Hi to all! I just joined yesterday, desperate for some motivation and support. My problem is the quantity - I eat a lot and can't stop. I do not eat anything that is not considered as healthy but the quantities are.... I got the food containers that were supposed to help me - and could help me if I would not just eat on top of those. My risky time is in the afternoon (5-8) after I get back from the office. If I avoid eating between 5 and 8 pm - Im good that day. I cannot remember when (and if?!) I managed to maintain limited quantities 5 days in a row... My current weight is 159 with 28.8% BF and I am aiming 24% BF which should be around 142lbs. I am sporty - run half marathons, did recently 2 rounds of insanity, now on focus t25 and cize combined with running and I LOVE exercising. However, I destroy it ALL by eating excessively. And then I hate myself. That's me in short.

:welcome2: MM12! That's great you are so active. But, they say weight loss is more about what you eat. The only one that can stop you, is you! You should find some alternatives to what you are munching on in the afternoon. Like carrot and celery sticks dipped in light ranch provide a crunchy low cal alternative. Or, kale chips, which are crunchy like potato chips, except very healthy. Laughing cow light swiss wedges spread on celery is good, too. Or maybe you just need to eat more protein at lunch that will help keep you full until you get home. Hope you find something to satisfy your munchies! Keep up the good work with your exercise!

Hi Katiam247! Thank you so much for your support! I am really trying to get out of the house between 5 and 8 - that's my critical time, as I said. The problem is that I already eat all those things - carrots, celery sticks ets. The issue is the quantity - sometimes I come home after work and I want to have 1 plum but I end up eating 1kg of plums, 3 tsp peanut butter, 0.5l yogurt ets.... and then I feel finally full. Also guilty, stressed and disappointed in myself :) On the positive side, normally as soon as I manage to control myself I see the results. They are not big obviously, but they are there. But then, 5lbs later - I lose focus and straight after work I get stuck in the fridge... how do you manage to control yourself? did you ever experience a problem like this or you have the challenge with the type of the food you take? BTW CONGRATULATIONS on so many lbs lost!!! it is just INCREDIBLE!!! how did you do it?

Thanks, MM12 :) The long answer is I am following South Beach, which I have done before multiple times, and I would lose sight of my goals and allow myself a little of this and a little of that until I was back to my bad eating habits. I love anything sugary. So, knowing this is my trigger, I have eliminated it completely from my eating. I, also, keep track of my calories now. I am at the point where I can't lose unless I do and I limit myself on breads, cereal and pasta. I might have 1 serving a day. Fruits, I try to limit to 1 serving a day.

The short story is.... I tell my self NO! For example, last night DH popped some popcorn. Oh and it smelled SOOO good and I had thoughts of grabbing some Beanito chips and dip, but I wasn't really hungry, didn't need it and decided I would wait until the next day to have any, if I wanted to. Felt good to do that!

This is so inspiring really! My character is the same - all in or nothing which makes it very difficult for dieting. As I explained, it is enough that I feel weak (which is normal if I cut back on eating and I maintain the intensity of my sport) and I want to eat something to feel better - a plum, an apple would be sufficient. But as soon as I get that 1 plum or 1 apple something triggers in my mind saying "o-o that was on top of your containers and the planned quantity for today! you already messed it up so whats the point" and i eat another 5 kilos of it.... On the other hand, if I am "good" that day that means I followed the dieting plan 100%.
Tell me please, did you weigh in every day or monthly, weekly? I am thinking about doing it daily just to keep me motivated and committed. but then, I do not know if that would make me obsessed as well...?
also, what are your thoughts on cheat days, travel/vacation time ets.? how did you handle that?

Have you ever tried skipping or going light on lunch and or breakfast and saving your calories for a big meal at night?

I do that sometimes if I'm going out for a friends bday I'll skip breakfast and lunch to save room for a large dinner.

I have no cheat days. I do have what I consider small "cheats". Like if we go out to a BBQ restaurant, I get the cole slaw even knowing it has a bit of sugar in it. We went on a weeks vacation last year at the beach and my cheat was to indulge in the seafood buffet, but I stayed away from things not allowed on South Beach. I allow myself a sugar free fudgesicle and 1 square of 70% dark chocolate for dessert (if calories allow).

Thanksgiving, I made my own whole wheat bread stuffing, mac and cheese made with whole wheat flour for thickener and whole wheat pasta, homemade sugar free cranberries to go with the turkey breast. I had peas while my DH indulged in string bean casserole (which I am not fond of), and I made sweet potato casserole using sugar free maple syrup instead of brown sugar. The key to eating all those starchy foods was portion control. I did not stuff myself and had about a 1/4 - 1/2 cup of each. My plate wasn't even covered.

I weigh in daily, but you can go crazy doing that. Last 3 weigh-ins have been 156.6, 156.8 and 157. I know I have not exceeded my calories and it will eventually drop again, but it can be frustrating. However, I actually record it on a separate spreadsheet weekly. Most weeks, it drops and if it doesn't then I plan the next couple of dinners for a nice big salad with some protein and low fat dressing.

I would say my main motivation is I am older now. 58.... The last 8 years I have been up around 220-230 and have really messed up my body. My knees have arthritis, I have sprained both of my ankles and they are weak, my skin is stretched out and now I have loose skin. BUT, I have more energy now to do daily chores - grocery shopping and putting them away, vacuuming, washing dishes, etc. I don't have to sit and rest after each activity. My teeth are not sensitive anymore from too much sugar, I stopped needing heartburn meds, and my clothes from years ago are fitting. I love the way I feel now and am proud of how far I have come. THAT's my motivation... :)

Hi Chel325, thank you for the idea. actually, I am currently trying to eat at work right before I leave which means that when I arrive home I do not have to go straight to the kitchen. And, as I explained, if I avoid that and amuse myself in the first 2 hours after I arrive back home with something else - I'm good for that day... however, i am not sure I would be able to make it throughout the day without eating.... i am used to eating every 2 hours - its just the psychological moment of controlling the quantities that is making me a big frustration. i just do not understand how is it possible that i can be so disciplined in every single aspect of my life but eating....
BTW, I see that you lost 90lbs?!!! BRAVO!!!! really - congratulations! which diet?

@Katiam247 Your story is really impressive and inspiring for the others! If I may suggest regarding the skin challenge, have you tried to work out? There are bunch of programs that are available out there that can help toning up the skin... I understand that you are middle-aged and that perhaps the skin is more slow to recover than when you were few years younger but still it is possible to make a progress exercising.... if you like that of course.

MM12 - that's my hard time too. I usually feel like I should just skip dinner, after snacking at 5pm. But my family sits for a healthy family dinner (veggies, fish, etc.), and I would feel guilty staring at them while hubby tries to get the kids to eat squash. It's probably my healthiest meal all day.

156.0 this morning! I know it'll bump back up and around over the next four weeks, but it's trending downward each month at least...

MM12

I just count my calories and make sure I rarely go over them. I've lost 94 pounds so far, want to lose around 50 more. It's been 3 years.

@chel325 this is huuuuuge!!!! I hope you are really proud of yourself!

@ 2kidsandneedsenergy you weight in every day? how does it effect your mental state? :) I mean, the researches show that the people who weight in every day are more probable to be successful in weight control/reduction that those who weight in weekly/monthly. Probably because you are more aware of the consequences of that big meal you had for dinner the other night ;) however, i agree it must be devastating seeing few pounds more than the day before because of the water retention ets... i noticed that when i do not sleep enough i have few pounds more for sure.... im at 156.5 this morning and my goal is 143... actually my goal is not weight that much as it is lower BFI...

MM12 - yep, every day. I was really reluctant to do it - I figured I'd be demotivated every time it went up instead of down. But it's very helpful for me to know when I usually weigh a little more and when I weigh the least each cycle - that way, when I step on the scale, I can figure out quickly if it's water weight or if I'm off-track.

yes.... I need a bit of encouragement now... I was going down for 5 days and then yesterday I went 1 pound up and today another one... i feel like "that time of the month" is coming up slowly (perhaps not for another few days) but still... I must say I am a bit worried.

Do you use any app that trends your scale weight?

I use Libra but I think iphone has Happyscale and you put your scale data in it everytime you step on the scale and it creates a nice visual graph and shows you the trend of your weightloss.

My weight for the past 3 months spikes up in the middle of the month because of my period, I only know this and don't freak out because of my apps tracking my data!

I highly suggest you look into them :)

Don't be worried, just keep on doing you. You will be eating this way for the rest of your life as this is a lifestyle change so there is no sense in even worrying. Everything will work out. And if you are gaining you know you have to scale back your calories or eating or whichever you're doing.

I prematurely weighed myself today (weigh in day is Friday) and I weighed at 149.9. Way too close to call it 140's so I'm sticking here but this is officially my line between obese and overweight!! I've never not been obese since after the age of 6? This is so crazy for me.