New to the program... Already struggling. =[

transylvaniaxx

So I hit a new low today when I went to the doctor for the first time in way too long and found out my true, terribly high weight. Like everyone does, I want this to be a fast and easy process, but I know it won't be. I've been on many diets before, working out every day, eating all the right things, but it only lasts so long. Then I find myself making excuses of why I can't go to the gym and eating whatever I want to eat. So I have a question for all of you out there - How do you keep going? How do you just keep going on that routine without just wanting to throw in the towel? That has been the one thing that I just cannot figure out. I suppose my self control is... nonexistant. Haha. Any ideas? I'm at a loss here.

Sincerely,
Seriously helpless.

aa1440

Will power. Don't think of this as a diet. It's a change in lifestyle. You are changing your eating habits and trying to get into a healthier state.

Misslissa16

Hang in there, i found the first couple weeks really hard but then it did get easier. I found MFP really helpful in that it keeps me accountable and shows me real numbers (not the ones i make up in head, which i would tend to fudge). I found that depriving myself of things i wanted made it worse. Eat what you want as long as you stay inside your calorie goal. Then if you want more....make sure you exercise. Even an hour walk gives you quite a few extra calories. And start with exercise you enjoy! If you like walking do that, if you like swimming do that. Makes it more enjoyable! Hang in there, and remember...you CAN do it and you WILL.

SimplyDeLish

If diets worked we'd all be skinny!

You have to adopt a healthy lifestyle - choosing the right foods, in the correct amounts, moving your body, and keeping a positive mindset. Slow and steady gets the life long results.

You can do this...MFP gives you all the tools you need!
Good luck!

Fairysoul

You know thw posts that have before and after pics, those help motivate a lot!

babygurl48

So I hit a new low today when I went to the doctor for the first time in way too long and found out my true, terribly high weight. Like everyone does, I want this to be a fast and easy process, but I know it won't be. I've been on many diets before, working out every day, eating all the right things, but it only lasts so long. Then I find myself making excuses of why I can't go to the gym and eating whatever I want to eat. So I have a question for all of you out there - How do you keep going? How do you just keep going on that routine without just wanting to throw in the towel? That has been the one thing that I just cannot figure out. I suppose my self control is... nonexistant. Haha. Any ideas? I'm at a loss here.

Sincerely,
Seriously helpless.

Nothing is easy, everything is hard earned. You have to want this for yourself, to be healthy and to basically feel all around good.

I keep going by telling myself that I want to live a long live and to see my boys get married and their children. I also want to be a sexy mama at 50 which is not far away!:blushing: I like to wear clothes that are not potato sacks and I would like to wear a bathing suit on the beach and not feel like a beached whale.

You can do this!!! Don't give up! We all fall of the wagon, the trick is to get back on it again. You have a lot of support on this site and motivation and inspirations.

portexploit

Well you have to stay focused on your goal. Don't expect results in terms of "i will lose 10lbs a month" You can't control how much you lose, all you can control is what you eat and when you exercise... The key is to start "small" and build from there. Don't go out trying to run 10miles... Maybe .25 of a mile for a month, then a half the next month.. build slowly. This will keep the stress down on your body, when you do things to stressful your body will resist you and can lead to failure. Just "relax" and be "patient"

portexploit

Well you have to stay focused on your goal. Don't expect results in terms of "i will lose 10lbs a month" You can't control how much you lose, all you can control is what you eat and when you exercise... The key is to start "small" and build from there. Don't go out trying to run 10miles... Maybe .25 of a mile for a month, then a half the next month.. build slowly. This will keep the stress down on your body, when you do things to stressful your body will resist you and can lead to failure. Just "relax" and be "patient"

Tonnina

When I lost 35lbs for my wedding it was because I had my wedding dress made to be smaller than my actual size when I bought it. If I didn't loose the weight, well, I'd have to walk the aisle nekked and no one but my hubby gets to see me nekked!
Now I'm just doing it for me so it's gonna be harder. Maybe buy something that's too small now and keep it in sight at all times. Whatever inspires you, keep that in sight! Write on your calendar your weigh in day and stick to it. It's hard but if it was easy, we'd all be under 200lbs and super model sizes! :-)
Just using MFP has kept my motivation going. Feel free to friend me for more support each and every day!

Marig0ld

Do you consider yourself an emotional eater? Such as using food to cope with stressful situations, and not being able to imagine a life without food? I've found that the majority of my struggles are psychological hurdles I have to overcome. Just this morning I said "*kitten* it" and ate ice cream because I was in a crummy mood and I wasn't about to listen to anybody to tell me to put it down. I had to relax and take a bubble bath until I REALLY felt better.

Just relax and take time for yourself. And tell yourself that your ARE worth this. It took a lot of work for me to understand that and stop being resistant to building healthy habits. If you think you might be an emotional eater, I highly recommend the Shrink Yourself online program. There are guided therapy "sessions" that really dig into why we get the uncontrollable urge to eat anything and everything in our path. there's an online self-assessment at www.shrinkyourself.com.

I didn't mean to imply that you might have an eating problem; I just thought that my suggestion would give you a different way of looking at things. You are more than welcome to take it with a grain of salt (or the whole dang shaker)! Best of luck to you! (((hugs)))

achampionsheart

first of all you need to stop saying youre hopeless......youre not....none of us are.....remember that we all gained weight due to bad choices or life circumstances beyond our control......you have to take charge of you and your choices and your way of thinking and turn it around.......its much easier to think negatively but you will be amazed how positivity will change your outlook....you CAN do this......i started out about 232, and ive been overwt. most of my life...ive lost 25 lbs and i never thought i could either....but it is easy now to make healthy choices.....YOU ARE A CHAMPION......GO GET EM TIGER=)

SunshineKisses_2012

There is a thread going on called " What was your wake-up call to lose weight?" The stories are heart breaking. SO many broken people finding themselves at an all time low and trying to dig out. You should look it up.

How do I keep going? Well, many reasons:

278 lbs is not okay with me (now down 19 pounds with 81 more to go before I stop and reassess...yes, if you look at the overall goal, especially when it seems impossible, it is overwhelming, but if you break it down into mini goals, it's plausible. Take it 10 lbs at a time. I'm taking it 25 at a time. I'm almost at my first mini goal and I feel FANTASTIC!!)

My son was learning poor eating habits from me. I don't want him to hurt the way I have my whole life. I don't want him to get made fun of because his diet consists of fattening food and no exercise.

I was an in-home-care provider for a woman and her daughter and I are still very close. She told me that, even on the day her mother died, she was still worried about her weight. I don't want to die with that on my heart. That hurt a lot because her mom was a lovely, spit-fire woman.

My family, on both sides, have health issues. MAJOR health issues. All brought on by obesity. I don't want to have to go through that and put my son through that.

My sister is 18 months older than me and has taken to saying, "Since I turned 30, everything is falling apart." I'M ONLY 31!!!!!! I refuse to fall apart! Just because the cards are stacked against me doesn't mean I won't try, it means I will TRY HARDER!!

Feel free to friend me! I'd love to join you on your journey!

transylvaniaxx

Wow! I am completely overwhelmed by how many replies that have already come around, and they have all seriously helped. It's great to find a website full of people who know exactly what I'm going through, none of my friends really do, and my boyfriend? Well, he's half my size =X. Although I get tons and tons of support from him, it's great to know I have a place to go to that is full of people who I can count on. Thank you all so much, and please! Keep the advice coming! I'll be happy to accept any friend requests that come my way.

Thank you!

sc1572

Willpower, dedication, perseverance, determination, patience. It takes TIME but know it's worth it and you have support here. And try skinnytaste.com

AwesomeSauce4

Honey We all have times that may be rougher then other times.. But Always "Believe and you will achieve" We are all here to support you thru this Journey If you let Us... You are not alone, we are all in this as a TEAM... Luvs & Hugs to you SWeetie and Good Luck on your Journey.. Feel Free to add me if you like ((Big hugs))

~Rachel~

kelseywray

I lost 60 pounds once and I am on a mission to lose it once again. It's hard and I have totally felt how you feel. I made excuses for three years as the weight came on and now I have to start all over again. The one thing I tell myself is that if I don't do this, I will only get fatter so even if I don't lose the weight, at least I won't be gaining any more. Take it one step at a time. Make mini goals for yourself. Ones that are within reach in a short time period and every time you reach a goal, it will motivate you to go further to reach the next. It is a long process and it won't come off over night but don't let that discourage you. Little steps can lead to a big change.

auntsteffy

Diet is a four-letter word. Just as it has been said, it's a lifestyle change. Once you start creating healthy habits, it will come a lot easier. A good support system, accountabilty & determination are great tools for this change & MFP has all of that. You are in the right place!!!
Take it a step at a time... Sure, you're destination will be worth it, but there's a lot to enjoy on this journey! Best of luck to ya!!

Lolyballs

There are lots of things that keep me on track. The people here help a lot! Also, I want this more than anything. I am tired of that fat girl in my mirror! I want to live to see my grand children go to college, and they aren't even conceived yet! I want to look better for the Josh Groban concert I am going to in October and I want to sit comfortably in the seat at the Amway. I was told I would not fit in the seat because I am too big. This really hurt my feelings and just made me more determined to get the weight off. I love that I have lost 16 pounds since I joined MFP. I don't go to the gym everyday and when I do I switch up my workout so that I don't get bored doing the same things over and over again. I talk to the trainers about what exercises and machines will help me achieve my goals. I am starting to check out some of the group exercise classes they offer. I love the way I feel after a good workout and I love that people are seeing a change in me, not only physically, but mentally as well. All of this keeps me on track. I have done the yo yo dieting and I'm tired of it! You are the only one who can make the change in your life. Keep your eye on the prize, never look back and never give up. Remember you are not alone. You have everyone here to help you along this journey. You can do this!

MrsGriffin67

As someone who has been on MFP for the past 232 days, I can honestly say...it DOES get easier. The first month flew by, then before I knew it, it had been 90 days. I'm still amazed that I have stuck with it this long. The people on here are so inspirational and motivational! You have to be honest with yourself when you log your food and exercise. Just follow the program, do the right things and remember...YOU GOTTA MOVE IT ~ TO LOSE IT! Best of luck in your journey! :flowerforyou:

maryd523

For me, it was understanding that if I followed my calorie goals and exercised, I WOULD LOSE WEIGHT! It's like continuing with college when it sucks and you are sick of it. You do it because you know it's the only way to your goal. It simply will not happen if I don't do this.

And once the weight starts coming off, even the first couple pounds, it's highly motivating, at least for me. I know all I have to do is keep on keepin' on, and I'll get to my goal weight. No excuses!

stroken96

For me I get bored and start eating what ever, that was then, now when I need a change (bored) I will try a new good food like a fruit or veggie I haven't tried or just cook it with a new seasoning.

SueGremlin

I have a lot of weight to lose, (about 80 lbs total) so I started out with the attitude that this is a marathon, not a sprint. I do everything I can to make my life as normal as possible, meaning that I do not obsess about food or my weight. I have my sights set on next summer, not next week. By then, I'll be a year older and 70 lbs lighter. Slow and steady wins the race.
I have managed to make MFP something sustainable. I can do this forever. It's not a "diet".

Eat all of your calories, even your exercise calories. If you are hungry, exercise more and eat more. Or set your goals to lose half a pound a week if you have it set for one.

Make it comfortable for yourself.