Losing my motivation...

I'm tired of worrying about my diet and counting calories... mainly I think I'm disappointed that my weight loss has slowed down drastically - I lost fourteen pounds in November and another ten in December and more than halfway through January I've shifted a measly four! And I measured my waist this morning to see if it had changed at all and it hasn't budged a millimetre in two weeks. I lost a measly 0.4 pounds last week! So I feel like why am I even bothering?!

Oh my goodness! You are doing so well, don't you DARE stop now! Take a day off the counting if it's boring you. Don't go totally whacko, eat healthy foods, but enjoy a FEW forbidden things that you've been denying yourself. Look at the past two months...what a celebration for you! Yes, the past week you have not seen the same results. Did you know that you're probably gaining muscle and losing fat at the same time? You can lose inches and actually gain weight, so don't climb on the pity wagon too quickly. Keep it up...what's your goal? It's not a bad idea to indulge just a little one day a week to keep yourself from getting stale. Twenty-five pounds is FABULOUS work, dear. Are you working out as well?

I agree, it does get tiring to always be counting and not see the reward on the scale of having dropped another pound, but stick with it and it will happen, don't give up, it is definitely worth bothering over! You're doing a fantastic job. Everyone has times when they feel like giving up, but it will pass and you'll be glad you stuck with it. Good Luck!!

Oh I hear you on this one! I've stopped counting the calories and I think that is a bad thing because it lulls me into not being conscious about what I eat.

So I what I am trying to do is not be so completely anal about the counting calories (i was spending hours trying to decide if I should actually input the nutritional info of things like the wheat bread I like, but is not one of the options. Realized that was ridiculous and way too time consuming and substituted a different brand).

May I try to answer your question "So I feel like why am I even bothering?!"

You are bothering because you are doing great and you are enjoying the successful feeling of the past 3 months! Feel free to private message if you just want to bitch about how annoying calorie counting is :)

No one here has given up on you, so I don't think you should give up on yourself!!

I bet if you did a rethink on your activities and tweaked your metabolism a bit, changed up your routine, even what you are eating, you will see another move in the right direction.  The other thing I want to mention is that just about everyone on here who has successfully lost weight talks at one time or another about that dreaded plateu.  It is just one of those unavoidable things.  I'm dreading seeing it myself, I haven't lost that much weight yet.

So hunker down woman!! Stick to it!

Kajikit, please don't give up. I had a plateu from Thanksgiving, where I played with the same four pounds over and over.  It was people like you who kept me going.  This is not a set back for you.  Your body is probably trying to tell you it needs a little rest-it has changed a lot in the past few months.  I agree with the above posters-shake up your routine a bit.  Enjoy a few more calories, give up one day of exercise for this week, and then get back to business.  You should see the results accordingly.  As for myself, I have lost 8 pounds this month-so I know it works! :)

Oh, please don't give up.  We are all here to support one another and day to day I read how successful people have been and it really helps motivate me to work harder.  You have done and exceptional job losing what you have lost.  I know it's a struggle from time to time but don't give up.  Stay on track, cut yourself a little slack, because I'm sure that when you first started this you didn't expect the results that you've had so far.  Reward yourself for all of the hard work and effort that you've put in so far and just think of how great it will feel when you reach your next goal.

 

i bet everyone has has this problem, more than once for sure. just think though, you have lost so much weight already, why would you want to give up? try on your old clothes that no longer fit and you'll realize that what your doing may be going slow but definatley worth it!!!!

kajikat- you have been very inspiring to me and I'm sure to many others.  The weight loss does tend to slow some and it can be disappointing, but remember how good it feels to lose.  That feeling when your clothes fit nicer and you feel good about yourself.  Everyone has a different reason to want to lose- try jotting down all of the reasons you've decided to lose some weight.  I also look for inspiring articles about others-when I feel like giving up.  Try making some changes that will charge you up a bit.  If nothing else think how good you feel about yourself- that is worth continuing on.  That feeling of satisfaction and success will return.    

omg you've done amazingly well!

Kajikit ....

It totally sucks that weight loss often starts strong, then slowly tapers off.... there's really no other way of just saying that.  You don't like it. I don't like it. None of us like it ... but there isn't much we can do about it unless we want to consistently decrease our calories and increase our exercise to maintain the same calorie deficits we started with ... and even then weight loss STILL slows because our metabolism has, too!

So... what's the solution? Trust the process ... because it really DOES work. As long as you eat fewer calories than you burn, the weight WILL come off... but it may not be according to any of our schedules.  We cannot control the scale any more than we can control the calendar .... much less our bodies, our hormones, and everything that goes along with being female!

Focus on what you CAN control ... the number of calories you eat.... the amount of water you drink ... how healthy and nutritious your diet is ... how much fiber you are eating ... what vitamins you take ... and how much exercise you get. 

Trust me, some successes don't show on a tape measure or on a scale ... but they show in other ways. (My cholesterol has improved with healthy eating. My triglycerides have improved with healthy eating. My blood sugars have improved with healthy eating. My blood pressure has improved with healthy eating.) Chances are, your body has also had some of its own successes ... some the same as mine, some just things like having more energy, sleeping better, staying healthier this winter, having more movement and flexibility, better skin, better nails, healthier hair ... you name it!

And the BIGGEST SUCCESS? You've learned about nutrition. You've learned about healthy eating. You've learned about portion control. You've learned about meal-planning. You've learned how to read labels and make wiser, healthier choices. THESE ARE LIFE-SAVING, LIFE-PROLONGING, INVALUABLE, SHAREABLE SKILLS!

Hang in there, we're with you.

=^..^= MOLLY

Kajikit...

I completely understand, and this morning i kinda felt the same way. I just started my diet last week loosing 13lbs in 1 week. This week i have lost nothing at all so far and it is totally frustrating. But you need to change your frame of mind. Look at what you have taught yourself You have learned to discipline your eating habits and you should look at that and find strength to keep it up. I look at my changes in only one week and can't believe how many bad foods and calories i consumed. Also i am not sure if you visit a local gym or walk or your activity level, but i have been going to the gym nearly every day for cardio, and i joined a local ball hockey league, i would highly recommend finding something that you enjoy like a competitive sport to drag you out at least a couple times a week. Your metabolism will increase and you will loose weight without having to worry so much about diet.

 

You are doing awsome keep up the good work, and remember to have a cheater day 1 day each week, you can't stop yourself from eating the foods you love, but you can control your portion!

 

 

Leigh 

Nope, uh uh Kajikit!  No way are we letting you quit!  I know you won't, you're just tired of doing this.  Well, I have those days too and trust me, I started before you and have only lost 16 lbs!  BUT, it's worth it.  I can see a change in your photos, and you will see more too.  One thing that's been helping me not get too tired of this is eating maintenence a couple times a week, and I'm still losing.  It helps me feel full and allows me to indulge a little more.  All I can say is what's the alternative to keep this up?  Being uncomfortable?  Gaining weight?  Starting this whole process again at a heavier weight?  UGG.  Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and next thing you know you will be that much furthur down the road.  I stepped on the scale hoping to see a change today and saw none.  Oh well.  My pants that were too tight when I started are now starting to bag on me.  :)       & nbsp;      &nbs p; Good luck  and keep it up,  

Give yourself a break, do a week at maintenance and then come back to it fresh.