Sabotaging myself?
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| Wed, 09-06-2006 - 2:02pm |
First off, I want to say hi to everyone as I'm new here. So, hello all!
Now on to my question/issue-
I have about 100 pounds to lose to get to a healthy weight for my height and such. The problem I'm having is that I will lose a couple pounds and then just give up. It's like I get to a point where I'll talk myself into thinking "ok, you look and feel fine like this so why bother?" and it's starting to drive me and my family insane. To the point that they refuse to help and/or support me if I keep it up. I know that I shouldn't keep this up, but I feel like a complete failure when it comes to dieting. I also have a problem with going to bed full then waking up in the middle of the night starving, so I end up getting up and eating junk food. Knowing full well that it causes even more weight gain. Basically, I'm tired of constantly giving up, and I need to figure out what to do with myself.
So with all of that being said, the question is: What keeps you all motivated when you feel like quitting?
(Thanks for letting me vent.. I needed that)

Hi and welcome!
If it helps your description of weight loss is all too familiar to me. I've had so many ups and downs and fits and starts it's almost comical. I think one of my biggest mistakes in the past was that I've always expected perfection and when I stumbled I figured "That's it! It's over! I knew I couldn't do it!" I'd quit and give myself permission to eat and be lazy again. (It was especially bad on Atkins and other diets that prohibit certain foods. Ugh.) Anyway, I think what is different for me this time is that I've committed to an overall life change. I don't expect not to slip, but one slip doesn't mean that I can't get right back on the stick. If I have something high in calories and fat, then the next day I bust my butt with extra treadmill time and get serious about keeping on track with food. I've been at it since the beginning of July and have lost about 20 pounds. That's not the fastest I've ever taken it off, but I've done it without starving and have really built exercising into my life.
I'm sure you can find something that will work for you! Please don't give up! Good luck,
Annie
Good luck on Atkins!
First off, WELCOME to the board!
Secondly, to answer your question about what keeps me going...sometimes not much at all. My main motivation now is my DD who was just born in May. My sub-motivation (is there such a thing?LOL) is all of my new clothes I keep buying as I'm losing. So far, since last April, I'm down over 50 lbs, so I am getting into a much cuter, much smaller wardrobe nad I want to stay in it. Finally, this board motivates me becuase it keeps me honest and I can come here to people who know what it's like. On the days when I've said to heck with it and am ready to just stop in spite of my DD and my new clothes, I don't because I don't want to give up this board and I definitely don't want to come here and admit that I've completely given up.
My best suggestion for you is to find a diet that you can really live with forever. It really does have to be a lifestyle change. I basically count calories and allow myself to have whatever I want in moderation. Usually that means I have 5-6 super healthy meals a day and a "treat" every night or a big one every week.
As for the nighttime noshing, it's probably part mental and part physical. The mental is just going to be getting yourself out of the habit. Maybe tell yourself that if you go one night without eating in the middle of the night, you get to have a piece of chocolate or something for dessert the next night. Then the next time, make it 2 nights without night eating to get a treat. I know they say don't use food as a reward, but it really can work to your benefit in some ways, especially if it keeps you from eating a lot more than what you give yourself as a treat. As for the physical, if you are truly getting that hungry, try having a higher protein snack instead of carbs before you go to bed. Most cereals and night time "snack" foods are loaded with simple carbs that don't keep you full very long. Eat an ounce of cheese with fruit or some peanut butter on whole wheat. Or, eat a salad with chicken and low fat dressing. Or whatever you really love that has a good dose of protein along with complex carbs and some fat.
Welcome and good luck!
Staci
Great ideas! Actually, I really like the salad idea. I'm one of those people that would rather have a salad for breakfast than actual breakfast cereal.. hmm that's a good idea actually since I despise breakfast foods. Anyway, thank you all for the great ideas. I think i'll be spending alot of time here.
Now how do I kick the soda habit? Mountain Dew and Vanilla Coke are like water to me...
Welcome!
Tea might work. I also really love strawberry-orange-banana Crystal Light, but theres only one store in the area that carries it, so I'm trying to use it sparingly.
Alot of my problem with the soda (aside from massive cravings) is the caffeine headaches/withdrawls that I get for about 3 or 4 days when I initially quite drinking it.
I have kind of a long history of drinking it - when I was a baby, I was anemic and had to take liquid iron supplements. the only thing my mom could find that disguised the taste enough for me to drink it was Diet Coke. Finally in high school I switched to regular Coke and Mountain Dew. Something like 4 or so cans a day. Right after high school, I stopped drinking it altogether. Unfortunately, a few years ago I started drinking it again and I can usually quite for a few weeks at a time but I always go back to it. -sigh- You'd think I was talking about cigarettes or drugs. I am however, switching to diet soda for the rest of the week so that I can quite the caffeine over the weekend and not be completely horrible at work.
Hello there and welcome to the board..
Your post sounds sooo familiar. You lose some pounds, look better (much better) and stop having this disgusted image about how fat you look.. then you lose momentum and just switch back to the old habits. BTDT for about a year before I finally became series about weight loss and actually started losing for good.
I lose weight very slowly and sometimes stall for months.. I lost over 30 lbs in over a year.. so it's not exactly a high record but I'm proud that during the past year or so I haven't quit once.. I maintaned for long periods, but haven't really quit once. Because I finally decided it's not always about motivation and momentum. I mean it's great when you're all fired up about weight loss and going by your plan to the T.. but it's not always like that is it? I like the idea of building new habits and trying to make everything part of my routine.. so even after the initial momentum is lost I still have my routine and habits to count on.. weight will not be lost that quickly but I won't gain any weight and that's in itself is victory for me.
I hope you can get rid of that soda addiction.. I switched to diet soda so right now I have a new addication LOL.. trying to wean myself off that :)
Best of luck on your journey.. make sure to share with us