After these messages...
...we will return to our regularly scheduled programming. Who knows I might be reading by then. One lives and hopes.
I want to lose 20 more pounds before going to RWA. I'm stuck. Not losing. Not gaining. I'm also not motivated. What I don't get, which is why I'm writing about it, is why my desire still exists if I can't get motivated. It seems so pointless, and, frankly, is frustrating me enormously.
Honest to God, there are lengthy periods of time when eating healthy and "being good" are so second nature that I can't imagine I will ever go back to poor eating. That certainly was the case last year.
Since the very beginning of 2009 I've been obsessing about food, sweets in particular. I'm craving candy I haven't thought about in years. What. Is. Up. With. That?
While I have gained some of the weight I lost last year, a few exasperating pounds, I'm holding my own, barely.
What I'm wondering is whether any of you have anything you tell yourself when you find yourself thinking about food. For instance, one of the things I try to say to myself, that only works sometimes, is "Why is it so important you eat that right now? Can you wait? How about tomorrow? Do you want to eat that more than you want to lose x-number of pounds or fit into x-outfit?" Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Hence my new found relationship with Mr. Goodbar. *A-hem*
Do I sound the teeny tiniest bit desperate? Cuz I am. If you have any strategies or tips, please share. I'm floundering.
Labels: Life, Weight Loss
Posted by Rosie at 12:01 AM
12 Comments:
Oh, I can soooooo relate. At one point I was so addicted to pop that...well, I won't tell you how much I was drinking. Let's just say A LOT!
Amazingly enough, I was able to kick the habit by doing it cold turkey and haven't had one in almost 2 years, but it's the weirdest thing. Sometimes, esp. if I'm eating a certain thing, I'll think "Man, a pop would be sooo good w/ this." and yet it won't be.
I've had food issues for years. It all started when I was a teenager and went thru an extremely deep depression. Since food was my only comfort. Well, you get the idea.
It's only been within this last year that I've been able to step back and say no. I'm not going to eat this or that. I've cut way back on a lot of things and as of this moment in time I've dropped 5 shirt sizes and 4 skirt sizes.
But I'm still tempted on a daily basis. So, *hugs* to you, honey. I so know where you're coming from. Good luck. And just remember...it might taste good for a second going down, but the guilt will haunt you for a long time. I learned that the hard way.
I've struggled with my relationship to food my entire life. And probably always will, to some extent. However (and I know I've said this before), when I joined WW and really USED the tools and info that they give you, I found myself in control for the first time. It used to be that food controlled me. Now I feel more informed and I don't demonize any particular food. Brownies? Not the enemy. I can have them if I want them, but I have to find another place to cut back in my daily food intake to account for it. It's like a budget.
As for tips, the best advice I can give is to drink a nice glass of water when you feel the munchies coming on. First of all, you might actually be thirsty and not hungry. And secondly, it will sort of fill you up a little and give you some time to think about whether or not you actually need that snack you're thinking about. Also, my saving grace was to really plan my meals and menus ahead of time (to some extent) and to buy fresh fruits and veggies and lean meats each week. Also, cutting up those fruits and veggies so they are readily available...makes them easier to grab instead of junk.
So yeah, I'm still a big cheerleader for WW (and they have a totally online program now, btw) because it's not a fad diet or anything superhuman. Just a really effective way to retrain yourself and harness your own capacity to manage your relationship with food.
No tips. My problem is my work hours, and the fact that I have to run out and grab something to eat at my desk. Makes the drive-thru very appealing. So I quit the drive-thru and took the few extra minutes to go thru the Subway line.
And I agree with Sula. Water... and lots of it. Maybe if you varied your exercise routine? The body becomes accustomed to exercise and it gets bored. Try doing different exercise on different days, and see if that helps.
And - hey Bridget - way to go!!!
Remember when I saw you last I mentioned how I fell off my exercise wagon and needed to get back on it "on Monday?" Yeah, still off the wagon. I really need to get motivated. Seriously. At the very least I need to do some weight lifting. My arms....they be scary.
This has been a bad week though. TMI - I have PMS and I pretty much want to eat everything that isn't nailed down. It's scary.
I have to agree with Sula - drink a glass of water when you're feeling the munchies and see if you can wait 15 minutes. It truly makes a huge difference.
A couple of years ago I joined an online thing called myfooddiary.com. I lost 20 pounds and it was great to be able to keep track of all my food. I kept thinking I should have been able to do it myself but I never did! lol It's similar to WW in the fact that you're keeping track and budgeting your Calories or Points. My problem now is that I haven't been exercising and while I've gained a litte weight back my body shape is changing and not in a way I want it to! Need to get back on the treadmill.
When I want something that isn't all that great for me or is high calorie I say to myself: is there something healthier that I can eat instead of _____? Usually there is. If I really want it then I eat it and then cut back on something else later.
I feel for your struggle honey as I've been there and continue to be good daily.
I definitively admire you, Rosie! No tips to lose weight... I need to as well, but just can't find the will. Plus, I don't know where to fit exercises :( Sad no?
Bridget, I'm hoping I'm in a slump and that I won't have to battle myself out of this box. Some days are better than others, but I was in such a good groove for a long time. I hear you about the guilt. In fact, that and exercise keep me from going on a food bender. Thanks for the positive vibe and inspiring me (seriously!) with your personal story.
Sula, WW has worked for me off and on over the years. The meetings were pretty inspirational.
Like you, one of the best things, for me, to come out of WW was that I don't have to be deprived. Balancing what you eat is very important. Before WW even thinking about weight loss was so depressing because I associated it with life-long deprivation instead of eating right and making smart choices.
You and Bridget have both really given me a lift today.
Lori, I agree with work schedule too. Add swimming and/or walking and the day is long. I try not to focus on that too much or it really is demoralizing. Besides I'm always strategizing on how to fit everything in. Unfortunately, it usually involves being tired... a lot!
Wen, PMS week sucks. Big time. Even though I had a hysto, I still have ovaries, so yeah, still get PMS. Ain't life grand? I'm lifting my bottle of water your direction and hoping you are back on your exercise wagon soon.
Tracy, yep, I know all those tips and tricks. I have water, and drink it, all day long. It's how I finally quit drinking so much soda. I now have one cup of coffee a day and if I'm in the mood, one soda. It's helped. All this stuff is great advice and you know it helps just talking to people about it.
Nath, one of the mental blocks I had to get over was that if I wanted to exercise I was going to have to find time that was either earlier than I would like or later than I would like since I work. You have to sacrifice something. It's being able to remind myself and stay focused on how good I feel when I'm in a healthy regimen that I lose track of.
All I can say is, if I can do it, so can you. Really.
It takes time to lose weight. I would slowly start cutting back on things or cutting out things. If you cut everything out at once, you will be doomed. I remember when I first decided to lose weight, I was in college. At the time, I began working out but didn't cut out everything. I was stil eating ice cream, but stopped going to those lat night 3am Denny's runs.
Do everything in moderation. Unfortunately eating healthy just doesn't cut it. Also need to exercise.
I could go on and on with what helped me lose 90lbs and keep it off for 10 years.
It's crazy...I, too, have come to a complete stop. Not losing, not gaining. I have a hard time staying away from chocolate anything, but am finding that doing busy-work with my hands seems to help...like crocheting. You can't eat and crochet, you know? Not like reading and absently downing a chocolate bar, anyway.
Oh, and I drink a ton of water...not that it's helping. *sigh* Perhaps I should bring my elliptical back in the house before birds nest on it out on the back porch.
Kate, I remember you writing about your story and you are certainly an inspiration and an exception to many people who lose weight and gain it back. Me included. A lot of the advice here is great and most of it I've heard before. I still believe in the exercise, etc. I just in a slump and I want to get myself out of it and divert disaster.
Becky, I was actually wondering how you and Jeff were doing. You hadn't mentioned your weight loss on the blog so I figured you guys were going great guns. It's a challenge and I remind myself how fortunate I am to have the healthy body God gave me and to take good care of it.
You know I can relate. I'm slumping too and just can't seem to get inspired. I'm up 10 pounds and holding, but almost desperately wanting to lose it. Seems I lose the same 5 to 10 pounds over and over and over. We'll just have to try to force each other to go on our lunch time walks until it becomes a happy habit again like it was last spring.
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