Morning ♥️

tangledtwine · August 2018

Hi there

I'm about to embark on another weight loss journey. I imagine some of you will have the same experience - get to goal, put it all back on (and then some), repeat.

I'm looking for a way to lose weight sensibly but also work on my self esteem and head space, since I think a lot of this comes down to being an emotional eater.

Anybody else here doing the same? I'd love to speak to anyone who struggles with their head, and consequently, their weight!

Happy losses everyone

Tangledtwine x

kommodevaran · August 2018

MFP is a great tool for sensible, rational weight management. Log your food, assess your results, tweak and adjust to get it just how you like it.

rebeccaos76 · August 2018

Hi I have just started today and I too have struggled with staying motivated and emotional eating. I am now at my heaviest so need to get it sorted.

kommodevaran · August 2018

rebeccaos76 wrote: »

Hi I have just started today and I too have struggled with staying motivated and emotional eating. I am now at my heaviest so need to get it sorted.

Stop trying to stay motivated, nobody is motivated all the time and you don't need to in order to manage weight.

Seek other outlets for emotions.

You're at your heaviest now. It doesn't mean a thing. You lose weight by eating less and moving more.

joemac1988 · August 2018

Part of your problem is your mindset. You're not going on "another" journey, you're still on the same one. I've been victim to that and what it does is you have a bad period and you give up entirely for a while because you "failed". Ups and downs are all part of it and you need to accept that. When you "fall off the wagon", climb back up on that beyotch cause you only have one wagon.

I mean this constructively

jenimo · August 2018

Happy Monday All, it's the start of a new week and fresh opportunities to make good choices. I'm hoping to step up my workout schedule this week and keep making healthy food choices.

lindarpolk · August 2018

You could try doing one little activity just for today--walk around the block, eat a healthy dinner--just something to get started. Tomorrow do it again. Do it again the next day. Don't tell yourself that you need to keep it up every day because it would be too overwhelming. Just play the game of seeing how many days you can keep it up. This can make developing a habit fun. Farther down the road, one good habit can lead to another. Trying to change too much at once can be hard to keep up.

amsteve64 · August 2018

For over 10 years I worked on losing weight and finally figured out what works for me. Again this worked for me so it may help you figure out what works for you. I had to start counting calories and working out consistently. I did at least 1 hour of cardio 3 days a week. I ate lots of chicken and fish. Lots of fruits and veggies. Daily caloric intake was between 1500 - 1600 daily. I was able to lose 6 lbs in a week, oh yeah I for got about the water, 64 oz a day. That was a year ago and since then I have lost a total of 22 lbs but I always have 5lbs lurking in the background. Focus on what you eat, how much you eat, and how active you are. MOVE......Move.....MOVE. I have recently started going to the gym before work to just walk on the elliptical for 30 minutes and the after work another 30 minutes with 30 minutes Wright's to start toning. I hope this encourages you.

cassiebajjey · August 2018

My advice? Don't change everything all at once. Small, gradual decisions are the way to go for long-term LIFESTYLE changes. That's what you are doing, not losing weight, but improving your lifestyle to lose weight.
Oh and good morning!

Mallyycatt · August 2018

joemac1988 wrote: »

Part of your problem is your mindset. You're not going on "another" journey, you're still on the same one. I've been victim to that and what it does is you have a bad period and you give up entirely for a while because you "failed". Ups and downs are all part of it and you need to accept that. When you "fall off the wagon", climb back up on that beyotch cause you only have one wagon.

I mean this constructively

This ^^ is so true.

Good luck!! You've got this! And this group of people here are excellent for support!

cqbkaju · August 2018

As @kommodevaran and others have said, this takes discipline not "motivation".
It also is not another "journey". It is your responsibility to take care of yourself, your body, your fitness.

If you are an "emotional eater" then find better things to do with your time and better outlets for your "emotions" so you are being more active at least.

Also, don't think in terms of losing weight.
You want to lose FAT and add (or at least maintain) MUSCLE.

lcmr · August 2018

I'm no expert, but here is my 2 cents. Come up with a plan. If the plan does not work, come up with another plan. Seek therapy to get to the heart of what is stopping you (mentally) from reaching your goal. Don't give up and remember, you are not alone. All the best.

LisaD0803 · August 2018

I'm right there with you. I can be doing great but don't let my world start falling apart (trouble with kids/boyfriend/work... ugh. #SugarCravings #CarbCravings #EatToFeel)... I get it. So... I try not to keep snacky things in close reach... I'll grab something small (Hershey's nuggets w/ Almonds are great) to curb the feeling...

goron59 · August 2018

Stay out of social media (including forums like this) where everyone does your thinking for you (irony not lost on me here).
Find something that works and be disciplined ( I tried 5:2 and switched to Lifesum app for a while )
Eventually form habits around it.
Remember that this is something for you to do, not something someone is going to do for you.

Sunna_W · August 2018

Some of the things that helped me were:

Changing what I ate; I found that I was less anxious on a modified high protein / high fat diet. My blood sugar was more stable and that seemed to address my mood somewhat.

Changing how I viewed food; food is not the enemy - people and situations that stressed me out were the enemy. Where practical, I limited my interaction with those people and avoided those situations. I was less anxious and happier for it.

Changing what I bought; I shopped the outside parameters of the grocery store - lots of low sugar / low carb fruits and vegetables, lots of eggs, protein, healthy animal and vegetable fats; minimal starches, breads, simple carbs. Flavored seltzer water rather than soda, Unsweet tea, etc. Check out the Weston A Price Foundation for traditional food ideas: https://www.westonaprice.org/making-it-practical/

Changing how I viewed my "Diet"; I ate calories for my goal weight (e.g. maintenance calories) from the start. That way, I had a pretty good idea what my eating should look like FOREVER to maintain that weight. I lost weight consistently and I have kept it off now for almost 2 years.

Learning to use different spices and cuisines to delight my taste buds; I love Penzeys spice blends (most have zero sugar or salt or artificial anti-caking agents). It's amazing what you can do if you get out of the typical American food rut. For example, a typical chicken curry dish, while high in protein and fat, is very low in carbs. Sometimes I add garbanzo beans or a 1/2 serving of rice to my portion. It still is within my macro limits and it really satisfies me.

Forgiving myself for being human; even by eating maintenance calories, I sometimes feel deprived. I listen to my body and allow myself to have occasional treats. I weigh them carefully and enjoy them.

Seeing each day as a "gift"; even if I wasn't perfect yesterday, today is a new day and I approach each day as a clean slate. I am not always perfect but over time I do become a better person who eats healthier and who only allows people who love me unconditionally into my life.

brightresolve · August 2018

joemac1988 wrote: »

Part of your problem is your mindset. You're not going on "another" journey, you're still on the same one. I've been victim to that and what it does is you have a bad period and you give up entirely for a while because you "failed". Ups and downs are all part of it and you need to accept that. When you "fall off the wagon", climb back up on that beyotch cause you only have one wagon.

I mean this constructively

SO much this! I have definitely been where you are @tangledtwine with regard to regain, and still have emotional eating as a feature of my weight-maintenance landscape. MFP has helped me realize that I don't have to be perfect, don't have to start over, don't have to quit or make it worse when I make decisions that don't serve me... I just have to start where I am and make different choices. Best of luck to you here.

annettefinsterbusch · August 2018

Have you considered what, other than the obvious (eating more than you move) has gotten you to this point? You mention tendencies to eat for support or comfort but why? Sometimes our first step to a healthy lifestyle begins with a grander assessment. Dieting, exercise, discipline, modification of habits - all awesome ways to change the outside but it's not a permanent change if it's not lead by dealing with the issues that create the problem in the first place. Just a thought.

wendyj1957 · August 2018

Sunna-W and other members, You have given me some really excellent ideas to consider. My plan is to start out with 2 days of meals and snacks that fall within my calorie range and rotate them for a week while I figure out 2 more days for the following week. I think I will do better with limited choices in the beginning until I get the discipline for myself in check. I am also using a modified higher protein and fat ratio for macros. My exercise will be stationary rowing, "modified" yoga stretches and walking during the day on my breaks.

My goal for this change is better health and strength as I enter my 60's. Ugh, where did the time go! Life is full and I think my mind/emotions would be better as I learn to take care of myself. So many days are wasted on thinking "when I get time I'll do it." Well here I am. Slow, steady, mindful.

YHWHKid · August 2018

Hey everyone!,

Names Jay and I'm just getting started on this website as well as taking my fitness to new heights. I am on a 90 day program so I'm including the gym with my martial arts. I was falling off after snowboarding in February and hitting my head. My body felt destroyed after so much falling! I took a month off to recover and found it hard to get back on the grind. Now this is my first week and I want to know for those who are working out, what do you use to keep yourself going? Is it the thoughts of the goal? Perhaps that desire to have the body you want? Noticeable progress? I welcome all thoughts

jondspen · August 2018

What do you do for fun, hobbies, to de-stress? I am not greatly over-weight, but am broke from my time in the Marines, and get down/bummed out eating rabbit food and not being able to be as active as I would like. Some things that I do to help myself:

1 - Try and eat sensible, but if I have a craving for a cheeseburger, I indulge it once in the week and then get back on track the rest. Hardly no one can be perfect 100% of the time, so instead of beating myself up, I just enjoy life. Most days that's enjoying myself for the good diet I follow; on occasion, it's enjoying a meal that I crave.

2 - I've started meditating and just taking some down time for my brain. It helps me step out of the occasional funk I get in emotionally, if just for a few min a day, and grounds me to appreciate the moment. Also, another trick is to take 5-10 min a day and imagine yourself being the person you want. Really use your imagination and put yourself into that place (sights, sounds, smells). The more you see yourself at or past your goal, the more your mind gets wired into that 'reality' and it starts working with you to accomplish it.

3 - I use to play in HS band, and a few metal bands back in the day also, but haven't played anything in years. Recently picked up a cheap guitar to pluck around on, and also a banjo that I'm teaching myself to play. No delusions of being famous, but it's something I like and again, helps me to get away from negative thoughts. Painting, knitting, gardening, woodworking...whatever it is that you like, take that time to enjoy it and try to maintain a positive (or at least neutral) outlook during.

I realize many people have a busy life. Taking time like this can be hard, but I am a firm believer that you make time for the things that are important to you. If you're too busy to allow yourself to be the most important thing for even 15 min a day, you will most likely suffer emotionally and physically. I would suggest take a step back and evaluate if all the stuff you have going on is really...and I mean REALLY...as important to do/get done as you think.

TheHawk007 · August 2018

As you can see, you are not alone. There are many avenues to follow. Find the posts that speak to you, that you think you could see yourself doing. But above all, GRADUALLY. Don't just think "I'm going to start counting calories, do cardio, the start weight training" That is a weight that will certainly collapse you! Ease into it. Start by looking at the calories that are the highest you ingest. Maybe try to only eat 1/2 of that or a substitute like it. Running program? NO! You gotta WALK before you can run. Treadmill or actually going outside, start with 20 minutes, and build to a 1/2 hour. Weights? Start with the LIGHTEST ones you can. Nobody is expecting you to clean and jerk the transmission of a 1989 Mustang starting out, okay?

Morning ♥️

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