Struggling to get back into it?

[courteneyhope]

Hi, all- Happy New Year!

Before the Christmas holidays I got into a really good healthy eating and exercise routine, I was seeing results, feeling happier and healthier and everything! But now that the Christmas period is well and truly over, I am finding it very difficult to get back into this routine.

Comfort eating is becoming a bit of an issue again. Before when I was eating healthily most of the time, I was able to not punish myself if I fancied a bit of chocolate here, or junk food once a week if I wanted to. It was a really nice, healthy approach to eating and I can feel it slipping away from me slightly. I reach for some chocolate at least once a day but I hate myself for it, and when I try and do some sport these days I feel like I'm doing it out of a sense of punishing myself.

I know that before I had the right routine, but I just can't get back into the swing of things! I have 3 months until I next see my boyfriend and while I know one can't rush the process, I'd love to have some kind of "transformation"...

Does anyone have any advice for this kind of situation? I hope I've been clear in my explanation...

Any help at all would be appreciated!

Many thanks,

Courteney

[Hidden]

How did you start to get in to your routine?

Suggest maybe start from scratch again. I'll assume you built up from 0 to where you were before, you might just need to kick start the whole thing from 0, help renew your motivation and sort of rediscover what you loved about it. I think the best motivation is when you start to see results from your efforts.

When I started running ages ago, I sort of forced myself till eventually it became something I loved. But it doesn't always work with everyone like that.

Start from small, definitely do not punish yourself from eating some chocolate, everyone does it. Maybe make it something like an allowance, as in you're allowed one square a day to start? Just till you get back in the swing of things. I'm not sure, I rarely eat/like chocolate, to advise on that part!

You're not alone in struggling to get back on the wagon since Christmas, I have really struggled, as I'm sure many here have too, but I've bought a fitness tracker and I've found it's really making me push myself to meet targets where I can, but I've made sure it fits in with everything I do.

Think of where you've come from, how far you've come to now!

[courteneyhope in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for such a swift and helpful response!

I think last year I just hit a moment where I was like "it's now or never" and something just clicked in my head! It's just that this isn't the case right now, I *want* to go out and do something about it but mentally something's blocking me: fatigue from work, etc...

I also fell in love with running, and had pushed myself until I could run 7k without stopping, something I had never done before, and I don't want to lose all that progress. I don't want to get back to my starting weight before something clicks and I suddenly get motivated again, that's my only worry.

A fitness tracker sounds interesting, do you mean like a Fitbit? That sounds like it could be very motivating.

Thank you so much for your time and response, it is really, really helpful!

I think I can hear my running shoes calling my name...

Courteney

[Hidden in reply to courteneyhope]

Preach, the whole work thing. This is why I'm tackling the losing weight with just food first. Always get in from work and you're just so mentally drained, you feel like you need to just relax in the evening and do nothing! I feel the same though, I want to go out, but just essentially cannot be asked to.

I think perhaps because it's in your head that you don't want to go back to where you were, you'll be able to keep off the weight, or definitely not go back to where you were before.

Maybe make a start on the couch to 5k. Even though you've done your 7k, might be a good smooth transition back in to it. Then you may find you slowly progress back in to a little routine.

Maybe a little 7 minute full body weight circuit in the mornings to get you going for the day.

But I know for me it was a force myself to do it, because I know I wouldn't have done it otherwise.

I also make sure I do everything before the evening, I have the luxury to finish work perhaps a bit earlier than some, so I make sure I've done my walk/step target before dinner, so then I know I've got everything for the day out of the way and I can reward myself with relaxing in the evening.

I guess it is a case of finding what fits in with you again. Start small though, I know if I set out with the mind set of getting back to exactly where I was before, I'd be setting myself up for failure.

Indeed, I have a jawbone, essentially the same thing, just cheaper. So you can track food, sleep, steps, exercise etc on it. Plus it give you little tips daily. It's gotten me going.

You're welcome, just don't set goals to high, or you are setting yourself up for failure, which will make you feel even worse. Unless you're the exception to the rule!

[Hidden]

Hi courteneyhope and welcome back.

There have been quite a few changes since you last posted. We have a new admin team. You can check us out on the homepage in the ABOUT section.

I'm not sure if you were already aware, but we also run a weigh-in where you can track your weight. These are now done on a daily basis, instead of weekly. At the moment Monday and Tuesday are full and Friday is almost full. We still have spaces on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday if you would like to join one of those days? Let me know which day you would like and I'll add you to the list if you're interested.

Have a look at the pinned posts sections, there is a Welcome Newbies post which will give you some useful information for navigating your way round the site again.

We also run challenges which are very motivating and fun.

Will you be calorie counting again? If so, recheck your BMI and my advice would be to eat at the top of your range, gradually working down as you lose weight. Maybe having a reboot and starting the 12 week plan once more, might work for you?

As an incentive we offer weight loss badges and a Newbie one for those people on the first 12 weeks of their journey. If you would like one, let me know.

We would really like to help you this time Courteney, so please stick around for the invaluable help and support available here.

Best of luck ☘