Thought I was doing well until...

KeelzK
KeelzK Posts: 9
in Motivation and Support
I thought that I was doing well until I started researching my body fat percentage and then realized that even after all of the hard work I have put in, I am still so far away from where I need to be. (I had lost weight prior to signing up on MFP.) Any advice on how to stop obsessing about the numbers?

Replies

  • its_rierie
    its_rierie Posts: 44 Member
    Do you look good? Do your clothes fit? Do you feel well?
  • KeelzK
    KeelzK Posts: 9
    I carry a lot of my weight in my stomach and hips and I don't seem to lose much there. I can see that my face and my legs are much thinner. Just can't stop focusing so much on the numbers.
  • tibeck01
    tibeck01 Posts: 31 Member
    Set a goal that is different from your goal weight. Mine is to fit into my favorite pants. Has nothing to do with numbers, just size. Question...are you just dieting or are you exercising to reduce body fat and increase lean muscle? And if you must focus on numbers, focus on your body measurements.
  • KeelzK
    KeelzK Posts: 9
    I have been dieting and exercising. A different goal might actually work well for me. Thank you!
  • dmisty24
    dmisty24 Posts: 26
    I don't have anything more to add.....I think that tibeck's input was really excellent. Remember who knows how valid those numbers are....and each of us are so individual. Perhaps those numbers don't even apply to you.

    I wish you the very best. This doesn't necessarily apply to my weight, but I find if I start thinking about something that I don't want to. I find some activity to engage myself. This is really true at night when I can't fall asleep and thoughts go racing through my head that could easily spiral me into a depression. I get up and read or go on the computer, until I get tired.

    Best Always, Misty
  • BelleHeart
    BelleHeart Posts: 281 Member
    you;'re doing great!! think about all you have accomplished instead of what you still have to do. Sometimes numbers don't mean anything! =)
  • KeelzK
    KeelzK Posts: 9
    dmisty24, I have a tendency to think to much into somethings so I definitely need to focus my thoughts elsewhere. Thank you! :smile:
  • KeelzK
    KeelzK Posts: 9
    BelleHeart, thank you for your kind words!
  • PeteWhoLikesToRunAlot
    PeteWhoLikesToRunAlot Posts: 596 Member
    The numbers often lag behind otherwise good progress, I've found. As was asked previously; are your clothes fitting more loosely? Are you feeling better overall? If so, you're doing well - keep it up and the numbers will surely follow. Best of luck!
  • VogtAndrea
    VogtAndrea Posts: 236
    When you go to log your weight ONCE a WEEK.... log your measurements. add thighs or biceps too.... go with those numbers and don't consider the weight to be the be all and end all of accomplishment signals on your journey.
  • madams1974
    madams1974 Posts: 3 Member
    I am right there with you! I put the scale away recently and now I focus on little milestones, jeans are looser, chin pointier, feeling stronger and doing exercises that I never thought I could do and eating right. Keep up the hard work.
  • JosieRawr
    JosieRawr Posts: 788 Member
    If I notice myself obsessing over the numbers not moving how I want them to, I do a strength exercise(calisthenics-pushups squats jumping jacks etc) something that is easily measured by rep, I set mini goals for myself such as I big goal of mine is to be able to do pushups with ease(haven't been able to do that like ever... not even when I was in JROTC and went to their bootcamp..) so a mini goal is 100 (inclined)pushups several times a week, one night I did 120 in the same amount of time that I started out doing 100, it doesn't seem like much but it gives me numbers to obsess about other than the scale! I have a similar thing going with squats. I also have several workouts that I've collected from FB pages that if I need to distract myself I'll do one of them n time it under calisthenics. Serves a double purpose for me 1. distraction 2. increased activity

    Also I completely ban myself from the scale and my tape measure for about a week during n right after that time.. because it's just demotivating.

    And depending on the calculator I use to get my bf I have gotten 28% 25% 26% and 21%(on the same day with the same weight and same base measurements-some have more measurements than others but all were taken within 15 minutes) I figure I'm in the middle there somewhere, but it goes to show how unreliable they are, don't let those numbers interfere with what you are doing for yourself!
  • annabellj
    annabellj Posts: 1,337 Member
    make sure you take pics also! find a pair of pants that used to fit. keep trying them on. today was a huge nsv for me, jeans finally fit after two yrs!
    keep up the good work! you will get there! numbers are just numbers
  • vcreinert
    vcreinert Posts: 83
    There are several methods for measuring body fat and each give a different value. Just make sure you cut down on your fat input.
  • CaseRat
    CaseRat Posts: 377 Member
    There are several methods for measuring body fat and each give a different value. Just make sure you cut down on your fat input.

    The first part of this post is true. The 2nd part isn't.
  • andirae
    andirae Posts: 1 Member
    Focus on how far you have come!! Not how far you have to go!! You have done awesome Keely and YOU WILL GET THERE I promise!! Your hard work and dedication will get you there!! Keep a good, positive attitude and keep doing what you are doing, it is working!! We will get you there, I have nothing but faith in you girl!! If there is ANYTHING you ever need from me, PLEASE let me know!! I am here for you! You are rockin, just keep it up!! :)
  • sarahharmintx
    sarahharmintx Posts: 868 Member
    I had my husband hide my scale. I was obsessing about the numbers, several times a day.
  • woodsygirl
    woodsygirl Posts: 354 Member
    I'm right there with you.

    I feel strong but I still need to lose those last 10. This morning, I tried the BF reading on my scale.... 30% bodyfat?! Really?!

    I know my behind is still big, but I weigh 145 pds and I don't consider myself skinny fat.
  • AmyFett
    AmyFett Posts: 1,607 Member
    I have a lot of weight in my belly and hips as well. Having kids and stress did that for me. I've always been big, but the fat around my stomach since having kids is outrageous. I've only lost 12 lbs so far, so no difference, but I know it'll be the last to go.
  • KeelzK
    KeelzK Posts: 9
    Focus on how far you have come!! Not how far you have to go!! You have done awesome Keely and YOU WILL GET THERE I promise!! Your hard work and dedication will get you there!! Keep a good, positive attitude and keep doing what you are doing, it is working!! We will get you there, I have nothing but faith in you girl!! If there is ANYTHING you ever need from me, PLEASE let me know!! I am here for you! You are rockin, just keep it up!! :)

    Thank you, Andrea! I think no matter what the scale says at weigh-in I'm going to just keep doing what I'm doing and work a little bit harder every day.
  • KeelzK
    KeelzK Posts: 9
    Thank you all for all of your motivating comments and helpful tips! I really appreciate it! :happy:

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