So frustrated i'm in tears!

shalvors · January 2012

I have almost 150lbs to lose (i'm 5' 5.5"), seems so daunting. I've been going to the gym for 2 months now, 4 days a week, averaging an hour of cardio and recently i've started adding weight machines, alternating upper/lower body. I wasn't worrying about counting calories too much in the beginning as I was trying to just focus on consistency with my workouts.

For the last 3 weeks i've been tracking EVERYTHING I've eaten and staying under/at my calorie goals. The first week I lost 6lbs and the second week was 2 lbs, this week was NOTHING! I admit it, I cried like the frustrated girl I am!

I weigh so much that I figured in the beginning I should be consistenly losing. I am working so hard (ok here comes whining) I am eating better than I ever have, I've worked out more than I ever have, i'm taking time to focus on myself finally, and i'm just so mad. I have 4 kids plus 2 foster kids, I don't have time to take at the gym, but I know it's important for my health. Not seeing results is so hard, i'm not sure what I need to do differently.

Feel free to add me, I need all the help I can get. I'll open my diary and promise i'll take constructive criticism well!

tz2187 · January 2012

I know how you feel. I just started this 3 weeks ago, first two weeks lost 4 lbs, but today the scale said I had gained 1lb. I am tracking all my food and working out. I am telling myself to hang in there, but it's frustrating! You can add me as a friend if you like. Hang in there!

johncaraher · January 2012

I'm sorry you're frustrated... just keep it up! You're doing great - 6 lbs in a week is great, but you can't expect to sustain that. I don't think you need to worry about a single week - you have to realize there are always random fluctuations in any measurement, so just because you got the same weight in two weighings a week apart doesn't mean you're not making genuine progress. If you go a month without dropping the expected weight you might worry then... but for now just keep doing everything right - it will work out in the end!

TheFitHooker · January 2012

Sorry you are feeling frustrated. I'm frustrated as well because I keep hovering my 160's and everything has pretty slowed way down.

Are you 150lbs over weight or is 150lbs just what you want to lose? For me I was 250lbs at 5'3 so the first 85lbs was pretty easy and shed right off. The last 5lbs has been a nightmare. I'm having a hard time seeing 159, I'm still waiting on that to pop up on the scale. However I am told when I don't lose weight, to measure myself, because if I'm expecting to lose pounds and don't then something most likely has lost. So measure yourself. I find I get more excited about inches lost

.

cgavin77 · January 2012

Dont be so hard on yourself. 8 LBS in three weeks??? THAT IS AWESOME! There could be a million reasons you didnt "lose" on the scale (too many to list) but just keep doing what you are doing and the weight WILL come off.
Just a few things- since you just started 3 weeks ago I would take all your measurements, I found on weeks I wasnt losing on the scale inches were still melting off. Also tracking the food/cals (at least for ME) was the more important for the two in terms of losing weight. I know LOTS of ppl who count the cals and DONT workout and still lose the weight . I know very few to no one who has been sucessful the other way around (until you're at maintenance).
As for working out, cardio yes, but also start some strength training as well. You will be shocked at the results. I found that when I finally hit my "goal weight" I still wasnt happy. Until I upped the strength training and started to actually CHANGE my body composition.
.
Again try to keep your head up and know that everything you do, everyday is working towards your goal...even if that DEVIL scale wont show it.
Good luck!

ebaymommy · January 2012

I'm sorry you're frustrated, but I think you need to take a good, honest look at what you are putting in your body. Yes, you might be staying under your calorie goals, but you are working out and fueling your body with a lot of processed food and eating out. You really aren't giving your body the nutrients it needs to function properly.

Do you track sodium? I'm guessing those #s are pretty high based on the amount of restaurant food you are eating. And the soda isn't helping either. That's a ton of empty calories and sugar/carbs.

What about replacing those 200-300 calories a day that you are drinking in soda and make them good, healthy foods that will fill you up and provide you with some nutrients.

I think you diary is lacking in good fats, protein and fiber and way too high in sodium and sugar. It's not just about staying under your calories - I mean that is important as well, but just as important is eating healthful, nourishing foods.

campfirecrafter · January 2012

Have you measured yourself? or tired to put on clothes that are normally tight? you might be surprised , I find that the numbers on the scale move incredibly slowly , but I am back to wearing pants that were super tight just a few months ago ...

Hugs , you can do this

jworb · January 2012

I totally understand where you're coming from - it can be easy to get discouraged, but don't let one "off" week get you down. 8 lbs in 3 weeks is still fantastic progress... heck, 8 lbs in a month is your recommended max 2 lb/ week loss. You should be proud of yourself! Everything else you loose this month is just bonus.

Good job!

gymmouse83 · January 2012

If your introducing weights it could be that your weight hasn't changed but that your still losing inches. Muscle is heavier than fat tissue (so i've been told) so you might be better tracking your measurements rather than focusing on weight. Don't let it get you down, you've done brilliant to lose what you have already!

Jen2Bfit · January 2012

I know it can be frustrating, especially when you have chaged eveything about your daily habits and are not seeing the results that you expect to. Keep at it, it will pay off. You have dropped weight and are headed in the right direction, it just takes the body time to adjust. I have not looked at your food diary but I would also take a look at sodium intake as well as calories. I will add you as a friend. Don't give up, what one cannot do alone can be done with the help of others.

DirtyHippieFeet · January 2012

2 pounds a week is normal and healthy to lose; I know it feels like a snail's pace, especially after such a huge loss in the beginning. Try to focus less for a moment on the scale and more on how you feel. Do you feel better? More energy, better mood, etc., from your healthier lifestyle? Probably. How do your clothes fit? I only lost 2 lbs this week (my first week), but I noticed after just a couple of days that my jeans already fit better.

Remember - nothing worth having comes easily.

Keep your chin up. It helps me a lot to break down my goal into 5- or 10-lb increments. So for you, say you're breaking it down into 10-lb mini goals. So you've lost 8 lbs - that's already only 2 pounds from your first goal! It seems so much less daunting this way. I was really discouraged thinking of my goal in terms of, "Oh s*it, 55 pounds is a lot." Maybe think of giving yourself a small, non-food reward each time you meet one of those smaller goals.

AlmstHvn · January 2012

What have you noticed in terms of your clothing? Any change in how the waist or hips fit? or for me, the first thing to go down is the chest... *sniffle!

vickyg1 · January 2012

Screw the scale go by inches lost!

Curvy1taliana · January 2012

All the replies above are great and I would like to add that maybe instead of saying you need to lose 150lbs, start out with mini goals, in 10 or 20 lbs increments, then move on from there. It didn't take a month to put on the weight, it won't all come off in that amount of time either.

I don't know what you are eating, but I would recommend cutting out as much processed foods therefore sodium, and also track your potassium levels with the sodium (to balance each other out).

The body takes times to get used to these changes and you may be very well losing inches when you are not losing pounds. That's why you need to measure, don't worry keep up the good work and your body will catch up!

usmcmp · January 2012

Of the 1700 or so calories you are taking in about 500 are from Mt. Dew. Try switching to diet and actually eating something for those 500 calories. Especially since your breakfast yesterday was only a Mt. Dew. You could have toast, bacon and eggs for the amount of calories in the soda.

sunkisses · January 2012

I looked through your diary. I think you need to eat more of your exercise calories back (not necessarily all...sometimes it's impossible). Your deficits are way into the hundreds on a regular basis which adds up at the end of the week. Read up on the link below (check out the recommended links they give you) and give it some thought. Good luck.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/390145-should-i-eat-my-exercise-calories

dragginfli · January 2012

I just keep telling myself to look at the big picture. If I lose 10lbs a month I will be thin in a year. I seem to lose 2 pounds gain back 3 lose 5 gain back 1 but eventually it goes down. its like watching the time on a download. 10 minutes left then 12 then 9 then 11 then 8. Completely annoying but I know eventually the download will be complete.

Smuterella · January 2012

I've taken a look at your diary, two things jump out at me. Firstly you rarely eat back your exercise calories, you might want to consider eating some, if not all of them back. Secondly, you drink a lot of Mountain Dew - that is just empty calories, pure sugar. While an occasional soda is fine, daily consumption is not a good idea.

shalvors · January 2012

Thanks everyone, it helps to hear from people who understand.

I am 150lbs overweight....maybe more actually, but that's my goal, I'm starting out with a 75lb goal just to not feel so overwhelmed.

I have lost a total of about 4 inches in the last 3 weeks, I know that's good, I think i'm jus so stinking stuck on the number. I have to get over that and look at this as a journey that is more than numbers, it's health.

I'm happy to have found this site and boards to help with reality checks!

unionironworker · January 2012

your replaceing fat with muscle its size not all just weight watch out for salt it holds water aside from all that your doing really really great

dragginfli · January 2012

I agree, it is hard to imagine that eating more will help you lose weight but I think that "starvation mode" trigger is very sensitive. From my experiences if I eat too far under then I don't lose.

grinch031 · January 2012

My opinion is that your macronutrients aren't right. You eat way too many carbs and not enough protein and fat. That means you burn mostly glucose during your workouts. You need to become more of a fat burner. This is what worked for me.

amr_227 · January 2012

Hang in there. We all have our weeks where the scale goes down and the weeks it stays the same. Heck yesterday my scale told me I was down 5 pounds but when I got back on today it was up to a more normal weekly loss of only 2.5 pounds. So I was a bit frustrated this morning but I shook it off. If we let ourselves get frustrated, at least for me, then we tend to get lazy and give up. Every little bit of hard work we do is helping us out in the long run.

Like some of the others said measure yourself. Its a good way to see results. Something I do too is I have a shirt I got a super good deal on. Love the color and can't wait to wear it. Sadly it don't fit right now. But its my motivation. I will wear it. Maybe not today or tomorrow but someday I will. It will fit and when it does I will wear it proudly.

You can do this!

dragginfli · January 2012

I have a long term goal of 100 lbs but I try not to think about that, instead I focus on 20 lb goals at a time and when I hit a 20 lb loss then I celebrate like its my birthday. I went to a concert after my 1st 20lbs, the next 20lbs I am taking the kids to an indoor water park.

Pollyfleming · January 2012

I took a diet class a while back. We weighed ourselves once a week, but overall the instructor told us to look at our monthly numbers. I really only try to weigh myself every two weeks because I KNOW that there can be a fluctuation of 2-3 pounds in a day depending on whether or not I"m recovering, TOM, sodium intake, etc.... The important thing is to keep eating healthy foods, track everything (no fudging here or there) and exercise. You can do it!

shalvors · January 2012

Thank you for pointing out the things in my diary everyone, you all are so right. Mt. Dew is a huge vice for me, I cut it down (sad I know) but yeah, the empty calories and crap in it are so bad.

That's going to be my focus to cut. It's my go to when i'm stressed/sad/mad/etc. but I need to find another go to, because I am for real about l0sing weight/getting healthy.

I really appreciate all of you taking time to help me!

shirlpapaian · January 2012

You really need to switch the tracking on your diary to include sodium. This is really important. Get rid of the processed foods and eating out, they are extremely high in sodium. Also, I agree with everyone on the sodas, get rid of them, don't switch to diet either, they are just as bad for you. One last thing; I am pretty sure your metabolism is quite slow, you need to be eating every 2-3 hours. Replace the soda calories and workout calories with some healthy snacks that are full of fiber or protein.

hungryPHATbunny · January 2012

Try not to feel frustrated...I'm going through similar issues right now and have decided to ignore the scale as I feel good and know I'm following the rules...so you need to just break through this and keep going...also, I'd strongly suggest cutting down (or out?) the soda...I'm now about day 4 without the soda's as am sure this has been hindering me....am drinking water instead. Good luck and keep going...you are not lone

RhondaLeeRoss · January 2012

Stay strong! You are doing a GREAT job! I'm not expert so I cannot comment on why the 0 weight loss at times. That's just the way it is sometimes but you are doing a wonderful thing for yourself. And I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to hear that a foster Mom is taking time to look after herself! I work at a treatment fostercare organization and our foster Mom do NOT take time for themselves. You are no good to others if you're not good to yourself. Keep up the GREAT work with you eating/fitness and your love for others! There needs to be more people in this world like yourself! Now smile, go look in the mirror and repeat after me...."I am beautiful, I am worth it, and I CAN DO THIS!!!!!"
Rhonda

angelakeagan · January 2012

Try to do like I do, instead of thinking you have 150lbs to lose set small goals, like 10 lbs at a time, you will be happy each time you reached that and then make another goal for yourself. I have 100lbs left to lose but right now it's says only 9 to go. I know I can lose that, not a big deal, then I will set the new 10 lbs goal....less frustration

)).
I've lost the 1st week, the 2nd and on my 3rd NADA I got sad but I tried to watch my sodium and exercise more....boom now on my 4th week I've lost 2 more lbs. It's not a lot but I am looking at the bigger picture here, baby steps and lose slowly so I don't add it up so fast again. Hope this helps

Cecarom · January 2012

We're here for you! We can do it together! I also have around the same to lose....I'm taking the oposite approach...I'm not focused so much on big weight loss,everytime I step on the scale, just 1 pound at a time...I'm hoping that with my gradual weight loss, it will give my skin time to adjust with me....

You can do it! I know you can! :flowerforyou:

So frustrated i'm in tears!

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