Needing some motivation!

T

thicky

New member
Hello...my name is Jamie and I have been on this board now for awhile on and off...now I am back and hoping to stick with my 'healthy eating' plan. I don't want to say diet because when I 'diet' I just end up pigging out and messing my progress all up. I am alot bigger then I look like in my 'profile photos' and really want to get back into my size 9 clothes! I wear a 14-16 right now...sometimes i can fit into a 12, it all depends on the clothing. But my main problem is that I have been really big [size 22-24] before and thin [size 7-8] before...and now that I am getting bigger it's really discouraging because I have been thinner and never appreciated it nor took the time to get to 'know' the thinner me. I got to the size 7-8 when I was with my now ex boyfriend and that lasted a few months...then after I had my daughter 2 years ago I got into a size 9 and now within the last year I am now a size 14-16 :( I am not too depressed...but I am lonely so I eat to fill the void only to feel worse in the end. I dunno...I have probably attempted to 'diet' going on 1,000 times...it's pretty much everyother day I 'start over'!! How can I once and for all stick to it and not 'fall off the wagon'????? THANKS!! ALSO~binge eating is a big problem of mine...how can I overcome this??
 
As a recovered bulimic, I know how hard stopping binge eating is! Main thing: PLAN PLAN PLAN! I had to go as far as putting every single thing I was going to eat that day in tupperware and putting everything else in the freezer. But as soon as you have beat it, it gets easier. If you spend the first month planning everything you can get a bit more lax and naturally just fall into the right portion sizes, etc.

I hope that helps and good luck with the kinda start over!
 
There is no clear-cut answer to how to stay motivated when following a certain eating plan because even if there was, it would probably be too simple for most people to stick to.

Bottom line: this is a heart problem, as much as a head problem. So you've got to involve your emotions when solving it.


Some tips that might be helpful:

*Don't think about the future; just focus on today. We may be hit by an asteroid tomorrow and then dieting will seem idiotic anyway.

*Talk to yourself; it's actually sane people who do this. Crazy people never question their actions, assuming they're always doing everything right. Like, when you feel a food craving for example, tell yourself that all you have to do is stay strong for ONE day, or until a certain time of day, say 10pm, and then if you still want to eat whatever it is that's tempting you, you'll allow yourself to eat it, but only after that time. You'll find that usually by the time that moment rolls around, two things have happened:

1. The craving/reason to eat the food is gone/you've been effectively distracted;

2. You feel such a sense of achievement at having waited and not given in to the craving that the high pushes you to continue delaying the gratification.

*Focus on feeling all your emotions, even the shitty ones. If you never feel absolutely miserable, you'll never feel absolutely fantastic (tip from an Addicts Anonymous radio talk show).

*(If you're a computer wiz): Photoshop some nice pics of yourself to make them look thinner and stick them to your fridge and pantry door. Add a label to make it more coercive, e.g. "[your name], May 2010" or something.

*Keep posting on this website and checking in with people (every single time I've fallen off the wagon, I was also taking a holiday from this site). Don't be afraid to post about your stuff-ups because these can help someone else!

*If you're a praying person, take out a mortgage on prayer! Whether as a first or a last resort, anything that helps you is good. :)

There's a guy on this board who said something about constantly falling off the wagon and getting back on again, as you did. He said something like, that each time he got back on he was a little wiser and a little stronger and each time he was on the wagon for longer. Then he said this amazing thing of likening it to how an object builds up momentum, with repeated forward and backward movement, I don't know, some physics analogy like that. But I think it's true and I will try and find the link to his diary and post it here. :)

I wish you all the best; you don't look like you have far to go, if that pic is anything to go by!! I'm sure you will do just fine as you sound like an intelligent, strong person.

Here's to good health and the looks that go with it! :cheers2:
 
wow thanks so much for all the help/tips!! i will be sure to try as many of those things as possible...i'm off to check out that post :smash:
 
hey congrats on taking that first step to get started again. I mean it all really depends on the person. I mean some people can lose weight and stick with eating a super strict diet and others not so much. For me personally I have lost about 26 pounds since the beginning of August..so in a little over 3 months...by eating the foods I still like but eating them in a healthier way. I love pasta, bread, and pretty much all those comfort foods. But instead of eating that mayonnaise loaded sub on a thick white roll...I buy healthier bread that is less calories, carbs, and fat and has more fiber and I try to get healthier lunch meat. I still use mayo..but maybe a Teaspoon...not loading it on like they do at sub places or like I may have used to. I am more aware of those little places that fat and calories can add up like extra condiments or beverages...I stick to pretty much all water. Sometimes Ill have orange or apple juice for breakfast and sometimes Ill have skim milk with dinner.

For pasta I still eat it and enjoy it..I just eat healthier pasta whether its whole wheat or organic.And instead of eating bread and butter with my pasta I try to make it more filling by adding lean ground beef or turkey (only a few ounces) and adding a salad on the side...

Its all about reading labels. Just because something say its "light" or "less calories" doesn't mean it is. You gotta read labels of different brands and stuff.

For instance I like peanut butter and wanted a healthier version..well I was buying one brand I think Skippys..that was supposedly 1/3 less fat or calories or something than orginal..but when I compared that "healthier" version to maybe Peter Pan regular PB...the regular Peter Pan has that same "lower" fat or calories..but actually had more protein and less sugar!!

Its really all about reading labels and looking for healthier alternatives. I really don't eat any meal that I dont like. The sandwhiches I am making right now with healthy bread, turkey and little mayo are right around 150-200 calories depending on the bread I get. Now pair that with fruit and thats another maybe 80 calories. Then I usually take some yogurt or even a handful of pretzels or baked potato chips (you gotta read the labels on those really well too!) and that all together is maybe 300-400 calories at most for a meal.

You just have to know how to control your portions and not over do it. Just because it says "baked" chips and they have 1/3 less fat that regular chips doesnt mean you can pig out. I eat the serving size which is like 15 chips or something. Which, when you are packing your lunch or putting it on your plate you may be saying thats not enough and you just want to bring the whole bag with you..but honestly it is enough. Eat the fruit and yogurt and sandwhich first and then you will see that you really dont need that whole bag of chips..that handful was just enough.

I know my method probably does not work for everyone but I am one of those people that can binge eat. Even during my current journey within the past 3 months I went through a really stressful stage where I was depressed due to outside family stuff and school stuff and I would put off eating anything until I couldnt take it anymore and then I would binge. And I did not binge with unhealthy food or eating 5000 calories but instead of the way I usually eat which is 1200-1500 calories per day with 3 meals and 2 snacks (so each meal is about 200 or 300 calories)..I was eating twice a day and eating about 700 calories in one sitting. Its not healthy and you shouldnt deprive your body...thats when people binge is when they deprive. If you get on a routine of healthier eating habits and you are doing real well and seeing progress you wont even want that piece of chocolate cake..but ya know what if you have been doing good and you do want a little piece of cake then eat it..or even just a few bites. Your body usually just craves that taste..not even the whole piece..so once you eat and a few bites and then youre done then thats it. I am a huge chocolate fan and I was really craving it so instead of depriving my body, because I had been doing so well, I split a piece of chocolate with my boyfriend. It was 105 calories of chocolate that wasnt so healthy but if I have those extra calories in my diet for the day and the rest is pretty healthy then who cares.

Sorry this is so long...good luck on your journey
 
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To succeed with losing weight I think you have to distance yourself from the word diet. It's not a diet - it's a lifestyle change! Which means you should create a routine (which involves healthy eating and exercise) that you can stick with for the rest of your life basically. It's not a quick fix to lose weight :)

Also, don't focus on a year in advance because then you'll feel that progress is slow and you'll give up. Go for the daily 'results' - maybe you took an apple instead of a sandwich for a snack and maybe you changed from regular pasta to whole grain pasta; those are the small things that will give a big impact in the long run!

And last but not least - never forget to live life NOW. If you just sit around waiting for all those lbs to come off and never enjoy what you have now, life will get miserable. You deserve to be happy and shouldn't let your weight or your body keep you from being so!

Good luck, I believe you can do this :hurray:
 
ktw had some great points. I would have to agree that planning is the key to this diet madness. I have made a commitment to changing my ways. Take it step by step and you will win. I have been exercising and watching what I eat for 11 days now. I have loss 4.5lbs and learned that sometimes the scale can be my worst enemy. So I set short and long term goals to help me along the way. You can do this! I am in a size 14 right now also, LET'S SHRINK TOGETHER!!!!! I have 3 kids and most of my weight came from my last pregnancy. But I have big dreams (size 6) or you can say small dreams ;-) So I will be your cheerleader. Have a great weekend!
 
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