How do you stay motivated when you don't see any results?
Options
Replies
-
Maybe in addition to the advice about better tracking, take some body measurements too, and recheck those every month or so. You might be making fitness changes other than the scale.4
-
I saw where you said your clothes felt a bit better. Hold tight to that victory. A food scale and portion check is good but you seem to have that. You are stepping/exercise. Hang on and keep on. (Are you eating enough?) Take the weekend off from weighing you and just breathe and enjoy things you like to do. Can't advise on thyroid b/c I don't have one. But do not give up -- time will be a friend.
1 -
ebeever115 wrote: »No I do not. Like I said, I will become obsessive and drive myself crazy if I do that and I'm trying to avoid that! I've done that before and it starts to take over my life when I do it.
There are a couple of different ways to approach this.
First, on the motivation question... Motivation is fleeting. Literally no one ever stays motivated Focus on creating easy, healthy habits that make it easier for you to be in a deficit. Don't rely on behaviors that are a constant struggle, focus on finding ways that are easy for you. Tackle one thing at a time. Keep trying to figure out WHY one thing moves you forward and something else doesn't. Forget about doing the "right" thing, and keep adding the smallest possible step forward you can make. Think of yourself as a science experiment. Get motivated by creating each new habit, the scale will follow.
Consider the possibility that if you stop trying to be perfect overall, it might make logging & counting easier and less likely to become obsessive. Having said that, logging is not for everyone, so if you can't, you can't.
If you don't lose weight over more than 6-8 weeks, you aren't in a deficit, it's just that simple. That means you need to eat a little bit less. If you can't strictly log, you'll have to find other ways to do so. And it might require more trial and error because there's more guessing involved, but if you're patient and methodical you can make it work.
I hope something in there will help, just keep taking baby steps forward.7 -
Be_theBest_Me wrote: »...have you all forgotten what happens at the beginning of the journey???? You count it all track it all and bust your *kitten* and the scale does the opposite of what you want for the first few weeks. Sometimes longer. She flat out said she is seeing results in her clothes!! That means what she is doing is working!! I've done this 3 separate times!! Each time is the same. Measure your body!! Look for positive results in all areas not just the scale!! I can run faster and longer....the scale doesn't agree but that doesn't mean I'm not doing what's right!! Seems to me yall have been kinda mean to this lady!! I think she is doing great and needs to keep it up!!! Progress doesn't happen over night it takes time. Thyroid condition and other body ailments can change the way anyone's body loses or gains.Guess y'all forgot where you came from in all this. The beginning you have to fight without visual results and sometimes it takes time to get that scale to fall in line!!! REAL LIFE!!
This has not been my experience.4 -
Be_theBest_Me wrote: »nighthawk584 wrote: »Be_theBest_Me wrote: »...have you all forgotten what happens at the beginning of the journey???? You count it all track it all and bust your *kitten* and the scale does the opposite of what you want for the first few weeks. Sometimes longer. She flat out said she is seeing results in her clothes!! That means what she is doing is working!! I've done this 3 separate times!! Each time is the same. Measure your body!! Look for positive results in all areas not just the scale!! I can run faster and longer....the scale doesn't agree but that doesn't mean I'm not doing what's right!! Seems to me yall have been kinda mean to this lady!! I think she is doing great and needs to keep it up!!! Progress doesn't happen over night it takes time. Thyroid condition and other body ailments can change the way anyone's body loses or gains. Y'all are some *kitten* holes!! Guess y'all forgot where you came from in all this. The beginning you have to fight without visual results and sometimes it takes time to get that scale to fall in line!!! REAL LIFE!!
Nobody is being mean to her. We are sharing what works or has worked for us. I lost a good portion of my weight the first few weeks and months. I weighed every thing that went into my mouth. It works! that is facts, not meanness. Do you want solutions or cheerleading?
Sometimes you need a little solutions and cheers. Sometimes it helps to hear you are making progress when the scale says your not!!! Men always shred right away and I did too the first two times I lost weight......then thyroid became a raging *kitten*!!! This time...the beginning has been a *kitten*. Eating right measuring my portions drinking my water doing my cardio and killing my workouts....scale goes up then flat then up then down....took almost 2 months this time to see it move....you had to flat out say.....I'm not being mean....that is a tell that it was kinda rude.....y'all remember this is different for everyone!! Don't hate the way I share my success and support!! That whole dislike button is a crock of *kitten* y'all!! Your opinion and process is valid no matter what anyone else says!! I'm sure you had a few cheerleaders along the way that made success a lot easier during the times of struggle!!! It ain't always just about what you put in....it's about how your mind processes what's happening in your body!! This journey is more mental than physical!! All day!!!
Now--hope you've calmed down. I think the OP wants to be a success at losing weight, therefore we are all trying to help her figure out her problem and nudge her in the right direction. Cheers and hugs will not solve her problem. Sometimes you need to change things up. You do you and good luck, by the way.6 -
This isn't coming from the most experienced source, granted, but I've found once I've strictly tracked for a few weeks, you just learn what your meals are totalling, especially if you eat the same meals most days. Therefore you don't necessarily need to "track" every single day on here. At least you'll know roughly where you're at without being too strict with it.3
-
Sadly I have limited motivation and it is fleeting. I have to instead lean on habits and rules. For me the rules are
1. Log everything
2. Weigh all solids
3. Measure all caloric liquids
4. Use a weight trending app like libra so i see trendlines weigh daily except during TOM
5. Remember it took me decades to gain it it can be slow loss as long as stays off
6. No more then 1 day over in a row
7. Remember what happens 95% of time is where you will be
8 drink a glass of water every morning
Now are these rules perfect for you perhaps not but lean on habit and rules as motivated is not strong enough2 -
ebeever115 wrote: »No I do not. Like I said, I will become obsessive and drive myself crazy if I do that and I'm trying to avoid that! I've done that before and it starts to take over my life when I do it.
If you really think it will be a stressor on you, there are other options. You said you are writing down everything, so you can cut back a little from that. The problem is that you don't know as well what the actual number is, so there's more risk that you are jumping too conclusions and actually cutting back when there's no need to.
Usually weight loss happens immediately, but depending on the time of the month when you started, adding exercise, other weird things, sometimes the scale just bounces around.
One way to be patient -- I did this when I started and was superstitious that it wouldn't work -- is to focus on the things you feel like you are in control over (like the exercise, the tracking, the positive steps to eating better) and the benefits they bring you independent of the weight loss. The weight loss will come (and if you are still stalled in a couple of weeks, go through your logs and cut back some more).
If you can get your head around the scale and logging, though, that can make it easier. It all depends on how it affects you.3 -
If you trust your habits are good ones and will move you towards weight loss (smaller portions, tracking food, drinking water, moving more, staying at your calorie target) you have to reward yourself for doing the actions. Reward the PROCESS and not the eventual result. It’s hard to wait for the long term reward of weight loss, but if you perform your good habits day-in-day-out for two weeks, you should reward yourself in the short-term too. New clothes, new music, nice massage, trip to the beach. Doesn’t have to be big, but it should be special and motivating. And do this every two weeks, as you slowly add a few more good habits.
If we focus more on the process and the day-to-day actions, and stop being derailed by the impatience of wishing we were already done with weight loss, we will see better results and be more likely to maintain those habits and the eventual weight-loss they help us achieve. We’re practicing for maintenance, when the scale numbers won’t be going down every day but we’ll still be doing those good habits because we know from experience that they will make us feel better and be healthier in the long-term.7 -
snowflake954 wrote: »Be_theBest_Me wrote: »nighthawk584 wrote: »Be_theBest_Me wrote: »...have you all forgotten what happens at the beginning of the journey???? You count it all track it all and bust your *kitten* and the scale does the opposite of what you want for the first few weeks. Sometimes longer. She flat out said she is seeing results in her clothes!! That means what she is doing is working!! I've done this 3 separate times!! Each time is the same. Measure your body!! Look for positive results in all areas not just the scale!! I can run faster and longer....the scale doesn't agree but that doesn't mean I'm not doing what's right!! Seems to me yall have been kinda mean to this lady!! I think she is doing great and needs to keep it up!!! Progress doesn't happen over night it takes time. Thyroid condition and other body ailments can change the way anyone's body loses or gains. Y'all are some *kitten* holes!! Guess y'all forgot where you came from in all this. The beginning you have to fight without visual results and sometimes it takes time to get that scale to fall in line!!! REAL LIFE!!
Nobody is being mean to her. We are sharing what works or has worked for us. I lost a good portion of my weight the first few weeks and months. I weighed every thing that went into my mouth. It works! that is facts, not meanness. Do you want solutions or cheerleading?
Sometimes you need a little solutions and cheers. Sometimes it helps to hear you are making progress when the scale says your not!!! Men always shred right away and I did too the first two times I lost weight......then thyroid became a raging *kitten*!!! This time...the beginning has been a *kitten*. Eating right measuring my portions drinking my water doing my cardio and killing my workouts....scale goes up then flat then up then down....took almost 2 months this time to see it move....you had to flat out say.....I'm not being mean....that is a tell that it was kinda rude.....y'all remember this is different for everyone!! Don't hate the way I share my success and support!! That whole dislike button is a crock of *kitten* y'all!! Your opinion and process is valid no matter what anyone else says!! I'm sure you had a few cheerleaders along the way that made success a lot easier during the times of struggle!!! It ain't always just about what you put in....it's about how your mind processes what's happening in your body!! This journey is more mental than physical!! All day!!!
Now--hope you've calmed down. I think the OP wants to be a success at losing weight, therefore we are all trying to help her figure out her problem and nudge her in the right direction. Cheers and hugs will not solve her problem. Sometimes you need to change things up. You do you and good luck, by the way.
No cheers and hugs don't make the weight come off but sometimes the struggle isn't in the process it's in the way your mind deals with that process!! Not everyone can just stick to a plan with no results. That's hard for emotional eaters and food addicts!! Whether you want to admit it or not sometimes we all need someone telling us you got this keep at this stage until you feel strong enough to press to the next subtle changes are the sustainable win!! Yes you will shred weight if you slice calories and drink water....that's great. Sweat it out lose it fast ...then what go back into life and your gaining immediately. No....that is not how everyone can or should do it. If you see changes in your clothes the way you feel but the scale isn't moving....means your on the right track. Period the scale moves with salt bloat and different foods we eat!! The scale can vary 10lbs a day!! That is a crazy swing to base your success on!! It is a damn tool!! I have weighed daily, weekly monthly. The scale still lies!! Sometimes when I get on that scale I need a meeting with my therapist after!! It's a mind melt!! Seriously y'all sometimes people just need to hear keep going winner you rock! Cause if I feel that way....someone else out there does!! Just cause you don't need a cheerleader or support doesn't mean others don't too. When someone asks for advice that's all they want they don't want to be picked apart and told their hole process is wrong. Even if it is. We are forgetting the human element here and our needs as a people to be accepted and feel like we are not alone......0 -
I will only "cheer and hug" people if what they are doing is actually going to help them achieve their goals. If not? I'm the type who won't give them a "You go, girl!" if where they're going is in the wrong direction. A true friend is encouraging but not enabling.11
-
Be_theBest_Me wrote: »[quot e="snowflake954;c-44728669"]Be_theBest_Me wrote: »nighthawk584 wrote: »Be_theBest_Me wrote: »...have you all forgotten what happens at the beginning of the journey???? You count it all track it all and bust your *kitten* and the scale does the opposite of what you want for the first few weeks. Sometimes longer. She flat out said she is seeing results in her clothes!! That means what she is doing is working!! I've done this 3 separate times!! Each time is the same. Measure your body!! Look for positive results in all areas not just the scale!! I can run faster and longer....the scale doesn't agree but that doesn't mean I'm not doing what's right!! Seems to me yall have been kinda mean to this lady!! I think she is doing great and needs to keep it up!!! Progress doesn't happen over night it takes time. Thyroid condition and other body ailments can change the way anyone's body loses or gains. Y'all are some *kitten* holes!! Guess y'all forgot where you came from in all this. The beginning you have to fight without visual results and sometimes it takes time to get that scale to fall in line!!! REAL LIFE!!
Nobody is being mean to her. We are sharing what works or has worked for us. I lost a good portion of my weight the first few weeks and months. I weighed every thing that went into my mouth. It works! that is facts, not meanness. Do you want solutions or cheerleading?
Sometimes you need a little solutions and cheers. Sometimes it helps to hear you are making progress when the scale says your not!!! Men always shred right away and I did too the first two times I lost weight......then thyroid became a raging *kitten*!!! This time...the beginning has been a *kitten*. Eating right measuring my portions drinking my water doing my cardio and killing my workouts....scale goes up then flat then up then down....took almost 2 months this time to see it move....you had to flat out say.....I'm not being mean....that is a tell that it was kinda rude.....y'all remember this is different for everyone!! Don't hate the way I share my success and support!! That whole dislike button is a crock of *kitten* y'all!! Your opinion and process is valid no matter what anyone else says!! I'm sure you had a few cheerleaders along the way that made success a lot easier during the times of struggle!!! It ain't always just about what you put in....it's about how your mind processes what's happening in your body!! This journey is more mental than physical!! All day!!!
Now--hope you've calmed down. I think the OP wants to be a success at losing weight, therefore we are all trying to help her figure out her problem and nudge her in the right direction. Cheers and hugs will not solve her problem. Sometimes you need to change things up. You do you and good luck, by the way.
No cheers and hugs don't make the weight come off but sometimes the struggle isn't in the process it's in the way your mind deals with that process!! Not everyone can just stick to a plan with no results. That's hard for emotional eaters and food addicts!! Whether you want to admit it or not sometimes we all need someone telling us you got this keep at this stage until you feel strong enough to press to the next subtle changes are the sustainable win!! Yes you will shred weight if you slice calories and drink water....that's great. Sweat it out lose it fast ...then what go back into life and your gaining immediately. No....that is not how everyone can or should do it. If you see changes in your clothes the way you feel but the scale isn't moving....means your on the right track. Period the scale moves with salt bloat and different foods we eat!! The scale can vary 10lbs a day!! That is a crazy swing to base your success on!! It is a damn tool!! I have weighed daily, weekly monthly. The scale still lies!! Sometimes when I get on that scale I need a meeting with my therapist after!! It's a mind melt!! Seriously y'all sometimes people just need to hear keep going winner you rock! Cause if I feel that way....someone else out there does!! Just cause you don't need a cheerleader or support doesn't mean others don't too. When someone asks for advice that's all they want they don't want to be picked apart and told their hole process is wrong. Even if it is. We are forgetting the human element here and our needs as a people to be accepted and feel like we are not alone......[/quote]
Whew!....so glad you're working with a therapist. I was getting worried. Yoga is very good. It will help.3 -
snickerscharlie wrote: »I will only "cheer and hug" people if what they are doing is actually going to help them achieve their goals. If not? I'm the type who won't give them a "You go, girl!" if where they're going is in the wrong direction. A true friend is encouraging but not enabling.
May I cheer and hug you? Love your posts.2 -
Be_theBest_Me wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »Be_theBest_Me wrote: »nighthawk584 wrote: »Be_theBest_Me wrote: »...have you all forgotten what happens at the beginning of the journey???? You count it all track it all and bust your *kitten* and the scale does the opposite of what you want for the first few weeks. Sometimes longer. She flat out said she is seeing results in her clothes!! That means what she is doing is working!! I've done this 3 separate times!! Each time is the same. Measure your body!! Look for positive results in all areas not just the scale!! I can run faster and longer....the scale doesn't agree but that doesn't mean I'm not doing what's right!! Seems to me yall have been kinda mean to this lady!! I think she is doing great and needs to keep it up!!! Progress doesn't happen over night it takes time. Thyroid condition and other body ailments can change the way anyone's body loses or gains. Y'all are some *kitten* holes!! Guess y'all forgot where you came from in all this. The beginning you have to fight without visual results and sometimes it takes time to get that scale to fall in line!!! REAL LIFE!!
Nobody is being mean to her. We are sharing what works or has worked for us. I lost a good portion of my weight the first few weeks and months. I weighed every thing that went into my mouth. It works! that is facts, not meanness. Do you want solutions or cheerleading?
Sometimes you need a little solutions and cheers. Sometimes it helps to hear you are making progress when the scale says your not!!! Men always shred right away and I did too the first two times I lost weight......then thyroid became a raging *kitten*!!! This time...the beginning has been a *kitten*. Eating right measuring my portions drinking my water doing my cardio and killing my workouts....scale goes up then flat then up then down....took almost 2 months this time to see it move....you had to flat out say.....I'm not being mean....that is a tell that it was kinda rude.....y'all remember this is different for everyone!! Don't hate the way I share my success and support!! That whole dislike button is a crock of *kitten* y'all!! Your opinion and process is valid no matter what anyone else says!! I'm sure you had a few cheerleaders along the way that made success a lot easier during the times of struggle!!! It ain't always just about what you put in....it's about how your mind processes what's happening in your body!! This journey is more mental than physical!! All day!!!
Now--hope you've calmed down. I think the OP wants to be a success at losing weight, therefore we are all trying to help her figure out her problem and nudge her in the right direction. Cheers and hugs will not solve her problem. Sometimes you need to change things up. You do you and good luck, by the way.
No cheers and hugs don't make the weight come off but sometimes the struggle isn't in the process it's in the way your mind deals with that process!! Not everyone can just stick to a plan with no results. That's hard for emotional eaters and food addicts!! Whether you want to admit it or not sometimes we all need someone telling us you got this keep at this stage until you feel strong enough to press to the next subtle changes are the sustainable win!! Yes you will shred weight if you slice calories and drink water....that's great. Sweat it out lose it fast ...then what go back into life and your gaining immediately. No....that is not how everyone can or should do it. If you see changes in your clothes the way you feel but the scale isn't moving....means your on the right track. Period the scale moves with salt bloat and different foods we eat!! The scale can vary 10lbs a day!! That is a crazy swing to base your success on!! It is a damn tool!! I have weighed daily, weekly monthly. The scale still lies!! Sometimes when I get on that scale I need a meeting with my therapist after!! It's a mind melt!! Seriously y'all sometimes people just need to hear keep going winner you rock! Cause if I feel that way....someone else out there does!! Just cause you don't need a cheerleader or support doesn't mean others don't too. When someone asks for advice that's all they want they don't want to be picked apart and told their hole process is wrong. Even if it is. We are forgetting the human element here and our needs as a people to be accepted and feel like we are not alone......
You've been here for less than two weeks. Perhaps you should spend some time reading the hundreds of posts and new posters who come in here every week, what responses they get, and whether or not they've been helped by the time the thread fades away. It's really easy to crap on the advice veterans are giving when you haven't seen the months of experience that has honed the responses we give, and you haven't gotten familiar with all the regular posters and the trends of how the typical newbie thread pans out.
If you don't like the advice that's been given, feel free to click "disagree" on that advice and then craft your own advice to post that you think is better for the OP. That would probably be more appreciated by the OP and more inline with forum rules as well. Especially since the OP does not seem to be the least bit bothered by the advice they've gotten, which is kind of the most important thing :drinker:17 -
ebeever115 wrote: »I'm frustrated, to say the least. In the last 8 months, I've gained 20 pounds. Before that, my highest was 197. I was determined to never cross the line of 200 pounds. So I buckled down and lost 15 pounds. Well, apparently my determination was not enough. At the beginning of January, I stepped on the scale and weighed in at 203.1. I cried. I was so angry and disgusted with myself.
For the past 6 weeks, I've exercised every day. During the week, I get up at 4:30 every morning to make sure I get my workout in before I go to work. I've been doing a combination of walking outside, using the elliptical, walking on the treadmill (varying incline and speed to get my heart rate up) and using free weights. I'll also do various other aerobic/cardio workouts at home if I can't get to the gym like jump rope and jumping jacks. I work a desk job but I still make sure I get 10,000+ steps a day.
I've cleaned up my diet. Focusing more on lots of veggies, lean proteins and healthy grains. I've really reduced the processed foods and added sugar. I drink a gallon of water a day. If I need some caffeine, I do green tea with honey instead of my coffee with creamer. I've never been a soda/tea drinker.
Y'all...the scale hasn't moved. At all. Yes, my jeans fit slightly better. And I wholeheartedly agree that the scale shouldn't matter. I get it. But when you work so hard and that number doesn't change at all (in fact, it goes up sometimes), it really takes the wind out of your sails, so to speak.
And yes, I know that tracking every bite that goes into my mouth will help. But I'm the type of person that I need to track every little crumb so my food log is 100% accurate and I'll drive myself insane.
However, I'm back to MFP. Again. I'm going to try to keep a fairly accurate food log without obsessing over it.
So I guess my question is (now that I'm done venting)...how do you stay motivated when you aren't seeing results? Any suggestions to get out of this rut?
I don't log or count calories...haven't in a very long time. I usually put on about 10 Lbs of fluff in the winter due mostly to a decrease in exercise and also a decrease in general activity. Since January I have increased my exercise and I am now holding steady at 192 instead of continuing to gain weight. Stabilizing my weight is the first notch of success for the spring.
Since my weight is stabilized, I know I'm eating at maintenance which means all I need to do is address a couple of diet things. If I'm not seeing results, I know I'm just eating too much...so I look for things that I maybe normally do that I can cut out for a couple months...like my bowl of sweet cereal after dinner while I'm watching t.v. and a couple of other snacky things I graze on in the early evening before dinner. Just addressing those couple of things will result in dumping around 500+ calories from my day, thus creating a deficit.
TLDR - If I'm not seeing the results I want on the scale, it means I'm eating too much and need to cut something out or cut back on some things.5 -
I was in the same boat last month.
Up your exercise and count your calories .
Small snacks add up quickly so be mindful while snacking.
I use fitbit and do 10,000 steps every day. About 5000 is from running/walking.
Try to limit your food intake to an 8 hour window. It is quite difficult to do in the beginning so I give it my best for the day. Some days, I eat outside of the 8 hour window but I try to do better the next day.
Give it time.
2 -
I think most people here will recommend logging everything you eat as precisely as possible, but I realize that's not for everyone. It can become obsessive for some people. It is still possible to lose weight by either logging more loosely (estimates and such) or writing things down like you have been although it's a bit harder because you don't know exactly how much you're eating. If you haven't lost any weight in 3-4 weeks, I would review your food diary and pick things out that you can either reduce or eliminate. For example maybe for lunch I eat a sandwich with some chips and raw veggies to dip, and I eat 4 pieces of chocolate at bedtime. I could take out the chips at lunch and cut the chocolate in half and save myself 290 calories.
As for motivation, it feels good to me to do healthy things like eat vegetables and exercise. I am a goal setter and I like to set goals such as "work out x times a week" or "floss every night before bed" and I get to check those off as complete in my planner. I reflect often on the reasons I love to exercise beyond anything to do with my physical appearance. It improves my mood, it feels good to do something for just me and my health etc.7 -
The best advice on motivation I have ever recieved was that never do anything purely because of motivation. Motivation is imconsistent and often absent. However, discipline and habits will remain without motivation. I think you force yourself to do it long enough until it becomes habit and discipline. A lower intensity mediocre workout is better than no workout at all. Stay disciplined.
4 -
It looks to me like calories are off but you can't bring yourself to count them. How about the My Plate method? https://www.choosemyplate.gov/WhatIsMyPlate and you may just have to do some trial and error experimentation recording your results. If what you do now is not working, then consider what you could change. Are there a lot of hidden fats and sugars sneaking in to add calories? Read food labels.4
-
I agree with the folks who said you’re not eating at a deficit. If you don’t want to use a food scale, totally your choice. Though you may deal with more frustrations regarding stalls and plateaus. You can’t out exercise too many calories.
You might want to look at the late night cravings. Are you hungry, or bored. Used to nibbling while you relax in the beings and watch TV? If you are hungry, why? Are you not eating enough during the day? What was dinner like? Enough lean protein, healthy fat, and fiber to keep you full?
I still focus on fitness victories to keep me going. Lifting a little more weight or doing more reps, making my intervals a little longer and my recovery a little shorter, being able to do a new yoga pose.1
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.5K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 391 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 926 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions