After trying very hard for a few days, I went right back to my old eating habits. When I started this blog, I had such high hopes for success. Getting out of debt was so “easy”, but losing weight is so “hard”. I really cannot understand why I struggle so much to lose weight. I plan, I prepare… and an hour later, I’m right back to my old ways. Will I give up? I’m not really sure, yet. It seems as if every time I think I’ve ‘turned the corner’… I’ve simply hit a wall. Seriously, after almost 9 months, I’m down… maybe… 3 or 4 pounds? And, I’m more confused than ever about “what’s good for me”. Low carb – vegetarian – fruit – low fat – count calories – don’t count calories – it doesn’t seem to matter “what” I do. It works for a week, I lose 4 or 5 pounds – and then, nothing. I just stop and stay… and then I drift back to all of my old habits… and put the weight back on. God, I am so sick of this…
7 thoughts on “Back To Square One”
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NCN, I just wanted to say I completely understand your frustration! I have felt the same way more times than I can count. But one thing that always keeps me trying is my kids and also knowing that not trying means I will never reach my goal while continuing to try at least give me a chance. (Okay, I guess that’s two reasons.)
I don’t have any answers for you, but just wanted to say that I hope you hang in there and good luck!
Hi NCN! It’s great to see an update – whether it be good or bad news!
I’ve been doing this myself too, and it’s difficult on several levels. My advice is to choose a system and stick with it. Personally, I would suggest calorie counting and not worrying too much about the nutrition balance (although obviously aim towards a ‘balanced diet). But you choose what you feel right with.
Your body needs a certain number of calories just to survive. The size of your body determines the number. Let’s say you need 1500 calories to maintain your current weight. Now, take this to the extreme – imagine you eat only 100 calories each day for 6 months. Your body is clearly going to be forced to get its calories from your body itself. And the less body there is, the fewer calories you need each day. There’s no way around this. It’s a matter of energy, remember that thing from school when you can’t create or destroy energy, just convert it.
So let’s make this sensible. You get advice as to the number of calories you currently need per day. You then eat less than that each and every day. As long as you keep at it, no matter what, whether you’re up or down by the end of 2 weeks, or 2 months, it will work. It has to, but you must give it time, and plenty of it.
From my own experience I know that it’s difficult to keep going for such a long time. It is constant effort, but this needs to be a long-term change of lifestyle.
Remember, the reason you chose to set up this website is that you’d tried every other ‘diet’ and wanted a lifestyle. After so long eating fast food, it may not be first nature to you, but you made the right decision and you need to find ways to follow through in the long run.
Think of the outcome, not the process. You’ll be a lot more optomistic 🙂
I am in your same shoes. I should have my 2 year journey of getting out of debt finished in December. It’s cake compared to getting out of fat-debt. It just doesn’t MOVE as fast and I can’t just hit ebay a few times a week to push it along… The things that are spurring me on are:
1- After working so hard to get out of debt, you’ll not find yourself blowing your budget for junk, right? It’s the same with calories. And I know it sounds trite, but it’s mental, over emotional.
2- Kimkins.com is the fastest way to lose. It’s low carb, simple, and it’s fast enough to bother charting the loses. And no, I’m not affiliated, it’s just the best thing going right now.
NCN, you need to be reminded of how much you have done and have accomplished. you’re doing really amazing. your efforts, your optimism, your enthusiasm, your integrity, and your drive inspire so many others that visit your sites.
weight & food issues can be profoundly more challenging than money issues (though they relate to the same core character themes). but, food is so primitively connected to the details of who we are, how we were nurtured, and our self belief. these are hard things to overcome. there’s a reason that the most requested “last supper” for the terminally ill (i’ve done a lot of hospice work) is ice cream. breast milk (and formula) is fat & sugar. no wonder we want ice cream as our last comfort.
food is so wrapped up in our emotions & psychology. this is what makes it SO difficult to change.
i’m just saying that you’re doing awesome. be patient with yourself – you deserve it.
personally, i wouldn’t focus too much on any specific scheme or philosophy. just eat healthy, eat naturally. lots of whole grains, vegetables, fruits. easy on dairy & meats. avoid processed stuff. ride through the wave; you’ll hit another high.
Hi there. I am a lurker on your blog and check in from time to time. I’m sorry to hear that it’s not exactly going as you had planned. But, sometimes, that is life.
I disagree with what the previous commenter said. I think that there is a tremendous focus that people have on caloric intake and that no matter what, if you stay under that ‘magic number’, you’ll lose weight. At what cost, though? It is far better to implement real lifestyle changes and focus on a nutritious balance instead of focusing on a number.
Also, I disagree with focusing on the outcome, not the process. That can just make a person feel like there is such a long way to go.
I am not just some random who has no idea what I am talking about. In April, I saw a picture of myself and thought that it was pretty much the worst thing ever and decided that I needed to do something about it. I joined a gym, I gave up crap foods and started packing healthy lunches for myself. Since mid-April, I have lost 50 pounds. Not once have I felt deprived. If I want to eat something, then I eat it. However, the more that I eat healthy foods, the less I want to eat shit foods. I track my daily intake, but I don’t focus on a certain number. If I eat 3000 calories one day (which, sometimes, given my propensity for Chipotle, I do!), I don’t beat myself up about it. I like to see what I eat, mostly to make sure that I am eating enough and not malnourishing myself!!
It’s an ongoing process. This is your life. It’s a journey.
For me, too, while it is nice to see the numbers drop off a scale, it is far better to know that I have gone from running a 10 minute mile to an 8:30 minute mile. I focus on fitness goals and building my strength and endurance. If you follow a healthy lifestyle, then you’ll be healthy. Weight isn’t the issue, necessarily, it is your fitness and your health. Do things that feel good, eat things that help your body.
I am not trying to be a know it all or anything like that, but, maybe try focusing on small changes that will improve your life instead of focusing on the fact that you want to lose a good chunk of weight.
Good luck.
Mistakes are part of our development. We can still learn from them and do things better.
2- Kimkins.com is the fastest way to lose. It’s low carb, simple, and it’s fast enough to bother charting the loses. And no, I’m not affiliated, it’s just the best thing going right now.
NOOOO!
kimkinsexposed.wordpress.com
TERRIBLE IDEA. DO NOT STARVE YOURSELF.