This is HARDDD

AngelCain1518

I've never posted on here because I honestly just found out about this part of the app lol. I genuinely don't understand how ppl be doing this. I've been doing for a few months now and I see the scale going down but I don't think I look any different. Sometimes I miss just eating and not thinking about what I was putting into my body, it was so much easier then. But I refuse to go back. What keeps yall on track??

Lietchi

Our brain plays tricks on us, we often don't see changes while they're happening Also, sometimes the changes are hidden when we're still wearing our old clothes but when we buy new (better fitting) clothes it's suddenly very obvious - if not to ourselves, at least to others.
On top of that, it's not just about how we look. Just the fact that I was losing weight was enough to give me more self-confidence, even before anyone noticed. And once I'd lost a significant amount of weight, just feeling better was motivation to keep going.
Sure, logging food and sticking to a calorie budget is annoying, can feel restrictive... but it's nothing compared to how great it feels to be able to tie my shoelaces without holding my breath, to cross my legs, to walk up a hill or mountain feeling light on my feet and not out of breath after 2 minutes,...
Losing weight can be hard, but staying overweight is hard too - choose your hard
PS: losing weight can be hard, but we don't need to make it unnecessarily hard either! Not sure if this applies to you, but it helps to aim for a slower rate of loss (more food, yay ), find pleasant ways to be more active (rather than forcing yourself to do exercise you dislike), make gradual changes (rather than overhaul your diet/exercise habits drastically in one go),...

totameafox

I would suggest taking body measurements. You can get a measuring tape for sewing in the craft section of most stores. Areas usually tracked are neck, bust/chest, waist, upper arms, hips and thighs. This will give you the hard data that your mind doesn't see on it's own.

If you would like moral support feel free to join my group. I'll be doing this for the rest of my life... losing the weight and staying for maintenance. So you will always have company.

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/147555-speak-friend-and-enter

mmsmiles

I really have struggled over the years to stay on track. My health has been causing me to be more motivated. I think just having people to talk to helps. I think having others to who know what it feels like to struggle is comforting. I also ended up getting linked recently with a dietician I am hoping this helps as well. Best wishes you can do it!

megd44

I have tackled this as I did quitting smoking 2 years ago - after 37 years - which is honestly the reason I had to come back here. But I asked myself, what is my why?

Maybe it is age or wisdom or watching scary health issues for others, but my why is very different than what it was 10 years ago. And similar to the quit smoking why.

I want to be the healthiest version of me that I can be. I want to paddle board with my nieces and play with their toddlers. I want to snorkel and snow shoe with my hubby. I want to hike and walk and (maybe) run. I want to be active and travel and explore really cool places, now and especially when I retire in 6 to 9 years. I have seen what is happening to my in-laws in retirement, and while this may sound awful, that will NOT be me. They are young for having a 56 year old (teen father and step mom) and have tremendous mobility issues due to weight. We traveled internationally with them last year and let's just say it was a disaster.

So, this time, instead of focusing on how I look in my bathing suit, I am focusing on how I feel. I worked really hard this last year to improve my eating habits one step at a time, decrease alcohol and increase movement. I have also only done things I think I can do forever. I feel so much better!! Hubby asked me yesterday how much i have lost and commented on how "great" I look. That loss was less than what he thought, but the bloat is gone. Energy is up, sleep improving. Has it been hard? You bet. But i have taken one step, sometimes baby steps, at a time. I am within 5 pounds of my goal and at 56 in better shape than 46 and better health than in my 30s.

Find your why, then give yourself time to get there. And grace if you "slip." Follow these threads to learn, ask questions. And believe in yourself. There are tons of people here cheering you on.