Overwhelmed by how much I have to lose

Pterod

I'm trying to take it one day at a time and focus on smaller goals but it's hard not to feel overwhelmed by the task ahead. I've lost 18lbs so far with around 60 still to go.

TheLittleFangs

It sounds like you've got a handle on what you're doing with 18lbs down it also seems like you already know what advice you'll hear with making smaller goals and so on... so essentially I'm here to say 'you've already got this!'

Many people feel this way - myself included. You know what to so!!

scoii

Just keep going. You've done so well so far, you don't need to change anything yet. You're 25% through your journey

Sued0nim

bearbugbear wrote: »

I'm trying to take it one day at a time and focus on smaller goals but it's hard not to feel overwhelmed by the task ahead. I've lost 18lbs so far with around 60 still to go.

You're nearly quarter of the way there then (23%)

That's pretty awesome isn't it?

85Cardinals

I hear you bearbugbear. One pound at a time, baby. You'll get there, keep on grinding.

LivingtheLeanDream

You are doing well, almost quarter of the way! Don't give up, keep plodding on and pound by pound you WILL get there, have faith in yourself

iofred

Well, look at it this way, you recognized the issue at the start of this journey ... look at the amount of time it took to gain the excess lbs, and then the amount of time to shed the first 25% ... small steps can give great results

duddysdad

You are doing great and there are people who need to and have lost 100s of pounds. Just like your journey, theirs started with a single pound lost over and over again. I started at 340 with a goal of 185, I know the feeling. Good luck.

PAV8888

Time marches on and if you're alive you will either be gaining, maintaining, or losing.
Out of the three, done right, losing has the most frequent built in rewards and happy moments.
Are you making this as easy on you as you can while still meeting reasonable goals?

Laughter_Girl

Sounds like you're headed in the right direction. Keep at it, and don't give up! You can do it!

143tobe

Ok, here's what I've been doing, which has really helped me. I just focus on 3 months at a time. Although MFP has been amazing and awesome and incredibly helpful, I also print out 3 months worth of a weight loss and fitness log, and a 3 month calendar. This is the one I use. https://cdn.hashdoc.com/docs/5873f36560725d02ee5374f5aff7cc59/images/728x/weight-loss-log-1.png

This has REALLY helped me to set short term goals...3 months is short enough to not be overwhelmed, but long enough for real visual/seeable/physical changes to occur. It helps to be able to write my starting weight at the top, along with my goal weight. I use my projected weights for each month, and adjust as I need do. Even though I don't always meet my goal weight for a month or quarter, it still helps me to break it down, it gives me a visual target, and I usually come close.

I also make a 3 month fitness goal. January-March of this year it was to be able to complete (run/walk) a half marathon(Goal met). April-June it was to be able to run an entire half marathon (Goal met). Currently, July-November, my goal is to be able to run another half marathon, but to improve on my time. (I also want to incorporate a workout program in there, like a 60 day Beachbody program, but to be done over 90 days since I will also be running.) ***Wanted to add, I also write in all of my projected workouts for the month that will get me to my fitness goals. Sometimes I am unable to do a workout, or even a week, but just writing in it, and having my schedule down in advance really helps me get them done. I also like to put a check next to every projected workout completed.

I honestly don't know how successful I would have been without these tools(and kinda mental tricks). I view them every single day. I love when I complete a month or a quarter, and it's all filled out. That alone gives me a feeling of accomplishment, of achievement, completeness, closure. I'm able to say goodbye to myself at my higher weights, and somehow accept myself as the new and improved quarterly me so I'm not bringing along with me any excess mental baggage attached to my old weights. Does that make any sense? (Sorry, I'm kind of a head case...ALWAYS in my own head.) I don't weigh myself daily, but almost daily. I now know what kind of weight fluctuations to expect based upon the time of month, or what I eat. It helps me not sweat fluctuations and gains here and there. I love finding my old quarterly stacks and seeing the progress I've made. Sometimes I print out a one page 12 month calendar with my projected goal weights when I want to be able to imagine and daydream about the day I finally reach my goal weight. I started doing this when I was 218 lbs...my all time high. That was a couple of years ago, it has not been an entirely linear journey, and finding my old stacks of success always helped me to print a new set out, and get back on track. I am now 163, just 20 lbs away from my goal weight.

You've done a great job so far, and good luck and have fun on your weight loss journey! I hope my system gives you a few ideas of what could work for you!

Fiqahana

Wow, good for you! I have 123lbs to lose. I'm just starting again, and going to try hard this time. Looking at how much I have to lose is scary, plus it's twice than what you have to lose my friend. So I say, let's step it one step at a time. Slowly but surely. Let's just support each other through our ups and downs and conquer our goals. Feel free to add me hunn, you go girl!

MelaniaTrump

Weight lost slowly is weight you can lose for life !

pldavis10

This is a lifetime commitment to a more healthy approach. When I find myself getting hung up on the numbers or dissatisfied with my rate of progress, it helps me to remember that I've already achieved the very much improved healthy lifestyle. Enjoy the fact that you're living a better life instead of thinking about how far you have to go. Because it sounds like you've made some really good improvements.

Pterod

Thank you all for your encouragement, 23% of the total sounds much less daunting. I'll keep going, one pound at a time.

GaleHawkins

bearbugbear wrote: »

Thank you all for your encouragement, 23% of the total sounds much less daunting. I'll keep going, one pound at a time.

Awesome. If you are like me you gained it one pound at a time.

Losing the first 10-20% of one's goal and keeping it off I think is the hard part because of the steep learning curve.

LessToLoveTexas

I sometimes feels the same way. I've lost 46 pounds so far but still have 68 pounds to go! We can do it though!!!

shellyb17

You can do it! What helped for me was breaking it down into small goals and rewarding myself for each goal met (example, after losing 10 lbs I'd buy a new lipstick, a charm for my bracelet, a workout outfit... or whatever floats your boat).

Indygirl_81

Take it a little at a time.... I put up a document with boxes for each pound I want to lose and cross it each box off as I lose it. I also put a few words up like determination, motivation, etc. I have only lost a few pounds and have about 130-140 left to lose.

kshama2001

I just focus on 10 pound blocks.

ubermofish

I've lost 60lbs so far and I still have a little over 60 to go. Like others have said, set milestones for yourself and try to reach them, but not just in pounds lost. Try taking some clothes out of the "Someday" pile and make fitting into them a milestone. Set exercise records and try to break them. You will see improvements on things other than just the scale, and that is way more worth it.

snickerscharlie

Also focus on changes that have nothing to do with the number on the scale - getting back into a pair of pants you haven't been able to wear in ages, having more stamina, watching your body physically change. These elements are important and motivating benchmarks, too.

gkingbr

Congratulations on your loss.
just keep at it. i am down 6 lbs from when I started and have 114 more to go....

staindgal

Celebrate that you're taking care of the excess weight now! My total I need to lose is 240 pounds! *gulp*

AnnPT77

I found it helpful to read threads in the "Success Stories" forum when I felt discouraged, especially these two:

What's Your Most Recent NSV
PHOTO ONLY SUCCESS STORIES!

rsleighty

Having mini goals helps me. When I started my final goal seemed so far away. I decided that for the time, I would aim for losing 10 by my next blood pressure check. Then, another 10...etc.40 down, 25 to go.

lorrpb

You're already 25% to goal! That's fantastic. Read the success stories of those who've had to lose 100-200 lbs or more. Then you won't feel so overwhelmed. I've been at this more than 2 years with steady losses. I'm only 7 from goal, but I know it will likely take the rest of the summer to get there. When I get tired, I think of the stories of the Warriors who've needed 3-4 years to reach their goals.

Take it in small steps and have other goals besides the scales, such as measurements, pics, fitness, nutrition, recipes, etc. That way there are always successes happening in a few areas. Keep it going.

Fiqahana

It's such a wonderful sight to see so many motivational comments here. True though, I, myself, feels like crying when seeing how much I have to lose. 56kg/123lbs. But hey, I'm gonna focus on 5kg/10lbs at a time. Like right now, I feel so hungry already and it's the middle of the night, it's hard for me to sleep because my mind keeps telling me to grab some cookies and a glass of milk. But I'm gonna fight and win this battle. I promised myself that. Anyway, to anyone out there, if you ever need a friend to accompany you through this journey to a happier and healthier life, motivate you to reach for you goals, support you through ups and downs, I'm always here to be that friend, so feel free to add me! I'll add you back! I hope we all will succeed in this journey, until the end! Have a nice day everyone!

simpinguk96

We've all been there, around 8 months ago I weighed around 20st, right now I'm 12st and I still want to lose another 2st, I'm 5ft 7. If you diet well and exercise, the time will fly by. I look forward to every Friday when I get to weigh myself and see my progress, I also eat what I want on Fridays, this helps the time feel like it goes by faster. Good luck!

cwolfman13

The time is going to pass either way...it's up to you to choose what you'll do with it.

Lynzdee18

Don't let it get you down. Just keep going at losing. The 60 will happen, and you will look back and see it wasn't that hard.