Motivation needed !!!

Hi my name is Martin i started my weight loss when i was around 301lbs i have lost 42 of those lbs in 6 weeks with a regime of cereal (small bowl) in the morning before work an apple at 10am and cereal at lunch time then a calorie controlled dinner maybe chicken (breast meat) instant mash and beans .I swim everyday now and cycle there and back typically i will swim about 825m.

My problem is that although i am really happy with how things are going and people say that i am doing great looking loads better, i am REALLY struggling to keep the motivation when everyone around me eats nice things like pizza ,desert i find i cant be in the same room as my wife and kids eating there dinner.

 I feel hungrier and colder than ever ?? anyone else have these problems and is there a solution.

 

Keep counting

 

Martin  p.s maybe i could use a weight loss partner ? 

Martin, that doesn't sound like nearly enough calories. Are you eating enough? I know that the thought of raising your calories is a weird one, but I recently started putting mine up to around 2000-2400 and I lost more weight than when I was sitting at 1500. Use the tools on this site. They may not be perfect, but they are very good. Also, if you really miss pizza and whatnot, why not give yourself a cheat meal once a week, so you don't feel like you are missing out on anything.

Also, make sure you are drinking LOTS of water.

Good luck. It sounds like you've got a real good start.

I really agree with bobbyshow, I also think that you should try getting into a routine of eating a mixed cycle of foods.  Eating 2 bowls of cereal a day is gonna get boring of course!!!  Maybe make a fruit salad for breakfast and a yummy veggie salad for lunch.  I have had problems with eating in the next room while my kids and husband eat in the dining room.  It's really hard, but you really need to not be as restrictive with your diet!!  Instead of leaving the room while my family eats, now I make my food and theirs similar so I can spend time AND eat what I want :)  And congrats on the weight loss, awesome job!!!!

Thanks Tiffani , trouble is with me i hate my veg potatoes , parsnips thats it !! i take multi vitamins and eat fruit but since being a kid i have never like veg to the point of gagging .I am happy to stick with my cereal it works and hopefully i will keep losing its just now and again i get a MASSIVE urge to eat a whole pizza or double whopper with cheese these come and go about 2 days out of 10 but i cant tell how hard this is becoming perhaps its the fact that i am on a real low calorie intake about 1300-1500 per day and burn probably more than i eat by a long way i just wouldn't be happy with a lb a week by eating 2500 calories a day :(

 

Thanks for the reply and i am gonna have a little Chinese tonight as i have friends coming over.

 

Thanks

 

Martin

Martin

You are definitely not eating enough food. I'm not surprised you are so tempted, your diet is too restrictive. Eat like the athlete that you are. That said, it can easily be fixed. Use the CC tools here to find out how much you should be eating and do not be afraid to eat more. You need to fuel your body.

If you are craving junk food try to make healthier versions. I am not vegetarian at all but there are some things you can eat that are vegetarian that have so much less calories that they easily fit into your diet.

I make pizza on pita bread with veggie pepperoni (if you can get yves brand, I swear you'd never know it wasn't real meat - I've served it to several people and no one knew) with light cheddar cheese.  It really satisfies my pizza craving and it's only 200 calories.

I also make my own McMuffins. Buy some english muffins, low-fat cheese, an egg and canadian bacon or I use black forest ham. That is a great and filling breakfast and only 275 calories. I put them in tin foil and bring them to work.

I also eat veggie burgers or kids sized burgers with oven fries. Oven fries are not as good, but I put cajun seasoning on them and I quite like them. I make them with sweet potatoes.

Two dessert ideas:

1) baked apple: cut an apple in half and spoon out the core. Put cinnamon, nutmeg and some lemon juice inside. Put the apple together and wrap in tin foil. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. I usually do it while I'm eating dinner. It gives you an apple pie type meal. I often do two and eat one cold the next day. 100 calories

2) Freeze a banana. Take it out and put it in the blender and it tastes and looks like banana ice cream. I also will take some cocoa powder and mix it in for chocolate banana ice cream. 100 calories

If there's anything else you are tempted by let me know and I'm sure I can come up with a substitute for it.

About being cold. I've heard it's really common and I've seen a number of threads on here about it when you lose a lot of weight. 

 

Hi Martin,

By your penmanship you appear to be from the UK so I don't know how common it is to order pizza.  I thought I'd share with you my trick:  We order 2 small pizzas.  My husband gets his pepporoni or meat lovers (whatever it is), and I get mine custom-made.  What I ask for is something loaded with veggies but no cheese and no meat.  That means I can eat the whole small pizza and it's probably around 400 calories. 

I know you hate vegetables, but think of that feeling as being temporary.  Try and brainwash yourself into liking them.  Start by saying "this tastes good" even if you disagree.  When you are craving something sweet, eat some dried fruit instead of candy.  When you want something savory, have 1/2 avocado.  Even if fruits or vegetables are labeled as "high calorie" still eat them, because eventually you will get used to it and you will find yourself learning what your body is truly asking you to feed it.  

Maybe you can try eating with your family and focus on communication rather than the food.  Maybe you can influence them to eat healthier too.  Even stick insects need to be careful of what they eat.  Eating choices highly affect mental health as well as physical.

Your excercise routine sounds great!  I'm finding that hard right now because the west coast of Canada is really dreary this time of year.

Paula

Martin, 

Just some general information about what to do with food temptations.  Get something crunchy like an apple or crackers and cheese.  I know it is a far cry from what you are totally desiring but. . .  the cruncy temptation ploy is helping you in emotional eating , which actually is the phase you are going through when you desire what others are having around you.

This is what I do when hubby and son have my favorite vanilla icecream with chocolate syrup.  I go get some fruit.  The other thing that is recommended you do is to eat just two bites and throw the rest away.  I know that sounds like a waste but realistically that is what you are doing when you eat it it is going to your WAIST.  So try these two fixes and see where that gets you.

I wish you the best of luck and God Bless.

 

Yes, apples are a diet's best friend!  I have one right before leaving the office.  I find that even if it feels unsatisfying at the moment, it boosts my blood sugar and keeps it up there until dinner, eliminating my desire to reach into the cupboard for biscuits when I arrive home straight after work.  Plus, it's got lots of fibre and keeps my teeth looking whiter!

Martin, keep the big picture in your eyesight at all times!!!!!!!!!!! I also have troubles while watching others around me engulf Pizza, steakbombs and other mouth watering foods while I eat my rice cakes and drink my water. The truth is that WE are not those people and WE are trying to accomplish what their not! I also can not eat at the dinner table with family members. It simply works best to eat at a different time than they. That is what works for me. Once we get this thing under control we can at that point do things a little differently. Remember, we rule food it does not rule us!!! Good luck!

Pappi... what, may I ask, is a steakbomb??? Sounds disgusting... and tempting, at once. LOL.

I agree with everyone about you not eating near enough.  If you work out then you need to take in more calories or your body goes into starvation mode, that is probably why you are so cold.

I know it sounds weird but if you want to lose weight you need to eat, but eat the right things.  There is nothing wrong with having a piece of pizza now and then.  If you dont like vegetables try that V-8 splash drink its full of your daily vegetable requirements.  But eating cereal for breakfast and lunch is the wrong way to go.

 

Good luck to you...you can do it