I want to give up!

chmiddleton
chmiddleton Posts: 30 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
On September 10, I started really getting serious with my weight loss goal. I have gotten up at 5am every week day and have worked out. I work out later in the day on Saturday, and Sunday is my rest day. Some days I work out twice, and also get one or two 15 minute walks in durring the work day. I have logged in on MFP, and stayed pretty close to my calorie goal. I gained 2 pounds in the first week. I dropped those 2 mystery pounds, but now exactly where I started 14 days ago. I have no progress. No pounds down, no inches lost. I am not a morning person at all. It is HUGE that I get up at 5am to do these work outs (Hip Hop Abs). I want to quit! I feel like I'm doing all this hard work for nothing.
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Replies

  • RMCoffey
    RMCoffey Posts: 27
    What kinds of foods are you eating?

    Think about it like this - if you give up, then what??? You'll be even more unhappy!
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Don't quit. If morning workouts are too difficult for you to maintain, then change your program. Work out in the evening. Walk on your breaks at work. Don't stop. Progress doesn't happen overnight but you will never gain anything if you give up now.
  • Bjj_girl12
    Bjj_girl12 Posts: 11
    Try to remember two things,
    1) You didn't put on the weight over night, so it wont come off over night
    2) You could be adding muscle, which could have the scale at a stand still. Try taking measurements to see if you've lost inches.

    You might also have to play around with what works for you in your food. Maybe you're not eating enough, or you're eating too much. It takes time to find the right equation of everything.
  • cloe31
    cloe31 Posts: 75 Member
    Your calorie goal might be too high for you. What is your calorie range?
  • miltongurl05
    miltongurl05 Posts: 64 Member
    Don't quit, hun! Sometimes it is harder for certain people to lose weight and tone than others. I'm sure with the exercise you are gaining muscle. Have you been drinking plenty of water? What kinds of food are you eating? Some foods that seem healthy in a certain area may, in fact, be unhealthy. Just know you have support out here! We are all in this together and we will help you to succeed the best we can!
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    You're not going to lose inches in 14 days of your plan. Lots of people don't lose anything for the first several weeks.
  • Danette73
    Danette73 Posts: 76
    You said "pretty close to your calorie goal" .. wha tdoes that mean? What are you eating? Make sure you get in plenty of fruits and veggies, cut out the salts. Drink LOTS of water!!! Not everyone is the same so weight lose will be different too. If you are exercising, getting in good foods, water... it will happen. Don't quit now!! You can do it!! :smile:
  • FitBeto
    FitBeto Posts: 2,121 Member
    Diet maybe needs revamped. Also, maybe do more cardio? My mom works out like 2 hours a day but she has a terrible diet - so she in turn is not losing, but gaining. Stress is bad for weight loss too - stop looking in the mirror or even weighing for a week and you will see results! Lots of water - and yeah you are close to your calorie goal but what exactly ARE you eating? 2000 calories can be of fast food or delish veggies - I cant see your diary so im not sure! :)
  • lundii
    lundii Posts: 151 Member
    Don't give up!
    I needed six weeks to see the first results...
    After four weeks I was about giving up, when I suddenly noticed, that I could tighten my belt... two weeks later my weight loss started.
    I lost about 55 lbs in six months...
    So... stay on track... you will have success!
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Give it more time! Are you weighing yourself at the same time each day? 2 pounds in general can be a fluctuation. I personally can be 8 pounds heavier in the evening than I am in the morning!
  • Cliffslosinit
    Cliffslosinit Posts: 5,044 Member
    Never give up. Never surrender!
  • roguestates
    roguestates Posts: 223
    Ease into this process. You're doing too much, too fast. Develop a routine and an eating plan that is sustainable for you. Not a morning person? Don't work out in the AM.

    Weight loss is not linear. Your weight will fluctuate or stay the same depending on time of day, month, what you've eaten, sodium, whether you've worked out recently.

    Really though, how can you quit yourself? Being healthy is a goal in and of itself. Weightloss is a side benefit.
  • YvieQueezy
    YvieQueezy Posts: 8
    Oh!!! Don't give up!
    Maybe you should try working out in the evening instead of the morning! Then maybe you won't dread it so much! It's a lot easier to do when you're enjoying it!
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Have you been eating back your exercise calories?
    What deficit have you set?
    How are you working out calories burnt?

    The consensus seems to be that MFP tends to over-guess your exercise calories, so it could be that you're eating back more than you should. On a small deficit this may not be great.
  • MissJenova
    MissJenova Posts: 258
    My instant thought with these threads are "Are you eating enough."

    Make sure you're not at a large deficiet when you are working out that much. You need to eat more to lose weight sometimes. It's hard to say when I cannot see your diary (no pressure to make it public), but keep in mind that not eating enough may be the problem.

    If you are discouraged, look at this program differently. Look at it as a way to be healthy and track your nutrients and activity levels. It's all trial and error and it's a life long process. It won't be easy or quick, but it will be oh so worth it.
  • gauchogirl
    gauchogirl Posts: 467 Member
    2 weeks is NOT really enough time to see a realistic change (actual fat, not water weight fluctuations.) It took me several MONTHS, literally, before I saw any loss that continued and I could tell I was really losing weight. You have to trust in the process, that OVER TIME, the small changes you make every day ADD UP. Give it time to work.

    Also, the "best" program is one you can stick with. SO if morning workouts are difficult enough that you're unlikely to continue, you need to find a better time.

    Good luck!
  • jgm379
    jgm379 Posts: 97 Member
    I worked out at least 50 min. a day for 4 weeks and gained 6lbs. I finally had to add more of a diet in with my exercising. I now eat 1200 calories a day and cut out almost all of my fat intake. I have now lost a total of 10lbs in 3 weeks. Some people just have to go to extra extremes. When you cut your calories this low you also have to find foods that make you feel full and provide energy. This is what worked for me.
  • Time2Thrive
    Time2Thrive Posts: 161 Member
    I was just reading this on Jillian Michael's page, "take a minute to think about what the scale is NOT telling you — like what a strong and healthy individual you're becoming. Do you have more endurance? Have you lost inches from your waist? Do you look better in your clothes? Don't be a slave to the scale." Hope it helps!!
  • Sailatsorf
    Sailatsorf Posts: 161 Member
    Seriously, don't give up. Here's the way I look at it: Even if I don't lose the weight I want, exercise is good for my body. There is no way around that. And it definitely doesn't hurt to keep doing it, even if you're not losing right now. Keep plugging away at it, and try to modify your diet a bit to see what makes you lose. And even if that doesn't work, doctors recommend that you exercise most days, so like I said before, it's doing you good no matter what.
  • debbiemarie210
    debbiemarie210 Posts: 2 Member
    Don't give up! The two mysterious pounds could have been muscle mass or water retention. As long as you are reducing your caloric intake and ramping up the exercise, you will lose the weight. Right now, you may have a sluggish metabolism but this will change with proper eating habits and a consistent workout plan. Be patient with yourself and you will see the results. You deserve to see this through to the end, when your utlimate goal has been reached. Believe me, you may feel bad now, but you will feel a lot worse if you give up now. Just my two cents of encouragement. : )
  • jiva57
    jiva57 Posts: 21 Member
    Don't give up!!!
    Losing weight is hard. Staying fat is harder.

    As we get older, our bodies retain fluid to replace the fat YOU ARE BURNING longer (it's called homeostasis). It will let go soon.

    Also, you are gaining muscle.
    Advice: Measure inches immediately so you have more than one way to track progress. You should already notice slightly looser pants. Keep your salt intake under 2500 - critical.

    You'll see a difference this week.
  • timmymon
    timmymon Posts: 304 Member
    Just continue to work hard and stay positive. It has only been two weeks, it takes a long time and a lot of hard work to start seeing results. You kind of have to forget about the time period and just work on being a healthier person overall, the results will follow.
  • tnewcomb4
    tnewcomb4 Posts: 3 Member
    DO NOT GIVE UP!

    This happens to the best of us. It sounds like you may be trying to make too big of a change at one time.

    It's time to take a step back and re-evaluate. Making the decision and jumping in with both feet is a great thing! Your passion is a good thing!

    Scale things back a bit - perhaps work out just 2 days a week and just concentrate on your nutrition for now, but DO NOT GIVE UP! We all go through this. Keep fighting the fight!
  • sweebum
    sweebum Posts: 1,060 Member
    You can out eat any exercise. Check your diet. And a gain in a new exercise routine is normal.
  • Amberonamission
    Amberonamission Posts: 836 Member
    I'd love to know your statistics. What is your calorie goal. Open your diary so we can see what you are eating. This is doable. Don't quit.
  • jLarson18
    jLarson18 Posts: 3
    Your diet is they key to all weight loss. You could be eating the MFP amount of calories, but if your not eating healthy you wont see the results. Remember this is a life change, the pounds will come off, sometimes all you can do is persevere, and fight for it. I have been there done that. I used to play professional hockey till I blew my knee out, I then gained 30 pounds. It has taken me a while but im close now. If I can do it so can you!
  • jwatson7
    jwatson7 Posts: 58 Member
    I fell into a habit awhile back of getting on the scale almost every day and began to get frustrated. I decided, for me, it was best if I ditched the scale and started going by how my clothes fit. I had much better result once I gave up the scale and number obsession. I will occasionally step on the scale to see where I am now that I am more or less maintaining but nothing like I was before! Weight loss is not a sprint, its a marathon. Keep at! You'll get there!
  • SocWkrBee
    SocWkrBee Posts: 374
    I worked out at least 50 min. a day for 4 weeks and gained 6lbs. I finally had to add more of a diet in with my exercising. I now eat 1200 calories a day and cut out almost all of my fat intake. I have now lost a total of 10lbs in 3 weeks. Some people just have to go to extra extremes. When you cut your calories this low you also have to find foods that make you feel full and provide energy. This is what worked for me.

    This is what I have been told is my problem. I was told that I was eating too much and needed to make more of a deficit. I have not made the changes yet, but maybe give that a try?
  • areufnkiddingme
    areufnkiddingme Posts: 99 Member
    I second the suggestion for taking measurements and not stepping on the scale- especially if you are doing hip hop abs. While it is cardio intensive, it was clearly meant for building and defining muscle in the midsection (and thighs! from my experience :) ). While you are not seeing difference on the scale, I'm assuming that your waist is probably looking narrower and your muscle tone is started to make all your curvy areas look a little more taught and defined- those are things you should be proud of and should relish in, not be disappointed about.

    Also, 14 days is not very long at all- You're going to need a hell of a lot more determination and willpower than that. You're in the adjustment phase of a new LIFESTYLE, not some magic soup diet that sheds weight like snakes shed skin. Have patience with your body and encourage it to do what you expect of it, what you want of it, and soon enough, it will come along. Wanting to quit after two weeks doesn't get you anywhere except feeling defeated and miserable and weak.

    I also have to suggest that you start setting goals for yourself outside of the weight you want to reach. Weight can be useful as a goal and as an indicator of progress, but it is not the be-all end-all of getting in shape. Having other goals to work towards can be a great motivator when you aren't seeing progress on the scale. For example, I haven't seen my weight budge once in two weeks, but where I started out hardly finishing a mile run at the beginning of those two weeks, I can now run 3.5 miles. Thats a hell of a lot of improvement, and it reinforced that I am making AWESOME progress! I'd like for you to know how that feels too.
  • emmeylou
    emmeylou Posts: 175 Member
    I haven't read the previous entries, so I apologize if I am repeating anything. You are exercising a lot! That is great, but at the same time you need to be more patient with your body. Right now (yes, even 2 weeks later) your body is hoarding everything you put into it because of all the changes. When you add in exercise, especially if you are doing any weight training, chances are it will take a long time before you see results. I would highly suggest you take a body fat measurement and use that from time to time to judge your progress. It's just another tool, but often when the scales aren't moving, this is!

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