Feeling defeated

Drine, you've got to change your mindset. You've made some great progress, so you definitely need to celebrate that! Celebrate each step you're taking. It's not always about the end result, but rather, it's about what you learned and became along the way.

The scale isn't always truthful of our progress either. Many times, you have to see how your clothes are fitting you instead. I'm sure you're seeing a difference in that!

Another thing to keep in mind is that you can hit a fitness plateau. You may need to change up your workouts or more importantly, you may need to scrutinize your nutrition a little more. Once you realize that food is important for nourishing, fueling, and loving your body, you won't feel like it's a punishment.

Do you keep a food journal? What's a typical day of eating look like?

There are two primary things that motivate humans: pain & pleasure. Right now you're thinking of food as pain because it has been harmful to you in the past. When you start assigning positive meaning to food such as: healthy food fuels my body, healthy food makes me feel stronger, my body needs nourishment to be strong, etc., then you won't feel like food is a punishment.

Also, food logging is a great tool, but don't let it become an obsession. That's another pain motivation right there. Your food log should be a tool to help you see what your patterns are. Are you taking in lots of sugar? What about processed foods? Any of these are okay in moderation, but many times there are hidden ingredients in foods that aren't whole.

You're taking great action! You just need to keep up a positive mindset to get you through the rough patches of this lifelong fitness journey!

If you want extra help or tips, I'm more than willing to help you, no strings attached. You can find me at www.facebook.com/gidgetsfitness or friend me at www.facebook.com/gidgetbridgett.

Drine85 wrote: »

And my mind is telling me that I've already lost 57 pounds and I should celebrate that. But emotionally I feel like I am failing again and every bit of food I put in mouth feels like punishment.

@Drine85 first I want to acknowledge you for being courageous and reaching out when you're feeling defeated. That's a big deal so I'll celebrate that for you!

What you're going through is perfectly normal. You've got your eyes set on a goal and of course that's the metric you're comparing your progress by. The scale is an easy way to see if you're "succeeding" or "failing".

The others have given you great advice. I'll throw in my two cents from a different perspective.

What I see in you is someone who's set an expectation for herself (weight loss), meaning you want something MORE from life. You've taken action to meet that expectation (food journaling, eating every couple hours, etc.), and now you've missed that target because the weight's not coming off as fast as it came on. Because of that, you're feeling defeated.

My gentle challenge/food-for-thought to is: What are you making failure mean about you?

If "failing" means not meeting your expectations, then I propose thinking about "success" in terms of meaning you are meeting your expectations.

Transforming ourselves isn't an easy road. It requires us to let go of what we're used to and to be consistently out of our comfort zone. That takes some serious guts!!! No matter what, be kind to yourself. We've got your back too.

Oh, I know that feel. It's crushing. I'm halfway, and on a plateau for weeks now. I agree with the others. You have done so well up until now! 80 may seem like a lot, but pretty soon it will be 70, then 60! Try setting little non-food reward goals, and just keep on swimmin'! You are the only thing standing in your way. The results will be so worth it.

Try reminding yourself consistently that one day, all this struggle will seem like a distant memory. For now, just try to have a bit of fun with it, think of all of this as you rewarding yourself, your body and those around you who you love because you will be a happier person for it. Do a new, fun class, get a friend involved, shake things up. Try watching TED talks, that helps me too. It puts things into perspective when you hear people talk about how they are saving the world. Makes me think to myself, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure I can stick to my cals and exercise today..."

Good luck!

Wow! I agree! 57 lbs. is awesome! Patience my dear, it took us a long time to put on the weight and it takes a certain amount of time to lose it.

How awesome that you are wearing smaller jeans! Doesn't that feel fantastic!

It is best to have mini goals like someone mentioned above. Think of your eighty pounds as your ultimate goal and then put it away in a closet.

Set up mini goals, like imagine a five pound bag of sugar, that's what you want to focus on, one five pound bag of fat at a time. Chip away at it and celebrate by buying something new for yourself each time you hit a new mini goal! It could be a manicure, exercise DVD, 10 songs from iTunes, makeup or bubble bath.

I always weigh every morning before I eat or drink anything and in just my underwear for accuracy. Even if the scale does not change much every day, some days it will drop half a pound or so. Journaling your food matters greatly. It is not obsessive; it is important in losing or learning to maintain weight.

Can you imagine how many people in America have no idea how many calories they ingest each day?

It's nice to know.

Susan

Drine85 wrote: »

RaquelCowell wrote: »

Why does my the food feel like punishment?

Because consuming the wrong food lead to my current predicament. So now that I am eating the right things it's not come off has fast as I put the weight on

Go punish yourself at the gym instead. Two birds, one stone.

You didn't put on the weight overnight--it's not reasonable to expect that you will lose it that way either. Just keep moving forward.