I know I shouldn't be discouraged but...
LesleLu4
Posts: 14
(First post ever guys...)
I started my "new life plan" as I'm calling it, not a diet but a forever thing, on Aug 9. Since then I have lost 13 pounds... to me this seems so tiny compared to how much I have to lose (100+). My parents and husband keep telling me how great that is, acting like 13 pounds is some great accomplishment but I'm just having trouble seeing it that way or being excited about it.
I don't know if this is because of how much I have to lose and it just seems daunting, or if it's because I weigh myself everyday. I know that weighing myself constantly (because if I'm honest, it's more than once a day..multiple times a day) is doing nothing but hurting my motivation because instead of seeing 5 pounds lost I'm seeing .3...
Any advice or has anyone gone through anything like this?
I started my "new life plan" as I'm calling it, not a diet but a forever thing, on Aug 9. Since then I have lost 13 pounds... to me this seems so tiny compared to how much I have to lose (100+). My parents and husband keep telling me how great that is, acting like 13 pounds is some great accomplishment but I'm just having trouble seeing it that way or being excited about it.
I don't know if this is because of how much I have to lose and it just seems daunting, or if it's because I weigh myself everyday. I know that weighing myself constantly (because if I'm honest, it's more than once a day..multiple times a day) is doing nothing but hurting my motivation because instead of seeing 5 pounds lost I'm seeing .3...
Any advice or has anyone gone through anything like this?
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Replies
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First of all, congrats on losing 13 pounds! Your friends and family are right, that is a huge accomplishment and really you've lost that in a very short time! I would also suggest stop weighing yourself everyday because that seems to be adding to your stress - try twice a week. Have you taken your measurements? That will be useful too in understanding your progress. Take some before photos too so that you can compare as time goes on.
You've gotten a great start to your goal, keep up the good work!0 -
Thirteen pounds is amazing, let me say that. Whenever I get discouraged I always think of this, "It didn't take a day to put on this weight, it's not going to go away in a day" You've done great so far, keep going. Your weight loss may slow down but you will get there, you're getting healthier and fitter, the scale isn't everything. Keep up the good work (:0
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Stop looking at a 100 lb goal... look at a 10 lb goal and be proud when you reach it. Then set another 10 lbs.... every time you meet that challenge, remind yourself you are worthy of another challenge! Just think, even if it takes a year- that day WILL come and you can still be the same size you are now or the size you WANT to be! Bring it girl!0
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Thanks guys for all your responses! I know I have an unhealthy scale relationship. I even had my husband hide our home scale but I went and found it like a pyscho.
I did make little goals for myself and each time I lose 5 pounds I'm buying myself a new lily & laura bracelet.. (my favorite thing to buy..and then I'll be able to count my weight loss in bracelets..haha).
I'm just having trouble being excited about 13 pounds because I guess I feel kind of dumb (or maybe embarassed?) to celebrate numbers that pale in comparison to what I need to lose..0 -
That's a great idea to reward yourself for each five! Thirteen isn't a small number at all! Please don't feel embarrassed or stupid, you are making progress on your goals and are in the middle of a big change!0
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I think you should get excited about your weight loss! It is a lot of hard work but it can actually be fun. Plus it makes it more special when you celebrate your accomplishments with family and friends. I think it is great that the people in your life are being so supportive. It sounds like you are making great progress and I hope you keep it up!0
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From your ticker 13 lbs looks like it's 10% of your goal, and in 2 1/2 weeks, that is a great start. You really should be proud of your progress so far.
If you want to put this in perspective, grab a 10 lb bag of sugar (flour might be messy) next time you're in the grocery store and carry it with you while you shop - no putting it in the cart. When you're done your shop, put it back before you to to the checkout. Notice how much better you feel after you've put it back? That's a concrete example of what you've accomplished - you're not carrying around those 10 lbs anymore. Doesn't it feel great?0 -
Exactly what carol said.From your ticker 13 lbs looks like it's 10% of your goal, and in 2 1/2 weeks, that is a great start. You really should be proud of your progress so far.
If you want to put this in perspective, grab a 10 lb bag of sugar (flour might be messy) next time you're in the grocery store and carry it with you while you shop - no putting it in the cart. When you're done your shop, put it back before you to to the checkout. Notice how much better you feel after you've put it back? That's a concrete example of what you've accomplished - you're not carrying around those 10 lbs anymore. Doesn't it feel great?
13 lbs is 2 1/2 braclets, thats 2 more than you had this time last month:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
And you are 10% of the way to your goal, but its actually 2000% closer than you were this time last month.
And if you keep up the work, this me next month you will be sporting 6 or 6 shiny braclets
If you haven't already, it might be good to start tking photos each month so you can more readily see your progress
Keep up the great work ( and don't get discouraged by small setbacks, concentrate ron what you have acieved so far)0 -
From your ticker 13 lbs looks like it's 10% of your goal, and in 2 1/2 weeks, that is a great start. You really should be proud of your progress so far.
If you want to put this in perspective, grab a 10 lb bag of sugar (flour might be messy) next time you're in the grocery store and carry it with you while you shop - no putting it in the cart. When you're done your shop, put it back before you to to the checkout. Notice how much better you feel after you've put it back? That's a concrete example of what you've accomplished - you're not carrying around those 10 lbs anymore. Doesn't it feel great?
Very good point! I hadn't thought of it in terms of percentage... I will try to be more excited about my progress from now on!0 -
13 pounds is amazing progress in less that 3 weeks!! I agree with the person who said to break it down into smaller goals.0
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Carrying a 10 lb bag of sugar (id use potatoes lol) i a GREAT idea.
If were being a 100 % hosest here, I know EXACTLY how you feel. Im down 60 lbs, but my mind doesnt let me celebrate that HUGE accomplishment... instead it focuses on the fact that I STILL have 67 lbs to go. So much weight to lose... so long it will still take.. months and months... how HARD it will be.. how long ive been going through this and im not even half done...
Maybe Ill justt quit? whats the point? Sure ill gain it all back if i give up. sure ill hate myself. sure ill be misserable.
umm.. wait..
that would mean ive worked my *kitten* OFF this long for... nothing? That would mean what, that I dont deserve to be happy? that im weak? That i just gave up on MYSELF?
Hmm.. I think thats even MORE depressing the thought of how much i have left to go.
Girl, push those thoughts out of your head. Yeah its hard,, but get over it, keep on truckin.
What i tell myself.. the only thing i find REALLY helps, is this::
TIME WILL PASS regardless of whatever IM doing.
In 2 years ( yes, 2 LONG FRICKEN YEARS!) from today I could be celebrating my REACHING ULTIMATE GOAL!
OR, i can be here, in the same place. fat, misserable, sick, lifeless.
WISHING I WOULD HAVE STARTED 2 YEARS AGO.
Time will pass EITHER WAY0 -
Nice to know I'm not alone. I've lost a total of 35lbs but because I am so huge hardly anyone has noticed. I have because my jeans are looser. I'm glad, but it just seems like it's just a drop in the bucket compared to how much I need to lose. :ohwell:
Slow but steady wins the race, I'll reach the finish line eventually.
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Imagine yourself going to weigh yourself rite this very moment, and the scale reads 35 pounds MORE than you are. Thats 35 lbs GONE forever!! It took me a good 45 lbs before ppl noticed, because i was so large. OWELL. Im doing great and SO ARE YOU!!
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(First post ever guys...)
I started my "new life plan" as I'm calling it, not a diet but a forever thing, on Aug 9. Since then I have lost 13 pounds... to me this seems so tiny compared to how much I have to lose (100+). My parents and husband keep telling me how great that is, acting like 13 pounds is some great accomplishment but I'm just having trouble seeing it that way or being excited about it.
It's weightloss dear. You lost 13 lbs in 3 weeks. That's awesome. It really doesn't get any better than that. Some people lose a lot less.0 -
Don't weigh yourself everyday!
Give the scales to your husband and tell him you are only allowed them one morning a week.
Leave them at your parents house and go over there once a week.
Leave them in the car.
I also obsessively weigh myself so now I leave them at the bottom of the wash basket. I do the washing Sunday morning so only actually get to see them once a week. Out of sight out of obsession.
You have done really really well so far- don't screw up your motivation or self esteem by unrealistic expectations! You may lose 1-2 lbs a week which you may think is not quick enough but once it's gone it will hopefully stay off. By losing weight sensibly it will hopefully stay off forever!
See this experience as a journey....it took a while to get chunky so it will take awhile to get skinny! I have lost 38lb so far and no one has noticed yet but I am still plodding along quite happily. I will get there in the end - and whilst I am moving forward with my weight loss I am not going backwards and putting it on!
If you need some extra love by all means add me..... I may not obsessively weigh but I log into MFP constantly!
Good luck - happy plodding on with your journey!
Xx0 -
I have heard that it's best to weigh yourself in the morning, because a person will usually weigh about three pounds more in the evening than they did in the morning. You check the scale more than I do, so you're probably familiar with all sorts of fluctuations, but that might contribute to some of your frustration.
As for the rest of it, I round up. Thirteen pounds lost is really 15 pounds lost. You're only 10 short of 25, so you're already 1/4 of the way there! It's not 100% true, and yeah, it'll take you time to get to the quarter mark, but one-fourth of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS is still quite impressive - and since 25 is really thirty, you've almost lost 30 pounds, which makes you almost 1/3 of the way there.
I feel kind of ridiculous, but it motivates me. Fake it 'til you make it!0 -
I have heard that it's best to weigh yourself in the morning, because a person will usually weigh about three pounds more in the evening than they did in the morning. You check the scale more than I do, so you're probably familiar with all sorts of fluctuations, but that might contribute to some of your frustration.
As for the rest of it, I round up. Thirteen pounds lost is really 15 pounds lost. You're only 10 short of 25, so you're already 1/4 of the way there! It's not 100% true, and yeah, it'll take you time to get to the quarter mark, but one-fourth of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS is still quite impressive - and since 25 is really thirty, you've almost lost 30 pounds, which makes you almost 1/3 of the way there.
I feel kind of ridiculous, but it motivates me. Fake it 'til you make it!
This made me laugh so hard! the way you round up weight is how I do age.. like "I just turned 24, which is pretty much 25, which is basically 30. Which is half of 60"... haha.. I had a breakdown that sounded like that a few days before my birthday. About how I was almost 60 with no babies yet...hahahah .0 -
13 pounds is great. I tell myself that I did not put the weight on overnight and it will not come off overnight. It was WAY easier to put on than to take off....but I won't give up! My first week that I joined Weight Watchers I logged my food, ate great and lost .4 pounds. Needless to say I was devestated! BUT my sister in law told me...you lost, it doesn't matter how much or how little, you lost! Thanks to her encouraging words I kept going!
Keep your chin up...you can do it!! Believe in yourself!!0 -
Given that you should lose 1-2lb a week 13lbs is a crazy amount to lose in 3 weeks so yes you should be pleased!
I know what you mean though, I have to try and stop myself from thinking I have 30+lbs to lose and remember what I've already lost and that I will get there and every lb takes me that bit closer.0 -
your doing great, you all have help me want to keep going I just had to deal with a huge set back, my birth conrtol messed with my motabilisum and pretty much stopped it and I gained back almost 40 of what I had lost and am starting all over again. Im now off the birth control and have lost 5lbs in about 2 weeks which was great but still a long way to go. thanks for all of your suggestions :flowerforyou:0
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13 pounds is freaking awesome!!! That is no small accomplishment. It's almost as much weight as a small child! Keep going, stay commintted and you will obtain your goal.0
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13 lbs is awesome!!! You started just a few weeks ago- here is what would freak me out, so think of it like this- what if you were to gain 13 lbs in less than a month? Sounds devastating right? You have to be prepared to do it right, you didn't gain the extra weight in 1 year right? You probably won't take it off that fast- and if you want sustained weight loss, or quick weight loss- up to you of course- I want permanent weight loss
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One thing I have to warn you about is to put things in perspective. You will DEFINITELY not be losing 13 lbs every 3 weeks on the regular during your journey, it just won't happen. It comes off easier at the beginning because a lot of it is water weight.
You should be aiming for 1 to 2 lbs loss per week if you are doing it right. Eventually you will start to see it follow this pattern.0 -
Whilst we are talking being on the road here to your ultimate goal. it is better to taken off 35 lb and taken off 166lb and put it all back on.Nice to know I'm not alone. I've lost a total of 35lbs but because I am so huge hardly anyone has noticed. I have because my jeans are looser. I'm glad, but it just seems like it's just a drop in the bucket compared to how much I need to lose. :ohwell:
Slow but steady wins the race, I'll reach the finish line eventually.
that is 35 blocks of 1lb of butter......
A part way to your goal and might i say the part which has the greatest impact on your health, the part which makes it possible to move, to exercise more. To choose nicer clothes, to sit in an aircraft seat, to stop the doctor tutting, to save your long life. The important part. That is the most dangerous part of the excess you carried. A great achievement.
Jasmin0 -
I've lost 13#s since June 26 which seems very slow to me, but I am borrowing all that wonderful advice and support you've given to Leslelu and using it !0
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I set myself short term goals that mean something to me. My first goal is 245lbs, which will be my weight per baby. Then 230lbs, which was my weight when I was married. Then 220lbs, the weight I was when I met my husband. Then 199lbs to finally break the 200lb mark that I haven't been under in over 10 years! Each of these goals is small and much more easy to think about and obtain then the over 100 lbs I want to eventually lose. Thirteen pounds is a great start. Just keep telling yourself, this isn't a diet, it's my life!0
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You have to take it one day at a time! 13 lbs in a huge accomplishment, especially for 20 days! Don't cheat yourself. I went in 10 lbs increments, I knew I had 100 lbs to lose, but I motivated myself to get through each 10 increment. I weigh myself every day as well and I find it helps me to keep on track. I know how well I did the day before and what I need to do today based on my weight. With that said I also measure myself every Friday morning. I wish I had done that from the beginning, but have only done it since starting MFP in May, even then I have seen a TON of difference in how things shift and change. Keep at it, you can and ARE doing this! Feel free to add me if you like.0
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I'm taking my journey 10lbs at a time. for me In the beginning I had to loose 50lbs. It seems like such a HUGE number! I mean.. my dog weighs 50lbs! I have so far hit my first goals, 10lbs, then another 10!
Maybe looking at it as "I have 10lbs to lose" then once you hit the 10 mark, "I have 10 pounds to lose" It makes it less daunting. If you look at it how I do, you are well on your way to your second goal! that's exactly what I do and it seems to work wonderfully.
Remember, everyone loses weight differently, some will drop a huge number in the first few months and then it comes off much slower, others hardly lose when they start but then the numbers add up and it keeps falling off. For me, It's always been a steady pace. Congratulations on passing your first milestone! Keep your head up, you're doing just fine
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Yes. Yes I have.
And I got discouraged often, so I wanted to fight back. For every day that I spend discouraged, I have to spend a day pumped full of pride. And before I knew it, I had more gold star proud days on my calendar than green sad face stickers.
Im talking Pride winning three times over.
Accept that you will have days that you want to give in and give up.
Accept that you will have days so badass that no one can contain your cockiness.
and both are ok.
and hey man you have less to lose than you think - here's why:
the first two months are really important- if you can stick it out two months than I think you'll definitely not want to break that kind of strong start.
your weight will jump up 4-8 pounds each month and it will go right away so dont freak out - its just your body's natural ebb and flow- I SWEARTAGAWD
your weight loss speed will slow as you get closer to your goal weight BUTTTTTT this is balanced out because smaller amounts of weight loss will be MORE noticeable than higher poundage loss at the beginning. Cool right?
Once you have about 30 pounds left to lose, youre going to be in a completely different headspace. Youre going to be loving all the little changes in your body and with your new energy levels and lighter body, youre going to be trying lots of new things and getting caught up in all of THAT fun. Maybe even running a 5K or something.
Youll be hitting real plateaus (like 3-4 month plateaus) but will be leaning on other things like- I havent lost a pound in three months but I dropped another jeans size! kaching!!!
Then you'll get pissed of at your scale for the last time when you are about 10-15 pounds from your goal and you'll switch to focusing on your body fat percentage, checking out the muscles moving under your skin in the mirror and stretching out naked on your bed and running your fingers over your hip bones and smiling and thinking - eff you scale... Im goddamn healthy.0 -
Congrats to 13lbs, how about walking when you want to weigh yourself. I just started this new life style change and it's pretty hard because i'm a cook and i work at a place where we make all kinds of rich and fattening foods. I'm getting a bike today so i will start riding it on a daily basis. Good luck and keep up the great work. I need to lose at least 50lbs.
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