motivation is diminishing

chantalebelle
chantalebelle Posts: 43
edited November 2024 in Motivation and Support
I know this is a long process and no one will get results over night. I've just been feeling so much less motivated lately. I started doing this whole work out/eat better thing in late September. I work out 4-5 times a week and eat better, not super crazy healthy, but definitely better. I haven't noticed any significant changes though.

Granted, I can get through my workouts easier, and my boyfriend has said that my legs look stronger and leaner (not crazy though again, but he says noticeable). My area that I want to show results in is my stomach. I'm not overweight, i just want to get rid of the layer there and tighten it up. Well, as of today, it's basically the same.

I haven't worked out for the past 3 days, and I've been progressively eating worse such as having a pop or a couple chocolates a day. I just am feeling like, "sigh, there's no results, i don't want to wait forever to see them." And on top of not seeing results and trying my best to work out as much as I can and stuff, I, of course, am craving all the good stuff too, you know, poutine, chips, pastas smothered in sauces mmmmmmmmm.

I digress; so how do you get over this self-defeatist attitude? I want the best of both worlds but know it's not very possible. Part of me wants to just give up and live with my layer because it's not that bad, part of me really wants to get rid of this layer and tighten up and then start to slow down (working out a little less, eating a little more of what i want). What can I do, and what do you do, to get past these humps and still be happy in your progress (or lack thereof?)

Replies

  • wolverine66
    wolverine66 Posts: 3,779 Member
    i was at a cousin's wedding this past weekend, and a lot of family that i haven't seen in quite sometime commented and asked me about my weight loss. When they asked how long it has taken to lost the 50-55 lbs, I - proudly - said "two years." And when they asked how I did it (if i cut anything out) i said "all i do is burn more than i take in. i cut out nothing. i still eat pizza, drink beer, wings.. you name it."

    i get that it's nice to see results, and can actually motivate you when those results do come. But what became motivating for me was to actually see results over time by not drastically altering what i ate. what motivated me was creating a new way/lifestyle for me that i know i could maintain forever. my "results" that i could see immediately were not on the scale, but looking at my logged calories and being under goal. i took pride in that, and knew if i continued to do it, that i would start dropping weight.

    and i did.

    now, i'm going to go eat a cookie.
  • chantalebelle
    chantalebelle Posts: 43
    that is exactly what i want except fast lol, and i'm saying that from a place of knowing it's not gonna happen that way. i try and think oh i'll have these chips and i'll just do an extra workout but then come time to workout it's like....tomorrow? so i guess i just need to work on my will of what to eat and when to work out. thanks for your input :)
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,746 Member
    Good advice by wolverine66. Also, getting healthy starts from the inside out, IMHO. So, maybe you aren't seeing visual results as quickly as you'd like, but remember that each healthy choice you make improves your insides, which will then reflect on the outside. Not always easy to do, of course, when something is tempting you to veer off course. Just stop and think about how you'll feel AFTER you eat something extra or don't go to the gym. That negative feeling usually isn't worth it. Hang in there and just keep at it!
  • TossaBeanBag
    TossaBeanBag Posts: 458 Member
    Sometimes, when I overtrain, I get that way. I was that way really bad a last week. Make sure you know the symptoms of overtraining and are getting good sleep and nutrition. You already know all this, probably, but I thought I knew it all, too.
  • 7elizamae
    7elizamae Posts: 758 Member
    Stop cutting out certain foods. You can still have chips, etc. Just not so many of them.

    Are you logging your foods? I find that really helps a lot -- then I can 'save' calories for wine or chips or cake or whatever. Then I enjoy them completely -- knowing they fit in with the plan for the day.
  • chantalebelle
    chantalebelle Posts: 43
    all good advice. i do try and think of how i'll feel if i dont exercise but somehow it doesn't matter some times :( just need to get back in the groove of knowing i want this. i was logging my foods but i stopped last week because it became overwhelming and i was obsessing over it. i know it can be a great thing so i'm not saying i'm 100% right, it's just what's working for me now, i found when i was logging i was stressing over if i could have one sip of pop and what not, it just didn't work for me because if i went over i would be even more unmotivated.
  • TossaBeanBag
    TossaBeanBag Posts: 458 Member
    Sometimes, a day off can do wonders. Then, you can come back with intensity. Work too hard, too long, and you may be layed up with an injury or sick and out longer than you ever wanted. Good luck.
  • KiminNorCal
    KiminNorCal Posts: 40 Member
    I am on the exact same page as Wolverine66. If you deprive yourself you will eventually quit. However, if you aren't overweight and you are more concerned with conditioning, what I would recommend is eating a high protein, low or complex carb diet 6 days out of the week and then eat whatever you want on the 7th day. ONLY the 7th day though. Your muscles need the appropriate amount of protein at the appropriate times, otherwise they wiill go away. Protein is the only food that the body does not store-it is all turned into waste. With that said, the body loves to store simple (white carbs), so try to eat complex (whole wheat) carbs and limit them to 3-4pm, so your body does not store fat. The body can break down complex carbs.
  • shadowloss
    shadowloss Posts: 293 Member
    How do I do it? I realize that I have been overweight and embarrassed by it for over 30 years. Always the "Big Guy". I even try to make myself think that the group I ride motorcycles with needed that gratuitous fat guy to make the club complete! BS!

    Every time I fall off, I realize there is nothing I can do about that bag O' Chips I just shoved in my face. What I can control is what I do for the next 5 minutes or the next 5 hours/days. I don't want to be this fat guy any longer, and I'm damn tired of it. I've come to the conclusion, this is the only thing I want and if I want it bad enough, I have to put in the work.

    In other words, I find it deep within myself, and move on.

    Good luck with your journey!
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    You have 2 choices, you know what they are, decide.
    If you choose the healthy route, counting calories and exercising to get the flat stomach you want, stick with it. It took you a long time to grow your tummy so it won't go away in a day.
    If you choose the lifestyle that you have been living, accept that you will not look or be the person you dream of being.
    Simple.
  • Ferrous_Female_Dog
    Ferrous_Female_Dog Posts: 221 Member
    You just have to work on altering your expectations.

    You know it won't be fast, you know this. Yet you feel frustrated when what you know proves to be true. I've been there. Just have faith in the process.

    And hey, the fat will come off where and when it wants to. I'd be ecstatic if my fat came off on my hips and thighs. Instead it comes off of my midsection first. Our bodies do what they want.

    As for your defeatist attitude, what purpose does it serve? You say you don't want to wait forever for results, but forever is a long time. You've only been at this since September. 2 months is nothing in the grand scheme of things. You've barely given it a shot, probably haven't learned what works best for you yet.

    It takes a lot of time for people to find their sweet spot.

    It took me about 6-7 months to realize cardio makes me utterly miserable, so I shouldn't try to do it because if I try to force myself to do it, I either don't do it or don't give it a full effort.

    It took me about 3 months to realize that if I eat breakfast I am hungry all day so it works better for me to skip breakfast and eat a bigger lunch and dinner, and a few snacks in between.

    It took me about 5 months to realize carbs should take up less of my calorie allotment because they don't make me feel satisfied-- I always want more. By lowering carb intake slightly and increasing my fat and protein it is easier to stay within my goal.

    It's a process that takes time. We just have to learn patience and never forget that it is worth all of the effort.

  • chantalebelle
    chantalebelle Posts: 43
    Ferrous_Female_Dog wrote: »
    You just have to work on altering your expectations.

    It took me about 6-7 months to realize cardio makes me utterly miserable, so I shouldn't try to do it because if I try to force myself to do it, I either don't do it or don't give it a full effort.


    i try and do a lot of cardio and it's not my favourite either, what do you do instead of cardio that helps shed the pounds?
  • Ferrous_Female_Dog
    Ferrous_Female_Dog Posts: 221 Member
    chantalebelle wrote: »
    Ferrous_Female_Dog wrote: »
    You just have to work on altering your expectations.

    It took me about 6-7 months to realize cardio makes me utterly miserable, so I shouldn't try to do it because if I try to force myself to do it, I either don't do it or don't give it a full effort.


    i try and do a lot of cardio and it's not my favourite either, what do you do instead of cardio that helps shed the pounds?

    I started lifting weights. It's not for everyone, but it is for me. Also, it really helped tighten me up-- even when the scale wasn't moving I was going down pant sizes.

    Before that though, I did body weight work outs at home: push ups, squats, lunges, etc. It wasn't my favorite thing in the world, but it was better than straight cardio.

    Some people like yoga.
    Some people only like cardio outdoors-- like me, I can't do 30 mins on a stationary bike but can ride outdoors for hours.
    Some people only like group cardio.
    Some people like rock climbing.
    Some people like swimming.
    Some people like hiking.


    There are so many activities you can do to make a caloric deficit. Just gotta find something you like. If you don't like anything, then whatever you dislike the least.

  • chantalebelle
    chantalebelle Posts: 43
    Ferrous_Female_Dog wrote: »
    chantalebelle wrote: »
    Ferrous_Female_Dog wrote: »
    You just have to work on altering your expectations.

    It took me about 6-7 months to realize cardio makes me utterly miserable, so I shouldn't try to do it because if I try to force myself to do it, I either don't do it or don't give it a full effort.


    There are so many activities you can do to make a caloric deficit. Just gotta find something you like. If you don't like anything, then whatever you dislike the least.

    great ideas, i do love swimming i guess i just need to find a place to do it. thanks for the advice
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