Feel like I'm "getting back on the wagon" every 3-4 days :(

trustymutsi
trustymutsi Posts: 174 Member
edited November 9 in Motivation and Support
Hi everyone!

About 8-10 years ago, I was 235 lbs (I'm 6' 2", so for me, that was pretty overweight). I went on Weight Watchers, stuck completely to the plan (with the help of an Xbox when I got to my goal weight, as a reward), and got down to 170. After deciding to go back up to the low 180s, as I wasn't feeling great, I stuck to maintaining my weight for about 3-4 years. Now I've slowly made my way to 191 lbs, and I'm having a really hard time having the discipline to stick to using myfitnesspal.com to count calories and lose weight. I'll be good for 3-4 days, and then come home stressed out or tired or with a headache, and eat a bunch of crap. I also got tendonosis in my leg, which made it hard to do any excercise. I believe it's cleared up, but I've been afraid to exercise ever since I had it.

I'm pretty sure my problems are: 1. I'm tired, and mistake it for hunger, and 2. I'm bored, and mistaken it for hunger (Don't get me wrong, I'll have things to DO, but I might find them tedious, so I decide to stuff my face), and 3. I get addicted to the processed crap I eat, and mistaken the addicted feeling for hunger.

At this point, I'm trying to recognize that I'm not actually hungry, and get busy doing something else. I also try to remember that eating a bunch of junk has NEVER made me feel better, and that it's insane to believe it will ever be different.

So I'm making another go at it. I'm going to use the myfitnesspal app, and also try and cut out processed junk. I may even attempt to go vegetarian. I'm going to try and get 8 hours sleep every night. I've started taking short walks as well. I'd like to start doing the 30 Day Shred, anf Couch to 5K programs again, but I think I need to start slow and not overcommit, and then burn out.

So, that's where I am right now. Any encouragement or tips are very welcome! :)

Replies

  • trustymutsi
    trustymutsi Posts: 174 Member
    One more thing: I've also had people suggest maybe my problem is that I shouldn't count calories, and change my attitude towards food in general. Eat just three normal meals, cut out a lot of processed stuff, exercise, etc. Seems it never works unless I count calories. Am I wrong counting calories? Is it a mistake?
  • sciencenerd2011
    sciencenerd2011 Posts: 37
    Before I lost nearly 60 pounds, I had the same eating habits as you did. I have since changed (for the most part) the way I use food. It is fuel, but it can also taste good and be good for your body.

    I think NOT counting calories or points is the problem--at least that was my problem. I also did WW and lost weight there. 10 lbs have slowly crept back in. I know that it was because I didn't hold myself accountable.

    I think that you probably need to change your relationship with food. Take it one step at a time. Cut out the processed stuff. Don't punish yourself by cutting that out AND going vegetarian.

    For me, eating 3 meals only is unrealistic. I need snacks. So I try to find meals that are ~300-400 calories and plan for snacks. The best snacks for me are fruit, veggies, nuts, and sometimes a little something sweet. If you get cravings for some of that processed stuff, see if you can make something similar at home. If not, have it in moderation. There have been so many times I've craved chocolate cake and have eaten everything to try to distract myself from that craving. In the end, I would have been better off having just a few bites.
  • trustymutsi
    trustymutsi Posts: 174 Member
    Yeah, I just can't see how you lose weight if you don't figure out how much your consuming.

    Good point about not going all in on being vegetarian. I really should focus on non-processed first.

    I think the most important thing for me really is to view food differently. It's not medication to make me feel better. Only doing the opposite of what I'm currently doing will make me feel better.
  • LawRahB
    LawRahB Posts: 12
    I find that having the myfitnesspal app on my iPhone is extremely helpful. It serves as a reminder to enter my food and exercise often (especially since I'm not always near a computer).
  • trustymutsi
    trustymutsi Posts: 174 Member
    I find that having the myfitnesspal app on my iPhone is extremely helpful. It serves as a reminder to enter my food and exercise often (especially since I'm not always near a computer).

    I was thinking about selling my iPod Touch recently, but that app is one of the reasons I held onto it :)
  • sailorsiren13
    sailorsiren13 Posts: 460
    cleaning up what your eating is definitely the way to begin i know my husband feels better when he comes home when he follows what i'm feeding him versus what we eat on the weekend when he chooses what we eat. After a long day at word he isn't as grumpy and things like that. we don't eat as much processed. we cook almost every night and the whole house feels alot better.
  • KaciWood19
    KaciWood19 Posts: 396 Member
    I think you are making the right steps. I know it is annoying but start small and be proud when you accomplish your small goals. I was like you in the sense that I'd get back on the wagon every week and fall off at the end! My moment of "waking up" wasn't looking in the mirror or seeing the scale, it was signing up to run a road race. Setting that goal, and not kidding myself about the work I need to put into it has kicked my butt into shape and been the biggest motivator I've ever had.

    Remeber start small. Maybe this week your goal is to eat all the "crap food" you have so when you buy grocery shopping you don't buy more. or maybe to eat veggies/drink 2 glasses of water before you eat the "crap food" and see if you still want it after that. The C25K is a great program, It is what I used.

    Keep making small changes and one day you will have your "waking up" moment and the habits will have stuck. Good luck!!
  • Pollywog39
    Pollywog39 Posts: 1,730 Member
    Such good advice, KaciWood :flowerforyou:

    My first goal was to get out of the OBESE weight category. Once I put my heart and mind into the process, and just took baby steps (didn't try to lose a lot of weight at first, just enough to feel I was doing SOMETHING!), things started to fall into place. As you see those results, even the tiny ones, it all sinks in....oh YEAH, this DOES work!

    Now, I can't imagine going back to my horrible habits. Yes, I eat junk sometimes. Yes, I drink beer and have fun and go crazy........but MOST days, I eat well and move a bit and am just danged happier about it.

    My habits HAVE changed, for the better. It's all good :bigsmile: :bigsmile:
  • allison_joan
    allison_joan Posts: 115
    I have this same problem. I eat when I get bored or I'll off my two year old plate if he doesn't finish his meal (and unfortunately, picking counts!). Somethings I do to help me not overeat are:

    - I drink a 16 ounce of glass of water every time I feel "hungry". This helps me realize if I'm not actually hungry because the water will make me feel full. It also consumes time and helps me leaving me feel less bored.
    - Chew sugar free gum! I've realized I just miss the act of chewing on something, not that I actually need to eat.
    - If I do decide to eat from boredom I try to leave healthy snacks easily available. Fruits, veggies, low-fat mozzarella string cheese, granola bars, etc.
  • izzydino
    izzydino Posts: 254 Member
    you might be restricting your calories to much which makes you feel headachy and cranky. (at least that what happened to me.)
  • awoodwaring
    awoodwaring Posts: 90 Member
    I have a serious sugar addiction, so I have not cut it out completely, but I have limited it. I only make sweets on weekends and that is it. I think about what I want to make on Saturday and that helps me get through the week. I also eat black licorice during the week...hey, I am trying. :) I don't keep any other sweets in the house (well, except that last batch of ice cream I made in December). Anyhow...take the stuff out of your house and treat yourself on the weekends. It will give you something to look forward to and help you stick with your healthier weekday eating.
  • trustymutsi
    trustymutsi Posts: 174 Member
    Wanted to update my progress:

    Yesterday went REALLY well! I got enough sleep, I counted all my calories, and stuck to healthy foods, like beans, broccoli, whole grain bread and tortillas, blueberries, and I tried to drink lots of water. When I got "hungry", I thought about what the feeling REALLY was, and I realized it was a tired feeling, not hunger.

    I also did a brisk 20 minute walk. Yeah, not an incredible amount of exercise, but it was a start. Only downside is my leg is already starting to ache again :(

    YAY me!

    I'm going to try and get some sugar free gum soon, as that seemed like a really good idea.
  • KaciWood19
    KaciWood19 Posts: 396 Member
    great news!!!!!! keep it up :)
  • trustymutsi
    trustymutsi Posts: 174 Member
    great news!!!!!! keep it up :)

    Thanks!

    Has another good day yesterday. Today's the big food party at work. Hope I stay strong!
  • trustymutsi
    trustymutsi Posts: 174 Member
    I was not very strong over lunch. I truly need to treat this food addiction like any other addiction: More seriously. I need to just STOP eating the crap, no matter what type of social situation I'm in.
  • jcpmoore
    jcpmoore Posts: 796 Member
    There are tricks and tips that help you through any food party situation. One that I live by is take something you know is safe and filling. Then you can eat that and ignore the bad stuff. And don't stand near the food! Sit or stand far from the food so you aren't tempted. HTH

    When you get back to your goal weight, try entering your food in advance. Plan your menu for the week in advance and then you aren't constantly filling it in. For me that helped when I was down at my maintenance weight. I didn't want to go track every little thing I ate. But if I recorded my meals and snacks in advance, then I stuck to it. At the end of the day I checked to make sure it was right, updated any changes, and I only had to do it once.

    HTH
  • trustymutsi
    trustymutsi Posts: 174 Member
    There are tricks and tips that help you through any food party situation. One that I live by is take something you know is safe and filling. Then you can eat that and ignore the bad stuff. And don't stand near the food! Sit or stand far from the food so you aren't tempted. HTH

    When you get back to your goal weight, try entering your food in advance. Plan your menu for the week in advance and then you aren't constantly filling it in. For me that helped when I was down at my maintenance weight. I didn't want to go track every little thing I ate. But if I recorded my meals and snacks in advance, then I stuck to it. At the end of the day I checked to make sure it was right, updated any changes, and I only had to do it once.

    HTH

    Funny you mention pre-entering food. I just discovered how well that works yesterday. I feel so free when I get home. Too bad I didn't do that today :(
  • KaciWood19
    KaciWood19 Posts: 396 Member
    how did your party go?
  • trustymutsi
    trustymutsi Posts: 174 Member
    how did your party go?

    It didn't go well at all. I ate a big plate of food, and another plate of a lot of sugary treats and felt horrible afterwards. But when I got home I ate nothing but a veggie/fruit smoothie, and some popcorn. Since then I've done great.

    Oh well. One day won't destroy my diet, right? :)
  • trustymutsi
    trustymutsi Posts: 174 Member
    Looks like my splurge on Friday didn't do any permanent damage. I'm down another 2 pounds! YAY! :)
  • stormieweather
    stormieweather Posts: 2,549 Member
    If I eat junk, even once, my whole day goes to hell in a handbasket. I think it's because I try to severely limit my remaining calories to make up for the junk, then get so hungry I grab more junk anyway, then because I'm way over, just say heck with it...and eat without limitation. So, I've found that I have to avoid the junk completely. Replace it with healthy snacks, even unlimited ones, and exercise enough to give myself a little wiggle room. A bowl of berries with whipped cream, celery sticks unlimited, sliced tomato unlimited, popcorn, pretzels, etc. are better than sugary sweets or potato chips or a whole pizza.

    Congrats on the loss! Keep up the good work :).
  • lindsmwis
    lindsmwis Posts: 4
    just the fact that you are "getting back on the wagon" and not giving up entirely is great! It's really hard to change your diet but it sounds like you are at least aware of when you stray and try to make up for it! Keep up the good work!
  • BrendaLee
    BrendaLee Posts: 4,463 Member
    As long as you're good more days than not and don't go too crazy on the "bad" days, you should still see a loss. I'm the same as you. I tend to have a few good days then a not-so-good day or day. It's all been evening out.
  • trustymutsi
    trustymutsi Posts: 174 Member
    Thanks for the support guys!

    I just had one of the most stressful days I've had in a very long time, and I still didn't go on an eating binge. I'm very happy about that!
  • KaciWood19
    KaciWood19 Posts: 396 Member
    Thanks for the support guys!

    I just had one of the most stressful days I've had in a very long time, and I still didn't go on an eating binge. I'm very happy about that!

    great news!!!! happy to hear it!!!
  • imworthit
    imworthit Posts: 165 Member
    Great job! Each success is getting you closer to your goal. And makes you stronger to withstand the next temptation.
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