can go hand in hand.

I started off walking, moved to cycling, when it got cold, moved onto crossfit, never looked back. Now I do them all.

Pick any exercise, eat a bit less, do a little bit more and it will come. it really is that simple. If you have motivation issues, try and pick something that you can do with others. It doesn't have to be with friends, can be with strangers.


Good luck.

BUT... you are back!! That is what counts! Now what matters most is where you go from here. I joined MFP in January of 2017. MFP became part of my daily life. It is a great tool and it works if you utilize it... including the social aspect. Add friends that will encourage and inspire you. Know that there are some members who are self-proclaimed Dr's who know you and your needs better than even you do though.... some advice you will need to take with a grain of salt. Sometimes you just have to kick things around a bit to find what works best for YOU as an individual. I highly recommend purchasing a digital food scale if you haven't already. Often what we think is a serving is more than.... Also... take progress pictures (starting now). You don't have to share them with anyone else.... just for your eyes if you like. These pictures will be great for you to see your progress as time passes. You can do this!! Just do it for the right reason.... for yourself! Set goals and stay focused. You Got This!!!

I’m in the same boat too. Back on for 2 weeks now and already lost 6.4 pounds. I feel focused, mindful and more in control. My plan is to get to the gym/workout 6 days a week but am mindful that sometimes life will get in the way. I joined a 10 day challenge that has been really helpful and have logged everything. Feel free to add me as a friend - we got this!