Confused and losing motivation
shely514
Posts: 7 Member
I posted a couple weeks ago because I was frustrated by not losing weight. I began running and walking (similar to C25k) on June 12th and began eating much healthier, fruits, veggies, lean protein, etc.. gave up my chocolate and DP sedentary life! I also do kettlebell a few times a week. The scale has been all over the place, lost 3.2 and now I am back where I started. I feel I look different in the mirror but not much difference when I measure. My abdomen looks all dimply and feels jelly like..I know that sounds crazy but I feel it looks gross, different.. I just feel like after a month I should see more loss of inches, pounds or something! Yes, I started weighing food as yall asked before. I drink a gallon of water a day, also. I'm getting so frustrated I'm starting to think of quitting, and I really don't want to when I need to lose at least 38 pounds. I guess I just want to hear someone can relate and has seen this before.
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Replies
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Keep up the hard work! It will pay off - sometimes over several months. Each person is different.1
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Are you logging and weighing all of your food? Good for you for eating healthier, but eating too much of even healthy foods and you will not lose weight.0
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If you quit trying, there is no chance of you losing the 38 pounds. You need to continue being in the zone of trying. If you quit, you have 100% chance of being frustrated at your current weight.
Eating healthy has nothing to do with losing weight. So the fact that you posted that you're eating healthy and gave up chocolate shows that you're NOT on the right track. You can eat a chocolate bar a day and still lose weight. It's all about the calories you take in per day. You need to do more research on how to lose weight. Read everything here in these message boards, they're invaluable.
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It took months for me to lose 15 lbs. last time - then fell off the bandwagon of exercising and calorie counting and gained it almost all back. Now I am more determined than ever to stick with it and make this happen!! Can be discouraging but hang in there! Maybe try some HIIT workouts. Maybe that is what you are already doing.0
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what exactly is quitting going to accomplish?1
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What are you anticipating that quitting will accomplish?
Are you measuring everywhere on your body - or just one place?
If you have been working out for a month, then you should be seeing some non scale improvement, better endurance, heavier weights, longer walks - aren't those indicators of improved health? Isn't that motivation enough?
I have lost 4 lbs in the last 7 months, still not giving up, not ever. However, slow, progress is still better than nothing and way better than gaining!2 -
It takes time. I would mini-plateau for 3 weeks or so quite often. You can see a screen cap of my weight loss over time in my post here: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10428970/2-years-130lbs-and-a-very-long-post-with-a-pile-of-pics-at-the-end#latest Note that there were lots of plateaus and re-gains along the way!
Motivation gets you started. Dedication sees you through!8 -
So you have been eating at a deficit for a month and have lost zero pounds?
- How many lbs are you set to lose per week?
- Are you weighing and logging everything, everyday?
- Are you logging and eating back exercise cals?
- Do you weigh yourself at the same time/place each time? How often?
- If you are willing to open your diary, it might help you get more targeted advice, though I know not everyone is comfortable doing that.
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Don't quit. It's only been a bit more than a month. You'll get this. Weight loss can be a weird thing and it might just take a bit longer for all your hard work to start showing.
Some general questions/tips:
You say you're eating better food, but are you measuring/weighing your portions? Logging condiments and cooking oils? Logging everything? Those small things can add up.
If you're logging your exercise sometimes the App overestimates how many calories you burn.
Mainly though, just give it a bit more time.
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Thanks for responses. Yes to all the weighing. No, don't overeat because healthy diet. No, I won't accomplish much by quitting what I've started. So..I will just continue on. Best of luck to yall.0
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Beaglebrandon, it absolutely DOES matter that Shely514 is eating healthier. True, you can eat a chocolate bar a day and lose weight, but calories are not all the same. If you were to eat 1500 calories per day of chocolate, you would lose weight, but your weight loss would not last because your body would start to shut down. On top of that, without the healthy foods required to fuel your body, eating a low calorie unhealthy diet would not give you the strength, stamina, or brain power needed to succeed or maintain. So while I understand your comment, when a person is looking to lose weight for the long term, eating healthfully along with exercise is the only way to achieve that.2
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ktboko1963 wrote: »Beaglebrandon, it absolutely DOES matter that Shely514 is eating healthier. True, you can eat a chocolate bar a day and lose weight, but calories are not all the same. If you were to eat 1500 calories per day of chocolate, you would lose weight, but your weight loss would not last because your body would start to shut down. On top of that, without the healthy foods required to fuel your body, eating a low calorie unhealthy diet would not give you the strength, stamina, or brain power needed to succeed or maintain. So while I understand your comment, when a person is looking to lose weight for the long term, eating healthfully along with exercise is the only way to achieve that.
Considering nobody is recommending a 1500 Calorie diet of only chocolate, I fail to see the point.8 -
ktboko1963 wrote: »Beaglebrandon, it absolutely DOES matter that Shely514 is eating healthier. True, you can eat a chocolate bar a day and lose weight, but calories are not all the same. If you were to eat 1500 calories per day of chocolate, you would lose weight, but your weight loss would not last because your body would start to shut down. On top of that, without the healthy foods required to fuel your body, eating a low calorie unhealthy diet would not give you the strength, stamina, or brain power needed to succeed or maintain. So while I understand your comment, when a person is looking to lose weight for the long term, eating healthfully along with exercise is the only way to achieve that.
For weight loss it doesn't matter. It does matter for nutrition. But you can eat nutritious food and be overweight. I think his point is that she doesn't have to give up chocolate in order to lower her calories and lose weight.3 -
ktboko1963 wrote: »Beaglebrandon, it absolutely DOES matter that Shely514 is eating healthier. True, you can eat a chocolate bar a day and lose weight, but calories are not all the same. If you were to eat 1500 calories per day of chocolate, you would lose weight, but your weight loss would not last because your body would start to shut down. On top of that, without the healthy foods required to fuel your body, eating a low calorie unhealthy diet would not give you the strength, stamina, or brain power needed to succeed or maintain. So while I understand your comment, when a person is looking to lose weight for the long term, eating healthfully along with exercise is the only way to achieve that.
For weight loss it doesn't matter. It does matter for nutrition. But you can eat nutritious food and be overweight. I think his point is that she doesn't have to give up chocolate in order to lower her calories and lose weight.
Yes, considering he wrote, "a candy bar a day..."2 -
ktboko1963 wrote: »Beaglebrandon, it absolutely DOES matter that Shely514 is eating healthier. True, you can eat a chocolate bar a day and lose weight, but calories are not all the same. If you were to eat 1500 calories per day of chocolate, you would lose weight, but your weight loss would not last because your body would start to shut down. On top of that, without the healthy foods required to fuel your body, eating a low calorie unhealthy diet would not give you the strength, stamina, or brain power needed to succeed or maintain. So while I understand your comment, when a person is looking to lose weight for the long term, eating healthfully along with exercise is the only way to achieve that.
I was simply pointing out the fact that a calorie is a calorie for weight loss purposes.
I understand what healthy foods do - and they are very important - but when you say you can't lose weight in the same sentence you say that you're eating healthy, it's a big red flag to me, that you don't understand weight loss, and simply think eating healthy will get you to lose weight. And that you must cut out certain foods to lose weight. That's simply not true.
I was taking that to an extreme suggesting you can eat just chocolate and lose weight. Trying to prove a point about weight loss - it's calories, not the TYPE of food. Of course, you can't sustain just a chocolate diet because of health reasons, that's obvious. I'm amazed how some can take things out of context.2 -
Thanks for responses. Yes to all the weighing. No, don't overeat because healthy diet. No, I won't accomplish much by quitting what I've started. So..I will just continue on. Best of luck to yall.
One can totally overeat on healthy foods.
There are mistakes that people commonly make that cause them to not lose weight that we might be able to spot if you change your Diary Sharing settings to Public: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings2 -
Imagine where you will be this time next year if you don't quit! You're worth it!2
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beaglebrandon wrote: »ktboko1963 wrote: »Beaglebrandon, it absolutely DOES matter that Shely514 is eating healthier. True, you can eat a chocolate bar a day and lose weight, but calories are not all the same. If you were to eat 1500 calories per day of chocolate, you would lose weight, but your weight loss would not last because your body would start to shut down. On top of that, without the healthy foods required to fuel your body, eating a low calorie unhealthy diet would not give you the strength, stamina, or brain power needed to succeed or maintain. So while I understand your comment, when a person is looking to lose weight for the long term, eating healthfully along with exercise is the only way to achieve that.
I was simply pointing out the fact that a calorie is a calorie for weight loss purposes.
I understand what healthy foods do - and they are very important - but when you say you can't lose weight in the same sentence you say that you're eating healthy, it's a big red flag to me, that you don't understand weight loss, and simply think eating healthy will get you to lose weight. And that you must cut out certain foods to lose weight. That's simply not true.
I was taking that to an extreme suggesting you can eat just chocolate and lose weight. Trying to prove a point about weight loss - it's calories, not the TYPE of food. Of course, you can't sustain just a chocolate diet because of health reasons, that's obvious. I'm amazed how some can take things out of context.
Well thank you for your concern. You can put your rex flag away, though. I guess that I didn't make myself very clear. I do understand the concept of calories in calories out and a calorie is a calorie. That was not my point. And no, a chocolate bar a day isn't an answer to anything but possible poor health. I also realize I cannot eat a small nation's food supply of healthy food and expect weight loss. I KNOW the changes I have made in my dietary habits and somewhat sedentary lifestyle, the problem is I dont understand why I'm not seeing more results after 5 weeks when so many people post about their big weightloss in one week. I go from eating fast food crappy food to healthy food, from the sofa to running almost nightly, sometimes twice a day. Yes, I would expect more change. I guess I just came to the wrong place for motivation. I assumed a group of people as numerous as this community would have had similar experiences and words of advice or motivation. My mistake.0 -
beaglebrandon wrote: »ktboko1963 wrote: »Beaglebrandon, it absolutely DOES matter that Shely514 is eating healthier. True, you can eat a chocolate bar a day and lose weight, but calories are not all the same. If you were to eat 1500 calories per day of chocolate, you would lose weight, but your weight loss would not last because your body would start to shut down. On top of that, without the healthy foods required to fuel your body, eating a low calorie unhealthy diet would not give you the strength, stamina, or brain power needed to succeed or maintain. So while I understand your comment, when a person is looking to lose weight for the long term, eating healthfully along with exercise is the only way to achieve that.
I was simply pointing out the fact that a calorie is a calorie for weight loss purposes.
I understand what healthy foods do - and they are very important - but when you say you can't lose weight in the same sentence you say that you're eating healthy, it's a big red flag to me, that you don't understand weight loss, and simply think eating healthy will get you to lose weight. And that you must cut out certain foods to lose weight. That's simply not true.
I was taking that to an extreme suggesting you can eat just chocolate and lose weight. Trying to prove a point about weight loss - it's calories, not the TYPE of food. Of course, you can't sustain just a chocolate diet because of health reasons, that's obvious. I'm amazed how some can take things out of context.
Well thank you for your concern. You can put your rex flag away, though. I guess that I didn't make myself very clear. I do understand the concept of calories in calories out and a calorie is a calorie. That was not my point. And no, a chocolate bar a day isn't an answer to anything but possible poor health. I also realize I cannot eat a small nation's food supply of healthy food and expect weight loss. I KNOW the changes I have made in my dietary habits and somewhat sedentary lifestyle, the problem is I dont understand why I'm not seeing more results after 5 weeks when so many people post about their big weightloss in one week. I go from eating fast food crappy food to healthy food, from the sofa to running almost nightly, sometimes twice a day. Yes, I would expect more change. I guess I just came to the wrong place for motivation. I assumed a group of people as numerous as this community would have had similar experiences and words of advice or motivation. My mistake.
What some people are trying to point out is that healthy foods are relevant for health, but it's pretty irrelevant for weight loss. If you aren't losing weight, the thing to look at is the calories you're eating. Do you know how many you're eating per day right now?3 -
Yes, 1200. I was told to increase to 1400 and eat mostly protein. I really think that just messed me up more, plus I found it difficult to eat 1400 calories of good food. I could certainly attain that goal with chocolate, fast food and Dr.Pepper.0
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One of my favorite quotes that helps to motivate me is...
"I already know what it feels like to give up. I want to see what happens when I don't"
Anytime I stall or gain some water weight, I find myself getting discouraged. Then I have to step back and realize that I know I can do it. Quitting will only leave me in the miserable place I am right now. You can totally do this!!3 -
beaglebrandon wrote: »ktboko1963 wrote: »Beaglebrandon, it absolutely DOES matter that Shely514 is eating healthier. True, you can eat a chocolate bar a day and lose weight, but calories are not all the same. If you were to eat 1500 calories per day of chocolate, you would lose weight, but your weight loss would not last because your body would start to shut down. On top of that, without the healthy foods required to fuel your body, eating a low calorie unhealthy diet would not give you the strength, stamina, or brain power needed to succeed or maintain. So while I understand your comment, when a person is looking to lose weight for the long term, eating healthfully along with exercise is the only way to achieve that.
I was simply pointing out the fact that a calorie is a calorie for weight loss purposes.
I understand what healthy foods do - and they are very important - but when you say you can't lose weight in the same sentence you say that you're eating healthy, it's a big red flag to me, that you don't understand weight loss, and simply think eating healthy will get you to lose weight. And that you must cut out certain foods to lose weight. That's simply not true.
I was taking that to an extreme suggesting you can eat just chocolate and lose weight. Trying to prove a point about weight loss - it's calories, not the TYPE of food. Of course, you can't sustain just a chocolate diet because of health reasons, that's obvious. I'm amazed how some can take things out of context.
Well thank you for your concern. You can put your rex flag away, though. I guess that I didn't make myself very clear. I do understand the concept of calories in calories out and a calorie is a calorie. That was not my point. And no, a chocolate bar a day isn't an answer to anything but possible poor health. I also realize I cannot eat a small nation's food supply of healthy food and expect weight loss. I KNOW the changes I have made in my dietary habits and somewhat sedentary lifestyle, the problem is I dont understand why I'm not seeing more results after 5 weeks when so many people post about their big weightloss in one week. I go from eating fast food crappy food to healthy food, from the sofa to running almost nightly, sometimes twice a day. Yes, I would expect more change. I guess I just came to the wrong place for motivation. I assumed a group of people as numerous as this community would have had similar experiences and words of advice or motivation. My mistake.
He was actually responding to @ktboko1963 not you, and I'm not really sure what you wanted to hear. If you can give us more specific numbers, there are plenty of experienced and helpful people here who can give you suggestions. Based on what you posted, we can only give you generic responses. Best of luck.0 -
Yes, 1200. I was told to increase to 1400 and eat mostly protein. I really think that just messed me up more, plus I found it difficult to eat 1400 calories of good food. I could certainly attain that goal with chocolate, fast food and Dr.Pepper.
And just to confirm, you are using a food scale for all solid food? Are you using any generic/homemade entries from the database? Have you double-checked the calorie counts of the foods you're commonly eaten online to ensure you haven't accidentally chosen database entries that are in error? Are there any days where you are going over your calorie goal or not logging?
If someone finds it impossible to eat 1,400 calories, it leads me to suspect there may be a logging error and you're accidentally eating more than you think you are.2 -
I can't comment on your diet as your diary is closed but I can relate to the jelly belly comment. I found when I started to eat differently that my stomach felt much more jiggly not sure why this happened but after a few months things started to tighten up again. Give it time, lift heavy, do some cardio but most importantly count your calories and stick to the MFP recommendations and you will lose.
Please don't give up because it is not happening as fast as you would like.0 -
The words of advise that you need to follow are weigh your food so you know how many calories you are eating, and to be patient. You shouldn't expect big weight losses in one week. People who have them are generally beginners who are obese and lose a lot of water weight at the beginning. You really shoulnt' be trying to lose more than about a pound per week. If you are obese then 2 pounds a week is ok and if you only need to lose 10-20 pounds then you really should set your goal to .5 if you want to lose weight in a healthy manner. You do not have to cut out certain foods to lose weight. You might have to cut down on them, but you don't have to completly cut them out. For the record I eat chocolate daily and usually eat fast food weekly. I have lost 57 pounds and am quite healthy. I do eat lots of "healthy" foods, but I also eat foods that aren't considered that healthy, I just eat them in moderation.2
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I have been there. I have lost and gained the same 10lbs a few times. But (so far) I have kept it off for a year and here is what I have taken away from it. (with the exception that you have an underlying health issue or are taking any medications that would make you retain of course). I just wasn't being honest and patient with myself a lot of the time. It can take a couple months to really see some muscle definition coming through depending on where you are on your weight loss journey. It can takes weeks to get over a plateau. It took me a long time to admit I wasn't eating as well as I thought I was and logging as strict as I could have. I just had to accept I'm not going to look the way I want to as soon as I'd like, accept I can't restrict my calories below a certain point or I'll feel deprived, accept maybe I won't meet my weight loss goal before my vacation. But I'll NEVER make that goal if I just quit while I'm behind. I'd rather make that goal two months late than never at all. It takes weeks for your body to get used to a new diet. You can feel really bloated after upping your water intake and fresh fruits and veggies. But if you are weighing all your food (in grams and ounces not cups and tsp), drinking lots of water, exercising hard, the results will come! Be patient! Love your body for what is it today, it is an amazing machine. Rome was not built in a day, and neither was Dwayne The Rock Johnson :-)2
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If you're doing all the right things, you'll want to rule out any health problems. Are you on any birth control or taking any medications as that can cause your weight loss to stall? Try changing up your routine a little and see if that helps.
I was in the same boat except I lost and regained the same 3-4 lbs for 7 months. I couldn't figure out why I wasn't losing any weight nor inches. I did some research and think I may have Leptin Resistance (here's some info about it)
https://authoritynutrition.com/leptin-101/
I have lowered my calories to 1500 per day, stopped doing cardio except for walking, and even began intermittent fasting and in the first month, I broke through that plateau and my weight loss of going in the right direction.
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I KNOW the changes I have made in my dietary habits and somewhat sedentary lifestyle, the problem is I dont understand why I'm not seeing more results after 5 weeks when so many people post about their big weightloss in one week. I go from eating fast food crappy food to healthy food, from the sofa to running almost nightly, sometimes twice a day. Yes, I would expect more change.
When starting exercising, your muscles stretch/rip/flex and hold water to repair. This is why if you exercise for an hour, and drink plenty of water, you won't see any results the next day. Give it a few days of rest and the water weight will go away.
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I posted a couple weeks ago because I was frustrated by not losing weight. I began running and walking (similar to C25k) on June 12th and began eating much healthier, fruits, veggies, lean protein, etc.. gave up my chocolate and DP sedentary life! I also do kettlebell a few times a week. The scale has been all over the place, lost 3.2 and now I am back where I started. I feel I look different in the mirror but not much difference when I measure. My abdomen looks all dimply and feels jelly like..I know that sounds crazy but I feel it looks gross, different.. I just feel like after a month I should see more loss of inches, pounds or something! Yes, I started weighing food as yall asked before. I drink a gallon of water a day, also. I'm getting so frustrated I'm starting to think of quitting, and I really don't want to when I need to lose at least 38 pounds. I guess I just want to hear someone can relate and has seen this before.
I've gone as long as 3 or 4 months before I notice anything happening.
Eating healthier isn't just something you do for weight loss then afterwards you get to stop. Make changes and eventually changes will happen to your body.1
This discussion has been closed.
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