Any advice guys

bump

You are 25% of the way to your goal. If you quit, eventually you will return to your original size; and if you are anything like most people - you will surpass that.

This is a LIFESTYLE change, not a fad. This isn't a weekend task like weeding the garden. Your weight came on over years, perhaps decades of doing the wrong things. Why would you expect it to drop off after a few months of doing the right things?

Slow and gradual is exactly what you want. This allows your skin to shrink as your muscles grow and your fat goes away. It takes time, expect it to take years - honestly ... expect it to take years, and then it will take the rest of your life to maintain what you fought so hard to achieve. It's a lifestyle change - it's not a part time job.

Find a good workout video. Insanity, P90, P90X are good.

I had the same problem back in Feb, I had a great christmas/new year in that I lost weight but still had fun and then BAM! the winter blues hit.

I struggled to get back into the healthy vibe but I tried to organise myself into a frenzie and it worked.
Drawing up eating plans for the coming weeks, and did a shopping list (that we stick to now instead of chucking stuff in the trolly)
I also did a massive poster for inside the food cupboard, pics of me at my fattest, and goals... "if you lose 2.5lbs a week by sept you will be..." "if you lose 1lb it would be.."

It wasn't necessarily having the things on paper that helped, but the feeling writing them down, like I was taking action, I'd taken the first step and I was taking control back. For me, organisation is the key, planning what I'm going to eat, when I'm going to work out and most importantly the treats! but then sticking to it all.

Its hard but its way harder if you haven't planned it out as you make your mind up based on how you feel right then. If I've had a crappy day at work, or have a stomach cramps I definately won't go to the gym if I don't have the kit sorted, the snacks planned to boost my energy or the easy dinner ready to cook when I get in.

Not preaching, as this might not work for you - its just what worked for me but I think you need to find that one step to get you back into it - can you remember what excited you or you enjoyed at the beginning last time you felt the fitness vibe?

Cx

I find myself obsessing over food, when to eat, when not to eat.....what will I eat..ect. For me, I need to have something to look forward to. Even if its just seeing a movie, or going shopping. Those kinds of things make it so Im not focusing on food or other crappy things that may be going on. Try to stay positive. Add me if you wish

Been having the same motivation and focus problems lately. I had really good weight and size loss early on, but lately it's slowed way down. I get frustrated by being on a plateau only 5 lbs above my goal weight. I'm also looking forward to when I can relax and feel comfortable about not examining every morsel of food and worrying about going over a calorie goal every single day. Now that my metabolism is cranked up after getting used to the regular exercise routine, I'm hungry a lot of the time too. Six months ago I swore I needed knee surgery because my knee was loose and my kneecap would pop out with any stride impact harder than a regular walk. My work demands a lot of me, 50 hours or more a week on the clock at the office.

What keeps me working is a combination of looking at my longer term success so far and each little victory along the way. I had to take exercise slow early on and build strength back, but now I'm safely running 2 1/2 miles at a 10-11 minute mile pace as I build to a 5k distance. No surgery required. Most medical conditions get better with regular exercise and improved overall health.

If the ticker on your profile is accurate, you've lost 22 lbs so far. It may not be as much or come off as fast as you would like, but you're still 22 lbs lighter than you once were. That's a great thing! Don't discount what you've already accomplished. Instead of just one large goal hanging out there, break it up into small goals. Give yourself a goal you can realistically meet in 2 weeks. Focus on that and drive forward. You'll feel wonderful when you hit that goal.

self motivation can be difficult.

I drag people out to train with me, if they forget their trainers, I make them go out anyway & I'll leave my trainers!
We'll do grass sprints

Losing weight is a measure, but have you set yourself a large task that feels far away?

I'd was getting over knee surgery and was worried without my training, I'd balloon!
I normally exercise alot, e.g. run, cycle, MMA, kickboxing, rock climbing, circuits etc... you name it, I'll do it!

So instead of worrying, I decided to aim for a lower weight-class, I was a light heavyweight and decided I'll become a middleweight.

After the op, I was floating about the 93kgs, I couldn't walk or do my normal cardio!
so the next day I went into my home gym on my crutches, laid down and did pullups on my gym rings!

It empowered me!
Even being injured, I could work "around" the problem.
So I started to control my kcals with MFP.

I initially set MFP to lose 1lb a week.
Even though I wanted 85kgs, I decided to set MFP for 90kgs.

As my knee improved and my training expanded, I started doing home circuit training.
I still couldn't run but I was able to do other things.
I did them! I made up exercises, I stole things off youtube, I purchased medicine balls, swissballs etc....

Once I was on the road to recovery, I'd hit my 90kgs & then set MFP for 88kgs.
Within 2 weeks I was there, I was keeping my muscle mass (good youw8 scales) and hitting my targets!
MFP had restricted me to under 1800kcals a day (I was used to 2800kcals)!

I allowed a blow-out once a week where I could booze up and eat what I wanted, but I recorded "everything" anyway.
I wanted to understand my body! This was an experiment...

Finally I was at 83kgs, sometimes I drop to 81kgs so I have to eat more "good" things to keep my mass.

Currently I've got a broken rib thanks to MMA, but this time I knew I could work around things!
Week 1 I did nothing, but watch my diet.
Week 2 I introduced the stationery bike (tabata style workouts)
Week 3 Running and stationery bike with a sub 50 min 10k (gotta watch those ribs)
Week 4 Sprints, LSD running and some stationery bike.
I have another 6 weeks to go on my plan that I'll tune as I get stronger...

I plan to introduce more things as I heal to get back to my 2 to 3 sessions per day with 1 day off every 7 to 10 days (depends how I feel).

I would say the secret is:-
1. Small steps, don't aim to lose too much weight, aim for small chunks!
2. Wisdom says weight yourself once a month, I weigh myself every morning & evening.
The weight I read doesn't bother me, this is because I work out my "mean" weight and more importantly my body fat % over the month. I like data. Data rocks!
3. Take photos, once a month, take a photo. Get someone else to do it when you're in your underwear. Try and do it in the same place and make sure you're smiling. Associate the photo with the good feeling that you're progressing!
4. Invest in good scales. I use the youw8 ones. I don't even read my weight, it sends the data up into the cloud and I can access it from the internet/phone. I type it into MFP once a week. It's just a number!
5. Have a blow-out once a week! Do what you want, booze, food, etc.... just make sure you record it. Interestingly, as the weeks go on, you'll notice your blow outs have less kcals. Not by choice, your body just can't handle as much junk....
6. Fill up! If you have a craving, do a deal with yourself! If you want that choccy bar or crisps (chips), then you have to drink 2 pints of water and eat 200g of carrots (or something low kcals that's natural, not processed). Then wait 10mins, if you still "need" it, chop it in half, eat half, record it on MFP, then wait another 10mins. Chomp the rest if you "need" it, if not, throw it in the bin and make sure it gets covered in crud!
7. Don't feel guilty. If you go over, or you can't resist something, don't worry. It's a journey. We learn from our mistakes. Record it on MFP and carry on. You probably deserved the "treat"
8. Exercise! Do what you can. Initially, do something 3 times a week. Whatever it is. See the reward it gives you. A few kcals back for free. What MFP doesn't show you if your body getting stronger and better for the next session. Do what excites you, don't do stuff that bores you! the static bike drove me nuts. The way I solved it was a tabata timer on my phone. Turned on the TV and did a 6min warmup, then the phone pinged, then it was 20 seconds flat out, 10 seconds recovery, non-stop for 15 mins, then a 3min warm down! I didn't have time to get bored

You'll get there! Just get there in small steps and celebrate each step! Never feel guilty. Guilt can make us seek comfort food. You don't need guilt. You're a ferrari and you need high octane fuel, just beat out the panels until you get the shape you want

The mirror rules, not the scales, this is why I recommend a good set that measures your fat. Whilst the accuracy may be questionable, at least you have a method that you can track. Muscle weighs more then fat, so I see big guys who look chubby weighing the same as slim guys. Weight is a number! Fat% is just a "better" number!

Good luck!
ps
PTs are good to hire, but find one who'll take the money up front and will knock on your door for the complete 1hr session until you're forced to get up! they'll ring your cell phone, they'll shout outside your house, they will get you to exercise! And because you paid up front, they won't go away
This is probably why some of my friends would "never" hire me

You have to know that you are worth it. You are worth the effort and it is a big effort. If you're anything like me, I'm tired of half-living my life because I don't have enough energy, gumption or motivation.

Take it from me, the older you get the harder it is on your body and the harder it is to reverse the effects. For me, I decided it was literally time to *kitten* or get off the pot. I'm teetering on the border of some major health issues which I have the ability to control and reverse. But if I keep going like I was, it will be too late to reverse.

For me, the eating healthy and logging part is pretty easy. But only because I allow myself to enjoy myself sometimes. I'm usually very strict during the week with my calories, the types of food I eat and no alcohol. But on the weekend, I allow myself to have a few good meals out and drinks. Usually, though, I try to get a good workout in on those days to counteract and try to stay within or close to my calorie deficit.

As for working out, the only thing that works for me is dragging myself out of bed at 4:15 a.m. and getting to the gym at the beginning of my day, before work. And I figure, if I'm going to wake up at the a** crack of dawn to go to the gym, I'd better make my time there count. It was really hard waking up at first, but I've gotten so used to it, it's no big deal anymore. If I left my workouts to the end of the day, after work, I'd never go. I've tried it before. Doesn't work for me.

As another person replied, a few years ago I lost a significant amount of weight. Then I slipped back into my old ways and ending up gaining all plus another half of what I initially lost back. It made me sick to think that I had thrown all my hard work away.

Again, you are worth the effort!!! You deserve to be happy and healthy. Take it a day at a time. Do what you can each day and know every change in the right direction counts.

A final piece of advice, I have a lot of weight to lose. To look at the big picture can be extremely overwhelming. I set 10 lbs goals. When I meet one, I set the next goal. It's been very effective.

I had the same problem back in Feb, I had a great christmas/new year in that I lost weight but still had fun and then BAM! the winter blues hit.

I struggled to get back into the healthy vibe but I tried to organise myself into a frenzie and it worked.
Drawing up eating plans for the coming weeks, and did a shopping list (that we stick to now instead of chucking stuff in the trolly)
I also did a massive poster for inside the food cupboard, pics of me at my fattest, and goals... "if you lose 2.5lbs a week by sept you will be..." "if you lose 1lb it would be.."

It wasn't necessarily having the things on paper that helped, but the feeling writing them down, like I was taking action, I'd taken the first step and I was taking control back. For me, organisation is the key, planning what I'm going to eat, when I'm going to work out and most importantly the treats! but then sticking to it all.

Its hard but its way harder if you haven't planned it out as you make your mind up based on how you feel right then. If I've had a crappy day at work, or have a stomach cramps I definately won't go to the gym if I don't have the kit sorted, the snacks planned to boost my energy or the easy dinner ready to cook when I get in.

Not preaching, as this might not work for you - its just what worked for me but I think you need to find that one step to get you back into it - can you remember what excited you or you enjoyed at the beginning last time you felt the fitness vibe?

Cx

Thanks for this advice. I've been feeling kind of the same way. I've not where I want to be professionally and it kind of has me down a little. I haven't given up but I needed encouragement and advice in terms of how to get over the hump. I've been gung ho with my exercising but the eating has been off and on. There's been no consistency so there's been kind of a self induced plateau.

I think planning my meals and seeing what I've actually done will help me in terms of making proactive decisions with my eating.

Thanks for the advice.