Every Single Flippin Time....
Iron_Maiden
Posts: 326 Member
.....I get to my goal or half way to my goal and then I quit or start to peter out. I cannot wrap my head around WHY I do this but I'm here again. I've lost 55lbs (probably back up a few tbh) because I've been slacking as of late and still have another 30 to go. I've done this to myself before and of three things I am certain:
1. I don't want to revert back to my old patterns
2. I've lost momentum and drive
3. I'm afraid I won't get that drive back
I know I'm not alone in this but my question is....How did you get past it? How did you dust yourself off and keep going? Intellectually, I know the right things to do but something in me isn't clicking right now and it's both irritating and scaring me. If you could help share your breakthrough to success story, it may help me see something I'm missing & perhaps help others who can relate as well.
Thanks for listening,
Becky
1. I don't want to revert back to my old patterns
2. I've lost momentum and drive
3. I'm afraid I won't get that drive back
I know I'm not alone in this but my question is....How did you get past it? How did you dust yourself off and keep going? Intellectually, I know the right things to do but something in me isn't clicking right now and it's both irritating and scaring me. If you could help share your breakthrough to success story, it may help me see something I'm missing & perhaps help others who can relate as well.
Thanks for listening,
Becky
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Replies
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I'm going to wait and read some replies because I am the same way right now! Thanks for the post!!0
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I'm with you...I've lost motivation over the last couple weeks, starting to slip into bad weekend and evening eating habits and skipping workouts.
i'm going to start varying my workouts on my non-running days to try and get excited about them again, I think part of my problem is I'm bored of the routine.0 -
I'm the same way, too. I've been told by several people that if I wanted it bad enough, that I would do it and stick with it. It seems to make sense that that should be the case, but I feel like I do want it bad enough. Maybe I'm just lazy and have no work ethic. Or maybe I'm afraid to fail so I just sabotage my success. Or maybe it's all so overwhelming that I just give up.
It's extremely hard for me to stick with weight loss, and though I've lost almost 75 pounds, I still feel like I haven't accomplished anything. I'm still just as lazy, and I still have the same cravings. It's annoying, and I too am just wondering when it's all going to click for me.0 -
Well my success story is still playing out right now, but I have done the same things you have so I'll share why this time is different. There wasn't some big booming breakthrough moment, nothing happened at all. I dug deep and got really honest with myself and discovered that I was afraid of success. If I became extraordinary, people would come to expect that from me. What if I'm a total fraud? What if I can't really sustain that? Dropping back and settling seemed, safer. Sadder, but safer.
I don't know if that's something you struggle with, but facing that fear changed everydamnthing for me, and some similar soul-searching might yield surprising revelations for you.:flowerforyou:0 -
I know exactly how you feel.
I've been dealing with this recently.
And as unhelpful as this is, you just have to do it.
Maybe get a new workout routine so you'll be motivated again.
I know part of my lack of motivation was because I was bored with my program and wasn't seeing as much progress with my lifts as I wanted to so I was skipping the gym. Another part was due to the weather since it was cold in the morning, I didn't want to go run. And now that it's better, I've injured myself and can't run =[
But try something new.
Bribe yourself.
Force yourself to keep on keeping on and it'll come back.0 -
I want to hear responses, too. I'm down 60 pounds and have 20-30 to go and have trouble staying motivated. I'm enjoying where I am now, but I'll enjoy it more if I finish. One of the reasons I slowed down was I don't know how to maintain once I get there and wanted to experiment a little. It hasn't worked. So for me, back on the wagon (fewer simple carbs) and no eating in front of the tv.0
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Even when I stumbled, and slipped back, I realized that I was starting from a better place than I had last time. I used the time to figure out how to improve my plan and my strategy to achieve it.
There's nothing wrong with resting for a bit and taking a break. Oh, so I gained a couple pounds, big deal. I can lose those in a few weeks. Nuthin to it.0 -
I get like this sometimes but for me i think im scared of my success. I know its weird but its like what if i really do this?, then what. Its all mental!!! Keep up the good work!!0
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Another possibility is self-sabotage. A tendency to revert to a "comfort zone" which is well-known and familiar, instead of moving forward into new territory, new opportunities which may not always be comfortable, etc. At least that is why I seem to do what you are describing.0
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I suppose the correct thing to say would be 'remember why you started losing weight in the first place' but sometimes we forget how it felt being overweight/fatter.
Has your routine become boring? Try something new or a different activity. Do you have the same hairstyle as before your started? Maybe go for something different so that you transform into the new you that you're becoming.
When I watch the Biggest Loser near the end of their time on the ranch they seem to make them carry all the weight they have lost, and that seems to spur them on as the loss becomes real to them - is that an option?
I know I'll probably get slammed down for not giving the advice that others would perhaps give - but at the end of the day, this is my advice and I hope it helps
You've done really well so far, be proud of your achievements!0 -
I go through this too, but I made the decision to not let it get me this time. When I start to fade, I really think about why I am doing it and how far I've come and then just dust myself off and start again. I don't let it get me any longer than a day. That way I don't really lose momentum, I just took a break for a day. Good luck to you! Don't give up!0
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First you've lost 55 so that's amazing and you can be very proud of yourself. My wife (Hootsmamma) and I have been at this a while and it's been up and down an we went up over the holidays and are just getting our stride back on. We all go through lull's, just don't give up on the long term goal. Even if you completely biff it, you can choose at anytime to get back into a positive forward groove.
Everyone on here with a loss is a winner, sometimes wwe have to change up our journey and then bam! we're back on course.
Good luck, you've done awesome so far!
Git-R-Done!0 -
WOW! You guys are all hitting the nails on the head. THANK YOU!! :flowerforyou: ....and I'm so glad others can relate and hopefully take something positive out of this too!!!I dug deep and got really honest with myself and discovered that I was afraid of success. If I became extraordinary, people would come to expect that from me. What if I'm a total fraud? What if I can't really sustain that? Dropping back and settling seemed, safer. Sadder, but safer.
I don't know if that's something you struggle with, but facing that fear changed everydamnthing for me, and some similar soul-searching might yield surprising revelations for you.:flowerforyou:
^^ I think this has a lot to do with it! Success is scary. Family members have accused me of being selfish in my healthy lifestyle endeavor and even vain so I'm sure this is part of it. Relationships change as I do and it's scary. I think I need to do some soul searching here. THANK YOU!!! :flowerforyou:0 -
Well my success story is still playing out right now, but I have done the same things you have so I'll share why this time is different. There wasn't some big booming breakthrough moment, nothing happened at all. I dug deep and got really honest with myself and discovered that I was afraid of success. If I became extraordinary, people would come to expect that from me. What if I'm a total fraud? What if I can't really sustain that? Dropping back and settling seemed, safer. Sadder, but safer.
I don't know if that's something you struggle with, but facing that fear changed everydamnthing for me, and some similar soul-searching might yield surprising revelations for you.:flowerforyou:
Whoa. This is hitting me where I live. Do you know me?0 -
My "stuck" spot was always at 185. That was where I started getting the really great compliments and I would settle for that and would just stop and then gain, gain, gain. This time I just dug in and said, "NO. I'M NOT DONE YET!" I went from going to the gym 3 days a week to 5 days a week and I try to work something in on the weekends to burn some calories. I bought a Body Media armband to help keep me accountable and accurate. I started C25K to give myself a goal other than weight loss. TBH, I think the C25K was what really did it for me. I started feeling challenged, successful, small wins, etc. immediately and my focus shifted from the number on the scale to how much better I felt every day during my workout. I had an injury early on and had to stop running but refused to let that stop me so I switched to the elliptical and basically did the same program without the impact. 5 weeks ago I started it on the treadmill again. 2 weeks ago I walked / ran my first 5K. I'm down to 173 now and have more momentum now than I've ever had, even in the very beginning. My goal is to fully run a 5K before the end of summer this year.
The one other motivator I had was a quote I found - "If it's important you'll find a way, if it's not, you'll find an excuse." This IS important to me and I WILL find a way. I am so aware of excuses now I'm annoying the people around me because I call them out on theirs too! LOL
I hope something in my story sparks some motivation for you. The bottom line is, this is a daily choice. Choose to live healthy and for your goals, or choose to give up and stay where you are or go back to where you came from. You already know those places and I'm assuming you weren't happy there. Why not keep going and see what the new you is like? Good luck!0 -
This is the first time I have made a real effort to lose weight. I am about 4 months in to the serious effort (really good with my diet most of the time, understanding BMRs, TDEEs, lifting weights etc)
A couple of weeks ago I got really worried because the gym was boring me. And because of that I let it slip last week, ate crap for 3 days and felt rubbish. It motivated me to go back at the end of last week and I felt so much better for it. I am now worrying about when I move in a couple of months, and whether my new gym will be as good and easy to get to, and whether I will not go so much if I am living with my bf and stuff. I just want to go and want to improve and thats what is keeping me going.0 -
Well my success story is still playing out right now, but I have done the same things you have so I'll share why this time is different. There wasn't some big booming breakthrough moment, nothing happened at all. I dug deep and got really honest with myself and discovered that I was afraid of success. If I became extraordinary, people would come to expect that from me. What if I'm a total fraud? What if I can't really sustain that? Dropping back and settling seemed, safer. Sadder, but safer.
I don't know if that's something you struggle with, but facing that fear changed everydamnthing for me, and some similar soul-searching might yield surprising revelations for you.:flowerforyou:
Whoa. This is hitting me where I live. Do you know me?
Right!?!?! Dr Phil ain't got nuttin on this group!
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take a weekend to recharge. Change your ticker to your current weight being your start weight so that you don't see all your hard work and think you can relax. get rid of super loose clothing, get tighter things so that you feel it if you start to slip up, and so that you now have the goal of shrinking out of a new pair of jeans, etc. reevaluate your exercise habits, your go-to-meals. try switching it up to feel less bored. set up new goals, make plans (parties, spa treatments) over the next few weeks & tell yourself you need to reach weight loss mini goals by then.0
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It's ok to take a break for a couple of weeks. But eat at maintenance so you don't gain it back.0
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Well my success story is still playing out right now, but I have done the same things you have so I'll share why this time is different. There wasn't some big booming breakthrough moment, nothing happened at all. I dug deep and got really honest with myself and discovered that I was afraid of success. If I became extraordinary, people would come to expect that from me. What if I'm a total fraud? What if I can't really sustain that? Dropping back and settling seemed, safer. Sadder, but safer.
I don't know if that's something you struggle with, but facing that fear changed everydamnthing for me, and some similar soul-searching might yield surprising revelations for you.:flowerforyou:
Whoa. This is hitting me where I live. Do you know me?
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Why not keep going and see what the new you is like? Good luck!
Great question!!! I love this! Thanks!!! xo0 -
You are quite welcome!WOW! You guys are all hitting the nails on the head. THANK YOU!! :flowerforyou: ....and I'm so glad others can relate and hopefully take something positive out of this too!!!I dug deep and got really honest with myself and discovered that I was afraid of success. If I became extraordinary, people would come to expect that from me. What if I'm a total fraud? What if I can't really sustain that? Dropping back and settling seemed, safer. Sadder, but safer.
I don't know if that's something you struggle with, but facing that fear changed everydamnthing for me, and some similar soul-searching might yield surprising revelations for you.:flowerforyou:
^^ I think this has a lot to do with it! Success is scary. Family members have accused me of being selfish in my healthy lifestyle endeavor and even vain so I'm sure this is part of it. Relationships change as I do and it's scary. I think I need to do some soul searching here. THANK YOU!!! :flowerforyou:0 -
I don't know if I have a real answer, but something I have noticed about myself is that I can be influenced without noticing it too much. So... I suggest that you don't watch food TV, don't watch any TV that shows food or people eating. Instead, if you do watch TV, watch shows where people are very active or working to get healthy. Basically, I get hungry watching TV... and there's simply no reason for that. So opt for better influences. Pick up a book or a magazine about health. Keep perusing blogs about workouts. Just slam your brain with messages of being fit, active, and healthy. Or research how the lack of these things leads to terrible health issues. Review pictures of back when you started and enjoy the progress you can see. Think about the person you'd like to be.
Like I said, I don't know how much this might help you. But, I have definitely noticed that messages I take in through TV, radio, conversations, books... it all matters. So make sure all of your "inputs" are geared toward your goals. It's a lifestyle. It's okay if it dominates your life and your thoughts... it's a good alternative.0 -
Not reading all the comments haha I'm the same way! I lost 60lbs and I just have 15-20lbs more to go. I stopped for a few months and I'm actually glad I did. It is good to maintain for a while. Gives your mind a chance to see what you done. Look at the past and reflect on everything. Towards the end I gained a few pounds back which pushed me to start again (lost the lbs I gained). It took me 2 good weeks to get back on track but I'm glad it happened. It showed me how fast you can gain it back and the bad habits I fell into. You're doing great girl don't beat yourself up!0
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I have times like that, where I just want to say screw it all and eat myself silly. But then I think what is wrong with me? why would I want to undo everything I have accomplished. Why would I want to go back to where I was. I couldn't get comfortable at night, having to use the sleep apnea machine to breath at night. Being tired from just walking to the bathroom. I actually like myself right now. I like how I look in the mirror. I still have a ways to go before I'm ready to stop, but I never ever want to go back where I was. You do have to want it bad enough and it's going to be a daily battle, but if you have that conversation with yourself every time you want to give up, then you'll be here for the long haul. I find now that I have those times less often. Even now when I'm not losing anything, I have not wanted to give up, I have not gotten upset because the scale is not moving. I just keep plugging away and very proud of how far I've come while keeping my goals in place.0
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I have done that many times.
For me, it's because I was successful for a while, lost a good deal of weight, and I'm all proud of myself and give myself a "break".
During that break, I don't track/log my food. It's a break. I go out more, I eat out more, I drink more, my portion sizes start to increase, my calorie intake blows up, and next thing I know, I just blew all my hard work in a few months.
Now I gotta start all over again.
This time around, I am tempted to just say, hey, I have lost almost 50 lbs! I deserve a break. But do I really? What do I deserve? Why do I deserve that kind of break when it's just going to undo all my hard work?! Why do I think I need that?
This time around I DECIDED I deserve to be at my goal. I deserve to keep going and lose that other 30 lbs that I keep "ignoring". I deserve to be happy and confident with my body. I deserve to push myself beyond my limits and see what I'm REALLY capable of. I deserve better. I deserve more.
And THIS time, nothing is going to stop me. I have DECIDED.
That's the difference. It's a decision.0 -
I lost 30 lbs with WW about 9 years when my youngest son was a small baby,I reached my goal weight became a gold member and then found I was lost,all my effort seemed to go into loosing it and then WHAT??? I just seemed to let it go and gradually put it all back on again I really dont know why I seem to treat weightloss like a hobby I get tired of it and pick up again later,I have played with the same stone and a half since my early 20s I have never been more than 28 lbs overweight right now Im about 16lbs from where I would like to be but I seriously dont think Ill get there and if I do stay there!!!!0
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I had a really good sucess story about two or three years ago, lost about fifty pounds, weight about 120 pounds and was really healthy and happy. I was deployed at the time and so I didn't notice a change in how people acted towards me or anything of that sort. However once I got home I expected to go back to being invisible girl again, and it didn't happen. I think for me my biggest issue is going to be overcoming my worries that if I lose weight people will only want to talk to me because I'm not huge. I think some of t he advice given is really good, you need to sit back and figure out WHY you're doing this to yourself because no matter what there is a reason and you just dont' eralize it yet.0
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After you've lost a lot, you might have to re-evaluate your weight loss strategy. Frequently when you lose motivation it's because your body needs a break, or is trying to let you know that it's having trouble maintaining pace. A few thoughts:
1. If you've been at it for more than 3-4 months, you might need to take a small break (2 weeks) before continuing. Instead of falling off the wagon, monitor your calories at maintenance. That way you remain accountable but your body gets a break from the steady deficit. (You'd be amazed at how much of a difference +500 calories can make!)
2. As you get closer to your goal, unfortunately weight loss gets slower and slower. Try cutting your deficit in half and see how you feel. If you're set to -2 lbs a week go to one, if you're at -1, go to -0.5.
3. Try varying your exercise routine up. Try something new! I started to stall out and then found an activity I enjoyed enough that I forget I originally started it to lose weight. Distract yourself from the fact that you're losing weight by enjoying the process.
Hope this helps!0 -
I was stuck in a rut for 4 months with no motivation. I suddenly realised that I hadn't really had a 'goal body' in mind. I wanted to lose weight and be healthier but had no real mental picture of what I wanted to look like. So I flipped through some fitness mags, found the body I wanted and now every time I feel like flaking I think about that picture and just dig deep and go for it. Also I found someone at work to go to the gym with at lunch breaks and cycle to work with so if I flake out I feel even more guilty for not going. I guess once it becomes more of a habit I won't need her to help motivate me, but for now this is what's working for me.0
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