Need some motivating thoughts/ideas for losing ten pounds

[Anonymous]

I would really like to lose ten pounds. I'm at a "normal" weight now and am healthy (knock wood), but just for appearance's sake, I think I would be a lot happier ten pounds lighter (I'll settle for seven...)--basically, I'd like to be a size 8 instead of a 10 at 5'6". The problem is that all my motivation just flies out the window whenever I get stressed or upset or tired (which is , unfortunately, often). I literally take out the food and think, "well, I'll regret this later but I don't care now." I already exercise regularly so it's really a matter of controlling my food intake.

What I think I need are some things to think/do *right at that moment* that will help me get over the "I don't care about future repercussions; I need this food NOW" moments. Something like pasting pictures on the refrigerator, but more internal. (Or external, I guess, but nothing that I will need to explain to our kids, since I don't want them to know about my food issues.)

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would really like to lose ten pounds. I'm at a "normal" weight now and am healthy (knock wood), but just for appearance's sake, I think I would be a lot happier ten pounds lighter (I'll settle for seven...)--basically, I'd like to be a size 8 instead of a 10 at 5'6". The problem is that all my motivation just flies out the window whenever I get stressed or upset or tired (which is , unfortunately, often). I literally take out the food and think, "well, I'll regret this later but I don't care now." I already exercise regularly so it's really a matter of controlling my food intake.

What I think I need are some things to think/do *right at that moment* that will help me get over the "I don't care about future repercussions; I need this food NOW" moments. Something like pasting pictures on the refrigerator, but more internal. (Or external, I guess, but nothing that I will need to explain to our kids, since I don't want them to know about my food issues.)

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

I miss the days of my metabolism fighting everything off. I could use the same advice from anyone.

[Anonymous]

"Something like pasting pictures on the refrigerator, but more internal. (Or external, I guess, but nothing that I will need to explain to our kids, since I don't want them to know about my food issues.) "

Good point. Please don't telegraph your food issues to your kids.

Keep us posted at how "happy" you are when you lose the weight and how long you keep it off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Something like pasting pictures on the refrigerator, but more internal. (Or external, I guess, but nothing that I will need to explain to our kids, since I don't want them to know about my food issues.) "

Good point. Please don't telegraph your food issues to your kids.

Keep us posted at how "happy" you are when you lose the weight and how long you keep it off.

Good Lord, what a snarky, unhelpful response. OP, please ignore this bitter troll (she is probably overweight and jealous of your current normal size. ). I've had the same issues as you sometimes--can you try deciding in advance, "when this happens I will go upstairs away from the food, even for just a second to refocus"? The other thing that works for me is not having tempting foods in the house, although that works less now that we keeps cookies in the house for the kids. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Since you are normal weight try not to think too much about it. If the food calls you, take a walk, shower or something to keep you busy until the urge passes. Don't make it an issue because kids are pretty smart and often pick up on parents' hidden issues and then repeat it in their adult lives.

[Anonymous]

When I used the weight watchers online points program - where basically you get a "budget" every day towards food - it worked great. It was about $16 or $17 per month. You figure out how much each item you eat takes out of your budget. If a cupcake is 2 points, and you get 24 points a day, do you want to only eat 12 cupcakes today? Or my big thing was bud lights Also 2 points if I remember.

Give it a try, the weight came off easily....

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same boat. Chewing gum helps when I have a craving for something sweet! Although now I'm chewing, like, two packs a day!

[Anonymous]

Here's what I'm doing -- We burn 100 calories per mile that we walk. That means 10 pounds of fat equals 350 miles. I am training to walk in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. I will need to walk that many miles as part of my training. I'm hoping that I can keep my calorie intake stable so that the walking does indeed result in the loss of 10 pounds. Once I lose those 10 pounds, I will be back into the healthy BMI range, which reduces my own risk for breast cancer and many other diseases.

[Anonymous]

If you are at a healthy weight right now - I would not focus on food so much (except to try and eat healthy vs. "junk")...instead focus on excersize. I blasted off ten lbs. in a little more than a month when I focused on excersize. But you need to make it a priority and fit it in - even if it means foregoing other activities or waking up 2 hours earlier. I did 1-1.5 hours a day (5 days a week - minimum) of solid cardio (walking at a good clip, eliptical machine at a steady pace) PLUS 3-4 yoga classes a week (power yoga) to build muscles and help with muscle definition). I tried to stay away from alcohol, eating after 7pm and drank lots of H20. Once I lost the weight - I stabilized by maintaining the yoga and a little bit of the walking...not as intense, though.

[Anonymous]

I was in your shoes two weeks ago-- size 8-10 at 5'6". Now I'm back in all the old size 6 clothes I had stashed in my closet! HOW does she do it!??! Some herbal weight loss secret of the stars??

Stomach flu, actually. Best. Diet. Ever.

Sorry I can't offer a real suggestion. I do the same thing-- eat when I'm stressed or upset, and have no idea how to curb it.

[Anonymous]

Something that I found very helpful was to keep a diary of food intake and calories burned. I'm sure there are many ways to do this. I used a free website called fitday.com, which has pre-programmed values for lots of foods and activities. I started doing it last spring with the intention of basically getting healthier and trying to lose about 9-10 lbs. I've lost 22 pounds, dropped from a size 10/12 to an 8, and lost several inches in my waist and hips. I still eat what I want. I just try to watch portion sizes and step up my exercise on those days when I indulge a little bit more. And most importantly, I feel much more fit and healthy.

[Anonymous]

I am in the same boat. I feel fine, people tell me I look good - mostly b/c I have lost 25 lbs over the past year, but I really need to lose 10-15 more.
My Weight Watchers leader suggests taking a picture of yourself in a bikini and posting it somewhere (away from the kids I guess..) and use that as motivation - since you may fell good but most likely you will not love the way you look in a bikini. Honestly, I still haven't done this (also don't own a bikini) but I should. Good luck!!!

[Anonymous]

I can only tell you what is working for me. First, running, lots and lots of running. I get up 5 am to go running. Second, when the urge hits me to emotionally eat I think to myself is this "fill in the blank" going to make me feel better? The answer is no. Once you are done eating, you are still stressed, upset, etc. and you feel guilty for eating whatever it is you shouldn't have. The second approach works most of the time, and the running takes care of when it doesn't work. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

OP here--thanks so much for all the suggestions! I am going to try most of them and see what happens! Thanks again and any other suggestions still welcome.

[Anonymous]

Seriously? Really? You really want my motivating ideas/thoughts?

Here they are:

You are going about this all wrong. You are "dieting". And it will never ever work long term. You might have short term success, but it will always come back until you address the issue. You've already identified yours: you use food as comfort. (Hey, welcome to the party... I use food as comfort TOO!).

So, you really want to do something? make a life change/goal you can live with. As a starting place, I would do one of two things:

1) estimate the number of times per month that you "comfort eat" (5? 10?) and cut it in half. Give yourself permission to comfort eat 2 or 3 times a month, pick your worst days, and try not to go completely overboard. In short, just try to comfort eat LESS often, but give yourself a numeric goal to keep you focused. Or...

2) estimate how MUCH you eat when you comfort eat. Is it a whole gallon of icecream? A bag of chips? Focus on the quantity, and cut it in half. Say to yourself, I'm sad, I need a cookie, or two... (but not 3 or 4). Take your 2 cookies out, then put the rest AWAY!

Finally, point number 3. Don't worry about the scale. Don't worry about the 10 pounds. Don't worry about the dress size. Make a simple, small, life change (and make sure you don't replace your good life change by adding a bad one at the same time). When it gets easier, make another small life change. Over time, you'll lose the 10 pounds, and it will stay off. You would be amazed at how much healthier I am now than I was 10 years ago. Because 10 years ago I learned the "secret" to New Year's resolutions. I make 2 or 3 small changes every year... and they stick.