where do these down days come from ?????

4 weeks huh? So about 28ish days? Could it be TOM? :-) Regardless, sorry you are feeling down, this weight loss getting healthy business is hard work! But you'll get through it and I'm sure you've had a lot more good days than bad so try and focus on those. Best of luck!!

I get that same way. I've actually been really down about my weight loss for the past week, ever since my husband hit his goal weight (in just 4 months). So now I have to deal with him having even more calories he can eat (since his allotment was always higher than mine) while I stare at another year of loss before I'll hit my goal weight. And that's before I even start considering that I might not even be able to hit my goal because my current lean body mass is right near that weight.

It sucks, and makes me want to just start cutting off body parts to lose that weight.

We all have 'em - I wish I knew where they come from! I go through periods of just feeling like it's insurmountable, this business of paying attention for the rest of my life, and it's all too much.

I've started builing in periods of "being on a break" - there's been some research that suggests it's pretty common to take a break, intentionally or not, so if you build the break in with intention, it feels less interminable and we're more likely to succceed. I try for every 6 weeks or so to just give myself some time off - mostly from exercise, because that's where I'm most likely to burn out.

That's also why it helps to have friends - to remind you that you're not alone in this, that it's normal to want to give up, and to remind you why you're doing this in the first place

Good luck! You can pull through this - just remember how much progress you've made, and how many days of feeling awesome for each new NSV you have ahead of you!

I find I get really discouraged on cloudy days. Recognizing that sometimes helps. I also use full spectrum light bulbs to provide extra "sunlight" during winter months. They really help. And exercise does help, even though it is hard to motivate on those days. Keep it up, you are doing great.

I'm right there with ya sister. I woke up this morning and just felt like crying. Yesterday I was so excited because I'm down another size, but then I realized this morning that yeah, I'm thinning down a lot but the toned and sexy look I REALLY want to have is probably going to take at least another year's worth of work. And I'm tired. And I wonder if it's worth it, even though I know deep down inside that it is.

I need a hug :sad:

I had this over the past weekend...it lasted 4 days. I keep a journal of all my accomplishments and went back and read them ALL but all my brain wanted to tell me was "I sucked at this". As of yesterday(Wednesday) it had passed. These quotes seemed to sum up those four days for me...."Challenge is life's way of making sure that you truly desire the things you achieve" & “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” ~Sir Edmund Hillary. Hope they help you as much as they did me...these days will come to pass...good job on everything you have accomplished so far!!!

I feel that way sometimes too. Like you said, how did I let myself get that way? We just have to focus on the future instead of the past, and learn from it!

When I create too big of a calorie deficit I get like that.

When I screw up my fat/protein ratio I get like that (still trying to figure all that out).

I suspect some preservatives cause it.

I know my allergies put me in a horrible, depressed, apathetic mood. Too bad I suffer from them almost year round and I'm moving away from here ASAP!

TOM can do it. Including sometimes middle of the month. Which took me forever to figure out.

Not enough sleep will do it.

Fatigue from over exercise and not enough sleep will definitely do it.

I'm sure there are other causes I haven't figured out yet, but now that I know most of them are physical and not a mental problem, I will get on top of it and eliminate those triggers as assiduously as I've eliminated my binge and excess hunger triggers. Okay, except the monthly cycle thing. Not much I can do about that one.

I wanted to come back and say THANK YOU for posting this. It has helped me so much already today. Also, if you can't get outside take some Vitamin D. And what is helping me today is dusting pictures/ furniture, changing the table cloth, cleaning things I don't usually clean. Heck, I might even paint the living room tonight. Sometimes our surroundings need a little facelift to make us feel better! Thanks again for posting!

There are tons of these that are causing my down days of late. Great info!

When I create too big of a calorie deficit I get like that.

When I screw up my fat/protein ratio I get like that (still trying to figure all that out).

I suspect some preservatives cause it.

I know my allergies put me in a horrible, depressed, apathetic mood. Too bad I suffer from them almost year round and I'm moving away from here ASAP!

TOM can do it. Including sometimes middle of the month. Which took me forever to figure out.

Not enough sleep will do it.

Fatigue from over exercise and not enough sleep will definitely do it.

I'm sure there are other causes I haven't figured out yet, but now that I know most of them are physical and not a mental problem, I will get on top of it and eliminate those triggers as assiduously as I've eliminated my binge and excess hunger triggers. Okay, except the monthly cycle thing. Not much I can do about that one.

Sometimes it just takes a healthy dose of perspective.

Look at that ticker! Look at your before pictures! You have come a long way baby! And I dont' know about you, but I am NEVER going back there again. Sometimes I take a break from it all and sort of test out my new healthy habits. Like you, I'll go on holiday/vacation and not track and try to be moderately active and am happy if I maintain or at least don't gain more than a couple (especially if I'm dining out a lot since it's probably just water weight). It gives me a boost to know that the changes I'm making really are sticking and aren't just part of a "diet".

Think about how far you've come fitness wise - could you have even done half the things you can do now a year ago (or 3 or 5 years ago)? Even the simple things like tying your shoes without feeling like you're going to pass out.

And finaly, never allow your inner voice to say things that you wouldn't say to someone else.

My big hurdle is when I get discouraged after not having lost (or even gained) for a period of time...I start thinking about trying some fad diet and then just shake my head and remember how those never work long term and even though it may take me another three years to get to goal, I'd rather do it the healthy realistic way than yo-yo diet and risk failing again.

Keep your chin up and keep on keepin' on!

This page really helped me. bump bump bump

I forgot 2! Someone already mentioned one: Get enough sunshine, it really does help.

The second is that I've become exercise dependent. A couple days without it and I start getting restless. And being restless can definitely lead to being irritable and sad.

Its mid winter..that seems to be the only reason my body needs.

:grumble: