What do you guys do when you feel like giving up?

musicmint

Hey I was just wondering what you do when you feel like giving up and no caring anymore. I have been feeling discouraged lately....not wanting to count calories anymore or go to the gym..

mandylgibbs

In the 7 months I've been dieting I haven't felt that way. That is why this time has been different for me. The way I see it is this was something I have to do . I didn't and still don't have a choice if I want this new life... and I REALLY want it.

Start with small goals and small changes and build on those.

Celebrate the smallest victories, and be open about your daily struggles.

RawCarrots

I come to read the success stories that's why I'm browsing tonight. Feel fed up but I know I'll keep going somehow, just wish it didn't require so much planning and effort, wish it was easier

Hopefully somebody will come up with something inspirational and profound for you, I have no miracle answers unfortunately.

musicmint

I have been learning that for sure..that it is small changes that lead to big changes and it takes time.....I have been starting CONSITENTLY to exercise for the past 2 years...but didn't start eating healthier until like 2 months ago.....Just gotta be pateint I guess

madhamey

I remember the night I hit the fat wall.

New Year's Eve 2012 when I missed 4 hours of the night and ended up not going out until 10pm (instead of 6pm) because everything I tried on looked hideous and I spent a good 2 hours crying on the bed.

kindasortachewy

I take a new photo and make a comparison picture to keep me motivated, I had to do one today!

Here is less than 70 days

kmchambers64

I tell myself that I have a choice, I can keep going, keep working at it, or I can go backward. Because giving up will put me back at square one. Think about what you have accomplished, whether you think it is a lot or a little. If you had to do it again from square one, wouldn't that be awful? It would be for me. That's why - despite have house guests, and celebrating a little to liberally my son's graduation, I counted every calorie and did my workouts. You can keep going if you choose to.

katejkelley

I look in my closet. Since I've worked so hard to lose weight, I've dropped a few sizes. My new clothes are all the size I want to stay. I got rid of (most of) the old clothes, so there is very little to fall back on. Some days I really don't feel like logging in my calories, but if I stop doing that, I seem to start gaining again. I would rather log in everything I eat for the rest of my life than gain back that weight.

Hotdawgnothotdog

Go to Google images and type in motivational weight loss quotes.
I have a list of people who are close to me and said stuff about my weight that hurt, or things people do that hurt, and I look through it.
I also look through my previous weigh-ins and see where else I have struggled, if I can make it through that, I can make it through this (whatever this is.)

Crochetluvr

I just keep going...even if all I do is maintain. At least I am not gaining and, when I am ready, I get serious again. The important thing is to NEVER give up!

Britterboo22

Lord knows ive fallen off the wagon many time myself and this time I refuse to sink.
people all over the world are going through the same struggle and they always come out a better healthier them and that's what I want! plus my kids...
Today I was doing squats and my three year old was standing behind me pushing my but down everytime id squat LOL
Plus I think ive rubbed off on my mom a bit, I see her making healthier choices.

I too had to make small goals and celebrate my small victories..
When I lost my first 7lbs I was disappointed that I hadn't lost more and ALMOST got discouraged but one of my friends who is doing the same thing motivated me and made me realize that every pound counts. now im down 12 (maybe more my weighin is tomorrow) and im so glad that I didn't give up.

When I go to sleep at night I wake up looking forward to tracking what I eat and look forward to my workout.
I just keep reminding myself that ill have my ups and downs and that I should never give up what I want to achieve because everyday that I set foot on that pavement and bust out 4 miles I know that everyday im a better person than I was before! keep it up this is just a hump and you can overcome this hurdle

ReinaJaLaNa

I remember the night I hit the fat wall.

New Year's Eve 2012 when I missed 4 hours of the night and ended up not going out until 10pm (instead of 6pm) because everything I tried on looked hideous and I spent a good 2 hours crying on the bed.

omg..I fortunately never got to the crying part, but I've definitely spent WAAAY too many hours trying on a billion things and making myself (and sometimes others) extra, extra late due to not being able to properly fit into anything cute... I totally forgot about that and will certainly use it as another source of motivation -- thanks so much for bringing that up!


musicmint, as for your question, like some others have said, coming on here is often a big motivator for me.. Also, looking at "before/after" pictures and videos via Google Images, YouTube, and so on.. Just, seeing what is possible.

Also, PLEASE check out this link -- I think it is one of the best resources of advice when it comes to weight-loss motivation that I've ever seen: http://www.nowloss.com/how-to-get-motivation-to-lose-weight.htm.

And please don't underestimate what's on there until you check it out -- I thought it was gonna be a bunch of hoopla, cliche-type stuff you've heard many times before before clicking on it, but a lot..if not, most..of it was really fresh and helpful. I strongly recommend it for everyone going through this journey.

Good luck!

jrossmenelli

I think getting discouraged happens to most people. I know it does for me. When I am feeling discouraged, I watch motivational exercise videos on youtube or health related documentaries on netflix. Nike has some great motivational videos! This helps pump me up, get me going and not give up. It reminds me why I am doing what I am doing, what I have to gain and how far I have come. This is what I have found works for me. Maybe it will work for you? Good luck, I know its not easy but remember that people on here are great at encouragement!

Saucy_lil_Minx

I think about how sick I would get as my body ages, and how absolutely afraid I would be to have to fight with Diabetes, or heart disease. I think about how I need to show my son how to stick to a healthy life style for his high cholesterol. I think about how important it is to me to be able to move and run with my grandbabies one day.

KatC_88

I go to the gym! It takes time and you will get stuck alot! But as long as you do not give up it will happen! Just THINK POSITIVE!!! Mind over matter! What you eat has a huge roll in loosing weight! And on the days you still just want to cry you have your friends and support system to help you through it! You didn't gain all you weight in a day, so you wont loose it that fast easier! Patience you will succeed!

LorinaLynn

Sometimes... I just give up. For a little while. Say to myself, "Ok, fine. If you really don't want to log your food or exercise, then don't. For the rest of this week. But come Monday, we're back on it. Because we want our pants to fit."

ksimmons19

In those hard times, do like Nike and "Just do it." and I always come on the forums and look @ success stories. It really gets my *kitten* going to see other people who have been able to do it and it IS possible.

Mag1913

I think about how awful i felt about myself 33 pounds ago...i look to my friends and family for encouragement. They seem to give that little push I need to keep going. A lifestyle change will have it's ups and downs but the results are incredible :bigsmile:

So when you have the desire to give up, look at how far you have come, how great you feel and know that the feeling will only increase the healthier and stronger you become!!

Michellemarg

I have lost about 40 pounds. It is tough because my husband and I own a restaurant and there is yummy food around all the time. I have a ritual when I start to feel like I want to just give in - I try on "the dress". It is a size 12 and I LOVE it! I look at it every day. Then I try on a pair of my old pants that I kept as a reminder of where I came from. The dress will fit soon - and look amazing! This almost always works for me - but when it doesn't - I just give myself a break. It is ok to have that ice cream or that cookie - enjoy it! Then get back at it!

sparkly86

constructive: I have this cute size 6 mini skirt that i want to wear once i accomplish my goal
destructive: look at my before pics.
i think they both kind of help.

michael_m1989

I have this shirt that is a size M, that is very tight on me. Every time I lose ten pounds or so I put it on to see how it fits a little bit better.
I am just waiting for the day that it fits. I know it's weird, but it's my motivation to keep going.

vickij85

When I feel like giving up I take a break from exercise for a week, but I make sure that I eat as healthy as I can on that week off. The break works for me and as soon as I start exercising again I find that i've really missed it! Never feel guilty for giving yourself a break, it's good to have a proper rest every few months :-) x

Crochetluvr

I remember the night I hit the fat wall.

New Year's Eve 2012 when I missed 4 hours of the night and ended up not going out until 10pm (instead of 6pm) because everything I tried on looked hideous and I spent a good 2 hours crying on the bed.

I tried on my bathing suit from the year before (that I had to buy because the one from the year before THAT didn't fit) and I couldn't get it up over my thighs. I sat down on the bed and cried my eyes out. And that was my light bulb moment.

stephaniemejia1671

I remember where I was when I started tracking my progress on MFP. I remember WHY I started o MFP, and I think about what would happen if I stopped all the hard work that I have done up until now.

Sqeekyjojo

I don't feel like giving up. Because this isn't a temporary thing to be abandoned at the first opportunity or when I'm feeling unhappy about something - it's a permanent change in habits.

And because I'm not depriving myself of anything, there's nothing to give up with. It's a bit of an empty thing to say 'right, that's it - I've had enough of eating whatever I want when I feel hunger, and I'm going to force myself to eat foods I don't like as much and stop doing the activities I enjoy'.



As an aside, a lot of women find coming up to their periods (or the first day) a time when eating less healthy food and not exercising enticing. If that could be a cause for you, then simply acknowledging that it is what's happening can make it easier to accept cravings or a desire to hide under the duvet with the cat and a plate of snacks.

brenn24179

I am feeling it but I think it is because I talked to this skinny lady yesterday who has never had a weight problem and it makes me so angry that I do. It is what it is. I know I have to watch it and like the others say I am glad to fit into those clothes. I do feel like crying my eyes out also when nothing fits and I feel terrible about myself. I just feel so worthless. I love being able to go somewhere and have a whole closet full of clothes that fit and shopping is now a joy. I am not those skinny people who don't like to eat and so I have to do the logging!

Also,when I go to the doctor I don't have to cringe when time to weigh, a good feeling.

madhamey

No problem, the guilt of doing that to my new husband gave me the push to change my lifestyle.

He would be downstairs and shout up to me are you nearly ready and I would be no and don't come up or it will take me another hour.

We have missed so many nights out like you arrived last so many times to gatherings that the weight had taken over my life.

Now although I have a way to go as my 49 is my interim target I feel like my life has begun again.

kateauch

I take comparison pics to see my progress. I know that no matter my good days or bad days, if I keep working the way I've been working, it'll happen. Patience is key.

Also, you've got to want it bad enough. If the cheesecake is more rewarding to you than seeing you've lost inches/pounds or even feeling better, then you're not truly committed to your goal just yet.

djshari

I come here and look at success stories. I review my goals. I look up new foods and workouts. I look at my tight clothes and imagine them so baggy they are falling off. I put on my baggy clothes and remember when they fit tighter.

SNLover87

Comparison pics are my best friend. Whenever another month has passed, I take a new pic and put it next to the day I started. And then I save that picture on my phone, and anytime I'm feeling unmotivated I pull it up, no matter where I am, and it gets me motivated again.

Looking at other's progress pics always helps me too, I save the ones that are similar to me (around the same age/height, starting at about the same weight and ending at the same weight). It helps to look at others who have already accomplished what you're still on the way to do.

TheFitHooker

If I gave up every time I felt like giving up, I wouldn't have lost all the weight I've lost and probably be bigger then I use to be. What I do is think about what I really want, to give up or to see the body I wish to have. I tell my mind to shut up and I push harder. I didn't feel like working out today, but it's not my rest day and it's a habit to workout, it's a commitment, this is not something I'm interested in, this is something I have to do, for myself. It's not about anyone but me and if I give up, I fail myself, so many people have started pushing harder because of my progress and I can say that because I've been told this, and if I give up, I give up on them as well and it feels like I'm responsible for where they go so me giving up is not an option.