Why is it so hard

kristijmuller

I'm 5 4 and need to lose at least 30lbs. I keep trying and quiting. No motivation. .so trying again.

KkaySteele

I hear ya!!! I'm burnt out from all the failed attempts

kommodevaran

What method(s) are you using? Effective weight loss isn't about working harder, but working smarter.

jennifer_417

I was on MFP for a year and quit twice before I really got anywhere, not to mention probably dozens of attempts before that. My point is, when you're ready, you'll do it. Don't get discouraged.

ch1128

Sounds just like me! I do really well the first week or so and then lose motivation because, surprise surprise, I'm not yet in that itsy bitsy dress I wore when I was 18

FrankieandSpots

Do some prep work?
Spend a week (or a month) practicing... log all your food, track your weight, take starting pictures.
Then set your goals and come up with a plan and prepare some food (and your mind), then start.

Does losing slow or fast work better for you? If you aim for a big calorie deficit(like, more than 500cal/day which is about 1lb/week or) you'll see changes a lot faster and if you could be at goal a lot sooner... but you'll be a lot hungrier.
Personally I'm working on the long, slow approach (-250 cal/day) - less wiggle room and slower results, but I can't handle the hunger and the mental struggle that goes with it.

I feel like my heads back in the game now, I took six months off because I got sick of it but I'm closer than I was before. Step by step is ok.

HippySkoppy

Maybe you are trying to take on too much change all at once.

When I started on MFP all the way back in 2011, I had an seemingly enormous task ahead of me. I was 48, 278 lbs, totally unfit (of course) and I had NO idea of how to proceed.

It was a steep learning curve of getting my logging under control. Started out thinking it was a PITA and too time consuming but with a few weeks under my belt it got easier.

I then quickly noticed that I could eat a lot more than my allotted 1200 calories and still have room for treats so I wasn't trying to readjust everything about what I ate. Yeah I realized very quickly there was a lot to be said for making the most of my foods nutritious and used this time to eat 'better' by increasing my veg and fruit intake and stop deep frying my meats etc. I learned to embrace different styles of cooking, spices and introduced vegetarian meals as well.

The weight dropped off and this was really inspiring. So the the next step was to get my *kitten* moving more....walking was the best option for me. So I got myself the best footwear I could afford and hit the streets, I didn't give a fig for what people thought of this obese woman strutting her stuff, cause at least I was trying.

Sooner than I expected the walks got much longer, harder, and I became an avid bushwalker and even climbed mountains. These were at least 8-10 hour stretches of hard slog and before I knew it time had passed and within slightly over 2 years I was down to the 110 lbs I have maintained till this day for the past 3 + years.

Now at 53, with very different health circumstances that prevent me from doing the long walks (which is heartbreaking for me) I continue to thrive as best I can. I eat foods that I love and keep my body in the best health it can be given the chronic health issues.

If I want a treat I have it. If I feel like busting out and having a few wines they go down in the log as well.

Some people struggle because of an all or nothing stance....don't make this part of what you want in life any harder than it already is, cause there will be tough times. Times when your patience and persistence wane and you just want it all to be OVER already. You'll fall off the wagon, everyone does, it's the getting back on and moving forward forgiving yourself for being an imperfect human that will get you through then next day, week, month or year.

TL;DR - When you are ready, you'll know and you will do what needs to be done. Hope my 2 cents worth of tips of my history help clarify and get you through some of the things that may be holding you back.

Wishing you all the best.