So frustrated, need motivation!

gaelicstorm26

My scale refuses to budge.

I've been logging my food faithfully. Anything that is not prepackaged is measured and entered into MFP. I drink between 6-8 glasses of water a day. I've been carrying extra water weight and it is getting on my nerves.

I *know* that I'm making progress, but I'm frustrated with watching my diet and exercizing and the scale refusing to budge. In fact, it has gone up. I'm trying SO HARD to keep positive and to remember that this is something that will likely change with time. Yesterday I did overdo the sodium. I know what the problem is, but I'm still finding myself discouraged.

In good news, I've worked up the courage to ask my hubby to take measurements of my body tonight. Super hard as I'm completely embarassed. I'm hoping that taking measurements and tracking those will start to give me motivation for those weeks that the scale won't move.

Anyone have success stories for me? I could use some

scubasuenc

Generally when people say they are logging their food and doing everything right and not losing, they are either under estimating their food consumption or over estimating their calorie burns.

Are you measuring your food with cups/spoons or weighing it? Weighing is much more accurate. I have found I need to weigh many pre-packaged foods too. The size and number of servings listed in the nutritional info might not match what is on the package.

Are you exercising and eating your exercise calories back? If so where are you getting your exercise calorie numbers from? I have found the MFP exercise numbers to be high when compared to my heart rate monitor. You might try eating only half of your exercise calories back.

Another possibility is that you need to adjust your macros. For example I can eat the same number of calories in a high protein moderate carb diet and lose more than if I ate a more standard diet with lots of carbs. The more I focus on getting lots of protein, the better I lose. If you are confident that you are accurately logging your food and exercise you might consider adjusting your macros.

gaelicstorm26

Thanks for the reply. I weigh my food using a digital food scale and I don't eat back my exercise calories because I think MFP really overestimates how many calories are burned. I don't have a HRM so I just don't feel comfortable eating back any exercise calories without one.

Tonight, for example: I weighed my turkey burger in ounces, I weighed the slice of cheese that went on top. I weighed the bun (it was true to what the label said) and I weighed my pasta salad. I literally sit with the food scale next to my plate and weigh my portions. My husband laughs because I will literally weigh out 43 grams of brown rice! On the days that I work, I weigh and portion my food the night before so that I stick to the plan. I weigh lunch meat, cheese, even serving sizes of crackers. I don't weigh things like my Dannon Light and Fit yogurts. I go by the nutrition label. I trust that nutrition labels are accurate within a standard percentage that wouldn't put me over my calories. I've been weighing so much that I had to replace the battery in my scale last week!

I took my diuretic today and I have dropped 3 lbs already. I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis as well, which has caused water retention for years. I've always taken a diuretic until my doctor switched my medication a month ago. Luckily I have an appointment on Friday afternoon. I'm going to ask to be put on a low dose of the diuretic again.

I have adjusted my macros but haven't been that strict about it. I think my next move is to really start trying to be more strict. I aim for under 100 net carbs a day. Sometimes I am over though. Usually days where I do cardio.

SharonNehring

I battle with fluid retention too and it's likely the cause of your gain. Keep making those healthy choices and talk to your doc. The scale will start to move.

If you are embarrassed, why not take your own measurements? No need to rely on another person to them if it makes you uncomfortable.

gaelicstorm26

I battle with fluid retention too and it's likely the cause of your gain. Keep making those healthy choices and talk to your doc. The scale will start to move.

If you are embarrassed, why not take your own measurements? No need to rely on another person to them if it makes you uncomfortable.

I took my own the other day, but then I worry about taking them again in the right spot! Maybe I'll wait and see how consistent I can be first!

kamaperry

Hey, buddy!! Don't get discouraged! The weight gain was for sure sodium! I gained 7 pounds once overnight after eating chinese!! It would also help to increase your water a bit, I find it helps me when I do. How do your clothes fit? Any body changes? It's not all about the scale!

gaelicstorm26

The scale moved, thank goodness!

I haven't noticed a huge change in how my clothing fits, but I have noticed a change in my overall energy level!

Alsvic

13 pounds in a month is really good.

I don't know what your starting point was but I have been working this for 3 and a half months. My blood sugars have dropped considerably and I had to buy new pants this weekend (down 8 inches). I usually will watch the number on the scale stay the same or go up for a week or two then I will drop 5 or six pounds in a few days. This is the first time I have lost weight in my life. It took me 56 years to get to 350 pounds I can wait a year or two to lose 150 pounds or more.

Three things I can do now that I couldn't do four months ago

Get down on the floor and get up without holding on to something or someone

Ride my exercise bike for 30 minutes or more twice a day (4 months ago I couldn't do 5 minutes)

do one hundred stability ball sit ups twice a day.

I just have more energy and a better outlook on life even with my type two diagnosis. Who would have thought that being diagnosed T2 at the end of January would have been the cause for me to feel so much better physically and mentally in the middle of May.

I don't know if this helps to motivate you but it sure helped me to put everything in perspective. Thanks for the opportunity to reflect on my little victories.

gaelicstorm26

I've also seen some really positive effects on my blood sugar.

You've made some really awesome progress!

For my first 20 days I just focused on eating and cleaning up my diet. I just added moderate physical activity on Friday, but I'm feeling pretty good about it. At least I'm not just sitting on the couch anymore!

BigGuy47

13 pounds in a month is really good.

I saw the ticker and thought the same thing. You're doing great. Keep up the good work, it's paying off.

ecclesse

Double check your scale to make sure that it is accurate!

GlucernaBrand

I really like the way you're noticing progress in several areas: blood sugar levels lower, energy levels higher, and weight loss on the scale. When we have more than one way to monitor success, it helps us continue to feel motivated. Sometimes the scale is the last to change, but we're making progress in other areas. I hope you're feeling more motiviated~ ~Lynn /Glucerna