What is your biggest issue/concern/struggle with weight loss?
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I think a lot about how people see/treat me and the authenticity of their kindness.0
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sunshine_janice wrote: »Biggest struggle for me??? I get my moments (mother nature is so cruel) where all I want is to eat JUNK! And I get VERY mean if I dont. So I have to control that...some men just don't understand! *cough husband cough*
I find that birth control is pretty good at helping control your hormones during that lovely time of the month. You just have to find the right one. I went through many trial and errors until I tried by current method and it's been such a savior with my moods, appetites, etc.0 -
For me the biggest issue has been going over a year with clothes that don't fit well or won't stay fitting well due to my constantly reducing size. Will be so nice one I can actually stabilize and keep a wardrobe.
Thankfully my work is very casual dress so having extremely baggy shirts isn't looked down upon. I bit the bullet and bought at least one pair of pants in each of nine different sizes this past 15 months.6 -
ohsosweet26 wrote: »LoraMartyn wrote: »I am bummed because I am stuck......for 4 weeks now. After losing some weight MFP gave me 1200 calories, but I really couldn't stick to that so I upped it to 1400. I do exercise so I get a little extra on top of that. I am trying different things to try to get thing moving in the right direction again, increased exercise, drinking more, trying to get my diet to be healthier, etc...Even went to a registered dietician but all she did was confuse me!
I am also stuck for 4 weeks already, which is so frustrating because I've been working out religiously. I did the same thing as you did, went from 1200 to 1400 because I feel deprived from just 1200cals. I like to believe that I am fairly active, jogging in the morning for an hour 4x per week, then go out for an evening walk. On my best days, I go for an afternoon walk too. I also lift weights 2-3x per week and dance and bike once a week, but my scale isn't budging. I went back down to 1200cals because watching my burned calories go down (I have negative calorie adjustments on) was frustrating me.
Ladies, I've worked with some dieticians with my clients and I have never liked them. 1200 is nowhere near enough for your body to function properly. At minimum your body needs 1500-1600 calories in order to maintain proper digestion, body temperature, no mention, if you work out, your body doesn't have enough energy to rebuild itself from the bout of exercise. Believe when I tell you, you need to eat more calories. Your body goes into what we call "starvation mode" in order to stay alive, that is the biggest reason most fail at weight loss.
I have had female clients at 1700 claories, working out 3x per week and seeing amazing results. Also, make sure that you are throwing in some resistance training to build muscle. Unfortunately when your body goes into starvation mode, it eats away at muscle. 1lb of muscle burns an extra 50 calories at rest, just for maintenance. You can't build muscle from cardio, so even body weight exercises (squats, lunges, table or wall push ups) are beneficial.1 -
peaceout_aly wrote: »Realizing that my fittest shape will never resemble that of my "models" (Ana Cheri, for example) because everyone's bodies are different (even if you hit your goal of squatting 220 lbs. just like them!). Accepting the fact that fitness is a lifestyle and there is no finish line, it's a constant process of transforming and gaining strength.
Well said, I feel the same way. I need to stop following some of them on IG it is borderline motivating and discouraging at the same time.
Another struggle was losing muscle as I was in deficit. I tried my best (lifting, protein, slower rate of loss) but I'm sure I inevitably lost some in the process
Again, that is a slipper slope, I too compare myself to those IG models. In fact, I stopped following them unless they provided useful information for me (workouts, nutrition, etc.). If all they do is post pictures of them posing, they are useless in my book.1 -
adhollifield wrote: »I have been a yo-yo dieter for years. I am 30. 5ft 7in. and i used to be 138 and once i got into the diet yo-yo i have gained! I now weigh 156-57 and dieting caused me to gain. I have low faith in my ability to stick with anything so im just going to attempt to track what i eat without judgment just to see and gradually reduce. My concern is that i eat out frequently. It is very difficult for me to be accurate
First off, you have to believe in yourself to achieve any type of goal, work, relationships, weight loss. I think that's a great idea to start tracking the way you eat now and then gradually decrease. Just keep in mind, you do not want to go below 1600-1700 calories especially for someone at 5 ft. 7 in. Let me know if you have any questions.0 -
My biggest struggle is switching away from the bad for you, but oh so good tasting, foods to have a healthier diet. Couple that with being a rather poor cook, and it makes for a rather slippery slope.1
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bcalvanese wrote: »My approach is probably not the same as most people.
my struggle right now is getting to what I consider to be a good fitness level. When I was in the army (back in the 80's) I was at a good fitness level and never had to worry about body weight. I could eat anything I wanted and always had a healthy body weight. I could run 2 miles in 14 minutes, do 70 push-ups in 2 minutes, and do 70 sit-ups in 2 minutes.
Over about a 20 year period of not exercising and having a desk job, I became obese and my fitness level became very poor. I started having health issues and my doctors told me I had to start exercising and loose weight or else.
I started exercising and after a year I have increased my fitness level from very poor to fair, and lost over 50 lbs. Another 5 lbs. or so will put me in the top end of my healthy weight range.
I did learn how to eat a little smarter but for the most part it was the exercise. As my fitness level increase, my weight decreased.
This year I started adding jogging into my power walk sessions, and my goal is to be able to jog for an hour non stop. I am also starting to work on muscular exercise.
My overall goal is to struggle through a couple of years of getting to a good fitness level instead of having to be on a diet for the rest of my life.
I think total health is a much better approach.
I completely agree with you, total health is important! I believe that it is so much easier to maintain than to have work on weight loss. Most likely you metabolism was very high while in military which is why it was easy for you maintain in during that time. Plus as I know from training from military retirees, that working out was part of your life back then. As you started to age, your metabolism slowed down.
I've been getting my fiance to start lifting weights in his late 20's so that the same thing doesn't happen to him.
Good luck with the rest of your journey and try to change your thinking of this being a struggle and try to look at it as a journey instead.0 -
Whitezombiegirl wrote: »No Issues with food/eating other than a lack of protein. I'd happily eat nothing but carbs if I chose to. I'm very picky with food.
Main issue is lack of muscle- mostly upper body strength. I'm banned from most of the machines at my gym for being to small to sue them safely (I can't get into the correct position to operate them and told I risk injury). I could use free weights but Id prefer to do that at home , in privacy- and I weights are expensive. I know I could start with body weight exercises. Honestly , strength exercises make me feel like vomiting when I do them. No idea why. I'm also depressed, anxious , lethargic and work 11 hours a day most days. I don't eat much (1050 cals ish) and would love to use exercise to up that, plus get more lean-looking. I'm 5ft, 40 years old and 98lbs.
Purchase one of these sets: https://www.amazon.com/Kinzi-Resistance-Anchor-Exercise-Carrying/dp/B010FEY7SG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1472141773&sr=8-3&keywords=resistance+bands
I used these when I traveled to peoples homes to train with. They are light weight and inexpensive, considering everything you can do with them. Message me if you'd like some ideas for beginner exercises to get your body used to them. I promise you that you can do everything at home!0 -
merryward13 wrote: »That I'm never going to reach my "goal weight" and that it will forever be held over my head.
That's the toughest thinking to get past, maybe instead of reaching for a goal weight, reach for feeling healthy, confident, and happy instead. Do you best to not let a number dictate your success or happiness.0 -
My biggest struggle is fear I won't get to where I want to be. I know losing 2lbs a week is practical and the way forward but it seems slow going! Learning to be patient and taking each day at a time is the hardest thing for me. I have lost the weight before (after my first baby) so I know it can be done again (now after my second baby) but do have daily panic moments of "I'm never going to lose it")
Keep your eye on the prize, I know some mommies that took a year to get back to their pre-baby bodies, but the best part is that they did it safely, and they will be able to maintain it at the end.1 -
Really it's just coming to terms with the fact that I will need to be vigilant and track/weigh my food for the rest of my life.1
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My biggest struggle is me. It's all in my mind, self sabotage and an all or nothing attitude. I am my own worst enemy.
Message me if you need someone to vent to without judgement. We are our own biggest critics. You are not the problem. Maybe instead of going all in, make one small change per week and see how that works for you.0 -
Oh boy.
I think there's probably a lot of mental aspects for me. I'll start eating healthy and being more active and feel great, start losing weight, etc... Then for no damn reason I just stop and go back to old habits and gain back more than I weighed prior.
I can't seem to determine the "fall-off" trigger.
I tend to be a binge eater and I'm still trying to determine what sets me off.
I'll literally wake up at 2am and just go searching for food, eat uncontrollably, then go back to bed like nothing. There have been days where I just eat all day for no real reason. I try to talk myself down, so to speak, but I feel like I have no control when I start. Then I feel super guilty.
Every time I eat better I do really really well incorporating foods I love and just monitoring my calories so I don't go overboard. I incorporate healthy foods I love and all that jazz. Then usually six weeks into whatever health change I go on like a binge and can't stop myself and just give up. And just cannot seem to pick up the pieces and motivate myself to stay healthy.
I guess it's because eating some foods feels really good at the time because in sure there's some depression or some crap going on but I don't know. I'm doing well with the whole eating healthy thing and I'm already trying to anticipate when the binge will happen.1 -
driving_miss_crazy wrote: »I'm concerned that each time I indulge, it will spiral into a binge which will continue until I've regained everything. Dramatic, huh?
Have someone hold you accountable! I tell my fiance that he has to stop me if I go for a second serving of my treat. Most of the time it works
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I'm struggling with the people around me judging me on my weight loss. A lot of the people I work with typically feel that they can say anything they feel about my body-they talk like it's an inanimate object. It makes me feel incredibly frustrated and somewhat defeated. Just this morning the receptionist in her most condescending voice asked (no less in front of a group of co-workers) 'well now, what size are you now?" I told her that it was just a number and that it didn't matter. Of course she got cross at me and mocked the way I said it back to me. It's very difficult not to come back to that and start trying to justify myself (I didn't, I walked back to my desk to enjoy my morning banana, almonds and hot steamy peppermint tea).
I've also had the other side of this where a firm partner has made numerous explicit sexual comments to me about how I look now and what he would like to do to me, he also asks if my boyfriend at home 'it giving it to me on the regular'. This is a whole new set of issues-I don't want to complain because it would ultimately lead to career suicide for me. I've told my boyfriend each and every time this has happened and unfortunately he doesn't know what to do about it either.
What these people fail to realize is that I am an adult, I am responsible only for myself, I work incredibly hard on a daily basis to have to body that I have-it's the only one I have and I haven't always been kind to it.
I really do have to learn to keep my mouth shut and not immediately react to other's incredibly intrusive and rude behavior, and not to have hurt feelings (as you can tell...I have hurt feeling right now and am ranting uncontrollably). I also tell myself all the time that people are petty and jealous of achievement and they don't want others to have what they aren't willing to go and get themselves.
I try to combat this is looking AMAZING when I walk in the door-I dress like I own the place.
I'm currently trying to get a new job which is a long and hard process in itself.
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Return2Fit wrote: »My biggest challenge is maintaining weight, losing body fat and retaining muscle.
What's your throughts on...- fasted cardio
- intermittent fasting
- training body adaptation
Fasted cardio: Needs to be moderate pace, nothing crazy, so you don't shred your muscle you've built. Fasted cardio isn't for everyone, but I am not opposed to it.
Intermittent fasting: This is a good article that outlines the pros and cons of intermittent fasting: http://jjvirgin.com/fat-loss-fast-metabolism-intermittent-fasting-fast/
I can see how it can be beneficial, but I worry a little about some of the long term damage/side effects it could have. I wouldn't recommend this to any of my clients as a professional.
Training body adaptation: I'm not really sure what you mean by this. Is it just resistance training because essentially that is what RT is, training your body to adapt to the stress. Please elaborate.0 -
PMS that pretty much make me crave bready thing and makes my willpower go away.
Passing on dessert when I eat out (picking healthier entrees is relatively easy for me at least).
As I mentioned in above post, try going on a birth control to help control your hormones. I went through several choices before I found the one that was best for my body.0 -
PeachesNcreamgal wrote: »I really enjoy Chinese cuisine and when 3 pm comes I start fantasising about delicious food, Chinese usually. But this is a kinda an NSV I haven't eaten spring rolls(which I usually order at 3 pm) since may!!! What I struggle with is my addiction to sweet stuff. I have eaten so many chocolates and other desserts this month that I haven't had a loss. I wish I could do something about my sweet tooth
I also have a crazy sweet tooth! If I bring it in to the house, it goes pretty quickly without my realizing it, or I realize it and can't stop myself from finishing the rest of it. Which is why I try not to buy it, I have a dialog in my head that says "buy it!" and the other side says, "no, you are a professional and need to set an example for your clients". Now I understand that your other side would be different, if you have a goal, remind yourself of it.0 -
Terpnista84 wrote: »Limiting alcohol
Getting discouraged when the scale isn't movingot on
As I've said previously, do you best to not let the scale dictate your happiness or success. If you stopped after one drink at happy hour, that's already a win. Reward yourself with a spa day, or a new outfit when you have small successes. The scale is just our relationship to gravity, it doesn't say how good you feel, how hard you've been working, your confidence level, how well you clothes fit. Just take it one day a time and consider each day a win!0 -
ohsosweet26 wrote: »LoraMartyn wrote: »I am bummed because I am stuck......for 4 weeks now. After losing some weight MFP gave me 1200 calories, but I really couldn't stick to that so I upped it to 1400. I do exercise so I get a little extra on top of that. I am trying different things to try to get thing moving in the right direction again, increased exercise, drinking more, trying to get my diet to be healthier, etc...Even went to a registered dietician but all she did was confuse me!
I am also stuck for 4 weeks already, which is so frustrating because I've been working out religiously. I did the same thing as you did, went from 1200 to 1400 because I feel deprived from just 1200cals. I like to believe that I am fairly active, jogging in the morning for an hour 4x per week, then go out for an evening walk. On my best days, I go for an afternoon walk too. I also lift weights 2-3x per week and dance and bike once a week, but my scale isn't budging. I went back down to 1200cals because watching my burned calories go down (I have negative calorie adjustments on) was frustrating me.
Ladies, I've worked with some dieticians with my clients and I have never liked them. 1200 is nowhere near enough for your body to function properly. At minimum your body needs 1500-1600 calories in order to maintain proper digestion, body temperature, no mention, if you work out, your body doesn't have enough energy to rebuild itself from the bout of exercise. Believe when I tell you, you need to eat more calories. Your body goes into what we call "starvation mode" in order to stay alive, that is the biggest reason most fail at weight loss.
I have had female clients at 1700 claories, working out 3x per week and seeing amazing results. Also, make sure that you are throwing in some resistance training to build muscle. Unfortunately when your body goes into starvation mode, it eats away at muscle. 1lb of muscle burns an extra 50 calories at rest, just for maintenance. You can't build muscle from cardio, so even body weight exercises (squats, lunges, table or wall push ups) are beneficial.
I thought starvation mode was a Myth. That's what everyone on here says whenever it's mentioned.3 -
PMS that pretty much make me crave bready thing and makes my willpower go away.
Passing on dessert when I eat out (picking healthier entrees is relatively easy for me at least).
As I mentioned in above post, try going on a birth control to help control your hormones. I went through several choices before I found the one that was best for my body.
That's your only answer to this problem, birth control?! What if I'm trying to get pregnant, or I can't or don't want to take bc?
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My biggest concern is whether my new lifestyle is sustainable. I'm always worried that I won't be able to keep it up forever and will I even want to? So I do my best to incorporate my eating plan/diet and exercise regime into my current lifestyle as much as possible. But what about when life throws me a curveball...vacations/holidays/sickness/work gets a bit busy....will I always have the motivation not to use it as an excuse and then will I be able to pull it back?
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My biggest concern is whether my new lifestyle is sustainable. I'm always worried that I won't be able to keep it up forever and will I even want to? So I do my best to incorporate my eating plan/diet and exercise regime into my current lifestyle as much as possible. But what about when life throws me a curveball...vacations/holidays/sickness/work gets a bit busy....will I always have the motivation not to use it as an excuse and then will I be able to pull it back?
This is exactly my fear.0 -
My struggle is keeping the deficit going all week and not eating a day or two over which means I never lose like I should. Seems there is always a trip, weekend, or event that trips me up. I work now to get the mindset that i have to keep on track every single day for this to work.1
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My struggle is almost petty compared to many of the obstacles you all have posted about. I miss the partying. Most of my empty calories came from wine. I have cut down tremendously but some days I just want a drink after work but I know that part of my old routine has to change.0
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BABeautifulBadass wrote: »Accepting and living with the (IMO) small number of calories a 5'2 woman can eat and still lose weight. I want more!!! I exercise to get more and make good use of what I get, but it damn sure ain't a lot.
I agree with this post. I'm 5' 1.9" and I would like to have more maintenance calories without having to do a bunch more activity. But I just have to live with it. I do 45-60 minutes on the elliptical 6 days a week mostly. Sometimes, I may have 1 day out of the 6 that I will do 35-60 minutes of pilates, of which 35 minutes is with 5 pound dumb bells. At this point, I'm just not willing to fit in more time.0 -
Yep, my doctor is aware. Hypoglycemia runs in my family, and mine gets difficult to manage around 195 lbs. Above that, the fat effect moderates it (at my heaviest, 100 lbs ago, I still had normal blood sugar).
I'm down to 169 now, and getting a lot of fiber and protein helps, but I have to pay attention closely to meal and snack timing.
And the hunger is just frankly annoying.0
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