Just can't stay motivated

Hi there. Getting motivated and staying motivated has been and continues to be really hard for me. I would encourage you to keep reading the message boards....they have been the biggest source of help for me as I begin this journey. Not only will you find motivational posts but you will also read about another person's challenges that are similar to your own.

The best advice I found on these message boards was how to figure out the appropriate amount of calories to consume. I chose to calcualte my calories using the TDEE method minus 20%. I found I was able to increase the number of calories I thought I needed to eat in order to lose weight. When I first started my journey I thought I needed to eat 1200 calories a day and exercise everyday in order to lose. And...I was afraid to eat back my exercise calories. Now, I can eat 1600 calories a day (using the TDEE method, I don't eat back my exercise calories...they are already factored in) and I am losing more and more consistently. It has really helped because it was just too challenging when I was trying to eat such a low calorie count.

Sorry to be long winded, but what I am trying to say is find out how many calories you can eat to lose weight. Either use the TDEE method or if you use MFP's calculation be sure to eat back all of your exercise calories. You will be more successful if you are not starving!! There are so many successful people on this site who eat more to weigh less!!

Best of luck to you....you can do this!

Hi Michele -

It's hard to stay motivated all the time. I assume you lost the 35 pounds tracking your calories here on MFP.
You know it's successful, so changing plans may not be a good idea.
Maybe if you try to change up your meals you'll feel re-motivated. I tend to eat the same meals all the time, and can get bored. I'm trying to "shake things up" by finding some new recipes to try so I won't throw in the towel.

Hang tough girl - you'll be disappointed in yourself if you don't!

I love my fitness pal. Last year I lost thirty five pounds. I can't seem to get motivated. I think when I hit a plateau I started looking for a solution. Weight watchers, paleo, carb cycling, intermittent fasting... I don't know what approach to take and feel disappointed. Any advice is appreciated.. also if you would add me to your friends list I would appreciate it. Thanks!

Michele ????❤????

I don't really have any advice, I just wanted to say you are not alone. I've lost all motivation too. I'm trying so hard to get it back.

It's all clean eating and lessening your portions and eating CONSISTENTLY.

I also had an uber skinny picture of me that I looked at for motivation, hired a trainer, did weight training min 3-4 times a week and bam

I wish you all the best hope my advice helps

feeling like you are not getting any results is probably the most frustrating part of any program, whether it be for losses or gains. I know from my personal experience that just when I thought I had had enough of putting myself through all the hard work, and that it was time to stop forcing the issue, I was always on the verge of a breakthrough. sometimes I have made those breakthroughs, sometimes i have given in to the temptation to quit and have regretted it. if you don't keep try to maintain your program when it feels tough, any gains you get in the short term will never last long term. sometimes it isn't about the gain or loss, its about maintaining long enough for the surrounding issues to get sorted out. I say tough it out if you can, grit your teeth and push forward with your program. if motivation is waning, it was probably because your motivation came from an external source, consciously or otherwise. Finding intrinsic reasons will help keep motivation high, and keep the engine running full speed ahead, with less concern about short term results and better all around dedication to a program that can seem tough or not worthwhile. it is also worth noting at the same time however, that your program MAY NOT be the right fit for you, based on lifestyle, health concerns, medical history etc. while maintaining your program, its okay to educate yourself and find out some options to achieve your goals, and if what you are doing is what you should be doing for your body. You certainly wouldn't be the first person pursuing a goal through a method that wasn't really effective for their particular body, type, etc.

Hi
I'm working on this myself but I find at this point its a mind game. To see myself at a lesser weight..is difficult and start to sabotage myself with excuses and mind games . I don't know if others have that problem.. Is it fear? I know something is there but I haven't worked it out. Either way the next 10 lbs will be a huge challenge to work out and succeed with. In saying all that I think to understand and see a problem is part of the way there. Its obvious if we have follow MFP food intake and we have lost weight and we keep on doing it at the end of the day it will continue to work. The challenge for me is to overcome any negative thought processes that hind my weight loss and find ways to take positive steps and thoughts to replace the old.
Good luck to us all x

im very much the same. lost 10kg a year ago, but since then have put it back on and cant get back into it.

so im just gonna try again.

this time i have worked out exercises that i can do at home or in my street so im going to see if i can something every night as excercise has been my main downfall, due to the fact that i like to eat so i need the exercise to combat my eating (i dont eat to excess, just not good enough)