I Need Motivation to Diet Right

I wish I could help, I struggle with it too! I have already quit smoking, so I can't stop eating right now. I have lost weight by just adding more veggies and fruit, cut way back on chips and junk, I still have those things but I am more mindful about it. The best thing in my mind is to pay attention, put forth the effort to eat healthy but realize sometimes you are going to have days you will want the wrong thing.

Also, move more, just walking, I may go to the mall, walk, check out the sales, I mostly don't find anything but I get a lot of walking in. I have always enjoyed diet sodas but I have found I can have a glass of soda when I get up and then switch to ice water. It makes a difference in how I feel and how my clothes fit. I also do not have to get up often when I am sleeping to pee. The doctor told me that drinking soda contributes to that issue. If we just make small changes each day it will make a difference. I think if we do the smart things we will lose weight slowly but it will more than likely be a permanent loss, instead of losing and gaining it back. I know just where you are, it is hard but we can do it, a little at a time.
 
Make a monthly chart to document your progress. The vertical axis is your weight and the horizontal is the day of the month. On the first day of the month, weigh your self and make a dot on the chart. The second day, do it again. Draw a line between the dots. As the chart progresses you will get positive feedback to continue as you chronicle your success. I did it and it worked for me. Also, weigh yourself at the same time of the day. When getting out of bed is good.
 
My SNACKING time is 4 pm (afternoon lows?) - I gave myself permission for a planned afternoon snack - fruit, 1/2 energy bar, left overs. This planned snack and permission have prevented me from grabbing "junk food", over eating and then hating myself.
 
My suggestion is to choose just one of your usual foods that you want to get rid of or to lower substantially;
(Pick one that is adding to your problems, and that has no nutritional benefits to justify the downsides of it)

And then, before you even get started, decide on and purchase and get handy, a very specific substitute food that is better for you, that you can have whenever you would have had the other one, or when you miss the old-usual one.

Substituting is easier to sustain, that just doing without and feeling deprived of one of our favorites.

Also, you could substitute a specific activity, to counter the urge (to either eat that specific old-usual food, or to eat in general)
whenever you want that one food you miss, such as a simple short pre-decided action, or an activity, to do instead.

And build in a personal reward system for yourself, for when you succeed with the specific goal, for 2 days, and then lengthen to 4 days......and to 1 week.

Good luck!:)

When you have successfully changed that one habit to another healthier habit, then move on to choosing a second food that you know is bad for you, and do the same process.
 
Years ago, I found online diet support groups to be very helpful. They offered many forms of support, such as discussions, recipes, and humor. Even places to chart and share your progress, or join teams with certain goals. I liked the flexibility. If a particular thread or approach didn't work for me, I could check out another.

SparkPeople was one, and I forget the other. Those sites are defunct now, but there is a wide range of new sites and apps you can try.

Of course there are local support groups as well, which might be better for some.
 
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Ruthanne said:
What do you suggest?
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You need something that's easy, but you also need willpower. Blessed has quit smoking, now that's harder to do than almost anything, well done Blessed.
What helped me was to substitute all those fattening treats, be it sugar laden chocolate goodies or the cream filled bakery goodies. Nowadays I eat, almost everyday, an apple, a pear, a banana, a nectarine, a handful of grapes and often a plum. People could be eating so I best not explain the side effects, just make sure that you are within a short distance of a lavatory!
 
Jace said:
@Blessed..try chewing gum

And..@price of chips..forget it!
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I have never been a gum chewer, I always bite my tongue. When it comes,to chips, I don't spend a lot of money. I get them on sale, name brands for 2.00 a bag for the normal big bags, I also buy off brands sometimes. Trust me, I can have/eat very well on the cheap. It is superbowl weekend, I do not watch the game but I will be buying steak and shrimp for the freezer at rock bottome pricing. Ribeyes, NY strips and Tbones for 4.97 a pound sounds good to me.

I do like to have things on hand for family and company. Like I said, I have added a lot of fruit and veggies to my diet. When you fill up on those items it makes it easier to avoid other things. It gets your blood sugars on a consistent level so you don't feel hungry all the time. Add the walking and it works. Maybe slow loss but that is the best way, you are less likely to gain it back.
 

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That can be purchased but
motivation needs to be developed.
Maybe if you aim for just 1% better,
every week, at the end of a year,
you'll be 52% better.

1176123112-AdobeStock_businessman_carrot_motivated_SUPERSIZE.jpg


You can also eat a lot of carrots
but what is your carrot on your stick?
​
 
Re: NorthernLight's post #10: One of my friends joined "TOPS" or similar group run by the community centre - the program helped her loose and maintain her ideal weight. At the "weekly" weigh-in, she had to give the reason for the gain or loss - that was the incentive to stay "on track".
 
BC Flash said:
Re: NorthernLight's post #10: One of my friends joined "TOPS" or similar group run by the community centre - the program helped her loose and maintain her ideal weight. At the "weekly" weigh-in, she had to give the reason for the gain or loss - that was the incentive to stay "on track".
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Reminds me of 'Madmen' when Betty was in Weight Watchers.
 
Being healthy is a big motivator for me as being off any medicine.

Weight Watchers has worked for me in the past. Whenever I would gain a few pounds, I would start back on the program, and it would correct my weight, then after a few months, I would get off. It usually would take 1 1/2 - 2 years to gain that weight again, but it always drops when I get back on the program. I can never be on it forever because I get bored, so in the last ten years, I have been on the program three times, which has worked for me and kept me happy. Does that make sense to you? I know women who look thin and have been lifetime members because it is important for their health. I also know women who are overweight and feel very good after joining the program losing that weight. They feel like a new person. By the way, I am not endorsing the program, but I have used it in the past, and it has worked for me. Good luck!
 
Chet said:
Make a monthly chart to document your progress. The vertical axis is your weight and the horizontal is the day of the month. On the first day of the month, weigh your self and make a dot on the chart. The second day, do it again. Draw a line between the dots. As the chart progresses you will get positive feedback to continue as you chronicle your success. I did it and it worked for me. Also, weigh yourself at the same time of the day. When getting out of bed is good.
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I have to be honest here; this works, but the problem is, it is work, so it doesn't work for everyone. It's totally the way to go for people who enjoy making charts and ledgers and spreadsheets and things like that, and some people do - I'm thinking of a former co-worker of mine, the company's bookkeeper. Chet's method helped her lose 65 pounds within a year, and she kept it off, too. But if I was on a quest to lose weight, there's no way this would work for me. I wouldn't be able to stick with it.
 
Murrmurr said:
I have to be honest here; this works, but the problem is, it is work, so it doesn't work for everyone. It's totally the way to go for people who enjoy making charts and ledgers and spreadsheets and things like that, and some people do - I'm thinking of a former co-worker of mine, the company's bookkeeper. Chet's method helped her lose 65 pounds within a year, and she kept it off, too. But if I was on a quest to lose weight, there's no way this would work for me. I wouldn't be able to stick with it.
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So true! Different things motivate different people.
 

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