Sometimes the number is just too big

BrieLP

bumping for later... I will so need this. one day at a time.

deb3129

It is overwhelming sometimes when you have so much to lose. Even if you are losing a couple of pounds a week, you have so far to go it seems like you will never get there. But just stay focused, and keep doing what works for you. Those couple of pounds do add up more quickly than you realize. I have lost over 100 pounds, and still have a ways to go. Some days I still get in the dumps thinking about it. But I just drag myself back out and keep going !

jmeyer925

You know, when I first "started" I didn't realize I was "starting". I didn't set any goals, didn't have any time references (of course I wanted to be thinner, but just had no idea how to do it so i didnt try).

I had actually switched schools. So I was no longer near fast food as much, and was put into fitness P.E, which had public weigh ins. So when I first weighed in in that class I was at my highest, and just wanted to roll into a ball and die.

And you know what? I lost 50 pounds in about 5 months! Without consciously trying, and doing just the workouts and strength training in that class (like 45 minutes a day). When I saw that I had lost that much my jaw dropped to the floor, I seriously told them that their scale was broken.

Long story short, don't think about the long term right now. Focus on things you can do right here and now to better yourself, and I can GUARANTEE you that you'll see results. When you get a little further, then you can start thinking about where you want to be :flowerforyou:

sarahg148

Ditto to what everybody else has said. I'd even break it down to smaller increments...5 lbs at a time. Then for each 5 you reach...reward yourself with something small. Or put money in a jar...$1-5 for every pound you lose. Then WHEN you hit goal...go shopping or take a vacation. :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

jenniferrow

One pound at a time, my friend. One pound at a time.

Kelly_Runs_NC

You CAN do it. One day at a time. One week at a time. It can be done. Just remember, it didn't come on overnight and it won't come off overnight either. Be patient, work hard and it will happen.

WendyTerry420

I agree with mini-goals. I set some for myself and have found them to be very motivating as I achieve them, approximately one every month or two.

Sindaelys

I like what the myfitnesspal app does once I finish logging my food for the day: it shows me my possible weight in five weeks. Granted, this works better when I'm under my calorie limit, but it's good motivation. Think about how awesome it'll be getting on the scale and seeing that number go down. Heck, graph it weekly and really see that visual line! While it's good to have a goal in mind, I think that focusing too much on it is counterproductive. Make your changes, see what happens, and enjoy focusing on that instead!

Celeigh12

I don't think about the number. Ever. I couldn't even tell you how far exactly I am from my goal. I think about what I've accomplished and eating smart and getting some exercise every day, but I don't think about what's left to lose. I can't control how long it's going to take, but I can control what I do today and hopefully those actions will take me where I want to go eventually. I never set xx amount by xx date goals. That's not within my control. I do the work, the scale responds how it wants.

Think of it this way: you are going to have to eat sensibly and exercise regularly for the rest of your life to be a normal weight. So start doing that now. Live that life now and your weight has no other option but to come down. If you do that, the actual number and the time it takes to get there becomes less important.

So don't think about the number. Start living the life and focus on that. The rest will follow.

NJL13500

I have 2 pounds to go for 100 pounds lost from my all-time high and I did it in 3 phases and it ended up taking about 4 years. I lost about 25 and took a break for my body to adjust. Six months later I lost about 25 more and gave my body time to adjust. I gained 10 back when I got into a new relationship and enjoyed going out to eat. I panicked and said enough is enough and over 9 the last months have lost the 10 pounds that I gained and then some. It is hard work and not very exciting, but it is now honestly a way of life. I'll be happy when I lose the last 2, but I'm more focused on the long term successes now. I try to focus on the positive things associated with my weight loss along the way. Feeling better. Looking better. Fitting into smaller sizes (going from an 18/20 to a 2/4). My ability to see my muscles now. Slim people at work telling me how small I am. It took time and it happened slowly, but eventually it happened.

Good luck and don't give up!

ILoveTheBrowns

i lost 80....once the ball gets rollin at all becomes a blur and the next thing you know you're a new person...just gotta get the intial ball rollin

tab0423

Just take one day at a time, one pound at a time. Remember every journey begins with one step. Keep the faith!

Espressocycle

One pound at a time.

LikeNoOneElse84

I hear ya. My ultimate goal is to lose 90lbs. The number was daunting at first. But I broke it down into to 15lb increments. That way, it doesn't seem impossible and yet I'm still making my way closer to my goal.

BigMech

Accept that this will be a long journey. I have been told that this a marathon not a sprint.

Well said. None of us gained the weight quickly and it won't come off quickly. I took it one day at a time, knowing that everyday I stuck with it, I was healthier and happier than before. After a while those good days add up, and you are making real progress.

I kept an excel spreadsheet of my weight loss, so that I could track my progress, and seeing that line on the graph heading down really motivated me. I also tracked my exercise and weight lifting so that I could see progress there.

crazyellybean

Maybe it's just me...maybe I need to grow up, and deal with it...

But lately, the past few days especially, I have been looking at the amount of weight that I need to lose (125lbs) and I just freak out. Like, this can't be done...why am I trying..Why did I let myself get this way...

I'm not giving up, it just seems like it can be a bit much at times...overwhelming...

/whining

Forget the number, go for how you feel, how your clothes fit, and the energized new you that you that you will need for that baby!! .. You can do this, little steps all add up to that big number... 1+2+5 -= 125 ... break it down and work towards that number!

BigDave1050

Baby steps will turn into long strides! Just keep focused and committed, you'll reach your goal. Differently set some short term goals to reach for and that will make your Long term goal a little more easily attainable (at least mentally)

tarajoneill

Focus on obtainable realistic goals. Once you reach them, you will want more. If you don't meet goals, its so easy to give up. Don't give up! It only gets harder next time. (I'm on round three and this is last time.)

kenazfehu

When I started, 50 pounds seemed overwhelming. But I got started anyway.

namluv

Even a 1 lb loss has benefits (1lb loss=4lb pressure off your knees) so don't worry too much about the end goal; think about setting yourself up for living the rest of your life healthy and you will lose the weight eventually and keep it off. Don't beat yourself up about the past and only think about how you got to your weight in order to know what to avoid doing in the future - then forgive yourself and move on. If it helps to have smaller, interim goals do that - or don't... it's all about what works for you.

LittleMissRainey

You're doing it so that one day the /whining will be WINNING!

You can do it!

MostlyWater

When I had to lose weight a number of years ago, I just concentrated on eating healthy and working out hard. I didn't obsess with the scale or the tape measure. Perhaps it's a personality thing, though. Anyway, my dr's words to me were to "lose the weight if at all possible."

You want to be in the best shape you can be, right? That might mean losing the 125 lbs but it might not. However, you'll get muscle tone along the way too. The scale and the tape measure aren't all powerful or all knowing. How you feel is important. Your risk for heart disease, diabetes, etc. is also a factor.

raeleek

It is overwhelming when you have a lot of weight to lose. I have felt the same way. As many have said, break it down into smaller numbers. You'll get to those faster and it will keep you motivated! I do mine in 10lb increments. It seems like a mountain but it is possible! :drinker: :drinker: