1. < Healthy Living

Staying Motivated for the Long Haul

Posted by LindaF @fessmom, Jun 29, 2017

My biggest obstacle to maintaining a healthy weight is a seemingly invisible "switch" that goes on and off in my brain. When it's "on" I am in the zone and can avoid the most decadent temptations and will exercise faithfully. But, about a year to 15 months into my healthy lifestyle, the switch turns to "off" and I lose focus and revert to my bad habits of poor food choices (both in what I eat and how much I eat) and I become more sedentary. I am at that point now and I feel a slow panic building as the number on the scale inches upward. I know what I should do, but I am at a loss as to how to get my mojo back. Suggestions, anyone!?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Healthy Living Support Group.

JK | @contentandwell | Dec 29, 2017
In reply to @maisie89 "The switch has recently gone off in my mind and for the last four months, I..." + (show)
@maisie89

The switch has recently gone off in my mind and for the last four months, I no longer eat anything white except cauliflower. No sugar, flour, pasta. No more Coke, ice cream, sweets and all the other unhealthy foods. Only water and lemon are consumed, along with fresh fruits and veggies. Protein with dinner, no red meat. The key to better health is exercise. I now walk 30 minutes every day and enjoy salsa music to keep me moving. I feel better than ever in my 71 years. Healthy eating and exercise are addictive and I have also dropped 35 pounds and have a goal of losing 15 more. You can do it! Weight loss and healthy living is definitely starts with a mind set.

Jump to this post

@rosemarya I am going through old email and trying to respond primarily to ones that address me.
My weight has not been a problem at all. Oddly, despite my lack of activity I have lost weight! I think at this point in my life 143 or so would be ideal, and that is where I am at today, but it has gone as low as 138 on some days. I find I mind the cold more than ever before. My husband thinks it is because I have less padding. I don’t know if that can be true or not.
JK

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Dec 30, 2017
In reply to @maisie89 "The switch has recently gone off in my mind and for the last four months, I..." + (show)
@maisie89

The switch has recently gone off in my mind and for the last four months, I no longer eat anything white except cauliflower. No sugar, flour, pasta. No more Coke, ice cream, sweets and all the other unhealthy foods. Only water and lemon are consumed, along with fresh fruits and veggies. Protein with dinner, no red meat. The key to better health is exercise. I now walk 30 minutes every day and enjoy salsa music to keep me moving. I feel better than ever in my 71 years. Healthy eating and exercise are addictive and I have also dropped 35 pounds and have a goal of losing 15 more. You can do it! Weight loss and healthy living is definitely starts with a mind set.

Jump to this post

@contentandwell Nice to hear from you! How is your knee coming along? Teresa

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Dec 30, 2017
In reply to @maisie89 "The switch has recently gone off in my mind and for the last four months, I..." + (show)
@maisie89

The switch has recently gone off in my mind and for the last four months, I no longer eat anything white except cauliflower. No sugar, flour, pasta. No more Coke, ice cream, sweets and all the other unhealthy foods. Only water and lemon are consumed, along with fresh fruits and veggies. Protein with dinner, no red meat. The key to better health is exercise. I now walk 30 minutes every day and enjoy salsa music to keep me moving. I feel better than ever in my 71 years. Healthy eating and exercise are addictive and I have also dropped 35 pounds and have a goal of losing 15 more. You can do it! Weight loss and healthy living is definitely starts with a mind set.

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 Thanks Teresa. Unfortunately the knee is very slowly progressing, the Legionnaire's condition actually set it back for some reason, and it still hurts all the time. I hope that will improve. I am not really taking any narcotics at this point so I guess that's why the pain is worse. This too will pass -- hopefully.
JK

REPLY
michelewithonel | @michelewithonel | Dec 30, 2017

Hi, I was wondering if this is where I post for weight loss. Over the past few years I had sedintary jobs, broken toes, major depression, and stopped smoking, all of which lead to increased weight. It has gotten to the point that I feel miserable. I have tried many different weight loss programs with no success. My biggest problem is staying motivated. Most of the time I don't eat at regular times throughout the day. I'll just grab something when I'm hungry and it won't be healthy because healthy cooking takes time and energy. With my recent neuropathy issues it's difficult to prepare meals. Any suggestions?

REPLY
3 replies
Moderator
Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | Dec 30, 2017
In reply to @michelewithonel "Hi, I was wondering if this is where I post for weight loss. Over the past..." + (show)
@michelewithonel

Hi, I was wondering if this is where I post for weight loss. Over the past few years I had sedintary jobs, broken toes, major depression, and stopped smoking, all of which lead to increased weight. It has gotten to the point that I feel miserable. I have tried many different weight loss programs with no success. My biggest problem is staying motivated. Most of the time I don't eat at regular times throughout the day. I'll just grab something when I'm hungry and it won't be healthy because healthy cooking takes time and energy. With my recent neuropathy issues it's difficult to prepare meals. Any suggestions?

Jump to this post

Hello @michelewithonel, you bring up a great point about weight loss and something many fight against. You may notice that I moved your message and combined it with an existing discussion called Staying Motivated for the Long Haul. I did this because you mentioned your biggest problem is staying motivated. This entire discussion between many of our members is dedicated towards trying to help one-another stay motivated long-term.

If you are replying by email, I suggest clicking on VIEW & REPLY so that you can see the whole discussion and meet some of the members who have shared their struggles and tactics at staying motivated. @michelewithonel, have you tried preparing crockpot meals? I often do this once or twice a week and make enough to get me through multiple days. You can create healthy meals that are also convenient with relatively little amount of effort.

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Dec 30, 2017
In reply to @maisie89 "The switch has recently gone off in my mind and for the last four months, I..." + (show)
@maisie89

The switch has recently gone off in my mind and for the last four months, I no longer eat anything white except cauliflower. No sugar, flour, pasta. No more Coke, ice cream, sweets and all the other unhealthy foods. Only water and lemon are consumed, along with fresh fruits and veggies. Protein with dinner, no red meat. The key to better health is exercise. I now walk 30 minutes every day and enjoy salsa music to keep me moving. I feel better than ever in my 71 years. Healthy eating and exercise are addictive and I have also dropped 35 pounds and have a goal of losing 15 more. You can do it! Weight loss and healthy living is definitely starts with a mind set.

Jump to this post

@contentandwell I wasn't aware of the "Legionnaire’s condition" I must have missed a post somewhere. Sorry to hear about that.

Teresa

REPLY
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Dec 30, 2017
In reply to @maisie89 "The switch has recently gone off in my mind and for the last four months, I..." + (show)
@maisie89

The switch has recently gone off in my mind and for the last four months, I no longer eat anything white except cauliflower. No sugar, flour, pasta. No more Coke, ice cream, sweets and all the other unhealthy foods. Only water and lemon are consumed, along with fresh fruits and veggies. Protein with dinner, no red meat. The key to better health is exercise. I now walk 30 minutes every day and enjoy salsa music to keep me moving. I feel better than ever in my 71 years. Healthy eating and exercise are addictive and I have also dropped 35 pounds and have a goal of losing 15 more. You can do it! Weight loss and healthy living is definitely starts with a mind set.

Jump to this post

@contentandwell, I absolutely love your winning attitude! Take all the time you need 🙂
Rosemary

REPLY
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Dec 30, 2017

To All,
I just came across this link on Mayo's Patient Education on Nutrition and Healthy Eating. It is titled "Bad Food Habits at Work" and it provides 5 suggestions to Get Back on Track. I am retired, however, I plan to try these tips in my 'workplace' - home, shopping, errands....
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/consumer-health-eating-healthy-at-work/

Which of these tips will work for you?
Rosemary

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Dec 30, 2017
In reply to @maisie89 "The switch has recently gone off in my mind and for the last four months, I..." + (show)
@maisie89

The switch has recently gone off in my mind and for the last four months, I no longer eat anything white except cauliflower. No sugar, flour, pasta. No more Coke, ice cream, sweets and all the other unhealthy foods. Only water and lemon are consumed, along with fresh fruits and veggies. Protein with dinner, no red meat. The key to better health is exercise. I now walk 30 minutes every day and enjoy salsa music to keep me moving. I feel better than ever in my 71 years. Healthy eating and exercise are addictive and I have also dropped 35 pounds and have a goal of losing 15 more. You can do it! Weight loss and healthy living is definitely starts with a mind set.

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 Teresa, maybe I forgot to mention it! I am certain I contracted it at my daughter’s wedding celebration. It would make sense that if there was a low concentration of it in the air I would be susceptible with my lack of immunity because no one else was effected from what we heard. I had cold symptoms a few days after that and then on Sunday night my husband looked at me and took my temp because I was really flushed. It was 103. He called transplant and they said to bring me in, so off we went. Being a post-transplant patient I was put in the transplant unit and spent 3 days there having every test imaginable. Unfortunately this is one of those things that can leave you fatigued for 2 or 3 months but other than that I feel fine, just the knee still bothering me.
JK

REPLY
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Dec 30, 2017
In reply to @michelewithonel "Hi, I was wondering if this is where I post for weight loss. Over the past..." + (show)
@michelewithonel

Hi, I was wondering if this is where I post for weight loss. Over the past few years I had sedintary jobs, broken toes, major depression, and stopped smoking, all of which lead to increased weight. It has gotten to the point that I feel miserable. I have tried many different weight loss programs with no success. My biggest problem is staying motivated. Most of the time I don't eat at regular times throughout the day. I'll just grab something when I'm hungry and it won't be healthy because healthy cooking takes time and energy. With my recent neuropathy issues it's difficult to prepare meals. Any suggestions?

Jump to this post

@michelewithonel, I want to welcome you to this conversation. You are not alone with your weight struggle. A couple of weeks ago, this webinar/video was presented by Mayo Clinic. I would like to share it with you to view. Maybe it will give you some ideas.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/webinar/video-qa-why-is-it-so-difficult-to-lose-weight/

Let us know how we can continue to support you.
Rosemary

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.