Help! Need Motivation!!

I'm about half way through my weight loss (40 lbs down) and I have just lost the drive. I can't motivate myself to workout and I'm eating like crazy! What are some things you all do to regroup yourself when you get into this kind of rut? I could really use some advice!

I picture myself standing on a beach in a bikini after reaching my goal... To do so now would be frighting. I tell myself I am standing on that beach no matter what weight Im at... so to avoid embarrassment, I continue diet and exercising. Let me know what you find that works for you.

I was there once years ago and I stopped everything and gained 40-lbs. I'm still working on getting it to go away. I look back and regret. I dont want any regrets.

Just knowing that I would get back all of my 41 lost pounds back and then some if I would start eating like there is no tomorrow is motivation enough. I've always done that before and I finally learned my lesson. Don't give up now. It's not too late. Make a diet plan that you can stick with even if it involves eating a bit more. You will still be losing weight just slower. It's better then gaining it all back, that's for sure. Good luck

Sometimes what helps me (right now, actually) is to let my buddies here on FS know how I'm feeling. They're really good at kicking me into action again...maybe that's just how MY brain works for this crazy business Also, look around this website. Read people's stories. Some of them are pretty amazing! You'll see that most people have gone through what you are right now, and you can also take inspiration from those who have achieved their goals. On another note, try changing up what you're doing, either exercise-wise or food-wise, or both. Sometimes our bodies need something different than we're giving them; boredom, kinda...and one last thing that helps ME...look; you've already lost 40 pounds...you do NOT want to go backward and then have to start all over! 40 pounds is a BIG DEAL! Hang in there, kasha!

I use to hit that same wall about 4 to 5 months into a diet. The only thing that helped me this time was this site and my buddies. Perhaps take a break and just maintain for a while? That will give you a feel for how you will have to eat for the rest of your life and give you a chance to regroup and tackle it again later.

It's clear I need to utilize this site for more than just calorie counting! Just this feedback has been great! thanks guys! and I'll def try that visualization technique KayseaLove! because..yes..right now that would be frightening for me as well!

40 lbs is a lot. I was stalled for the past couple months, like 1/2 lb or less a week. I like eating/ feeling better like I have been but it was getting discouraging. Normally I would just give up(lol) but here is where tracking my food really helped. I went back over my old diet entries and found when I started till when I slowed down I was eating about 86% of my rdi of calories. last few months I was eating 89%, so basically one small apple a day more, not really enough to notice if I had not tracked every morsel I put in my mouth.( carbs, fats proteins about the same percentages so that wasn't it) I also hadn't been drinking as much H20. So for the past week it's been 85% again and I lost a lb( good for me). I also went clothes shopping and found I have lost 4+ pants sizes ( actually bought skinny jeans and they look cute lol) and 3+ top sizes, I actually can get into some non plus sized clothes which is a first in probably 20 yrs or more. I figure I need to be mindful of what I eat but also accept I have accomplished a lot! Yahoo!!

I have the same problem. I have now gained 14 back of my 34# loss. I just can't get back at it. Last year I walked at least 3 time a week, this year none. I need help!

What got me back on track was to remember all the reasons I want to lose weight, commiting to someone the first steps I was willing to take to start again ie. Walk around the block 2 X a wk. Make a meal plan, get rid of unhealthy foods again etc... AND follow-up with buddie on how its going and your next step.

MOTIVATION

BUDDIES - Their achievements inspire me. In return, I don't want to fail them. It's important to find the right buddies and to be a good buddy in return.

NAYSAYERS - I'd like to prove the naysayers are wrong. I'm too stubborn to let them have the last word.

EMPTY CLOSET - All my loose clothes are gone. There's no turning back unless I join a nudist colony. Even in California, that could prove a bit chilly in the wintertime.

ANTICIPATION - Sweet anticipation of a December spending spree at the Camarillo Outlet to fill my closet. Three months of maintenance will put it at around Christmastime.

NO MORE MEDS - I love the freedom of no more meds. I earned the trust of my doctor to take me off, and I want to prove to her she was right.

I DON'T LIKE PAIN - It was far too hard to do this. It's not something I wish to repeat. Once is enough for me.

Congrats on your loss! And don't give up!

Yay for 40 pounds lost!! I personally do not ever want to go back to what I once weighed. Knee pain was the final push to make me lose the weight and start to realize how overweight I was. I do not like the way I looked when I go back and look at old photos. Those old photos, my new skinnier (and cuter) clothes, better health (no meds except vitamins), my family and my wonderful FS buddies keep me motivated to stay healthier. Best wishes on finding the motivation you need to keep going!!

Don't forget, Kimjinxie... a skinnier and cuter you too, not just the clothes!

wow I'm in the same situation I've lost 40lbs and do not have the same motivation and mentally as I did when I started a few months ago. I'm glad to see that it isn't just me that is having a struggle and that there are people that can help and encourage. I do not know what it is I'm feeling I feel great and look great and everyone tells me so, and it should encourage me to loose the rest (30lbs) but its making me feel comfortable where I am and slack off BIG TIME!! We need to get back on track!!!

Just read your message out loud...maybe it will resonate with you like it did me when I read it. I mean HALF WAY THROUGH and 40 POUNDS DOWN....WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!! At 40 lbs down I would be at goal is what I'm thinking and you are about to give all that up? We all know that when You QUIT, you will gain it all back and more. So please don't QUIT...you know what to do so lets get this train back on track

When I reach a stall I start at the beginning. Weigh & measure. Ask a friend or family member to nudge you everyday. But the best is to find out why I am feeling too depressed to go on. After losing 40 lbs you should be feeling great, but you don't. And I can't tell you how many times I have lost and gained. Probably close to 1000 lbs in my lifetime. Finally I went through a 12 step program to get to know what makes me behave the way I do. Food was my drup of choice. Now when I start to put something in my mouth and it is not a planned thing.(you know the I want something to make me feel better)Before I eat a bite I stop and write down what I am feeling. Hungry? Angry? Lonely? Tired? Bored? I need to know why I think food will make this feeling better. Well it doesn't make a bad feeling better cause then I just feel worse afterwards. That is where I pray for guidence and call a friend. There is no easy answer. But I have found if I really stop to think about what I am doing it makes a difference. Before I was NOT thinking.
You have come a long way baby...so keep on putting one foot in front of the other in a forward direction. I will pray for you

Try something new! Either a new eating program or a new physical program. Adding something different and seeing results is the perfect way to get out of a rut. When you do something new and see results its always fun to tell people about the new thing you are doing and even getting them excited about doing it too!
Also posting on here for support is a huge step in the right direction!

yes,i agree...i added new physical program to the eating plan.now i feel happier...i feel i can continue the plan again... i dont want to repeat such a difficult prog. again and again with no result,i dont want regrets...i dont want my loose clothes........i dont want the pasttime...

Another option is this: take a month or even two months of maintenance now. I'm not saying "go off your diet and eat any and everything until you're stuffed!" Compute your TDEE (many on-line calculators for this), and eat that or barely under it, continuing to record everything in your food diary here. It also has the benefit of boosting a sluggish metabolism (and if you're on low-calorie, they do get that way after several months of even moderate dieting, according to all the research on people who are capable of being fat, which means us). Try to figure out how you'll be eating forever, to maintain a loss, and practice those skills for a month or two. You'll get back some foods and won't feel as deprived, and at some point, you'll feel ready to re-engage. Your skin will have a chance to catch up to the loss so far, too.

There's an MD who has researched dieting a lot who thinks you should only lose 10% of your body weight, then go to TDEE calories for six months, then lose another 10%--Blackburn is his name, and he has a book about this "set point diet." People don't rave about it because it's slow (and folks like fast)...but slow is much more likely to be permanent. Fast weight loss has a 99% regain rate for women, alas, 95% for men.

And I agree, 40 lost so far is wonderful. Pat yourself on the back many times for me!

I'm a newbie here and all of the suggestions are fabulous. I'm taking it all in and hopefully I will be able to turn my situation around. Losing 40lbs is AWESOME!!!!!!

OK IM SOO SAD BC RIGHT NOW IM EATING A COOKIE. I 207 AND I WS LOSING NOW IM GAINING BACK.HELP ME SOMEONE GIVE ME SOME ADVISE! I HAVE 5 KIDS AND THEY ARE DRIVING ME NUTS!