I have tried a lot of weight loss methods, most which were helpful in some way, but I don't know why, I have trouble sticking to a weight loss plan. No one ever said weight loss would be easy, I know but I just would like to find something I feel comfortable with and stick to it.
I rejoined Jenny Craig last week and lost a little over 2 lbs as of the rejoin week 1, not bad for not completely sticking to their program. I am going to continue with JC for now, but I have already been debating a different weight loss method, one that is run by nutritionists and doctors. I don't know much about it yet but I just wonder why I don't have the motivation to stick to JC. Maybe it was the insincere representatives from JC in the past and even recently who have turned me away from it, but I have had good JC experiences too and people being insincere at a weight loss company shouldn't deter my weight loss efforts, this is only hurting me. Maybe it is just that I like to eat out like some people and that's why it's harder for me to stick with the pre bought foods.
I don't know, I just wish I had more motivation to stick to my weight loss program. If I do try the doctor and nutritionist supervised program instead of JC, I hope I have motivation to stick with that.
I'm not sure which plan I will choose to stick with but I hope I do stick with one - and I also hope I get to the root of my emotional eating.
It is hard to stick with one plan, but I think that once you find the one that works best for you, with the best results it will get easier! Good luck!
Weight loss is much about mindset and commitment and these cannot be found in any plan but have to come from within you. When you are uncomfortable enough with your body/weight/health it shouldn't be too hard to find a weight loss plan you can get comfortable with.
Good job on hanging in there and continuing to work on weight loss! Does JC include anything that helps you work on your emotional eating? If not, are you doing anything else to work on that (counseling, journaling, etc.)?
I've just started working through The Beck Diet Solution book, which isn't a diet plan, but helps people change their thinking habits to support their weight loss. I don't know if you would find it helpful, but it has helped me get back on track.
Weight loss is much about mindset and commitment and these cannot be found in any plan but have to come from within you. When you are uncomfortable enough with your body/weight/health it shouldn't be too hard to find a weight loss plan you can get comfortable with.
Best of luck to you!!
^This^.
Write down what usually derails you from a program. Then, perhaps you can work around those. For example, some folks hate having to count calories, carbs, etc., so they might just decide to make a concerted effort to eat smaller portons and not snack, or something like that. My point is that you probably should identify the obstacles to your success, and doing that may help you find and stick to a plan.
One thing that really helped me find out what I could stick to long term was finding out why I was fat in the first place and fixing that (much simpler than it sounds though ). You're going to have to be honest with yourself here and it might be difficult. I had to put aside all of the excuses and face the fact that I was overweight because I ate too much.
When I figured that out I decided to try cutting my portions on a whim and I eventually began calorie counting. I learned what a proper portion size was and learned to live off of that.
Other people have emotional triggers, foods that cause them to binge, etc. Find out what is driving you off track and see how you can fix it. JC may just not be the program that deals best with your issues.
Just from what you've said, it doesn't sound like JC is the right diet for you. Especially if you like "to eat out" as you described.
Maybe try writing down all the foods you like - I mean everything, including condiments & beverages - and then figure out your "trigger" foods (those that make you eat & eat & eat & not be able to stop once you start) and then figure out which foods you can do without and which foods you really don't care for at all but you eat them because you think you should (for whatever reason).
In my nearly-all-my-life-dieting, I have found the one thing that remains true for me no matter what is that eating what I love is too pleasurable for me to give it up on any kind of long-term basis. That's why South Beach & Atkins didn't work for me long-term (I did fine on those diets for a few months... but rediscovering my love of potatoes and buttered bread really threw a kink into that plan!) After yearsssssss of gain/lose/gain/lose, I have settled on calorie counting. It allows me to eat WHAT I LIKE. And that's a huge deal for me.
Believe me... it's a process. Most people don't just "start a diet" & lose the weight & never have a weight problem again. There are a select few... but I think most of us have to attack it from different angles many different times before we find "the right diet" for us. So just KEEP ON keep'n on. Don't give up! - you'll eventually get there.
Hi Amy
I have about the same amount of weight to lose that you do, and you're right - there is no easy way to do it.
All the advice you got here is good. It IS mindset. How many Mondays have I gotten up and said "today's the day", only to find out that it really wasn't the day.
I truly believe I had to hit rock bottom, just like an alcoholic or drug addict. I had to look around and see that my life was going by, but I wasn't living.
As of today, I'm following a 1200-1500 calorie a day food plan, eating more fruits & veggies, and most of all PLANNING AHEAD. Sorry to put that in caps, but it's so important. And I say "as of today" because I have to take this minute-by-minute, day-by-day.
I know there will be times when I fall, we all do. But I'm convinced this time I'm going to get back up, and not lay there in the dirt.
Good luck with JC, and if it doesn't work for you, try something else. I started on SparkPeople, another free site that has a lot of information, meal plans, food trackers, etc. But I like the forums here on 3FC, so do most of my posting here.
Keep us posted on your progress, and decisions.
Last edited by stillmeadow; 05-21-2012 at 09:56 AM.
Amy,
I think there can be a good bit of trial and error to find what works for you long term. You may need to take a plan and then customize it for you. That is what I have had to do.
I think that the main thing is never giving up. Keeping working at this until you find what works for you. You can do this!
In my nearly-all-my-life-dieting, I have found the one thing that remains true for me no matter what is that eating what I love is too pleasurable for me to give it up on any kind of long-term basis.... After yearsssssss of gain/lose/gain/lose, I have settled on calorie counting. It allows me to eat WHAT I LIKE. And that's a huge deal for me.
I feel exactly the same way. To the OP, I think the choice of plan is secondary to the commitment. Once you're committed, you'll succeed. You also have to prepare for the fact that no matter what plan you choose, you'll experience occasional mild hunger -- and that's OK.
I agree, I need to find out why I am this overweight and what causes me to overeat. I have a great workbook called Don't Diet, Live It and I am going to use that, just haven't got around to using it much of it yet. Any diet can do great things but if the old behaviors come back then what's the point, right? Yesterday I spoke briefly with the dietitian from the weight loss center that is more medically based and individually structured than JC. She pointed out what I said above that old behaviors can come back with a plan like JC after the diet is done. I don't want to gain back all this weight that I am losing. In fact, after one of my times with JC, I did gain back some weight.
I have done things like the dietitian offers before, meal plans. It's an option. I have to think about it. It may make more sense in the end and be more easier to live with.
Trying to find the weight loss method for ME
Does JC include anything that helps you work on your emotional eating? If not, are you doing anything else to work on that (counseling, journaling, etc.)?
). You're going to have to be honest with yourself here and it might be difficult. I had to put aside all of the excuses and face the fact that I was overweight because I ate too much. 
