"Fell off the diet wagon" already...

Posts: 5,156
2/26/13 9:35 P

First of all, I REALLY benefitted greatly from Read it all the way through once, then went back & followed the suggestions, which basically was VERY small changes, as opposed to my past habits.
The key is......you didn't 'fall off the wagon,' not if you're working the Spark Program, because it's not a diet. And they mention 80/20.....eat healthy 80% of the time (or more) & allow up to 20% of other things, as long as they're counted, logged into your tracker & still keeps you within your ranges.
SP is about getting healthy & fit, which means balance in all things: life in general, eating & exercise.

current weight: 128.0

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Posts: 20,528
2/26/13 8:41 P

I say CELEBRATE falling off the D I E T wagon - THIS is not about D I E ting - It IS about making L I F E style changes and making a HEALTHY L I F E for yourself. If it is TOO hard to stay on track, then it is NOT YOU but your PLAN that needs to change. Pick ONE or TWO things you are almost POSITIVE you can and WILL do and change them - once they become habits, add other things. The changes don't even have to be HUGE - they can be as small as swapping a single soda for a glass of water (NOT going from NO water to 8 glasses in one fell swoop), adding a salad or clear soup to your dinner about half an hour before you eat the main meal (this doesn't take anything away from you but MIGHT fill you up sooner and longer), add some veggies to your meals, walk for 5-10 minutes, or take that yoga class. LOVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TO BE YOUR PRIORITY. Start small and make a PLAN that fits all of the circumstances of YOUR LIFE. If it FITS, it will not be hard to do.

current weight: 276.0

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Posts: 1,263
2/25/13 7:38 P

I can definitely relate. I started this journey in April of 2009, and I still have yet to reach my '100th pound lost' yet I was at this same weight in 2011, then I gained 35 pounds, maintained that weight, then late last year started losing again. It's not a single push usually, unless you have someone constantly breathing down your neck and MAKING you do everything. I think what makes this so difficult for many is that we have to learn what works for us, and we have to learn that this isn't an all or nothing journey.

You can do it! Just get up, dust yourself off, and keep on keeping on!

current weight: 242.6

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SparkPoints: (18,772)
Fitness Minutes: (9,139)
Posts: 504
2/25/13 7:22 P

JACKILOVESJOHN, I am a recovering Off the Wagoneer! lol Actually, I spent almost 6 weeks being a couch potato after losing almost 25 lbs, and managed to put back on 10 lbs. So finally, I got up off the couch, started back to the gym, exercising at home, and slowly but surely, I'm tracking my food again, and am on my way to losing the 10 I gained back! Don't worry, just try again!

One positive thing I did was not beat myself up about it, and it made it easier to get back on track. I have a lot more than 25 to lose, but I decided I didn't want to start over completely, so called a halt to my unmotivated self. I'm getting more motivated each day that I do a good job at my new lifestyle. You can do it too!

current weight: 223.5

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Posts: 1,607
2/25/13 2:09 P

JACKILOVESJOHN, when you start a venture (no matter what it is), it is easy to get discouraged quickly.

Even those of us who have been doing this a long time do...we just don't necessarily publish it.

Spark People is a great resource to start on your healthy lifestyle, record your progress, get advice, or even a kick in the a*s when you need it.

My advice for this is to not dump all your old habits at once. It is overwhelming and tempting to throw in the towel because of one stumble. If you fall down, GET UP NOW! Keep going. Eventually you'll find some stuff becomes second nature.

current weight: 195.0

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Posts: 796
2/25/13 12:05 P

Wait. There's a wagon? We have a wagon? I LOVE wagons!

I can't think of a single person here on SP that has started and then raced to the finish line without stopping, faltering, restarting, etc. Sometimes it takes a bit for the life changes to "click."

You CAN do this. You have the strength to do this. Just move. Walk. Jog. Dance. Do jumping jacks. You haven't been defeated. Nobody/nothing defeated you. Get out there and be victorious!

current weight: 130.0

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SparkPoints: (158,833)
Fitness Minutes: (112,042)
Posts: 46,222
2/25/13 9:57 A

Hi JACKILOVESJOHN,

Whenever we start something new we must give ourselves permission to include a big learning curve in the throws. So many of us have lived a life making not-so-healthy choices that it takes time to replace old habits with new ones. And sadly that takes time. It took me a solid 4 years after I started my healthy lifestyle journey to give up Diet Coke (not the worst thing in the world, but I was easily drinking 128 ounces a DAY of the stuff), I just wasn't ready.

I think of healthy living as an evolution--a lot of small permanent changes we integrate into our lifestyle--making upgrades from where we currently are. I do not mean perfection either...perfection and guilt play no role in healthy living. You do the best you can with where you are and overtime the positives will outweigh the negatives.

Be strong...you can do this!

Coach Nancy

0 Days until:  The Historic MC 1/2 Marathon

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SparkPoints: (3,628)
Fitness Minutes: (2,725)
Posts: 154
2/25/13 4:40 A

My first suggestion would be dont think about doing yoga. Sign up now. You would be more willing to go if youve already paid for it and this way you dont talk yourself out of it.

Plan your meals for the week and make portions for them, that way you dont need an excuse to go to the store and buy junk (and also not shop hungry), you made a good choice making plans with friends, its more motivation to actually get up and get out.

My sister and I also have a bet going on, person who loses the most weight has to buy the other a tattoo. Yay more motivation, You could do something like that for something you really want or your friends. Feel free to email me if you need any more support.

Good luck!

current weight: 361.0

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SparkPoints: (1,238)
Fitness Minutes: (281)
Posts: 7
2/25/13 1:48 A

So its only been a couple of weeks since I started on SP and i've already fallen off. I've been eating and snacking very badly, not drinking my water, and this is the first time i've logged onto SP in what seems like forever. I've lost my motivation and I really need to get it back, for my health's sake. Tomorrow i'm going to an exercise class at my gym with 2 friends who go every monday. Im also thinking of taking up yoga classes there. I know I really need to move more. I have about 60 lbs to lose and I just feel so defeated sometimes (most of the time) I just dont know if I can do it...

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