ending my first week and wanting to just say forget it

jenniferann320

So I've done this several times before. I manage to lose 10-15 pounds and then lose all my momentum. why? Why? Why? Some say it means I'm not ready, some say I'm not doing it for the right reasons... But I say I just need to figure it out. Half way through day six and to be honest I'm tired of feeling hungry and tired of having to think through every meal I'm about to eat to make sure I have enough calories. I am in that boat of making one meal for my family and then something different for me. I know that part just won't work. I love to cook and I love to eat more my kids I can convince to eat some new healthier things but my hubby would rather starve then eat what I do. So all this complaining because I'm not able to commit. I know lots of options for cutting calories and fat. I know how to add protein into my diet. I know the importance of water and exercise but I just don't follow through. Someone please tell me what I'm missing lol I need to get healthy!

Marcia661

Try Skinnytaste.com, the recipes are extremely family friendly. Both my husband and daughter are demanding and picky but I've had nothing but success.
Good luck and please don't give up

keeponlaughing

You need to do it for you. Cook what you want for dinner and he can eat it. Eating health won't hurt him:)
Figure out what motivates you. For me I do not want to be the "fat mom" I want and am an example for my girls. I aspire to be someone they can look up to.
Another thing that motivates me is running. If you asked me before, I would have told you I hated running and would never like it. I downloaded the couch to 5k app and now am addicted. Find your passion and run with it. You can do it. You are worth it.

jennifer_417

The thing about weight loss that almost no one is willing to admit is: It's hard. Any kind of change is hard until you get used to it. But you have to be willing to push past it if you want to succeed.

suruda

It is hard...and sometimes really boring. I love to cook too. BUT sometimes I just settle for a plain apple and 3 oz of chicken. The recipe section of MFP lets you put in your favorite recipes too and see if you can work them into your day!

kbmnurse

So take the easy way out and quit.

jenniferann320

Thanks for the suggestions, I don't want to be that mom either. I will check out both of those web sites,I need to find something goal driven on a daily basis. I'm just that type of person thanks for the support. Keep the ideas coming please

scottacular

The complication of doing things the MFP way aren't for everyone, it drives me a bit crazy at times to be honest. It depends what your goals are, if you're already a healthy weight and are looking to shed a little bit more to help with specific body composition goals this place helps with, then MFP is ideal and necessary. But if you're just looking to lead a normal, healthy life - you don't need an app for that. Common sense judgement on portion sizes, move about regularly, etc.

Velum_cado

Would it be easier to cut your portion sizes down instead of making a completely different meal for you? Or, on days that I need to save a few calories, I might do little swaps - so, let's say I made roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and broccoli. I'd give myself double the broccoli, or some tomatoes and cucumber instead of potatoes. Or if I make pasta with a chunky vegetable and tomato sauce - I give myself half the portion of pasta, but extra sauce. I find little things like that are really manageable changes if I need to eat a bit lighter to balance my calories out, and it saves me from forcing "health nut" food on my husband, or making two different meals.

holly55555

Just keep going! Once you start losing weight, you'll get motivated again. You'll remember how awful it feels to gain it back and you won't stop.

I just gained back my weight loss (only like 15 lbs, but still!) because I stopped counting and it was such a disappointment! I'm now back down 9 lbs since Christmas, and I will not gain it back this time. I'm almost back where I was!

WitchofWashington

I agree with keeponlaughing, make what you are eating for everyone and your husband can either support you or starve if that is what he prefers. You know all the support online isn't going to help if your family doesn't support you. I'm about to have this same talk with my boyfriend, I want to get all the animal products out of the house and get my daughter to go vegan as well.

jenniferann320

kbmnurse wrote: »

So take the easy way out and quit.

Funny you say that, lol , first I was like that's rude but really that's what I'm saying. Someone tell me it's OK to quit. Because that will make it all better .... Thanks for the reality check

LavenderLeaves

You don't need to exercise to lose weight. It speeds it up, but weight loss is all about calorie deficit. Exercise is for being more fit and feeling better. I'd really suggest completely separating exercise from weight loss in your head - it makes it much easier to be in the mindset of finding an activity you love to do and look forward to doing every day or whenever you want to.

You need to figure out a way to eat at a calorie deficit that still lets you eat foods you love. If you feel completely deprived of foods you enjoy, it's a recipe for disaster and ends up leaving you with how you're feeling right now - you're hungry and you just want food. I would suggest something gradual like .5lb a week.

Do you cook most of your food at home or do you eat out a lot? I both cook and eat out somewhat frequently, but I notice on days that I cook at home I can drastically have far more food for much lower calories simply because fresh, whole foods are so much more satiating and I can control exactly how much extra fat goes into my food. I love eating out, however, but I just make sure to give myself a significant amount of calorie leeway when I do for the day so I can still feel satisfied when I eat my favorite meals at restaurants.

jenniferann320

scottacular wrote: »

The complication of doing things the MFP way aren't for everyone, it drives me a bit crazy at times to be honest. It depends what your goals are, if you're already a healthy weight and are looking to shed a little bit more to help with specific body composition goals this place helps with, then MFP is ideal and necessary. But if you're just looking to lead a normal, healthy life - you don't need an app for that. Common sense judgement on portion sizes, move about regularly, etc.

I need to lose about forty pounds to get where I'm comfortable in my body and that still would probably be considered "big" to some. But one I get the initial loss done I don't want to do this scrutinizing on a daily basis.

jenniferann320

suruda wrote: »

It is hard...and sometimes really boring. I love to cook too. BUT sometimes I just settle for a plain apple and 3 oz of chicken. The recipe section of MFP lets you put in your favorite recipes too and see if you can work them into your day!

I feel you on that apple and some chicken just because it's safe and easy. I think I just need to realize that this isn't going to be easy. Not sure why I let myself believe it would be

jenniferann320

Velum_cado wrote: »

Would it be easier to cut your portion sizes down instead of making a completely different meal for you? Or, on days that I need to save a few calories, I might do little swaps - so, let's say I made roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and broccoli. I'd give myself double the broccoli, or some tomatoes and cucumber instead of potatoes. Or if I make pasta with a chunky vegetable and tomato sauce - I give myself half the portion of pasta, but extra sauce. I find little things like that are really manageable changes if I need to eat a bit lighter to balance my calories out, and it saves me from forcing "health nut" food on my husband, or making two different meals.

That's a great ideai actually do that some days but then I find Im hungry shortly after. And then i go into a tale soon because I try to find things to fill me up that won't use up my calories. But then I get discouraged and wonder if I should have just ate the regular dinner to begin with. Guess I have some trial and error ahead. Thanks for the support

jenniferann320

holly55555 wrote: »

Just keep going! Once you start losing weight, you'll get motivated again. You'll remember how awful it feels to gain it back and you won't stop.

I just gained back my weight loss (only like 15 lbs, but still!) because I stopped counting and it was such a disappointment! I'm now back down 9 lbs since Christmas, and I will not gain it back this time. I'm almost back where I was!

Thanks, and good for you for getting → back to it

kazaargrandcru

Been there, my husband was not willing to eat certain things so I just started making what everyone likes and have much smaller portions than before. It works for me and the family is happy.

jenniferann320

LavenderLeaves wrote: »

You don't need to exercise to lose weight. It speeds it up, but weight loss is all about calorie deficit. Exercise is for being more fit and feeling better. I'd really suggest completely separating exercise from weight loss in your head - it makes it much easier to be in the mindset of finding an activity you love to do and look forward to doing every day or whenever you want to.

You need to figure out a way to eat at a calorie deficit that still lets you eat foods you love. If you feel completely deprived of foods you enjoy, it's a recipe for disaster and ends up leaving you with how you're feeling right now - you're hungry and you just want food. I would suggest something gradual like .5lb a week.

Do you cook most of your food at home or do you eat out a lot? I both cook and eat out somewhat frequently, but I notice on days that I cook at home I can drastically have far more food for much lower calories simply because fresh, whole foods are so much more satiating and I can control exactly how much extra fat goes into my food. I love eating out, however, but I just make sure to give myself a significant amount of calorie leeway when I do for the day so I can still feel satisfied when I eat my favorite meals at restaurants.

We eat out about two or the times a week... This is an interesting approach. I usually feel guilty about eating the calories back that I burn through exercise but it's the only say I can get enough food to feel full some days. So your saying that's OK as long as at the end of the day your still under calories? I like that idea

kbmnurse

I am glad you were not offended by my comment. I was not going to give you permission to quit. If losing weight/eating healthy everyone would be doing it. So get going and get healthy. You can and will do this. Good luck and God speed. (*)

kbmnurse

If losing weight/eating healthy were easy everyone would be doing it. I wanted to clarify.

tinallen863

People, even family, will try to undermine your weight loss goals. Cook healthy for everyone. Control your calorie intake by portion size. Have a free day with the fam on Sunday or whenever. You can look and feel the way you want to. Support is here. If you keep up on mfp, it will become a part of your life that you enjoy. It is a powerful feeling of being in control. You can do it!

Paladinpink

what has been working for me is 6 days on 1 day off. i eat high protein low carb for six days then have one day of free eat whatever i want all day long. i have lost 4 percent body fat so far and by knowing i have my free day, and i think about it all week long, it makes it a little easier to commit. i was also told that it keeps my body from going on a platue so i continue to burn up more calories. when i get bad urges for sweets i eat carb master yogurt. i have been going for about 5 weeks now, and i get to where i kinda dread free food sunday cause i get myself so sick from cake and stuff on pervious weeks. but you have to do free food sunday ). also, i was told that carbs trigger cravings and protein helps you not feel hungry. i hope this helps, keep up the good work )

juhishringi

Frist u hav to cokk for urself than prepare for femiley and kids ......like this u will be fill full and dont wann to take from there food ......this way is so ifectet for me I am more efectivley control on myself like this just try......

LavenderLeaves

jenniferann320 wrote: »

We eat out about two or the times a week... This is an interesting approach. I usually feel guilty about eating the calories back that I burn through exercise but it's the only say I can get enough food to feel full some days. So your saying that's OK as long as at the end of the day your still under calories? I like that idea

This is the thing, imo, this is all about lifestyle change. Even a small deficit will result in weight loss, albeit slowly. A lot of people tend to try immediately losing 2 lbs a week no matter what their weight is, want to get it off nownownow, which ends up resulting in them feeling hungry and trying to avoid anything that isn't a "health" food. I go through weeks where I eat a lot of less nutritious foods that many people deem "junk food," but I also go through weeks where I just want to eat more simple meals and lots of fresh vegetables.

You want to lose this weight for good, right? Then have some patience. Do it in small increments. If you want to eat what the family is eating, eat it, but have a smaller portion of it, try to figure out calories for everything by weighing it with a food scale, and make a big salad or a side of vegetables to eat with it so you still feel full and satisfied.

Honestly, for the time being, if you need, don't exercise if you really don't feel like it. Exercise is for feeling GOOD and your body feeling better, and it kills the point if we see it as this horrible thing we absolutely have to do to lose weight. Moving more is always good, however, but I think so heavily associating it as this necessary evil to lose weight can make us hate it, and exercise should be fun and craved!

cwolfman13

If you can't hang for a week, the rest of your life should be quite challenging I would think...

You don't have to walk around hungry...this doesn't have to be some brutally painful thing. You should be looking to develop healthful and SUSTAINABLE habit, not crashing your diet and making yourself miserable.

In short, you're doing it wrong. When you figure out that good livin' is a lifteime endeavor and not a quick crash and dump then you will find yourself on your way to awesome things.

Ultimately this has to be about your health...not just losing weight...being a healthy weight is only one small aspect of your health. When you start focusing on health...and focusing on eating and working towards health, everything tends to fall into place.

You also have to understand that it is all a process...it isn't overnight...there's nothing that is going to be fixed that quickly. It's baby steps...it's establishing small goals here and small goals there that ultimately help you achieve your larger goals.

And ultimately, you have to understand that this is a lifetime endeavor...you are never done...just because you get to some arbitrary number on the scale does not mean you are done...getting to a healthy weight is simply the beginning...it is the starting line of the actual race...but you have to train for that race before you can run it.

Dragn77

I agree with the suggestion to make your regular meals to eat with your family, serve yourself a smaller portion, then make up for it with additional vegetables. What I love to do is steam my vegetables, fresh not frozen. Frozen is fine for using as an ingredient in meals, but I find that fresh lightly steamed vegetables are actually *incredibly* filling in comparison to frozen cooked or boiled vegetables.

Also, Im very fortunate to have such a sweet kid who puts up with me LOL but for the last week, I was doing a meal plan of low calorie meals. Only two meals were good, the rest were Ugghghghghhh! She still ate them, out of support, but kindly asked me if it would be okay if we didnt have that again LoL

So, in the interest of being able to eat a decent meal with my daughter, Im changing to more interesting recipeies, while still making the things I already know she loves. Im just going to mind my portions and moar veggies!!!

Sandcastles61

Don't give up on yourself yet A lot of times I'll plug in dinner first since that's the main family meal and then plan the rest of my day around that.... Or I'll make something like chili without the beans in my crockpot, then pull out my serving and finish it off with beans for the family and skip the cornbread .... Or if I make a soup I'll cook the noodles separate and put the noodles in everyone's bowl then fill with the soup so I can monitor what goes in mine. What I really try NOT to do is make separate meals. Maybe our protein is the same, and I have extra veggies with only a half cup of mashed potatoes or rice.

I find for myself to be successful, it has to fit my lifestyle, and even small changes add up over time You'll soon have a bank of recipes and breakfasts or lunches and snacks you enjoyed that you can just copy forward. And if you eat back exercise calories remember MFP and machines overestimate the calorie burn so start with only eating back half and see how that goes. I also focus more on having my calories and macros close to spot on by the end of the week and not necessarily daily to take some of the pressure off. Best wishes! You can do this!!!

callsitlikeiseeit

i dont have time, money or patience to cook something different for myself than what the rest of my family eats? are you nuts? use the recipe builder and set aside your portion. boom. now you know how many calories dinner is.

without double the pans to wash.

i eat exactly what i want, and eat out all the time. meals out usually last me 2 meals, because of the calorie count.

kjurassic

It's hard to be overweight and miserable. It's hard to lose weight and be fit. Choose your hard. (you CAN do this.)

Keliandra

What I did probably wouldn't work for you. I told hubs he could either eat what I cooked or cook himself. Actually was a win-win. He cooks more, and is eating somewhat healthier.