Feeling Good Looking Bad

farmingfool
farmingfool Posts: 39
edited October 1 in Motivation and Support
Whenever I start a new diet/exercise routine I start to feel really good and even a few days into it I feel like I look a million times better. The key word here is FEEL. Then I look in the mirror and reality sets in. I look exactly the same as I did when I started. FAT! Does anyone have any suggestions of how to deal with this divide between reality and fantasy?

Replies

  • duckpond11
    duckpond11 Posts: 197 Member
    no, but you are not alone. When I commit to a diet/exercise routine and start following it for a few days, I just mentally put myself at the finish line. It is sooo disappointing to realize that between point A (start) and point B (finish) there is all this time that to pass. I dug out a pair of jeans next size down and decided to just start trying them on every once in a while to give myself something to do. But yeah - it sucks because I FEEL so much better and I FEEL like I've made so much progress when in reality I haven't.
  • ItsTerriC
    ItsTerriC Posts: 436 Member
    It is hard. I suffer from the same thing. All I can do is remind myself that if I keep working, my inside and my outside will match. Even if I don't look as good as I want, I am making progress and I look better than I would if I didn't work out. Just be patient with yourself and keep moving forward.:flowerforyou:
  • farmingfool
    farmingfool Posts: 39
    It's funny because when I was skinny I was a miserable person :)
  • BlueEyedMomma88
    BlueEyedMomma88 Posts: 558 Member
    Don't give up hun!! You will start to see results soon if you stick with it. Goodluck!! :smile:
  • Amo_Angelus
    Amo_Angelus Posts: 604 Member
    Don't look in the mirror, you feel great because you're doing something about it, you feel bad because it's not happening fast enough. If you can't help but feel bad when you look, DON'T LOOK until you've made a fair bit of progress. I refused to look at my waistline for weeks after I started because I knew I wouldn't see a change even though I felt fantastic about it. Now the fantay has started to wear off, but the results are starting to show, and then it'll come back and I'll stop looking again.
  • Mrswheels01
    Mrswheels01 Posts: 201 Member
    Argh I know totally how you feel! I'm right there now and it is crappy. :(
  • wickedcricket
    wickedcricket Posts: 1,246 Member
    hahaha this reminds me of the day I splurged on a facial. I came out feeling BEAUTIFUL! I went to the mall & I'm kim kardashian. Then I got home (I always have to go straight to the bathroom when I get home) and looked in the mirror and saw my Grandma =\
    moral: when you FEEL beautiful, you don't need a mirror
  • corapie
    corapie Posts: 21 Member
    LOL! I know exactly what you are talking about. Several years ago I lost over 50 pounds & it was like there was no difference in my shape & no one noticed until the last 10 pounds. I guess when you have a substantial amount to lose it shows itself slower. I've lost almost 25 pounds recently & am still wearing the same size clothes (although a bit more comfortably.) I guess we just have to concentrate on the feeling better part until the rest catches up. Good luck!
  • mkupartist
    mkupartist Posts: 79 Member
    We are our own worst critic! I have spent all of my life being mean to myself and doing the same thing you are doing- tearing down as soon as I start to feel some kind of progress. You just have to keep reminding yourself of the truths:

    Truth: At least i'm working out and not sitting on the couch eating chips
    Truth: I care about my health and am making small healthy choices and they will add up in the end
    Truth: If I keep doing small things, before I know it that sneaky thing called time will show the results i'm looking for!

    I have to keep focusing on the short term and look no more than a foot in front of me when it comes to food and exercise. Cause then i get overwhelmed and feel like i'll NEVER get there. As long as i've logged my food, stayed under calories, exercised... then i can pat myself on the back and look forward to tomorrow.
  • JasonD334
    JasonD334 Posts: 94 Member
    I think we all want results yesterday, that's just human nature I suppose, but the important thing to remember is that getting healthy is a life decision, not a one or two week committment. I like to remind myself that I didn't get out of shape in one or two months (thankfully), so I am not going to be able to get into the shape I want that quickly either. I tell my wife all the time that there are times in life where we can't be driven as much by the results as we are the effort. In healthy living we really can't control the results, sadly that's just the truth, but what we can control is the effort. As long as you are doing your best, and feeling great, then rest assured that the other stuff will take care of itself!

    Good luck on your journey!
  • JasonD334
    JasonD334 Posts: 94 Member
    hahaha this reminds me of the day I splurged on a facial. I came out feeling BEAUTIFUL! I went to the mall & I'm kim kardashian. Then I got home (I always have to go straight to the bathroom when I get home) and looked in the mirror and saw my Grandma =\
    moral: when you FEEL beautiful, you don't need a mirror

    Awesome post!
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