Never thought I'd be posting in this section :(

I actually think it gets harder as you move forward. I've reached a point where I'm tired of counting calories, I'm tired of watching what I eat. I what the magic button that will fix it, but I know that doesn't exist.

I will tell you one of the things that I'm trying to do because I feel like I'm in the same boat. I am trying to journal more and keep track of my emotions. How am I feeling? What's happened in my week that I might be able to look at and find a pattern.

Good luck!

How long did it take you to put on the weight??

I have been working out and counting calories for a year now. I have lost 25 lbs and I am very happy with my success! I am now working, extremely hard, at getting to my ideal goal which is another 20 lb weight loss. It's much harder! I'm working out for hours every week and not even allowing myself to smell chocolate and still am seeing -1 lb on the scale. Every - matters though! But Do not allow yourself to eat outside of your calorie count. Just say NO!!

If you are a big snacker, keep sugar free Jello in the fridge. It's 5 calories and it may not be what you are "craving" but usually if you just eat something then you will satisfy the urge to snack. I agree with the earlier post about journaling as well. It's very soothing to write down what you are doing and when you get results you want you can track trends based on what you are doing/what works best for you. Or posting in this community, if you want to eat- write or talk yourself out of it I wish you the very best in your journey.

Some foods I still love and eat but those I budget for. Other foods I can't believe I used to eat them. Each person is a little different with what foods are triggers and whatnot. Each journey is different and they are all hard but don't make them harder by tempting yourself with foods or beating yourself up. You learn more from failures than you do by being successful all the time.

I think this is alright, I think a gradual lose is safe and at least your making progress.

Personally, i set my mfp to lose 0.5 lbs per week, so comparatively, your making good progress.

I've found that planning is the key. (I'm down nearly 60 lbs. from last April.) When I plan I do it in detail. Every day is in the books at least one day in advance so I can make necessary adjustments as I go. For me it has gotten easier with time, but I've also focused on staying on as much as possible. I don't have unaccounted cheat days very often and I incorporate indulgent foods into my daily routine to keep them from becoming sources of uncontrolled cravings. Feel free to browse my diary for ideas if you like.

Personally I think for a lot of people the real crippling cravings go away when they have seen enough progress to justify the 'sacrifice' of not having those foods. That is one of the things MFP really helps with in my opinion, because you can log before you eat, and make a decision whether you want to work your butt off after eating that high cal snack or meal... on that topic, are you getting regular exercise? This is the best way to get the metabolism going, and good for your general health, which afterall is the most important thing of all!

I think I know where KB is coming from, I know a lot of people who are on the paleo diet (or similar), and while I don't do that myself, I think most people would benefit from some of the general philosophies of more fresh fruit/veg, lean meats, and less processed foods...

Fundamentally I don't think you have made the necessary head shift yet from seeing this as a diet/weightloss tool, to a change in lifestyle.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but you need to find ways to make this work for you, so that it isnt a chore, and you dont feel like you are missing out on things. I have been at this for about six months, still eat pizza and burgers, drink beer occasionally etc. Sure I have had moments where I have turned things down through a conscious chioce... but not once have I felt deprived or like I wanted to quit. The progress (albeit a bit slow), gives me the motivation to keep making positive choices.

I completely have faith that everyone can get to this point, it is just about making choices that fit into your life - long term.

32 lbs is something to be proud of. If you hadn't started MFP they may still be there,,,right?? I crave snacks at night as well but instead of chips (my normal snack food) I try to replace it with carrots , snap peas or celery. I haven't seen as much success as I would like to have but I have been told if it comes off slow it is more likely to stay off. I don't know if this has helped you in anyway but hang in there, you can do it.

That's 3 lbs a month... I've been at it since May and I've lost 20 lbs.. that's about 2 lbs a month and I feel GREAT. You have to remember, this is for the rest of your LIFE. You will get there, you will. You just have to be patient with yourself and listen to your body.

I was a big snacker at night. I stopped that by working out at night. I also budget in a snack and have something like an apple and a tbsp peanut butter or 100 calorie popcorn. But i find i lose the most weight if i don't snack at all after supper regardless of how many calories i have left.

If i am really craving something more substantial i go soak in the bathtub. Helps me relax before bed too.

I have lost over 100 pounds since I started, and have another 6 to go... And I still have those days that I fall off the wagon and then have to fight back to the weight I was then loose a bit more... As long as you don't throw in the towel completely, then you are still on track.

I agree with not really the Paleo diet, but definatly protein. I am on a high protein diet, and it works a treat. You can't go wrong. As with the Paleo diet, our bodies were made to eat meat and salad and veges. I eat more protein and only eat carbs (salad or pasta) with the night meal.... Give it a try, and you WON"T be hungry, and you WILL lose weight.

damn, i know you're being honest, but that is NOT what I wanted to hear.... what about the cravings for bad stuff you used to eat? Do those get any less?

I mean, I liken this to quitting smoking. When I quit, I still thought about it every now and then for a year, and I know it makes me queasy to even think about it NOW.

Will I be like that eventually with french fries and chocolate donuts?...

I find I still crave... it is an addiction that you will live with forever.... but it can be done, just as long as you keep getting back on the horse each and everytime.... And remember YOU"VE LOST 32 Pounds! Thats a lot of weight!

Keep going!

It hasnt gotten eaiser for me, I have just learned how to handle myself better. I love potato chips! LOVE them. And I love to dip them in ranch. I use to sit down and eat a whole bag as a snack right before I went to bed. I still have to have my chips, but instead of buying them ahead of time I buy them when I crave them. And instead of buying the BIG bag I buy the single serving bag. And I buy the light or fat free ranch now. Its almost like I trick myself. I know if I dont buy It I cant eat it. And I know If I want It bad enough I should Allow myself to have it. It works for me. I also am a 24/7 snacker!!! I east constantly at work, but eat foods that are less in calories like, Pudding, Pretzle w/ rand dip, carrots, mushrooms, black olives, POPCORN, Pickles and a lot more. You need to find a away to make food work for you. GOOD LUCK TO YOU !!!:drinker:

First of all...CONGRATULATIONS! You have done an AMAZING JOB with your weight loss! There...just making sure you don't forget that you *have* been successful. If you never lose another pound, you have already improved your health, and lowered your risk of certain chronic diseases by losing as much as you have. Great job!

Second...if you aren't keeping a diary or blog...keep one. I know when I had a lot to lose, it helped me immensely to be able to look back on my progress. Obviously you know how much you've lost, but its so easy to forget how much you've overcome and achieved when you're slogging through the day-to-day and it seems so *interminable*. I have found my old diaries and blogs to be very, very motivating when I've felt like giving up.

Third...losing slowly certainly sucks. But what is the alternative? Losing nothing, or gaining? Yeah. This is *alot* better.

Fourth...this is a journey. And part of what you are doing is not simply losing weight...its learning what you need to do to keep it off. In the beginning, small changes give us large results. Then the hard work sets in. Are you eating in a way that you can sustain, forever? Or are you "white knuckling" your way through it? "White knuckled" discipline will work in the short run...but you can't do this forever. Are there certain foods or settings that trigger overeating? I, for example, like cheesecake...but I will never overeat a cheesecake. Or ice cream, or candy. But a donut? Or coffee cake? I really just don't eat these things. I just don't. Because I cannot enjoy one donut. So I don't let anyone talk me into the idea that I can "live a little" with donuts. What are your "overeating" triggers? Are you eating food that isn't just low calorie, but that will nourish you? Sometimes our cravings are personal (ie, donuts for me), but sometimes cravings are the body's way of saying "give me something I need." I took a look at your food diary...and I'm not judging...if it works for you great...but it may also be possible that a daily reliance on fast food + low cal/low fat convenience foods means that your body isn't "being crazy" in giving you cravings...it may be that its actually hungry for something it needs. Start small: try switching out *one* thing on your menu that has little nutritional value and substitute just *one* thing that has a better nutritional profile. It doesn't have to be "diet food"...it can be nutritionally dense. Instead of a fast food breakfast...try eggs and [insert favorite meat...I like bacon. Chose something lower in fat if that's a concern for you] and fruit. Its still heavy. Its still "tasty". Surprisingly modest in calories. But it has a few more nutrients and less of things you don't need...like breading and the "deep fry" process.

Good luck!

usually most start cheating around 4 to 6 weeks..you need to find ways to keep you motivated..like buying smaller sizes of clothes to keep trying on..set mini goals by this date I should weight..make a small poster..glitter/bling it up..and look at it everyday..

Find a buddy to keep you motivated..

GOOD LUCK U can DO IT!!

Hi you know for lots of us its simply in the head,emotional comfort eating thats why ive spent 22 years losing chuncks of 12-60lbs and regaining them many times.
If you can look at why you want to snack,then it can help you not snack real soul searching. Write a diary not just tracking food how you feel everytime you want to go off plan and when you want to write down exactly why you 'need' the snack etc?
This is a hard journey for most off us if your like me an emotion eater then its harder,dont beat yourself up youve done great and kept it off and we all know thats the hard part xx