Starting over

desertfoxcoffee
desertfoxcoffee Posts: 46 Member
in Motivation and Support
Need some suggestions on where to start. I originally joined MFP years ago and it helped me drop nearly 50 lbs. I went from very sluggish and depressed to slowly working out and eventually turned into a marathon runner. But a lot of life changes in last 4-5 years had me slowly sliding back. First a career move, but I was still able to workout, the diet part was where I things kinda fell apart. Work stress the years following that change led to an increase amount of wine consumption (like I may have a problem level of consumption)..then COVID...
Now, a job change, long work days and late nights. I haven't ran in over 6 months, haven't worked out in about 2 months, eating has gone to hell. So yeah, that's where I'm at. Help?

Replies

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 35,213 Member
    Welcome back!

    When there's a tangle, I say "pull on the easiest string".

    If the alcohol is an issue, maybe one of the participatory groups here would be a help, for example this one (it has a monthly post to participate in, but the first post explains the background):

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10831729/less-alcohol-may-2021-one-day-at-a-time#latest

    If getting more active seems a little more approachable, maybe just start with something small that seems workable, like a walk at lunch time, or 10' of yoga in the morning, or whatever. If the running restart is appealing, maybe a C25K app, if you're truly restarting?

    On the eating front, maybe consider the "one change" approach: Start with something that sounds manageable, like eating X servings of veggies daily, or reducing caloric snacks (if you eat any) and replacing with more nutrient-dense things you enjoy instead?

    It sounds like you have a lot going on, maybe are feeling kind of overwhelmed. Everybody's different in what will work, but maybe just one step in a direction that helps you feel more in control could lead to another step, then . . . ?

    Wishing you well, sincerely!
  • desertfoxcoffee
    desertfoxcoffee Posts: 46 Member
    edited May 2021
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    Welcome back!

    When there's a tangle, I say "pull on the easiest string".

    If the alcohol is an issue, maybe one of the participatory groups here would be a help, for example this one (it has a monthly post to participate in, but the first post explains the background):

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10831729/less-alcohol-may-2021-one-day-at-a-time#latest

    If getting more active seems a little more approachable, maybe just start with something small that seems workable, like a walk at lunch time, or 10' of yoga in the morning, or whatever. If the running restart is appealing, maybe a C25K app, if you're truly restarting?

    On the eating front, maybe consider the "one change" approach: Start with something that sounds manageable, like eating X servings of veggies daily, or reducing caloric snacks (if you eat any) and replacing with more nutrient-dense things you enjoy instead?

    It sounds like you have a lot going on, maybe are feeling kind of overwhelmed. Everybody's different in what will work, but maybe just one step in a direction that helps you feel more in control could lead to another step, then . . . ?

    Wishing you well, sincerely!

    Thank you! Starting small with my eating my be more manageable right now. I find that if I give a little I take way too much (like eat an entire pizza). The alcohol isn't so much a craving, well, occasionally I crave it but I tend to only drink fruity, bubbly wine. It was used as more of a coping mechanism. Prior to my career change I ran off my stress and anxiety, when I couldn't get in my runs I started replacing it with wine.
  • snaxandpop
    snaxandpop Posts: 71 Member
    Great advise, it helped me too! Never thought of it as a tangle before, what a great analogy. I always say "how do you eat an elephant?, one bite at a time". Just pick one thing and when you conquer that one pick another. Thank you both for posting

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