i have been dieting most of my life..seems like every day i start a new diet and screw up by the end of the day..most times i get frustrated and binge..i want to know what keeps you motivated, because looking at my big butt isnt helping, it is just making me mad at myself..thanks
I have done that alot also. And then after the first downfall, you just feel like, ok, well today is already shot. I suggest excercising first thing in the morning to get going. Then you won't want all the hard work to go to waste. Or just think about that dissappointed feeling you get after veering off the edge. Or think about how good you'll feel in the morning knowing you didn't cheat the day before and hoping the scale will show you some encouragement. Good Luck!!
First of all, you are a beautiful mother so don't be so hard on yourself. I can name 100 people right off the top of my head that want to be your 168 and probably wouldn't mind your butt. Remember, you are someone's goal weight!
Think of the things driving you to your goal - that's what motivates me, but motivation is different for everyone. Some stay motivated thinking they might be able to get off medication, or get on a plane, or walk up steps without becoming winded. Think about why you're on this journey and above all, give yourself a break - because if you won't, who will?
OMG do I know that cycle. So many times I had been good all day, but as soon as I walked in the door after work I'd just say "forget it, I'll start tomorrow" and eat everything in sight.
One day I woke up and all my "tomorrows" had turned into a decade of me being overweight.
Here's how I stay on track. I plan, plan, plan.
Every day I create my menu for the next day. That way if things start to get crazy or stressful, everything is already planned out for me and I don't have to think about it.
I have also identified my "trigger" times. I know that as soon as I walk in my door, I have to put something in my mouth. I make sure that I have something planned out for that time, a grilled cheese sandwhich, a big salad, glass of wine, whatever. Just something so I don't reach for the bag of chips instead.
I also spend a TON of time getting motivation from this website. We've all been there!
Hi there
Yep, been there myself. I was stuck in that pattern for almost 2 years! I just joined LA Weight Loss almost 3 weeks ago now. This is the longest I have stuck to a plan in .... forever.
But I know what it feels like to every day fail. I was constantly failing myself and it made me feel terrible. Every night, I mean every night for 2 years, I prayed for help for the next day to just make it through to be healthy, and every day by the end of the day I would have done something to mess it up. I lost faith in my ability to even make it through one day with healthy choices.
So when I joined LA weight loss I figured what do I have to lose. I promised myself to take it one day at a time. The weighing in 3 times a week is really what keeps me on track because I know I am going back in 2-3 days there isn't time to screw up and take it back off.
What I do to keep going is exercise, even if it is only a walk. If I exercise I am less likely to take those extra calories because I know I've worked hard for the extra calorie loss from exercise.
I also try to imagine myself at my goal weight looking and feeling great.
And for motivation I watch the show Biggest Loser - have you seen what those people have accomplished??? They look amazing! And so if they can do it so can we.
Keep at it, you can do it and we're all here to help motivate you if you need it.
Linda, We have all been there. What worked for me is to get out of the mentality of dieting. I think about it as a lifestyle change where I am going to try to make better choices most of the time. Now most of the time is not going to be always. You will have times when you made less than ideal choices. This is not FAILURE. It is just one of those times when I made a less than ideal choice. It has no implications for the rest of the day. I have not blown it. I continue on trying to make better choices most of the time. Sometimes I can even appreciate that 2 years ago I would have eaten 6 cookies and today I only had 1. Better choices. Doesn't mean that I'm not always trying to make my percentage of better choices higher, or trying to find new ways to deal with life.
Getting out of the medicating myself with food and soothing myself with food, has been a real challenge. But the longer I do this, the more coping mechanisms I find. Or perhaps the better choices I make when I am medicating myself with food... oh yes... I think I'll have some comfort carrots... since the COD always harped about my carrot consumption, I still feel a tad decadent eating an extra bag of carrots.. and I've only consumed an additional 25 calories, but I felt a lot better.. much better choice than eating a pint of ice cream.
Anyway, stop thinking that you are "on a diet". The weight watchers commercials are right. Diets don't work.
I too have found that planning is the key. I spend so much time planning everyone else's meals, packing lunches, making breakfasts, taking something out of the freezer for dinner, etc. It finally became time to take care of myself. So even though I am the last person that I pack for in the morning, I make sure that I pack everything that I need for breakfast, lunch, and snacks and if I feel that the day will run late, I pack extra snack just in case. Usually when I feel a twinge of hunger after I've already eaten a snack, I pop a piece of gum in my mouth. I don't allow myself to be swayed into going out for lunch with co-workers unless it was in MY plan for that day... on those days, I only pack breakfast and snacks and figure out what portions I will eat at lunch (ex. 2 veggies and a protein = grilled chicken salad which you can get just about anywhere).
Ditto on the Biggest Loser. Any TV show regarding weight-loss or healthy habits inspires me. I also watch alot of travel TV. We vacation alot so I'm constantly trying to lose weight before our next trip.
It's nice to actually do it. I cannot count how many times I was going to lose X amount of pounds before we went here or there. And lost nothing. Or gained and went on the trip feeling like crap.
Now I go on my trips and feel like a million bucks. It motivates me to do well b/c I know how much more energy I have to run through the airports, stay out late, & sight-see. I strive for that feeling, I know if I stay on-plan my trip will be just that much better b/c I will feel better about myself and have a ton more energy.
what to do to stay motivated
