No reason to continue

kristinwalker
kristinwalker Posts: 100 Member
edited September 25 in Health and Weight Loss
I really feel like I have no reason to continue down the path of trying to lose weight. I am currently about 40 lbs over weight and have been on MFP for 3 months. I am seeing no results at all. I am no longer even seeing the little things to keep me going. I am working out harder than I have since college sports and I am eating the healthiest I have in my entire life but can't seem to lose anything. I am so discouraged and feel like there is no reason to continue. I give myself a free day every week, I vary my exercises, keep right around my net and under my goal 6 days a week. I work out 6-7 days a week and I have plateaued for the past 2 1/2 months. I lost weight right away but can't get past 201. This is so frustrating. I have always been able to lose weight in the past (between kids etc) but this time I can't. Not only has the scale gone up (today at 205) but my inches all over my body have gone up. It is so frustrating to do everything everyone tells me to, I work out more eat less and wayyyyy healthier and here I am still fat, no progres and frustrated. I would rather stay this weight and enjoy my fatty crappy foods again than work my butt off to stay this weight. I am really looking for a reason to not give up, because I am right there wondering why I should keep going.
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Replies

  • sweebum
    sweebum Posts: 1,060 Member
    Consider opening your food diary so we can help. Hang in there :smile:
  • I dont get this whole weight loss thing. You put in the work, and the results dont show. But look at your little lady bug...you have lost 14 pounds!!! That is nothing to take lightly. You earned every one of those pounds. There is something that needs tweeked. Somehow we have to find out what that is and it is going to melt away. I know its frustrating. But dont stop. Six months will go by before you know it. You can look back with regret wishing you would have kept going, or you can look at yourself and say dang, I look good!

    Come on friends, lets try and help Kristen figure this out. Lets get the lady bug home!!!!
  • Achoooo
    Achoooo Posts: 130
    I'm sorry that you feel this way, I know what you mean. I was doing well, or so I thought I don't know, and the scale never budged and neither did the inches. I was really at my wits end and giving up but I started here, it's my last ditch effort I guess. I know that doesn't help you but have you considered seeing a doc? If you take your food and exercise log to a doc or a nutritionist or something maybe they can help.
  • Achoooo
    Achoooo Posts: 130
    I dont get this whole weight loss thing. You put in the work, and the results dont show. But look at your little lady bug...you have lost 14 pounds!!! That is nothing to take lightly. You earned every one of those pounds. There is something that needs tweeked. Somehow we have to find out what that is and it is going to melt away. I know its frustrating. But dont stop. Six months will go by before you know it. You can look back with regret wishing you would have kept going, or you can look at yourself and say dang, I look good!

    Come on friends, lets try and help Kristen figure this out. Lets get the lady bug home!!!!

    Yes actually 14lbs in 3 months is a normal, healthy amount of weight for that time. Almost 5 lbs per month. It won't happen overnight.
  • savvystephy
    savvystephy Posts: 4,151 Member
    Sometimes you have to just keep working at it. Hang in there. :flowerforyou:

    How much are you eating calorie wise? Are you eating back your exercise calories? There is a possibility that you might not be eating enough.. as sometimes that will slow down progress too.
  • Hang in there. You can do it. Besides an active lifestyle is a healthy lifestyle. You will feel better about yourself for sticking to it :)
  • You're definitely right Bluesman,

    LET's GET THAT LADYBIRD RUNNING ALONG THAT TICKER!!!

    Could we look at your Food Diary to help you?
  • jojoworks
    jojoworks Posts: 315 Member
    It is hard and it can be discouraging. I had to really find substantial reasons to fight through the plateaus and stall-outs. I listen to deep relaxation, self-hypnosis weight-loss CD's at night. They really provide me with so many positive reinforcements that I think they got me through the times of discouragement.

    Its not clear to me if you are asking for help. If you want more feedback you should make your food diary public, folks around here are pretty good at spotting trouble areas in a diet plan.

    I hope you find your motivation and keep working at finding a healthy weight for yourself.

    good luck!
  • TonysMiss
    TonysMiss Posts: 128 Member
    I dont get this whole weight loss thing. You put in the work, and the results dont show. But look at your little lady bug...you have lost 14 pounds!!! That is nothing to take lightly. You earned every one of those pounds. There is something that needs tweeked. Somehow we have to find out what that is and it is going to melt away. I know its frustrating. But dont stop. Six months will go by before you know it. You can look back with regret wishing you would have kept going, or you can look at yourself and say dang, I look good!

    Come on friends, lets try and help Kristen figure this out. Lets get the lady bug home!!!!
    Well said!!!
  • fitniknik
    fitniknik Posts: 713 Member
    Are you measuring everything you eat? I use a food scale.. love it!
  • ♥_Ellybean_♥
    ♥_Ellybean_♥ Posts: 1,646 Member
    I am going through the same thing, only I have much more weight to lose. I have been on a plateau for 4 weeks now and this morning I seriously feel like crying... I work out 6-7days a week and am on target 6-7 days a week as well... I don't get it and it's frustrating and don't udnerstand how this can be...

    Only thing is I can't give up, and neither can you!! We have to figure this out and get through this...
  • oceanrose78
    oceanrose78 Posts: 133 Member
    Are you eating enough? Are you drinking water? Are you too high in sodium? And sometimes your body just needs to adjust.

    While eating crappy foods and staying at a weight, is certainly an option, fueling your body correctly can pay off for years and years to come. With lessening chronic disease, more energy, and long lasting health. Nutrition is much more about health, and much less about weight loss.
  • ahsongbird
    ahsongbird Posts: 712 Member
    perhaps you are not measuring your food correctly and are actually eating more calories than you think? IDK I'm not an expert , just offering a suggestion.
  • realme56
    realme56 Posts: 1,093 Member
    You are probably NOT all fat. Working out creates muscle that is heavier, it takes time to readjust your body. Do you vary your workouts? Alternate your calorie intake and if possible where the bulk of your calories come from, protein/carb wise. How free is your free day? Remember that you are still healthier than you were. I know that after my initial big loss at starting a new eating pattern will decrease and need to be bumped around once in a while.
    Be good to yourself
  • littlemamajamie
    littlemamajamie Posts: 118 Member
    Sometimes by giving ourselves a full cheat day we can consume enough calories that the rest of the week of less doesn't matter. Maybe try just giving yourself a cheat meal instead. Our bodies are so confusing sometimes maybe you need to up your calories for a week then go back down.....there are so many things to try before giving up just hang in there
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    I give myself a free day every week

    Do you mean free to eat whatever you want or a day free from exercise? If it is the former, that could be the problem.
  • BobbyDaniel
    BobbyDaniel Posts: 1,459 Member
    Easy to get frustrated and want to quit...I was there last summer, after losing 10 pounds I hit a wall that lasted another 3 months; but that too can be over come. I shook things up and tried a few new things and started seeing results. You may want to open up your food journal too, like was mentioned, allow some others to view it. You may be doing something that someone other than you might see that could help. Don't quit! You've come a long way with 14 pounds and it can and will get better!
  • kelika71
    kelika71 Posts: 778 Member
    I'm sorry you feel this way but don't give up!! You've come this far, don't throw that hard work away!!

    I hit a slow point and pretty much stalled myself. Everyone's different and everyone has different views. What worked for me: I changed my activity level on here (after using another website to calculate things for me) and started eating more of my exercise calories. I try to change up the intake of cals, too.
    I changed my workouts. Instead of going hard 6 days a week, I alternate 3 hard, 3 moderate.
    The other thing I did, which some won't agree with, I had an all out cheat weekend. I didn't log/count a darn thing. It was sodium hell for my body...gaining 12 lbs!! But, after about 3 days, that fluid came off and I lost about 2 lbs. that week.

    Just shake things up, but don't give up, please!! You can do this!! :)
  • Flyntiggr
    Flyntiggr Posts: 898 Member
    Everyone hits plateaus once in awhile. Can we see your food? What do you do for workouts? How many calories do you burn a day/week? There is no magic pill - we all wish there was. Just gotta hang in there and keep pecking away...
  • regentin
    regentin Posts: 60
    Don't give up...regardless of what the scale says, you absolutely cannot go wrong with eating healthy and exercising.
  • kristinwalker
    kristinwalker Posts: 100 Member
    I am measuring everything, I am almost always eating back what I exercise unless it is just way too much sometimes I have an extra 700 cals and I dont want to blow that on unhealthy food so I eat something good and the rest seems to go to waste. I feel like I have tried everythng. 12 of the 14 came off in the first 2 weeks, then I plateau'd for 6 weeks, then I went on vacation gained back 2 and lost those 2 and the last 2 of the 14 within a week of being back but have gained back 4 (haven't logged it since it just depresses me). This puts me back at my plateau weight yet again. I even changed thing since I came back from New Orelans...
    Thanks all for your help I really need some encouragement. I will open my diary to everyone not just friends...
  • HolleeERL
    HolleeERL Posts: 313 Member
    Sometimes it's not the calories, but rather the kind of food you are eating. The suggestions to take food & exercise diary to nutritionist or trainer is good. Don't give up! I went from doing not much exercise and eating crappy to running 20 miles a week and eating healthily. I thought I would lose the weight right away, but it took a solid 3 months and then I started seeing some results. You really just need to keep at it.
  • gameovergt
    gameovergt Posts: 502
    don't give up!
  • Jenni268
    Jenni268 Posts: 202 Member
    Would it help to think of it not in terms of weight loss, but in terms of just being healthier? If you're truly eating better and exercising more, then you are helping your body to be healthier. Even if you aren't seeing "progress" you can take heart knowing that you are doing your body good. If you just give up because you're not losing weight or inches then you're just going to get back to doing things that are unhealthy and harmful.

    Keep your head up and know that you are making a lifestyle change! Think of it as an ongoing process for EVER and not just something that you're doing to get to a specific goal and then you stop doing it. I know that changing my thinking like this has made this the first time I've seen real, lasting significant changes in my body!

    Good luck!!!!!!
  • tiggy73
    tiggy73 Posts: 52 Member
    Well I'm not a doctor, but it might be worth going to see a doctor just to make sure you don't have any thyroid issues or anything else that might be preventing you from losing weight.

    What you have lost is something to be very proud of. Please don't give up! It's better to not lose any more than to gain and go back to where you were before. You will probably break through your plateau very soon.

    Hang in there!! Please add me if you want some extra encouragement.

    Tina :)
  • running_mom
    running_mom Posts: 204 Member
    I have been at stuck at the same weight for a YEAR! I eat my alotted cals and workout 3-5 times a week. Plus, I"ve trained for half marathons. So I've gotten into running. I finally lowered my cals by 200. I've lost 2 lbs in 3 weeks.

    It will take time. I know things get repeated and you get sick of seeing the same old crap over and over. But, all of it is true. I kept posting questions about how to jumpstart the loss but nothing came out that was new.

    Even though the loss didn't happen for a year; I did notice changes. I was able to run longer distances. I made better choices about food (especially when out to eat).

    We are all here for you : )

    Keep it up and stay positive (even when it's hard too)
  • kristinwalker
    kristinwalker Posts: 100 Member
    Ok i made my diary public...hopefully it shows Oh and this morning I was irritated, so ignore my bad start!!! lol
  • RoxMyWorld
    RoxMyWorld Posts: 127 Member
    STAY MOTIVATED!!! Look at all the support you have, we are cheering you on!!

    I agree maybe add some more friends and open up your food diary and see if anyone can help. Also I might suggest seeing a doctor. About ten years ago I was working out six days a week for over an hour a day and eating right and I wasnt losing at all I was gaining. I finally went to see my doctor and come to find out I had an insulin deffiency. Once I was on the right medication to help I started losing weight right away.

    You have done well, dont throw away all that hard work!

    Feel free to add me if you need some extra motivation and support.
  • mandyschalk
    mandyschalk Posts: 93 Member
    Please dont give up! You CAN do this! Like it has been said 14 lbs is nothing to shake off, that is great! Something else that may be going on is you have be exercising too hard, deping on you heart rate you may not be in a fat buring stage... IDK just a thought
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    What have you logged your activity level as? The first time I joined here I put my activity as moderately active, but still logged my exercise, which turned out to be wrong, I should have put sedentary then logged it, or not logged it and have the calories included in my basic daily amount.
This discussion has been closed.