Continuing motivation.

[Mandatorymongoose]

I've never successfully done any sort of diet before, I seem to manage about 3 or 4 days - 2 weeks before I just give up or give in with slimming world or calories counting or low carb etc.

My weight has fluctuated a fair bit due to stress / medications / pregnancy and has gone down as well as up but never through any deliberate effort.

But, since new year I've been really trying to make some changes, cut out fizzy drinks, take aways (as much for financial reasons as health!), really reduced all the junk - chocolate, crisps, sweets etc. and I've lost just over 1st.

I have probably 2 - 2.5 st to lose to be a healthy BMI for my height.

Having got this far is a huge thing for me but I just feel like my motivation is slipping away - I really just want to wake up slim! I don't even mind most of the changes I've made and I know they have to be long term anyway, so even if I did wake up tomorrow 2 st lighter I couldn't just spend the day eating cake. But it feels like it's going so slowly and it would be so easy to get a takeaway and a can of coke today to cheer myself up.

What do you do to stay motivated? How can I be better at this?

[SenatusPopulusqueRomanorum]

I am the same (even though I usually last a little longer than you). I have lost over 50lb at least 7 times in my life, and that is without counting the shorter diets where I "only" lost 10-15lb before putting it back on).

I used to think it was entirely psychological, but now I am wondering if there may be some physical cause - I don't know if it has to do with hormones, or blood sugar, or something in my brain, but it is as if a switch was flicked inside me and I am suddenly unable to resist the biscuits I was ignoring the day before.

Over the years, I have realised that for me, one of the keys to success is exercise. If I stop exercising for a while, because I cannot find the time or because I am feeling sluggish, I end up overeating.

Also bear in mind that you are not going to eat healthily every single day for the rest of your life. So what if you have a takeaway and a can of coke today? It does not mean you have failed. The problems start if you eat this way too often. I would have the takeaway if I really fancied it and eat less for the rest of the week. But I am trying to get rid of the "having XXX to cheer myself up" mindset. It is hard (food has always been a reward or a crutch for me), but I am getting better at it.

Good luck!

[starsinthenight]

Well done OP - you have done brilliantly already this year !!!