Discouraged

ashley0616

A week into my lifestyle change and I'm a bit discouraged. I know I've hit a few roadblocks - if you look at my diaries I had way too many calories last weekend when I was just starting and I didn't exercise yesterday due to not feeling well - but with all of the changes I have made even despite that I really thought I would have made more progress than I have. I feel like I am finally working out for the first time in forever and really being mindful of what I'm eating and in my first week I really haven't seen much of anything happen. The first week is supposed to be the big one right? How do you stay motivated during these slow times?

Alysgrma

Good Morning!
I understand how you feel, we ALL get there at times. I can't see your diary so are you drinking enough water, are you watching your sodium? For me I can do everything that I am suppose to but if I am getting to much sodium I won't lose....it makes me retain water so bad that I don't even have salt in my home anylonger. There is enough salt in your every day foods!
Check out those items and adjust if you have to and I bet you will see the scale move...have you measured yourself at all? Sometimes the scale won't move but you are losing inches instead...measure and see if that is what is happening.

Good luck,
Mary

sburt1

You just have to stick with it!! I don't see a loss every week either but think of it as well you didn't gain any!! Just remember you can do it!!

Suedre

I promise, if you make good decisions 90% of the time, things will fall into place. The hardest part of weight loss for me was that it takes SO LONG and even great success (2 – 4 pounds in a week) can feel like just a drop in the bucket. There is no immediate gratification. Keep Moving Forward and you'll get where you want to be!

sunshine4me

Ashley,
Everyone loses at their own rate. It took you awhile to gain this weight so give your body a chance to get use to the new changes your introducing. I am personally losing at a rather slow rate, but I don't kill myself either. I'm trying to implement small changes that will stick instead of trying to make a huge sweeping change all at once that won't last. This may sound silly but ...the next time you go into the kitchen have a cd player near buy with some of your favorite dance music that's relatively fast. (Black Eyed Pea, Lady Gaga) then dance for one song. sneaking in exercise is always fun and you come out ahead of the game! Say 10 jumping jacks before you hop into the shower. or maybe 5 lunges to the front door before you go out. Whatever you do, Don't give up! You have the rest of your life and you need to do this for you and all the folks you love!

hbljo

First of all don't be discouraged...your doing great!!! You don't have to exercise everyday! Start with three days a week and watch your food...ease into it!! I would give it at least two-three weeks for small results!! You can do it so just do it...you will feel great after one month of diet and exercise!! Also eat low calorie big things like stir fry veggies with oriental sauce 50 calories per cup!! You can eat lots of that stuff and cans of healthy soup...be patient...hugs to you and good luck!!!!

mbmomof4

Good things take time. Your body has to adjust to a big lifestyle change. Please stay focused & don't give up!! I wasn't serious about this when I first signed on, came back a year later & lost about 40 lbs. Everyone has good days & bad days, and you do not loose every week.That's the way it was for me & many others on here. If you are feeling down come to your friends on MFP for support, we are all on this journey together!!!! Keep your chin up & stay focused...YOU WILL SUCCEED!!! :happy:

hardworkinghedonist

I really can sympathise! Firstly, a bit personal, but what day are you on in your cycle? If it's a few days before your period, I wouldn't go near the scales, you'll be full of water and there's nothing you can do but wait.
Secondly, the first few days you start exercising, your muscles will be really pumped and store glycogen and water like mad, waiting for the next onslaught. This means they will be heavy, but not for long. I read this last night, at my gym. So, DON'T GIVE UP! You are doing something amazing for your body and you WILL see changes. Make sure you take all your measurements and then again in 2 weeks time.

All the best,

Claire

kaffro

DON'T GIVE UP! You didn't put it on overnight, it's not going to come off overnight. I know it's so easy for me to say just be patient and do what you're doing and you'll start to see results, but you have to do that...that was the advice that was given to me when I started and as much as I hated hearing those words, they were spot on. I was patient and kept at it and was successful.

You go girl!

reneelee

Ashley,

Lets face it we didn't wake up one morning fat and we aren't going to loose weight overnight either. If you think it is tuff now wait untill you are ten pounds away from your goal, it is grueling to see the wieght come off painfully slow and sometimes that wieght loss only sticks around for a couple days . Just long enough to make you feel like you can document the loss once documents it shoots up three to five pounds ans sticks around for a few weeks. That being said I have to say I look like the wrinkled sheet in the morning holding on to h2o , so I'm trying to drink more water so by body will let go of the h2o wieght gain.
Then once we reach our goal haven't yet so this is speculation, but once we reach it we don't get feed back from others on our weight loss and we have to deal with the food pushers in our lives. so we have to grow and evolve now and become stronge with the maitnance part. So keep doing what your doing this site is going to help you soooo much and don't let any little set back get you down, because weight loose is a journey and you need time to arm yourself with knowledge so you will be able to maintain and never have to be heavy in your life again. Renee

Sweet13_Princess

Don't be discouraged or give up! Just keep trying. Even if the scale doesn't budge as quickly as you would like, you're doing a world of good for your body! Every little bit helps you keep your good health and will help you live longer.

I'm definately in the same boat as you. Ever since daylight savings time, my butt has been dragging. I'm lucky if I've mnade it to the gym a day or two a week. I need to get back in the swing of things, especially if I want to fit into my wedding dress come June 2011!!!

Feel free to add me as a friend, so we can motivate one another!

Shannon

ashley0616

Oh my goodness, thank you all for the encouraging words! It's so nice to know that I'm probably not doing anything wrong and that I'm not alone. This site and all of you are so amazing!

@Alysgrma : I never add salt to my food. I used to be a HUGE salt addict and then when I was pregnant with my first I was borderline pre-ecclampsia so I cut out all extra salt and never looked back. Water is kind of my weak side, I get usually about 6-8 glasses a day and am working on getting more. I also don't drink soda regularly, just a coke now and then if I have a headache.

@hardworking: I never know what day I am in my cycle! I've had Mirena in since April and haven't had a period in months now. It's a good think, I guess, but it means I never know when I'm retaining for that reason or because of somethign dietary. I've always weighed myself daily for that reason, and lately I've been in the same .4lb range (until this morning with that awesome 1lb loss!) so I don't think I'm retaining right now.

You are all right. It took me over 10 years to put on this 100lbs, it's not just going to magically go away. Though I wish it would, haha! I have to remind myself that my mini-goals are attainable and focus on them, not the big picture for now I guess. My measurements have budged a bit, as of this morning I was down about 1/2 inch from both my bust and waist. Nothing from the hips yet thanks to the baby pooch I don't expect to go anywhere any time soon.

PS If anyone knows how to make it so I can have my logs public, I'd love to know. That accountability will probably help my weekend binges a bit. Thanks!

reneelee

Go to your home, click on setting, click on diary settings, scole down and click on public

lefrance12

Ashley, go to settings... diary settings... and then scroll down to where it gives you the options for private, public etc. Hang in there, it takes time for everyone to gain or see the results, this is why we need support and motivation from each other to achieve the goals we seek. Good Luck!!!:happy:

binary_jester

Throw.Out.Your.Scale. Worst measurement of progress evah!

superwmn

...I feel like I am finally working out for the first time in forever and really being mindful of what I'm eating...

This is a HUGE success. More so than instant success on the scale. Do not look to the scale to validate your efforts. She is evil. Keep doing what you're doing and don't let the scale be a de-motivator.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Charmagne

ashley0616

OK. OK. No more scale. Literally, it will be the first time IN MY LIFE that I'm not obsessively weighing myself. But I'll try to stay away from it. Maybe my husband can hide it or something! :happy:

I seroiusly cannot tell you how odd and how wonderful it is to have such positive and motivating things said to me. You guys rock!