13 replies to this topic

[crissyb]

I am having a tough time re committing. I started Jenny exacly one year ago and did great for about 6 months. Lost 17 lbs and then I just lost my motiviation. I started resenting the constraints of the program and doubting my own will power and ability to stay on track. I've been going back to my meetings every week with the intention of getting back on track but I always let something derail me. I've gained 7 lbs and can't get motivated to work out.
I have a very high stress job, marriage issues etc. and the only thing I really do for enjoyment is going out to dinner and drinks with my girlfriends or co-workers. When i give that up I feel like I don't have anything to look forward to. This is a new week. I went to Jenny today and purchased a full week of food, got my armband all charged ready to start fresh but I already have it in my head I'm going to screw up at some point this week because that is my pattern as soon as something happens to cause me stress. Help, I don't know how to get my head back in the game!!

[KylieH]

Hang in there!!! Honestly I know how tough it is!! I have been on and off jenny for a couple years now, and my most recent trip back i am finding the hardest! I seem to have great motivation and then i lose it and let little things like eating out with my fiance or going out for drinks with girlfriends derail me and cancel out all the hard work ive done!! I am trying myself to get focussed and stay on track and keep reminding myself that once i am at goal All the same foods will still be out there, and when i am maintaining i can enjoy them IN MODERATION, but right now i need to stick to my plan to lose the weight i have left to lose! something that is really helping me is taking it day by day.. meal by meal.. one day at a time! eventually one day turns into one week which turns into a month! Another tool that might help you is a book ive been reading, i know alot of others on the forums have or are reading it as well! Its called 100 days of weight loss by linda spangle! it is a really great book i would highly recommend checking into it!
Good Luck and come here for support!

[I Called Jenny]

crissyb, on 28 November 2011 - 02:43 PM, said:

I am having a tough time re committing. I started Jenny exacly one year ago and did great for about 6 months. Lost 17 lbs and then I just lost my motiviation. I started resenting the constraints of the program and doubting my own will power and ability to stay on track. I've been going back to my meetings every week with the intention of getting back on track but I always let something derail me. I've gained 7 lbs and can't get motivated to work out.
I have a very high stress job, marriage issues etc. and the only thing I really do for enjoyment is going out to dinner and drinks with my girlfriends or co-workers. When i give that up I feel like I don't have anything to look forward to. This is a new week. I went to Jenny today and purchased a full week of food, got my armband all charged ready to start fresh but I already have it in my head I'm going to screw up at some point this week because that is my pattern as soon as something happens to cause me stress. Help, I don't know how to get my head back in the game!!

Crissy, first, welcome to the boards. You'll find a bunch of support here.

Now, take a deep breath, get a glass of water or whatever because I don't "write short."

OK, let's start with the basics.

Why do you want to lose weight? The stronger your motivation, the better it will be so that you can keep reminding yourself as to why you're doing Jenny (or any other diet for that matter) when you find yourself about to go off plan.

Whatever the reason, if necessary, write the main and sub reasons on pieces of Post-it notes and put them around wherever you need to see them to keep reminding yourself of your reason(s).

Next, who are you hurting when you go off plan besides yourself? Seriously. Think about it. When you derail yourself you're only hurting yourself so why do that? What is it about yourself that you don't like enough to think that you're worthy of being happier and healthier?

I don't mean to sound judgmental or harsh, but it's the truth.

When we eat what we're not supposed to eat, we're punishing ourselves and that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, does it?

Eating isn't going to help your high-stress job. It doesn't help you to resolve your marriage issues, right? So why do it?

Most of us who have had or still have weight issues and who "solve" them by overeating or eating the wrong things have been doing this for years, so stopping that kind of behavior isn't going to happen either without effort or without "gifting" ourselves with the time and restraint it takes to lose weight and to develop a new, lifelong relationship with food.

Food was never meant for pleasure as much as it's meant for sustenance. (Yes, even the "good" stuff. )

And why do you think that you can't go out with your friends to enjoy a good time? Will you not have as much fun if you eat something healthier like grilled chicken or fish and veggies? (BTW, since restaurant meals are notoriously large in portion size, when the meal arrives IMMEDIATELY ask for a "to go" box and put away half to three-quarters of your meal into the box until you have a "Jenny portion" on your plate. That way, if it's not on your plate, you can't eat it, right? )

Do you REALLY NEED to have a drink to enjoy yourself? Really? If that's the case, then you have a bigger issue than with food. I'm not saying you're an alcoholic, but I'm just saying that you can have, perhaps, ONE drink and either nurse it or enjoy the one drink and then switch to water or seltzer or a Virgin Mary or something similar.

Think about it. Before you were of legal drinking age and/or started to have drinks with friends, didn't you enjoy being with them when you were only allowed to have a soda? Of course you did. But now drinking has become part of your "routine" so you think that if you can't have it, then you're being "punished" and you won't have as much fun and that simply isn't the case.

Do you think recovering alcoholics don't have a good time when they go out with their friends and their friends are drinking but they aren't? Of course they do. Is it hard for them? Probably, but they learn to live with this new restriction on their life and learn to have fun without the alcohol because they've come to realize that their life is better and they have less problems when they don't drink. They "get it" that for them, alcohol is an issue and it's something they can't have. Unfortunately, when it comes to food, it's harder for us because we HAVE to eat but we have to be even more disciplined because we can't just "stop eating" like alcoholics can stop drinking. So, yes, we have it harder.

Again, I'm not saying you have a drinking problem. I'm just saying that it's all about choices.

And here's where drinking and your diet comes into play. First, it's added, empty calories. Second, the alcohol in drinks is dehydrating so even if you have one drink, you're going to have to double up on your water to avoid being bloated.

So if you want to have a drink, fine. Just make sure you drink A LOT more water so that you aren't seeing a water weight gain (or a lack of a loss).

OK, not even talking about the food and drink. What's the most fun part of going out to dinner with your friends? It's the camaraderie, right? The food usually is a VERY TEMPORARY "fix" because after the meal, then you get to "enjoy" feeling guilty about what you consumed. Is that worth it? It's not for me but you have to make that choice for yourself.

See, that's just it. It's all about choices. What do you want more?

You have to decide what's most important to you. If you can't change jobs, then you have to come up with ways of dealing with the stress that doesn't involve food.

And I'll tell you from experience that marriage problems don't go away on their own. They, too, have to be confronted and dealt with one way or another but ignoring it has NEVER solved ANYONE'S problem.

You want stress relief besides eating and drinking? Fine, start exercising. Take up a hobby that makes you happy and keeps your hands occupied so that you're not using them to stuff your face. Write a journal so you can get your feelings and frustrations out. Come to the boards and read the posts, post yourself, join in on discussions (that helps me A LOT!!!). Volunteer. Call a friend. Read a book. Take a bath. Do whatever it is that you need to do to help you relax without making food a part of your "stress relief" because you already know that that type of "relief" is sooooo temporary and actually only ADDS to your already high stress levels so it's not a great solution.

Is Jenny restrictive? Of course it is. But not having restrictions, especially on what we eat, is what landed most of us at Jenny to begin with.

So you have to decide what's most important to you.

Yes, you can talk yourself out of the plan but you can also talk yourself into the plan. KNOW that you can do this. KNOW that it IS going to work. KNOW that you deserve to treat yourself better than you have been. KNOW that you will achieve your goals. KNOW that you have every right to be fit, healthy AND happy. In fact, INSIST on that for yourself.

We will all be here to support you but YOU are the one who has to do the work. But then again, YOU are the one who will benefit the most and enjoy the results the most.

So what do you want to do? Succeed? Well, you have all the tools to get there. You just have to want it badly enough and be willing to do whatever is necessary to get there. It's that simple...and that hard. But there are thousands of us who have made the choice to treat ourselves better and we want you to join us.

Remember, NOTHING tastes as good as THIN feels.

Phyllis

[crissyb]

Thank you for the advice and the kick in the butt, I'm actually going to print these off and keep them with me this week to help me stay on track!

[crissyb]

KylieH, on 28 November 2011 - 03:21 PM, said:

Hang in there!!! Honestly I know how tough it is!! I have been on and off jenny for a couple years now, and my most recent trip back i am finding the hardest! I seem to have great motivation and then i lose it and let little things like eating out with my fiance or going out for drinks with girlfriends derail me and cancel out all the hard work ive done!! I am trying myself to get focussed and stay on track and keep reminding myself that once i am at goal All the same foods will still be out there, and when i am maintaining i can enjoy them IN MODERATION, but right now i need to stick to my plan to lose the weight i have left to lose! something that is really helping me is taking it day by day.. meal by meal.. one day at a time! eventually one day turns into one week which turns into a month! Another tool that might help you is a book ive been reading, i know alot of others on the forums have or are reading it as well! Its called 100 days of weight loss by linda spangle! it is a really great book i would highly recommend checking into it!
Good Luck and come here for support!

Thanks for the encouraging words I am definately going to check out this book! Good luck to you and congrats on your weight loss so far! you look great!

[honey49]

crissyb, on 28 November 2011 - 02:43 PM, said:

Remember, NOTHING tastes as good as THIN feels.

Phyllis

WOW!!!! Phyllis, I am making a copy of this!!!!! It's AWESOME advice

[I Called Jenny]

honey49, on 28 November 2011 - 06:15 PM, said:

WOW!!!! Phyllis, I am making a copy of this!!!!! It's AWESOME advice

Thanks, but I "stole" that line about nothing tasting as good as thin feels. I think it was a commercial. I just also thought it was a great line...so I "borrowed" it.

Phyllis

[honey49]

crissyb, on 28 November 2011 - 02:43 PM, said:

I am having a tough time re committing. I started Jenny exacly one year ago and did great for about 6 months. Lost 17 lbs and then I just lost my motiviation. I started resenting the constraints of the program and doubting my own will power and ability to stay on track. I've been going back to my meetings every week with the intention of getting back on track but I always let something derail me. I've gained 7 lbs and can't get motivated to work out.
I have a very high stress job, marriage issues etc. and the only thing I really do for enjoyment is going out to dinner and drinks with my girlfriends or co-workers. When i give that up I feel like I don't have anything to look forward to. This is a new week. I went to Jenny today and purchased a full week of food, got my armband all charged ready to start fresh but I already have it in my head I'm going to screw up at some point this week because that is my pattern as soon as something happens to cause me stress. Help, I don't know how to get my head back in the game!!

Phyllis has given "you" and "Me " some GREAT advice "Hang in there" because "This too shall pass".....Take it "one day at a time" ((((HUGS)))))

[honey49]

I Called Jenny, on 28 November 2011 - 06:17 PM, said:

Thanks, but I "stole" that line about nothing tasting as good as thin feels. I think it was a commercial. I just also thought it was a great line...so I "borrowed" it.

Phyllis

Phyllis, I lost my post to you. I meant that I was making a copy of all the advice that you posted to Crissyb

[I Called Jenny]

honey49, on 28 November 2011 - 06:20 PM, said:

Phyllis, I lost my post to you. I meant that I was making a copy of all the advice that you posted to Crissyb

Ohhhh, gotcha. Thanks! Hope you find it helpful.

Phyllis

[Blessed4Life2]

Phyllis warned ya'll she doesnt write short post....lol, when I saw that comment I went and got a snack, a water....and tomorrows snack even, cuz I knew this was going to be a BIGGY!

Seriously though, that was good advice......I cant add anything to that, except to say "Anything worth obtaining, isnt going to be easy!" words from my late precious Daddy

[I Called Jenny]

Blessed4Life2, on 28 November 2011 - 07:19 PM, said:

Phyllis warned ya'll she doesnt write short post....lol, when I saw that comment I went and got a snack, a water....and tomorrows snack even, cuz I knew this was going to be a BIGGY!

Seriously though, that was good advice......I cant add anything to that, except to say "Anything worth obtaining, isnt going to be easy!" words from my late precious Daddy

And I edited myself! LOL

BTW, sounds like your daddy was a smart man. I know he raised a smart daughter he'd be so proud of.

Phyllis

[Blessed4Life2]

I Called Jenny, on 28 November 2011 - 07:38 PM, said:

And I edited myself! LOL

BTW, sounds like your daddy was a smart man. I know he raised a smart daughter he'd be so proud of.

Phyllis

Aw, that was so sweet...thank you! <sniff>

[CMECRZN]

I Called Jenny, on 28 November 2011 - 07:38 PM, said:

And I edited myself! LOL

BTW, sounds like your daddy was a smart man. I know he raised a smart daughter he'd be so proud of.

Phyllis

I TOTALLY second that comment!!!