Why is it...?

Why is it that when we see what we do right and we see what is working for us that we get lazy and complacent and screw the whole damn thing up? I know what I was doing right (extra small portions and lots of exercise) and I know it was working (52# in4.5 months) then I go and eat bigger portions, too many carbs and slow down on exercise. Why? All it has done is slow my weight loss down (DRAMATICALLY).  I wrote to Esther in her post about this being about change. Change not only of body but of mind as well. My confusion tho is that we change extremely easy in the beginning and we are encouraged by the results but it just doesn't seem to be enough to keep us from reverting.  Honeslty, It SUCKS! I think that is where support comes in. We need others in our lives to refocus us and say, "HEY! Look at where you are and what got you here. Do it some more." Some of us, without that support, would go right back where we are, hence, the yo-yo effect.  I want to thank you all for your support and guidance. It's been a very important part of my journey. I welcome your thoughts as well. Thanks all, Beth 

 I know what you're saying because I do the same thing.  As soon as I feel accomplished with weight loss (a real task) I think "Yay! I'm done!" and stop doing what I was doing.  I'm so anxious to be done with losing weight; to be finished with obsessing over my stupid body, meals, food, everything, that when I accomplish anything, I'm real quick to throw in the towel and take a "break".

That's my reason.  Yours might be different.

Wish I had the answer to that one, Beth.  If I did....I wouldn't still be here at age 61 trying to lose this damn weight!  I sabotage myself all the time.  I've been on many weight loss programs (all of which work when you work them) and somehow always end up sabotaging myself.  Why is success so frightening for me?  These plans also include "way of life" programs that I could easily continue forever without really feeling deprived. Exercise (or lack of it, or lack of motivation to exercise) is a large part of my problem.  I'm a very sedentary soul...always have been...and now am forced to be more sedentary as my weight has caught up with my age and my joints are suffering the consequences. Somehow, I can't seem to string more than 2-3 weeks of being "on program" together....have a mini binge, put back on 5-10lb and then struggle all over again.  I have since the beginning of the year been working on the same 20lb!!  Congratulations on your success....50+ lb is wonderful. Keep it up, girl cause it only gets harder the older you get.  Trying to work on some behavior modification now and hopefully it will help with this problem.

this is so true...Each of you said everything I'd been feeling. It does help knowing I'm not in this alone. Don't know what I'd do  without you guys to encourage me. About the overeating I think for me I start off doing so well losing 5-10 lbs then get a little too happy and start over endulging on things I know I SHOULD eat in moderation, lose my motivation and then become a little too relaxed.....that is until I weigh myself and freak out (knowing good and well) if i eat incorrectly the scale won't lie.

I think it's because we set a unrealistic goals in the beginning.  We do great for a month, two maybe even six and then it all goes downhill.  Why?  Because we simply cannot sustain the changes we've made. I'm losing slow as all get out but I've been pretty consistent about it.  I think the key is finding a WOE, a plan, a diet, (insert your favorite cliche here) that you can relate to. One that works for you and seems almost effortless.  I fell off my plan this past week. A co-worker of mine bought me an 8 pack of snack size butterfingers.  I ate every single one of them in one sitting, making sure no one could see me and eating them very quickly.  Sabotage?  Mmm... maybe.  I finished off the weekend with a large butterfinger blast with extra BF, a chocolate malt, some brownie and ice cream, and a texas tonion and some bread. Finding it hard as hell today to get back on track.  I'm craving food and lots of it.  Damned sugar and carbs! I'm doing it though. Slowly but surely I'll purge my body of those cravings again. :) Anyways,  the point of admitting all of that is to show I ain't got it figured out either. :) For the most part doing low-carb, atkins, or SB is effortless for me provided I have the correct foods around. T'aint perfect and it never will be.. Perhaps the answer is to keep trying..?

Girl, I know...it is about teaching new habits, re-teaching, then review, then teaching again. I think Neen actually said it best - we tend to think okay we're HERE, we're DONE. And we get damn tired of it all. But finally, at age 51, I think maybe I really get it that this is my path. That even if/when I get to Dream Weight, I'm NOT done. Without judgment, no whining, this is what I have to do (be vigilant, be actively aware) to be a decent acceptable weight. The other thing is...this is a time consuming path - the benefits and the sucky parts take a while to really reveal & play out. We joke about the chocolate cake that we may as well stick right on our asses, cuz that is where it will end up, and sometimes I wish the bad effects were more immediate! I KNOW I wish the good stuff would show up sooner..... thing take time. And I do support you all as well. I am going thru my usual, why the hell do I talk about this....just do it and shut up. But this is bigger than me.  i need you all, yes, and you need me - the stupid things I say as well as the wise ones! LOL

Just think of the lurkers who are way behind any one of us on this path. Who suffer in relative silence.  Who don't know where to begin.