I just can't seem to do it. For the last 2 weeks all I've done is gorge myself. The result is that I'm now over 200 again. I cried when I weighed myself earlier today and saw it. I just can't seem to get into the swing of things again. I start out every morning gung ho and then start thinking why bother? Food is GOOD. Why not just EAT. I have a very unhealthy relationship with food

I have that same relationship with food. I absolutely ADORE IT.You just have to get your head on straight and get determined..Everytime you put something in your mouth, imagine your self at your goal weight..and figure out if that food is really something you should be eating, or if it is going to send you in the opposite direction.

Take a deep breath -- look how far you've come from where you started. This may be a step backward, but it doesn't mean you're out of the race yet!

One thing that helps me when similar things happen is for me to sit down and look at *why* I've been gorging myself. Is it because I was under stress, and didn't have a good outlet for it? Was it a way to "reward" myself because I'd been neglecting to give myself any non-food rewards lately? Was it because I was eating too few calories, and my body was starving, so I need to up my calories a bit? Etc. Sometimes, just seeing *why* I've been overeating helps me to prevent it from happening again...and motivates me to get back on track.

At any rate, try not to be too discouraged. It happens to the best of us. The good news is that it's never too late to try again. Good luck... *positive thoughts*

You've done a great job ... you've already lost some weight already! My advice is to try to see if you can make really delicious meals but in smaller portions here. Also, I find it helpful to drink a lot of tea (no additional sweetners) and water between meals; not only is it good for you and helps you lose weight, but it also fills you up!

If you aren't already on a particular food plan, it might also be helpful to check out the various plans listed on this forum (as well as your local bookstore or library) and see what fits you best (even combining several plans together... there's no hard rules on what you can or can't do!). Hang in there!

What has helped me is having a plan. I know what my choices are every day. It doesn't mean that I always eat the same thing, or that I never go out to a restaurant. It does mean that I know I will eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with smaller snacks in between, and I pretty much know what all those meals will contain--I have choices for each of them. So if you don't have a plan, it might help to come up with one that you can follow.

Food IS good, and the goal here isn't to stop eating totally or to dislike food--that wouldn't make any sense. It's to lose weight and to change our relationship to food along the way.

Keep trying! Get a plan! There are plenty of them to follow. I'm a calorie counter because that works for me, but if you don't like that, look for one of the other options! You can do this, you really can!

Cheers,
Jay

You've obviously done lots and lots of things right since you've lost a real lot of weight. You should certainly be commended on that. Congratulations.

Yes, food IS good. And the foods that I'm eating now are just as good, if not better then the ones I was eating while I was 287 lbs. I enjoy them more and I enjoy the health benefits they bring me. So while food is good, being fit and healthier is BETTER. It's a constant battle, but one that you can overcome and win. Look how far you've come. We all veer off from time to time, we all struggle. I think perhaps you need to find some healthy foods that you enjoy, experiment a bit. Find some satisfying activities that you can do in place of eating. Hang in there. It is so worth it. Good luck.

I don't know about you but I have struggles at different "weight" points. I had trouble at 300 because I hadn't seen the 200s in oh 15 years? I had trouble in the 260s because not only was it 100 lbs gone but it was my lowest weight in high school (after starving myself in HS). I have a bit of trouble now because I am the lowest weight I've ever been. I try to work through it but still I know it is the reason that I have struggled. Maybe your weight point is 200 and you just need to work through it?

Food IS good. But you know what they say about too much of a good thing. Food is like sex. Ok, get the smut outta your heads. If you don't get it for awhile, it's soooooooo much better when you finally do. See where I'm going with that you smut minded people!

So if you're thinking why not just eat, just think of how good it will be later when you're REALLY wanting it as opposed to just having it all the time. Having it too often just diminishes it's "goodness".

I definitely enjoy food more now than when I was eating whatever I wanted all the time. You've done an incredible job with weight loss so far, but yes, it will be frustrating and difficult the rest of the way. This is a tiny setback on a difficult but rewarding journey, and you know how to get right back on track. We're here for you when you have trouble, but don't let that 2 on the scale undo all the great work you've done. Be proud of what you've accomplished and keep on making the choices that are working for you. You can do this!

Don't worry. Don't worry about what you did! Now you have to focus on WHAT TO DO! you can gets those extra pounds back you just have to recommit yourself. The pity party is over....go take a walk. best of luck calisa

Aww hun that's hard. But you've lost so much weight (congratulations!) - the thing is to jump back on over this hurdle and get back to where you were, which we know you can do because a) well anyone can do it, but b) you've already lost 80 pounds - that is fantastically amazing!

I find that I do this occassionally... every now and then, I'll get into a period where I go off plan - sometimes it is related to me being anxious about this new body I am developing, sometimes it is because my life is changing permanently - I don't plan on going back (gaining back) after this weight loss, and sometimes it is simply because I haven't had certain types of foods in a while and I like to have them occassionally but I'm still learning how to have them in moderate amounts. I find that it's always emotionally-based for me though, and the period during which I go off plan is actually beneficial to me in the long run because I take the time to learn about myself and what I'm experiencing during that time. So when I resume my lifestyle, I am that much more equipped and stronger.

Good luck I wish you the best. You've accomplished so much already, it's amazing! Keep on going, you can do this!

Thanks so much everyone! You guys always put everything into perspective and it's nice to know I'm not alone. The thing is, I KNOW what I need to do because I had previously lost 125 pounds. I was down to about 152 a few years ago. Since then Ive put 50 pounds back on which makes me more depressed which makes me wanna eat which makes me gain which makes me depressed... round and round we go.

Back when I stuck to my plan consistently the foods I was eating WERE good. Tasted WONDERFUL. I remember one of my fav snacks that I thought devine was green olives mixed with fat free cream cheese and spread on rye crisp crackers. I adored a 6' sub with no mayo and lots of veggies. Chicken breast baked with roasted garlic? HEAVEN!

I've decided what I'm gonna do. It's what I did 2 years ago when I got so tough and stuck to it. I told myself right at the begining when I wanted to give up to stick to it for a week and if I didn't like it I could stop. So I did and lost 10 pounds the first week (water weight im sure since i was drinking 80 to 100 ounces of water a day) and I was hooked. So that's my challange to myself. Stick to it for a week and by the end of that week I bet I'll get back that old excitement to see the inches and pounds and pant sizes melt away and I'll be on my way again

Do it! Yesssss!

Jay

Hi Kat!

SO glad to read that you remembered what worked for you a few years ago! WE can read how others do it, but ultimately it comes down to making a plan that works FOR US!

Everyone wishes it was easier. Everyone wishes that we could flip some switch and we'd be whatever size that we wanted to be (Now wouldn't THAT be a neat gadget?!!) It doesn't work that way because the body wants to hold onto the weight just in case there's some starvation period looming in the not-so-distant future. Darn those caveman/cavewomen people from our past!!!

This will happen for you. Good luck!

Cheryl