Staying Motivated for the Long Haul

@JustinMcClanahan Justin,no you did not add confusion at all, it's more knowledge which is always a good thing. I tried a couple of different BMR calculators and they did differ. One of them asked your activity level, which I presume is a good thing.

This BMR calculator was much more encouraging, it said:
"According to your measurements, you need 1992.33 calories to keep your typical activity level going without any weight change. If you exercise or do activities beyond normal levels you will need to add calories to your diet to maintain your weight."
I like that, the other one had me practically just eating water and not much else!
According to myfitnesspal I ate 1387 calories today, if I keep that up I will weigh 142.3 in five weeks. That gives me more incentive so hopefully tomorrow I will be able to keep it up.
I need to go back to myfitnesspal from a couple of years ago to see what I was eating because that was when I was really successful. There were actually some days when it told me I had to eat more, it will not do its calculations if your intake is below 1000 calories. Now I am always hungry though so that does not happen.
JK

@contentandwell I realise that my reply comes 5 years after you brought up the issue, but maybe some time in the future there will be another person who, like me, reads the old threads and finds something helpful, so he is my slight concern. According to the data you provided (1992 kcal needed and 1387 kcal eaten) you have a caloric deficit of over 600 calories. No doubt you are hungry. From what I remember from the Mayo Clinic Wellness Coach Training, the healthy and sustainable caloric deficit for a long-term weight loss is about 300-400 calories. Of course, if you are trying to loose 4 pounds quickly to squeeze into a wedding dress, then a more drastic approach for a couple of weeks is O.K., but not when the target is higher and the timeframe longer. Stay healthy!

I am also interested if anyone has a solution for this problem. I find it relevant even if a few years have past.

I was also reviewing this thread and wish it would get active again.

@sistertwo And just like that, you have reactivated this discussion! There are a lot of posts to read through, and perhaps some will seem out-of-date, some will seem not relevant to your own situation, and some will have you nodding in agreement! I admit upfront that I have not read through the many pages here.

Motivation for moving forward, whether it be for physical, emotional or mental health, finding our way through our roadblocks, certainly can seem to be quite a mountain to climb. Listening to what others found that worked, trying new ideas ourselves, feeling like we are not alone in our efforts, and celebrating our triumphs, no matter how small they seem, are priceless.

What are your thoughts for staying motivated? What personal goals do you have that you struggle with?
Ginger