Lost the will to track
 

Hey everyone! I have been following WW since September of 2010, just finished a whole year of meetings :) Never missed even a single week, that was a personal goal of mine I set and reached. Lost over 70 pounds along the way too so that was nice!

My problem now is for the last 3 months I have lost the will to track. I faithfully did it for many months and then started to get lazy on the weekends, then it carried over to Mondays and snowballed. I was still successful with my weightloss until the last month. I know it also is because my husband has been home on holidays for the last 5 weeks and has a huge sweet tooth and my house is filled with snacks and treats that wouldn't normally be here. Eating the sweets has never been an issue for me except for now for some reason!

The long and short of it is that I am up 3 pounds in the last 2 weeks which blows me away as I didn't think I was snacking that bad and have actually been moving a lot more. It also scares me that the weight can creep on again so quickly.

I don't want to lose all my hard work, I still am a ways from my goal. Does anyone have any good tips on how to get back into tracking or just some words of encouragment?

Do you have eTools? Some people find that easier to track on.
What about the 3 Month Tracker Book? That's available at most meeting places and a lot of members swear by it! The thing is, you just have to track every BLT, good or bad. What is working for me right now (the past several days) is no matter what I eat I track it. Good or bad.

This afternoon my husband was eating leftover chinese. I already had given my leftovers (actually a pretty healthy meal) to my sister. I saw those chicken fingers and I REALLY wanted one! I had 2...but I tracked them!! I will have to use AP/Weeklies for dinner tonight, but I still tracked.

That snowballing? That's what happens to me. I do really well except for 1 evening or afternoon and then I'm like, screw it, it doesn't matter anymore!!

Track your exercise too. And if you're not sure about the AP earned, aim for the lower end.

Good luck!!

Hiya Jenny. That you're already recognizing it and acknowledging it is a big first step to nipping it. You know what you have to do. Just bite the bullet and start tracking again...keep a booklet or paper sheet handy and just do it. Not sure if you were paper tracking or online tracking, but whatever way would be simpler for you should be the way to go. That you've not been doing it, and have gained 3 pounds, you can make a game of it all over again like its a brand new thing to do and work on getting off those 3. You already have done an amazing job taking the weight off and meeting your goals for a full year. My take on the current situation you find yourself in is that--you needed to blow off some steam. You've been diligent and "on" for so long....you needed a little less rigidity in the moment....now? You're passed it and ready to get back to basics....just do it. "Nike" :)

As to the sweets, go back to the alternatives you're used to over the past year. Maybe some new ones. Its apple season--make a baked apple. Try some new healthy diet friendly recipes at www.skinnytaste.com.

My hub is the original snacker...I have to ignore his chips and cookies and cakes, etc. but in the meantime, I when I do get a sweet tooth, I make a smoothie or a no-bake diet cheesecake to stay within the diet that I've created for myself. You got this...don't continue to go down a path that is making you frustrated and turning back your efforts. You've come so far...get back to the good work...you'll love yourself for it! Good luck, Donna

Firstly... CONGRATULATIONS on going to every single meeting for a year! That is wonderful :D And congrats on the 70 pounds lost. :cp: Amazing and great to read about :yes:

Perhaps you could try tracking differently, as suggested. Buy a journal. Get eTools. Pre-plan your week so your tracking is already done in one day (bonus that you won't be as tempted to eat unneeded sweets).

Also, ask your husband if he can keep the sweets outside of the house. In the car or something. Or if he can even go out and get a treat when he feels like one instead of buying a bag/box and bringing it home.

Keep going forward, and keep going to meetings. You'll find a way around this little bump in the road. :)

Thank you everyone for all of your suggestions and tips, and for just lending an ear when I needed it. Had a long talk with the hubby tonight, he is going to help me get back on track too. Tracked all my food for the day today, haven't tracked an entire day since probably April. Here's hoping for a fresh start, I know the program works, its time to show it again!!

Congrats on your weight loss thus far. I've already told you that you have done way better than me because we started at the same time last year. That is so awesome that you have went to all the meetings for a year.

You know what it takes when it comes to tracking. You were always so good at tracking, whereas tracking is what I stopped doing and then eventually went right off the program 6 months ago today. I'm back at it now as of a week ago. I bought the 3 month tracker which I find is awesome.

You know that it helps you, and has helped you..so just get back on it. You are a pro by now.

Glad you talked to your hubby and he is willing to help. :)

Thanks Jody! You have always been one of my biggest cheerleaders :) I envy your motivation when it comes to exercise, I need to be more like you when it comes to those things. Congrats on finding your way back to your journey :)

I sympathize (and want to add my congratulations to you for sticking with it for a whole year!) I had something similar happen once, long ago, when I had a successful stint with WW and went from about 225 to 185. And then I stopped -- I stopped going to meetings, stopped tracking, started adding more fatty foods. I told myself I didn't need to waste money on going to meetings -- this was way before online -- but I later thought what happened was that I had gotten to a comfortable place. I looked almost-OK. I was healthy. I was going to restart at New Year's. I didn't.

So in addition to all the good advice above, maybe you need to start fresh, or gear up again, whichever works for you. You have done so fantastically well, and you're so close to goal (from where I sit!) Good luck to you.

ok trying to re-motivate myself, took some pics and compared them along the way. Starting weight, 25 pounds lost and then 70 pounds lost. There is still lots of room for improvement but this helped me see how far I have come. :)

Wow! It does indeed.

All right girl! Get back on track! Make it fun and challenge yourself. Just do it! We are supporting you all the way.

JEN, your pics are amazing! YOU GO GURL!!!! Hoping today finds you in a better way and following your program, tracking :), and feeling as good as those pics look! Whoo hoo.

Jenny- I totally empathize with you....I have absolutely NO desire to track either....I'm thinking that if i could get the tracker on my phone it'd be better, but for some reason, when i download the app it tells me my phone is low on memory even though its got plenty of memory....but that aside, i'm making it my goad to track everything i eat starting tomorrow....

YAY tracked all week and was rewarded at the scale, down -2.6 this week :) tracking really is the key!!

JENNY, that is great. I am so proud of you. Told ya: YOU GOT THIS!!!