I give up

merrillfoster
merrillfoster Posts: 855 Member
edited September 23 in Health and Weight Loss
So I've been at this just over 3 weeks--trying to make better food choices, exercising every day (maybe 1 or 2 days off in that time, every other day I did SOMETHING), watching my calories, etc. I've even started forcing myself to eat breakfast.

It's just not working. It worked briefly--I had lost 7 lbs at my 'peak' (about a week ago), and now, despite the fact that lately I have been working harder than ever since then (since that was a really motivating weigh-in)/watching my food intake more closely than ever (even the rare 'bad' food I have factored in, calorie wise), and I've gained 2lbs back and lost 0 inches. 0. What's the point? I drink a TON of water (20+ glasses/day), am down from like 10 sodas/day to 1 a week, down from a bottle of wine a night to a glass or two a night or two a week (with the calories factored in). I no longer eat mac and cheese as a major food group. I know I still eat the occasional lean cuisine or canned soup (yes, sodium, I know, but I feel like I drink enough water that that should be moot), but I've been making much more of my own food (less sodium/preservatives/processing/whatever else). My diet is no longer strictly carbs. I feel like I'm trying really hard and getting no results. 0. If anything, I'm getting the opposite. I'm so frustrated.

I'd be fine if I was weighing the same but losing inches, but when NOTHING is changing--what's the point? I enjoy diet coke, wine, cheesesteaks and mac and cheese. If it makes no difference either way, why bother trying?
«13

Replies

  • backinthenines
    backinthenines Posts: 1,083 Member
    You give up????

    After 3 weeks? Come on pull yourself together.

    Stick with it. Weight that has piled on over months or years doesn't just disappear in 3 weeks.
  • jessieinblue
    jessieinblue Posts: 287 Member
    Hi,

    I looked at your food diary for the past couple weeks, and with some exceptions, you are not eating enough. You need to eat back at least some of your exercise calories so that you are taking in at least 1200 calories a day *after* exercise. Otherwise you are literally starving your body, and you will not lose weight.

    Please read this post for an excellent explanation:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo
  • brittlynne3579
    brittlynne3579 Posts: 217 Member
    I agree with Jessie....I noticed two things about your diary...

    You have ALOT of leftover cals. Are you exercising as well, causing even more cals to be leftover? Gotta eat them, no matter what. A few left over is fine, but you have a good bit.
    I also noticed quite a few days you were over on your sodium. Be careful, that can make you retain weight more than you can imagine.

    Just takes time but you WILL get there!!!
  • myukniewicz
    myukniewicz Posts: 906 Member
    do NOT give up.
    you can do this, there is no reason to throw in the towel after only three weeks.
    things like this can take time, weight loss is different for different people. some people can loose it quickly, were others it takes a little longer.

    just stay positive.
  • BlueRobyn
    BlueRobyn Posts: 1
    Hey, I agree with the comment above. You are not eating enough, and as you are doing so much exercise your body is probably going into starvation mode.

    Try working some healthy snacks into your diet, like fruit or a cereal bar in the morning and afternoon. Or even have two (slightly smaller than normal) lunches during the day. You need to let your body know that it will get fed regularly and that it doesn't need to hold on to all the fat stores.

    Don't give up - it is hard, and it takes a while to work out what works for you - so keep trying different things until you find something that works :)
  • angelmuss
    angelmuss Posts: 45
    Don't give up! You can do this! You didn't gain it all in a few weeks....so it isn't going to come off in a few weeks. I have been here for 3 weeks (maybe just a tad longer) and I have lost 5.5 pounds. Focus on your good eating habits and your exercise. I didn't look at your diary...but someone mentioned about more calories. Also make sure you watch your sodium intake and drink lots of water.

    We are all here for you. Add me as a buddy and we can motivate each other :)

    (oh...and I try not to weigh myself too much because I get very upset if the numbers are not changing. It is all about how you are feeling)

    Good luck!!
  • kimcat73
    kimcat73 Posts: 687 Member
    I agree with the above posters - don't give up and eat those calories:) Give it time, it will come off:) And come here for support any time you need it, that's why we are all here:)
  • xxquzme
    xxquzme Posts: 157 Member
    Its a tough journey. If it were easy then everyone would do it. I agree with the previous posters, you are not eating enough cals. Way to many left over. A few hundred cals left over is fine, especially if you are working out. But at times you have over a thousand left. Got to eat some of them back. Breakfast needs to consist of more than a piece of string cheese to be considered breakfast. You have to jump start your day with your breakfast. Keep hanging in there.
  • Vicky14174
    Vicky14174 Posts: 715 Member
    Give up!!!!!!! Have you taken your measurements? Have you lost inches? Did you know muscule weighs more than fat? Give up!!! I think not. If I can do this so can you. Weigh and measure yourself only once a week at the same time every week. Drink lots of water and above all, DON'T GIVE UP.
  • Smokechic
    Smokechic Posts: 40 Member
    Don't give up, its not all about the scale. Its about how you feel and how fit you are getting. It has to feel great to know that YOU are getting out and exercising almost everyday. I'd bet that whatever exercise you are doing, it is far easier now than it was 3 weeks ago. I'm proud of you for making these life changes, don't allow the scale to make you feel defeated. It will happen, keep learning, keep exercising, keep eating right, and notice the great work you are doing.
  • lmclaine
    lmclaine Posts: 61 Member
    OMG, I feel the same way today. I was starting to feel good about my progress and my motivation was even getting stonger! No alcohol in 27 days, rarely going over my calorie limit, exercising 4-5 days/wk and it was showing on the scale. Then today, my official weigh-in day, I lost 0 lbs since last week. And to think I showed so much willpower when I really wanted a cocktail, forced myself to walk for a hour in the rain twice, scrutinized every food choice and documented each. I got off the scale and wondered if it was worth it all. Then I realized that I have still lost more than 2 lbs/wk since New Years--which is what my weekly goal is. I am going to try it again this coming week in hopes that I will catch up and that my scale is messing with me. It's so easy to become discouraged when making so many sacrifices for no results but if I don't have success this time with MFP and all the support, I don't think I'll ever lose the weight and will be fat for the rest of my life. I CANNOT give up this time.
  • togden
    togden Posts: 324 Member
    I agree with all the above posters also when are you weighing yourself you know your weight fluctuates throughout the day and I have found personally first thing in the morning after a goodnights sleep and a quick bathroom break gives me the best true weight.
  • heathersmilez
    heathersmilez Posts: 2,579 Member
    7 lbs lost in only 3 weeks and you are quitting? Sorry but here is some tough love, THAT'S STUPID!!
  • Dobsaya
    Dobsaya Posts: 235
    I don't think you really want to give up or else you would not have posted this topic. You would have just quit. So keep at it and cut some of that water. 20 glasses a day, wow.
  • chrissym78
    chrissym78 Posts: 628 Member
    I've been at this over 7 months and know people that have been at it for years... you're giving up after 3 weeks? WHY? Make healthy foods and healthy activity your lifestyle! And be patient, I'm sure it took you longer than 3 weeks to gain it :)
  • cuppycake22
    cuppycake22 Posts: 224
    You give up????

    After 3 weeks? Come on pull yourself together.

    Stick with it. Weight that has piled on over months or years doesn't just disappear in 3 weeks.

    My thoughts exactly! keep it up it takes a lot longer than 3 weeks!
  • benitocereno
    benitocereno Posts: 101 Member
    If your food diary is accurate, some days you're not eating nearly enough. I see you're working out because your daily calorie needs fluctuate wildly, but you're not eating those calories back. You NEED to do this when you're 800+ calories under your goal for the day. You are also eating so little most days! I don't know how you're not completely miserable by now (well, I guess it sounds like you're getting there). You're probably totally wrecking your body's metabolism. Weight loss happens slowly, weigh yourself once a week and work on meeting your goals... you do yourself no favor by undercutting them.

    As for "what's the point?"... you already know what the point is, it's the reason you started this. Don't be a quitter - we all get in ruts, but you CAN DO IT. Calm down, take a step back, and KEEP IT UP.

    If your diary is accurate you need to work on what you're eating still, if not you need to make sure you get granular with your food entries and weigh food. Good luck, you can do it, and stop with the quitter talk!
  • merrillfoster
    merrillfoster Posts: 855 Member
    I don't feel like I'm starving myself, though, at all. I'm just not hungry (and often force myself to eat even then). When I'm not eating unhealthy foods, there is just not enough calories in healthy ones, lol. I could easily make up the calories by having a cheesesteak for dinner instead of a chicken breast and broccoli, and make up the calories, but that seems....not to be the right thing to do, lol. Should I be forcing myself to eat when I'm really not hungry?

    And like I said, I drink a TON of water--20-30 cups per day. I know I have alot of sodium (something else I am working on) but I feel like that much water should negate it. Also, I'm not discouraged about the progress/lack thereof, but that it is going backwards despite me trying harder than ever this week to do it right.
  • cjfoster
    cjfoster Posts: 36
    Keep in mind it has taken years to gain so it's not just gonna drop off over night. I understand your frustration--but think...Are you feeling better because you're working out and making better food choices? If the answer is yes than you can't give up! I try not to weigh myself often--but I do look at the suits I want to wear by this spring and say to myself, "I can do this!" Don't give up...work through it--I love my wine....but love myself more.
  • dlaplume2
    dlaplume2 Posts: 1,658 Member
    You need to eat more. the only days you came close or went over on your calories were the days you had a drink or two.
    You can't drink those calories in. You will feel much better if you add some healthy snacks to your diet and make sure your are netting 1200 calories not including the 48 oz beer or the glasses of wine.

    Try sticking with it and making those changes, see if you feel better then.
  • tvanderberg
    tvanderberg Posts: 59
    I am really amazed at how many people expect for miricles to happen over night!!!! When you gain a ton of weight it does not take place in the matter of days or weeks, so then WHY IN THE WORLD do people expect for the friggin pounds to just start falling off like friggin magic....it is going to take A LOT OF HARD WORK AND A LOT OF TIME......and if you dont start somewhere you WILL end up in worse condition that your in now.

    Just stick with the program and over time even though it may be SLOW and GRADUAL you will see the results, you will be happy and glad you hung in there.

    And by they way you have been doing this for 3 weeks and you have lost 7 lbs.... thats FABULOUS...I have been doing this for exactly 3 wks and 2 days TO DATE and I have lost 5.6lbs. and i'm very HAPPY. I realize that when it comes off fast, it will come back fast. But when you do it at a moderate pace it will be more likely to last. I want mine to go away and stay away FOREVER NEVER to RETURN.

    Be ENCOURAGE....
  • Smokechic
    Smokechic Posts: 40 Member
    OMG, I feel the same way today. I was starting to feel good about my progress and my motivation was even getting stonger! No alcohol in 27 days, rarely going over my calorie limit, exercising 4-5 days/wk and it was showing on the scale. Then today, my official weigh-in day, I lost 0 lbs since last week. And to think I showed so much willpower when I really wanted a cocktail, forced myself to walk for a hour in the rain twice, scrutinized every food choice and documented each. I got off the scale and wondered if it was worth it all. Then I realized that I have still lost more than 2 lbs/wk since New Years--which is what my weekly goal is. I am going to try it again this coming week in hopes that I will catch up and that my scale is messing with me. It's so easy to become discouraged when making so many sacrifices for no results but if I don't have success this time with MFP and all the support, I don't think I'll ever lose the weight and will be fat for the rest of my life. I CANNOT give up this time.

    You could be in a plateau period. It will eventually catch up, if not this week, soon enough. 2 pounds a week is A LOT. That is great work but 1/2 pound to a pound is a healthy weight to lose weekly (this slow loss usually makes for the life change and less chance of regain). Don't just give it a week, give it a lifetime.
  • johanneleger
    johanneleger Posts: 49 Member
    Don't give up so fast, why don't you give another 3 weeks. And follow the great tips you have received from a lot people who have been where you are. I just started myself about a month ago. And ONLY now, in the last two weeks did I lose my first 3 pounds...AND, this morning, my personal trainer measured me and I was discouraged to see that I had barely lost any inches...(took some in my arms). BUT, I can feel something is changing in my body. I can feel that I AM finally going to start seeing progress. It's impossible that no results will be achieved by staying within my allocated calories and going to the gym and getting a nice workout. Please don't give up. Stick with us, I know that if you stay another 3 weeks you will feel a difference. Are you in ?
  • cherslone
    cherslone Posts: 11
    Wow I just learned something new, I can track my sodium too! Thanks!
  • benitocereno
    benitocereno Posts: 101 Member
    I don't feel like I'm starving myself, though, at all. I'm just not hungry (and often force myself to eat even then). When I'm not eating unhealthy foods, there is just not enough calories in healthy ones, lol. I could easily make up the calories by having a cheesesteak for dinner instead of a chicken breast and broccoli, and make up the calories, but that seems....not to be the right thing to do, lol. Should I be forcing myself to eat when I'm really not hungry?

    And like I said, I drink a TON of water--20-30 cups per day. I know I have alot of sodium (something else I am working on) but I feel like that much water should negate it. Also, I'm not discouraged about the progress/lack thereof, but that it is going backwards despite me trying harder than ever this week to do it right.

    There is enough calories in healthy foods...? You're not trying hard enough! Cheese, cheese, cheese! Nuts, oil, etc. Not hungry... hrm, could it be because your metabolism isn't working? Like, because you're not eating enough and you're in "starvation mode?" :)

    Unless you make that cheesesteak yourself you probably have no idea how many calories are in it. If you do and it works out, have a cheesesteak! Eat badly at a restaurant and you need to be honest about what you're eating, they're going to use a ton of oil, butter, etc... and you need to record it!

    Also, stop drinking 30 cups of water a day, you only need 8 unless you're actually sweating it out. After enough, water can become a BAD thing, robbing your body of vitamins you need. Cut it out and eat less sodium and prepared foods.
  • Thomasm198
    Thomasm198 Posts: 3,189 Member
    First of all: 3 weeks is too soon to give up. I know it is a cliche but it is true, the weight didn't go on overnight so it will take time to disappear as well.

    Second: I took a quick look at your food diary. There were a lot of days you logged less than 1,200 calories consumed. That is not good, if you are exercising as well then you will have a calorie intake that is far too low.

    Try to stick to a regular calorie level, log your exercises and eat back those calories as well to stay at or above 1,200 calories.
  • BigBoneSista
    BigBoneSista Posts: 2,389 Member
    OH MY FREAKIN GAWD!! PLEASE RE-READ WHAT YOU'VE WRITTEN!!

    You've accomplished sooooooooooo much. In 3 weeks time you have re-arrange your whole lifestyle to be a healthier you. You should be waking up in the morning feeling better than you've ever felt. You should have energy. You should be able to move around a little better from the exercise. You should be feeling the change from the inside.

    Now for you to come up here and type those accomplishments up like they were nothing but bothersome makes me wonder about your mindset. You have to look at the whole picture and not just the final results. This is a total lifestyle change and in life you will have bumps that you have to overcome. If you are giving up in only 3 weeks then you need to re-adjust your thinking to positive.

    Just remember instant gratification doesn't happen in weight loss. It took you "x" amount of years to gain whatever weight you've gain well its going to take some time for you to lose it as well.

    One thing I can promise you if you stick with it and make adjusts along the way. You will lose weight, you will gain weight, you will stall and you will lose it again, but eventually you will reach your goal.

    jessieinblue has looked at your food diary...review the thread she has attached and make some adjustments, but giving up is not acceptable.
  • Nicola1944
    Nicola1944 Posts: 290 Member
    You give up????

    After 3 weeks? Come on pull yourself together.

    Stick with it. Weight that has piled on over months or years doesn't just disappear in 3 weeks.

    My thoughts exactly! keep it up it takes a lot longer than 3 weeks!


    YEP MY THOUGHTS TOO......

    And if you were giving up.... you wouldnt be posting this right? Dont mean to sound harsh.... but alot of people have been on here a long long time and there still going!!! Im sure you can do it, since when was 7lbs a bad loss?? That is BRILLIANT.

    No matter how much people say dont give up etc, if your gonna your gonna.... But i do hope you read all these comments, and see that its not just hard for you, its hard for all of us.

    Keep smiling, dont let things get you down, and just carry on!! Its a marathon, not a sprint!!!!

    :) x
  • riley711
    riley711 Posts: 298 Member
    Hi,

    I looked at your food diary for the past couple weeks, and with some exceptions, you are not eating enough. You need to eat back at least some of your exercise calories so that you are taking in at least 1200 calories a day *after* exercise. Otherwise you are literally starving your body, and you will not lose weight.

    Please read this post for an excellent explanation:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

    Thanks!! You just answered my question too. I wasn't going to quit, but I was a little ticked off that the scale showed a 2.5 lb. gain over the last two days. But then, each day, I only consumed about 900 calories, which is not normal
  • jcsalsa
    jcsalsa Posts: 25
    Don't give up. I truely hear you about giving up cause I have been wondering the same thing but fight with myself everyday not to give up. WE can do this together that is why we all joined MFP. Maybe until you lose a little only do Cardio. I have done alot of small changes in my life for instance instead of taking the elevator I do the stairs to my office. I park farther away from the door. Try eating every 3 hours something healthy and I am not talking big stuff just fruits and veggies. Try to make sure you are cooking your food and not eating out (my biggest issue).

    Become my friend and we can coach each other.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories