Maybe my 100 pound weight loss goal was too ambitious

I started out with 101lbs to lose. About all I knew was that I needed to eat less and be more active. In the past when I tried that approach I failed. This time...I decided to educate myself.

It is confusing...there is so much differing information out on the net. I sounds good...then your read something totally opposite...and it too sounds good.

Here is what I have done...

I eat how I plan to eat the rest of my life...in portions that fit my calories.

I also eat enough that I am not hungry all day.

There have been very few foods that I have denied myself unless I think the calories are not worth it.

I buy very few highly processed foods.

Increased my fruits and vegetables.

Drink plenty of water.

Started a workout regimen that I am fairly faithful to do.

Most of all...I do what works for me. I have had to make some adjustments along the way. When the weight stops coming off I double check myself to see if I need to make changes.

I didn't know when I started if I could do this or not...but today I hit 200. By the end of the week it is possible that I will see the one hundreds for the first time in years.

I have succeeded this time because I took control...responsibility for each pound...made no excuses.

As each pound goes away...that is one more excuse that I no longer have not to succeed.

Has it all been easy...no...it hasn't. It has taken a lot of discipline to get this far. Soon I will have lost 50lbs and it will be time to start on the next 50lbs. I am preparing myself for it to be even tougher.

I have had good days and bad days...some days I am elated at my progress...other days I have been discouraged. What I haven't been is ready to throw in the towel. If I mess up...I just start again.

I can't offer much advice...I only know what works for me...you have to find what will work for you and that you will be able to sustain for not only until you lose the weight but for long past that. How I eat not will be how I have to eat for the rest of my life...well maybe a little bit bigger portions.

I wish you well...just keep working until you find what works for you in a healthy way. Make sure that it is a way that you can eat for a long time.

Oh...my one bit of advice...stay away from anything that sounds like a quick fix...there are no quickies in the weight loss arena.

I have 100 pounds to lose, but my first goal is just 30 pounds. I broke it up into more manageable chunks so it doesn't feel so overwhelming and daunting.


In the end, you have to find what works for YOU. You're not the same as me, or the others on MFP. You're you. What works for me, might not work for you. I've had to work really hard and fail many times to figure out what works for ME. I encourage you to do the same.

And remember, you're not alone.

Everyone here has had the discouraging day. You have to keep getting up, repeating and building new healthier habits. You are getting healthier every day, even if it doesn't seem like it right now. This is a long term commitment to your health, so time is not an issue. My heart is with you tonight! :flowerforyou:

If you are feeling frustrated and confused, I would recommend a personal trainer, at least for a short time (if it's in your budget). I did 14 sessions with a trainer, and now that I'm done with her, I am continuing on with my strength training (weight lifting and the like) as well as mixing in cardio and yoga.

It can be daunting at first, especially if you have to go to a mixed gender gym. I am lucky that I have a ladies only gym near my home that has some amazing trainers and all the equipment you could ask for.

I'd be happy to help you with anything you need

I'm really glad you posted this.

It's TOM for me right now and for the last few days, including today, I was like a bottomless pit. I went from being satisfied on 1200-1300 calories to taking in over 2000 at least, so I adjusted my intake goal to 1400. I did so well all day and then I binged tonight. I started getting discouraged earlier and I still am, so this thread arrived at the perfect time.

I still have 94 pounds to go and it's already discouraging after 15. Ugh! But alas, I'm just getting back up tomorrow and doing my best.

I've been breaking it into smaller goals. My first goal is to get out of the 200s. That's much more direct than "lose the remaining 94 pounds in one year!"

If what you're doing stopped working, change something.
I did about 6 weeks of Intermittent Fasting last time I stalled out, and it got the scale moving again. But that's just one example.

I set a goal that seemed daunting. (62 lbs.) but I soon forgot I even set a goal because I was having fun using fitness pal. It is a sort diet game.
The software has saved my butt a few times. For instance I travel for work and it is easy to go off a diet when eating in restaurants. But recently I set up lunch at BW3, and figured I would get a buffalo chicken wrap. I looked it up in the parking lot while I waited for my client. It was 1200 calories! When he arrived I asked if he was ok walking to the place next door, and I got an Asian Ahi tuna wrap that was 350 calories. Saved my day, because I figured a wrap would be healthy and low carb.
my advice is to try and forget the end goal, and start plugging in foods that you like that fit into you daily goal. For me that was pickles, jerky, sugar free Popsicles, for snacks.... I have a whole shelf in the frig of varieties of pickles, and pickled veggies.
I use smaller plates and I even discovered ham is a lean option. I discovered olive oil and peach balsamic. I snack on olives!
I make my own egg drop soup and find it filling and hardly any calories.

A trip of a 1000 miles starts with the first step. I think that baby steps is a valid strategy. Instead of waking one morning to pump iron for a hour every other day and running marathons on the off days(*), start small. Set a goals for yourself and find small short term goals that take you in the direction that you want to go. For example, my first short term goal was to start walking 10k steps per day (and this goal was further broken into smaller goals). Now that I succeeded with that goal, my next short term goal is to make it through the c25k program (based on time).

* - Disclaimer: Yes, this is an exaggeration.

30 pounds in four months is amazing. Look at 30 pounds of butter that is not a small thing. Be proud of yourself!!! Like others have said don't look at the big number, break it up. I celebrate every loss no matter how small. The only difference between those who reach their goals and those who don't is that they never gave up. There will be periods of time where you have to examine what you have done and ask yourself what else you could do or tweek to get the scale moving!! Take measurements because sometimes weight loss stalls on the scale but inches continue to drop. Don't give up, ask yourself why you wanted this and remind yourself of these reasons every day!!

I have read everything there is to find about caloric intake, exercise, cardio versus strength training and the more I read, the more confused I get. ,

Stop reading, start moving.

I had to tell myself that very thing. I spent more time trying to figure out what exercises that I was able to do than actual exercising. So one day...I just got up a started moving!

A great place to start until you can figure it all out is walking.

How many calories do you eat on a typical day?

Normally around 1350. I save my exercise calories for my pizza day on the weekend.

I have become very articulate in my calorie counting...I weigh almost everything except for things that give the calorie count for each thing such as a slice of bread or cheese sticks.

Before I cook a recipe I weigh and measure the ingredients as I add them. After cooking I reweigh the finished product and determine what my portion size is.

On weekends...especially Sunday I give myself some extra calories...maybe closer to 1450...sometimes 1500.

I have averages losing weight at a rate of 2lbs a week....I am pleased with that.

What's going on that you need extra calories on the weekend?

This can become a quick slide down.(and up the scale) I would suggest that you look into Overeaters Anonymous. Those of us who overeat have all kinds if reasons in our head regarding why it's ok to eat too much on occasion. Listen to some podcasts online and attend some meetings.

I break my weight loss goals into smaller goals. 100 pounds of weight loss probably feels like an insurmountable goal, but 10 pounds seems more doable. When that is achieved, make another goal. etc. I have to break down my goals or I give up before I even start. I even have goal pants a size smaller than I am now. For now, that is what I am aiming for. I hope that helps you.

30 pounds in 4 months is very good! you can do it, but it takes time. obviously what your doing is working, so just keep doing it! youll get there!!!

How many calories do you eat on a typical day?

Normally around 1350. I save my exercise calories for my pizza day on the weekend.

I have become very articulate in my calorie counting...I weigh almost everything except for things that give the calorie count for each thing such as a slice of bread or cheese sticks.

Before I cook a recipe I weigh and measure the ingredients as I add them. After cooking I reweigh the finished product and determine what my portion size is.

On weekends...especially Sunday I give myself some extra calories...maybe closer to 1450...sometimes 1500.

I have averages losing weight at a rate of 2lbs a week....I am pleased with that.

What's going on that you need extra calories on the weekend?

This can become a quick slide down.(and up the scale) I would suggest that you look into Overeaters Anonymous. Those of us who overeat have all kinds if reasons in our head regarding why it's ok to eat too much on occasion. Listen to some podcasts online and attend some meetings.

Unless the OP is very short (5ft or under) then 1500 calories probably isn't too much, especially 1-2 a week if the other days are 1350, and especially if she's 70 lbs overweight. If she's consistently weighing, measuring, and logging her food, this calorie goal is perfectly reasonable.

OP- 30 lbs in 4 months is totally healthy and reasonable rate of loss. I don't think anyone has asked yet: how long have you been stalled? If it's just 1-3 weeks...wait it out. Loss isn't linear, sometimes it's nothing for a few weeks, sometimes it's more than you expect. If it's been a month, then yeah, something needs tweaking. You have to think of it this way: this isn't about losing 70 more pounds and then going back to the way things used to be. You have to change your eating FOREVER if you want to get to and maintain your goal. So, even if nothing happens for a few weeks, in the long run, that's nothing, this is for life.

- Invest in a good blender and start making smoothies
- Don't eat past 7pm ( If you get hungry drink a huge glass of water and go to bed...lol )

Eat whenever you want. Doesn't matter unless it gives you a bellyache or you can't sleep. I eat most of my calories between 6pm and 2am. Lots of people here eat late. As long as you are under your calorie goal, eat when you like to eat.

Re: smoothies...for ME, this is a way to drink a whole ton of calories and feel like I haven't actually eaten any food. I would much rather have a few actual pieces of fruit and some yogurt that I can slowly eat and enjoy each different taste and texture, than a shake that tastes like a combination of things I end up gulping down. Some people love smoothies, but for me, it's a way-too-easy way to consume extra calories without eating.