Frightened i will fail!

Hi Jenny! I'm new to the board and don't really know what advice to give you other than don't give up. I do SO good for a week or two and then I fall right back into my old routines and all the weight I lost comes right back on so I know what you are dealing with! Hugs and hang in there!

Crystal

Jennifer oh Jenny!! You got this... It's a up hill battle for everyone so don't feel like the lone stranger. Log every thing! Every thing, every thing! You will be in a constant battle with the old you, and when I say the old you I mean if you took 2 more steps today than you did yesterday you left the old you behind by 2 steps!! Walk around the block or to the end of the driveway and back, but take one extra step Every Damn Day!! You are not a failure you just have set backs from time to time. Hay Jenny... You can do this!!!!!!!!!

I can't tell you why you are panicking when you hit a certain number but I agree with @smascott, if the number on the scale is freaking you out, then stay away from it! Don't allow yourself to think you are a complete failure, losing 7lb is no small feat, you obviously know what to do to lose so much.

If you want to push past it, maybe try changing your focus. Instead of focusing on getting the number down on the scale, could you set up a list of practical things you need to do to lose weight (eg log your calories, a daily walk, drinking 8 cups of water daily). Then stick a chart on the wall and each day put a tick beside the thing you have done, so you can see the achievements growing every day rather than watching for a number to fall over weeks and months?

Google SMART goals, that might help you do this, its a really good way of changing your focus. Or google self-sabotaging your goals. You can do this, you are in charge, go Jenny!!

Weight loss is just reprogramming your brain to act and do different things. Lose in your mind, lose in your body. So for me I used my fat to shield myself from the world, to feel protected in my own bubble. So you ask questions of why you wish to lose weight, what you wish to accomplish. This is where you get into the messy emotional stuff, but guess what? Changing how you think about yourself, and how you relate to the world IS MESSY. I got a journal and just started writing. Any negative stuff you write, by writing it down you own it, and make it not have power over how you think. The numbers on the scale do not define you. This is a great place to be accountable!

Jenny,

I know exactly what you're going through. I lost close to 60lbs last year and then gained approximately 30 of them back. Right back at it though...

Do not weigh yourself daily. That might work for some as motivation but weight can fluctuate easily from day to day even when you're staying 100% on track. Do weekly or monthly weigh-ins instead.

Also, try to set goals and then break them down further. "Lose 150 lbs" sounds daunting; and it is. "Aim to lose 8-10 lbs per month" sounds better, but take it a step further and it becomes "lose 1-2 lbs per week". That is a much more realistic, achievable goal. Just 1-2lbs.

Track your meals for two weeks. Keep that mindset of 1-2 lbs and at least walk for 30mins a few times a week. Make it a routine. Take the time to plan out your meals weekly or very early in the day. Removing spontaneity at the time of having a meal goes a long way! Believe me.

On days when I don't feel like working out I still push myself by just starting. Once you start, after the first 10 or so minutes then you're already in workout mindset again. The simple act of putting on my sneakers and starting to stretch gets me halfway there.

Another very important rule, DO NOT allow one bad day to throw you off completely. So you ate a quarter pounder from the yellow arch with the supersized combo? Brush it off and make sure the NEXT meal/snack is something that you should be eating to get you closer to your goal.

Lastly, as far as I know there really is no trick or hack to stop this behaviour. In reality I personally believe it simply comes down to really finding the reason for sticking with it. Like yourself, the main reason I'm looking to lose weight is to get healthier. Looks and the rest doesn't matter as much. Also, I have to prove to myself that the little voice doesn't get to dictate the way I live life anymore.

Those 30 or so lbs that I put back pale in comparison to the fact that I'm 30lbs slimmer than I was just the previous year. That's a huge win in my book. With this type of mindset, you, I and anyone that wants to do this can do this.

It'll be hard work but remember it's gonna be worth it! You CAN do this! Keep struggling everyday but don't give up!

Fidel.

luckyluckyluckyme wrote: »

Hello my name is Jenny. I am really struggling with my weight loss. I start of well but when I start to maybe losing the 7 th pound for some reason I start to panic that I am going to fail then start eating more and before I know it I am back where I started. I feel a complete failure!

Don't take this the wrong way but based on what you've told us it sounds like you'd benefit from working with a therapist (a psychologist who has experience with self destructive and related behaviours). I'm willing to bet you'd find the experience very helpful. Perhaps you could consult with your doctor who may refer you to an appropriate therapist or other resources that can.

What has been suggested above is good advice. Don't feel overwhelmed by the huge goal - just start and keep achieving small wins. 1 pound at a time.

I allowed myself to become overwhelmed and consequently suffered from fear of failure that resulted in me never starting. In hindsight that seems totally ridiculous to me now.

What changed for me was a U-turn in my health... I had been lucky and coasted through 13 years of slow but steady weight gain with generally good health. At my physical last year I'd hit 105 pounds overweight and my health "suddenly" (nothing sudden about it) changed for the worse and the changes scared me into action.

In short, fear of death won out over fear of failure and I got going and haven't stopped since. 81 pounds down, massive improvement in my health and fitness and happiness, and I'm nearing my goal and know without a doubt that I'll get there. I've changed my life.

You can do it too. If that means you need the help of a therapist, then reach for that help.

Please believe in yourself Jenny.

My first suggestion is to set yourself a lower calorie deficit. My guess (and yes it's just a wild *kitten* guess) would be that you have been eating too little and after a period of time your body says "screw this *kitten*".

My second suggestion is to concentrate on the process only, not the so-called results. Meaning, your success should be defined by the fact that you log, every single day. When possible eat under goal (but slightly or even moderately over goal is still success), and move a little. I say "so-called results" because the scales do a piss poor job of measuring your results.

Wishing you success (in logging ).

I too feared success with weight loss. I still do, but once I realised and admitted that I was scared to not have being obese as an excuse for so many things, something clicked. I am working on distracting myself from the fear by taking a day at a time, focusing on the stats here, and planning rewards.

luckyluckyluckyme wrote: »

...for some reason I start to panic that I am going to succeed then start eating more and before I know it I am back where I started.

If that sounds kinda right, maybe ask what you might be scared of. Also some great advice in this thread for how to succeed.

I was the same way, I had tried dieting and exercise many times in the past and failed. This time I just told myself that quitting is not an option.

Even if you over eat six days one week, you can do better on the 7th and it will get you closer to your goal.

Accept the fact that there will be bad days. You won't do this all perfectly. It's a journey, not a test, just forget yesterday and keep going.

Hey there:) i understand where you're coming from. I have done that so many times. This time how ever I'm not restricting foods, I'm not rushing, and I'm taking it slow. I just Follow mps cal intakes and slowly I'm starting to have a better relationship with food and understanding which foods are better for me and what keeps me full longer. I started out slow with just a bit of extra walking everyday and tonight was the first night that i did a hasfit video in a longgg time. But every little change counts. Take your time. Let yourself celebrate the little triumphs and successes you accomplish along the way and most important advice to remember... take your time. Good luck!!