Feeling slightly unmotivated

recipe4success

So i know this happens ...but I am really frustrated that my weight hasn't seemed like it is going down much lately. I know there are many reasons for this, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating. I am just wondering what others do when they start to lose a bit of their motivation.

I know what i need to do is get a renewed focus this week, take some of the excess from the diet (although i think i have been eating well), and continue exercising as i have been. But it is still frustrating when all you want is that silly scale to move down.

Thanks!

tawny7

I know exactly what you mean as I've been going through the same thing the last few weeks! It's so frustrating when you think you're doing everything right and yet the scale won't budge! I was so frustrated I took a week off from the gym and am now regretting it as it's hard to get back into it. Just keep doing what you've been doing eventually the scale will move!!

MaryTheIceCube

I went through something similar this past week. Frustrated that the scale was going back up a little, then ever so slowly creeping down -- just not fast enough for my liking! I have since made a few tweaks to my exercise routines and made up my mind that I'm going to do what I know I need to do, regardless of whether the scale changes much or not. I know deep down that I'm doing good things for my body and that all this hard work WILL pay off -- I just need to be patient! LoL.

If you're on Facebook, please feel free to check out the group I created over there, called Motivation. Many positive, encouraging people over that way! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=268180696780&ref=ts

Best wishes on your fitness journey!

~ Chandra

Sonflower

I know how up you feel..the best thing to do is up you exercise by 8-10 minutes and add something different to it..and be just a tad more careful about what you are eating..
I know when I slow down on the weight loss it means my body is bored and in a rut.
I did see that you are eating well, but try adding an extra veggie or fruit and watch what happens..
Hope this helps..

queenmedusa

You probably need to shake your exercise up a little - do more strength/less cardio or just different reps on the same machines, increase your intensity. Basically anything you need to do to freak your body out a little - doing the same thing every time means your body will get used to it.

Good luck!

recipe4success

I know exactly what you mean as I've been going through the same thing the last few weeks! It's so frustrating when you think you're doing everything right and yet the scale won't budge! I was so frustrated I took a week off from the gym and am now regretting it as it's hard to get back into it. Just keep doing what you've been doing eventually the scale will move!!

Thank you !

You are exactly right, I just need to keep at it and not give up. It is definitely hard to get back to the gym after being away...i had a very hard time getting back there myself at the start of all this.

Here's hoping we will both lose weight soon!

Mindful_Trent

When this happens I take a weekend (or a week) and "Get My *kitten* together"... I find that my environment influences my mood. Usually when i start feeling unmotivated, it's because I'm overwhelmed by other areas in my life - my house is a mess, things are crazy at work, etc. We only have so much mental energy, and sometimes we have to divert it to other things. It seems odd, but it's true - addressing some of the other areas of my life help me to feel free to get back on track with eating/exercising.

So, I'll clean my room, do the dishes, make a list of things I want to get accomplished. This was one of those weekends for me. I also planned out my lunches this whole week and made myself go grocery shopping (and only buy what was on my list). I didn't really want to go to the gym (I hadn't worked out in over a week) but I MADE myself go on Saturday. I found that afterwards, I felt great. It made me feel more motivated. I now feel more back on track, both food and exercise.

Another thing I would recommend is to make an honest list (for your eyes only) of all the reasons you want to get healthier. They can be silly reasons, selfish, superficial, serious - whatever the real reasons are that you are trying to lose weight and be healthy. Keep this somewhere that you can easily look at it when you are feeling unmotivated. You could even make a collage or something of that sort if you are of the artistic type.

You can do this! Good Luck!

jamie1888

Yes, be patient... yes, keep doing all the things you know you should.. blah, blah...

And YES!!!! It's SOOOOOOO frustrating when that happens!! :grumble: Had the same thing for the last couple of weeks; losing and gaining the same 2lbs. I knew the scale would eventually move in my favor, but it sure does piss you off while you are waiting!!

recipe4success

I went through something similar this past week. Frustrated that the scale was going back up a little, then ever so slowly creeping down -- just not fast enough for my liking! I have since made a few tweaks to my exercise routines and made up my mind that I'm going to do what I know I need to do, regardless of whether the scale changes much or not. I know deep down that I'm doing good things for my body and that all this hard work WILL pay off -- I just need to be patient! LoL.

If you're on Facebook, please feel free to check out the group I created over there, called Motivation. Many positive, encouraging people over that way! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=268180696780&ref=ts

Best wishes on your fitness journey!

~ Chandra

Thank you! You are so right, we are doing great things for our body, and that is very important. I do think at times our body needs a little break from losing which is why these stalls can happen.

lutzsher

I was very scale focused for the first number of months also . . . so I put it away in the garage and chose one day per month to weigh in ONLY.

You are not doing this just for the number on the scale, so don't be so focused on that. Instead just look at TODAY . . . did you eat healthy and "clean" . . . did you exercise . . . did you get in your water . . . did you get at least 7 hours of sleep per night ????

This is a life change, so focus on making those important changes, not the scale. The scale will only disappoint and unmotivate you most of the time. Take your measurements and record them, then only measure and get on the scale monthly.

Most importantly remember . . . I create myself with the choices I make each day . . . so only focus on one day at a time. It took all of us years to put on the excess weight so doing it properly for lasting results will take a long time too. Be patient, if you put in the effort you will see results . . . slowly but they will come.

recipe4success

I know how up you feel..the best thing to do is up you exercise by 8-10 minutes and add something different to it..and be just a tad more careful about what you are eating..
I know when I slow down on the weight loss it means my body is bored and in a rut.
I did see that you are eating well, but try adding an extra veggie or fruit and watch what happens..
Hope this helps..

Thanks!
That is a good idea to up the exercise a bit...i think what I may try is just upping my effort level...i did yesterday already and just have to keep it up. I tend to do fitness classes so they are a set length.

And i totally agree i need to be a bit more careful about what i eat...but yes need to get more f/v in again. I was doing better about that at the start of this

Thanks!

recipe4success

You probably need to shake your exercise up a little - do more strength/less cardio or just different reps on the same machines, increase your intensity. Basically anything you need to do to freak your body out a little - doing the same thing every time means your body will get used to it.

Good luck!

Thanks! you are totally right that i need to shake things up a bit..i just started back into strength training last thurs and did some yesterday too in classes so hopefully that will help!

recipe4success

When this happens I take a weekend (or a week) and "Get My *kitten* together"... I find that my environment influences my mood. Usually when i start feeling unmotivated, it's because I'm overwhelmed by other areas in my life - my house is a mess, things are crazy at work, etc. We only have so much mental energy, and sometimes we have to divert it to other things. It seems odd, but it's true - addressing some of the other areas of my life help me to feel free to get back on track with eating/exercising.

So, I'll clean my room, do the dishes, make a list of things I want to get accomplished. This was one of those weekends for me. I also planned out my lunches this whole week and made myself go grocery shopping (and only buy what was on my list). I didn't really want to go to the gym (I hadn't worked out in over a week) but I MADE myself go on Saturday. I found that afterwards, I felt great. It made me feel more motivated. I now feel more back on track, both food and exercise.

Another thing I would recommend is to make an honest list (for your eyes only) of all the reasons you want to get healthier. They can be silly reasons, selfish, superficial, serious - whatever the real reasons are that you are trying to lose weight and be healthy. Keep this somewhere that you can easily look at it when you are feeling unmotivated. You could even make a collage or something of that sort if you are of the artistic type.

You can do this! Good Luck!

Thank you so much for this advice! I think i am overwhelmed because we are moving in 2 1/2 weeks and i am stressed about that and thinking about how much we have to pack and do before then. It is probably taking my focus away from the healthy lifestyle.

I will have to make up a list of things I have to do, and perhaps clean the house (i wasn't planning on cleaning it much before the move, but maybe seeing messes is just stressing me out more!).

I like the idea of making a list for myself of why i want to be healthier, I think that will help alot.

Thanks so much again.

recipe4success

Yes, be patient... yes, keep doing all the things you know you should.. blah, blah...

And YES!!!! It's SOOOOOOO frustrating when that happens!! :grumble: Had the same thing for the last couple of weeks; losing and gaining the same 2lbs. I knew the scale would eventually move in my favor, but it sure does piss you off while you are waiting!!

Ugh yes exactly. It is just frustrating but i guess it happens to all of us, unless we are constantly decreasing our calories...which just isn't realistic!

recipe4success

I was very scale focused for the first number of months also . . . so I put it away in the garage and chose one day per month to weigh in ONLY.

You are not doing this just for the number on the scale, so don't be so focused on that. Instead just look at TODAY . . . did you eat healthy and "clean" . . . did you exercise . . . did you get in your water . . . did you get at least 7 hours of sleep per night ????

This is a life change, so focus on making those important changes, not the scale. The scale will only disappoint and unmotivate you most of the time. Take your measurements and record them, then only measure and get on the scale monthly.

Most importantly remember . . . I create myself with the choices I make each day . . . so only focus on one day at a time. It took all of us years to put on the excess weight so doing it properly for lasting results will take a long time too. Be patient, if you put in the effort you will see results . . . slowly but they will come.

THank you for the advice! I know for some that not weighing in for along period of time is a good option, but for me I feel that would simply demotivate me even more. However I do agree that I shouldn't worry so much about what it says, and instead focus on how I do on a daily basis.

I do need to take my measurements! I will get hubby to do that tonight for me.