I Feel Out of Control & Need Some PD

[*NikkiBell*]

Hi All,

Next month, I will be celebrating my one year anniversary of losing 119 pounds. However, over the past few weeks I have felt like I am losing control and making a lot of bad food choices. I really am concerned that this is going to spiral and I'll end up in a bad place again. Any PD or words of encouragement would really help right now. I am absolutely petrified of going back to my old life and know I am only up 1-2 pounds, but am concerned.

 

[Whipperwhirl]

First off congratulations on recognizing what’s going on – I completely empathize with your situation. I think it happens to all of us who have lost a great deal of weight - we didn’t get overweight by eating properly and having stellar metabolisms. It’s inevitable that we become our own worst enemy. I lost 75 lb in 2007 and only recently started committing myself to keeping it off. I got back on track by putting myself through a boot camp of sorts – drinking the water, exercising 30 minutes a day - every day - no excuses. Do you belong to sparkpeople where friends and family can hold you accountable for your choices? I have found that’s such an important part of motivation. Visualization is also Key – perhaps set a reward for yourself. I think you will snap out of this – as someone who has been there – recognizing the problem is halfway to recovery. Good Luck and hugs - Whip

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I think you recognizing the problem is the biggest step. After I lost all my weight with WW I used a 5 pound swing. If I hit that number I was strict back to journaling and keeping close track of my points. Maybe look at some old pictures and remind yourself how far you have come. That is an amazing acheivement!!

 

[LMO429]

what an amazing accompolishment, you should be so proud of yourself!!!

It's OK to have a bad day here and there. If you have kept off 119 pounds off for a year I am sure you realize by now that it is a lifestyle change. You didnt lose 119 pounds overnight and you certainly wont gain it back by having a couple of bad days here and there over the past few weeks. Just be consistent and take it day by day dont overwhelm yourself.


Here is my favorite quote about weight loss from Jillian Michaels and I think it fits your situation perfectly right now:

So on the road to fitness and health you slash a tire! What are you going to do??????? Get out and fix the tire?...... or Slash the other 3?!?!?!

 

[ADP]

Congratulations Nikki. You've done it and you can continue to do it!

I hope you don't mind me sharing my story a little as I know it will help you. Although I didn't lose 119 pounds (that's awesome by the way) I did lose 70 pounds. I've kept it off for the past year. Everyday is another day I have to be careful. However, I've conditioned my mind on my food in-take.

I've discovererd eating is more a conditioning of the mind than anything else. The longer you eat less your mind and body will want the same amount over time. Your mind and body expect the same amounts of food each day. So training them over a lengthy period of time is key. Eventually, you will reach a point where you won't think about it too much and eat smaller, consistant amounts of food each day. This takes time and consistant eating patterns.

It sounds like you've hit a point where you want to exceed your food in-take threshold. If you can break through and resist the desire to eat more you will have crossed another point in your quest to eat less at consitant levels.

When I had temptations to eat something I'd look at the food and say "I've had that before and I know exactly what it tastes like". Believe it or not, that really helped me avoid eating something I didn't need to eat. Give it a try and it might work for you. Also, continue to weigh yourself once every few days to monitor yourself. That helps me as well to know where I'm at with my weight.

Just remember how far you've come in your quest. You've achieved something amazing. Keep it up and continue to work at it. You can do it!!!

 

[Disneybridein2k3]

NikkiBell, you rock my socks off! What an inspiration! Every day we make choices - no need to wait till next Monday to "be good" again -- just pick up tomorrow those great habits that got you where you are now. YOU ARE AWESOME!!!

 

[clombardi]

Hi Nikki! I would give you some PD, but I don't have a clue what that is! I can give you encouragement, though. You have done an amazing thing for yourself and you just need to remember how strong you are! Go Nikki!

 

[tinkbutt]

I am with you!!! I fluctuate 30 pounds or so hear and there and it is a real struggle! I just want you to know that you are ahead of the game if you are noticing that your choices are unhealthy recently. I just want to say everything in moderation! Now that you are aware try to asses why you have made the unhealthy choice?? convenience or just a new stress level making you want the extra goodies??

If it is convenience then maybe prepare some healthy snacks ahead of time cut up apples, with a little bit of lemon juice to keep them from turning brown, and peanut butter or whatever you like best! but if you prepare it before you want them then when you go looking you'll already have the healthy choice ready to go!!!


I wish you nothing but luck I know you can do it sometimes it just takes a little extra thought to stay on the right track

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Nikki- Hang in there. Congratulations on your weight loss, and remember to take things one step at a time. We're all behind you here.

 

[dpuck1998]

I totally agree with what Aaron said. I'm down around 40 lbs over the past year and each day is a struggle. I often go a couple/few days in a row and think I'm ruined and headed back up the scale, but when I see that number on the scale it usually gets me back in line. Each meal, each item matters so focus on each day and they will slowly start to string together. Don't let one day get you down, but refocus and start a new string. Also, I find the more I am sedentary the more I eat. If I move, play sports, walk, go outside, etc. I eat less because I don't want to waste the exercise. Finally, get some dumbbells and do some light lifting. Muscle burns fat, the more you have the more fat you burn in your sleep and when your on the couch.

 

[aGoofyMom]

WOW! You are amazing in what you have accomplished!
You have recognized choices that may not be the best ones, and that is another accomplishment. Others have already offered up some great advice. I love the tire slash quote!
Hang in there.

 

[DSNY4ever]

First off- wow!! Congrats on losing the weight, you must be a very determined person- that is such an accomplishment. Maybe you have just reached a slump of getting bored of your current recipes and exercise routine? Maybe try to throw in something new to spice it up? Try researching some good new recipes to try or throw in an exercise routine on a trampoline or buy a new silly work out video- something to make it fun again? But you will probably always have little slumps- everyone does, but you should be really proud of yourself. I am super impressed and I have no doubt that if you could work so hard to lose that weight, you can definitely keep it off! Good luck.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

What type of poor choices have you been making? Is it while grocery shopping, or going out to eat? I know you know that you can't eat it if it's not in the house (maybe have someone go shopping with you that will tell you: "Take that crap out of the cart, now!"). If it's restaurants, try to share an entree with a friend or go with the strategy of asking for a To Go box as soon as the meal arrives and pack half of it away for later. Would it help if you tucked a picture of yourself pre-weight loss in your purse for a quick peek when you're feeling naughty? Any of these will work if you use them, but I know personally that my desire to overeat usually involves stress or other issues in my life that I feel I can't control -- so take a good look at that as well.

Nikki -- You know you can do this!!!

 

[stitchlover]

I maintained a 118 pound loss for almost 2 years. Over the past few months I ended up putting on 14 pounds and had the exact same feelings you had. I was scared that I was going to slip back into this over 250 pound person. What I finally did is realize I can do this on my own and went back to Weight Watchers.

Did you have a program that you followed that you could go back to? If this is something you did on your own just recommit yourself to following the program until you feel like you are back in control. For me just walking back into Weight Watchers that morning and getting on the scale was enough. I now have 4 pounds left to lose and I will be back where I like to be.

Don't know if this helped at all!

 

[miss missy]

Hi All,

Next month, I will be celebrating my one year anniversary of losing 119 pounds. However, over the past few weeks I have felt like I am losing control and making a lot of bad food choices. I really am concerned that this is going to spiral and I'll end up in a bad place again. Any PD or words of encouragement would really help right now. I am absolutely petrified of going back to my old life and know I am only up 1-2 pounds, but am concerned.

for some reason this is normal!! I see it a lot in WW, when people reach goal, they fight it for some reason... my guess is it is no longer a want, it is actually a keep lol. Like now you need to be committed to staying where you are, where before you were reaching for it. I se this happen on anniversary dates! It is normal, so don't frett too much.

That said, I feel your concern. I think you just got to remember where you were, and we you want to be. Keep that image in your mind. I know that works for me. And the summer coming has put it back in front of my mind.

I do soo good when I have a trip planned too. It always keeps me in line!

And fyi... I do WW, lost the 30 I needed to, took 2 years to get there and have stayed there for some time now. I know your concern, and also know you'll do just fine