why does losing weight have to be so hard???

PurpleKisses85

I'm only on week one and feel like I should give up already!

Gaining weight is easy for me half the time I don't even know I'm gaining but losing is hard!! I'm always hungry. Grouchy cus I always want something carbolicious. I just need some tips or something cus by this time next week I may just order me a whole pizza and eat all of it at the rate I'm going!

s_fehr

Don't give up! You can do it! I love carbs and salt and i finally found for me i have trouble giving up the good foods so i exercise to earn them. In that i have found as i exercise and drink more water my cravings are dwindling away which makes it easier to eat salads, fruits and veggies and still have more room left for the good things.

smruggles

The first week is usually the hardest... I was hungry all the time, grouchy, and really just wanted to give up and keep eating what I love and what makes me happy.

This is about a life change, though... you're going to have to sacrifice at first. It does get much easier to eat healthier after week 1... your stomach shrinks and you start finding foods you love that are low calorie OR low cal versions of the food you love.

Also, you HAVE TO exercise as well. Eating right on it's own won't help you lose the weight or feel as fantastic NEARLY as fast as you'll lose if you add some work outs in your daily routine!! Start small... walking the dog. Walking around your work building on your lunch break, then work it up to jogging or joining your local YMCA. Honestly, the guilt of PAYING for the gym and not going is what gets me there lately.

GOOD LUCK and we're here to support ya!

FredDoyle

Focus on driving the car. Filling up at the gas station isn't the high point.

GauchoMark

for a lot of people, the more refined carbs (sugar, flour, etc) you eat, the more you want. I would suggest trying really hard for a couple of weeks not to eat much of that stuff and eventually you won't crave it so much.

Notice I didn't say NOT to eat it, just focus on trading those things for fruit (still carbs, but more filling), vegetables, and lean proteins.

melsinct

This is about a life change, though... you're going to have to sacrifice at first. It does get much easier to eat healthier after week 1... your stomach shrinks and you start finding foods you love that are low calorie OR low cal versions of the food you love.

Ditto.

Also, you are threatening to order a pizza and eat the whole thing. Guess what? Pizza IS NOT off limits. Eating an entire pizza is. It really is all about moderation. You can make 3 pieces of pizza fit into your calories for the day. An entire pizza, not so much.

The good news is, the beginning is the hardest. This will get easier and easier and the weeks and months go on. It will become second nature to eat in a more healthful manner, you just have to be willing to put in the work. Nothing that is worth it comes easy. Rely on the message boards here for support...you can lose the weight so long as you want that end result bad enough!

tschaff04

Focus on driving the car. Filling up at the gas station isn't the high point.

SO well put!!! What a great way to look at it. I always hate having to stop at the gas station to fill up.

likearadiowave

It's hard because you do less putting it on than taking it off.

Sucks, I know.

frosty73

You shouldn't always be hungry. If you are, you need more protein.

Rachelle1016

If it was easy, we wouldn't have any overweight people. As you eat better, you'll start to crave those things less and less. Eat good, feel good. You can do it!

Chief_Rocka

Your body fights against fat loss.

However, if you're feeling this bad after a week, there are probably some easy fixes you can make to increase your likelihood of adherence. You should open your diary so people can suggest changes.

Gwenski

It gets better! I promise! One of the things I did was to cut my pizza up into tiny bites and eat each bite very slowly..you than realize how filling it is and o ly eat about 1/4 of the amount. You can do this!

greenpointmoni

Making a lifestyle change takes time. First, don't start out by starving yourself. You need to figure out your BMR and TDEE and try to start off somewhere in between those numbers. Often 1200 is way to low for people just starting out. Especially if you stomach hasn't had a chance to shrink from eating less yet. What is your weight, age and height?

elelat

You know the saying: Being overweight is hard, eating right is hard, being on control is hard. You choose your hard.

But as an encouragement it does get easier when you start to enjoy the new lifestyle, and acknowledge with grace the fact that you want a healthier life.

BarackMeLikeAHurricane

for a lot of people, the more refined carbs (sugar, flour, etc) you eat, the more you want. I would suggest trying really hard for a couple of weeks not to eat much of that stuff and eventually you won't crave it so much.

Notice I didn't say NOT to eat it, just focus on trading those things for fruit (still carbs, but more filling), vegetables, and lean proteins.

^listen to this. I was coming here ton tell you it's not hard to lose weight. I hardly think about it anymore. A large part of my success is attributed to cutting down on simple carbs and loafing up on complex carbs. Oh, and protein and fiber are really filling so eat things that are high fiber/protein.

KrysGettinFit

It does get better! Once you get into the habit of logging and looking at what you are eating, y ou start to think before you eat and make better choices. MFP was really difficult for me in the beginning, I had so many days and weeks where I wanted to give up and stop logging. I kept going and I'm almost halfway to my goal, it has taken time and I still have days where I feel like quitting, but my body is adjusting and so am I. It also helps to have people look at the food you are eating and help you to know what is good and what isn't so great for weight loss and for your body.

You can do this! It's not about just losing weight, it's about changing your whole lifestyle. It takes time but be patient and persistent!

vjrose

Like has been said above, moderation, protein, whole grains. It will be hard retraining your carb cravings but it can be done. You don't say how old you are but if you want hard, try being obese for 40 years before making up your mind to change it! Do it while you're young for a long and happy life.

LoraF83

It doesn't have to be hard.

Change your mindset about losing weight and it will become much easier. If you look at this as a punishment for being fat, then yes, it's going to suck and it's going to be hard. If you think of this as a lifestyle change in order to have a healthy body and look better (in the end), then it's not too hard after all. Just remember that this is long term, not immediate and you're going to have to wait for results. But that's ok.

Will some days still be horrible? Yes. Life is like that. Some days would be horrible even if you weren't trying to lose weight.

And as far as "carbilicious" food goes, you can still have pizza. I had pizza last night in fact. I had Lucky Charms for breakfast. I'm going to eat some chocolate later too. But I'm also going to make good choices today: an apple, yogurt and cottage cheese for snacks. Lean protein and veggies at dinner. Maybe a grapefruit later. It's about chosing the healthy option most of the time so you can have the not-so-healthy option some of the time.

Also - carbs are not evil. Lack of carbs does not equal weight loss. A calorie deficit equals weight loss. Carbs are a great source of energy. So, don't think you have to forego them to lose weight.

bcattoes

If you want carbs, eat carbs. If you want pizza, eat pizza. Just don't order a greasy ultra high calorie pizza and eat the whole thing. Make your own pizza with a whole grain crust, veggies, lean meat (optional) and reduced fat cheese. You will be surprised at the calorie difference. You can buy premade whole grain crusts if you don't want to make your own. Boboli crusts are pretty good, or I often by Kashi frozen pizzas and just add more of my own toppings (I wish they would sell just the crust!)

Unless you have a medical condition requiring you to limit carbs, there is no reason not to eat them. Stick to high fiber carbs and you'll likely feel full sooner.

Change is often hard, but you may be making it harder than it needs to be by restricting all your favorite foods. When possible, learn to make healthier versions of your favorite dishes. When not possible, eat light at your other meals and splurge now and then with the real stuff. But DO NOT give up and throw your hard work and health down the drain.

DanaDark

Most people gain weight slowly and then try to lose weight fast. That is why it seems so hard.

Try walking a mile and then sprinting a mile.

To fight hunger or the simple desire to munch on crap all day long, look for low calorie food options such as pickles, celery, spinach, plain popcorn, and more.

Some foods you can eat ALL day long and still lose weight.

Rays_Wife

-Pick a moderate calorie goal.Pick the "1 pound per week" or "half pound per week" weight loss goal, it is easier to stick to.
You will be less likely to want to go off the track because you are satisfied with what you are eating rather than driving yourself insane with a low calorie "diet".

- 80/20 rule. 80% healthy good choices, 20% treats or whatever you want. Eat from all food groups unless a medical condition
requires you to cut something out. Work your favorite foods into your calories for the day so you don't feel the need to binge on
them (like your pizza).

-Take a 30 minute brisk walk 3-5 times per week. You don't need a crazy intense exercise regime especially when you first
start out. Do some push ups, squats, dips, planks. Do whatever you can to fit some activity into your day.

-Stick to it. Don't give up. Persistence and patience are the key. Don't throw in the towel if you have one slip up. Get right back on it. These things take time.

VanessaHeartsMasr

This is about a life change, though... you're going to have to sacrifice at first. It does get much easier to eat healthier after week 1... your stomach shrinks and you start finding foods you love that are low calorie OR low cal versions of the food you love.

Ditto.

Also, you are threatening to order a pizza and eat the whole thing. Guess what? Pizza IS NOT off limits. Eating an entire pizza is. It really is all about moderation. You can make 3 pieces of pizza fit into your calories for the day. An entire pizza, not so much.

The good news is, the beginning is the hardest. This will get easier and easier and the weeks and months go on. It will become second nature to eat in a more healthful manner, you just have to be willing to put in the work. Nothing that is worth it comes easy. Rely on the message boards here for support...you can lose the weight so long as you want that end result bad enough!

Both of these!!! All the way! Also, I'm not an expert. Far from it. But when I was first starting out, I got so completely overwhelmed with this huge mountain in front of me that I wanted to give up. I felt really, really out of my comfort zone. I decided to take a day (or a few days if you need) and eat what I would normally eat in a day before I joined MFP. I wanted to give myself a baseline to work with. It was completely shocking to see how many calories I was consuming in a "normal" day. Somehow, concentrating on the logging, rather than worrying about changing my diet all at once, made it easier for me to get used to changing my lifestyle, rather than thinking of it as a "diet" or like something I HAD to do. Now I'm at peace with it. If I have a day or two where I screw up, I don't panic, I just refocus myself. Plus, now when I eat too much, I feel really physically sick. I love that. I still eat pizza, and cookies, and whatever else I want, just not huge portions of it like I used to. And it's working for me.

WendyTerry420

I think the hard part is being patient and having the right attitude. Also, some people try to restrict themselves too much in an effort to lose their weight too fast. This sets you up for disappointment down the road. I found that the main food that really has helped me is vegetables. They help you feel fuller without adding very many calories.

ETA: Also, yes eat pizza if you enjoy it! Put lots of veggies on it and go light on the cheese. Make it thin crust, and make it yourself. Fresh, homemade pizza tastes much better than any chain store and can be very nutritious while satisfying your cravings.

SylentZee

Have to keep pushing yourself and sticking to it. Eventually, you adapt the lifestyle and have less trouble with staying focus, just figure out your goals and find what works best for you.

No pain, no gain right?

nellyett

Making a lifestyle change takes time. First, don't start out by starving yourself. You need to figure out your BMR and TDEE and try to start off somewhere in between those numbers. Often 1200 is way to low for people just starting out. Especially if you stomach hasn't had a chance to shrink from eating less yet. What is your weight, age and height?

This!! Your daily calorie goals may be set way less than they have to be...

714rah714

For me, it always takes a couple of weeks before a new routine becomes routine. My only advice to you is to not let yourself get to hungry, then if your like me, you'll start to obsess over food and that obsession will eventually lead to a binge. Good luck to you in your journey.

collectingblues

It's not easy because the really good things in life are never easy. You have to work for them, and see the results in the end.

deb3129

for a lot of people, the more refined carbs (sugar, flour, etc) you eat, the more you want. I would suggest trying really hard for a couple of weeks not to eat much of that stuff and eventually you won't crave it so much.

Notice I didn't say NOT to eat it, just focus on trading those things for fruit (still carbs, but more filling), vegetables, and lean proteins.

This is what I have done, and it has worked really,really well. for me. I do not crave junk at all, anymore. In fact, when one of my kids offers me some and I take a bite, it never really tastes good. I actually crave good stuff now. Weird, but awesome!

testease

actually it is quite easy.

Hit your calories/macros
lift weights for body composition.
Repeat.
profit???

Dunno whats hard about that.

musiqueange

I've been eating much less (1200-1340 from whatever I felt like before) for almost three months now and a couple of weeks ago I was pretty confident I was going to (stupidly) eat a whole plate of noodles on a cheat day out of town but I got full about half way through and had to take it home with me on the plane. I was quite impressed with my stomach because there was a time I could have eaten it all without regret!

waldo56

I'm only on week one and feel like I should give up already!

Gaining weight is easy for me half the time I don't even know I'm gaining but losing is hard!! I'm always hungry. Grouchy cus I always want something carbolicious. I just need some tips or something cus by this time next week I may just order me a whole pizza and eat all of it at the rate I'm going!

If losing weight is hard you should probably give up, your chance of maintaining any loss is virtually nil, so you are are largely wasting your time.

First things first, find the motivation to be successful. If it is hard, you don't have enough motivation.