Looking for some motivation

(Jennibc) #1

Greetings all. I am very close to my goal weight. Just about 13-14 pounds to go. I have no problem sticking with this way of eating and no problem with regular exercise but the last few weeks I have been sabotaging myself from actually reaching goal. For the past two weeks I have said to myself at the beginning of the week, I think I’ll not have any alcoholic beverages this week or at least cut my drinking to a single cocktail on one night.

I do not have a problem with alcohol and in the past have gone months at a time without drinking. When I do drink, I can stop at one or two. But here’s the thing, I’ve found over the course of this way of eating, if I drink two to three evenings a week, I just don’t drop any weight at all. Fortunately, because I am not having beer nor sweet mixers with my drinks I am not gaining, but I am at a standstill. So here I am, seemingly unwilling to stick with my no booze decision. It’s not like I feel compelled to have a drink, but I get to this point where I feel like, who cares if I don’t lose anything this week, I am having a whiskey soda.

I need to find my enthusiasm again so I can actually reach my goal by this summer. And yes, yes, I know plenty of you don’t worry about the scale, but there are no non scale victories either for me when I choose to have that glass of wine or that shot of bourbon.

I am seeking a pep talk here. There’s not really a psychological angle as in I am not afraid to reach my goal, I am a perfectly happy person, just missing some motivation I think.

(Tamela Robinette) #2

I feel ya on that one. I’m 5 pounds from my goal weight and I went camping with the hubby last week and drank and ate and was merry for 3 whole days! The scale said I gained 5 pounds but it quickly fell off after a day or two. Then I went to a Saint Paddy’s Day Festival and drank IPA! I didn’t eat anything I shouldn’t have but IPA has like 8 carbs per beer! I was quite sick all day yesterday (drinking on keto ugggh) but I was able to workout this morning and have eat strictly keto today but I was thinking the same thing, that I’m sabotaging myself. I have a half marathon on Sunday and I told my husband after my race I’m going to get really serious about these last few pounds. I don’t want to fast too much this week and not feel nutritionally sound before my race. So all of that being said, what motivates you? What was your reason for going keto? Was it so you would look good in your clothes? Promise yourself a new outfit if you hit that mark. Was it so you could be more physically active? Try a new activity! Go roller skating, take up bowling or weight lifting or salsa. You need something to push you to that point that you want to hit that weight loss goal. Mine was this race. I’ve wanted to do it for years and I’m about to do it but I’ve decided to continue this lifestyle because I feel so great on keto. I think the thing is we restrict ourselves in the beginning from partaking in normal social activities like a beer or mixed drink and once we get close to our goal we get comfortable and make excuses that we will get back to it next week, tomorrow, next month. You’re so close to your goal! You can do this! Please keep us updated on your progress! I want to cheer you on!

(Carl Keller) #3

It seems to me that you have a choice. You can indulge 1-3 times a week in alcohol or you can skip it and keep losing until you reach your goal weight. I think it’s possible to do both, but maybe not at the same time. Why not quit drinking for now and use the idea of reaching your goal weight as motivation to get back to your adult beverages? You already know you can maintain your weight when drinking several nights a week.

Or maybe you could try zero carb and continue as you are? Maybe you can do both and still lose weight?

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #4

What are you getting out of the drink? Immediate happiness vs the kind of distant happiness of reaching your goal weight? Maybe there is something else that would give you the same thing the drink does but that also wouldn’t stall your weight loss. Have you considered alternatives?

You’ve had a lot of success with keto so far so maybe you’re just used to it and sort of bored? Can you think of any other goals to get you excited again? Also, I’m having a hard time setting the goal of waking up without an attitude problem and I know I’m just sick of everything right now due to the season. It’s a dumb time. Maybe your funk is seasonal and you’ll see sunny warm days and get back into the weight loss mood again.

(Jennibc) #5

Well for me it was to get back to a normal BMI and be able to shop in the regular size section. I’ve been SLOWLY taking off weight for the past 8 years but was still 50+ pounds from goal - I had a LOT to lose. So ditched sugar a year ago tomorrow and have taken off 40 this past year - was officially striving for keto end of May or June once I learned about it. Was pretty close to that WOE on my own as I’d cut grain out grain years earlier and upped healthy fats about three year ago. All that was left was to cut out bananas apparently. I think part of the problem is, I am now in the regular sizes again and I am now at a healthy BMI. I still want to get into my old 80s clothing (size 10 with a 28 inch waist) and perhaps part of the issue is because of skin, I am not sure that’s even possible. I don’t have a LOT of saggy skin, which is incredible considering that I’ve taken off 107/108 pounds (depending on what day I step on the scale), but I do have some. Perhaps I am just running out of steam for now.

(Tamela Robinette) #6

Oh to see that 28 inch waist again. I can wear size 6 and 8 depending on brand but my belly measures 30 inches :roll_eyes:

(Jennibc) #7

You know, maybe is is seasonal. We have had a crap winter this year. Typically we have mostly sun and the occasional wet cold day but it’s been rarely sunny. I guess last winter was similar too and that’s the winter I kind of fell off the wagon which led to me putting back on some weight, which then lead to me completely quitting sugar and then keto. So maybe I just need to roll with this for now or maybe just tell myself, my lack of motivation is weather related and it’s time for me to find something else to do in the evening.

(Jennibc) #8

Vanity sizing today is crazy. I went to Costco a couple of days ago to buy the next size jeans down because my current 12s are too big now with the 32 inch waist. So I pick up 10s, same brand, - take them home try them on. Too big! What? So I pull out the measuring tape and they too have a 32 inch waist. I was convinced that they’d mismarked the size so took them back yesterday and took my tape measure along with me. All the 10s on the shelf now are 32 inch waists! The 8s are the right size for me. As someone who was 5’8, I have never, in my life worn a size 8. When I was young and slim, a 10 was it.

(Tamela Robinette) #9

I agree completely! I remember being a size 10 in my 20s. I distinctly remember being a size 8 in my teens but the birth of my children made me a size 10 and I felt good at that size. I’m 5’7 and was always told I looked like a boy so having a few curves was nice. A 10 is huge on me now but I know my waist is much bigger. It’s ridiculous how they play mind games with us.

(Jennibc) #10

You know what is it, they have figured out that we are more likely to buy something if we feel good about the size so as we, as a species have gotten wider over the last 30 years, they have upped the sizes. It’s not like clothing manufacturers want to make us healthier, they just want to sell us a pair of jeans.

(Tamela Robinette) #11

That’s true, I would just like some consistency. I can wear a 6 in one brand and an 8 in another and don’t even get me started on work slacks :roll_eyes:

(mole person) #12

I’m pretty sure that when I was young there was no size zero but now there is and a size double zero on top of that. What does it even mean???

I self sabotaged again and again through the entire second year. As soon as I hit my first goal of 114 lbs I realized it wasn’t quite right and set a new goal of 112 lbs but instead promptly put on a bunch of weight. It took me the better part of a year to hit the new goal. I think maybe it’s in part our bodies defending set points above where we want to be. The good news is the body will eventually come around. Mine seems to be defending around 106 now and it’s nice to finally not be always fighting it.

#13

I think size zero and double-zero should be banned tbh. There’s no justification for those sizes, and can only lead to bad body image issues for girls and women.

I hope I live long enough to see women’s pants sizes finally become regulated to waist-and-height measurements like they are for men. Again, there’s no justification for why they’re not currently under that system.

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #14

One reason is because they can charge more for larger sizes. The rationale is that it costs them less to make a smaller garment. So they shuffle all the sizes down one or two and now what used to be a large dress is a 2 xl and I have to pay extra for a plus size. I agree, it’s hideous and one of the reasons make my own clothing and solely shop second hand.

(mole person) #15

I agree, it’s completely annoying too that you never know how a size will fit. I like to shop second hand and find I can range over a full FIVE sizes.

(Jennibc) #16

Checking back in today to declare DAY 6 of no alcohol. Perhaps just publicly stating the challenge was motivating? I’d like to say I am losing big time now, but alas, nope but I should show a slight loss for the week on Monday.

(Jennibc) #17

So I FINALLY got to a new lowest point in terms of poundage this morning so light to moderate alcohol consumption really was the issue. And as a very nice NSV I was able to button and zip up one of my 1985 size 10 skirts. That said, it’s not ready for prime time, but that I could button and zip it is a first since 1995.

(Jennibc) #18

Down 2.2 for the week people! I am going to try for another week of no alcohol. Just putting it here so I feel extra accountable. It’s my husband’s birthday this week. Wish me luck!

(mole person) #19

Congratulations! Fitting into clothes that hit the shelves years ago is one of the most FUN of the nsv’s for sure!