I was a fat kid because I ate too much and I ate like crap. Sure, I would’ve been thick anyway given my Eastern European ethnicity but there is a difference between genetically heavy and overweight. By today’s standards I wouldn’t have even been considered chubby, but back in the 80s I could do the Truffle Shuffle. After getting called “perogy tits” at a junior high dance a yo-yo battle with my weight began and continues to this day.
What I’ve noticed about my weight patterns is the lows and highs are getting higher. I’ve always fluctuated by about 20lbs. For years I was between 175 and 195. The last time I lost 20lbs I looked in the mirror and was proud of getting down to 190lbs. Then it hit me that 10 years prior, I was looking in the mirror disgusted with myself for weighing 190lbs.
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If you’ve had success breaking the yo-yo, what made it happen? What do you do to stay on track?
If you are suffering with me, what is it that motivates you to lose the weight and then what is it that has you spiraling out of control?
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About James Hudyma
Wanting to be energetic for, and also a great example to, my kids gets me to drag my sorry arse to the gym.
Stress and sadness and frustration sometimes cause me to choose to over eat.
As I have grown older, I gain much more easily, and losing is a huge ordeal.
I don’t miss being in my 20′s, but I sure miss the body and metabolism I had then!
Age is certainly part of it for me. I’m not eating a whole lot more than I did back then but my body was able to process it. Maybe there are things I’m just not being realistic about like the toll of being a responsible adult and parent and the stress that comes with those things.
I swear I am just like that. I did look at myself at 170 and thought. Ok this is about right. I can’t be any heavier than that. Then I said it at 180 and 190 until I peaked at 200. Hate it, but its my fault. I should want to be in better shape for the kids, but you and I know that we need more motivation than that.
That motivation is probably unique to each person but I’m hoping there is a similarity among those differences. I guess if there were a “sure cure” then nobody would be overweight.
Weeee!
I call it the roller coaster, not a yo-yo. When my 2nd son was born I was about 30 pounds lighter than I am right now. Granted, that was a low for me, and my “norm” is about 15 pounds lighter than I am right now, but my point is that I’m feelin’ ya 100%.
What motivated me last time was running. I just started running a year or so before that low weight achievement and by the time I achieved it I was literally addicted to running. One benefit was time, I had much more time when 1 kid was in a belly and not causing havoc in the world at large, and the other benefit was the newness of running. That has since worn off.
For me, it’s all about habits. Good and bad. I can get into both just as easy. I’m swinging back in the good direction lately and it’s not that I found motivation as much as a few bad habits simply ran their course with me. I’m bored with these bad habits (eating, drinking, staying up late) and moving back towards more healthier ones. While I’ve only been at it for about a week and a half now, I can already feel the difference mentally and physically.
I don’t have motivation advice, my only advice is to help one define the problem. A habit is a habit, good or bad. Staying up late was a habit and I’m doing my best to break that cycle. I got used to doing it and it led to late night eating and lack of sleep. Now I’m getting used to going to bed earlier and will hopefully reap the benefits that come along with it.
That’s a great way of looking at it. I have a habit of overeating. I don’t even snack that much and I don’t really care for junk food but at meal time I eat like a ravenous bear. It gives me a little high and I really like the feeling of being completely stuffed after a delicious meal.
Whoa man can I relate to this one. Right now, I’m checking in at about 250, which, honestly, is pretty sad. Especially in that The military really doesn’t like having big-ass people. All of our vehicles are built for medium to small, fit people, not big muscular ones. I barely fit in anything we have.
A few years ago I was EXTREMELY active, doing our normal PT, running 25-30 miles per week, playing intramural soccer and football, plus lifting weighs on my off running times. I got down to around 213, probably the lightest I have been in my adult life (being healthy, anyway. Basic training dropped me to 206, but it didn’t look good at all.) I miss the way I felt, but I’d like to stay around 220-225.
As for motivation, as much as I really do not like to run, I do really enjoy trail running—where there’s nature, that is. I live in the desert right now and there is zero motivation in that. Being outside and looking at the trees and water really charges me up. Aside from that, it would definitely have to be music. I’m very into music and it can change my moods and motivation greatly.
The best motivation for me is when I actually commit to a few days of exercise and healthy eating and it feels so good. I use that feeling to keep me moving forward and then winter comes and do less and then Christmas comes and I eat a lot more and before you know it, I’m asking what the hell went wrong and how did I get so fat?!!!
The good news is this is the time of year when I’m getting back on track. My real hope is to not be in this position again next year. Like Brad said earlier, I have to make it a habit.