Help! Losing motivation :(

VoodooAborisha

I have been doing the 30 day shred and other workout dvd's and counting calories on here for about 6 -7 weeks now (the first few weeks were on a different account). This is attempt number 3 to try to lose some weight. Have had a bad week this week - instead of eating my 1100 calories which I had been doing when I lost the 8 lbs (1300 on most days because of extra calories from exercise), I have been eating like 1600 each day (still doing my 30 day shred, but that only gets rid of 140 calories!), and so, of course, not only have I stopped losing weight, I have gained a pound. What happened is that we went out to eat a few times this weekend to cheer up my husband who is having a bad time at work, so I wound up treating myself as well . I have still been exercising through these past few days, which I am glad of. It is very clear to me that when I go away on vacation or to my parents in law's house, where they eat high fat and high sugar, that 6 weeks of diet can be undone in just one week of eating "normal." That is scary.

I woke up today with some of the same thoughts and feelings I had before I quit last time, and that worries me, because I know I can go either way at this point. Anybody have an advice on positive thinking or anything they do when they get discouraged? I don't want to quit this time - I want this to be the moment I do something better. But I am not so convinced in the reality of me sticking to this. All I can think of is the times I tried and failed. Anyone else go through this?

Thanks in advance,
Voodoo Lady

ehorn625

I have been doing mfp seriously since 8/1. Lost 17 or 18 lbs so far. Just had the worst weekend, both from an eating and working out point. Yesterday I had a stern talk with myself! Said" You are NOT sliding back and undoing the good you have done!" And so I did the 30 day shred yesterday and today and am back on track. Sometimes I am super motivated and sometimes I have to talk myself back into it. Keep at it! I have a super stressful job and used to "stress" eat all the time but I realized that in the end, the binging wasn't worth it.

Good luck!

sarah456s

It may be that what you gained was water weight from high sodium restaurant food. Try to get back on track, and see if your weight doesn't go back down again within a few days.

Also, 1100 is a very low goal for calories. My goal is closer to the 1600 that you think is bad! To me that's a great day!

I have tried and failed many times to lose weight on a low calorie goal. It is hard to do, it makes me hangry, and I lose very slowly. I finally decided that if I'm going to lose slowly anyway, I may as well eat more calories so that's it's not such a miserable existence and it's not so darn difficult. I find it so much easier to just track, and maybe cut out 300-500 calories out of a "normal" day, than to try to lower my intake by 800-1000. That way, by making it easier on myself, I am less likely to quit.

I guess also, what are you going to do if you DO get to goal? Continue eating 1100, or go back to "normal" and gain it back? You've got to find something that's pretty sustainable in the long run. Maybe figure out what your maintenance calories would be at goal or even your maintenance calories now, and eat that for a week or so to have a little diet break until you're feeling good again, then you can always cut back down again?

PinkCoconut

Girl, I can totally relate! I used to get so afraid and then just quit!

What happened to me this time around that worked was to make the decision that no matter what, I wouldn't quit! That success is my ONLY OPTION. When I switched to that mindframe, low and behold, it worked! You're going at it the right way, stop restricting yourself and log your food. I had to experiment with how many calories I took in to help me lose weight so if 1600 is working for you then stick with it! When you DO get to your goal, SLOWLY start to add calories back into your diet so that you begin to maintain. You might find that your weight fluctuates slightly for the first few weeks as your body gets used to eating the calories but it'll even out. You really want this to become a lifestyle so try not to rush it. Focus on creating healthy habits.

This really is a journey and as long as you decide that you won't give up, you won't! And you'll totally succeed!

Feel free to friend me!

TDiaz214

I previously lost around 40lbs, and started feeling like that. Soon enough, I gained it all back and was back at the start.

It then took a long while for me to try to get back onto it, and now I've lost 30lbs again and even now, I've had days where I've gone off on the calorie limits. It happens. But make sure you can get back into the habit of keeping control of your calories.

Just tell yourself, that although you aren't there now, you are much closer than you were previously.

melissaka7

Feel free to add me if you'd like. I'm at the end of my journey. Lost 50lbs, but working out & eating right have just become a part of my life. I did a round of Insanity, but now that I don't have to lose, I'm actually going to do 30DS along with running.