Keeping myself down - JP Fitness Forums

LT Hebert · 07-01-2006, 11:37 AM

Does anyone else here have a problem with self-sabotage?? It seems like everytime I get going, and start making progress, I do something to screw it up. Possibly self-esteem issues? And I love to exercise, that's not the problem. It's my diet. And the really pathetic thing about it is that I know HOW, WHAT and WHEN to eat, I just don't always do it. Any suggestions, comments, or snide remarks???

Lost Dog · 07-01-2006, 01:45 PM

I have nothing snide to say. I still get that way, at times. We all do. How you recover makes the difference.

I was fat all my life, almost four years ago, I decided to change. I truly don't know why I changed THIS TIME, as I'd tried to change many times, before.

One thing that I do differently, is I treat every meal as standalone. I screw one up, the next one is an opportunity to succeed. The past is the past.

I don't try to make up for it, either, except with more resolve to stay on track, perhaps. An attempt to eat small after a blow it, still leaves you hungry and likely to blow it again, later. Vicious circle. Stop the madness!

I try to eat right 90% of the time. I eat 42 times per week, on average, so 4 "meals" can be not so good and I'm still on track. Granted some of those four can be pretty bad, but not all. And, that 90% keeps me on track, mentally and physically.

Not as a punishment, but as a true reminder, I used to keep 4 little cards in my pocket, for the week. Every "carefree meal" meant I'd take a card out and put it aside. It rarely happened, but it's a great feeling to still have a card or two left at the end of the week.

LunchboxMan · 07-01-2006, 02:44 PM

LD definitely makes a good point with the whole "try to stick to it at least 90% of the time" idea. i think it's great and works really well. to add my 0.02 in, i've lost and gained a lot of weight a few times in my life through different diets, and i don't think it was the "you regain it once you get off a bad diet" idea that got the best of me (though they were actually not that good), but retrospect it was the "lack of goals" idea. what i mean by this is i'd lose weight, "reach my goal" and i'd have nothing else to do. now the last time around last year when i lost most of the fat through clean eating, i just kept adding goals: first, lost the fat, then gain a certain amount of muscle, then train for a certain endurance goal. and this has helped me A LOT not to put it back on. for instance, my goal now is to run the Chicago marathon and if i don't stick to proper nutrition and consistent exercise, it'll be quite a miserable experience, which i certainly don't want it to be. so the moral of the story: just keep setting goals for yourself continuously that in effect "force you" to stay fit.

BamaDave · 07-01-2006, 03:42 PM

It's because you live in Southeast Louisiana, and there is way too much good food around there to tempt you! Believe me, I know, as my wife and her family are all from that area.

RacerBill · 07-01-2006, 04:03 PM

LD's right -- leave yourself some wiggle room. This is NOT an all-or-nothing situation. Sometimes there are situations where you'll want to participate in the festivities of a wedding reception, birthday, etc. Enjoy the moment, and once the treat or nonclean food is consumed, it's in the past. The next meal will be a chance to eat well.

LT Hebert · 07-01-2006, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamaDave

It's because you live in Southeast Louisiana, and there is way too much good food around there to tempt you! Believe me, I know, as my wife and her family are all from that area.

You're right about the food thing! That and the lazy lifestyle that most people live. It's really difficult to find fitness-minded people here, at least for me.

emartin10 · 07-01-2006, 08:07 PM

I've slacked off quite a bit more than I usually do lately, just because I've been so busy training, working, and trying to recover in between. But I've found that it's a lot easier to make healthy choices if you know what you're looking for. The cafeteria at work serves crap, but I just make salads and sandwiches every day, and bring my own dressing. It gets old, but I'd rather do that than eat things like the Swedish Meatballs they served today.

Living life is important, and if you have to make a few bad choices, like everyone has said, don't beat yourself up for it. Just move on to the next meal and make sure that is clean.

Most importantly, keep your goals in mind. It's super hard to turn down that side of fries for a salad if you can't remember why you're doing it.

E

Terry Monk · 07-01-2006, 10:04 PM

That 90% rule LD talks about is dead on. I try to shoot for that or even better, but as long as I make the 90% I'm happy.
If it's a special occasion like birthdays, holidays, etc. don't sweat it, enjoy.
I've found that once you start REALLY eating healthy that you don't crave the "crap" as much anymore. I get my veggies and natty pb in and I'm filled up even in the evenings which was my hardest time of the day to overcome.

Lisa~ · 07-02-2006, 09:36 AM

lthebert, I don't think anyone is going to offer up any snide remarks on this topic. Every goal needs a compelling "why" and loosing focus on the reasons you set a goal in the first place opens the door to lots of good excuses for not doing the hard thing. And it's about keeping your promises to yourself.

Tom Venuto has a good article on this topic that might be motivational for you right now: Self Image and Self Sabotage.

And LD, I think your comments are very inspirational. I thank you for being so open and for sharing your story with all of us.

Lisa

Dogmama · 07-03-2006, 05:06 PM

Can't really add much - everybody has given great advice.

Do you have something you crave in particular? The reason I ask is because I'm a chocoholic. So every evening, I allow myself a very small piece of carb-free dark chocolate. Maybe 50 calories, if that.

I've learned to really savor that piece of chocolate so that I don't really crave anything else afterward.

Oh, and I floss & brush my teeth immediately afterwards too. That way, if I get tempted, I think - "do I really want to go through the teeth ritual again?" There IS something to be said about being lazy!!

Lost Dog · 07-03-2006, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogmama

Oh, and I floss & brush my teeth immediately afterwards too. That way, if I get tempted, I think - "do I really want to go through the teeth ritual again?" There IS something to be said about being lazy!!

This works for me, too. When I'm out, I chew a piece of Trident gum, if I can't brush. Gets the memory of food out of my mouth...

LT Hebert · 07-03-2006, 07:14 PM

Well, I definitely crave sweets, but thankfully I quit drinking soft drinks a few years ago. I usually do pretty well most of the day, it's usually the dinner meal that throws me. I'm too lazy/tired to fix what I know I should be eating, so I usually fall back on a bowl of cereal. Or, depending on the situation, fast food. If my husband cooks, I feel bad if I don't eat it, whatever it may be.

LT Hebert · 07-03-2006, 07:16 PM

I usually have a hard time just savoring a "little" of something. I always want more! It seems like just a little makes me want a lot...it's a vicious cycle...

Lost Dog · 07-03-2006, 07:23 PM

I can't have a little of anything, either. It's all or nothing...

Make your husband stop cooking.

Buy a crockpot, fill it every morning, serve it at night. When you get home, it will smell good, too. Make the amounts you need and before you serve it up, take any projected portions for leftovers and put it in containers, immediately.

GG300 · 07-04-2006, 11:45 AM

When I am truly working on cutting (which seems like all the time) I increase the amount of cardio I do. When I am thinking about having an unscheduled cheat I look at how much additional cardio I would have to do just to make up for that one handful of M&Ms or one Ice Cream cone. There are not to many treats that are worth and additional half hour jog for me.