Why first time is best and how to do it 2nd time round!

[nictastic]

just found this post (yeah i actually ventured outside of the LT forum!!! This is a fab post and really explains why first time, is the best time and how to take a fresh look at restarting if you happen to fall off the waggon!
It really is true its harder 2nd time around

Why is it soooo different 2nd time around?
Or even the 3rd, 4th, etc, etc, etc?.....

A: Because you are using the wrong strategy!

Some of you may remember that when this section of the forum opened, I asked you to think back to what it was like for you when you first started your weight loss journey.

Many people will be able to identify with feelings of desperation, self hatred, determination, lack of energy, discomfort and probably every other negative emotion that you can think of. We hate feeling and looking like this soooo much that we are willing to do almost anything to get away from it!

And that is exactly what we do...we use an "Away from" strategy that employs determination and willpower to get us to our goals.

So what's wrong with this strategy and why doesn't it work again?

The simple reason is because those negative feelings are never as strong as they were when you made your initial decision to lose weight. Yes you may put on a bit of weight and want to lose it again and may go back to the plan that you used before...but this time its not quite working the same way!....The "away from" strategy is redundant in this scenario because you don't look or feel the way you did before....i.e the pain is no longer present therefore, there is nothing to get away from. This is why you sometimes hear people say "if only I could do it the way I did before"! An "away from" strategy rarely works more than once.

Is there an alternative?

Yes there are 2 alternatives....the first is to deal with the underlying issues and that will help to reduce the weight regain.

Secondly, use a different strategy...a "towards to" strategy. This method does not focus on the pain, instead it focussess on the benefits of what you are doing. For example, I want to look better in my clothes, I want to have more energy, I want to be able to look in the mirror and like what I see...

These are things that you can move towards right now ...these are not size dependent! The weight loss is then the bonus rather than the driving force.

The best thing about a "towards" strategy though is that it is never ending....there is no definitive 5 stone to lose and then what??? Feeling great and looking great just goes on and on so, therefore, the benefits are much more long term.

heres the link to the full thread if you want a gander!!
http://www.minimins.com/bring-your-h...me-around.html (Why is it soooo different 2nd time around?)

[cuddlyfairy]

Brilliant thread Nic, thanks for posting the link. It makes me even more determined to get to goal and stay there!

x

[Mini]

Excellent post by Diva.

Thanks for digging that up Nic

Love Mini xxx

[trimlee]

Very informative, thanks Nic.

[Tazzi]

"Why is it soooo different 2nd time around?
Or even the 3rd, 4th, etc, etc, etc?....."


Was that possibly written by me????? I have definately found it harder this time round. And i do remember writing something along those lines in the past few days...................

Last time i did the diet i found it incredibly easy and perhaps quick losses helped to fuel this. This time around i am in a completely different circumstance to the one i was in when i started last time.


"Yes you may put on a bit of weight and want to lose it again and may go back to the plan that you used before...but this time its not quite working the same way!....The "away from" strategy is redundant in this scenario because you don't look or feel the way you did before....i.e the pain is no longer present therefore, there is nothing to get away from."

After i attended the wedding i was aiming for it was my 21st birthday and then this and that and whatever and i stacked all my weight on plus more so i am in a worse situation than i was before i started the diet. I am aware of the problem this time and hopefully will not make the same mistakes.

This time round i do have an aim..........To look fabulous in my ball gown...........and be generally thinner and fitter to get around easier at work and things..........That is my forward goal. So what am i doing wrong?

X