Feeling discouraged

Sounds like you are making A LOT of healthy changes in a short period of time. Just take it one day at a time, or even one meal at a time. I read somewhere that it takes 21 days to make a new habit, and it won’t be easy all the time. If it was easy we’d all be swimsuit models and obesity wouldn’t be an epidemic.

Keep doing what your doing, your doing great!

It does take time to see changes after stopping sugar pop specifically. Even though it's not diet, there's still chemicals in it that can mess with your body. Keep pushing and give it a solid month before getting discouraged. You may be gaining muscle now. Inclines on treadmills really work the muscle, I know I have done it. Muscle weighs more and it will at first and then it will start to burn fat. Drink plenty of water as muscles use water to rebuild and your body does retain water to build muscle so that could be it too.

GetFit4Life2018 wrote: »

It does take time to see changes after stopping sugar pop specifically. Even though it's not diet, there's still chemicals in it that can mess with your body. Keep pushing and give it a solid month before getting discouraged. You may be gaining muscle now. Inclines on treadmills really work the muscle, I know I have done it. Muscle weighs more and it will at first and then it will start to burn fat. Drink plenty of water as muscles use water to rebuild and your body does retain water to build muscle so that could be it too.

What chemicals? And she'd be gaining very little, if any muscle.

First off, I am feeling the same!! Second, congrats on starting your journey !

These past few months especially I have been frustrated with my weight (I am 178lbs currently, goal of 145lbs).

I decided to go on forums on MFP and other weight loss support sites to listen to others' stories and also empathize with people who feel the same, discouraged.

Today is the first day I start counting my calories again and I will do my best to keep it up for the week. One day at a time...

You're not alone; I feel for you! May the force be with us both...

This is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one.
Your journey is brand new, yet you have accepted defeat. You CAN and YOU WILL do this.
Accept this is a PROCESS.
It really is CICO. Log everything you eat and drink accurately. Measure accurately. Move more and stay positive.
And
Whatever else you do.....
REMEMBER THIS IS A LIFETIME COMMITMENT!!
So it is going to take time.
You will get there.
Believe in yourself and trust the process!

It is normal to feel down when you start a fitness plan. It is depressing to realize not only what bad habits have done to your body...but you mourn the loss of your old ignorance. the devil on your shoulder is trying to convince you to not change..that it isn't worth it. only you know better now... so you feel down, because hard work is ahead ..you have to make good choices and establishing good new habits to change. Drinking soda and eating whatever you want is so much easier ...

It is normal to feel down for a day or so..but stick with your changes.. logic dictates you will lose weight and then your motivation will come. it is a process.. your health is so worth it..you can do it.

djvorhees wrote: »

I am on week 2 of my lifestyle change (early on.. I know) yet I am feeling very discouraged.

To give you a little background... I am in college and adapted a very unhealthy lifestyle. I ate twice a day and those two meals were typically fast food, fried foods, accompanied with a coke. On average I probably drank about 100oz of coke a day and no water at all. This habit went on for roughly 2.5 years. I work with children so I’m fairly active and walk everywhere on campus.

I completely cut out soda 2 weeks ago and have been drinking propel water instead. I sometimes drink Minute Maid light but I’m trying to take it easy at first and ease myself into mainly drinking water so I don’t “relapse”. As far as eating, I cut out all fried foods and my calorie intake is currently 1,200 calories a day. I have started going to the gym and doing cardio (treadmill on incline) but I feel as though I have gotten nowhere.

Any advice/words of encouragement?

Current weight: 187 lbs
Goal weight: 145 lbs

Ok, so I haven't read anything that anyone else has said yet, so forgive me if I'm repeating anything. There are a few things that I can share here, that will hopefully help you and give you some added encouragement.

Firstly, the part where you talk about the coke and no water, that sounds like me a few years ago. Dropping sodas completely is a very hard thing to do, especially when it's all you're used to drinking. The first time I tried, it would give me headaches for the first week and as soon as I'd have 1, I was hooked again. A family member suggested that instead of going directly from sodas to plain water, that I do sodas, to sparkling water, to plain water. As weird as it sounds, it worked for me. The sparkling water removed any craving of soda that I had. Here is an example of the product that I used: https://www.kroger.com/p/aquafina-sparkling-water-lemon-lime/0001200016170. The taste wasn't all that great, it takes getting used to, but I did what I had to do to get off of sodas completely. I was drinking this water for about 3-4 weeks, with also drinking plain water. After that, sodas did not phase me at all. Haven't had one now in about a year and a half or more. Once you remove sodas from your diet, there is a lot of weight that initially melts off. Things like propel water still isn't the best, as it has added crap still (still better than sodas of course).

Secondly, you may feel you're getting nowhere, but don't let that get to you. Take measurements, and use photos. Over a longer period of time, you'll start seeing the results. Chances are, you have already improved in those 2 weeks, but it's hard to notice a difference in only 2 weeks. Just keep at it, it sounds like you're doing great.

Lastly, I started my mission at 237lbs, trying to get to 175. I've cut calories, and do cardio and while I started to lose some weight, I felt like I was actually getting weaker. I added some weight training in right before cardio. I've noticed that the weight comes off a little faster, and physically I feel better, don't feel and don't look as weak. So I would recommend adding some weight training to the mix. Nothing too crazy, kettlebells and dumbbells would be sufficient to start.

Sorry for the lengthy book, hopefully there is valuable content here for you. Good luck!!!