How to keep on track with weight loss or anything

Hi Fairydust. At the Summit we had a Wellbeing Lecture. It was all about writing goals for change and reviewing periodically- which keeps up motivation. The questions we asked ourselves (and wrote down on a chart) WHY we want to change, WHAT we want to change, BENEFITS and OUTCOMES of the change, and importantly BARRIERS to change and SET BACKS. The last two where we wrote our Plan B's . Then we tracked our sucesses and reevaluated wasn't working. I have set dates through winter  to review my diet and exercise plan. Around the October, I am going to treat myself to new clothes (I got a Katie's voucher for my b/day). We made a broad goal and then broke it down to a series of steps. So it is a conscious effort of review and writing. I look at it everyday in my diary. Also what primek said is good: talking to others about our struggles and achievements. I am from NSW and the government has a phone programme called "get healthy" - this is making me accountable to someone ( and stay motivated). The templates from the Summit, you may be able to find on the BCNA website somewhere. Hope this helps <3

I think the secret is ...there is actually no finish line. Maintenance is the hardest part of weight loss as there is no end. It's  about a complete  lifelong lifestyle change, and many many women like myself struggle with this part. What has helped me is being part of a weight loss group. We are just on line members, were originally part of weight watchers which had a blogging area. They have closed this now unless remaining a paid member but we formed a small facebook group of ladies and it has grown. It is a space (a little like this space) that we can share our struggle and swap ideas, recipes and motivate each other. Many women don't need this but form other supporting groups either through running or gym membership. 

Yes agree regular habits and not all or nothing thinking is the key. Well done on tbe lifestyle changes.

It's all pretty variable. I too lost quite a lot of weight during chemo with no nausea - but I lost my taste buds, most food was at best uninteresting and wine tasted horrible so all of that helped. After chemo I took out a subscription to a gym (nothing like paying up front to keep you going!), cut back on alcohol (after 6 months not drinking that was fairly easy) and kept up my chemo gut health (more greens, fibre, prunes). I have put back a couple of kilos but maintained that weight fairly well. I don't do anything very dramatic at the gym - mainly yoga, walking, cycling and some weights. Which is where I am going now - regularity is the most effective, and the hardest, action! 

It's a mystery. I lost a considerable amount of weight during chemo 10 years ago. I wasn't that ill and worked right through AC. . TC this time, combined with an oophorectomy, has had the opposite effect. 

I figured out a while back that restricting carbs and upping my exercise kept my weight down. Carbs and sugar were all I could tolerate for three months and now the side effects of the chemo and aromatase inhibitors have me so crippled I can't run, or even walk distances. Bushwalking was my default exercise program, now I can't climb up a hill. 

I am literally terrified of what could happen if I get back on my horse. He can be a cranky big shit (bit like myself) and I don't think I have the legs to hold on if I have to. The thought of hitting the ground off the back of a 17.2 hand animal makes me want to vomit.

My upper body strength is good and I'm back in the pool but the kilos are starting to creep on. OK, they are piling on. Every old injury, and I've had a few, adds to the pain and makes it more difficult to motivate myself.

Here it is, a beautiful morning, public holiday, and I'm still in bed whinging instead of trying to drag my sorry arse outside. I just ate a cherry ripe for breakfast. Pain and depression are not a great combo for someone who comfort eats. I used to joke that I look like a V8 but that my fuel consumption is more like a Prius. That's not funny anymore when the excess fuel I've consumed is slapping me on the back of the leg as I shuffle around.

I know what I should be eating and am trying to be 'good' but without some way to burn energy I think I'm doomed.

@fairydust up until 6yrs ago I used to do gym 3 days a week and walk in between, and even ride the exercise bike too. When my marriage fell apart and I moved with my kids, I had no time for exercise anymore having to work full time and rear them. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia like 13yrs ago, so exercise was imperative to manage the pain. When I had a recurrence in 2015 the Chemo absolutely ruined me further. I had to learn to walk again that's how bad I was, Im 6 weeks post mastectomy/diep flap recon now and walking again which is great. BUT the ONLY thing I found that has really helped is an Exercise Physiologist, I've been seeing her since November last year and its a slow process but she's setting me up slowly for success. I could not have done it any other way, it wasn't a matter of dieting and jumping into exercise or going to the gym. I needed a Professional...for me it's the only thing that's made a difference, a life long one and recommend it to anyone. I have a way to go, and know I'll never be exercising the way I did 6yrs ago, but as long as Im reasonably mobile and can shift this 6kg that THANKS TO CHEMO I put on GRRRR!!! Best of Luck in what you choose to do...but this really works for me. :) Hugs Melinda xo