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IvyJohnston
IvyJohnston Posts: 1 Member
in Introduce Yourself

Hi my name is Ivy and I'm just starting out with my weight loss journey. I was going to ask how do you keep motivated as I tend to lose hope when I don't lose any weight.

Replies

  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 9,768 Member
    edited May 29

    Hi @IvyJohnston
    Welcome To MFP!

    Motivation is fleeting and motivation is overrated.

    Creating “habit” is far more useful and effective. Take the dog for a walk a couple times a day. After a week or so he’s going to come stare at you with high expectations. Put your walk or stretch or other exercise on your calendar as a block of uninterrupted noncancelable time. Don’t feel like it? Do it anyway. Tell yourself “I’ll do at least 10 minutes of it”. You’ll likely end up finishing what you’ve started and that’s a powerful thing.

    As far as not losing weight, how long have you been in MfP? Do you have a scale? Are you weighing? Logging to your daily diary? Are you using metric or relying on old measuring cups and spoons. It’s so easy to heap them high and add 50-100% of what you think you’re eating.

    Or….gasp…..are you doing eyeball estimated and guessing what you’ve eaten during the day? Forgot to include that English muffin? Those chips or pretzels? Think the candy bar you picked up at the checkout didn’t matter “that much”? How much cream and sugar did you put in your coffee this morning? Did you count it? How many glasses of wine yesterday?

    I was so nutritionally ignorant, I thought sodas and fancy coffees didn’t count because I’d “pee them right out” Oops. They count. A lot. 😬


    What’s your height, current weight, and activity level?

    Basically, if you’re not losing, you’re eating too much.

    If you’re new to MFP, you’re going to have a water-weight roller coaster the first couple months til your digestion etc settle down. You may be adding extra salty foods in an effort to recoup tastes you think you’re missing. If you’re new to exercise and have muscle soreness, well, hello! extra water weight.

    Even an arthritis or joint flare up like I’m having because of this wild weather can add temporary water weight. Today’s going to be a doozy of a storm because even an ankle is aching a little bit. So I’m not surprised my weight is “up” this morning. I’m expecting a significant drop when we dry out next week.

    Took any flights or long driving trips for Memorial Day? Yup, water weight.

    I am here to tell you, as a senior, I went from a tight XXXL to maintaining in a size S. It takes application and dedication. It’s not hard, but it does require those, daily. Once you get a handle on what you’re eating, you’re eating changes and your life changes.

  • Murrio
    Murrio Posts: 2 Member

    cannot locate where this app keeps track of my steps every day . Do I need to purchase a steps app as well?

  • Murrio
    Murrio Posts: 2 Member

    how do you contact this company ?

  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 9,768 Member
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48631214#Comment_48631214

    hi Murrio

    When you have a question on an unrelated subject, it’s best to start a new thread so your question will get the attention it deserves.

    If you’re using the app, you’ll find your step count logged under “exercise” at the bottom of your food diary.

    However, for steps to appear in the app, you need to sync your phone or fitness tracker to the app. The app itself will not record steps.

    To contact MFP, scroll down the community boards and you’ll find an area where you can address questions to them. It may take a couple of days to get a reply, but chances are that a board member will be able to answer your question before they do. Remember, your question will be visible to everyone so be careful what personal information you share.

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