new- my problem is if I don't see results, I get down

I've never really done a support group type thing like this-hopefull this can help me out. My biggest problem is not so much the type of food I eat, but how much I eat. I have tried counting calories and such and in the more recent weeks I have worked very hard at measuring, counting, and working out- but to no avail. I know it takes time, but I have a hard time waiting and not seeing any results and then I give up. I get into the mentality of- why try so hard when the weight stays the same? I know that isn't the right way to think about it... I would love help/advice on how to get out of that mentality.....

If you dont do anything you really will stay the same forever or it might get worse.

If you do something and just stick with it a year from now you will remember this and think:

If I hadnt done anything Id still be _____ (fill in the blank) but now Im ____ (fill in the blank).

Just think about the person you might be in the future.  Know that she cant exist unless you do something about it, even if the changes are slow.

I used to be exactly the same way!  This time around, I am not calling it a diet and I am not doing it to "lose weight."  I am changing my lifestyle and I am doing it to be healthy for my kids.

I think the best way to look at it is to see all of the results, not just what the scale says.  I mean...do you feel better about yourself when you know you eat the amount of calories you should?  That's a positive result.  I've noticed that my skin looks so much healthier because of all the water I'm drinking...and I can walk upstairs to tuck the kids in without being out of breath!  I think those are positive results.

And I only weigh myself once a week.  It is SO hard not to get on that scale and see how I'm doing...but if I weigh myself more often than that, the results vary every single day at all different times of the day and that can be frustrating.

I guess the bottom line is, in my opinion, look at ALL the results of eating healthier and working out - not just whether or not you've lost what you planned to this week!  Hang in there!  The scale will follow - it is just a matter of time.

I felt that way before. Like nothing is working and really is all this counting really worth it. Well the counting keeps you in check, and when you reach  800 calories within the middle of the day you start to really watch your intake.

I count calories now to keep me in check, and it does work for me. It's hard work. I've done it for over a year and 6 months and I've lost weight. I've been on the diet eat right kick for 9 years of my life, and for once in my life.. I made up my mind and I did it.

I stop thinking about the results and started off with baby steps to a healthy me.

Stop looking for the results, and start with working on how to get to where you want to be.

Get a plan together and focus on it.

Like! I'm going to dance for an hour per-day

Like! I'm going to eat 3 servings of fruit/veggies each and everyday.

Like! I'm going to start cooking differently.

Baby steps, and hide the damn scales for the first few weeks. JUST HIDE IT.

Focus on baby steps.

 THIS IS NOT A DIET- THIS IS A NEW WAY OF LIFE.

lynn, is right. If you can look at it as starting a healthy lifestyle rather than a diet, then you WILL have something to feel good about. I know even when I'm not losing, I take some pride in the fact that the 'score' for my food logs is much higher than when I first started. That makes me feel good.

I like (and get) what you are saying... perhaps I should write out non weight related goals and look for those changes? I might have to keep the scale away for a few weeks- and start writing down other positive changes.

Thanks!!

Those are excellent ideas!

Alot of people don't show the loss on the scale but rather in the way their clothes fit etc. I find if I am getting discouraged at the scale, even though I feel I have lost, I try on something (maybe a goal outfit) to see how it fits, and more often than not, I can tell the difference there! Eventually you will see the scale start to move, so don't get discouraged and stay motivated!

Good luck!

thanks holababy- I guess I really haven't seen it in my clothes either- but that is probably because I give up too fast ..... I guess when I started gaining weight I didn't really notice at first, then pants started to get snug, but the scale didn't change (weird?) and then boom- pants too tight and scale was up, at least that is when I fully noticed the weight gain. SO, I have to keep in mind that it will work the same order as I get healthier.

Thanks for the suggestion! Maybe I will try on my goal outfit every two weeks or so and monitor that way as well!

You all are brilliant minds!

Nutellabella, Its all about what you want for yourself. I always tell myself, I'm healing myself from the inside out. I'm eating right because... I know all this unhealthy eating over the years is going to bring forth a health issue I'm not ready to face. So, I work on healing myself within. Killing the fat that is around my organs, and not worrying about the fat on the outside. It will take care of it's self. When you are losing weight on the inside, you are really losing the weight on the outside as well.

Focus on drinking water 60 to 80 ozs a day.
Focus on eating lean cuts of meat. (Chicken or Fish) "Serving size" the size of your fist.
Focus on eating Fruits, nuts{becareful, Salad, steamed or raw veggies

Oatmeal, it really works for filling you up first thing in the morning. Add some fruit to that, and you have a great healthy breakfast.

2 snacks that are 60 to 80 calories. YOU WANT 1 OF THOSE SNACKS TO BE A REAL TREAT. Like! Frozen Yogurt. I make my mind thing we are really cheating with icecreme. Frozen Yogurt with chunks of peaches in it. I do love it.

WHEN YOU SHOP

You want to look for sodium, carb levels, sugar levels, hiden fats, sat fats, you really want to stay away from sat fats. Anything under 2.0grams of sat fat is good, but no sat fat is the key. But you can have 0.5grams upto 1.5gram.

It's all about choice, and I think focusing on what you eat is part of the weight loss key.

I understand your frustration.  I'm stuggling too w/ staying motivated to eat well, watch portions, exercise more and keep going even though the scale doesn't move... or moves up!  How about we just say, F*** the scale!  I'm going to try and focus on how I feel and the truth is... I feel great!  I try and list the positive choices I've made regarding my health every day.   Most importantly, I forgive myself for not being perfect.  

Hang in there.

 

winecountry-I think that's a HUGE part of the whole scheme of things-none of us are perfect (we forget to tell ourselves that sometimes) I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I get very frustrated with myself when I mess up.  Like you nutella-there are times when I feel like throwing in the towel.  winecountry-I like your advise-I need to take it and often!! Thanks!

Nice to hear from you noni1200.   I think today's montra should be:  "I am perfect just the way I am".   Lets look at ourselves in the mirror today and say it out loud.  

Have a great day!

 

it is good to see that there are others who have those moments of thoughts, but are able to get past that! Sometimes I look at others and think they make it look so easy, but what they do is have the power of positive thinking...

"I am perfect just the way I am"

Love it!

My motivation is none existant I feel I can never change, I've tried a lot of things even a gym 2 years ago and since then I've been having such problems with my feet, such tender feet, I'm easily out of breath now even bending over picking up things off the floor is a real task, what has happened to me, this can not continue and I realize it, but I'm in such a rut........

You know Lineline...i feel you, but then I look at all the woman who have done it! im sure that they said the same thing to themselves every single time they tried and failed... but somewhere somehow at one point they all made it thru...Its like a cigarret addiction, I quit smoking and it's the hardest thing ever, right up there with my addiction to food, but Im taking it day by day.  Im just tired of not being strong enough to do what my heart wants me to do.  Im tired of being weak.  So hopefully this is my moment to do what so many other woman have done, and maybe it's yours too.

Hi

Well don't be down because it may be a health issue maybe you should consider seeing a doctor about your glands and if you don't endure to the end will you ever see what the end be? So walk on and just be of good courage.

Nari

original post from lynnhaslost

 

Baby steps, and hide the damn scales for the first few weeks. JUST HIDE IT.

Focus on baby steps.

 THIS IS NOT A DIET- THIS IS A NEW WAY OF LIFE.

 First of all, it is not about dieting!  Diets do not do anything but set people up to fail.  It is about a commitment to change yourself and your lifestyle.  It is about eating healthy and doing things that are good for your body.  Food is a fuel that runs our bodies and we eat to keep it running well!  If you eat unhealthy, your body suffers.  If you eat healthy you can feel the difference.  So change your thoughts first and I know you will reach your goals.  It took me until I was 45 to figure this out even though I worked in Nutrition for a school district for 10 years!  I was great at telling people what to eat but not following what I knew to be right!  I have lost 60 lbs and have 43 more to go according to this site!  YES IT TOOK A COUPLE OF YEARS....but the weight has stayed off.  This site has helped me tremendously because when you log what you take in it gives you a totally new perspective....I first learned that I was not taking in enough calories(which I kinda knew!) so I had been stuck at one weight for 6+ months.  I started walking 3 miles a day and increased my calories and after 3 weeks my metabolism began to change.  The weight is coming off.  Please remember....this is for you!  Change your thoughts and you will benefit as well as your body!

This is what I tell myself when the scale bounces up and down. "it took me x amount of time to get the weight on, so it should take me about twice as long to get it off."

Also, I never EVER set a number. Just a 5 lbs range so that the everyday bounce of wieght doesn't get me down.

This is trite, I know, but just keep on pressin. If you don't meet your goals for a day, then hit erase and start over the next. As much as I would like to some times, I can't change yesterday. I can only learn from my mistakes so that I won't make the same ones today. Case in point

Had about 3 mini german chocolate cupcakes yesterday, 220 cals a pop.(They were so good!!) I didn't punish or torment myself today by "making up for it by eating less." I just reminded myself of my cal limits, and that was it.

Last idea. This is for you, what you want and what you need. No one else. You can be selfish in this area. Screw anyone elses ideas or suggestions ( unless they are a doc -_-) You are working for you!!

 

 

Original Post by m0m6:

This is what I tell myself when the scale bounces up and down. "it took me x amount of time to get the weight on, so it should take me about twice as long to get it off."

Also, I never EVER set a number. Just a 5 lbs range so that the everyday bounce of wieght doesn't get me down.

This is trite, I know, but just keep on pressin. If you don't meet your goals for a day, then hit erase and start over the next. As much as I would like to some times, I can't change yesterday. I can only learn from my mistakes so that I won't make the same ones today. Case in point

Had about 3 mini german chocolate cupcakes yesterday, 220 cals a pop.(They were so good!!) I didn't punish or torment myself today by "making up for it by eating less." I just reminded myself of my cal limits, and that was it.

Last idea. This is for you, what you want and what you need. No one else. You can be selfish in this area. Screw anyone elses ideas or suggestions ( unless they are a doc -_-) You are working for you!!

 

 

Very wise.  I do the same thing!  Not everybody loses weight the same way.  Some people do lo-carb, I know I can't, haha.  But this morning I weighed myself, and when  I saw the number on the scale I thought "That's weird, I really just *feel* lighter..."  So I went to the closet and tried on my two goal outfits - a dress I got in 2004 and a pair of jeans I got back in college (in the 90's - don't judge me!  hehe) And sure enough!  For the first time in YEARS!  I zipped up the dress all the way (and it wasn't too tight!) and I zipped up and buttoned the jeans (still a little tight, but those are some pretty tight jeans to begin with).  Remember, there are lots of ways your body loses what it gained.  Maybe you are retaining water; maybe you haven't passed everything you ate the previous day.  Your body will respond in its own time.  Its frustrating, I know, but the day you see the number you want, or zip up the pants you want to wear, you'll only think of how "easy" it was!  :)