Need motivational support

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Hey everyone! I feel like this is chapter 26749027 in my fitness and weight loss journey. I used MyFitnessPal 5 years ago and lost a good amount of weight, then got sidetracked. Last year I started weight watchers and lost almost 20 pounds, and am almost at the point of gaining it all back. I workout about 3-5 times per week, but every time I eat healthy I get discouraged if I don’t see results ASAP. I fear I’ve lost my mojo.

Anyone with tips, tricks, or advice I’m open to it. Maybe if I try to be accountable to other people I’ll actually do something about it.

Replies

  • RelCanonical
    RelCanonical Posts: 3,882 Member
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    It sounds kind of weird, but I refocused my attention on the process of losing weight rather than losing weight itself. For me, logging accurately the food I eat is the goal, and weight loss is a bonus. I reinforce this by weighing only once a month to "check in" and keep my focus on developing good habits rather than pushing towards an end goal. If I take pride in my self-care (taking care of my skin, exercising, eating a nutritionally dense diet, getting enough sleep etc.) the rest just seems to come with it. Otherwise, I start focusing on each pound lost, every pimple, bags under my eyes, and those things just don't change fast enough to keep me going.

    I guess, in short, I get my accomplishment "high" from good habits rather than the results of those good habits.

    I'm not perfect, of course, and I do still struggle with body image issues and impatience, but this has helped make it much easier to handle.
  • amgreenwell
    amgreenwell Posts: 1,268 Member
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    I'll be honest. There are no "tips or tricks" to this healthy lifestyle journey. You eat less calories than you burn and you'll lose weight. End of story. There are a million excuses and reasons why but just eating within a calorie deficit and you will succeed. Working out and trying to "diet" never work. If you want this to a forever lifestyle change then change how you look at food and exercise and make it a journey that's fun and readily available for you to enjoy. Exercise when/how/what makes you feel good. Eat when/how/what makes you feel good, but with moderation and within a calorie deficit. It's hard to maintain after losing then gaining then losing again but that's the challenge. You got this. There's no easy way to get there though.
  • MichaelK1007
    MichaelK1007 Posts: 136 Member
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    I'll be honest. There are no "tips or tricks" to this healthy lifestyle journey. You eat less calories than you burn and you'll lose weight. End of story. There are a million excuses and reasons why but just eating within a calorie deficit and you will succeed. Working out and trying to "diet" never work. If you want this to a forever lifestyle change then change how you look at food and exercise and make it a journey that's fun and readily available for you to enjoy. Exercise when/how/what makes you feel good. Eat when/how/what makes you feel good, but with moderation and within a calorie deficit. It's hard to maintain after losing then gaining then losing again but that's the challenge. You got this. There's no easy way to get there though.

    I couldn’t agree more. No tips or tricks and remember to “trust the process”. I know that it can be discouraging when you aren’t seeing progress every day. Consider this a journey and lifestyle change that takes time if done correctly. No magic pill. If you are logging your foods, sticking to your fitness program and maintaining a deficit you will reach your goals. Take your time and trust the process and have fun doing it.
  • tiffanyleilarsen
    tiffanyleilarsen Posts: 43 Member
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    The thing I'm doing different this time that seems to help is that I weigh everyday but only log once a week.
    I weigh every day to keep me on track. If I overeat than I know that I will weigh more the next morning, so I'm less likely to overeat. I only log once a week so that if I do fluctuate a little, through no fault of my own, than I compare to the weight I logged, not the weight from the previous day, so that I can still see a loss everyday.
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,306 Member
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    The general idea is to move your lifestyle habits into the direction of true change. This takes time and what seems like failure after failure -- if you choose to look at it that way.

    But..not really. I could beat myself up because I'm not exactly at the weight I was mid summer.

    But.. I don't. I know I can lose 3 to 5 pounds and get back to my goal, because the eating habits I established while losing come naturally to me now. It is sad..but junk food doesn't even taste good any more.

    Then, when I realized I put fitness equipment on my wish list for Christmas this year..and last year it would never have entered my mind... I was relieved and let the fear of gaining it all back go.
  • coulsonavenged
    coulsonavenged Posts: 6 Member
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    The one no one wants to hear, but we all know is true: it's a long-term thing, and a lifestyle change. Think of it this way: the weight didn't get put on overnight, so it won't be lost overnight. Forgive yourself for mess ups and start fresh again the following meal or day- that's a realistic approach. Focus on the little things, like having more energy, less achy bones, and how clothes fit- a lot of times I find those things are more indicative of success than the scale.