Weight Loss - When you are impatient for results

lisas2415

Hi, Just wondering how people handle feeling impatient with getting the results, it always seems a long 7 days till the next weigh day...a long month until the next measurement day...a long 6 months it will take until I reach my goal if I stay on track.... what methods do people use to keep focused in the short term with the day to day hard work when reaching your goal seems so far away.....those who have managed to consistently lose weight for 6 months to a year or longer...how did you do it!? i always manage 2-3 months and get okay results then something happens or i lose motivation and i'm set back again!

7ricarico

I have the same struggle... I'm very impatient! I also know that my impatience can be a downfall---if I don't see results on the scale, I tend to give up. What's been working for me lately is looking forward to fun workouts. I completed C25K this summer--which was a huge accomplishment for me. Seeing the progress in my running helped to divert my attention from the scale. Now that I'm done with that program, I take LesMills classes every day M-F and sometimes Saturday--they are so much fun and have greatly improved my fitness. I'm also still running a few times/week in the evening so I don't reverse the progress I made there. Even though right now the scale isn't moving as much as I would like to see it, it's really helping that my attention is focused on something that is healthy and will help move my body toward my goals.

unhgoose

In the past I've used mini-rewards. Lose so many inches and get a treat (for me that's stuff like $10 gifts to myself that I wouldn't usually spend money on- I'm pretty frugal).

I also just try to do things I enjoy so that I'm not as focused on it. After a few weeks of getting back into a healthy mind set it seems normal to eat only lighter healthier meals. And I cook them for myself so they taste delicious. I also chose exercise that I enjoy.

The key for me to not feel impatient is to not feel deprived by what I'm doing so it isn't really a struggle. When I've tried more restrictive diets in the past I've felt like there was a giant timer clicking down somewhere that let me know when I would get to eat again and a longer timer for when I would I have my magical perfect body. Waiting for that made me really *****y. I'm not a happy camper when I'm hungry and have a long period of misery in front of me.

TLDR: Make changes in your life that don't make you miserable, keep living your life and hopefully you won't notice the wait that much.

Good luck on your journey.

tlblake84

I can relate. I joined MFP last year, but only used it for a short time and then just stopped after I lost motivation. I'm doing much better this time around and sticking with it. I, too, am seeing slow results and its hard to keep at it each day. I am moreso watching my progress with clothes. Once I fit into this pair of jeans comfortably I hit a milestone, next milestone, this pair of jeans.

SteveMFP123

I weigh myself once a month, so for me it's even longer and by the time I get there I really need that hit of motivation that losing weight gives me. So far it's working out well for me because I've lost decent numbers in both my weigh ins, the problem will be if I ever struggle on the scale which hopefully I won't.

GiveMeCoffee

Because I switched to setting fitness related goals over weight loss goals. Example my goals this month: Bike 300 miles, lift 3 times per week per my plan, and run at least once per week.

To do that I have to stay consistent. You also need to learn patience. Plus developing good habits, I log my food as part of my daily routine, I work out based on the routine I've put into place.

The other thing is I've learned this time around that I don't have to be miserable to lose weight.

DeguelloTex

I remind myself that impatience doesn't change anything and that giving in to that impatience would only push my goals further into the future.

Basically, I jut refuse to give in to it. That's probably not very helpful, but it is what it is.

Rachelwin65

That has been my MO in the past. The goal is just so big and overwhelming. Yesterday I met with a nutritionist for the first time and we set a goal of just 30 lbs. (I am about 130 lbs. overweight according to the BMI scales.)

So I actually adjusted my ticker to show the 30 lbs. goal and am going to stay off the scale until my next appointment with her in 3 weeks. I am hoping that is going to keep me focussed on the day to day accomplishments of eating healthy, tracking and exercising.

Rachelwin65

Because I switched to setting fitness related goals over weight loss goals. Example my goals this month: Bike 300 miles, lift 3 times per week per my plan, and run at least once per week.

To do that I have to stay consistent. You also need to learn patience. Plus developing good habits, I log my food as part of my daily routine, I work out based on the routine I've put into place.

The other thing is I've learned this time around that I don't have to be miserable to lose weight.

This is GREAT advice!

Sharon_C

I remind myself that the weight didn't come on in a few weeks or months and it sure as heck isn't going to come off in a few weeks or months. That and I have a picture I look at that keeps me motivated. Its the picture that finally got me to start losing weight (me in the black dress in my profile pic).

kommodevaran

I focus on and enjoy one day at a time, one meal at a time, one walk at a time. If I follow my plan, consistently, but not fanatically, I know that will get results. And I don't freak out over short term water weight fluctuations.

lisas2415

In the past I've used mini-rewards. Lose so many inches and get a treat (for me that's stuff like $10 gifts to myself that I wouldn't usually spend money on- I'm pretty frugal).

I also just try to do things I enjoy so that I'm not as focused on it. After a few weeks of getting back into a healthy mind set it seems normal to eat only lighter healthier meals. And I cook them for myself so they taste delicious. I also chose exercise that I enjoy.

The key for me to not feel impatient is to not feel deprived by what I'm doing so it isn't really a struggle. When I've tried more restrictive diets in the past I've felt like there was a giant timer clicking down somewhere that let me know when I would get to eat again and a longer timer for when I would I have my magical perfect body. Waiting for that made me really *****y. I'm not a happy camper when I'm hungry and have a long period of misery in front of me.

TLDR: Make changes in your life that don't make you miserable, keep living your life and hopefully you won't notice the wait that much.

Good luck on your journey.

lisas2415

This is great. Little rewards are helping and I have split my big goal into lots of little ones so I can do little accomplishments in smaller time frames.
I think you hit the nail on the head for me in that even though I haven't cut anything out I am imagining a ticker in my head until i can 'be normal' again.
I think i need to find the right balance between staying motivated and focused to reach my goals whilst at the same time accept that this is a lifestyle i have chosen now and there wont be a point where that suddenly stops when i have the magic body.

lisas2415

Thank you everyone, all great advice,I think the key for me is like you say to realise I don't have to be miserable losing weight!

GiveMeCoffee

Thank you everyone, all great advice,I think the key for me is like you say to realise I don't have to be miserable losing weight!

Here's a few links that have great information,

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide?hl=logging+step+guide

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

tiggerGlasgow

You can weigh in daily and plot it on a graph. That way you can watch the trend line and see when weight gain or a stall in weight loss is hormonal/ a blip or something to examine in greater detail.

Evgfab

When I was on my journey to lose weight I really enjoyed the process. I didn't do weight-ins at all. Exercising gave me a lot of energy and I got addicted to it. I used to picturing myself how I would feel, how I would look when I lose weight, what cloths would I wear and what things I could do. That visualization together with the energy and overall positivity I received after working out and kept me going.

joanna_82

Find other goals that are smaller and more achievable. I've used swimming as a goal over the past few months. After I learnt to swim (at 31!) I could do 10 minutes and would be totally exhausted. Now I can do 30 minutes before I'm too tired to carry on. All these things that you realise you can do now, that you couldn't do before, should spur you on to keep going until the next weight goal.

ewhip17

For me, probably THE most significant change I made when I decided to make a run at this... again... was to completely change my expectations for weight loss. In the past I always had that "biggest loser" mindset - if I didn't see big losses on the scale I'd totally get frustrated and quit. So, at the beginning of the year I totally committed myself to averaging 1-2lbs of weight loss per week. That level is what I now consider success. Anything more than that is great, but I've also started to look at anything more than that as a bit of a caution - to make sure I'm always mindful about doing this right. Expecting 1-2lbs per week has really helped me get through those really tough times where I lose less than half a pound or even gain - both of which have happened a number of times this year. When that happens I can go back to "reports" in MFP and see where I was a month ago, or two months ago, and it helps me realize that I'm usually still on track and that I've come a long way. I even had T-Shirts made that say "100 in One" just to constantly remind me of the goal.

meridianova

You can weigh in daily and plot it on a graph. That way you can watch the trend line and see when weight gain or a stall in weight loss is hormonal/ a blip or something to examine in greater detail.

this is about the only thing saving my butt right now. i'm to the point where i feel like i'm NEV. ER. going to break that 10lb mark, and i've been working on this since mid-may. i've been using the comprehensive MFP extractor made by EvgeniZyntx to remind me that yes, there is a downward trend. and it also shows me where i need to tweak to improve my report card.

i love what i'm eating, i enjoy going to the gym, but i'm nearly to the point of thinking all this work isn't worth it because the results aren't anywhere near where they "should" be. i keep my goals short-term, as in each day my goal is to eat on plan and go to the gym.

1Cor1510

Taking pictures saved me. Being able to compare progress with the very beginning picture made me so thankful I was still working hard every day and NOT where I started. I did measurements and pitures every 2 weeks. There were times when I looked at the before/current pictures every day just to keep me motivated. Whatever works for you, but that works for me!

Reddirtblacktopqueen

These are all great suggestions! Keep them coming. :happy:

MegE_N

I know I shouldn't, but I weigh myself every day because I am impatient. I couldn't sustain any other way. I'd get too frustrated, too fed-up. It seems to be working well enough for me, so far, but I know I am abnormal in this.

fernlori

I've come to realize I am not a patient person when it comes to my weight loss. My husband can lose weight by just walking at lunch time. Meanwhile, I walk at lunch and use my eliptical at night but still having hard time losing weight.
The scale has become my enemy that I can't avoid.

My pants fit better and I feel better, but it would be nice if the scale also moved!

Samstan101

Because I switched to setting fitness related goals over weight loss goals. Example my goals this month: Bike 300 miles, lift 3 times per week per my plan, and run at least once per week.

To do that I have to stay consistent. You also need to learn patience. Plus developing good habits, I log my food as part of my daily routine, I work out based on the routine I've put into place.

The other thing is I've learned this time around that I don't have to be miserable to lose weight.

Pretty much the same for me.

And on a similar note, OP you say you stop after 3 months. That implies a diet or that you're doing something that you can't sustain forever. For me the mentality of this being a lifestyle change and not a diet is essential. That way if it takes me another year+ to lose the remaining 25-20lbs its still a very small part of the rest of my life (I hope). I eat food I like, I log & weigh everything, I don't deprive myself of things I like I just include them in moderation. I ignore timescales - some months I'll average over 1.5lbs a week lost, other months it may be 0.5lbs a week but as long as the trend is down and my fitness gets better then I'm happy.

Only concenr I have is if I were to pick up an injury that took weeks to heal as my exercise & fitness is my driver and also what makes it realtively easy most of the time.

Michifan

I weigh myself every day. I track my food every day, I track my exercise every day and I weigh myself every day. I don't care about the daily fluctuations, I could be up a day and I know its water, down a lot one day and know that I may not have that low reading the next. But I have the nice daily graph to tell me how I am doing, and I also know when my body goes into a nutrional reset - where it holds weight and then drops it in bigger chunks later.

For someone that is data centric (like myself) weighing every day dulls you to the highs and lows. It also gives you a better picture than once a week. For all you know your once a week weighing may be on a high or low point. I can look at my entire week and know what I lost because once I've had the same measurement for a few days (or averaged it out), I know that weight is gone.

This is what works for me - not that it is applicable to anyone else.

JoseCastaneda

For me, probably THE most significant change I made when I decided to make a run at this... again... was to completely change my expectations for weight loss. In the past I always had that "biggest loser" mindset - if I didn't see big losses on the scale I'd totally get frustrated and quit. So, at the beginning of the year I totally committed myself to averaging 1-2lbs of weight loss per week. That level is what I now consider success. Anything more than that is great, but I've also started to look at anything more than that as a bit of a caution - to make sure I'm always mindful about doing this right. Expecting 1-2lbs per week has really helped me get through those really tough times where I lose less than half a pound or even gain - both of which have happened a number of times this year. When that happens I can go back to "reports" in MFP and see where I was a month ago, or two months ago, and it helps me realize that I'm usually still on track and that I've come a long way. I even had T-Shirts made that say "100 in One" just to constantly remind me of the goal.

^^This is exactly my mindset. Small steps, long term goals. Every little success is exactly that, a success! and not only in the scale, the NSV (non scale victories) are victories too!

Kalikel

It sucks having to wait, but i have no choice. Since I know there is nothing to be done about it, I just wait.

Freaking out, taking a break or quitting will not get me where I want to be any sooner, so those are out.

MegE_N

Because I switched to setting fitness related goals over weight loss goals. Example my goals this month: Bike 300 miles, lift 3 times per week per my plan, and run at least once per week.

To do that I have to stay consistent. You also need to learn patience. Plus developing good habits, I log my food as part of my daily routine, I work out based on the routine I've put into place.

The other thing is I've learned this time around that I don't have to be miserable to lose weight.

Pretty much the same for me.

And on a similar note, OP you say you stop after 3 months. That implies a diet or that you're doing something that you can't sustain forever. For me the mentality of this being a lifestyle change and not a diet is essential. That way if it takes me another year+ to lose the remaining 25-20lbs its still a very small part of the rest of my life (I hope). I eat food I like, I log & weigh everything, I don't deprive myself of things I like I just include them in moderation. I ignore timescales - some months I'll average over 1.5lbs a week lost, other months it may be 0.5lbs a week but as long as the trend is down and my fitness gets better then I'm happy.

Only concenr I have is if I were to pick up an injury that took weeks to heal as my exercise & fitness is my driver and also what makes it realtively easy most of the time.

Agreed - another reason to weigh myself every day. Growing up we didn't have scales in our house, it was all a matter of looking in the mirror to see how you were doing. I will never go back to that ignorance, and I want to get up every morning and step on the scale so that I never look down and get sudden shock that I've jumped 20lbs.

enterdanger

Like you, I've only ever managed a couple of months in the past. If I gained a little or didn't lose fast enough, I'd lose motivation. This time I decided that I'm in this for the long haul. If I have a bad week or two or three I still have to come back to what I know works.

There will be weeks where you are sick and don't feel like counting calories or working out. That's ok. Figure out how many calories you can eat for maintenance and how many to lose. Once you remove a due date on your weight loss it gets so much easier. If you have a week you are stressed or busy or sick, just eat maintenance that week.

Like someone else said. No need to be miserable or stop living just to lose weight. Go easy on yourself. You are probably your biggest critic.

Early_Riser

A combination of pretty much all these things helped me. Daily goals, weekly, etc. New clothing size, monthly progress pics hung on the inside of my closet, and tracking weight. The Withings Scale has helped me greatly!