Have lost all motivation. Help! ;(

AmyShip
AmyShip Posts: 24
edited September 26 in Motivation and Support
Starting last May i changed my whole way of life. Eating so healthy, exercising every day. Lost almost 40 pounds and have now gained a few pounds and some inches back. I had a lot of back pain for a few months and couldn't work out the way i wanted. That made me lose all motivation and i will eat whatever i want and not working out nearly as much as i had been. If you have any advice for me i would so greatly appreciate it!
Thanks!
Amy

Replies

  • meemo88
    meemo88 Posts: 436 Member
    Don't give up. Think of how hard it was to lose that 35-40 lbs. Do you really want to go back to your old self? Just make one healthy choice at a time. As far as exercise take walks, use some weights for your arms. Incline the treadmill if you cant go fast. Dont give up!!
  • Mishy
    Mishy Posts: 1,551 Member
    Welcome back! Just take it one day at a time, learn from your time away but don't dwell on it. My re-start has really been a success so I hope that encourages you.

    :flowerforyou:
  • Asomething
    Asomething Posts: 61 Member
    I just read a blog about someone who put the weight they lost in a backpack and wore it around for awhile. Maybe try that?? I hope you find your motivation - 35 lbs gone is AWESOME!! Just look at how far you've come!!
  • ItsAsha
    ItsAsha Posts: 78
    The same thing happened to me this weekend, I gained four lbs, but haven't lost nearly as much as you have. Try to focus on your hard work that you've already put in and how bad you want to reach your goal weight.

    I was absolutely disgusted with my self and still am, but I want to reach my goal weight so bad, and that's what is keeping me going.

    Much luck,
    Asha
  • AmyShip
    AmyShip Posts: 24
    Thank you :) Every day i tell myself i can do it and just take it one day at a time. I dont know how to get back to the motivation i once had but if i did it once before i can do it again.
  • Angie80281
    Angie80281 Posts: 444 Member
    I think it's normal to lose motivation once you've been off your routine for a while. However, you need to push through it and get back on track. You may not want to, but you need to. Didn't you feel better after you lost all that weight? Wouldn't you like to feel that way again? If you're not already doing it, make sure you log your food intake for the day. You may not be eating the way you should, but seeing it broken down in your food diary could motivate you to change that. Go exercise, even if it's just a quick walk or 15 minutes of cardio. Once you start seeing a little bit of results, I'll bet you'll be motivated to see more. Don't wait for the motivation, make it happen!
  • djthom
    djthom Posts: 651 Member
    Do you have any pictures of you before you lost the weight? If so put them where you can see them as a reminder of how far you've come.
  • AmyShip
    AmyShip Posts: 24
    Your so right Angie! Thank you girls. Knowing there are people who understand makes it so much easier. If anyone would like to "Be-friend" me i would love the support!
  • twooliver
    twooliver Posts: 450 Member
    A few years ago I was doing great on a diet and then had a knee injury. It so bummed me out that I gave up and gained back all that I had lost plus a few more.

    This time, I'm being more careful with my body. But more importantly, I wake up each day and ask myself "I wonder what I'm capable of accomplishing today?" I love this question. It has provided me with so much motivation and inspiration and has helped me to stay in the day rather than 100 lbs from now!

    Sometimes the answer to that question might be, "Can I accomplish eating healthy today and take care of my back by letting it heal?" And at the end of the day to celebrate whatever successes you have rather than focus on what you did not accomplish.

    You can do this!!!
  • rosebrowning
    rosebrowning Posts: 16 Member
    I'm also losing motivation because I've stopped losing weight. I've upped my walking miles to 7.5 for the last three days, eating healthy, etc. I have only lost 10 pounds and I've been stuck here for a while (has to be about a month). I just try and remind myself that I FEEL better when I'm working out and eating better and when I eat a bunch of junk it upsets my stomach now. Did you feel better when you were working out? Just take it one day at a time. When I wake up in the morning I just set the goal that I'm going to do some sort of exercise and I plan my meals for the day and I am usually successful. Don't focus on the setback, we're all going to have them, but the longer you ignore the fact that you are not where you once were and where you want to be the harder it's going to be to get back on track. I don't know if you're a parent but one of my main motivators is setting a good example for my 12 year old daughter. I want to show her that her mom can live a healthy lifestyle so that hopefully she'll grow up living that lifestyle as well. I also want to be able to enjoy her, not be all breathless and worn out and miserable when we go on a little hike.

    Good luck and remember you have a lot of people on here in the same boat, it's good you're reaching out for help.
  • SweetLe
    SweetLe Posts: 157 Member
    First off just wanted to congratulate you on your loss!

    I had the same thing happen to me. For a month I just didn’t care about what I ate and gained 5 pounds back. Im disappointed with myself because I worked so hard to get where I'm at. I would really hate to see that happen to you. It is really had to get motivation back. What I did was switch up my normal routine of diet and exercise. I made myself exercise and that set the mood for the first week I got back into it.

    It’s a daily struggle but so worth it.

    One of my friends once mentioned about setting 3 goals you want to accomplish every day, weight related or not. Stick to those goals

    For example:
    1. Drink 10 glasses of water
    2. Vacuum the downstairs
    3. Walk at least 30 minutes

    If you need some additional support, feel free to add me. :flowerforyou:
    You can do this, don’t let anything change your mind of that!
  • jojoworks
    jojoworks Posts: 315 Member
    Hi Amy,
    Pain and illness can be very tough to work through and to not allow them to sap you. You may feel your strength being sapped from you and you may feel angry at the workouts you missed or can't do or need to change and it can feel like a big block in your road. You can take a breath and let go of the things you're mad about and find a new path that lets those obstacles stay on the old path. You may need to focus on eating healthy and not worry about working out for awhile. Losing weight is more about what and how you eat than about exercise. I am not advocating for no exercise. But I know first hand about not being able to because of injury. I've had to focus my efforts almost entirely on food and nutrition. I'm in physical therapy now and I hope to be able to walk 20 minutes twice a day in the near future. That will be a huge accomplishment for me.

    Let Go. Refocus. Eat Well!
  • Dawntodusk
    Dawntodusk Posts: 262 Member
    What motivated you in May? Whatever it was, focus on that again.
  • AmyShip
    AmyShip Posts: 24
    Dawn, I was 206 pounds last may and felt and looked awful. I have been telling myself not to undo what i worked so hard for but it doesn't help. I will focus on that and tell myself i cant go back to that point. Thank you.
  • AmyShip
    AmyShip Posts: 24
    Under my calorie goal today and walked for 41 minutes. A small step but im really proud of myself. Thanks for the words of encouragement everyone.
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