Anyone else have my problem too??

[cinmell]

I have all the reasons in the world to exercise and eat better (health, look better, feel better, etc.) but I seem to lack motivation and will power. I know I can do it b/c I did great in 2004 with exercise and WW points, but I can't seem to get off my lazy butt to exercise regularly again follow those points. Anyone else with this problem? How did you get out of the "rut" and get back into the swing of healthier living?

 

[jlkmn]

i would like the answer as well. i joined a gym mind you it is right across the street in a neighbors garage and has all state of the art equipment including treadmills and bikes. but have only went over 2 times since last march. i am know 40lbs heavier since my last weight lose from my wedding 2 years ago. i think i need some advice as well.

jen

 

[Christine]

I don't have any advice but I can tell you that I have gotten in those ruts and it is terrible. I don't know what gets me motivated. I just happen to be motivated at this point and am doing well. I think that I started feeling bad and all my clothes were getting tight. I just started getting so depressed. The only difference, this time, is that I got more realistic with myself.

I always think "man, I'd love to belong to a gym." I even signed up for one once. I discovered the hard, expensive way that I will not exercise if I have to get in a car and go somewhere. I also do not like machines, no matter how much I think they would be nice to use.

The two things I am more apt to do is a 2-3 mile walk and a one or two tapes that I have. If I set out to do a 5 mile walk, it is too overwhelming and I don't do it. Think of all kinds of excuses not too. If I try to do exercise tapes that have too much fancy footwork or are too hard to follow, I will give up. So, I'm doing no more than a 3 mile walk (mainly 2 miles) and I only do Leslie Sansone's WATP tapes. They are boring, but I can do them. I also only do Crunch Fitness Pilates steps. For a strenuous tape, it is really quite easy. That's it. I find if ANYTHING is too overwhelming then I won't do it.

As for the food, for the first time in my life, I made up my mind to just SHUT MY MOUTH. It has been 33 days now and I have lost 10 lbs. I've cut my calories from about 3,000 per day to about 1,600. Yes, I feel hungry most of the time but I am just willing myself not to eat.

I wish I could tell you what my "secret" is, but I don't have one. For some reason, it is just working this time when it never has before.

 

[njcarita]

i think the problem is that living becomes a habit-

so i decided to just change one bad habit at a time this year-
and also never diet again!!!- for me diets don't work!!!!

i'm working on changing what i do everyday-
i went form couch potato to now walking - 14 miles a week

i've lost 4 lbs last month- not buy not eating certain things - but by eating less of everything- and also now i embrace the feeling of hunger sometimes-
that means my body will be getting some energy from my fat stores

i only drink water and i'm down to 1-2 cups of coffee a day.

for me small goals work better- i needed a 33 lb weight loss this year - to reach goal- thats only 3 lbs a month- so its not overwhelming .

and my biggest motivation - has been coming to the boards eveyday!!!

good luck!!!

 

[Christine]

i think the problem is that living becomes a habit-

so i decided to just change one bad habit at a time this year-
and also never diet again!!!- for me diets don't work!!!!

i'm working on changing what i do everyday-
i went form couch potato to now walking - 14 miles a week

i've lost 4 lbs last month- not buy not eating certain things - but by eating less of everything- and also now i embrace the feeling of hunger sometimes-
that means my body will be getting some energy from my fat stores

i only drink water and i'm down to 1-2 cups of coffee a day.

for me small goals work better- i needed a 33 lb weight loss this year - to reach goal- thats only 3 lbs a month- so its not overwhelming .

and my biggest motivation - has been coming to the boards eveyday!!!

good luck!!!

This is what I am doing too. No particular diet, just cutting back my portions (a LOT). I've gone from about 3000 calories a day to 1600. I also make healthier choices in my food. I am not a person who does well on a "diet plan" and find it overwhelming. I think you're right in that the key is to start small.

 

[Sandy22]

OOOoohhhh I wish I had the answer to that question! The worst is that once you actually start moving and eating healthy, you wonder what took you so long to start!

What helping me this time is focusing on small goals. I have a lot of weight to lose and I was not exercising at all. So I've set mini goals and the WISH challenges help a lot. 5 pounds in February - I can do that! Walking one mile - I can do that! It's not much but it's better than what I was doing before. I'm also generally following WW but my own way. I've really cut down on portion sizes and I've completly eliminated foods that trigger binging and overeating.

But when I fall off track and I get into a rut, months, even years can go by before I get my self back on track.

 

[maciec]

I have been dieting on and off for the past year trying to take off the baby weight. I just got fed up with dieting and quit for a while. I wasn't motivated to do it any more. I think that I finally quit during our vacation in August. I was able to maintain without exercising until I got to our trip to WDW at the end of October. I ended up gaining 6 pounds. Not that much, but it was enough for me to not be able to fit comfortably in my clothes. I stayed that through the Holidays and up until 2 weeks ago. Plus, pants that I got for Christmas that fit before Christmas didn't fit anymore.

I had just finally had enough, I guess. I started back to WW's and on the treadmill. I want to be able to get some new clothes for the summer. I didn't start back though until I felt that I could commit to a diet and exercise program. Every other time that I have tried to go back I found that I was just wasting my time because I wasn't committed. I keep telling my dh that too. He wants to lose a few pounds also.

I think that there is just something in you that just clicks and says "it's time". I keep seeing all of these clothes that I want to wear and I think that is my motivation. Also, now that I am finally committed and the pounds and inches are coming off it is motivating me more. I don't feel good about myself if I don't get on the treadmill. I really feel guilty that I didn't get on yestersday, but there was nothing I could do about that. I was on 5 times this week for 1 hour at a pop and I think that's pretty darn good.

I use to let myself have a cheat day where I would just eat everything and anything that I wanted. No more. Well, I say that, but I still have a cheat day. I just keep staying off points more well within reason.

It'll come to you. I am still waiting for the urge to start lifting again come to me.

Good Luck!

 

[mickmse]

For me I do believe it was just the pop that went off in my head. I am tired of being fat and not being able to do the things I wanna do with my son so I said I am gonna do it.
I am taking small steps. I have completely cut out soft drinks and cannot believe that I did that but the funny thing is I do not miss them at all.
I thought the french fries I cut out would kill me too but that was pretty easy too.
I actually look forward to working out now since I feel better.
I guess you just have to want to do it and that was enough motivation for me. I have tried countless times before and it never worked but this time for some reason it is.

 

[TammyNC]

I have to say that the beginning point for me was doing the 1/2 marathon this year and not having trainined for it. When I registered the year before, I was exercising and had pretty much kept off my weight. Well, within a years time, I had stopped exercising and put back on all 50 pounds that I had worked so hard to take off. I was determined that I was starting the 1/2 and even if I didn't finish, I would have gotten what I needed and that was MY swift kick in the rear.

I have been working slowly at increasing my time on the TM. I have just been finding good tapes to watch to help pass the time. It is in no way my favorite thing to do, but I know that I am working towards a goal and that is to walk/run the 1/2 next year in better time. I have been cutting my meal portions in half. If we go out, I automatically ask for a to go box and put 1/2 of the meal in there. If we eat at home, I put smaller portions on my plate and I don't set the food on the kitchen table, we fix our plates at the stove. If it is sitting there in front of me, I am more likely to go back for more. I have also been trying to drink more water.

I am having to just be strong in my willpower. Speaking of which, DH and DS wanted to go by Krispy Kreme tonight and he said will you get one. I said No, but I will get some coffee. DH said well that's OK, I told him not to worry about me and he said that wasn't it, if he was sitting there eating one and I wasn't he would feel the guilt. So, we didn't stop and we both felt better once we got home.

The biggest thing that I can say is that you really have to want to make the change for yourself and start out small. Make small changes, don't make big changes and large goals. I think that is setting yourself up for a fall if you aren't careful. Don't make so many changes at one time that you get frustrated and feel like you don't want to continue. You can do this and there are so many inspirational stories on this board it is just amazing. This great group along with my WISH buds, helped me lose those 50 pounds two years ago and I am determined to get them off for good this time. This is a lifestyle change and not just a quick fix.

I believe in you and know that if you set your mind to it, you can do it. Maybe just say you are going to drink more water tomorrow and go out and walk for 10 minutes (these are examples) and then feel good about completing those goals for the day. Ok, let's get started, are you ready???

 

[Nancy]

I know it sounds weird but competition works for me. The first time around with WW I joined with a bunch of dance Mom's. We all wanted to lose weight for a dance trip to NYC. because I was the heaviest of the bunch I just "had" to show them that I could lose the most weight. I did really, really good with it and lost 35 before we went to NY....most of the other Moms strted dropping out pretty quick...I stayed and lost another 10. Then my girls stopped dancing with the group and I had no one to "proof" anything to and I eventually stopped going. I gained back some of the weight and went back, but it was slow going. Now my SIL and MIL are going and again I have to lose more then them so I am so back on track. Counting points, drinking my water...everything full swing again. I know I should do it for me...but going with someone else and having to "beat" them spurs me on.

 

[cinmell]

Thanks for your replies everyone! I have always believed in setting small goals. If I think of the total number of pounds I have to lose, I'd never make it! I was doing great not drinking Pepsi and getting back into WATP but now I slipped again. I'll take baby steps and make small adjustments here and there until I get get totally focused again. Thanks again for your tips and input everyone, I really appreciate it!