I'm Trying Everything to Lose Weight...help!

I've tried so many tips, tricks, and fads to try to lose weight. My biggest issue is my patience, or lack thereof. I have no "gym buddies" because they moved away, so my accountabilibuddies are gone, and I've gotten lazy. I've still managed to keep off the 20lbs I lost a couple years ago, but I'm itching to lose more. I'm using work as my excuse to not going to the gym. So, I got Insanity, and did that for a few days. Then my knee was bothering me (I had surgery a couple years ago), so I used that as an excuse.

Basically, if there's an excuse to NOT workout, I find it. I need people to help me be motivated and stay driven in losing weight and being healthy. This process is so taxing and lonely where I am, that I just don't see the reason to even stick with it.
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Replies

  • mallen404
    mallen404 Posts: 266 Member
    working out helps relieve stress.. so anytime you feel stressed turn to exercise.. that may help depending on what type of job you work.

    I also play sports, ones that I enjoy so I don't realize how much of an " exercise" it is.. I just have fun.
  • ladykitchen77
    ladykitchen77 Posts: 2 Member
    Suga, add me as a friend. we can encourage one another.
  • simsburyjet
    simsburyjet Posts: 999 Member
    What motivates me and always makes me want to be fitter is that whenever I walk in a room
    I know I am as fit or fitter than anyone in that room.

    I recently walked up a mountain 5 miles with a guy who is 74 yrs old... I think now if he is willing to do this
    how could I not.

    Wake up each day and think how can I be fitter today.. Do not even worry about being a good person just a fitter person.
  • You have to do it for YOU!
    You have to want it or it won't stick!

    I'm the same way! No one wants to go to the gym with me. It isn't as fun doing it alone, takes a lot of self control & motivation.

    Just dropped my first 20, having a not so great week, since a lot of my entertainment comes from food, lunch dates, no bueno.

    Add me if you want to. :)
  • ladypitek
    ladypitek Posts: 91 Member
    Do not even worry about being a good person just a fitter person.

    For serious? Don't be that guy. No one likes that guy.
  • notnikkisixx
    notnikkisixx Posts: 375 Member
    You've got to change your approach! Weight loss and general health cannot be achieved through a quick fix or a fad diet, they are a LIFESTYLE. Set sensible goals for yourself regarding diet and exercise, start slow and keep at it! Start by introducing healthier foods into your diet and if a workout DVD is too much at the beginning, go on walks.

    I have made slow progress over the last year, but taking it slow has allowed me to make changes that are here to stay.
  • MrsH2132012
    MrsH2132012 Posts: 67 Member
    with respect: put an end to finding excuses if you really want to change.

    I had them too and squashed them all because I'll be damed if I stay overweight for the rest of my life.
  • MrsH2132012
    MrsH2132012 Posts: 67 Member
    You've got to change your approach! Weight loss and general health cannot be achieved through a quick fix or a fad diet, they are a LIFESTYLE. Set sensible goals for yourself regarding diet and exercise, start slow and keep at it! Start by introducing healthier foods into your diet and if a workout DVD is too much at the beginning, go on walks.

    I have made slow progress over the last year, but taking it slow has allowed me to make changes that are here to stay.

    THIS <3
  • Add me as a friend and we can be accountable to each other.
  • Factory_Reset
    Factory_Reset Posts: 1,651 Member
    Keep trying!!
  • fivethreeone
    fivethreeone Posts: 8,196 Member
    I've tried so many tips, tricks, and fads to try to lose weight. .

    Here is your problem.

    Additionally, you don't have to work out to lose weight. A reasonable calorie deficit is enough. If that's all you do, it will be enough.
  • NikiChicken
    NikiChicken Posts: 576 Member
    You've got to change your approach! Weight loss and general health cannot be achieved through a quick fix or a fad diet, they are a LIFESTYLE. Set sensible goals for yourself regarding diet and exercise, start slow and keep at it! Start by introducing healthier foods into your diet and if a workout DVD is too much at the beginning, go on walks.

    I have made slow progress over the last year, but taking it slow has allowed me to make changes that are here to stay.

    Everything she just said!
  • althom67
    althom67 Posts: 14
    I just signed up here today for similar reasons. Have tried all kinds of diets but lose motivation. I am attempting to commit to a better total lifestyle. I have enlisted a trainer to get me started and help with nutrition goals. Just started tracking stuff today. I, like you, need to try hard to keep focused. Excuses abound. I'll add you and help if I can. :)
  • JaxDemon
    JaxDemon Posts: 403 Member
    You need to break the bad habits you have set in your mind. It's not really rocket science but it's hard if your mind is giving you a million excuses to NOT DO IT.

    First thing I would say is self motivate. Google pictures like 'Bodybuilding Motivation' or other stuff around fitness and motivation and post one pic a day to your facebook wall. (Ignore the name like bodybuilding it's the pictures/motivational words/pictures you want to be looking at)

    I will assume you have bad eating habits as well given the excuses you are telling yourself. This is something else you need to break the best way is to set out a plan of what you're going to eat each day for a month and stick to it. Make it strict but healthy while allowing yourself a cheat meal at the end of the week.

    You really have to want it bad enough to go earn it.

    Leg's hurting, go gym and lift some light weights. If you are female don't worry about getting huge it's not gonna happen but weights will help you get toned and give you strength. You might find lifting weights easier than doing cardio but a better workout overall for your body. If your leg is better do 40-60 mins walking a day take one day off.

    I do know where you are coming from with excuses I have had 7 years worth of it since I last tried to lose weight. I've lost 60lb in total in like 4 months. I'm working out daily, eating well. Eating within my goals and setting a standard for how I want to live.You don't need a gym buddy you need yourself, a headset and some music and you need your mind trained on the prize on the goal you're aiming for.

    Good luck.
  • triplestepping
    triplestepping Posts: 27 Member
    Maybe sign up for a fitness class? Whether it's yoga or spinning or zumba or crossfit, sometimes having a teacher there who expects you to show up (and if you're prepaid for a series of classes then you better show up, says your wallet) can be helpful. Maybe use Meetup.com to help you find some like-minded workout buddies in your area?

    Also, try lots of different physical activities that sound like fun to you. Hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking, SUP, horseback riding, whatever sounds exhilarating and is accessible to you where you are. When you hit the thing that you find you really love, you'll want to A) do more of it, and B) cross-train to get better at A. Find the thing that you can't wait to go back and do more of, and set a goal for yourself. For me those two are hiking and horseback riding. There is not a lot of cross-training you can do for hiking that is better than just more hiking, but the rush of getting to the top of the trail and having a fantastic view all around is worth it every time for going back for more. When I started horseback riding again (something I used to do as a kid) I was horribly under-fit, but it turns out that hiking is great cross-training for riding, so hey! Now I'm riding once a week, and hiking three to four times a week with my dog.

    Hope some of this helps a little bit?
  • cbuggy75
    cbuggy75 Posts: 23
    You don't need a gym buddy you need yourself, a headset and some music and you need your mind trained on the prize on the goal you're aiming for.

    ^^^THIS^^^
    In the end you just need YOU and WILLPOWER! You need the WANT that it takes to get to where you are trying to go. You can do it!
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I've tried so many tips, tricks, and fads to try to lose weight. My biggest issue is my patience, or lack thereof. I have no "gym buddies" because they moved away, so my accountabilibuddies are gone, and I've gotten lazy. I've still managed to keep off the 20lbs I lost a couple years ago, but I'm itching to lose more. I'm using work as my excuse to not going to the gym. So, I got Insanity, and did that for a few days. Then my knee was bothering me (I had surgery a couple years ago), so I used that as an excuse.

    Basically, if there's an excuse to NOT workout, I find it. I need people to help me be motivated and stay driven in losing weight and being healthy. This process is so taxing and lonely where I am, that I just don't see the reason to even stick with it.

    The exercise part is basically meaningless. It's not necessary to just lose weight.

    Your problem is diet compliance.

    Anyway, you will succeed only when succeeding becomes sufficiently important to you. You don't need motivation, you need discipline. You can't just be motivated 24/7 forever. You need the discipline to do it anyway even when you're not motivated, and that won't come until you want to be in shape more than you want to be lazy and overeat.
  • gobonas99
    gobonas99 Posts: 1,049 Member
    Motivation has to come from within. Encouragement comes from others. But others cannot *motivate* you.

    Have you tried scheduling your workouts? Treat them like they are immovable appointments.

    Make a "reward jar" - put a dollar in it every time you work out and set a goal (ie workout at least 20 days during the month of August, or lose 5 pounds, or run 50 miles in the month, or complete all 60 days of Insanity, or whatever). When you reach your goal, you take the money out of the jar and do something fun related to fitness with it (my rewards of choice are a new workout outfit, or a pedicure, or maybe an upgrade for my bike, or order a new workout program). You get the idea. Just NEVER reward yourself with food.

    If you don't feel like working out (unless you are actually sick), start your workout and promise yourself that if, after 10 minutes, you STILL don't feel like working out, you can stop. 90% of the time, you'll finish the workout.

    FIND workout buddies. they do NOT need to be local. I run fitness groups on Facebook all the time, and none of us are in the same location, but we check in with each other daily.

    Another important factor is to find your "soulmate" workout. If you don't enjoy it, you won't do it (although make sure you give yourself a little time trying something out before you say you don't like it - I HATED running at first, but now I can honestly say that even if I don't particularly want to get started, once I'm out there, I do enjoy it - and I LOVE how I feel after). And your soulmate workout could be anything - swimming, running, biking, zumba, going to the gym, Insanity, P90X, etc. But you have to find what you really enjoy. :happy:
  • I totally feel your pain. I work a lot of hours and use that as an excuse to skip workouts too. I just signed up here because I'm sick of weight watchers and I need a change... One thing that helped me with my workout struggles was signing up with a personal trainer. It is expensive but keeps me accountable for showing up for my workouts. If I don't show up, I still get charged so it forces me to leave the office even when I don't want to. Also, because of the cost, I'm not eating out as much and I have cut down on my nights out with friends (seriously, no need to drink on a Tuesday night!).

    Whatever you do, don't give up. If you have a bad day, start fresh the next morning. Weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Have you tried this new thing called Calorie Deficit? It really works!
  • missimplicity
    missimplicity Posts: 31 Member
    You've got to change your approach! Weight loss and general health cannot be achieved through a quick fix or a fad diet, they are a LIFESTYLE. Set sensible goals for yourself regarding diet and exercise, start slow and keep at it! Start by introducing healthier foods into your diet and if a workout DVD is too much at the beginning, go on walks.

    I have made slow progress over the last year, but taking it slow has allowed me to make changes that are here to stay.

    This exactly.

    I used to be terrified of working out and now I feel so out of it if I don't do it. However, you absolutely have to understand, realize, and accept that losing weight and being healthy (eating well and working out) are lifestyle changes. If you're not committed to it, it will never work. If you're not absolutely sure about why you want to do it, it won't work. Losing weight is hard and takes dedication, whether you're talking about changing your eating habits or working out. You have to change the way you view food and exercise. Read some books or blogs on diet and exercise to understand how all of this works. It took me 4 years, but I've lost almost 60 lbs (I also had a second baby in there). I really had to accept that I couldn't just eat fast food, drink soda, or eat ice cream on a regular basis (every once in a while won't kill you). But I really had to reprogram my mind. Feel free to add me as a friend if you like. I'd be more than happy to keep you encouraged, share tips, etc.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    I've tried so many tips, tricks, and fads to try to lose weight. My biggest issue is my patience, or lack thereof. I have no "gym buddies" because they moved away, so my accountabilibuddies are gone, and I've gotten lazy. I've still managed to keep off the 20lbs I lost a couple years ago, but I'm itching to lose more. I'm using work as my excuse to not going to the gym. So, I got Insanity, and did that for a few days. Then my knee was bothering me (I had surgery a couple years ago), so I used that as an excuse.

    Basically, if there's an excuse to NOT workout, I find it. I need people to help me be motivated and stay driven in losing weight and being healthy. This process is so taxing and lonely where I am, that I just don't see the reason to even stick with it.

    Aww that's such a cute word. Why don't you buy an angry bird stuffed animal or go get a stuffed toy at build a bear with a frowny face. Then iron on "accountabilibuddy" on one of those tiny build a bear T shirts and put it on him. Then take a pic with your cell phone an put it as your desktop background, your phone screen, and print one out for your fridge. Print out stickers at fedex kinkos and put your accountabillibuddy on all your pre-packed healthy lunch brown bags for work. Finally, leave your IRL accountabilibuddy on your bed so he's the last thing you see on your bed before you go to sleep at night so you won't be tempted to get up for midnight snacks.

    If you decide to get a build a bear one ask them when they are sewing his heart and talker things in to cut off the little embroidery that forms his smile if you can't find a frowny one. He should look like he's judging you at all times.

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSI6VRd9pSu8-dARdTmnN6qVDQlFO7sZ8tmgrdw2as2yiqyibVP.oO0(should you be eating that cookie?)




    :flowerforyou:
  • missimplicity
    missimplicity Posts: 31 Member

    If you don't feel like working out (unless you are actually sick), start your workout and promise yourself that if, after 10 minutes, you STILL don't feel like working out, you can stop. 90% of the time, you'll finish the workout.


    Definitely! There have been so many times that I've dragged myself to the gym feeling all halfway into it and just keep going.
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    ...then you don't want it bad enough.

    period.
    point blank.
  • FrankiesSaysRelax
    FrankiesSaysRelax Posts: 403 Member
    The most helpful thing I learned along the way is that the only person who can be held accountable to motivate you.. is you. Don't rely on everyone else to help you lose weight. You have to want it and you have to motivate yourself. If you really want to do it.. you will. You said yourself, you're finding excuses. When you decide you've had enough of that, you can be your biggest motivator!
  • themommie
    themommie Posts: 5,033 Member
    Maybe sign up for a fitness class? Whether it's yoga or spinning or zumba or crossfit, sometimes having a teacher there who expects you to show up (and if you're prepaid for a series of classes then you better show up, says your wallet) can be helpful. Maybe use Meetup.com to help you find some like-minded workout buddies in your area
    Hope some of this helps a little bit?

    Also make small goals like 5_10 lbs at a time, tell yourself to just di something for 10 mins a day even a walk. I find if I do this I almost always do way more. Like yesterday my 10 min walk turned intp 105 min walk.but if I would have set out to do 105 mins I would have made up excuses. I do the same thing with the gym. I make jyself go for 15 mins but once I am there I always stay longer.it sounds like you are doing the all or nothing approach that I did most of my life, it just doesnt work. Alsoyou could see if there r some people on mfp that live near u that could meet at the gym or go walking.I hope this helps
  • Mindochka
    Mindochka Posts: 61 Member
    ...then you don't want it bad enough.

    period.
    point blank.

    Yup. No one can change you, but you.
  • _HeartsOnFire_
    _HeartsOnFire_ Posts: 5,304 Member
    ...then you don't want it bad enough.

    period.
    point blank.

    Yup. No one can change you, but you.

    Exactly. You have to WANT to do it. I complained about my weight for years, wanted to lose it, but didn't do anything to lose it. I had a light bulb moment April 2012 and decided enough was enough. No more excuses, no more being lazy, no more bullsh*tting myself. I'm worth more than that. So until you have your own moment like that, it's not going to happen. Not trying to be negative, just saying until you actually really want it, and you want to change, it won't happen. No one can do it for you.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    Have you tried setting a reasonable calorie deficit, weighing your food for accuracy, tracking your intake, and doing all of this consistently over a period of time?

    No?

    Guess not everything.
  • qweenovme
    qweenovme Posts: 75 Member
    Don't give up! Really you have only just begun. I find my accountability right here by logging in every day. I will support you however I can. Its a long journey back to being healthy but I know it will be worth it! Find your motivation right here. Friend me.