Really struggling

Georgeandme

I've done almost 2 weeks with mfp and I get on the scales everyday and they don't budge. I didn't have scales to start with so last recorded weight was 346lbs about 4 weeks ago. I weighed Monday a week in and was 340 but since then nothing. I know I'm probably expecting too much but I just want to see some little loss. I've got so far to go and I know weighing everyday just makes me cry and feel down all day. I wake up thinking today's the day I've stuck to my 1,910 calories everyday then so as I see I'm still the same I burst in to tears and feel crap for yet another day. I've tried not to weigh but can't seem to help myself. I've not started any exercise yet just wanted to get a few stone off first before I do. I'm not sure I can keep doing this day after day it's so demoralising!

Kalikel

Could you weigh more than 340? Is 340 maybe as high as the scale goes, so it can't register anything above that?

It seems odd to me that you'd weigh exactly the same thing every day. I'd think there would be some fluctuation. Most people go up and down, even during the day.

Your weight loss journey will be a very long one. You are going to go through periods where you don't see results. You'll have to be strong, committed and determined if you're going to see it all the way through. You'll work very hard and only see little bits of going down.

They add up! You just have to stick with it. And, again, it's going to take a very, very long time.

Just keep it up, curse at the scale for being a you-know-what, but don't give up.

You should read "Miracle in the Andes" by Nando Parrado. It is possibly the most inspirational book I ever read.

Don't quit! You can do it if you set your mind to it!!

AJ_G

How accurate are you with your calorie counting? Do log every piece of food that goes in your mouth? Do you weigh and measure everything before you eat it. If you don't, your perceived calorie intake and your actual calorie intake can be off by hundreds or even thousands of calories.

Georgeandme

Thanks guys my scales go up to 28 stone so I know they are accurate and I weigh every morsel of food. Like you say it's a long journey and I do feel better less aches and pains in just a few weeks just hope those scales budge soon it's the main thing that spurs me on.

josieami

Hey there, I'm no pro... I personally tend to get derailed along the way, but each time when I come back I try to remind myself of the things that were helping me while I was doing them. I hope these will help you along the way.

#1 Don't focus on the scale. I know that this is a tough one! I just find myself far more satisfied when I'm not obsessing over that aspect.

#2 Find something that makes you feel productive- for me I start some sort of work out that can be gradually increased- walking up and down my dead end road I can modify it by increasing the number of laps, timing myself, throwing in some high knee laps, jogging if I want to feel ridiculous (I'm still working on that) etc. I've done something similar with a pool when I had private access. It's my NSV(non scale victory) and helps keep me going when the scale may be demotivating!

#3 I try to not be too restrictive... some days I eat more than others, if I try not to eat something at night I'll end up over eating the next morning, so if I'm hungry I eat, but I measure it out and have a glass of water first to help stimulate the "full" feeling with less food.

#4 Try not to expect too much too quickly... especially when making big changes, you never know how exactly your body is going to react and sometimes it can take a few weeks of consistency to see the change that you want.

#5 I try to change my habits gradually- I usually start out logging my free eating, meaning that I'll log a few days just eating as I normally would(usually that's a lower than healthy number which leads me to believe that I owe binging to my unhealthy weight) after doing this for a few days I adjust myself to my "maintenance" calories then to a healthy weight loss range.

I hope you find some of my personal tips helpful in some way and that my post isn't TL,DR... Good luck in your search for what works for you!

liznotyet

Sorry you are feeling so defeated. The fact that you are still logging is a non-scale victory! How long did it take you to gain all that weight? What proportion of you is water and salt? Be a little patient while the rest of your body catches up with your mind.

Add a few more vegetables to your plate each meal if you can. And if you can get a Tai Chi video (I love 5 Day Fit Chi on amazon for under $10) it will give you a chance to move your body, gently. You need to build a new routine that tells your body it's time for a change.

Kalikel

Thanks guys my scales go up to 28 stone so I know they are accurate and I weigh every morsel of food. Like you say it's a long journey and I do feel better less aches and pains in just a few weeks just hope those scales budge soon it's the main thing that spurs me on.

It's going to happen. You just need to curse at the scale (and if you don't curse, learn to, because cursing at it feels good, lol) and keep on going. One day, that scale will move!

And get that book. If you read it, you will be inspired in a way you've never been and very glad that you read it. Even if you already know the story. Nobody could read that and not come away wildly inspired.

I give it as a graduation gift, every time I have to get one.

I'll stop. You'd think he was paying me to hawk it, lol.

If you keep at it, you'll succeed!

(You did see a doctor, right? To rule out any physical problems and approve your plan? I'm assuming you have!)

MelodyandBarbells

I've done almost 2 weeks with mfp and I get on the scales everyday and they don't budge. I didn't have scales to start with so last recorded weight was 346lbs about 4 weeks ago. I weighed Monday a week in and was 340 but since then nothing. I know I'm probably expecting too much but I just want to see some little loss. I've got so far to go and I know weighing everyday just makes me cry and feel down all day. I wake up thinking today's the day I've stuck to my 1,910 calories everyday then so as I see I'm still the same I burst in to tears and feel crap for yet another day. I've tried not to weigh but can't seem to help myself. I've not started any exercise yet just wanted to get a few stone off first before I do. I'm not sure I can keep doing this day after day it's so demoralising!

What! Get a grip, woman! You should be dancing because of that six lb loss. And if daily weighing is this bad right now just weigh once a week or something instead. My weight does go up and down everyday but sometimes the trend is upwards. But if I'm under my calorie goals usually there's a big drop around the corner, don't worry about it!

Meanwhile make sure you're logging everything as well as you can, I'm posting this link though I suspect you're on the right track!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1296011-calorie-counting-101

dakotababy

you sound emotional..and have a stall on the scale.

are you expecting your TOM anytime soon? If so, blame that.

Go4it1985

I'm sorry you are feeling down.

I don't know if you do this...but drink a Lot of water - aim for 1.5 to 2Litres (8 cups) per day. You might be experiencing water retention. Ironically you need to drink a lot of water so that you lose the "water weight".

Also, it may depend on how much carbohydrates you are eating and when you weigh yourself. See, if you had a bowl of pasta the night before and weigh yourself the next morning then I find, the scales don't budge or actually increase.

I lost 13lbs without doing any exercise. The biggest change I made was to eat quite a bit of high protein foods - egg, almonds, fish. That keeps you full for longer and your body takes twice as long to break that down (so you actually burn more calories digesting it)

YamaMaya1

The problem isn't the scale, the problem is your state of mind. You're placing all your value and self worth on that number. My advice to you is lock up your scale and don't go near it until you can weigh yourself without beating yourself up. If you're not seeing a change after a month, then you need to re evaluate your routine. Are you diligent with your workouts, are you pushing yourself as hard as you can be? Are you being honest on your food diary? For now, just keep pushing yourself to go another day, until it becomes a habit. Forget about the numbers, just focus on getting fit and healthy.

jkal1979

Just like I told you when you posted this on the Motivation & Support board yesterday you need to look at the big picture and see that you have lost an average of 1.5 pounds a week in the last month. That is progress and it's right in the healthy range of what you should be losing.

It's been 4 days since you have seen a change on the scale. You need to be patient and not allow the number on the scale define who you are. It might be a good idea for you not to weigh in so much.