What do you guys do when you feel like giving up?
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Everyone's advice is really great apart from one thing.
Almost every single person says "look at how far you've come" or something along those lines, and that just doesn't apply to me. I counted every calorie and weighed every bite of food I put in my mouth for two months and saw no results at all. Not a pound lost- my lightest weight was actually my FIRST weigh-in- no better-fitting clothes, and I didn't feel anything but exhausted. I've come back to give it another try, but it's so hard to find any motivation in the face of that.
Even though you probably have heard this a million times, it really is calories in/ calories out. you are most likely underestimating your calorie consumption or overestimating your activity level. it took me awhile to get mine straightened out.
I HAVE heard that a million times, and I just don't think it's possible for the calculations to have been wrong enough to cause no change whatsoever. Even though with my job I'm on my feet all day, I listed myself as sedentary. And I have a food scale that I used every single time I measured out servings of foods, just to make sure that the measurement equaled the weight listed on the serving size. It was absolutely exhausting on top of the fact that it was emotionally crippling.0 -
I run faster.0
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I find a new reason to keep going. There is always new motivations in life. A special event, a new "friend" in your life, bathing suit season.... just find something new to motivate you and continue to push forward.0
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Me, I take a nap. Everything looks brighter after a nap.0
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Everyone's advice is really great apart from one thing.
Almost every single person says "look at how far you've come" or something along those lines, and that just doesn't apply to me. I counted every calorie and weighed every bite of food I put in my mouth for two months and saw no results at all. Not a pound lost- my lightest weight was actually my FIRST weigh-in- no better-fitting clothes, and I didn't feel anything but exhausted. I've come back to give it another try, but it's so hard to find any motivation in the face of that.
Even though you probably have heard this a million times, it really is calories in/ calories out. you are most likely underestimating your calorie consumption or overestimating your activity level. it took me awhile to get mine straightened out.
I HAVE heard that a million times, and I just don't think it's possible for the calculations to have been wrong enough to cause no change whatsoever. Even though with my job I'm on my feet all day, I listed myself as sedentary. And I have a food scale that I used every single time I measured out servings of foods, just to make sure that the measurement equaled the weight listed on the serving size. It was absolutely exhausting on top of the fact that it was emotionally crippling.
Its all just estimates anyway, unless you have lab test done that tell you an accurate (as possible) assessment on your specific calories needs like an RMR test it is all just trial and error. If you are truly weighing everything you eat and maintaining your weight then eat less/move more and reassess in another 6 weeks. If this was easy no one would be obese.
read this
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here0 -
I call it a day. if I'm having a rough time of it, I let it go and eat whatever and accept the consequences for it... then get up and get going on the right track again the next day, usually because I feel terrible about my day off. 8D0
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Hey Music, We all get discouraged from time to time, but you hav eto keep your goal insight. I don't know how long you have been exercising so keep your goal reachable. You are still young, I spen t20 years in the military where I had to exercise almost daily. When I retired I said I would never run again. I did just that stopped running and exercising. I ballooned up to 265 lbs. I am 5'9" not a pretty sight. I know have 3 grandkids and my daughter told me I needed to get into shape. She wants me around for her kids. So 2 weeks before I turned 61 I started a C25K training. I would get home from work in the 90 degree Florida heat and humidity and I would walk and run for 30 minutes. I'm now a member of a gym with a personal trainer. The moral to this story don't wait unitl you're 60 to decide to get into shape. It is a lot harder now than it would have been if I had kept running and exercising when I retired from the military.
You're young get out there and do it for yourself. You deserve to feel good about youself!
Good Luck and keep us informed.0 -
I try to take some time for myself and find out why it is I'm feeling that way. A good way to do this is by taking some gentle exercise, talking to someone who listens well or having a long bath.
I give myself a break and take a day off counting or even logging. I tend to eat what I want and then feel awful because It never tastes as good as I want it to!
After this, I tend to reassess why I want to do this and I get back to basics.
You have to make the decision to change, unfortunately no one can do it for you!
You'll get there, keep on keeping on :-)
Kaela x0 -
I do a couple things. I think about how much more trim my stomach is compared to 4 months ago. I also think about my biggest inspiration. She is my "Team BadAss" partner, my best friend, and my superhero. Both of those drive me to continue pushing hard.0
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When I start think I'd prefer eating whatever I want, whenever I want or when the alarm goes off and I ponder staying in bed and skipping the workout, i remember:
...what it was like to try to squeeze into a pair of pants that didn't fit (but used to).
...what it felt like trying to choose clothes that might hide the belly i had developed.
...what it was like to have my joints and muscles hurt after an easy walk with the dog
because i was carrying an extra forty pounds.
If remembering moments like this in excruciating detail doesn't seem to be slowing down my drive to the drive-through or tossing the alarm out into the hall, i remember:
- looking at an angiogram, seeing that one, teeny-tiny blocked vein to my heart, and listening
to the doc say, "we can't fix that one but it won't be a problem unless you keep eating the
way you do. then it will be a big problem and it will probably kill you."
- spending the day with two very dear friends who became frail, sick old men after a single
fall simply because they didn't take care of themselves when they had a chance.
If you are willing to actually look at what eating badly and not exercising costs you, (really costs you) and what the consequences of eating badly and not being fit does to other people (just visit your local mall food court), motivation will not really be an issue. whatever short term pleasure one gets out of eating too many calories and numbing out web surfing or watching tv are paid for big time. always.0 -
I always re-evaluate my goals. Cut the crap, keep doing what I know makes the most difference. When I lose motivation, I restock my fridge with healthy foods, I buy new clothes in a few sizes too small and I also start a different work out.0
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I read the success stories ALOT. Plus I love how I look and feel
in my clothes with just 8 pds down. Not to mention I enjoy the attention when my friends and family say "You look great, losing weight?". :- ) 0 -
I look in the mirror and think about how I feel as I am, and how I used to feel.
I think about the people that I set an example for - my kids, my family, and my friends...
I look to my beast, MY inspiration, and my exercise conscience
. He knows me pretty well and has a good sense as to when I should push harder, and when I may need to take a bit of a break. We talk and cheer each other on.
I'd recommend finding a workout partner... someone who will kick you in the butt when you need it, and someone who will know you enough to honestly say... take a day off - you're pushing too hard. It's life changing!
I am worth the continued effort.
My kids are worth my continued effort.
And if I can somehow inspire others in the process, THEY'RE worth it too!0 -
Been there a lot more than I care to mention. Even last week I had a little "fall off the wagon"... But I realized that I am so much happier (even with the bad days).. than I ever was before my weight loss. And I keep trudging along. IT ISNT EASY. If it was everyone would be super fit.
JUst keep at it, and realize one speed bump doesnt have to mess up everything you are working for.0 -
I come and read Success Stories, I go for a walk/bike/gym,...... and when it really got tough once (I kept gaining the weight back) I contacted my support person. I cried hard once when I gained over half the weight loss back. That is the tough moment I hold onto and remind myself I got thru it and burned that weight back off.0
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Could I just ask, if your diet is overly restrictive? what diet do you follow? Because if you just follow the recommendations on the site, it shouldn't really be to tough on your body. What I mean you shouldn't feel like you're starving yourself. In that senario.
Motivation is not really required in that senario because you are not suffering. I sometimes get frustrated when my weight loss gets slower. but for me I can just keep following the diet and maintaining a 500cal deficit even if I'm not at all motivated because it's not hard to do or really very unpleasant. I try to just distract myself and focus on other things in my life.
If it's really bad sometimes you've just gotta force yourself through it, you'll feel better after you've had a good day or week after you've pushed yourself through that hump, knowing that you ave control over your emotions, worked hard and achieved something considerable.
another thing is just having a collection of motivational videos to keep you going through it. I feel that weight loss is less of a explosive, pump yourself up kinda thing more of an attrition game. it's odd to pump yourself up then just sit down and go about your daily activities.0 -
check out bendoeslife.... I always get a boost from others stories :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SbXgQqbOoU&feature=youtube_gdata_player 0 -
You can always take a break from tracking your calories. Take a few days off, even a week! This is something you are doing for you, it is not a cult
If you are sick of what you're eating, try making some new recipes. If you are sick of your exercise routine, try some new ways to exercise. I just bought a Groupon for Zumba classes because I've never tried it and I figured it might be fun. If there's a sport you haven't tried before, why not give it a shot?
Many of us are trying to lose some weight, but for me I also want to feel good in my skin and have more stamina. Exercise should be fun. Even though it is cold and drizzly this week where I live, better weather is around the corner, and that means outdoor tennis and swimming, woot! Find something to do that feels like playing and not drudgery. Good luck, and hope you enjoy yourself.0 -
Failure is only an opportunity to do it again, only this time with more wisdom.
I might be much older than you which gives me the advantage of remembering so many great things I have accomplished in my past. This is evidence to me to know that I won't give up. I can have a bad day, think negative thoughts, eat too much, complain and be disgusted in myself, but I always know that I can and will accomplish what I set out to do. If you don't have a bunch of awesome accomplishments, start collecting today!
On a more practical note: I just made sure I was at or under TDEE averaged over the week when I was losing. So if I binged, or didn't exercise, it was just fine. I also fitted treats in like wine and chocolate. There's really not much you can do to "fail" if you stick to these two things.0 -
I have been on a ****ward spiral......BUT, last summer was banging for me! I'm starting to feel it again this summer, but I choose a strenuous hike I want to conquer without feeling like passing out....we live right next to Glacier National Park, so I have many options....and I just do everything I can to make my body stronger. Also, I do a **** ton of swimming in the summer, so a 'workout' really isn't something I have to force myself to do. Once I start seriously working out, I always think to myself, "Why would I screw this up now???"0
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Hey I was just wondering what you do when you feel like giving up and no caring anymore. I have been feeling discouraged lately....not wanting to count calories anymore or go to the gym..
I read this question and immediately thought how weird it sounded to me. Giving up? Giving up, what? Living? Then I realized that she must have been talking about 'dieting'. I then realized that after almost 2 yrs on my 'diet' it has become a permanent lifestyle.
The pounds are trickling off extremely slowly now, and I wonder sometimes if this is as much weight as I am going to lose, and if I am now in maintenance. And that gets frustrating sometimes. But would I ever consider going back to eating 1800 cals a day and gain back the 50+ pounds I fought so hard to lose?? HEEEELLLLLL NO!!!
If I never lose another pound, I will continue to make good choices (most of the time) and will continue this quest til the end. Whatever that may be.
So when I get discouraged at the weight not coming off like I want it to, then I only have to look back at where I was 2 years ago, and know that I never want to go back there again.0 -
I know exactly how you felt...I feel this way every weekend I when I go out with my sisters0
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I remind myself that I haven't been under 280 pounds in 15 years and that I've had multiple health problems that would sort themselves out with a healthier lifestyle.0
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Just keep going.0
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I read through the success stories, or the motivation threads etc... Work is slow sometimes (now) and there is always a ton a unhealthy food brought in... so I come here instead of hanging out in the kitchen area with everyone else... lol0
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I am an off and off "dieter," or MFP'er. I've been here many times. I've lost the same 40 pounds and have found a way to gain it all back.
I feel ~different this time. I feel like I want to do these things, not that I have to. I don't feel pressured to make these choices. I want to. I think actually wanting to has started to help me feel better and more comfortable about keeping going.0 -
Don't give up. Look how far you came.0
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1. I look up old pics of myself and how big I was. Sometimes I have to remember what I was like to be motivated .
2. I remember who is watching me. I have some friends and family that are looking to me. They have life or death situations. Not saying my weight loss will help but it wong help for me to quit.
3. I go to stores and try on clothes I have never been able to wear before.
4. I dance or do some other exercise I enjoy.
5. I don't have cheat days. I fit stuff in my macros . If Im having an mickyd ice crean cone kind of a day, I fit it in . That helps me remember why I love myfitnesspal.
6. I also remeber my rock bottom. When my boobs were too big for lane bryant and i spent 200 dollars on jeans at lane bryant bc that's the only store I fit.
8. I read the blogs and success stories on here. These are great ppl!!
9. I focus my energy on something else.
10. Last but not least, its a process and this isn't a race. Get there when you do. Just get there!!!
Well wishes!!!0 -
Hey I was just wondering what you do when you feel like giving up and no caring anymore. I have been feeling discouraged lately....not wanting to count calories anymore or go to the gym..
I look at pictures of old me and I really don't want to go back there again!0 -
When it happens to me I remind myself why I started in the first place...0
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