Feeling Hopeless

All I can think of to say that might make you feel better is that you are so insanely close to your desired weight goal. A lot of folks here, including me, are trying to lose 100+ pounds. Not that your situation is any less difficult but we all go through self-hate and that really accomplishes nothing. Hope you can find a way to feel better about yourself.

OP, how old are you? I noticed dramatic shifts in what I could and couldn't "get away with" food-wise/exercise-wise at several periods in my life, and it seemed to come on like gangbusters with each shift. I can only assume my hormones changed in some way, or there was some other internal factor, as external factors were not changing during those times, nor my work status, parent status and so on.

nspink22 wrote: »

Hello everyone. I have been on and off MFP for a few years now. Usually, when I decide I want to start a healthier routine and lose some weight, I see some success. I don't necessarily lose weight easily, but I've always been able to work at it and see results. For the past several months, however, things have been different. I am finding it very hard to stay motivated and not get discouraged. I am currently at 148, which is my heaviest weight. Less than two years ago, I was at 128. Being only 5'2", a 20 lb weight gain is quite significant. I am struggling with feeling bad about my body (and even worse when I keep buying bigger clothes), and while I know this should motivate me even more to work harder, it just deflates me. I used to be very athletic and it is frustrating for me to not only be much heavier than I am used to being, but also to not be able to workout at a level I used to. I am not looking for sympathy, but I am wondering if anyone out there has had similar problems and how you've been able to pull yourself out of the slump. For the first time ever, I've felt myself adopting a "why even bother" attitude and I just can't seem to get the right mentality lately.

Yes, I've been there as well. I got tired of not being able to run like I used to, or of not feeling as good as I used to, when I was at my healthiest weight (which was still considered overweight for my height). What worked for me was to visualize what it would be like to be if I were not overweight. I imagined no more strain on my joints, less tiredness, and the ability to increase my running time and speed.

Flash forward almost two years later.

Today I weight 139/140 and am within the normal weight range for my 5 ft 4.5 inch body, large body structure. I am not tired all the time, my running distance and speed as improved immensely, and I now heavy weight lift. I feel the best I ever have, and this year is the first year in my entire life I have been within a normal weight range.

I challenge you to absorb what it was like for you when you were at your healthiest weight, to set up your goals to lose that 10 or 20 pounds you want to lose at a rate of .5 pounds per week, to pick up activity/exercise you like if you so choose to, and just trust the process.

You can do this! I know you can.

The last time I was in your shoes, I couldn't figure out why what had worked in the past wasn't working anymore. I even asked my Dr. at my annual, and she said, "Well, you are getting older," and, "Have you thought about just buying new pants?" Then I stepped up my accuracy and realized why-- there was a lot I just wasn't logging! It's not my aging metabolism, and at 27, I very much doubt it is yours either. You CAN do it. It just takes a little extra effort to get in the groove.

You're only 27. Still, you're not expected to have the energy you had in high school. Start with your logging, as most of your weight loss comes from a caloric deficit. As you start losing, it will pick up your momentum!

In my observations, it seems like people who were once healthy have a much harder time with weight gain (emotionally) than people who've been overweight since a young age. Now I'm starting to see another pattern: "I used to be athletic", "I used to be skinny", "I used to be...". I believe Springsting wrote a song about this problem ("Glory Days").
People who've always been fat don't have those thoughts, even after becoming much fatter.

So with that in mind, perhaps this advice will help you: It doesn't matter who or what you used to be. What matters is what you are and what you will be. If fat people dwell on the past the way skinny people do, they start to think things like "I've always been fat, I always will be fat". It's just not good for anybody. Face forward and keep moving.

You can do this.

I too am in the "short girls club" at 5'2. I have never been so blessed to even be at your highest weight... so there's that I have always struggled with my weight.... never been athletic... no athletes in the family... everyone is very inactive and overweight. However, I can't blame it all on them because I am 29 years old and fully responsible for myself. At my highest (early last year) I weighed 180. I now weigh 166. I have been teetering at 166 since May. I've had good months and bad... lost my motivation... been on MFP for 6 years on and off so I get it (my lowest weight was 153). The biggest thing I've taken away from this year is this: 1) Don't make it about the weight. You said you used to be athletic.. so find a fun activity that you love to do that gets you moving. Make a FITNESS related goal and the weight will follow. (I'm training for my first Marathon.... I'm concentrating on doing well on my runs and feeding my body... if I also lose weight which I'm sure I will... great). 2) Fitness is not a destination. You're never going to "get there" and then be able to sit back and relax. You will always be travelling this road.... so you have to make changes to your life that you can make permanent with ease over time. That being said, don't give yourself a timeline. Stop saying "i'm going to do this by this time" because if you don't make it you'll feel like a failure. Overall, just strive to be HEALTHIER tomorrow than you are TODAY..... and the rest will fall into place. My new favorite saying "If you're tired of starting over, stop giving up". Good luck! Hang in there... everyone has bad days... you just gotta fake it til' you make it!

I'm 5'1" and am also in the same boat with trying to lose weight.. (My goal is to lose 100lbs). I guess the one thing that motivates me is to look at pictures of individuals who have lost weight..to see their before and after pictures definitely motivates me.

It also helps if you have someone to help keep you on track. Not just online friends, but individuals you see and talk to daily (boyfriend/girlfriend/family, etc). I find that being able to talk to my friends/fiance about my struggles and just having someone there to motivate me definitely keeps me on check with my weight-loss goals.

I think it's normal to have slip ups every now and then. We're human. We get tired and need to take a step back to re-energize our mind and body. Just remember to get back on track

nspink22 wrote: »

Hello everyone. I have been on and off MFP for a few years now. Usually, when I decide I want to start a healthier routine and lose some weight, I see some success. I don't necessarily lose weight easily, but I've always been able to work at it and see results. For the past several months, however, things have been different. I am finding it very hard to stay motivated and not get discouraged. I am currently at 148, which is my heaviest weight. Less than two years ago, I was at 128. Being only 5'2", a 20 lb weight gain is quite significant. I am struggling with feeling bad about my body (and even worse when I keep buying bigger clothes), and while I know this should motivate me even more to work harder, it just deflates me. I used to be very athletic and it is frustrating for me to not only be much heavier than I am used to being, but also to not be able to workout at a level I used to. I am not looking for sympathy, but I am wondering if anyone out there has had similar problems and how you've been able to pull yourself out of the slump. For the first time ever, I've felt myself adopting a "why even bother" attitude and I just can't seem to get the right mentality lately.