Is anybody else tired of the whole "weight loss" thing?

redrocksrunner
redrocksrunner Posts: 2
in Health and Weight Loss
Ok here is my issue....My weight has fluctuated throughout my life...I have been very fit, and very fat... The more I try to lose weight, the fatter I get..
I find that I have the most success when I just "let go", and stop trying so hard...I am naturally a very active person, love to cook, and have been a vegetarian for around 8 years..at my core I am a healthy, fit person...but when I start trying to control things (calorie intake, burn etc.) I start obsessing, freak out and gain a bunch of weight.
Anyway, is anyone else seriously sick of the whole "dieting" thing? Does anyone else want to just relax, live life, and see what happens? Don't get me wrong, I am still going to work out (for fun, not only calorie burn), and eat healthy foods (also for fun and because they taste good and make me feel good, not counting calories or worrying about fat), I'm just not going to be so structured or feel guilty when I "mess up". I know that my body naturally wants to be fit, and if I get out of my own way it might just happen.
Who's with me?
«1

Replies

  • rie_q
    rie_q Posts: 73
    That's me. I don't log often, as I get compulsive about it, and to me it's not something I want to my doing for the rest of my life. But I am working on just generally being more aware of what I'm eating, how it affects my health, and being more active...
  • focuseddiva
    focuseddiva Posts: 174 Member
    To answer our question .... YES.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Yeah, which is why I went the sustainable lifestyle change route.
  • gigglesinthesun
    gigglesinthesun Posts: 860 Member
    see, my body doesn't want to be fit. It wants to be a 15lbs overweight couch potato.

    I have put the maintenance calories of my goal weight as my calorie goal and I am trying to teach myself what a portion or those calories look like.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    HELL NO!
    MOTIVATION is key!
    GIDDY UP AND GO KICK SOME BUTT!
  • 2essie
    2essie Posts: 2,847 Member
    Yes I am sick of it too but I was also sick of being fat and I am loving the new me. So for now I have to carry on.
  • colortheworld
    colortheworld Posts: 374 Member
    That's why I'm changing my lifestyle, not my diet.
    I'm counting calories until I get to my goal weight, but half of that is just to make me more aware of my bad habits and help me to gain new good habits.
  • eksero2k
    eksero2k Posts: 83 Member
    Pretty much! Which is why i'm still sticking to a daily calorie deficit during the week while working out. i do however allow myself extra treats in the weekends, so overall i'm essentially on maintenance, which i've been for about 4 months now with good results showing already :)
  • Morryarty
    Morryarty Posts: 22
    Totally get what you are saying, don't totally get why your asking it on a Fitness/lifestyle (yes) and calorie counting (yes it is) website? :smile:

    The thing that really gets me is the 'No pain no gain, push hard feel the burn bollox', it dose more harm than good putting lots of people who are uncertain about exercise right off. Weight lose is 70% nutrition only 30% exercise!!!:grumble:

    James
  • kelly_e_montana
    kelly_e_montana Posts: 1,999 Member
    Yes, and I go months without logging with no problem as long as I eat healthy, watch my portions and stay active.

    This is NOT A FREAKING CALORIE COUNTING WEBSITE. IT IS A FITNESS COMMUNITY! IT'S NOT CALLED "MYCALORIECOUNTINGPAL.COM".

    We are all here for different reasons. Some of us like to share recipes, exercise ideas, and chat with others with healthy lifestyles, whether or not we choose to count calories or not.
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    Yes, and I go months without logging with no problem as long as I eat healthy, watch my portions and stay active.

    This is NOT A FREAKING CALORIE COUNTING WEBSITE. IT IS A FITNESS COMMUNITY! IT'S NOT CALLED "MYCALORIECOUNTINGPAL.COM".

    We are all here for different reasons. Some of us like to share recipes, exercise ideas, and chat with others with healthy lifestyles, whether or not we choose to count calories or not.

    Except, it's primary function is a tool for counting calories.

    Sure, it has a forum where a few people try to get the majority of whacky advice on health and fitness dispelled, but there are loads of fitness forums on the net. This isn't even near the best one.....

    The calorie counter is pretty sweet though....
  • Madame_Goldbricker
    Madame_Goldbricker Posts: 1,625 Member
    Horses for courses I guess. If I don't watch myself then my weight "creeps". I tend to over eat, & if I'm not exercising consistently I gain (basic 101 I know). However, I'm not obsessed by my ticker being out of the red & don't really sweat going over my daily allowance. Personally I find it helpful for me to have a clear visual of how much I am consuming daily, but everyone has their own version of what works for them.
  • mcibty
    mcibty Posts: 1,252 Member
    Yeah, I kinda do get sick of it. Then I remember that I've lost 35lbs, am stronger, healthier and damn better looking, that I've fallen in love with working out and that I can still eat pretty much whatever I like and appreciate moderation instead of pure indulgence.
  • mortuseon
    mortuseon Posts: 579 Member
    I love data!! So, no. For me it's satisfying to have pie charts and percentages and masses so I know where I am every day, and I have an image of my progress (it's too easy to slip back into bad habits without data keeping me accountable). It could be nice to be carefree, but I am just not that person.
  • nickowastaken
    nickowastaken Posts: 751 Member
    This
    Yeah, which is why I went the sustainable lifestyle change route.

    And this
    That's why I'm changing my lifestyle, not my diet.
    I'm counting calories until I get to my goal weight, but half of that is just to make me more aware of my bad habits and help me to gain new good habits.
  • Swissmiss
    Swissmiss Posts: 8,754 Member
    Diets never work. So, if that is what you are doing, you will only fail. Your lifestyle must change. Don't worry about calories, just eat as healthy as you can.
  • mortuseon
    mortuseon Posts: 579 Member
    Diets never work. So, if that is what you are doing, you will only fail. Your lifestyle must change. Don't worry about calories, just eat as healthy as you can.

    I disagree that calorie counting is doomed to failure: I think it can become part of one's lifestyle to log calories consistently, it just gets easier and becomes more of a habit over time. I don't think there's a surefire way to lose or maintain without counting unless you're VERY good at eyeballing your portions, etc. 'Eating as healthily as you can' could easily lead to a gain if you overestimate.
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    Um. You're on a weight loss site. No, most of us aren't really sick of the whole "weight loss" thing. Nothing wrong with what you're saying, though.
  • SkunkMan69
    SkunkMan69 Posts: 4
    no
  • jkleon86
    jkleon86 Posts: 245 Member
    yes ! sick of it but I found years ago that once I admitted that I had a weight issue there was no turning back.
    Oh there were times I would lose 20 30 lb then I would gain it back and not try for a while but I could never just quit it was always there nagging at me that I needed to do something weather I did lose or failed again forgetting about it and go on with live with out it I couldn't never do.
  • VoodooAborisha
    VoodooAborisha Posts: 147 Member
    I am SOOO TIRED of it.

    I can't stop, but I am tired of it!

    I have lost my initial motivation, so it is a drudge. I used to get excited about doing my 30 day shred and now I have to FORCE myself to do it (probably because the month I didn't exercise because I hurt my back, I lost the MOST weight!).

    And I am HUNGRY. I was almost in tears the few days after Thanksgiving, because it had reminded me what a happy belly, full of foods that I LIKE feels like - it feels GOOD.

    That being said, I have lost 18 lbs since August and my 13-year-long depression and anxiety is almost gone, due to exercise. My skin looks better than ever, and I am almost as toned as I was when I was 17 doing ballet.

    So I can't STOP dieting and exercising, but I DON'T LIKE IT. My inner couch potato is HUNGRY and TIRED!
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    I get you. I don't like to have to keep monitoring stuff. Now from experience with me, when I eat what I like, so long as I make sure I get a decent amount of protein and fat, and don't go OTT with carbs (and by that I mean pigging out on large size bags of gummy bears or family size chocolate bars) then I tend to eat a maintenance and neither lose nor gain weight. Combine that with exercising and I maintain a healthy body fat percentage (without exercise, my weight stays the same but my body fat percentage goes up a little). For me to lose fat though, I do have to be careful and monitor calorie intake. That does take effort and doesn't happen by itself. And while the above is true and what I'm doing now, I made sure I was at a healthy body fat percentage before attempting to maintain like this. And I also keep an eye on both my weight and my body fat percentage. If they do creep up (other than planned weight gain from weight training while my body fat percentage stays the same) then I'm back to tracking.

    So basically, I think it's a good idea to aim in the long term for maintaining a healthy body fat percentage with the minimum of necessary effort............ but if you're not currently at a healthy body fat percentage then IMO it's worth the effort to get there before just accepting your body maintaining where it is. My personal experience is when I was obese, my body wanted to maintain the weight that it was, in spite of carrying too much fat. Now I'm in the healthy range for body fat, it still wants to maintain itself where it is, and now I let it do that.
  • mamadon
    mamadon Posts: 1,422 Member
    Nope.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Not me...I get fat when I just let life happen. No thanks.

    I was tired of being fat and tired too so I have lost the weight (8.5 to go) and then I will eat at maintenance but knowing myself and my capacity to over indulge I will be careful and do what I know I need to do to maintain my health.

    I don't understand those who feel it's okay to just do whatever and see what happens.....it's not that hard to log food, make sure you stay within a goal and live life without being deprived and not "diet" every other year because your sick of being fat.....
  • HollisGrant
    HollisGrant Posts: 2,022 Member
    Ok here is my issue....My weight has fluctuated throughout my life...I have been very fit, and very fat... The more I try to lose weight, the fatter I get..
    I find that I have the most success when I just "let go", and stop trying so hard...I am naturally a very active person, love to cook, and have been a vegetarian for around 8 years..at my core I am a healthy, fit person...but when I start trying to control things (calorie intake, burn etc.) I start obsessing, freak out and gain a bunch of weight.
    Anyway, is anyone else seriously sick of the whole "dieting" thing? Does anyone else want to just relax, live life, and see what happens? Don't get me wrong, I am still going to work out (for fun, not only calorie burn), and eat healthy foods (also for fun and because they taste good and make me feel good, not counting calories or worrying about fat), I'm just not going to be so structured or feel guilty when I "mess up". I know that my body naturally wants to be fit, and if I get out of my own way it might just happen.
    Who's with me?

    I get you. My problem is I know what will happen if I let go.

    I'm a food addict. I'm naturally not a very active person. Naturally, I would sit on the couch all day, glued to the computer... and my "natural" diet includes 7-11 glazed donuts, a whole bag of popcorn every evening, caramel ice cream, and a chocolate bar every single time I go to the grocery store or the drug store... oh, and breakfast with my overweight friend, where we both chow down on crepes with whipped cream.

    I got completely sick of the way I looked and felt. Counting calories helped me get down to a size where I can fit in my clothes, look good, and feel good. I love walking to work instead of taking my car. I love hiking in nature with my dog. Yes, it's a chore to log, but as long as I know I'm still a lazy food addict I'm going to keep logging. To be honest, MFP has raised the whole quality of my life.
  • briannadunn
    briannadunn Posts: 841 Member
    Surround yourself by successful people and you yourself will be successful. Motivation also inspires others. That is why I am here.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,031 Member
    People get tired of it because like a job..........................it's a job. It's mundane for many because it's something they have to pay attention to to get results. And many base their results off a scale.

    I go through weight loss and gain (though not very dramatically) and accept the fact that it's gonna come down to calorie intake. I just approach it in a manner that it's just a change of my current habit to just cutting it back some.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • redrocksrunner
    redrocksrunner Posts: 2
    Wow thanks for all the replies! I get that different things work for different people, but I don't think this is working for me...

    Example - 4 years ago, I was running and lifting weights almost every day (because I LOVED it), ate healthy food (also because I loved it, and loved to cook) drank wheatgrass every day, I was in pretty good shape but I still had maybe 10 pounds to lose, so I put up a schedule, started counting calories, and put pressure on myself to lose those extra few pounds.
    Now, I after 4 years of being miserable, obsessing, binging, counting, etc, I am about 75 pounds overweight, if I work out it's because I am starting a new "plan", and I absolutely do not enjoy it, I rarely cook anymore.

    Everything turned in to drudgery, weight loss is all I think about, food became calories, running became calories...everything just turned in to another task to complete...another task to fail...

    I am not resigning to be overweight at all, I am determined to get back in shape but I don't think this is the right way for me.

    I am definitely not saying that there's anything wrong with this site (I'm here because I've been using it and it is pretty awesome), I think whatever works for you is great! I was just wondering if there was anyone out there like me.....
  • mortuseon
    mortuseon Posts: 579 Member
    I think you'd have more success if you set small goals and built them up. Rome wasn't built in a day, and all that, and neither is 75lbs. It'll take a lot to overhaul your lifestyle but if you do so step by tiny step, it becomes habit and I think more sustainable. Hope that helps?
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    If the "whole weight loss thing" consisted of being lazy and eating over maintenance, I wouldn't be a fan either.

    Pretty sure OP is just doing it wrong.

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