Gym beginner overwhelmed with rules and macros and protein and calorie intake, calorie deficit:(

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cshdw56mgr
cshdw56mgr Posts: 1 Member
in Introduce Yourself

I’ve been at it for more than 2 months now and it still feels like a diet instead of a lifestyle, and I’m used to eating whole food with lots of fresh veggies and fruits but, I guess I lack organisation and consistency, adding to all that the disappointment when stepping on the scale, it’s not going back up, but not going down either after some time.

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  • reggaereggie
    reggaereggie Posts: 19 Member
    edited July 8

    Hi, honestly, sometimes the pressure to “do everything right” can take the joy out of it. Focus on one small habit at a time rather than trying to mix everything at once. If you enjoy whole foods, that’s a great foundation; it might just be about adjusting portion sizes or timing slightly.
    About the scale, it does not always provide a full picture, particularly if your body is adjusting or building muscle. Trust the process.
    This helped me when I was figuring things out: https://slimvive.com/best-diets-for-weight-loss/ might give you a fresh perspective or some ideas you can adapt to your style.

  • mjbnj0001
    mjbnj0001 Posts: 1,337 Member
    edited July 8
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10942556/gym-beginner-overwhelmed-with-rules-and-macros-and-protein-and-calorie-intake-calorie-deficit

    keep at it. dont know your specifics, program, etc., but i tend to live by the joke in the original "pirates of the caribbean" movie … "the rules, they're more a guideline…".

    Always a big guy, and somewhat active (background in American football, bike touring, scuba instructor [side gig], sailor, etc.), I put on a tremendous amount of weight due to some circumstances not repeating now, and augmented by a mainly sedentary IT career and extensive business travel (travel food). In the 2 yrs prior to the pandemic, I retired, got on a program, lost over 70 lbs., and it took the 2 yrs to accomplish that. Maddeningly slow, subject to periods of plateau. Mosly home cooking, following macro guidelines, cycling and water sports, etc. Then came the pandemic, food supply constraints, and a period of downsizing/relocation, etc., gaining back about 20lbs. Since this January, I'm down about 15lbs., and working at it, in a fully-realized lifestyle, with more weight loss and fitness and activity goals ahead of me. And yes, I make mistakes, have occasional indulgences, slack off, get disappointed, and more. But I keep at it generally.

    I could go on … but my main messages are, keep at it, it will become natural to you, keep your end goal in mind and pursue intermediate, attainable "stretch goals" and don't pursue "perfection" and chastise yourself for not attaining perfection. For me, my end goal at now 71yo, is to be a presence in the lives of grandchildren-to-be as something other than decrepit, and to enjoy this beautiful world as long as I can. In decent health and capability.

    post-posting addendum: there is a theory that it takes a while for a new habit, consciously acquired, to "take" - whether by cycles of repetition or by action over time, usually expressed as about 2-4 months. it takes a lot of effort to change the lanes your mind is used to driving in.

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