Losing motivation – help!!!
Guess I didn’t get very far after this post.
Help me! I seem to have fallen off of the healthy eating train. I had been doing so well since the beginning of the year, but since last Friday, I have been struggling with emotional eating big time. I’ve been eating lots of junky foods and feeling junky.
When all you want to do is stuff your face with junky food, what do you do to combat that urge?
Things that don’t work for me:
- Self-talk – telling myself I have to make a certain weight goal by a certain date makes it worse, and so does telling myself I need to eat healthier so I feel good when I exercise. I know I can still run even if I am following a crappy diet, so that doesn’t do the trick.
- Looking at “Skinny” photos – having “inspiring” photos around doesn’t help. Even though they are of me when I was feeling my best, health-wise.
- Keeping a food journal – makes me even more neurotic.
Things that do work for me:
- Being busy
- Distractions – emails, reading blogs, magazines… exercise…
- Working out in the am – it makes me want to eat healthier during the day
- Not eating out (at restaurants that give you huge portions) – I don’t know when to stop eating/how to “say no” to the bread basket!
- Making sure not to bring too many snacks to work
- Drinking lots of water
- Drinking tea – I can drink the tea Amy sent me from Belgium in the tumbler that Kayla bought for me at Disney World!
My new tumbler – I am looking down because Data was trying to escape out the front door while Steven took this picture!
So, seriously, any advice? Usually I get to a certain point with eating healthy (and subsequently losing weight) and it all comes crashing down. I start the binge cycle and gain all the weight back and feel like crap. I really want to avoid that. I want to be normal about food. N-O-R-M-A-L!!!
Sigh.
Okay, if normal is not possible, I want to be semi-normal. Or at least sane.
Themocracy
I wish I could offer some advice but I don’t have any. I am pretty good about not snacking and eating too many sweets but I am not so good at not overeating when I go to restaurants and when I cook delicious food at home. I know my homemade food is at least healthier than restaurant food (overall at least) and I’m really trying to get better about eating at home and packing lunches.
Ive started pre-making healthy snacks. Im a big time snacker, and thats what gets me.
More than that, after dinner I want a treat. Always. I froze a bunch of grapes to munch on in the evenings and that really helps. They taste like candy when theyre frozen, and they have the satisfying crunch factor.
I always feel like I have to have something after dinner too! WHAT is that? Freezing some grapes is a great idea!
I pre-make healthy snacks for work but bring too many and eat them all! I am going to start only bringing what I need!
I’m an after dinner snacker too! I’ve been analzying what has been keeping my weight stagnant despite regular (and intense) exercise and it’s the evening snacking/eating that’s killing me.
I have this same problem. Lately I have been eating foods that don’t make me feel good. And yet knowing I feel crappy after has not curbed me from eating them. Usually I have to go cold turkey and control what I eat- only eat at home, bring my lunch, no booze or sugar- to get back on track. Working out in the morning is the best- really centers me for the rest of my day. I eat sometimes out of boredom or to avoid my feelings so in those moments I try to just DO something, take a work out class, walk, call someone, remove myself from the environment.
I feel your pain, sistah.
Are we the same person? Damn, it sure sounds like it. Thanks for making me feel normal by relating!
That is what I meant about mind-games – telling myself I will feel crappy if I eat crap just doesn’t work for me. I get too caught up in the moment! I think next time I feel that urge I am just going to get up, “remove myself from the environment,” as you suggested!
You look so cute (and fit) in that picture. I think the problem with all your “don’t work” strategies is that they are not coming from a place of self-love, they are coming from a place of “fixing” yourself.
I am right there with you trying to figure out how to come at this from a positive angle and end up feeling normal about food. That’s pretty much the theme of my blog. It’s hard work!
Thank you. And thanks for pointing that out about my “don’t work” strategies. You are totally right and I never thought about that before. I guess that is why they don’t work for me?
The only thing that works for me when I am emotionally eating is distractions! I am one of those that will “think” I am hungry till I go eat unless I am reading a book, walking, playing with the mutts, or doing something that gets my mind off food 🙂
*good luck*
I chew a lot of gum! At work I tend to get hungry before lunch and feel like my blood sugar is headed toward the drain. Usually if I chew a piece of gum or have a life saver or other little candy, I can make it to lunch without a lot of extra snacking.
The only thing that works for me is planning. Planning everything. When I wake up, I know exactly what I’m going to eat that day and I make deals with myself that if I don’t stray from the plan, I get a small treat after dinner. That way, if something yummy is staring me in the face, I remind myself that I want that yummy treat after dinner more. I have to “deserve” it. This might be an F’ed up way to eat but it works for me. I “save” my calories for later in the day…
BTW – you look fantastic in those pics!
I do plan my meals out for the day like that (except dinner – Steven usually cooks and we eat whatever)… but I seem to be having issues with boredom and stress… maybe I need a treat to look forward to?! Sigh. Who knows. Wah.
Thanks 😉
I have absolutely no self control when it comes to food — I eat a shit ton, every day because I’m always hungry, even when I’m full hehe — so my solution is to be in 20s (haha…waiting for the metabolism to drop) and to run a billion miles a week.
Once upon a time when I was underweight, I was mostly eating veggies, frozen yogurt, cereal, and whipped cream. Is that a good diet tip?
Ha ha – after my marathon in the fall I decided to keep running because I wanted to keep eating whatever I wanted! I am totally a “run to eat” type of person. I want to enjoy lots of food and not have to worry about it! But yeah… I have been there, with the eating too little to be skinny. That stinks! I will pass on that tip! 😉
I hear ya on this post! I’ve been eating emotionally for the past few days and I can’t seem to kick the habit! I blame it on having all the guests here last week. I am just trying to do a little better each day than I did the previous. Working out in the AM really helps me as well. (Now if I could just drag my butt out of bed!!)
I am similar. I start all gung ho then slide back into old habits which include boredom eating in the afternoon. One i start eating crap its hard to stop. My solution is to keep myself busy and distracted. Hopefully some of my new food behaviors will stick.
Yes my doc recommended d3 for better absorption.
It hits me in the afternoon too. Maybe today I will have TWO cups of tea in the afternoon 😉
Thanks for telling me about the D3! I should make sure the one I take has good absorption. Guessing from the color of my pee… well, I wonder 😉 (TMI? Sorry!)
I have been forcing myself to snack healthy lately! I bring baggies of carrot sticks, clementines, a banana, and usually nuts or maybe swedish fish as well. This is in addition to my salad/leftovers lunch main. For me planning ahead (and picking also some “treats”) helps a whole lot.
At least we are not alone in this! It feels like a constant battle, doesn’t it? Sigh…:-(
Get rid of the junky food in the house, if you’re like me and you can’t eat just a little bit of it. Stock up on your favorite fruits so you’ll WANT to choose them.
I agree, keeping a food journal makes me pretty neurotic (though I am trying to do it right now). I am still trying to do the “eat in a way that wouldn’t embarrass myself” trick, which makes me eat less and chew more. It doesn’t always work though…
How is the food journal working for you now? Is it helping? What did you do while traveling – guesstimate on calories?
Aww, Kim. You are looking really great so don’t bee too hard on yourself. I know, not very helpful advice. The only thing I can think of is to not buy the junky food or have them lurking in your pantry at home. Maybe buy some chewy type foods like celery or apple to feel more satisfied. Also, maybe drink more water? Sometimes we think we are hungry when we really are dehydrated. And bored? When are you bored? You are a busy, busy girl! : )
Thanks Gina 🙂 The problem is, I am overeating at work! I tend to be okay at home. So when I have my wallet at work I sometimes buy junk. I am stressed there sometimes, as you know 🙂
And I will try to do a self-love post. Any ideas for what I should say (not about myself, but to get other people involved?)?
OH and PS, I want to see a blog post about all the things you love about yourself! The selfless post and this blog makes me sad that you are dissing on my very good buddy!!!!
Oh, I’m so sorry to say this, but I think after reading your post and the comments, you’re pretty normal…at least in this group!
I’ve been seriously focusing on not working out just so I can eat more. That is SO hard! I tell myself I deserve X because I worked out hard, but I know that’s not the attitude that will get me to feeling how I want to feel.
Baby steps, friend! Don’t beat yourself up too bad; we’re all cheering for you!
I am not good with the self control but am trying to get better. I try to incorporate small changes so I’m not overwhelmed and if I fail I just start over the next meal. I have to start over a lot 😉 1) When I eat out (which I do a lot!) if I’m with my husband we try to split the meal. That way you are most likely eating what you should be. Also, start with a salad or a soup. Fills you up faster so you don’t eat so much of the bad stuff. 2) Eat snacks but only take the healthy ones with you to work so you can’t cheat? 3) I try not to keep the junk food in the house or I’ll inhale it. Except desserts, I always have dessert 😉 Everything in moderation right!?!
I think splitting meals is a GREAT idea. There is this Mexican restaurant we LOVE on the way to IA, but we always overeat. I think the entree could definitely be split!
And I definitely do everything in moderation. I don’t feel deprived! I just have these bouts of craziness!!!
What do you eat for Breakfast? I have noticed when I eat a more protein rich breakfast I stay full longer. If I have bacon and eggs then I don’t feel like my stomach is soo hungry by 10am. If I eat oatmeal, Ill have PB and toast at 9:30am. Its tough but eating a big breakfast for me helps to keep me full. Plus staying busy helps too. Otherwise all i think about is how hungry I am!
You know, I have heard that about protein in the am! I usually have oatmeal with flax and sugar, and a big bowl of fruit. I tried mixing PB in my oatmeal yesterday!
I wish I had some advice for you. The only thing I’ve found is that I have to remove myself from the environment or at least acknowledge why I want to eat something. If I take a step back before I put it in my mouth (or even before I know I’m going to be in a situation that would cause me to overeat) and at least think “I’m eating this because I’m bored” or whatever sometimes that will keep me from eating it. And sometimes it doesn’t. But at least I’ve acknowledged why I eat, can find patterns, and move on when I “fall off” the wagon, so to speak. Don’t let one stressful weekend of emotional eating make it so you give up. Just chalk it up to another learning experienced and get back on the horse!
That is exactly what I need to get better at – identifying what is going on. My kneejerk reaction seems to be to stuff my face!
Thanks for your encouragement! 🙂
Other people have suggested healthy snacks, and I know that it helps me to have food that I want to eat around.
The other big thing for me – I don’t declare that any food is taboo or off-limits because of fat or calories. This really helped me because I used to feel terrible about eating something and then I would just spiral into a pretty negative place. Finally, from what I can tell, you do push yourself physically, so you probably ARE hungry.
Oh – one last thought – glad that you found new pants. Yay!
I am bad with eating well all the time. This is half the reason I have to workout as much as I do. I swear half the reason I do what I do is so I can eat the way I want to eat!
I do however, keep a sign on my fridge that says “eat less fat and you will be” which I look at when I was to mindlessly eat. It causes me to pause and reassess before eating for the wrong reasons.
Yeah… I totally work out so that I DON’T have to “restrict” what I eat. I love food. I think I need some signs like that around here 🙂
sigh. I am in the same boat. I gave up meat and fast food for lent and it’s going well BUT I am not sure if it’s helping me loose weight. ugh. I am currently reading EAT TO LIVE and it’s helped a few of my friends move down the scale.
I see you’ve had a lot of advice already but if you don’t mind, I’ll give you a piece of advice that others have told me in the past. By making food a focus in your life, such as keeping a journal and overly planning your calorie intake etc, it becomes very difficult to break your relationship with it. If you can shift your focus away from food and therefore remove its importance in your life you will be more successful in losing weight. Easier said than done though, so good luck!!
Awwwwww, I wish I would have saw this sooner. Email me – how are you doing now???
Thanks 🙂 I am still not back in my groove. Just kind of feeling meh about doing anything. Feeling kind of worn out. Any advice? Do guys deal with this (the food binging problem?)