Why do I find this so hard? Any tips to make weight loss easier please!!

[40thisisit]

Hi dieting & food are taking over my life :(. I have lost count of the amount of money I've wasted on WW, SW and even Cambridge. I am so focused for the 1st 3 weeks & see really good losses, then I totally lose the plot and it all goes back on.
I constantly think about food and get very down as nothing fits and I get cross with myself.
It's my 14th wedding anniversary in 2 months & my DH has given me the fab incentive of £500 to spend on clothes if I can lose the nearly 2 stone I really want to.
What can I do to stay focused past the 3 week stage? Weekends are my main downfall as I do like some wine to relax.

Hmmm, £500 is a lovely incentive, but IMO aiming for nearly 2 stone in 2 months is unrealistic. Maybe that is why you have fallen by the wayside in past diets, because you tried to achieve too much too soon? Maybe you were very strict with yourself, which is possible for 3 weeks but very difficult to maintain long term.

If I were you, I would aim for a good healthy suatainable weight loss of 1-2lb per week. Ask your DH if you can have the same incentive in 5 months rather than 2.

I lost 2 and a half stone in 2010, it took me most of the year though!

Why not post on one of the threads on here for support? There is a good one just starting up...losing a stone in a month. I have lost 2 stone since 21st January... it is doable but it's tough.

Come and join in!

I know it's cliche, but you need to make it a lifestyle change not just a diet. When you can get that right in your mind, you will succeed.

Agree with Shine, post on here for support. I was just on the C25k Jan thread and it was fab.

I tend to lurk on here but agree there is some brilliant support. For me it took a long time to realise that I had to find something to work for me - not necessarily what everyone else is doing.

I have struggled with my weight for years and tried loads of fad diets over then but the minute I hear the word "diets" I become totally obsessed and focused on what I can't have. Then I crave it all the more, binge and fall off the wagon beating myself up on the way! I now eat pretty much the same as I always have and adjusted my portion sizes downwards and its slowly working.

to be honest the most the liberating thing I have done was put the scales away (i was weighing every day - totally obsessed) and get out the tape measure. I find measuring much better for me as when I exercise I build muscle rather than loose oodles of weight and its much more fun to see how much your body is changing physically.

I like to set my own little goals along the way as well as a bigger goal don't laugh but I wanted to be able to fit my bum on a swing in the park without getting stuck and managed to achieve that 2 weeks ago.

And as for exercise - find something you enjoy and makes you happy doing - not what you think you should be doing.

Good luck, be realistic and if you have a bad day let it go and try again tomorrow!

Two stone in two months is a hell of a lot, even if you've got plenty to lose.

As a rough guide, you're going to struggle to lose more than 2lb a week after the initial burst of weight loss that most people get in week 1-2 or dieting.

Have you red Master your Metabolism by Jilliam Michaels? It's very interesting, especially if you've dieted on and off for hers and potentially screwed your metabolism a bit.

Thank you all for your fab replies. It was really helpful to see you think 2 stone in 2 months is too high an expectation. It does kinda make sense now why I couldn't keep up my strictness. Also I'm now going to have a look at the other threads and at the Jillian Michaels book!

40 I was alway the queen of fast weight loss, and never managed to keep it up. Slow weight loss is the way forward - I've lost about 10lb since the beginning of the year and I know I can relax a bit an it won't pile back on again.

If you fancy calorie counting, the My Fitness Pal app is amazing and does it all for you. The forums are fab and lots of motivation for slow weight loss/improving your fitness and health for life rather than viewing a jet as a short term change.

I would change the goal to two stone this year. And then break the 2 stone into half stone goals with a treat every time you lose half a stone. Something like a massage or a night out etc. Surely it would be better to be 2 stone lighter by Christmas than to keep giving up after just three weeks.

Thanks girls, slowly it's going to be!