How can you tell that you're really doing it this time?

I've been thinking a lot about diets that have failed in the past and how they differ from what I'm doing now. In the past I would have already given up on the gym, given in to the cookies, and settled back into the terrible cycle of weight gain.

Ways I can tell that I'm making real changes that can stick this time:

• On my recent trip to California I didn't use being out of my routine as an excuse to eat terrible food all week like I have so many times in the past. I continued to make healthy food decisions even though I wasn't logging.
• This time when I'm sore or tired or have achey knees, I skip the gym and don't beat myself up about it or turn skipping one or two days into a reason to fall off the wagon completely. No guilt.
• On the flip side of that, this time I listen to my body when I workout too; I'm not just moving for the sake of moving - I'm making a conscious effort to push myself and to work out the proper muscles with each movement.
• This time when I do skip the gym a couple days in a row, I miss it!

Tell us about what you're doing and how it's different from things you've done in the past that haven't worked.

This time

• I am only doing things I can imagine doing for the rest of my life, and doing happily.
• I am making extra movement a daily event, even if it is just a half hour walk before making dinner.
• I am focusing on the journey, not the goal.  Eating well and moving more are now my lifestyle, nothing will really change once I am at goal except maybe I can have a second glass of wine from time to time.
• I am not fantasizing about what I can eat again once I am at goal, since if I really want it, I eat an appropriate (i.e. small) serving now.
• I am proud of what I have accomplished, and not obsessing about how much I have left to lose.
• I feel good even if the scale doesn't show a drop that day.  Of course, it is also fun to see the drop, but it doesn't ruin my day if there is no change or a slight rise.  I just log it and move on.

Thanks for making the opportunity for me to think about this!

I'm right there with ya dkenworthy! Everything you said. I've been doing small things to add movement into my day that I wouldn't have done before out of laziness or convenience - like parking further out when I pick my daughter up from daycare. Another thing, doing things I can imagine myself doing for the rest of my life and not cutting out things completely that I don't want cut out for the rest of my life - I still have potato chips on occasion (but one serving instead of the bag); I still drink on occasion (but instead of every weekend, once every 2 or 3 months).

Congrats to you!

I'm not starving myself to lose weight again... I lost a lot but I gained it all back.  I also dont have foods banned.  

I am being truthful with my food logging (which in itself make me more accountable).

I am now really making myself think before I just shove food in my mouth.....how will I feel AFTER I have eaten this 20 mins later, rather, than how fab will this taste for the next 30 secs.

I have bought the gym gear, got the gym pass (again!)......i will use it a min of 4 times a week. I know once I get there I will enjoy it and walk out in a fab mood.

When I feel really de motivated I make sure I am in a body pump or combat class for that day (never managed to walk out of one yet!) can always tell myself I have a sore leg in the gym!

Finally, when I am really tempted I think of how many mins on the tread mill it will take me to burn that box of pringles off........usually not worth it

I'm not overworking myself.  I don't spend 3 hours a day exercising.  I used to do that and it just got me sick of dieting and I'd stop and just binge.  I am working my way up from 15 minutes a day exercising and will eventually be at an hour a day hopefully in the future, maybe even more when I'm maintaining my weight.  I also have a cute pair of shorts that I bought not long ago to fit into at my 1/4 way goal and I can actually button them up now!  I try them on a couple times a week and am just INCREDIBLY motivated by them fitting better and better.. and even if something happens where I hit a plateau for a few days, I'll just pull out that picture of me not even being able to fit them over my hips =]  This time, I've just found ways to motivate myself.. and none of the ways have to do with ice cream or cake.

I was just discussing this with my BFF last w/e on our recent roadtrip to see her!

I don't dread a change in routine such as vacation or w/e roadtrip, because I don't have to worry about talking myself into going back to a shake for breakfast & bar for lunch again. I may over indulge a bit while away, but I still make smarter choices, and switch right back to "normal" once I'm back.

I have learned what a serving is(not the whole bag ;o), and I am truly satisfied/full after that serving. I incorporate servings of my favorites into a healthy diet, instead of banning them, and then snapping and bingeing.

Exercise has become a way of life... Last w/e my BFF asked me to come back and run a 10K with her in Sept. and instead of laughing it off, I was genuinely excited about the prospect and started training the day I got home.

I know that this time it's forever, because I have learned how to live this way, instead of getting to my goal, and not having any clue what to do next!

Glad to see so many of you making good decisions for yourself!

Whatever07, been there, done that, gained it all back. Glad you've gotten past it too.

Toad22, I also listen to my body a lot more - especially when it comes to exercise and food. I realized not long after I started this program that even though I say I love pasta, after I've eaten a bowl (even though I've counted it) I feel heavy and gross. It's not worth it to me to have that feeling.

Kate,  I have definitely failed before from overdoing it. This time I've lost the all-or-nothing mentality that so many dieters suffer with. Skipping the gym every one or two days doesn't mean I'm not being healthy.

Makenasmom, my bff and I also talk a lot about ins and outs of dieting and health. =) We've both started getting healthier and though we're trying different methods and have different goals, it's so nice to have someone to talk to about all the changes we're experiencing. Also, I couldn't count the number of diets that have been put on hold (and subsequently were never restarted) because we've gone out of town for vacation or to see family. I just don't let that be an excuse anymore - I don't want it to be. I like packing a bag of lighter food or picking better restaurant choices and coming home feeling like I've accomplished something. Also, good luck with the 10k, that sounds awesome! 

sadinplain-  I am totally with you on the pasta thing! It sounds/smells/looks so good in theory but I feel very heavy and gross after eating it! I just avoid it all together now.

I just gave it up. The concerns about dieting, the worries over how attractive I was, the emotional crap that came with food (I ate veggies so I like myself, I ate cake so I hate myself, etc.), and just, well, caring so much about it.

I decided that I would rather be fat and ok with it, than fat and hating it and failing repeatedely.

Turns out, I do actually want to make healthy changes, and to be a healthier person. A without all the sh|t, its much, much easier.