OMFG... *cries* vent.

crystaldegreef

It's been WEEEEEEEKS since I started this and I have lost NOTHING. NOT A DAMNED THING... I am soooooooooo frustrated and I hate my body right now. And its not like I'm trying to lose the last ten stubborn pounds either, I'm at the BEGINNING of an EXTENSIVE and LOOONG process... one that doesn't seem to be budging AT ALL. Because I'm not just fluffy... I'm FAAT. I just want to give up. I'm killing myself working out 5 days a week and watching every single morsel I place in my mouth. I'm drowning in water and have completely given up sodas... I've done everything right. So. I'm done right now. I'm not hitting the gym at all anymore. I like how it makes me feel, but something is wrong here... and I've put the rest of my life on hold to make time to hit the gym. Why am I going to keep doing that when the results don't pay off? I am soooooooo angry right now. I am trying SO hard. Like if this were school, I'd have a triple A plus because I've been studious, studying everything, I've put in the time, changed the habits... it's been almost five weeks since I started changing the way I eat and working out. I should have lost 'something'. I just want to scream.

feliciapeters

It would help if we could see your food diary

JesaGrace

It took me a little while to lose too...

BflSaberfan

I'd be happy to make suggestions if you want to open up your diary.

ivyann73deleted

You also may want to talk to your doctor. Maybe you have a thyroid problem?

melsinct

Have you been keeping track of your measurements? A lot of people don't see the scale move for a while but see inches lost. Are your clothes fitting better or looser? How many calories are you eating and what are your workouts like/how many days a week? What does an average day of eating look like for you?

Give us some information and we will help you through this!

Plumpqt

Aww love don't get discouraged, its hard and its frustrating but you said you were feeling better, why stop? have you tried measuring inches? Dont give up you are awesome! you can do this! I know you can!

merrillfoster

If you've been hitting the gym, you may be seeing fat converting into muscle, which is denser than fat. So while you might not be seeing effects on the scale, you will probably see effects in your measurements. It's only been 3 weeks, so I wouldn't expect to see like inches melted off yet (cause it takes awhile) but you should see the measuring tape going down.

dave4d

It looks like you lost 5 lbs to me. That's not bad. Your diary isn't open, so I can't say if there is anything you are eating that is going to hinder your progress. Everybody loses differently. Some people need less carbs, and more protein, Are you eating processed foods that are high in sodium? Are you eating enough? Some people try to go too far in reducing calories, and it is counter productive to them. Are you logging everything? If you stick with it, and tweak where you need to, you should see results eventually.

jillcwhite

Food Diary open would help - Sounds like your body is not adjusting yet.................proabably holding onto the weight thinking it is losing the calories and my strave. Or could stress be involved? Weight doesn't come off when you are stressed out.................I am sure if you are doing what you say - you should get results soon. Weight lose is a slow process when doing it correctly. Surely if your eating better and working out, your feeling better?

mustangurl

it takes your body about 30 days to get used to a new eating and exercise plan. you have probably drastically change the way you are eating and your body is saying woah wait a minute!!!! it needs time to adjust to your new way of living before it gets the idea that this is how it's gonna be. i know it's frusturating but give it a little more time. also you need to be taking body measurements, sometimes the scale doesn't budge but your waistline does you are doing a fantastic thing for yourself, please don't give up!!!!

nerdyandilikeit

i agree, don't give up, sweetie! try doing measurements if you're not already, and possibly talk to your doctor to make sure nothing else is amiss. but you said yourself you love how working out makes you feel, and that's not nothing! it means you're getting healthy and strong, no matter what that scale says! you're doing awesome, please don't be discouraged

ClarkMer

Don't give up! I'm going to post something that my insurance company emailed me, take a look, maybe it will help. You may be gaining muscle, which doesnt show in pounds, but in inches

Atlantique

Couple of ideas:

How are you keeping track of portions? Are you measuring everything? Or are you eyeballing things? Eyeballing often leads to inaccurate logging. A food scale is the best way to measure.

Are you logging claories in beverages? Sometimes people overlook liquid calories, but they still count.

Sometimes folks who come here from Weight Watchers don't realize that they need to log fruits and veggies when they switch to counting calories. There are no 'free foods' when it comes to calorie counting.

How's your sodium? Your alcohol? Both of these can wreak havoc on your water retention levels and may mask true weight changes.

If you have a significant amount of weight to lose, it may be worth checking in with your doctor just to be sure there are not other, undiagnosed problems at play here like insulin resistance, hypothyroidism, etc.

ClarkMer

Stop quitting—quitting is a habit. Start eating right and finish what you start now!
Make choices to feel your best every day to get the energy you need.

This is just from a monthly health newsletter that the insurance company sends me. I found it inspiring, personally

fteale

I didn't lose anything at all for the first 2 months. 9 weeks. Well, like 4lbs, but let's face it, that could be a big meal.

It is a slow process, and 5 weeks is nothing, but don't put everything else on hold to exercise, because that isn't sustainable. You aren't after a quick fix. You want a life style change, and if you feel like your life is on hold, this isn't a lifestyle. I know I sound bleugh and pop-psych, I just don't have the language to say what I mean in a less tacky manner. You need an exercise program that fits in with your life as you want to live it, so giving up is unnecessary.

jeepzilla

First off You DO NOT GIVE UP!!!!! losing any weight takes TIME and HARD WORK!!!! I didn't see results for a while my self It will come... Open your dairy for us to see.. there is lot and I mean a lot of people here that can help you... YOU CAN NOT AND WILL NOT GIVE UP YOU WILL CONTINUE TO TO EXCERSISE AND EAT HEALTHY!!!!! got me...... good now get to the gettin with nothing but love for ya

Crystal_Rudolph

It's been WEEEEEEEKS since I started this and I have lost NOTHING. NOT A DAMNED THING... I am soooooooooo frustrated and I hate my body right now. And its not like I'm trying to lose the last ten stubborn pounds either, I'm at the BEGINNING of an EXTENSIVE and LOOONG process... one that doesn't seem to be budging AT ALL. Because I'm not just fluffy... I'm FAAT. I just want to give up. I'm killing myself working out 5 days a week and watching every single morsel I place in my mouth. I'm drowning in water and have completely given up sodas... I've done everything right. So. I'm done right now. I'm not hitting the gym at all anymore. I like how it makes me feel, but something is wrong here... and I've put the rest of my life on hold to make time to hit the gym. Why am I going to keep doing that when the results don't pay off? I am soooooooo angry right now. I am trying SO hard. Like if this were school, I'd have a triple A plus because I've been studious, studying everything, I've put in the time, changed the habits... it's been almost five weeks since I started changing the way I eat and working out. I should have lost 'something'. I just want to scream.

Don't quit! We have all felt what you are feeling at some part in our journey! It is hard, but remember that this is not just a diet--it is a lifestyle change. I struggle as well. I have lost some weight and some inches!!! But I don't see it at all. I look at the success stories and see the pictures of people who have lost 25 pounds and looking awesome!!! So then I start to think that something is wrong with me. But I am not going to give up! It is not about the weight loss anymore; it is about being healthy for my kids. Add me as a friend, together we ALL can do this!!!

fteale

True, it's hard to see your own weight loss. I look in the mirror and still only see the bits I hate, but everyone else says I have lost weight, and all my clothes are falling off.

sashalarue

Awww baby girl....don't you dare give up!! Don't you do it...Look, i'm 269lbs and i started off at 286 before i joined here...one thing i've come to understand is that this will not be an overnight deal..just not going to happen that way...each and every success story i read it took the person at least 2yrs to lose the weight. I want to lose 125lbs and you can best believe i felt like giving up and throwing in the towel...it wasn't until last week i got on the scale and saw only 4.2lbs lose and got ticked off because i felt the same way as you do right now...guess what i started trying on clothes that could not fit me last year..and now they do...don't stress over the scale and that damn number...you can't measure your work on the scale..but the tape measurer, and the way your clothes feel. Please don't give up...hang in there, you only been at this for 5weeks...do you know how long it took for us to get to this size? Please...Please hang in there we are all here for you!

crystaldegreef

I'm literally crying today. I don't feel comfortable enough to open my diary and all that stuff... so lets just say that I'm on 1450 calories and I've been hitting right at or under them every day. I have a phobia of people watching me eat or knowing what I eat... I used to get ridiculed and dislike the thought of being scrutinized, especially on a board this large... not yet... I'm not there yet. I've been eating back my exercise calories... as much as I can... with nuts, cheese and other high fat, high protein type foods to help rebuild muscle... I do have problems with sodium... Im always feeling like a sponge full of water when I wake up in the morning. I am not sure how accurate my exercise calories are either... they are set here, but I can't tell if they are really accurate... so today I think I will focus on getting a calorie counter watch... dry up these damned tears and do something. I like to exercise, but it really has placed the rest of my life on hold...

And I really thought there'd be a loss today. I really did. So when I stepped on the scale and there was no loss... it broke my heart. It really did. I'm sorry that I'm probably annoying some of you and I know that you've heard this so many times from others... but I'm just frustrated and needed to vent. The first 5 I am not sure I really "lost"... as much as just water weight from drinking soda... I "lost" that within the first week or so... it's been stalled ever since...

Atlantique

If you don't want to open your diary up to the world (which I completely understand), maybe consider opening it up to your Friends List or putting a code on it and only letting a few trusted friends view it for some objective feedback?

BflSaberfan

I would say you are over estimating your calorie burn and under estimating your calorie intake. I understand you dont want to share your diary.

jsteras

I'm literally crying today. I don't feel comfortable enough to open my diary and all that stuff... so lets just say that I'm on 1450 calories and I've been hitting right at or under them every day. I have a phobia of people watching me eat or knowing what I eat... I used to get ridiculed and dislike the thought of being scrutinized, especially on a board this large... not yet... I'm not there yet. I've been eating back my exercise calories... as much as I can... with nuts, cheese and other high fat, high protein type foods to help rebuild muscle... I do have problems with sodium... Im always feeling like a sponge full of water when I wake up in the morning. I am not sure how accurate my exercise calories are either... they are set here, but I can't tell if they are really accurate... so today I think I will focus on getting a calorie counter watch... dry up these damned tears and do something. I like to exercise, but it really has placed the rest of my life on hold...

And I really thought there'd be a loss today. I really did. So when I stepped on the scale and there was no loss... it broke my heart. It really did. I'm sorry that I'm probably annoying some of you and I know that you've heard this so many times from others... but I'm just frustrated and needed to vent. The first 5 I am not sure I really "lost"... as much as just water weight from drinking soda... I "lost" that within the first week or so... it's been stalled ever since...

Try to plan your menu ahead for the day and track your sodium, keep it under 1500 for a week and you will lose weight , I think that is one of the biggest problems with the way we eat is the sodium in the processed foods we consume. Alcohol also will slow things down or bring losing to a halt. Don't give up, look at diaries of people who do have them open that are losing and get meal ideas from theirs. This has to be a life change or you will never be able to stick to it. I really thought my scale would go down this morning also , but guess what it didn't but I will keep doing what I am doing and it will move eventually:):)

melsinct

I'm literally crying today. I don't feel comfortable enough to open my diary and all that stuff... so lets just say that I'm on 1450 calories and I've been hitting right at or under them every day. I have a phobia of people watching me eat or knowing what I eat... I used to get ridiculed and dislike the thought of being scrutinized, especially on a board this large... not yet... I'm not there yet. I've been eating back my exercise calories... as much as I can... with nuts, cheese and other high fat, high protein type foods to help rebuild muscle... I do have problems with sodium... Im always feeling like a sponge full of water when I wake up in the morning. I am not sure how accurate my exercise calories are either... they are set here, but I can't tell if they are really accurate... so today I think I will focus on getting a calorie counter watch... dry up these damned tears and do something. I like to exercise, but it really has placed the rest of my life on hold...

And I really thought there'd be a loss today. I really did. So when I stepped on the scale and there was no loss... it broke my heart. It really did. I'm sorry that I'm probably annoying some of you and I know that you've heard this so many times from others... but I'm just frustrated and needed to vent. The first 5 I am not sure I really "lost"... as much as just water weight from drinking soda... I "lost" that within the first week or so... it's been stalled ever since...

I understand about not wanting to open up your diary...mine is private too! So it sounds like you know sodium is a problem. Why don't you start there and make sure you are coming in under goal every day for sodium? Sodium is a killer for weight loss. I traveled all last week for work so I ate every meal out (meaning HIGH sodium). I came home after 4 days and was 3 pounds heavier. Within 2 days I was back to normal after getting back to my normal lower sodium eating...that sodium just holds on to water making you bloated and heavier, but it is a false heavy.

MinnieInMaine

I was in the same boat as you last week. I'd lost 5 pounds in March and then completely stalled out this month.

Then I realized that, like someone above pointed out, I might be over estimating my calorie burn (although I do wear an HRM most of the time - still, you never know) and under estimating some of my calories. So I changed my weekly goal to 1.5 pounds per week to lower my base calories. I'll still be eating back my exercise calories and might go over or under a bit now and then but I'm going to try to hit the target as much as possible. And as long as I've stayed around that all week, I will have a cheat day/meal at the end of the week to keep my metablolism guessing. Like last night, we had spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread and I had a couple drinks too. Went over calories by 300+! But I'll be back in the gym tonight and drinking plenty of water today.

You already know your sodium is too high so start working on that and maybe up your water intake to balance it out.

Don't give up!!

fitnessjch

I agree. DON'T give up! It took me 5 weeks to start losing, but I lost 3 inches on my waist in that time - this was where fat had converted into muscle.

I am now losing about 2lbs per week, and I couldnt be prouder of myself. I nearly gave up too, and I'm SO glad I didn't - I feel amazing!

TMLPatrick

Yeah, adjust your goal a bit and just keep at it, you'll never lose weight as fast as you'd like. Its a very long process and most of us here are just at the beginning, 1lb a week is not going to be as instantly gratifying as 2.5lbs a week, but it is much easier to stick with. Also, if you've been working out more, you may be gaining extra water weight as your muscles heal themselves, that happened to me. I gained 3 lbs earlier this week simply from working out more, as ridiculous as that sounds. Just stay motivated, it WILL happen if you keep eating under your calorie goal.

MyNameIsNotBob

Start by lowering your sodium and drinking TONS of water. Try 3 1-hour workouts or 5 half-hour workouts... but don't push it. If you're just starting an exercise routine after years of inactivity, you need to incorporate it slowly so you don't tear up your body.

And do consider opening up your food diary. Mine's been open for a while and I've never once had anyone scrutinize or make fun of what I eat... even when I have lots of drinks or fatty foods.

mfkfoster

Measure yourself. I'm almost positive that you are losing inches and not weight. Probably from building muscle because you are exercising so much. My mother is also trying to lose weight and has 40 pounds to lose. It took her almost 3 months to lose "weight" but she was losing inches!

Don't give up! I know it's hard. I haven't lost any weight this month and I stll have to lose 82 pounds! It's really hard workand you didn 't gain it all overnight so it will not come off overnight.

Try and stay positive.

I also agree with some of the others in regards to sodium. It's EVIL! I can "gain" 6 pounds in a weekend because I had too much of it and didn't drink enough water to compensate. Sodium, horrible stuff!

Supermel

Try to get more protein. It will help you feel more full. Try to cut out processed foods and eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. Eggs and lean protein. The rest does seem to fall into place. One big thing that helped my scale move was to avoid salty foods after 3pm. Also cut back on carbs after dinner. I even keep dinner timecarbs to things like quinoa or whole grain rice (avoiding white rice, white pasta etc), and don't have any carbs after dinner. I keep snacks after dinner, to before 8:30pm when possible and eat yogurt and berries or hummus and vegetables. Rice cakes and popcorn will stall the scale every time.

My body seems to hold onto the pounds when i make a big change too. if you push thru you will see a big loss all at once or begin to have a steadier loss.

Also watch how much artificial sweetner you are having. It can screw with your metabolism.