Where’s my motivation? So overweight and need to lose weight.

[Anonymous]

I have been using MyFitnessPal- premium, to log all of my food intake. I’ve lost 20lbs in a month. Was 5’10 240 mid April. Counting calories has changed everything. I was exercising about 90 minutes a day, but not taking care of my diet. Needles to say, I ended up gaining 10lbs over 3 months. The game changer for me with the app was being able to scan barcodes and have the info already loaded and just adjusting serving sizes as needed. It also hooks up to my Apple Watch to keep an accurate count of exercise and steps. Definitely consider the app. You often don’t realize how many calories are In food until it’s written down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love Costco for a ton of stuff but NEVER buy sweets at Costco -- just skip that section entirely (unless you're legit having party for 30+). There's just zero reason to have 10 pounds of delicious decadent brownie or chocolate cake in your house -- even if it was only $12.99

And don't drink calories.

It's more the chocolate covered coconut almond, bark thins...

Do Not Buy Sweets at Costco
(or any gigantic serving of any junk food).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read intuitive eating.

Don't. Really don't. OP is intuitively eating a sleeve of oreos. I think this is the worst advice ever.
I would intuitively eat a whole giant bag of sour skittles!
We all eat intuitively, that's why we have a problem!

I think intuitive eating would mean slowing down, savoring what you are having and checking in gently as you are eating,, about when you have had enough, which means satiated (no longer hungry)but not completely full either. By those guidelines, of eating until just satiated, and enjoying it...you actually would likely stop before the whole sleeve and the giant bag are eaten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 5’11 and 240#. Ive crept up to a size 16.

I’m just a fat mom and I hate it. I should have all the motivation in the world: I hate the way I look, low energy, want to healthier for my kids, my husband, etc. I’m by far the fattest person in my family, extended and immediate, which is shameful to me. I shouldn’t have done this to myself.

We eat really well. My issue is overeating sugar and binges. Is it the solution simple: don’t buy sugary snacks????

I tried WW but didn’t like it. I’ve done challenges (whole30).
I know it’s 1# at a time. Where do people find the motivation?

First of all, accept yourself where you are. When people talk about fat acceptance, this is one of the things they’re talking about. Accept yourself, first because that’s just the right thing to do. Because being fat doesn’t make you a bad person. Second, because when you hate yourself, you treat yourself poorly.

Binges: stop binging. No seriously, that’s it. Decide you are done. There was a book recommended here about how to stop binging, only it was tedious as those books tend to be. The crux of it was that when you have decided that you are done binging, you just stop. Your lizard brain will try to convince you you to - you don’t. When you’re done binging, you’re done binging. You’re in charge. (I’m eight years out from my last binge).

And yeah, you don’t buy sugar anymore. It’s not for you, except where you really want it (holidays, getting ice cream at the lake with your kids, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read intuitive eating.

Don't. Really don't. OP is intuitively eating a sleeve of oreos. I think this is the worst advice ever.
I would intuitively eat a whole giant bag of sour skittles!
We all eat intuitively, that's why we have a problem!

I think intuitive eating would mean slowing down, savoring what you are having and checking in gently as you are eating,, about when you have had enough, which means satiated (no longer hungry)but not completely full either. By those guidelines, of eating until just satiated, and enjoying it...you actually would likely stop before the whole sleeve and the giant bag are eaten.

If you aren't "naturally thin" then intuitive eating is not for you. That's ok. It just means you need a disciplined approach to eating and portions and to hold firm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP the secret isn’t motivation. It’s simply discipline. Most of us don’t feel motivated to work out or prepare a healthy meal vs a fast easy unhealthy one. We just use discipline and do it anyway.

This has taken me a really long time to figure out, mostly because it's the answer I didn't want. Ha! But I think this is really true.

Actually, yes. That's the key here. Not motivation but rather routine. Some people, however, establishing a routine might be a problem (speaking from personal experience, obviously )

Op, the bolded is the answer.

Find a routine that forces you to avoid sugar. Stick to it. But you have to love your body the way it is because a good routine will require time for the weight to drop. If you go for a fast fix, you will gain back. Go slow and steady. Make a lifestyle change: walk a little more, eat a little less etc. Forget motivation. Find routine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been using MyFitnessPal- premium, to log all of my food intake. I’ve lost 20lbs in a month. Was 5’10 240 mid April. Counting calories has changed everything. I was exercising about 90 minutes a day, but not taking care of my diet. Needles to say, I ended up gaining 10lbs over 3 months. The game changer for me with the app was being able to scan barcodes and have the info already loaded and just adjusting serving sizes as needed. It also hooks up to my Apple Watch to keep an accurate count of exercise and steps. Definitely consider the app. You often don’t realize how many calories are In food until it’s written down.

OP here. Hi! It’s helpful to hear from someone who is my size!

20# in a month sounds... not accurate. Are you sure?

[Anonymous]

Short term: Buy new clothes that fit so you feel better about yourself.

Long term: Start making changes. Log all your food. You won't eat the oreos if you have to write them down. When you are actively paying attention to everything you eat, you will have more motivation to snack on healthier foods. You will gradually lose weight, which will also motivate you.

I -JUST- started this plan earlier in the year and am having a lot of success. Before this year, I didn't even own a scale. Now I have a scale and a FitBit and am using them to track my progress and focus my attention on taking care of myself, which is hard with kids, but also really great for my physical and mental health! I also used to snack on oreos, so my plan should work for you, too!

[Anonymous]

The key is, IMO, eating a lot of food with a lot of nutrition but few calories.
And of course, the big, of course, having the time and the money to cook it and eat it and buy all you need.
I am right now eating a huge bowl of chunks of cabbage with sauteed ground beef with many onions in it. With a sugar-free sauce on top, hot sauce mostly.
I find this insanely delicious. More cabbage than the meat, if I am honest!
And walking helps too.

[Anonymous]

OP I know you said you tried WW in the past but you sound a lot like me and I’m having good luck with it. Surprisingly motivated by plastic charms and rewards points I guess. I replaced a lot of the junk with things I can easily eat for low points like sugar free jello and blueberries with sugar free whipped cream. And if I want to splash out a day I just use my points accordingly. I ate chick fil a this week and I’m still losing. It feels the least restrictive to me and I think I’ve tried them all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been using MyFitnessPal- premium, to log all of my food intake. I’ve lost 20lbs in a month. Was 5’10 240 mid April. Counting calories has changed everything. I was exercising about 90 minutes a day, but not taking care of my diet. Needles to say, I ended up gaining 10lbs over 3 months. The game changer for me with the app was being able to scan barcodes and have the info already loaded and just adjusting serving sizes as needed. It also hooks up to my Apple Watch to keep an accurate count of exercise and steps. Definitely consider the app. You often don’t realize how many calories are In food until it’s written down.

MyFitnessPal is the way to go, IMO. It's not only helpful in weight loss but it's also helpful for maintaining. I need reminders on what is actually a normal amount of food. While I've never had a large amount of weight to lose, it's easy to forget that I don't need as much food as (1) I'm offered, and (2) I'd like to eat and therefore, the weight creeps back up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The key is, IMO, eating a lot of food with a lot of nutrition but few calories.
And of course, the big, of course, having the time and the money to cook it and eat it and buy all you need.
I am right now eating a huge bowl of chunks of cabbage with sauteed ground beef with many onions in it. With a sugar-free sauce on top, hot sauce mostly.
I find this insanely delicious. More cabbage than the meat, if I am honest!
And walking helps too.

I also would find that insanely delicous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The key is, IMO, eating a lot of food with a lot of nutrition but few calories.
And of course, the big, of course, having the time and the money to cook it and eat it and buy all you need.
I am right now eating a huge bowl of chunks of cabbage with sauteed ground beef with many onions in it. With a sugar-free sauce on top, hot sauce mostly.
I find this insanely delicious. More cabbage than the meat, if I am honest!
And walking helps too.

I also would find that insanely delicous.

Sounds great, but not all nursing mothers can eat cabbage, unfortunately

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The key is, IMO, eating a lot of food with a lot of nutrition but few calories.
And of course, the big, of course, having the time and the money to cook it and eat it and buy all you need.
I am right now eating a huge bowl of chunks of cabbage with sauteed ground beef with many onions in it. With a sugar-free sauce on top, hot sauce mostly.
I find this insanely delicious. More cabbage than the meat, if I am honest!
And walking helps too.

I also would find that insanely delicous.

Sounds great, but not all nursing mothers can eat cabbage, unfortunately

Why? Of course, she can use it to relieve breast pain from nursing!
The whole world knows the cabbage leaf cure, right?
I watched that Dr. Mike on YouTube, normally he is funny, but for a Russian and a male he had some nerve attacking the benefits of cabbage and inflammation. No truth to that he said! Maybe he didn't talk to my mom with two artificial knees and to many women with inflamed breasts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP the secret isn’t motivation. It’s simply discipline. Most of us don’t feel motivated to work out or prepare a healthy meal vs a fast easy unhealthy one. We just use discipline and do it anyway.

This has taken me a really long time to figure out, mostly because it's the answer I didn't want. Ha! But I think this is really true.

Actually, yes. That's the key here. Not motivation but rather routine. Some people, however, establishing a routine might be a problem (speaking from personal experience, obviously )

I’m the discipline PP. literally write “workout” into your to do list. The first thing. You can’t cross anything else off til you do that. Once you get into this routine you actually feel better when you stick to it and work out. You don’t really think about skipping or not going because it’s just what you do. Or if you miss one unplanned day, it doesn’t derail a years old routine. It’s just...part of your day.