Have you ever diet"ed" so much you feel that you....

In the past, I have failed because of the following reasons:

1. It wasn't a lifestyle change. I lost weight for my wedding and gained it back once I was done with the dress.
2. I ate too many processed foods, and not enough fresh foods and whole foods.
3. I was on medications that had side effects that affected my appetite and energy levels.
4. My hypothyroidism was getting the best of me.

So... there you have it. Check to see if you are eating the right macronutrients and have a conversation with your doctor. Also, when you read the success stories, be sure to read the time lines. Most of them worked very hard for a very long time to obtain their results.

No, never.
I always knew I'd reach my goal, and I did, then set new goals that are just as challenging.

We are all empowered. None of us need ever settle for defeat any longer. We can rise above unhealthy routines, reach down and get a hold of ourselves and know there is something inside that says YOU SHALL NOT FAIL!

I try to eat better and not diet.

I have a protein shake for breakfast (before I rarely at anything in the morning)

I try to eat a sensible lunch (previously it was something pretty bad)

I try to moderate my dinner (I don't want to force the family to greatly alter their foods).

Then try to substitute better snacks. ie... airpopped popcorn for potato chips. (chips being my albratross). But I still have them on occasion.

One thing though. You must exercise in order to be able to eat an acceptable amount of calories.

Personally I don't believe there is anything I can say to magically enhance your own will, unfortunately and I'm sorry. However, I will say that once you want it badly enough, it will become a cakewalk. Well, ALMOST. And most of the time.

It's difficult even then, but it's a lot easier to keep your head in the game if the end of the game is where you want to be. If you're stumbling or finding yourself having major difficulties, it probably means deep down a part of you is still saying "You're okay. You don't NEED to do this to yourself." I say this because that's exactly what happened to me, just 2 months in to doing so well. I fell off the wagon, then proceeded to dive UNDER the wagon and get roadkill-dragged for 2 months of bad habits.

It wasn't until I realized how MUCH I wanted to fit into those sexy outfits, to look fantastic in the mirror, and to not utterly become SO repulsed by myself that it affect(ed/s) my libido among other things, AND of course how much I'd rather be healthy, that it clicked.

Once that scale within my mind tipped in favor of my goals versus my temporary palatal pleasures, it has become wonderfully simple to the tune of 2-3 lbs a week.

I think we all are different and have our own unique thinking wavelengths about it, so while I wish I could offer an answer, the best advice I can currently give is to find those goals. Whatever they may be (as you see mine are pretty vain but it's *whatever* works...), as long as they are worth MORE than the food. FEED off of those goals. CONSUME yourself in those goals and think about them every single second you possibly can be. Obtain them.

Best of luck and I hope you well!

My sister and I are both losing weight and working out together, and we've both been pretty successful. She has played a key role in my consistently working out, but as far as eating right, the "light switch" was on in my head even without her.

I say that our timing was just right in that both of our "light switches" were on at the same time, which was very convenient.

We talk about this all the time, this whole "light switch" idea (ok, I promise to stop using that phrase with the quotation marks now), that you just suddenly decide, "That's it, I'm tired of being fat/unhealthy/whatever," and actually *do* something about it. There's very little anyone else can do to put you or keep you in that mindset.

I totally get where you're coming from. I've dieted in the past and have been successful only to give up after a certain amount of time, at which point I start gaining weight back and badmouthing my former diet.

The differences this time are:

(1) I am working out regularly (5-6 days/week), which is actually making huge differences in my body. I have been my current weight before but without exercising and didn't look this good then.

(2) Flexibility. I don't restrict myself to certain foods/types of foods. I definitely have routines and go-to foods, so to speak, but I don't tell myself that any particular food is off-limits. As an example, I didn't eat pie on Thanksgiving, but I did go into my brother-in-law's house telling myself that I was going to allow myself to eat a piece of pumpkin pie if I felt like it. However, by the time dessert came around, I didn't feel like having any. (I don't crave many sweets anymore, frankly.) Instead I felt like having a glass of red wine, and you know what? I had one. And I didn't die or get discouraged or whatever. I had simply allowed myself to live life and have a glass of wine. I also had two glasses at a Christmas party this past Friday and didn't even think twice about it, since I pretty much never drink anymore. I'm making my awesome spritz cookies with my nephew next week, and I'm sure I'll eat one or two, and that will be ok. It would be weird to go to all that effort with my nephew, who will probably be super excited to share "our" Christmas cookies with me, only to have me tell him I can't eat any.

I hope this helps and that you find your motivation!

I'm not dieting. I'm never going to diet again. I'm exercising. I'm getting strange cravings for walks anyway. Is it possible to be so fat you can get walker's high? Because I just got back a little while ago, and I'm wanting to go out again!

I also dieted and dieted and dieted. I lost the weight when I started to enjoy exercise. It wasnt overnight but slowly I couldnt do without it and the weight just melted off. I'm obsessive about my calorie count too which helps a lot. but what I think is the best is finding some sort of sport, machine, or activity that you just love. I really believe exercise is the key to weight loss ...cuz I still eat lots of candy and i lost 40lbs and kept it off for years lol