I feel like this is impossible

sarahazelnut99
sarahazelnut99 Posts: 307 Member
edited November 2024 in Motivation and Support
I know a good amount about nutrition and fitness and I've been on and off this site since 2011 but I have been stuck between the same weight range (160 to 170).

I don't have the will power to lose weight and I feel at a loss. Whenever I lose my weight I always put it back on.

I guess I'm wondering if there's something else out there that's helped anyone else?

I really only want to lose 28 pounds (I'm 168)

It's so doable but I need to figure out a way that I can truly stick with this commitment for at least 8 months.... And then I can try and go back to maintaining. My original goal wait back in 2011 was 160 so I've been doing great with maintaining myself.

It's not a lost cause I just need advice.

Replies

  • juliet3455
    juliet3455 Posts: 3,015 Member
    Go visit this lady.
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10160850/lost-135lbs-with-diet-and-exercise-pics-if-i-can-do-this-you-can-do-this-thanks-myfitnesspal#latest
  • distinctlybeautiful
    distinctlybeautiful Posts: 1,041 Member
    Why eight months?

    The best advice I can give is to take your time and lose weight slowly. It's easier to be successful with small calorie deficit than with a big one. You'll likely feel better and have more energy, which will make it easier to stick with it. Especially if you don't feel like you have a lot of willpower, I'd think slow loss without a time goal would be best.

    The other thing that really struck me when I read it in someone else's post is to trust the process. If you make the right choices and eat at a deficit, no matter how small, you will eventually lose weight. It's easy to think things aren't working when you don't see results right away, and that's why I think trusting the process helps, especially when looking to lose at a slow rate.

    Hope that might help a little!
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    edited July 2015
    First, congratulations on reaching your first goal, and staying in that ballpark. It gets harder to lose weight as you get closer to your goal. You don't burn as many calories, because you're smaller, and progress can slow down a lot. You didn't say how tall you are. Assuming that 140 pounds is a healthy goal for you, just stick with a modest calorie deficit, and you'll get there.

    P.S. I always feel like it's impossible too, but when I log everything, and stay honest, it works.
  • whmscll
    whmscll Posts: 2,255 Member
    edited July 2015
    It took me 8 months to lose 27 pounds a couple of years ago. I started at 161. It was a very slow .5 pound a week process. Some weeks I lost nothing. The first three weeks I didn't lose anything. But it happened! The weight eventually came off! This was over the holidays, too. I had cheat days on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and maybe New Year's, but the very next day I was back on plan. It does take work, but it can be done.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,731 Member
    Drop the idea that this is going to be 8 months. Looking that long term can be daunting.

    So here's what you do.

    Enter your info into MFP.
    Set yourself as sedentary.
    Select an amount to lose each week (eg. 1 lb)
    Look at what MFP gives you for maximum calories.

    Then start meticulously weighing and logging all your food (with a food scale) to ensure that you remain under that maximum calorie limit.

    And stick with it.

    You might not notice any difference at all in the first couple weeks. But stick with it.

    Make a plan that you will stick with it for 3 months. Nothing long-term ... just 3 months. At the end of 3 months, you can reassess the situation.

    You'll likely encounter challenges along the way ... someone will have a birthday, friends will invite you out for dinner, your office will have a pizza day ...

    Treat those situations like challenges not obstacles.
    Prelog so you know what you're dealing with.
    Look up restaurant and other information online to assist you with the prelogging process.
    And exercise can offer you a helping hand. Get out and exercise and burn any extra calories you may have consumed.

    But stick with the plan for 3 months.
  • aduffbrew
    aduffbrew Posts: 1 Member
    Don't get too discouraged, Sara. We're all a little different and there is a certain degree of "trial and error" involved here. Weight fitness involves both psychology and physiology. Failure is an important part in our transformation. Without it, we can't identify our weaknesses. Learn from past mistakes and relapses. Outwit them one by one. We're only in competition with ourselves.

    I use MyFitnessPal for accountability. I love food and hate water. Those are two things about me that I doubt I will ever be able to change. I found if I am properly hydrating, I'm a lot more sensible about my food intake. I find the water counter to be the most indispensable part of the app!
  • Shandajh
    Shandajh Posts: 57 Member
    juliet3455 wrote: »
    Go visit this lady.
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10160850/lost-135lbs-with-diet-and-exercise-pics-if-i-can-do-this-you-can-do-this-thanks-myfitnesspal#latest

    I wonder if she's in the 1% and exactly how she did it (?) I just heard about this in the news today, so I looked it up: http://washington.cbslocal.com/2015/07/20/study-probability-of-obese-people-reaching-normal-weight-less-than-1/
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