"Restarting" in winter?
 

I haven't stuck with any of my goals recently and here we are, quickly approaching winter. But I'm trying to start over today by eating very little to clean my system out. I feel bloated and I'm not digesting properly at all so this is very much needed.

Is anyone else looking to "restart" going into the winter months?

I restarted this month and it's working GREAT. You can do this! :)

I am re-starting today too! Winter (and my December wedding) is fast approaching and I'm still far from my goal. I've been working out a lot and not overeating really but I need to clean up my diet.

Hooray for recommitment loedancealive!

Whether we need to start over with our resolve, I think all of us need to buckle down during the winter. It's just such a challenging time. Our families are going to expect us to participate in holiday activities which tend to include eating ... even the weather signals our bodies think we need to pack on some extra weight so we can survive the harsh winter (they missed the memo that we all live and work in heated buildings)!

So I've been strict with myself all along but I do worry about losing focus as things get chilly. I have a big goal of getting under 200 pounds by October 1st and I don't want to slack off when I get there so I'm starting to switch focus on my goals for December (no longer obese) and March (no longer overweight) and May (goal weight).

So I'm with you on this one! You are so close to goal, it's going to be fun to see you cross the finish line!

Restarting today also. Have 20lbs of weight I regained to lose (again). Oh well, I am giving myself reasonable goals and am recommitting to getting this weight off and back to my original goal. Glad to know I am in such great company!

Thanks! What are you doing for exercise? Are you staying indoors?

Hey.... I restarted a week ago so I am in too... I gained around 15 lbs and want to shed them off and also shed more and move to the 160s I am currently in my 180s....

Lets get this one going together!!!!

I feel like I'm restarting after almost every weekend. Not making light of it, just feel like after loosening up over the weekend it is an effort to get back on plan(after I digest this dang pop tart I just ate)...

Best to you and all of us restarters!

I have been doing c25k on the treadmill and some exercises with weights, we're talking about a recumbent bike for the winter indoor exercising.

:sunny:

Originally Posted by tefrey:
So I'm with you on this one! You are so close to goal, it's going to be fun to see you cross the finish line!

Well now I have to do it don't I? =)

NEMom, I feel like I'm in great company too! Let's get it done, ladies!

Winters here are quite nasty so I'm going to try to make myself jog but I'm also looking at gyms in the area. The closest one has horrible ratings so I might need to go a bit further away. My apartment isn't quite set up for much indoors past weights, sit ups, etc.

Since you can't turn back time, you can't start over. You can only move forward from where you are. If I could start over, I'd be 21 years old again and know what I know now! LOL

Turning back time and re-starting a health regimen aren't quite the same thing. lol

I'm starting to realize that sitting down at each season change and evaluating, making new plans, and kickstarting is not just a best practice for weight management, but works pretty well for life in general. Consciously acknowledging and then adjusting routines, meals, and everything else when the weather changes has helped me a lot.

I recommitted over the summer for one more push (hooray!) - but it took me a bit to really get back in the swing of things... so that re-commitment is really only about 3-4 weeks firm. I'm geared up now for a great fall, though.

Originally Posted by Desiderata:
I'm starting to realize that sitting down at each season change and evaluating, making new plans, and kickstarting is not just a best practice for weight management, but works pretty well for life in general. Consciously acknowledging and then adjusting routines, meals, and everything else when the weather changes has helped me a lot.

I recommitted over the summer for one more push (hooray!) - but it took me a bit to really get back in the swing of things... so that re-commitment is really only about 3-4 weeks firm. I'm geared up now for a great fall, though.

What a great idea! THANK YOU for sharing!

I am definitely recommitting myself... I never stopped, but I might be in a stall, and I feel I'm at a vital moment re: going onward/forward... so I feel like I can relate a little bit.

Imo/e, the great thing about restarting during the winter months is that in spite of its challenges, you get to emerge into the spring/summer months like a butterfly from a cocoon. We have all this time to work on, reshape, and modify our bodies to our liking. Amazing changes can be accomplished in half a year! :carrot:

Congratulations to recommitting! You can do this! :yay:

That is a good idea Desiderata, I'll have to sit down and re-evaluate on paper. =)

Originally Posted by lovedancelive:
Turning back time and re-starting a health regimen aren't quite the same thing. lol

Maybe so, but I think the "restart" mentality contributes more to weight problems than it helps.

At least that's been my experience. For me, weight loss has been like climbing a steep and cragged mountain. Almost every time I slipped, I would hurl myself over the cliff - often to the very bottom to satisfy my need to "start fresh."

There are even socially endorsed rules for the starting fresh points.

If a slip occurs:

Monday or a Tuesday, start fresh tomorrow
Wednesday, start fresh Monday (Wednesdays can go either way)
Mid-month, start fresh on the 1st of next (or the first Mon)
After mid-October, start fresh Jan 1 (or first Mon)

The very title of the thread reflects this restart timetable, or one similar. It's not yet Winter. In fact Autumn started only two days ago. Why wait until Winter to restart?
Why ever wait? Why not start with the next bite?

And if every bite is purposeful, there is no starting fresh, just moving on.

This weight loss has been different and more successful by far since I adopted the motto, "There is no starting fresh or starting over; only moving on, standing still, and falling backwards."

Back to the mountain climbing analogy, I'm learning to dig in my heels to prevent falling backwards. And if I do start too fall, I try to catch myself as soon as possible rather than waiting to the next "restart" point.

Every day is a new day, but every new hour, minute, and second are just as new, so why wait?

I think we wait at least until tomorrow, because we want to have that feeling of starting fresh, with a clean slate. But with weight loss, there is never a clean slate. Every mistake gets written on our bodies, and cannot be removed, except by trudging up that Mountain.

Forget restarting. Commit to only moving forward or at least refusing to slide backwards while you're waiting to "restart."

I think though that considering every moment as an opportunity to make a better choice than the last is a more effective strategy than the idea of starting over and over and over....

That's just a discussion on semantics. For me, restarting means setting new goals and focusing. To me, even having a bad day is irrelevant. Now, having an entire bad summer? In saying I'm restarting, I'm forgiving myself.

i am definitely focused on re-starting since the school year started...i had a rough summer with too much junk food around, stressed like crazy, short on sleep etc....i stayed with my workout routine all summer and tried my best to stick to a calorie limit but it was really hard...with the school year comes more routine in my life, less access to junk foods, and i really started to re-focus on what i need to be doing

I wanted to add some more detail to my response now that I have the time as I feel my point/goal has been twisted a little bit.

Originally Posted by kaplods:
Maybe so, but I think the "restart" mentality contributes more to weight problems than it helps.

You are assuming this based on your own interpretation of my use of the word "restart". As I explained in my previous post, I use it to indicate forgiveness, not procrastination, which should be obvious from my opening post in which I stated that I was restarting today. Whatever word I use, if it works for me, that should be good enough. If I decide at 10:00pm Sunday night that I want to do better starting Monday morning, that's a perfectly healthy goal to set.

Originally Posted by :
At least that's been my experience. For me, weight loss has been like climbing a steep and cragged mountain. Almost every time I slipped, I would hurl myself over the cliff - often to the very bottom to satisfy my need to "start fresh."

I haven't hurled myself off a single cliff in 2+ years. ;) I've started and stopped, never gaining more than 5 pounds during an off-period, sometimes continuing to lose a pound per month, data that a friend of mine recorded and sent to me last month. I was surprised to see a steady drop, even during "down" periods.

Originally Posted by :
There are even socially endorsed rules for the starting fresh points.

Never heard of this so it's a little irrelevant to me but maybe it is helpful to someone else.

Originally Posted by :
The very title of the thread reflects this restart timetable, or one similar. It's not yet Winter. In fact Autumn started only two days ago. Why wait until Winter to restart?

Actually, you missed where I said I restarted today. My title reflects my location, nothing more. It may be fairly nice where you are, I don't know, but where I am, it's cold. I'm already pulling out my thickest jacket and considering buying a hat, scarf, and gloves. I'm also shopping for gym memberships because, realistically, it's already cold enough to turn me off of exercising. To me, it's already winter weather-wise.

Considering the rest is following that same thread of procrastination, I won't quote it but will say that you went really far off of my use of the word "restart" and mention of "winter". :lol: Maybe if you lived here you'd get the winter thing, it's freezing. But whatever word the women here use to help them get going, that's great for them and I don't see a need to assume that any of us have a negative mentality.

AlaskanLaughter - I find it much harder to stick to my program during the summer, lots of fairs, festivals and such, looking forward to routine as well. Have managed to maintain through the summer so counting that a win.

Best to all :sunny:

Reading the title of this thread kind of resonated with me. :) I plan on my own restart early next year!

Having already lost over 100 pounds but becoming complacent with my goals, I eventually started to revert back to really bad habits and gained significantly for the first time in nearly 10 years. I managed to get a hold of my senses though, and did an official "reboot" in March of 2012. And it was the best decision I ever made! With the additional weight I lost throughout the year, I sported a total loss of 150 pounds and am currently smaller than I was in high school.

I still have a ways to go though, and I'm currently pregnant so I've had to put my weight loss efforts on hold. However, I'm doing my best to continue eating healthy, even though I have to add more calories in for baby growing. ;) I'm working hard to continue the mindset of healthy eating and plan to get back to a calorie deficit once it's time to do so early next year. :)

Good luck to you! I think making a serious commitment to a new start is a great idea. :hug: