can't make it the whole way

Hi...I really want to commit to this but I am having trouble going the full distance. I know part of it is I use food for comfort. And it just seems too hard sometimes to not turn to food for comfort. Especially when I am feeling stressed. Other times it's just laziness. But I'm not terrible with this. And I have lost some weight. I just got home from a good run. I eat a lot of good meals. But other times it's like I just "break down" and stop and get chinese food, for example. And I don't eat a ton of it, but it is certainly not as good as grilled chicken and vegetables.

I just feel like I haven't been able to get over the hump commitment-wise with eating. (I'm pretty good on the exercise front). Any thoughts or help?

I do the same thing I break down every so often and get something I know I should not have but if you don't have the little indulgences every once in a while then you just go overboard or at least I do. So I figure as long as I stay for the most part I am doing OK. I have a lot of trouble with chocolate. I used to be a fast food junkie because my job made it hard for me to do much besides order out. I do a lot better now being a stay at home mom but I have to watch myself with the snacking all day. I get bored I eat. I have been working on trying to keep myself busy. OK so now I am rambling sorry. Just don't beat your self up for wanting something not so great for you every so often and eat a little like you said with the Chinese food you have some just don't go overboard.

Remind yourself why you want to lose weight. If it isn't a good enough reason, you probably won't be motivated to do it. If it is a good reason, then you'll have the motivation to keep trying.

Not to do it instantly, mind. Most people don't succeed to stick to a new lifestyle on the first try. They just KEEP trying until it hurts less.

Put whatever you do behind you, and move forward. Again. And again. And again. 

everyone's ready for something different.  maybe some people are at a place where they're able to give up all emotional eating, "no-no" foods, etc.  i'm definitely not at that place.

i eat the best that i possibly can.  i don't eat fast food or candy or cereal junk.  but i have a problem w/portions and peanut butter and ice cream.  you say you're "having trouble going the whole distance," but i know that for me, i am giving it my darndest--it's just that my darndest isn't 100% diet-friendly.  w/practice, maybe it will be (one day). 

when i'm about to eat something and i know i shouldn't, i pause.  i've been delaying.  and when i'm about to go to bed and find myself clawing for snacks, i tell myself to go to bed and get some rest:  it's definitely what my body needs more.  i wish you luck in school and on your weight loss journey!  i went to college in eastern pennsylvania.

thanks for the replies. I like the "pause and reflect" idea...sometimes I just need to think more about why I am eating. I also like re-framing and thinking: Am I trying as hard as I can? I am working hard!! I'm training for a half marathon and am keeping up with the running. And I have made some major eating changes.

 I just find too much "happiness" and comfort I guess in treats. Here is an (slightly embarassing) example. I LOVE those cadbury creme eggs that come out this Easter season. They are 150 cals and...oh i don't know why I eat them. But why can't I just be happy with some strawberries and whipped cream for dessert? And I guess I'm not sure if 150 cals in chocolate and sugar is the same as 150 cals in fruit and veggies and lean protein. Aside from the nutrition difference, doesn't 150 empty cals metabolize differently in your body (and thus affect body weight/fat % over the long term if you keep eating this stuff?) Anyhow, thanks for the thoughtful responses!

150 calories from refined sugars and saturated fats is definitely not the same as 150 calories from natural fruit sugars and lean protein and good fats. The key for me is just realizing that I am on a calorie budget. (I use a money analogy.) Would I rather spend 150 dollars (calories) on junk at Walmart (refined sugars, saturated fat, processed flour) or 150 dollars at Macy's (whole grains, fresh fruit and veggies, lean proteins) for quality merchandise. It might seem like getting more for less at Walmart is better, but I'll take quality over quantity any day.

 

erinw43, 150 calories of wonder bread is sort of the same as 150 calories of baked salmon in that if the 150 calories is w/in your calorie budget, you won't gain weight; if it's over your calorie budget, you will gain weight.

but a few things:  the 150 calories of wonder bread won't really satisfy you; in fact, you may find yourself eating even more after having food like that.  however, the salmon is likely to give you that feeling of "okay, that's enough," and it's more likely to last more than ten minutes.  eating healthy foods, in other words, reduces cravings and liklihood of overeating.

the other thing is that if you're not getting enough nutrients, your body will be unhappy.  so maybe (like if you're not getting enough vitamin c), you'll get a cold easier; or maybe (like if you're not getting enough zinc), you'll be tired all the time; or maybe (like if you're not getting enough protein), you'll lose much of your muscle and strength.  eating junk leads many people to feel like junk.  it doesn't sound like you're a super-junk-eater, though.  over time, you may realize that there are many things that can give you comfort, aside from cadbury eggs (believe it or not).

It's ok to enjoy food once in awhile.

I recommend you take a good look at your priorities.  If it's really important to you, you will do it.

Let me know if I can help.

Bob

I see this struggle a lot.  As a leader of a weight loss support group, there are members who are committed, sort of, then fall off the wagon, then commit again, etc.

My thought is this, and it may come across as harsh, but please don't see it that way.  This is the dialogue I have had with myself as well as the people I mentor.

Do you want to change the way you look and feel, or would you rather make excuses for WHY you aren't doing it?

Commitment is just that.  Commit to eating clean, no cheating, no cheat days for 30 days.  Then PLAN a cheat, a treat of some sort.  Otherwise, when you, for example, go crazy with the Cadbury eggs, you are in essence saying "Oh well, I just worked out all week, I'm going to undo all the work I did the past seven days in one sitting."  Doesn't seem worth it now, does it?

There is a reason a lot of people journal not only their food, but their FEELINGS when they eat.  You might see a trigger there.

Mine? I eat when I'm bored or tired.  Those are my super triggers.  So, if I find myself standing in front of the pantry, waiting for that magically delicious treat to appear, I have to ask myself "Am I hungry, or just eating because I am exhausted?"

Have hot tea in the evenings.  It will take away a lot of the need to binge.  And it's good for  you if you drink green tea.

I'm a firm believer that everyone has it in them to lose weight and get healthy.  It's just a matter of figuring out how to get past your trigger points.  With nutrition playing a role of 80% importance in weight loss, with exercise being 20%, you're going to have to buckle down to see serious results.  Half ass on track equals half ass results. 

when i get that feeling that i can't do it anymore, it's usually right before i lose weight.  so, when i get that feeling, i need to try to hang in there even harder than on other days!

i have my junk, but i work it into my daily allowance & the better than i am losing weight, the less junk i want to eat; because i don't want to ruin what i'm doing.

like, if i'm not losing anyway, i'm more apt to go ahead & have the junk.  :)  it all works out.