Losing motivation and it's only been a week !
jqf2
Posts: 18
Everytime I start to diet I seem to gain weight (according to my scale at least). I told myself I WILL not and CAN NOT give up this time. I think I'm just simply not going to weigh for a while. Does anyone else have a love hate relationship with their scale? I think I better take my measurements and just hide the scale.
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Replies
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Yes! Every time I diet in recent years, it takes me a good 2-3 weeks to start to lose. Very frustrating that first week when you're really inspired and working hard. I know that feeling of wanting to give up but stick with it!! Maybe try and just not weigh in for awhile. I did that this time around - didn't weigh in for two weeks and even now I weigh myself every week at the MOST. Sometimes I'll go 10 days or more without weighing in. You can do it - don't give up!0
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I have the same issues. I have cut back on what i eat and been walking at least a mile almost everyday and i have not lost a pound. I even tried to not weigh myself for the week and when i finally did weigh myself..i still weighed the same. I am going to continue to eat better and walking, but feel i will give up soon if i am not showing a lost pound. Good luck to you!! If you find something that helps please let me know!!0
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I would suggest putting your scale away for the first 3-4 weeks, that way when you first step on you should see progress which in turn should motivate you to continue.0
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winner don't need motivation, they just get **** done, and there is a key point in that, if you wait for the motivation to come it might now, but if you just start working towards it even if you feel like **** the momentum will build into motivation!0
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I was the same way after 2 weeks of not seeing the scale move. I've stopped getting on it. It's a serious deterrent for me I swear. I actually caught myself slipping because the scale wasn't doing what I thought it should be. Don't give up. WE CAN DO THIS!!0
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That evil lil thing called the scale and I DO have a love hate pattern. It seems as though for the last month I have been at the same weight but I have lost Inches. I would love to say Im down in weight but I like the "I fit into this" better. I have also cut my weigh ins down to once a month and it helps0
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I have GAINED weight since I joined MFP a little over one week ago. But I've gained so much awareness of how many calories I actually consume (even though they are healthy, it's still a big number) that I LOVE this site. I'm only going to weigh myself once a week now rather than every other day. It's choosing a healthier lifestyle that matters. The weight loss will come eventually. (Especially if we curtail some calories!) Hang in there - you are worth it!!!0
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In regard to the walking and not losing, I sometimes notice that when I start exercising more, my body hangs on to more water and I don't lose anything for the first couple of weeks. It's as if my body knows it's going to be losing water through sweat, so it stores it for reserve. But then very soon after I start exercising, the weight starts to drop off. Just keep focused and don't give up. You can do this!0
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Ladies, you are looking at it all wrong! I am happy if I weigh the same...it means I didn't gain! It takes a while for your body to catch on when you are doing it right. It is the quick losses that don't last.0
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I did not weigh myself for the first month, then when I did it was a great surprise.0
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I find right after my first week of starting all over again(for the millionth time) I get discouraged. This time seems to be the same and I just looked at that scale and decided just because it didn’t say 20 lbs lost like on Biggest Losers first week does not mean that I did not do my best for that week. I stay honest with myself and log when I slip up and praise myself when I get thru my day with the right mix of diet and exercise. Take it one day at a time and know that you will have good and bad days. I weigh myself almost daily and only log it Mondays (to see how my weekend was) and Thursday (to see how my week was) I also measure myself to see how my body is changing in cold hard inches(I only do this on the last day of the month.) So far I have lost on average of 3.5lbs per week.
This go round I am only on week 3 but I know I can do this and do it right!!!0 -
I have learned through countless trial and error to not put all your faith into the scale.. Sure it is one measure of your success but is definitely not the only one. From the beginning I weighed in on Wednesday mornings and that was the only time I step on the scale. and no matter what the result was as long as I knew that I had done everything I could have do to be as successful as I could have been for that week, then there was nothing else that I could have done any better and you just move on.... refocus on the new week and do it all over again.... But first you have to be honest with yourself.... This whole weightloss thing isn't for a quick fix.... This isn't oh I am going to lose all this weight so I can eat whatever I want and not be expected to live the healthy lifestyle. This is a commitment for the rest of your life and if you are getting this frustrated after 1 week... then maybe your not ready to commit to the process of change the rest of your life,,,,,,0
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I have always had issues with the stupid scale, but I did do Weight Watchers about 12 years ago and successfully lost nearly 40 pounds and kept it off...until I quite smoking...and then I gained back 20. I started MFP one week ago and I weighed in this morning 2.4 pounds less than I weighed last week; so I am obviously really happy. A couple of things I will tell you: a) DRINK WATER!! I cannot stress this enough as it absolutely helps so much!! b) If you are excercising, and you use this tool correctly, it will add back in the calories that you burned...EAT some, if not all of what you burn. The rationale behind this is that your body needs enough calories to fuel your metabolism and keep your internal organs functioning properly. People are resistent to doing this, but it does work. And c) stay focused and do not beat yourself up. If you are committed to your goal, you will reach it. Do not view the scale as anything but feedback as to what you did, or didn't do, the week prior. Use the information the scale gives you to make adjustments, ie: less carbs, more protien, healthy fats, more fruit and vegetables, ect. This program is wonderful and is does work! Good luck to you and I hope that this helps!
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I really appreciate the support and advice. Instead of having a pitty binge I'm going to the gym. It's good to hear that I am not the only one, in the past when I have voiced this to my friends they always say imply something is wrong with me. Thanks!0
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I can totally relate! I hate my scale...no love. It's just plain mean to me, and who wants to put up with that type of negative relationship, anyway? LOL. According to the scale, I've only lost 6 pounds since January 1st. Just joined MFP, but I'm very glad I did....because numbers just do not lie. So, I'm putting my scale away and focusing on calories in/calories out. Luckily, someone convinced me (although I was very reluctant) to take before pics. I'm so glad I did because I see definite progress when I compare my starting pics to current pics. I know I have a long way to go, and I don't need that dumb scale "weighing" me down. Don't give up yet because I'm sure your body is busy changing, even if the scale doesn't reflect. I read somewhere once that our organs get fat, too! And sometimes the fat on the inside shrinks before the fat you can really see. I don't know if there's truth to that, but it seems to make sense! Hang in there!0
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I'm guessing someone said this, but a much better measurement for success than the scale is measuring your body (Chest, Waist, Hips at least) The scale can be thrown off by a bunch of things which have nothing to do with losing fat. Measurements less so, although there are times when bloating can increase waist measurements. The thing is weight can vary as much as 4-5 pounds through the day.0
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Ignore the scale. Concentrate on how your clothes fit.0
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One thing to remember, especally if you have started working out, is that you might be losing more physical size than actual weight. Weight is just one meaure of success and MFP will let you track key body measurements too.
My weightless is not massive at the moment but I have dropped a full 2 inches in the waist size my trousers.0 -
I've become a little bit of a zealot... Sorry in advance for all the long-windedness
I'm 50 and have struggle my whole life (I have 3 rail-thin sisters who I never measured up to)
I'm all about doing this for the long-term. Doesn't matter how long it takes as long as I can maintain.
Here's how I started:
1) tracking for a couple of weeks before I worried about losing.
(although seeing what I was eating I couldn't help but rein back a bit)
2) seeing where I could make small changes on things that weren't that important to me.
(Don't even think of taking chocolate out of my diet!!!)
--Reducing quantities where I won't notice it so much
--Swapping out things instead of eliminating them.
3) Look at my diary and started adding foods that had positive healthy effects specifically for the health issue in my family.
I found most of the things I "should" add were really yummy too! salmon, avocado, oatmeal, mango, red grapes....
(Sort of think of food as medicine to deal with family history of various health issue oatmeal is good for heart health, mango and red grapes lower cholesterol, tumeric and cinnamon good for arthritis)
4) every couple of weeks I see where I can make another couple of small changes.
If you completely revamp your diet, it's way easy to revert to old ways in times of stress. (and who doesn't have stress?)
If you make a series of small changes, food still offers you some sense of comfort.
sort of a comfort continuum, and after a while the first small changes will seem comforting in themselves.
You don't have to be perfect you just have to do better.
5) also rather than being uberstrict with the target MFP set for me I did the math to find out the calories needed to maintain my goal weight and my current weight and...
I gave myself a range with
ROCK BOTTOM: 1200 cal,
TARGET: lose 1 lb/wk as my target***
HIGH END: maintain my goal weight
As long as I keep within in this range I'll lose. I tend to naturally zig zag my calories 3-4 at very close to my target and then a higher calorie day closer to the top of my range.
SAFETY VALVE: As long as I stayed under maintain my current weight calories I won't gain. So no need to throw in the towel, just pick-up where I left off.
Once I found ways to lessen the stress, I found it way easier to focus on the process and let the results follow. (It's what worked for me some people need the stress to get them motivated. Me I get scared and overwhelmed and don't see the big goal as achievable. I only worry about it 1 lb at a time.)
***also once my lose 1 lb/week target was down to 1200 calories I switch to lose 1/2 lb/ week (1200 cal rock bottom, 1/2 lb/week as my target, maintain goal weight as the high end of my range.)
Food is not the enemy.
Oddly enough on my journey here I've reduced guilt over food.
I have the occasional treat and I fully enjoy it with no guilt involved.
The thing is since I'm not eating crap all the time the occasional treat is just that a TREAT it's special and I enjoy it so much more than when I was unconsciously shovel junk food into my face.
I figure if I've got a good plan that I can actually maintain I can keep this off for a long time to come, without feeling deprived.
Good Luck0 -
i agree...put the scale away for a few weeks, dont look or think about. also take measurements. in the last 2 weeks i have lost 6lbs, 1" from chest, 1" inch from waist and 1.5" from hips. my sons friend is a personal trainer, he tells me i am right on target. woman have a tendency to loose inches first and just a 1lb or 2 the first two weeks. please dont give up, trust me i know it's frustrating but i feel great since i started counting calories, up my daily water intake and 60 min. workouts. good luck to you..0
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Everytime I start to diet I seem to gain weight (according to my scale at least). I told myself I WILL not and CAN NOT give up this time. I think I'm just simply not going to weigh for a while. Does anyone else have a love hate relationship with their scale? I think I better take my measurements and just hide the scale.
Good on you for taking the first step.
HOWEVER
For as long as you think of it as "going on a diet", you are doomed to fail. See, going ON a diet means you will go OFF it later on. If you want lasting health and long-term improvement, you have to change the way you live, and how you relate to food and exercise on a personal level.
So, congratulations on taking the first step. Keep taking the next one, and then the next, and so on. Pretty soon, you'll look behind and not be able to see where you started from.0 -
Make sure you understand this isn't a "diet". Its a life change. Also, dont weigh yourself everyday. My weight can change 4 lbs from in the morning to night. It just all depends.
Also, its okay to eat something you crave every once in a while just eat a small portion. Say you love M&M's. Pull out 5 and out away the bag (out of reach or away from you where you cant see it) then eat your 5 M&M's slowly and enjoy them. Its okay to even do this everyday, the key is moderation and sticking to it no matter what.
When you are eating, focus on whats going on in your mouth, take your time and enjoy every bite and all the flavors. After half your plate, stop for about 3-5 minutes and evaluate how full you are. Feeling like you are wasting food is hard, but just package it up and put it in the fridge. Even if its not very much, you may get hungry a little later and often times a few bites are enough to satisfy your hunger.
Stay motivated, summer is coming soon. Know in your heart that you can and will accomplish your goals and you will!0 -
I know what you mean I have been working out, watching my calories and in the first week you hear people that say "oh I lost 15 pounds my first week!!" well I havent!! I refuse to weigh myself until at lease a month in but I feel no different except im starving, sore and tired adn ready to eat a pack of brownies and do nothing because that seems to be the only time I see any results!! ansd not good ones!! im a mother of 3, 220 pounds and im only 26 I deserve to look good! HELP!! any tips! ive been doing jillian michaels 3o0 day shred and eating 1200 calories a day. Most times I dont eat dinner!0
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You need to look at it as a Life change not a diet. I know how that sounds but its true. I had a very unhealthy life style for so long. So now I and my wife have changed things and work at it daily. MFP is a great tool to help you. good luck. Dont for get, if you do the same thing every day you will get the same results.0
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I will not weight myself any more frequently than once every two weeks, just because the pounds shouldn't be running off, even though you really want them to. I also try on old jeans once every two or three weeks just to have a better visual of the progress I'm making, and it's very inspiring! Good luck!!0
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BTDT, just a few weeks ago in fact. This is the first time in my life I have ever modified my diet or exercised. I started doing both and expected to see the scale start moving - and keep moving - that week. Turns out it didn't happen that way. I lost a pound and gained it right back. Overall, though, about 6 weeks in, I'm down about 7 pounds.
So...I get up this morning and gained 1/2 pound. This time it doesn't bother me. I now know my weight fluctuates significantly with TOM, salt intake, water intake, etc. So I didn't lose this week - or, more accurately, the scale didn't show a loss - but I know next week will be different. And if I hit the dreaded plateau, I'll deal with it. This isn't a phase, it isn't a lark - it is a lifestyle decision that I've made, and I HAVE to stick with it or I'll end up back in the same spot...the one where I couldn't climb a single flight of stairs without being out of breath. Unacceptable!0 -
I've become a little bit of a zealot... Sorry in advance for all the long-windedness
I'm 50 and have struggle my whole life (I have 3 rail-thin sisters who I never measured up to)
I'm all about doing this for the long-term. Doesn't matter how long it takes as long as I can maintain.
Here's how I started:
1) tracking for a couple of weeks before I worried about losing.
(although seeing what I was eating I couldn't help but rein back a bit)
2) seeing where I could make small changes on things that weren't that important to me.
(Don't even think of taking chocolate out of my diet!!!)
--Reducing quantities where I won't notice it so much
--Swapping out things instead of eliminating them.
3) Look at my diary and started adding foods that had positive healthy effects specifically for the health issue in my family.
I found most of the things I "should" add were really yummy too! salmon, avocado, oatmeal, mango, red grapes....
(Sort of think of food as medicine to deal with family history of various health issue oatmeal is good for heart health, mango and red grapes lower cholesterol, tumeric and cinnamon good for arthritis)
4) every couple of weeks I see where I can make another couple of small changes.
If you completely revamp your diet, it's way easy to revert to old ways in times of stress. (and who doesn't have stress?)
If you make a series of small changes, food still offers you some sense of comfort.
sort of a comfort continuum, and after a while the first small changes will seem comforting in themselves.
You don't have to be perfect you just have to do better.
5) also rather than being uberstrict with the target MFP set for me I did the math to find out the calories needed to maintain my goal weight and my current weight and...
I gave myself a range with
ROCK BOTTOM: 1200 cal,
TARGET: lose 1 lb/wk as my target***
HIGH END: maintain my goal weight
As long as I keep within in this range I'll lose. I tend to naturally zig zag my calories 3-4 at very close to my target and then a higher calorie day closer to the top of my range.
SAFETY VALVE: As long as I stayed under maintain my current weight calories I won't gain. So no need to throw in the towel, just pick-up where I left off.
Once I found ways to lessen the stress, I found it way easier to focus on the process and let the results follow. (It's what worked for me some people need the stress to get them motivated. Me I get scared and overwhelmed and don't see the big goal as achievable. I only worry about it 1 lb at a time.)
***also once my lose 1 lb/week target was down to 1200 calories I switch to lose 1/2 lb/ week (1200 cal rock bottom, 1/2 lb/week as my target, maintain goal weight as the high end of my range.)
Food is not the enemy.
Oddly enough on my journey here I've reduced guilt over food.
I have the occasional treat and I fully enjoy it with no guilt involved.
The thing is since I'm not eating crap all the time the occasional treat is just that a TREAT it's special and I enjoy it so much more than when I was unconsciously shovel junk food into my face.
I figure if I've got a good plan that I can actually maintain I can keep this off for a long time to come, without feeling deprived.
Good Luck
Excellent approach.0
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