Feeling very discouraged and want to give up!

Hi Everyone,

So I'm despertly trying to lose the last 50lbs. and NOTHING is working, I've switched my workouts (65min. 5 days/wk.) Eating all my calories with a 500-700 cal. Usually closer to 500 though.  And nothing, when I stepped on the scale on Monday I had lost .5 lb. but now I"m up 1.5 lbs. ??? WHY!  I drink plenty of water eat healthy and I'm just so dissapointed.  For the past few weeks I was doing Trubo Jam for the 65 min. and I was losing, but the other day I decided to do my "bootcamp" and did the whole 55 min. of circuit training and now i"m paying for it since Thurs. my body and muscles have been so sore.  Could I have gained weight because my muscles hurt and their is water around them or something ( I think I readsomething like this before) Please hlep me I don't know what to do anymore, I Just want to give up I've lost almost 100lbs. and it seems like my body doesn't want to lose anymore (which I can't have!)  I'm Female, 22 5'6 and 225lbs. I don't think this is a good weight, even if I do have a lot of muscle (some defined some not) I've been eating 2200 cals/day when I workout and I don't know how much to eat when not workingout, but please any suggestions. Thanks!

Yes, it's very likely that your muscles are retaining water from your workout on Thursday. That could easily account for the 1.5 pound gain. 

Original Post by cosmographer:

Yes, it's very likely that your muscles are retaining water from your workout on Thursday. That could easily account for the 1.5 pound gain. 

Agreed

Thank You! Makes me feel better, any suggestions on how to fix it?

Time, drink water, and time. And the knowledge that it's not fat :)

Girl, you've lost almost 100 pounds??? Don't give up now!  Just think how awesome you have done!  I mean, really - WAY TO GO!!!!

Just keep doing what you know is right, and you will get to where you need to be.  Maybe you need to up your calories, or lower them, or switch up your exercise.  Try all of the "tricks", lol, but DON'T GIVE UP!!

Hang in there, and keep us posted!

Dawn

I agree with Dawn.  The ONLY way to fail is to give up.  If you keep at it, you will start to loose again.  Dawn suggested great "tricks" to try...another I have found was that recently when I was feeling gross and in a rut, I found that what I needed was to space my eating differently.  It actually helped me to strictly time my eating into 3 meals and 3 snacks instead of grazing all day.

You have come a long way.  Be proud and know that you can stick with it!

You might be working out too often.  If you're doing exercises that are breaking down your muscles, they need 24 hours to repair in between sessions.  Maybe try to cut down on the muscle tearing exercises every other day and just do light cardio.  Give those muscles a chance to recover, they'll build up stronger then ever and help you burn calories more efficiently.  Just a guess, of course, there are so many possible factors, but possibly worth a try!

You hang in there, girl. You've done such an awesome job, so far. Just keep doing what you know and feel to be "right" and you'll start attacking those last pounds. I know plateaus make you want to pull your hair out, but just remember that what you're doing IS working... You're so much healthier, now, and you're on the last lap! The scale is our best friend when we can see a noticeable difference and our worst enemy when it won't budge... But it's still just a number. Don't let it define who you are or what you're doing. You're doing a great job and you CAN stick it out to the end. Just hang in there!

*Hugs and Good Luck*

Asia

HEY MEA THE WORST THING YOU COULD POSSIBLY DO IS GIVE UP. YOUR NO QUITTER ,PLUS ALL THAT HARD WORK FOR NOTHING.I DONT THINK SO.KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! AND REMEMBER KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE,WHICH IS A HEALTHY BEAUTIFUL BODY WHICH YOU ALREADY HAVE! HANG-IN THERE GIRL!

Original Post by meagang:

Thank You! Makes me feel better, any suggestions on how to fix it?

I know that eating more is the LAST thing any of us here wants to hear....but it's the only answer I know that seems to work.  I have also been on a plateu for approx. 4 months after losing 125 pounds.  So I know your pain.  We have all been told for years through various dieting programs that we can't have this food or that food, (remember the evil Banana?!?) because if we did we could not loose weight.  I blame all of these diet programs for sabotaging our healthy eating mentalities with messages of depravation. 

So, what shoud you do to fix it, as you say?  Add the calories your body is crying out for in a healthy way.  Eat things like more fruit, avocado on your sandwich or salad, healthy nuts such as almonds (no salt is better) or almonds.   These foods are high in the good calories and fats we need, and a little goes a long way.  Keep up your healthy lifestyle of exercise and good eating, but ALWAYS remember to honor your body.  You deserve it.  Good luck!

I seem to be stuck the last two weeks, still counting but the scales are slowly creeping up instead of going where I want them to go.  this weekend I had a girl's weekend away.  I ate much more than usual over the last six months, but in no way did I grossly overeat..  So we shall see what happens, if it is like my past experience the weight will take a month of careful counting to get rid of and that will get me back to my previous weight, not lower.  I think my body just doesn't understand this "eat more to lose more routine".  But it was one fun weekend!  I need a better educated body that understands that 3500 calories is needed to gain a pound!

Thank you Everyone for your replies! your all Awesome :)  I have been eating more I try to eat 2200 cals a day when I work out.  And I only burn 2880 cals on those days as well.  And when I don't workout I only burn about 2100 cals.  So I'm scared to eat over that on weekends (when I don't exercise) because I'm so scared of gaining now.  In the beginning (and still now) I never exercised on the weekends those were my days to relax and eat what I wanted (if I wanted a treat I'd have one) and I kept losing, but now I'm so paranoid and obsessed with food that I'm scared to eat it seems, especially on days I'm not exercising!  Like tonight for ex) hubby and I usually eat some fruit and popcorn before bed while we watch some t.v.  But I'm feeling like some icecream ,a blizzard maybe LOL I never used to eat out or have thingsl ike that but it seems lately I h ave been (not so much eating out but the icecream etc...)  This of course only happens on the weekend! and I feel so guilty about it.  I don't know what to do.  I'm sure it doesn't kill me I'm just so sick of being in the 200's I just want to get out of it, I think to mysef, everyone who knows me and knows I"ve lost 95lbs.  thinks I'm so "small"but to the normal ppl i pass everyday who don't know me, I'm sure are thinking "Wow taht girl is HUGE!" since being over 200lbs. is not considered "healthy" Oi why is life so frustrating, I just keep thinking the CC says its going to take another yr. to lose my "goal weight" amount, although when I started I never thoguht it would take 2 yrs. 1.5yrs. at most, and thats where i am at now :( .

Meagang, I am glad I have caught your posts, because I have been feeling exactly as you have.  It is so hard to come so far, and yet seem to have so far to go.  I also have the same fears about eating as you do.  So this weekend I am practicing what I am preaching.  I have been eating healthy, but more caloric content, and I am going to see what happens.  I also don't typically work out on the weekends, but sometimes I do go for a walk with my family, or like last night, I went roller skating.  Nothing formal.  I will let you all know the result in a few days, when I weigh in again.

Please, please don't give up on yourself.  When I start to feel this way, I try to remember the whole journey I have taken, and how wonderful it feels to be where I am at now.  I know it could take another year to finish the weightloss, but that is O.K.  because what we all must remember is this is a permanent lifestyle change- not a diet.  If you think of it as a diet, you will stop when the weight is off, and old patterns will re-emerge.

Thank you for your support!  I've been eating healthy and when I want a treat I'll have a little like I said before.  However not working out today has led me to belive that i should only be eting around 1900 calories (to be sure i don't eat over what I burn and gain even more weight :(!  )  Anyways I'm still so hungry I had a small piece of steak for dinner, with a tblsp. of potatoes and tons of veggies and I just had a couple of arrowroot cookies.  I'm drinking my water fine so I know its not from that! I'm so confused as to what I should be eating when I don't work out. For a 500 cal deficit on days i don't workout itso nly around 1600 cals. Maybe I'm just destined to be fat :( I don't know i feel like such a failure most days.  I gained 1.5lbs. since yesterday apparently even though its supposedly just "water weight" why is it there if I'm drinking all my water :(

Original Post by meagang:

 I'm sure it doesn't kill me I'm just so sick of being in the 200's I just want to get out of it,

 Wow you sure don't look like you are 200 lbs....I would think 175 ish!!!

WTG you look GREAT!  Keep up the great work.  We'll help you figure it out!

~H~

Thanks! you made my day :)  I do infact weigh 224.5 thats what the scale says anyways, but I hasve a lot of muscle which I've heard doesn't actually affect your weight! so I guess I just carry it well? I don't know.Thanks anyways though :)

Wow NO WAY...are you sure your scale is right?  I refuse to believe that!  How tall are you?  6'11"? LOL  SEriously...wow I"m amazed!

I would say you only need to lose MAYBE another 25 lbs at most....but it's just my opinion!

~H~

I'm almost positive because every other scale I've tried is around the same weight :S I'm 5'6 25lbs. really I have huge legs though and arms everything is very flabby especially my tummy now that I've lost weight and the muscle has built underneath the fat! it just hangs their and jiggles like "real" fat so to speak instead of fat that is attached to muscle.  I have a 6 pack undertheir somewhere i just wish it would show through :( You look AMAZING by the way! hwo did you lose so much weight and tone your abs, I can't even make it past 100 lbs. and here you are lost 100+ now! Congrats! I'm jealous.

Just keep at it. The scale is such a blunt instrument. Its not measuring the amount of fat on your body. Your plan sounds really good. Stick to your guns.