Struggling to stay motivated

It is really hard to love yourself when you gain 7 lbs in 4 weeks. I can't seem to motivate myself. I go to Cancun in 6.5 weeks. Help. :( 

Blog post is up. Post TT pictures included. 

https://phatchances.wordpress.com/2015/12/01/getting-back-on-track/

This is a time of the year when weight loss is hard.  I have gained eight pounds since Halloween.  It is about a pound a week.  I know I have to get back on track.  I tend to relax during the "eating season" from Thanksgiving until Christmas, then go on a strict diet on January 1.

This year I seem to have started gaining earlier and faster than normal.  A trip to Cancun would be a motivator for me.  When I want to lose weight I weigh my portions, track with My Fitness Pal and get 900 calories a day, mostly from steak.  Doing that means I lose a pound a week.

You could look up Atkins Induction diet plan and do that to get the weight off very quickly.  Probably about 10 pounds in two weeks, maybe more.

Hi srahjean,

It's a challenge we all face each day.  I have posted this a lot but everyone says it really helped so here is my suggestions for getting back to the basics. They worked for me.  Good Luck and let us know how you are doing....  

Planning/Preparing

Remember when we were preparing for surgery?  How many meetings, classes and such did we attend?  We were told the more prepared we were the better our chances were for success.  And they were right. Go through the house, car and work place and get rid of trigger foods.  Stock up on foods that will keep you on track. I removed every bad carb/sugar temptation and replaced it with lots of protein, veggies, grains and fruits.  

Journaling

Get back to journaling.  This will help you identify when you feel like eating, stress factors and any triggers in your life.  Once you identify these factors, this will help you put tools in place to keep you from eating.  It became clear I was not taking time for me anymore. I worked my day job and then spent the rest of my time caring for my husband.  It was easy to reach for fast, prepackaged food.  Since I purged my home I have to eat clean as there are no other options LOL

Use a tool to track you're eating and exercise like Getting Started with Health  Tracker.  Once I started to track ever bite and drink it became clear why I had gained.

Goals/Rewards

Make a list of goals for yourself.  Make them realistic and small.  Some of mine were move more, purge all junk from my home, eat more protein.

Food

In general, a long term post-weight loss surgery eating plan includes foods that are high in protein, and low in fat?, calories, and sugar. Important, vitamins and minerals are provided as supplements. (if you had a different surgery adjust this to your food plan).

Water

Water is our Best Friend. I have to say I never went back to pop or any bad drinks, however I was drinking tea like crazy. What is wrong with drinking tea?  I was either using sugar or 3 equals and 3 sweet n lows per 32 ounce glass.  So I was either pushing to be diabetic or get cancer.  I found once I started carrying a bottle of water around 24/7 (yes had one at my bedside) I lost the cravings for the sugar and I KNOW those artificial sweeteners are not good for me. Look I am old and if you add up all the artificial sweeteners I have consumed I am sure I am at the rat in the lab getting cancer threshold.

MOVE!

I can't say enough about how key this was for me. The reason I kept my weight off for almost 10 years was no matter what, I kept moving.  If I could not go to the gym I would walk. I loved Zumba, bootcamp workouts, lifting weights. When I stopped, the weight started coming back.  So for me I am starting slow to avoid injury by walking and using some of the workouts on my Demand TV.  Find something you love to do and it won't feel like a pain in the *** to do daily.

Support

If it's an option "run" don't walk to a support group.

Keep me posted on how you are doing

How can you not be motivated? Look at you! You look amazing and did so much work to get there. You should be proud of yourself. Just remember, the food doesnt taste as good as you feel thin. Maybe bring out some of your presurgery pictures and remind yourself of where it can lead to if you don't stay on top of it. Maybe look at your before and after pics of the TT. You know you can do this, you already have done it. Get your head in the game and you'll be fine :)

I bet you can see the 7 lbs on you.... and it bothers you.  you have 6.5 weeks till Cancun - and you know that the pesky 7 lbs can turn into 10 -15 unless you do something.  

going to Cancun, walking around all happy and relax because you know you look great...smile when someone takes a picture of you instead of trying to hide...

if the 7 lbs are between you "not loving yourself" and you "full of smiles " - then do something..

If Cancun and ability to have pictures taken of you smiling..in shorts,  bikinis, etc...is not much of motivation.. what would  be????

get on it. The pesky 7 lbs will take you 6-7 week at 1 lb a week...I know ... I've been there...and i am there now...

don't start Jan 1.. start now... today.. the very next meal..

You guys are al so so amazing. I am so thankful I have this forum to help me. You guys have motivated me! 

Updated my blog. P.s. I loooove raquetball and it makes me MOVE. Like, a lot. Lol have any of you tried Thrive? How'd it go?

https://phatchances.wordpress.com/2015/12/07/2-months-post-op-thrive-experiment/