I quit!! Just isn't worth the hard work!!

JennCh

I know exactly how you feel. Yesterday, after a year and two months of being committed to exercising and eating healthfully, I was in tears and ready to quit. This came after my husband insisted I take progress pics to compare to my pics from a year ago. When I saw that nothing, absolutely nothing was different, I was a very unhappy camper. I then got on the scale, which I hate more than anything else in this world, and found I have gained back 5 pounds of the 12 I had lost. I was devastated. I even told my husband I'm done. He's my biggest supporter and talked me through it, so where was I this morning? Biking then lifting weights to keep working towards the tri.

I am in training for a sprint tri, so I've been running, swimming, and biking at least 5 days a week, expending anywhere from 300 to 600 calories a day. I am very careful about what I eat. Where am I going wrong? I don't have the answer, but I do know I am much fitter now than I was a year ago. I swam a fast 700 meters last night, after running the fastest mile I've ever posted yet and biking 20 minutes earler in the day. A year ago, there was no way I could have done any of this This morning we biked for 40 minutes in some wind, and while it was difficult, I wasn't huffing and puffing along the way. I was actually enjoying the challenge.

Yes, I'm still stinging from the 5 pound gain and the lack of difference in my body shape, but I'll take the fitness I've gained. I'll keep trying cuz that's just who I am. I'd love for you to join me and just keep plugging away. We can encourage each other though there will be obstacles and disappointments.

LivyJo

Well, I know how you feel. Somedays it doesn't feel worth it. But then I think back to January of 2008, when I was having knee surgery and was the heaviest I've ever been, and how miserable I was, and how I vowed to never take my healthy limbs and my body for granted again. I thought to myself how stupid I was for not taking advantage of my ability to exercise when I could! (I was on crutches for 6 weeks,rehab for 5 months after)

I'm down 20something lbs since then. That was 2.3 years ago. I've had my ups and my downs. But overall...i'm DOWN in weight, and UP in happiness. I feel healthy and happy and even if the weight lost hasn't been fast, it still feels good to know that i've stuck with it.

So, my advice. Take some time off. Focus on what you need to focus on. Don't let your eating go out of control, just maintain and get back to feeling happy with something. Then gradually start incorporating more exercise as you want. You WILL want it again! And you'll be very glad to not have to start at ground Zero when you do.

Best of luck lady! :flowerforyou:

KeriD

Oh....I am so sorry that you haven't seen more results. That is soooo frustrating. I really think you should get an appointment with your doctor...perhaps they will run some tests on you to determine if there is an underlying problem.
Regardless, you should be very proud of the healthy lifestyle that you have had these last 8 months, that in itself is outstanding!!!

nolachick

I think one problem is the obsessive focus we all have on actual weight as being that which defines whether we are healthy or not. I'm sure you would lose weight if all you eat was lettuce nonstop everyday but you wouldn't be healthy, right? If you are suffering in some way then you should do what you can to reduce the suffering without hurting your body in turn.

You weight loss might stall but your overall health should be improving. I know it's hard to measure that and that's why we use the scale as or indicator of health but sometimes the scale isn't effective. And if the new habits you've picked up at MFP haven't improved your health then I'd really be surprised.

agree 100%

I am sure if your numbers haven't changed your endurance and strength HAD to have improved during this time of training. after all if you are training for a marathon your body should be stronger, and you won't win a marathon by losing lbs on the scale but by your endurance and strength.

think back to the first day of training....were you able to do half the things that you are able to do now?

nolachick

I know exactly how you feel. Yesterday, after a year and two months of being committed to exercising and eating healthfully, I was in tears and ready to quit. This came after my husband insisted I take progress pics to compare to my pics from a year ago. When I saw that nothing, absolutely nothing was different, I was a very unhappy camper. I then got on the scale, which I hate more than anything else in this world, and found I have gained back 5 pounds of the 12 I had lost. I was devastated. I even told my husband I'm done. He's my biggest supporter and talked me through it, so where was I this morning? Biking then lifting weights to keep working towards the tri.

I am in training for a sprint tri, so I've been running, swimming, and biking at least 5 days a week, expending anywhere from 300 to 600 calories a day. I am very careful about what I eat. Where am I going wrong? I don't have the answer, but I do know I am much fitter now than I was a year ago. I swam a fast 700 meters last night, after running the fastest mile I've ever posted yet and biking 20 minutes earler in the day. A year ago, there was no way I could have done any of this This morning we biked for 40 minutes in some wind, and while it was difficult, I wasn't huffing and puffing along the way. I was actually enjoying the challenge.

Yes, I'm still stinging from the 5 pound gain and the lack of difference in my body shape, but I'll take the fitness I've gained. I'll keep trying cuz that's just who I am. I'd love for you to join me and just keep plugging away. We can encourage each other though there will be obstacles and disappointments.

agreed~!

sonjavon

Why I Want To Get In Shape
To feel good again. Not to be embarrased when I go places with my husband/friends.

My Inspirations
So I don't get Diabetes like most of my family
To live a long, healthy life
To enjoy shopping and fashion again
To have more energy

Have any of these things changed? Taking weight completely out of the equation... do you feel better? Is what you've been doing going to prolong your life? Do you have more energy now than when you started? This isn't a sprint.... it's a marathon. And the prize is better health.
My guess is that you've been looking at this too much as a "diet" - and not as a lifestyle change. Really and truly I think it's hard sometimes for us to really internalize what that means... I'm not choosing to eat better for a short period of time - I'm choosing to eat better for the rest of my life! Does that mean that I can never again enjoy fattening, rich foods? No... but I'll learn that those are a "treat".
Maybe you have been pushing yourself too hard... take a step back and look at what you can do to make this more enjoyable. I don't "work out" - I play... I play with my son, I take a walk for mental tranquility. As a rule - I don't like to "work" - so I refuse to think of it as such. If you're not enjoying training for the 1/2 marathon - DON'T! But don't give up on yourself. YOU are worth all of the hard work that you are putting in. YOU are worth taking care of your health.
I hope that you won't quit completely.

rmchan

I have gotten a lot of emails sent to me and so I figured I needed to show some respect and respond and tell all of you Thank you..I am gonna quit for a little while tracking calories, etc..I'm training for a 1/2 marathon and it's in less than 6 weeks so no I don't plan to quit training and eating healthy..but I had to get off this bus for awhile..It's just is not driving me in the right direction right now..I feel like a failure when I have logged in everything, trained really hard that week and see no loss! I removed the scales from my house. I will not track my calories for now..just taking a break on that and focusing on my goal which is to run a 1/2 marathon...I appreciate so very much the love and support ya'll have shown me and I can't tell you what it meant! I will eat to be healthy and do the training I am scheduled to do..I will maybe come back to counting calories, when I done with this goal.. It just wasn't working for me..maybe too many irons in the fire? I had all of my previous bloodwork sent to a Endrocrinologist yesterday and I have an appt tomorrow with my regular doc to have more taken and sent before my appt with the Endro on March 24..So ya'll keep up the hard work and again Thanks!

CasperO

So you're gonna relax, train, forget the scale and take care of yourself. And your doc is going through some labs. Sounds great.

Please check back in and keep us informed.

KatWood

So you're gonna relax, train, forget the scale and take care of yourself. And your doc is going through some labs. Sounds great.

Please check back in and keep us informed.

I agree. This doesn't sound like quitting at all. Good luck and we look foward to your return.

Also, I just want to add that I trained hard for about a year before my first half marathon in Oct. 2009. It was a lot of work and I decided to stop counting calories during that time as well since I was burning alot by running. I also did not see any weightloss while I was training. But I did see improvements in my breathing and endurance. I also think my body shape changed a bit. I have to say I loved the race. It was so much fun and crossing that finish line was such an amazing accomplishment. I am more proud of that race than the weight I have lost. I can't wait for this year's race. Last year my mom entered it with me and this year my sister is doing it. My journey has become an inspiration for others and I am sure you are doing the same thing for your family and friends.

Missouwechanged

Good for you!! Keep up the good work you have done so far!!

KeriD

I am so glad that you are going to visit the doc! And very impressed that you are running a marathon!!! I wish you the best and let us know how the doc and the marathon goes