We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

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: 35,599 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

Categories