trying not to give up

brittanymathis122294
brittanymathis122294 Posts: 3
in Getting Started
Hey everyone so I'm finally sick and tired of being so over weight. I always lose motivation when I start wanting to lose weight. Is there any if you who do certain things to keep from not giving up?

Replies

  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    Don't base your actions in how you feel. Motivation comes and goes, you won't always feel it. You have to determine that you aren't going to quit, no matter how you feel.
  • brittanymathis122294
    brittanymathis122294 Posts: 3
    I always give up because I don't see quick results..it's like I'm trying to see the finished result when I just started.
  • ninjasmith1986
    ninjasmith1986 Posts: 35 Member
    jennifer_417 wrote: »
    Don't base your actions in how you feel. Motivation comes and goes, you won't always feel it. You have to determine that you aren't going to quit, no matter how you feel.

    Yep. This. You must seek motivation on a daily basis. Even just a few words or a picture can get me motivated. I go on youtube for motivational vids (Eric Thomas) or even pinterest for gym motivation. You must also have clear goals. What do you want and how will you get there? Trust yourself and trust the process. You're a force to be reckoned with! Never give up!
  • brittanymathis122294
    brittanymathis122294 Posts: 3
    Thank you so much for the advice:)!!
  • theutahdesertfox
    theutahdesertfox Posts: 96 Member
    You must motivate yourself! Try looking into talking to a nutritionist to really evaluate your relationship with food, that's what helped for me. I knew I loved cupcakes and just "couldn't" give them up. Really talking about it with someone who cared made all the difference. And they weren't a skinny friend or a judgy parent ;) Good luck!
  • breathebelievejen
    breathebelievejen Posts: 83 Member
    Some of the ways I stay motivated:
    follow fitspo on tumblr, have a youtube dedicated to following fitness videos and a pinterest where I collect workouts. Also I have posters with photos of people who inspire me and motivational quotes around my lazy area (near my computer, so I see them when I'm slobbing around) and workout area.

    I also keep a fitness calendar with a star chart. I write on my intended workouts for the week or fortnight coming, record my actual workouts and I also add reward stickers to it when I've finished a workout. When I get a certain amount of stars I reward myself with something I couldn't normally justify buying. Do you have any friends in real life also looking to lose weight? Exercising together can make it more fun and you're less likely to skip workouts if you know you're letting down a friend.

    If sticking to a certain diet is hard, perhaps you could join a group where you share photos of your meals? I know a lot of people use instagram for this to stay accountable.

    If you're results orientated, I would recommend taking some start photos and thorough measurements and then keeping track of these over the weeks.. even if you've not lost lbs, you'll usually see a change in your measurements or body shape that can be hard to see in the mirror but is far more obvious in photos.

    I'd also recommend writing about good things that have happened because of your lifestyle change. Having a big list of these things (like more energy, better sex life, not feeling bloated.. blah blah ) where you can see them will remind you to keep going even when you have a crappy month and gain or whatever.

    This might sound like a lot, sorry if this is too much info! I personally keep most of this stuff in my own health and fitness folder where I keep all my stats, motivational quotes + pics, workouts from magazines etc etc.

    Good luck! I've friend requested you btw, if you need any help give me a shout :)
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    brittanymathis122294 wrote: »
    I always give up because I don't see quick results..it's like I'm trying to see the finished result when I just started.

    Expect weight loss of 1lb a week, weigh monthly

    Weight loss isn't linear so when you give up you miss the whoosh..I frequently stalled for 2-3 weeks, even went up, then dropped 3lbs or so overnight, then repeated

    It's not about motivation, it's about commitment

    It's not easy..who promised you easy? Eat at a calorie defecit over the week, .weigh and log absolutely everything carefully, move more and eat back 50% workout calories. Do not restrict any food, work in food you love with an eye on your calories. Lift heavy .

    Losing weight is hard. Being overweight is hard. Pick your hard!
  • katab2014
    katab2014 Posts: 41 Member
    In reality none of us became overweight overnight and the weight loss won't happen the same way. Also, the quicker you lose weight, or in larger amounts the more likely to re-gain...slow and steady wins the race. And if you fall off the waggon, well..it's not the end of the world. Sometimes I would berate myself and then pig out more but I'm teaching myself to pick myself up and start again.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Does this help? It's my last 3 months (I've been logging and learning for 9 months)The black dots are actual weigh-ins, see how they stick and even go up then go down but it's the actual red trend line that is the progression.

    Most of the people who have successfully lost weight will have similar charts ...although the progression is very dependent on you as an individual: hormones across the month, change-up in exercise and even extra sodium in your food the day before will impact on your weight on the scale through water weight. Scale weight is not a good measure due to the water fluctuations, how you look in the mirror, fit your clothes, measurements are the best

    lgn9ehjzpqpb.jpg
  • runeatrunlive
    runeatrunlive Posts: 79 Member
    What I found helps me is breaking my big goal down into smaller goals of 5lb. Its a lot less daunting to concentrate on 5 pounds at a time rather than the whole amount that you have to lose. Feel free to add me as a friend if you want!
  • SomeGirlSomewhere
    SomeGirlSomewhere Posts: 937 Member
    edited February 2015
    3wkqi6qufj93.jpg

    ^^^^It really IS as simple as remembering THIS!!^^^^
  • ArkMom35
    ArkMom35 Posts: 225 Member
    Patience is key. And it's hard. As long as you accept this, you can do this.

    I second the mini goals, I like the little victories, it keeps me going.
  • girlwithcurls2
    girlwithcurls2 Posts: 2,281 Member
    Here's how I approached it: I don't own a scale, so I got a baseline at my parents' house. Then, I started tracking and trying to change a few things--no mindless eating/snacking (snacking is fine, but be aware of what's going into my mouth and log it no matter what), drink lots of water, try to do some kind of exercise every other day. Because I didn't own a scale, I never weighed myself. I just aimed to hit my goal calories every day (some days were damn easy, others were harder). I don't think I weighed myself from March until about July. By then, I'd lost 19 pounds. If you really want to get healthy and stay that way for life, you need to find out how that's going to look for you. It might not look perfect every day, but nothing in life works out perfect. Some days are a great commute to work, other days, there's a wreck ahead of you that you don't know about, but you're waaaay slowed down. But you still get to work. You still do your work. And you get up the next day and aim high again.

    Go to work. You can do this. Decide to do it. :heart:
  • 2snakeswoman
    2snakeswoman Posts: 655 Member
    Do something different than previous times. Starting today, I am:
    1) Deactivating web sites where I spend time sitting on my butt, accomplishing nothing. MFP will now be my go-to for motivation, tips, anything I can incorporate into my new philosophy.
    2) Keeping a journal and affirming to myself every day that I am going to defeat this obesity monster and why.
  • IllBeBack1Day
    IllBeBack1Day Posts: 982 Member
    Giving up is too easy. Hard work will pay off eventually. Nothing happens over night
  • Lleldiranne
    Lleldiranne Posts: 5,516 Member
    Since you get discouraged by not seeing results fast, try focusing on the daily behaviors rather than results: make it a goal to eat well and track it all (moderate deficit, 3 viggies and 1-2 fruits, and something you enjoy each day), drink your water, and exercise. Set up a non-food reward system for when you consistently do it for a week, a month, etc.

    Then results will follow.
  • NC_Girl
    NC_Girl Posts: 177 Member
    I stay encouraged by reading the Success Stories...it's amazing how much they encourage me. Good luck...and remember that everyone has bad days...it doesn't mean that you are failing....it means that you are human. Pick yourself up....dust yourself off.....and keep going! Can't cross the finish line if you aren't moving!!!!
  • cwagar123
    cwagar123 Posts: 195 Member
    I have lost 66 lbs using MFP... it has taken 13 months.
    Patience and time.... time and patience. It is really the key
  • Ellaskat
    Ellaskat Posts: 386 Member
    You have to decide if this is a diet, or a lifestyle. If you are trying to live a healthy lifestyle, you won't worry about the scale because you know you'll get there eventually. If it's a diet, you'll want quick results, be prone to quit, and will always gain the weight back as soon as you're off the diet.
  • MythicalMe84
    MythicalMe84 Posts: 80 Member
    Trust MFP! It works! I only lost one pound in 3 weeks but didn't give up. Now the weight is coming off nicely.
  • katab2014
    katab2014 Posts: 41 Member
    Brilliant advice from all the above....I feel inspired to continue...

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