So I've been gone for months, I'm not even sure how many. Things have been stressful in my personal life and I kind of gave up on the weight loss thing. But now that things have settled down a bit (as much as they ever do, I guess) I'm ready to get back on track.

Miraculously, I haven't really put on much weight since I stopped watching my diet and exercise so religiously. When I last logged in here I was down to 219, after several months I'm at 224. Which is not great, but it's really not as bad as I thought it was going to be.

So here's my question: how do you get back on track after basically giving up? I've found it difficult to get much positive reinforcement in my personal life, which is why I'm here to begin with. But I keep finding myself with a lot of negative thoughts and self-talk, and I keep seeing my "hiatus" as a "failure." How can I get back on track?

Remember, you are already at someone else's goal weight - Remember that you are worth the effort this takes - Decide to take care of yourself the way you take care of everyone else in your life and the rest will follow...

And above all, if you don't get it right at this moment, there is another moment about to come when you can try again. Now go check out the other forums because there is inspiration and motivation dripping from this site!

Be well,

Janet

Perhaps it would help if you looked at it realistically. You were 235 and you're now 224. That's an 11 pound loss. I'd hardly call it a failure. Hiatus or no hiatus.

Janet, I agree!!!! It IS hard to get back on track, I am a perfect example. I have been "OFF" since August. I just keep checking in and posting and trying that is the most important thing.

Just remember you are going to do it, you have done some of it already and you WILL be able to accomplish your goals, good luck!!!

My only suggestion is to "fake it until you make it". Just keep posting and reading here every day. At some point, as you take it one day (or one hour) at a time, it will be easier to stay on track. You just have to keep trying for that one perfect day on plan. Then try for a second on plan day... and so on!

You are not alone, we have all taken planned or unplanned breaks. It's all about the commitment you make FOR YOURSELF to get back on track and back to being healthy. Hang in there!

Thanks for the kind words, guys. It's really easy to get depressed when you're trying to permanently change your lifestyle (after permanently changing it eight months ago and kind of sort of giving up). But so far, so good- I made a healthy (and awesome) dinner last night, and I'm walking to campus today despite all this yucky rain. Baby steps, right?

Kella, that is right...Life changes is all about BABY STEPS!!!!!

Slashnl is right also, "faking" it helps....if you keep weighing like normal, keep posting as normal, sooner or later a change will happen in your brain and you will be fine. (I am still waiting but I am not gaining...so it is GOOD)

Hi Kella, I just went through this after a little hiatus over the summer. Had some initial success, then just maintained for a few months. Now I'm back, and have taken off 5 more. The most motivating thing I can suggest is to go to the "Goal" section of 3FC, and read some of the stories of people who have reached their goals. Incredibly motivating! Another thing my friend and I are doing is taking bathing shot photos every 6 weeks or so. Not for the faint of heart (!), but knowing that I'm taking that photo on such and such a date helps keep me from going too far off track, and if I do stray, it helps me get back on the program before I do significant damage. It's also really rewarding when you compare photos, and can actually see some difference - even a 7 pound loss showed on my tummy!

I give myself a 5 lb maintenance window. You just hit the 5 lb gain mark...so to me, you maintained during your hiatus. Instead of seeing it as a failure, can you see it as "practicing maintenance" for a while? Now that you've had your practice session, you can get back to active losing.

We all take little "breaks", I think, or don't do as well as we'd like sometimes. That is part of this being a lifestyle. Now you're back and you'll get back in the groove of things in no time!

Keep posting!

I went on a hiatus, too! I've been semi-hiatus-ing from weight loss for the last month and just practicing maintenance. I definitely want to lose the rest of my weight, but I just got a little off track and now I'm struggling to get back on it.

There is no easy way to get back into losing mode... just keep trying until you can run with it again. Maybe start running?

I agree with slashnl - fake it till you make it!

I'm there with you in the hiatis thing. Apparently, I took about a month off of my "diet" and didn't lose a single pound. But i look at it this way...at least i didn't gain a pound either. But now...I am back on track. I am trying to log my calories and plan ahead like i used to and it seems to be working. I have lost 2 pounds just this week!!! So hang in there and try to remember how you did it eight months ago. You'll get back into the groove.

Hey shane...watch out. You may have passed me...but i'm coming back strong!! I'm gonna catch you!!! lol.

I love this advice. I joined this site forever ago, but I always end up stopping before I really start. The past week, or so, I've been coming to this site just to look at the before/after pics and to read through the forums. Pretty soon I felt motivated to get my butt on the treadmill even though I was still tired from work. When I let myself get too hungry and I'm ready to overeat...I stop to think that one day I'll be able to have a before/after pic on this site, too...and that actually helps!
Coming here somehow helps me stay focused...I hope it works for you too. Just keep plugging away at it. =)