I could use a good head slapping

I need someone to give me a good honest reality check. I spent two months losing ten pounds. I feel like I have given up on losing another ten. I don't seem to have that sense of focus I had before. Please someone give me a reality check or some encouragement or whatever you feel might help. I don't want to waste what I have already accomplished.

*kmyla slaps megham1*

How much do you weigh?  How much do you want to weigh?  What is a healthy weight for you?  What are you doing to lose weight?  Even if you maintain at your current weight you won't lose what you've accomplished!

I lost 35-40 pounds in 12 months -- about 3 pounds per month average.  So 10 in 2 is 5 pounds per average  -- not shabby.  How long has it been since you dropped a pound?

Don't give up Megham1!!

Thanks kmyla! It is people like you who stop for a second in their busy lives to offer encouragement to others that really make my day.

 I currently weigh 166-ish. My goal is 155. I started at 175-ish. I felt great when I was losing weight, but I seem to have gotten boared with it. I think I may have gained back a pound or two and it has me feeling a little down on myself. I really need to get back on track. I think being busy has distracted me from tracking my intake in cc. I need to refocus. I am hoping for 160 by the end of October.

Congratulations on your weight loss! I am very impressed.

It does get boring...that is a fact, and it does feel so good to weigh less too. I think sometimes when you get bored with losing...you can maintain what you have lost for a while untill you feel motivated to lose more.

I have lost 30 pounds this year....and after 6 months of it I was tired of it and  at the same time feeling pretty satisfied with reaching the mid 170's. Well, I maintained a couple months, and now I feel ready to go again. I feel good knowing I can maintain...since that will be a majority of what I (we) have to do when we reach our goals...and I have noticed that instead of being happy I don't weigh in the 200's...I know I still have more to lose before I am really comfortable.

 I think the key is to not give up.....if you need a break...take one, but don't sabatoge your efforts.

I used to set up "the perfect diet" and stick to it religiously for some length of time, get bored, and quit -- usually going back up to my previous weight.

This time I decided to set up a reasonable lifestyle, both eating less and moving more.  I decided it didn't matter how long it took me to get to goal weight, because I was living the same way I would continue living once I was at goal (maybe with an extra treat once in awhile).  I made small changes and let those changes become habits before I tackled the next change.

The result after almost 10 months is I am almost halfway to goal.  I am not bored, I am not feeling "will this diet never end?" because I don't feel as if I am dieting at all, I am just living as if I already weigh my goal weight.  I decided "more haste, less speed" would be my motto, and so far it is working. 

Since you don't have much weight to lose, why not consider calculating a maintenance calorie target for your goal weight, commit to moving more than you do now, and gradually, you will get there without dieting?  Good luck!

Original Post by dkenworthy:

This time I decided to set up a reasonable lifestyle, both eating less and moving more.  I decided it didn't matter how long it took me to get to goal weight, because I was living the same way I would continue living once I was at goal (maybe with an extra treat once in awhile). 

 This is working for me, too.  Instead of thinking "I'm on a diet" try to adopt this philosophy.

Thanks so much everyone! Your comments have really improved my mood. I guess I really did need a break and I think I am ready to start losing again. I have been more active lately. I have began running and walking more often. I went for a hike this weekend for two hours and swam for two hours last weekend. Calorie Count here I come, again!

Go Megham!!

Dkenworthy and rufus are right -- it's a lifestyle change, not a diet.  Diets are what people do to lose weight and then gain it right back again.  We, on the other hand, intend to keep off the evil weight and remain healthy until we get hit by a bus or something!!  Yay us!

Good on you for being ready to start again.  Move, pay attention, eat healthy, and don't get discouraged.

About getting bored -- maybe it's my personality or something but I actually like counting calories.  I think it's a disorder.  I count everything anyway!!!  Also when I first started on CC I joined a group and met some really neat people -- four of us went to facebook and now we talk all the time there and on the phone and are planning on meeting in person someday soon.  The point -- CC is a great place to hook up with people who can keep you motivated and provide insight.

hey - morning.

Dont give up

i gave up every time before this one with CC.

& thats why im here - cos I gave up every time before......

Im on day 142 & this morning I broke the platau ive been on for about 4 weeks ish. Do you think i could move below 160-158. Nope i bounced there for weeks - up & down , I came off it for a day but straight back up to 160but...... I was throwing in the towel too. Why ?? I was sick of it - I was tired of it - i wanted cream cakes & pizza ( together). So I went to the press & guess what i got a bowl of porridge.. What your saying ..... My body wouldnt let me - im in this routine now , my lifestyle change, Im not on a diet !!!!!!!

Well this morning - im 155.32... so Im almost 13lbs down since I started on Aug 7th @ 168 . I started CC on Aug 11th @ 165. Sept 22 im 155.32 !!!!

If I had thrown in the towel I would be easily 175 because I had been steadily putting on weight. Im viewing the NOT THROWING IN THE TOWEL as a 20 lb loss if you  knwo what I mean.

So Ill make a deal with you - I dont knwo how long your doing this but if you get to day 142 ill let you throw in the towel lol

Please stick with it, buddy someone - anyone, just dont give up.....

Anyway i better get moving time to walk to school......

Jen

PS: My kids never knew what their legs were for until I made a little change of walking to school rather than driving... Now there is tears if we have to drive ( Only 1 excuse why we have to drive & thats the bloody weather !!) PS its raining here in Dublin AGAIN - enough to throw anyone off the wagon.. lol

Everybody has given great advice, and I agree with it all, I started changing my lifestyle last Aug, weighing 238lbs, we had booked a holiday to Spain and I did not want to be the fattest person by the pool.  Not only that I knew deep down that if I continued to put on weight my health was going to start to deteriorate.

I initially lost about 30 - 35lbs quite quickly, and then my loss steadied out, today 22/9, I weigh 169lbs, my goal being around 140lbs.  I did find it depressing when the weigh slowed down, but I began to think what the hell, as long as my weigh doesn't go up.

I also concentrated more on the size of my clothes, I get such a buzz from wearing clothing in a size smaller or tight fittings items, and it makes me feel good, which then gives me the confidence and the ability to continue with my new lifestyle.

I am pleased to say that I went on holiday in June, wearing size 16 (uk) clothes instead of size 22/24 (UK), and no way was I the fattest person.

I found the following really helps me:

If you need to lose weight, any loss is good, even if it is only a 1lb a month. 

It doesn't hurt to have a day off, but don't go mad, if you fancy something calorie laden, have a little and eat it slowly and consciously.  You will find that eating slowly allows you to taste the food properly and you may find that it does not taste as good as you thought.  Eating slowly, also allows you to sense when you are full.  When this happens you should stop eating.

Finally if you do commit the mortal sin of giving in and binging, don't beat yourself up, none of us are perfect.  Just get up the next day and start to be healthy again.  The only person to think you have failed will be yourself.

Well done on your current loss, and good luck on continuing.

I'm sorry, but I don't have advice, though I do REALLY agree with most of what the others have offered. :)  I just wanted to say you aren't alone!

I was so gung ho the first three weeks, and I have seen results. Now though, my interest is waning (the "newness" is gone, I guess).

So, hang in there, especially since this is a "lifestyle change" and not a diet--the ONLY way to do this healthy weight loss and life, in my opinion. :)

This has ended up being one of the smartest threads I have ever read :) I really like all of your experiences, and the great attitudes.

I am glad you feel better megham.....this thread makes me feel better too.

Listen  - we're all in this together..............I was a quitter - always was so now ive slapped my own head around a bit & gotten some sense ther is no way im going to let anyone else quit !

My mum was a quitter too for 32 years ( her pregnancy with me sent her from an Irish size 6 to a 16 & she never lost it )  but not this time - shes going gung-ho at it too - down 4 kg in a month & never felt better  & my 6 year old told here today -" Hey Gran, your not fat anymore & I can see your boobies !"

If that dont make you smile nothing will - now off on your bike with ya & keep on the right road ! 

Cute, Jenny!  I bet your "mum" loved that comment!

I lost 8 lbs the first two weeks of the diet.  Water weight, I assume.  In the next 2 weeks, I lost another 4 pounds.  I thought I was moving right along.  I then stayed at the same weight range (within 4-5 pounds) for a solid month before I could get the downward momentum going again!  I even spiked upwards a bit. Now I'm finally losing again, and in the last week or so I've lost about two pounds. 

Honestly, as long as you're staying healthier, the numbers don't have to be such a focus.  Sure, I'd love to drop all this weight in a few weeks, but that's not going to happen. No big deal.  But I'm eating healthier, working out, and I feel good about my new lifestyle, so who cares?  I'm still much healthier than I was before, even if the numbers aren't moving as fast as I'd like.  And you are too!

Keep in mind that people who lose the weight slowly are the most likely to keep it off.  It also gives your skin time to stretch back, and lets you build muscle so you look toned.  If you're losing weight slowly, you actually have an advantage over people who lose quickly. 

Don't get discouraged!  It will come off eventually, and in the meantime you're still doing great things for your body. 

Congratulations on your 10 lbs!  That's around a pound a week, which is a great goal and a great pace, so way to go!

You people are wonderful! Thank you so much! I was feeling a bit teary eyed. I am going to read this topic every time I feel down.

Sometimes it helps to read the motivation threads, look at the things you have to look forward to ... I have to remind myself all the time of WHY I want to lose a few pounds (some good reasons, like avoiding the diabetes that is plaguing my aunts and uncles, some vain reasons, like wanting to look stunning if I ever run into anyone from my teen years, and some weird reasons, like not wanting my bra to leave lines on my shoulders). Other people's motivations make me laugh too, and I love seeing the success stories and the unexpected changes people have noticed in their bodies and their lives.

I started because I didn't want to weigh 185 pounds -- I was horrified when I saw that on a scale.  I continue because a) I want to look stunning and b) because I want to be healthy.  Maybe my priorities are screwed up but the end result is the same, right??

Not at all Kymla - a bikini was my priority. No. 1 & only but now im sod the bikini im happy doing this new thingy . I have Chrones disease too & the difference it has made - No flare ups since 11th Aug which is a bloody miracle. First time in about 5 years I have felt well hence why its sod the bikini. End result is defo the same & once you become happy whether its looking stunning, looking hot in a tini bikini or happy being healthy its fantastic.

Also going to throw something in the pot here... Its also something for me, not for the kids,not for the home - Its mine & im the only one in control of it.... & the end result depends on me & me alone... Anyone any views???

jenny, I don't know what "sod" means? But, I get what you are saying, and I agree 150%. I am doing this for me, because no one else can or will. That is what has helped me stick with it and not allow sabatogers to get to me. I am being selfish about this, and no matter how much my kids try to distract me from my work outs, or the hubby thinks I look great, so  lets eat and drink and forget it, I stick to it....and I am committed to ME! I am strong, and I can do it :)

I remember all this motivational rubbish from my days in telefonica.....

THERE IS NO I IN TEAM !!!

Sod in the irish dictionary is the polite way of saying the F word..... As in to hell with the bikini= sod the bikini

See by the time I am finished here ill even have yee all speaking fluent Irish.... lol