Why can't I do it?

[ORMom2Four]

I must lose 25 pounds before a surgery.

I will do "good" for a week straight, lose 3 lbs in that week, go off the diet for 2 days and gain ALL of it back plus a pound more. It is so very frustrating.

How do you get over the mental roadblock that stops you from choosing the Big Mac instead of the salad? How do you stay on track?

 

[dburg30]

I am fighting the same thing. The actual bottom line to it, is you just have to "do it".

You can set yourself up for success by making sure you have healthy snacks available for those craving times. Dont go too long between small meals. PLAN YOUR MEALS!!!! Dont get to the point of I need to eat, but dont have any chicken breasts, so JUST TODAY I'll just swing thru Mc D's and get something.. I'll just get something small.. Then pull out of the drive thru with large fries, a big mac and a 2 gallon coke.. Dont totally take away bad stuff. one day let yourself 'splurge'. I had VERY good luck with Body for Life by Bill Phillips and lost over 60lbs in 6 months. I had decided that I was going to do it and did it. Fast forward a year or so, some bad job info, some crappy economy and I started slipping more and more.. I have now gained back over 30lbs of what I had lost. I know how to lose it, I knew I was screwing up, but did it anyway. Why? Ultimately because I let myself.

 

[JCH]

I must lose 25 pounds before a surgery.

I will do "good" for a week straight, lose 3 lbs in that week, go off the diet for 2 days and gain ALL of it back plus a pound more. It is so very frustrating.

How do you get over the mental roadblock that stops you from choosing the Big Mac instead of the salad? How do you stay on track?

You need to have it planned before you even get there. If you know you have a weakness for Big Macs, go to Wendy's instead. Also, if you know what your weakness is, allow yourself a small amount of it so you don't crave it. My weakness is icecream, so I make sure to have slimabear icecreams in the freezer. If I am craving icecream, I have a 100 calorie icecream bar instead of finding myself eating half a pint of icecream from Cold Stone.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

What kind of diet are you doing? For me, WW is best because I can still foods that I like, I just have to adjust my meals. If I couldn't have pizza, or a cupcake, etc I would never stick to it.

Good luck!

 

[FireDancer]

It really does just comes down to willpower. I would suggest that instead of even going to McDonald's where the temptation will always be present make your meals at home.

Outside of journaling everything you eat making meals at home, from actual ingredients instead of boxes or cans, is the single best step anyone can take towards improving their health in my opinion.

 

[bumbershoot]

You need to have it planned before you even get there. If you know you have a weakness for Big Macs, go to Wendy's instead.

I agree with planning. And that means looking at the nutrition info of the foods you normally crave, as well as what you're thinking about replacing them with. In the specific example, a salad at McDs isn't necessarily going to be any fewer calories than the burger. If you still want the burger, plan the REST of your day based on you having that burger.

I can't lose weight on my own. Just cannot do it. I MUST have a program, and the one that works for me is Weight Watchers. For some people, they count calories. Some use sites like MyFitnessPal, which, I believe, counts calories. I think there are message boards there for online support.

 

[JCH]

I agree with planning. And that means looking at the nutrition info of the foods you normally crave, as well as what you're thinking about replacing them with. In the specific example, a salad at McDs isn't necessarily going to be any fewer calories than the burger. If you still want the burger, plan the REST of your day based on you having that burger.

I can't lose weight on my own. Just cannot do it. I MUST have a program, and the one that works for me is Weight Watchers. For some people, they count calories. Some use sites like MyFitnessPal, which, I believe, counts calories. I think there are message boards there for online support.

Agreed! I find I can eat anywhere if I know exactly what I am getting and what my options are. If I'm feeling weak and decide to "splurge", I know what I need to cut out. I look at everything on the menu, as there are always surprises! Things that seem innocent like certain salads are worse than something like chicken nuggets. It's all about portion control for things that are bad, and finding enough good foods you like to not be hungry.

 

[KuraiKodoku]

First thing I say is to not get discouraged. I'm currently losing weight myself. I've finally dropped back down 8 pounds so far and I've kept it constant. My goal is to lose a total 10lbs. It's a matter of building resistance to temptation.

I use the government's website SuperTracker to help reach my goal. Of course I was part of a walking health program at work a year before, lost 5 pounds and gained it right back after I got off the program. But I knew I can reach a lower weight. It was my eating that was an issue. Too much sugary drinks and constant snacking. I knew I had to cut back. I no longer drink soda everyday. Only as a treat.

The SuperTracker actually helps you reach your weight goal by setting up how much calorie intake you should have. I still junk out once in a while, I love chips, candy and ice cream. But I know it's all in portion size and eating healthier foods as much as possible. So when you do want a treat, you can splurge once in a while. Not starving yourself. I eat a lot of home made food and go out to eat once a week only. I avoid eating out often cause I know it's a pitfall. Most restaurant food is packed full of calories.

 

[cjnix29]

It sucks, and I am going to tell you my biggest trick is having a buddy. My friend and I write down everything we eat, and then we send each other our calorie numbers EVERY DAY. Clean out your cupboards of the junk, and just don't go through the drive through. I have a weakness for all things cake and cookie. So....I don't bake, and I don't bring it in the house, because if I eat one, I'll eat 20. Figure out what your weaknesses are. Then steer yourself away from them. But the buddy thing has really been my trick. That and tracking all my food. It is incredibly eye opening when you realize just how much you have been eating. fatsecret.com has a great app, plus I use a diet minder book, which helps me a lot. I've lost almost 60 pounds, and have about 12 more to go. It's not always easy, but on bad days I tell myself....it would have been a whole lot worse if I ate the way I did before and had a bad day. Hang in there!!!!

 

[belledreamer]

I'll echo the previous posters and say planning and willpower. I used to do McDonald's and Cane's at least three times a week before I found out how many calories were in what I was eating. I haven't had a Quarter Pounder since.

It is a struggle to get away from eating fast food. For the first MONTH without it, I would have given my right arm for McDonald's. But nine months into giving in up, I don't want it anymore and my body actually rejects it when I do put something greasy in it (which makes me want it even less.) I try to eat more at home now and I have places that I can go to and know what I can get there for those nights when I don't feel like cooking

I won't lie, it's going to be harder before it gets easier. For me, I was combating a lifetime of bad habits and giving up things that I loved to eat. But once I realized how much better I felt by eating healthier and exercising, I never want to go back to where I was. And that keeps me going.

 

[princessallegra]

Have you seen the movie supersize me? That's all it took for me to never eat mcdonald's "food" again. Their "food" won't even grow mold if you leave it out.

 

[princessallegra]

I'll echo the previous posters and say planning and willpower. I used to do McDonald's and Cane's at least three times a week before I found out how many calories were in what I was eating. I haven't had a Quarter Pounder since.

It is a struggle to get away from eating fast food. For the first MONTH without it, I would have given my right arm for McDonald's. But nine months into giving in up, I don't want it anymore and my body actually rejects it when I do put something greasy in it (which makes me want it even less.) I try to eat more at home now and I have places that I can go to and know what I can get there for those nights when I don't feel like cooking

I won't lie, it's going to be harder before it gets easier. For me, I was combating a lifetime of bad habits and giving up things that I loved to eat. But once I realized how much better I felt by eating healthier and exercising, I never want to go back to where I was. And that keeps me going.

Amazing job!!! Keep up the great work!