IS ANYONE ELSE REALLY STRUGGLING ?

Bmoney11239
Bmoney11239 Posts: 31 Member
I am really having such a hard time locking down this weight factor, i have been trying to find the niche in it.
i am also really falling short of working out and having the drive for it to stay on it.. i always drift off back to the negative.
well does anyone else really have problems with getting in shape and i am not just a small bit over wight i am morbidly obese, 400lbs..and all i want the most important thing to me right now is my weight.
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Replies

  • judith3
    judith3 Posts: 296 Member
    Hi im Judith im 20 yrs old and i struggle alot with my weight i am in the obese category and im about 80lbs overweight like you i have a hard time with working out and finding the drive for it and even when i do seem to stick to eating well and working out it usually doesnt last more than 2weeks and i gain any weight i have lost back. Feel free to add me on here i would love having someone who can help motivate me and i can do the same for you :)
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    You can do it.

    Take it one day at a time brother. MFP is a great tool, start using it to track intake and take things a step at a time. You could put a big, big dent in that weight number in a year or so.
  • lovinbutterflys
    lovinbutterflys Posts: 131 Member
    I think you should take it one day at a time. Sometime when we look at the whole picture it seems overwhelming. Just make small goals that way it doesn't seem so hard to stick with also join challenge not only will you meet more people to motivate you bit it will be like hitting a reset button to starting something new. We all are very head strong in the beginning then life hits you in the face and we fall off track. You can do this you can add me as a friend if you like and we can help each other out!
  • I do as well to find the right way to do it I lost alot and gained back alot, Slow metabolism now. I awoke with swollen ankles this morning and said no more At amy age we must exercise to achieve our goals, Plus once you start you get addicted,
  • ejohndrow
    ejohndrow Posts: 1,399 Member
    As others have said, one day at a time. Find something you enjoy and start small if need be. A lot of people who are new to exercise start so just by walking. Maybe you could get the ball rolling by telling yourself you will walk at min. 3 or 4 days a week 20-30 min or whatever works for you. Believe me its tough for everyone. I've come to love the time and energy I put into my workouts, but after 2 days off it was still hard to muster the energy for a run yesterday. Also if you like strength training there are a lot of helpful exercises you can do around the house. Hopefully you find something you enjoy-just stick with it, you know they say you have to things quite a few times before it becomes a habit.
  • Smelerz
    Smelerz Posts: 115 Member
    I used to struggle a lot and then I bought session with a personal trainer and signed up for classes. I found the best way to keep my exercise on track was to schedule it, I can't depend on myself to do it. I need an instructor infront of my all the time, I need to have an appointment on my calendar. I started doing that in April and I am down 30lbs and close to 40inches. I still dont trust myself to do it on my own, but I believe this way is going to work for me. MFP is a gret tool for food. Even if you go over your cals you can still learn what each food is made up of (cal, sodium, sugar etc) Best of luck!
  • ashleynicoleb
    ashleynicoleb Posts: 376 Member
    The first couple of weeks are extremely difficult, but once you get past that I find it's usually much easier. It takes 2 weeks to make a habit =) Make sure you put forth twice the amount of effort in order to get over that first hurdle!
  • I struggle all the time. I am a single mom and working out for me is always really hard. And making the right food choice is twice as hard when I feel like I am always short on time. But MFP is such a great resource. Theres so many people to help support you here. Different ways you can do things. You can do this :)
  • I think you set one small goal a day and just focus on that one goal for a few days. Then add another small goal until you are slowly but surely building up towards living a healthy lifestyle and making better choices.

    For example, today you might just eliminate one "problem" food: candy or cookies but just one. Work on that a few days and then add 15 minutes of walking plus elimination of the candy or whatever. After another few days add something else, like eliminating fried food plus walking plus eliminating candy. Blog or journal your success each day. Don't worry about weight loss at first: just meeting a small goal so you can begin to feel success and record success and believe yourself to be successful.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    I am really having such a hard time locking down this weight factor, i have been trying to find the niche in it.
    i am also really falling short of working out and having the drive for it to stay on it.. i always drift off back to the negative.
    well does anyone else really have problems with getting in shape and i am not just a small bit over wight i am morbidly obese, 400lbs..and all i want the most important thing to me right now is my weight.

    You have to sit back and imagine where you want to be on January 1st 2013.
    Give yourself a realistic healthy goal and just go for it.

    What are your goals for 2012?
    Are you set up for success in MFP?
    What type of equipment do you have access to?
    If you need help running dietary numbers send me a PM and i'll help you as best I can!

    YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!
  • prwthomas
    prwthomas Posts: 43 Member
    YES. I'm feeling very disappointed in myself for gaining back weight that I've lost. It's a constant struggle. But I am here. I record the awful weight number and keep trying each day at a time. I think there are sincere people here who have been successful and who truly want to encourage us. I personally would love to add more friends, so look for a request from me. Hang in there. You're in the right place.
  • stayxtrue
    stayxtrue Posts: 1,186 Member
    Here are my pointers..

    Sometimes getting hooked into it completely it can be hard. What I would recommend is to ease into it. For the first week eliminate one thing that you know is contributing to your weight gain. I would recommend sugar. Get that down then move onto something else. Ease into it, sometimes jumping fully into it will just cause failure.

    Good luck... You can do it!
  • kardowling
    kardowling Posts: 221 Member
    Yes, me too. Took an Xmas break, there isnt anything else I could possibly want to eat. Today is my day, starting point to get my act together. Good luck Hang in there.
  • aaleigha1
    aaleigha1 Posts: 408 Member
    your post could so easily be me - not the amount of weight but the staying with the program

    I found a really good book that deals with the psychological aspects for eating healthly and exercise

    its a 6 week program of tasks to do daily

    its called
    the beck diet solution
    here is a link to the book on amazon
    http://www.amazon.com/Beck-Diet-Solution-Train-Person/dp/0848732758/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
  • I'm feeling the same way. Know that you're not alone in this & that it's best to take things one choice at a time. You can do it!
  • The first couple of weeks are extremely difficult, but once you get past that I find it's usually much easier. It takes 2 weeks to make a habit =) Make sure you put forth twice the amount of effort in order to get over that first hurdle!
    ^^^

    Very true it just takes two weeks to make a habit and once you got it things do get soooo much easier!
  • As so many others have stated, set yourself a LOT of mini goals- to reach by certain dates, as well as a final (ideal) one- but even that isn't set in concrete
    ( you may very well change that as you progress )

    And if you think that it's ALL too much for you....*consider* JUST focusing in on the FOOD choices right now instead of EXERCISE AND FOOD restrictions........
    which, in MY opinion, is the GREATER change in lifestyle- and the KEY to maintaining it-
    it will slow down your progress, but you WILL continually loose....while re-training your brain to learn to be satisfied with LESS
    and being aware of the food you're eating.........

    BEST WISHES to you
  • penny5
    penny5 Posts: 148 Member
    I know that exercise is important, but if you are struggling for energy maybe you could just focus on eating healthy at first to up your energy level. Diet has a lot to do with feeling sluggish and unmotivated. Eating fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, and drinking 8 glasses of water per day will make a huge difference in how your body feels. Once I stared drinking my 8 glasses of water per day, it was like a fog lifted from in my head. I know it sounds weird but I was drinking diet soda and I felt like crap. Once you start feeling better, exercise can be added in gradually. Even small changes can make a big difference. Try not to get overwhelmed.

    Feel free to add me if you would like some extra support. :flowerforyou:
  • vjrose
    vjrose Posts: 809 Member
    I have to agree, even on MFP and diligently recording it can take time to find something that fits. My doctor has been occassionally tweaking my diet but I think it's right now as the weight is slowing coming off. However, until I stacked more movement on top of an already very busy job I didn't get the scale to move much. I started slow and you might have to start even more slowly, a friend of mine told me at 400 lbs she could just make it to the end of her driveway, she did that for a week, then moved out and down the sidewalk a bit and now she's walking a mile or more every day. Go slow, and work up, I started at home with a manual treadmill and 5 lb weights and a Wii with Wii Fit Plus. Two months later I have now joined a gym and added strength training and rowing into my program and I could barely do .25 miles on my treadmill when I started. It works, just be patient, you didn't get fat overnight and you won't get skinny overnight. Like most of the really good folks here say, it's a simple case of eat less and move more but really it's not eat less as I'm always telling my husband, it's eat less of the wrong things. Vegetables, fruit, greens, etc, find ones you like and make them your friends. Whole grains instead of white, lean meat instead of breaded, but baby steps not all at once, substiute slowly and one day you will say, wow, I don't even want that bag of potato chips.
  • carriem73
    carriem73 Posts: 333 Member
    You can do it- this site will really help-

    Set small goals for yourself- 200 lbs is overwhelming- start small- 5lbs at a time- or one pant size- stay positive and don't hesitate to add friends and let us know when you need encouragment! Sometimes, it just helsp to vent to someone- that's what we are all here for!

    :smile: Good luck!
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    It's a roller coaster for me -- sometimes I can do really well, others not so much. Usually I fall off the exercise wagon; I try not to get into the "I blew it, I might as well...." with my eating. Though there are days I just stop logging. I have a trainer, and I freely admit to her what my challenges are in order to get her perspective.

    Simple goals work best for me. Got in the habit of eating a healthy breakfast. Drinking water. My trainer is encouraging everyone to adopt one resolution for the New Year: eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. That is my next simple goal.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    For most of us, it is a daily struggle. You take it one day at a time.

    Hang in there. Just focus on today, then do the same tomorrow. Before you know it, working out and eating well will become a habit.
  • LuciaLongIsland
    LuciaLongIsland Posts: 815 Member
    Hi im Judith im 20 yrs old and i struggle alot with my weight i am in the obese category and im about 80lbs overweight like you i have a hard time with working out and finding the drive for it and even when i do seem to stick to eating well and working out it usually doesnt last more than 2weeks and i gain any weight i have lost back. Feel free to add me on here i would love having someone who can help motivate me and i can do the same for you :)


    I am totally where you are at!!!
  • bkw2488
    bkw2488 Posts: 190 Member
    You can do this. I have to take it one day at a time. I fall off several times, and this month has been really bad. But I keep telling myself I can do this right today!
  • grmpy1
    grmpy1 Posts: 462 Member
    I have been working on this well over a year and for the last 6 months on MFP. I will be here for a real long time. I have huge problems with the exercise thing, and I am just now coming off of two weeks that I ate everything in site. And I can't blame it on work parties or family parties as I didn't go to any.

    This isn't something that is going to happen over night. I figure I have probably close to another year before I get to where I want to be. And after that, the rest of my life to try to stay there.

    Stay true to yourself. Do each day what you feel comfortable with at that moment. If it is exercising, fine, it is just walking a little further into work or into a store it is something. The little things will add up. You will fall of track, but as long as you pick yourself back up and keep moving you will be fine. I am dusting myself off today from the last two weeks. Time to get back on track.

    Good Luck and be strong.
    Denise
  • DirtbikeGal
    DirtbikeGal Posts: 61 Member
    I agree with others that if you look at your total weightloss it will be completely overwhelming. Have you heard the saying how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Thats it. Dont look at your end goal. Set a goal for a day. Start a journal. Write down your goal in the morning. Write down what you eat througout the day. At the end of the day you will feel a sense of accomplishment when you can see on paper you exercised and ate accordingly.

    Also, I toally agree with changing one thing at a time. Not all smokers quite cold turkey. So why should that apply with people who are overweight. An addiction is an addiction. Cutting sugar cold turkey could be quite difficult as it acts like a drug in your brain. Try cutting just soda if you drink it. And switch all of your whites to wheats. Those 2 things in theirself can jump start weightloss. So if you eat white bread, eat 100% whole wheat. White pasta, whole wheat pasta. Potatoes, yams. Your switching simple carbs for complex which helps stablize blood sugars.

    You can do it. YOu have do dig DEEP within yourself and say that your worth it....and just do it! Every day, no excuses, just get it done. Wish you the best of luck!
  • enigrebua
    enigrebua Posts: 113 Member
    I've had a hard year really...I've always in the past tried to do things on my own with no support tool (except once I tried Weight Watchers and another time I followed Dukan) but I'm finding that some family circumstances have made me more determined than ever to be healthier. I lost my grandma who died of a heart attack before her time, a very good family friend who died of throat cancer and also my young cousin has developed brain cancer. There seems to be a lot going on around me which has made me firstly quit smoking cold turkey (I never smoked much, it was social, but now it's gone) and I have decreased my intake of alcohol and foods that contain saturated fats. Now I really need to get some exercise in there to get my weight down 40lbs ideally. I'm going to start going for long walks daily, and week by week increasing the length and pace of those walks. I'm also going to take up Zumba again which I did for a few months and really enjoyed, but the last job I had was terrible long evning hours and meant there was no class I could go to. I'm hoping that exercising will make me feel better inside and out. At the moment I'm fairly depressed and typically with that I would take comfort in eating and go to the doctors...but this time I'm going to take an active approach, get of my backside, and do something to change my situation. I hope you find that motivation that you have been lacking...it is not easy.

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  • ziesergirl_66
    ziesergirl_66 Posts: 1,016 Member
    yup, sure am. I am a pro yo-yo dieter....over 15 yrs now. I have good weeks, bad weeks, even a few months at a time I can succeed. Since I have had a weight problems, never have I had a total 6, 9 mos, a *good* year. The ol' 3 weeks, 30 days and it's a new habit? Doesn't work for me. I have a library of weight loss books. They are all good books too...not the *quick-fix-extreme* unhealthy diets. I know what to do. Exactly what to do. I have been here almost 2 years and still struggling. I know MFP works too. My first run at it and I was down thirty-some pounds in 4 or 5 mos. I am within a few pounds of gaining that all back. For me, MFP is my #1 support system...social that is. None of my family or friends have the desire to live a healthy life. I have made very good friends here. I totally get the person who responded that they have joined a gym or have a personal trainer to report to. That is me. I have no motivation. I make excuses. If I don't get it done early in the day, it isn't gonna happen.

    However...I love how I feel when I eat healthy. I love the energy exercise gives me. I **know** making good choices WILL get me to my goals. For some of us, this whole lifestyle change is **all** mental. I try hard to focus. I take one day at a time. Heck, sometimes even one meal, one hour. It's still a roller coaster of emotions...and I rarely level out. Lately, I've had more bad days then good days.

    But, each day, I still get on here, whether I log food, exercise OR not. I don't give up. I know that someday...one day, it will click again. We just never, ever gotta give up. [You] matter and nobody knows YOU better than YOU. Try to remember every, single waking day WHY you are here. Think of your goals. Goals that are reasonable. Think of yourself healthy vs unhealthy. Who do you want to be? It's a choice. This may seem odd...but do what your ~body~ wants, not what your mind wants. Be kind to yourself. Love yourself. Keep hanging on.....

    If nothing ever changes you will always get the same results.
  • susanswan
    susanswan Posts: 1,194 Member
    Read success stories. You'll find that the only success will come from NOT QUITTING. Take a small new good habit and build on it. This is a lifestyle, not a race. There is no finish line. You will never be done. But you've got the time! There is more to life than food. I am in the process of overhauling my diet, too. It is surprising that eating "regular food" I gained 4 pounds in just 2 short weeks! But I am now on top of it and ready to go back to my clean eating plan. The weight will fall off.

    Find joy in other parts of your life besides food. You can decide to make things either better or worse! Your choice!

    You can do it. You just have to decide to do it!
  • JoAnn73
    JoAnn73 Posts: 161 Member
    I staretd out @ 298 pounds so i feel your pain. All i did for the first 6 months was walk 7 days week and a 1200 cal diet. The best CD Leslie Sansome@ Walmart about 10 buck. This CD plus walking on my lunch break help me to lose my first 50 pounds. You can do this take it one day at a time and educate yourself.
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