Losing Momentum - how to get it back?

[MushyMushy]

Back in January I went on a diet -- tried not to make a big deal about it, and didn't tell anybody including my husband and kids. I started tracking my calories on SparkPeople and started making little changes here and there. I went off the diet on weekends because my DH and I love to go out to eat so much. The weight was coming off, but slowly. I eventually joined a gym back in March and worked with a personal trainer at least 4 days a week at 2 hours, but usually 5-6 days. Weight wasn't coming off so much, but I have muscles! And stamina! I feel better than I have since I was in my 20s.

This summer I've been losing my momentum and motivation. I don't want to go to the gym as much. My weekends "off" have been expanding to some weekdays. I've been going out a lot with friends (this I don't want to change because I've been a hermit for YEARS). Although I haven't put on any weight, I'm also not losing either.

I don't know, maybe I need a pep talk or something. Or advice on how any of you have gained some motivation. It's not easy! I don't have a lot of support in it. My husband joined the gym with me, but won't go at all now. As far as eating healthier, I'm WAY on my own. It's not that he's UNsupportive, but just not with me.

Sorry this is so long. If you've read this far, you get a cookie... or carrot stick, your choice.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Back in January I went on a diet -- tried not to make a big deal about it, and didn't tell anybody including my husband and kids. I started tracking my calories on SparkPeople and started making little changes here and there. I went off the diet on weekends because my DH and I love to go out to eat so much. The weight was coming off, but slowly. I eventually joined a gym back in March and worked with a personal trainer at least 4 days a week at 2 hours, but usually 5-6 days. Weight wasn't coming off so much, but I have muscles! And stamina! I feel better than I have since I was in my 20s.

This summer I've been losing my momentum and motivation. I don't want to go to the gym as much. My weekends "off" have been expanding to some weekdays. I've been going out a lot with friends (this I don't want to change because I've been a hermit for YEARS). Although I haven't put on any weight, I'm also not losing either.

I don't know, maybe I need a pep talk or something. Or advice on how any of you have gained some motivation. It's not easy! I don't have a lot of support in it. My husband joined the gym with me, but won't go at all now. As far as eating healthier, I'm WAY on my own. It's not that he's UNsupportive, but just not with me.

Sorry this is so long. If you've read this far, you get a cookie... or carrot stick, your choice.

Oh I know where your at!! I've been on my "new lifestyle" since Jan 08 and so far, I've lost a lot of weight. I run every morning, I eat healthy, and all of the sudden, nothing is coming off, and even worse, if I go off even the slightest bit, I blow up like a friggin balloon!!! My birthday is next Monday, and I'm 5lbs away from where I want to be for that day (really on Saturday because we will be eating out over the weekend, so I have to weight in before it.). What really gets me, is I was less than a pound away a week ago, and I've done nothing wrong / bad to gain this weight!!! Anyway, thats my vent - so I know how you feel. Its so hard!!!! One thing I always do is buy "goal clothing." Get a pair of pants a size to small, and try them on every other week. Works for me!!!! Good luck!!

 

[lovemygoofy]

I call losing the momentum hitting the proverbial brick wall mentally and physically. I'm so there with you.

I haven't worked out as much this summer as I was this spring but I tried to make up for in other areas like longer walks in the neighborhood with my husband or parking further away from the doors at the stores.

One thing has helped me is to make some new goals. I don't really do the weightloss thing per se, I just like to be able to wave my arms without them still jiggling when my Im not waiving Another thing is that I can now get on my smaller jeans without muffin top well okay not really muffin top. It's more like mini muffin now. A BIG motivator for me recently was I had to buy smaller under things. It's a PITA when you wear skirts or dresses and constantly in fear that your drawers are going to fall down because they are too big

Have you thought about talking to your friends about going to the gym or taking some kind of new fun class together like a dance class or yoga or something? Have you wanted to try something new like that? It would shake up your routine and giving you something forward to look forward instead of the same ho hum of the grind at the gym. Talk to your personal trainer, he/she can make you new goals to reach for.

I can't really help on the homefront as whatever I make for dinner is what's for dinner and I have husband that eats a ton of veggies thankfully. Truth be told he eats more of them than I do and doesn't complain about the meals being served. Try switching up a few things 2 or 3x a week in your meals like maybe all veggie meal or however you can lighten the meal or maybe walk around the block once or twice with your husband after dinner and before dessert.

Going out with the girls, we like to eat but save money. We usually order 1 lg appetizer and 2 entrees that we can share among us if it's a group of 4 or so. I limit myself to one "girly" drink when going out and always drink two glasses of water ahead of time. One glass before I leave the house and another glass before my actual drink with dinner. That helps make you feel full and cut more calories from drinking too much. Your friends can be your support, bring them in on it if you are comfortable with that.

You have done wonderful so far and experencing the brick wall is normal, now you just have to climb over it. I'm know you can do it and just asking about it shows you are wanting to get back on track.

 

[jaminmd]

First,

At least you are still "aware." Each person has different motivating factors, so you have to figure out what that is for you. Don't get discouraged because you slipped; jump back into it before you gain back your weight plus some extra. My motivation is being healthy. Heart disease & stroke run in my family so I want to be in control of as many risk factors as possible. Those I can control. I don't drink or smoke, either. I have taken care of too many morbidly obese patients with diabetes, renal failure, heart disease, etc., and I don't want to wind up like that. That's a motivating factor as well.

As far as your DH, I get it. I exercise daily, eat healthy 95% of the time, etc. My DH refuses to exercise, eats whatever he wants, etc. He's a grown man & I can't control him. However, since I cook 95% of the time & make his lunch for work, I get healthy food into him. When he wants to go out & eat garbage, I just don't participate. I've learned that he'll often just skip it because he'll have no "food buddy."

Small changes, over time, really add up. Good luck to you!

ETA: As far as him not going to the gym with you, grab your iPod & go anyway. Do it for you.

 

[jessily]

I know how you feel. It's especially hard to stay motivated when you're not seeing progress. Have you considered training for some sort of event? Maybe a local 5k or something like that? I know when I have an event on the calendar it keeps me a lot more motivated.

Give one of your friends a call and see if they would be interested in going for a long walk before dinner out, or doing something else active. If you can get some of your friends on board they can be a great support system for you and you can motivate one another.

Good luck!

 

[phorsenuf]

I'm right there with you. I was doing so good and then I fell off the bandwagon and it started coming back on. I'm an emotional eater I have found out and I'm really struggling with that. I look back on where I should be right now had I not stopped and it ticks me off. I know I need to get going again but it's so hard but I'm so unhappy with how I look right now. It's such a vicious cycle sometimes.

 

[live4christp1]

Maybe try to switch up your routine some, try adding a different class at the gym or try a sport that you could find some friends to enjoy with like tennis. How about an adult dance class? Sometimes the same old routine is what becomes my biggest stumbling block. Although right now it's the on again/off again soda addiction........I'll be really good at having given it up.......forget to bring some water with me and end up getting a soda.....just goes downhill from there......and they don't even really taste good to me anymore.

 

[toledo13]

Back in January I went on a diet -- tried not to make a big deal about it, and didn't tell anybody including my husband and kids. I started tracking my calories on SparkPeople and started making little changes here and there. I went off the diet on weekends because my DH and I love to go out to eat so much. The weight was coming off, but slowly. I eventually joined a gym back in March and worked with a personal trainer at least 4 days a week at 2 hours, but usually 5-6 days. Weight wasn't coming off so much, but I have muscles! And stamina! I feel better than I have since I was in my 20s.

This summer I've been losing my momentum and motivation. I don't want to go to the gym as much. My weekends "off" have been expanding to some weekdays. I've been going out a lot with friends (this I don't want to change because I've been a hermit for YEARS). Although I haven't put on any weight, I'm also not losing either.

I don't know, maybe I need a pep talk or something. Or advice on how any of you have gained some motivation. It's not easy! I don't have a lot of support in it. My husband joined the gym with me, but won't go at all now. As far as eating healthier, I'm WAY on my own. It's not that he's UNsupportive, but just not with me.

Sorry this is so long. If you've read this far, you get a cookie... or carrot stick, your choice.

You can do it, you can do it!!

There's your little pep talk! Check out my blog- http://www.anniessimplelife.blogspot.com. I blog about this exact thing- healthy eating, exercise, motivation... the whole sha-bang! It's a hard journey to travel, but that's what it IS- a journey. Celebrate every loss (just not with food haha ), and brush past every gain. Do what you can, make little changes here and there. Be sure you're eating enough QUALITY calories (aka, eat 400 calories of lean meat, whole grains, fruits and veggies, rather than 400 calories of junk food). Set goals that are attainable.

The thing that really worked for me with the DH supportive thing was to Educate him. I kept hounding him and hounding him with research about what all of the CRAP that he was eating was doing to him.... hahaha and now he's a vegetarian . I didn't mean for him to go THAT far...

Good for you for taking control of your life!

 

[SpecialK]

I feel your pain. It's so hard to keep going when you hit the wall like that. I change up the number of calories I'm eating and really up the water intake. That seems to kick the metabolism into gear. I have better luck with playing with the calories than with the exercise. (Read the recent article in TIME regarding weight loss and exercise. Very interesting.)

I also put the number of pounds lost into a concrete visual like a ten pound bag of potatoes or a 4 pound (used to be 5) bag of sugar, or even a pound of butter. That seems to make it more real for me.

 

[clutter]

I also put the number of pounds lost into a concrete visual like a ten pound bag of potatoes or a 4 pound (used to be 5) bag of sugar, or even a pound of butter. That seems to make it more real for me.

Double post.

 

[clutter]

I also put the number of pounds lost into a concrete visual like a ten pound bag of potatoes or a 4 pound (used to be 5) bag of sugar, or even a pound of butter. That seems to make it more real for me.

omg, I LOVE this. Never thought of it that way, but to lose a 5lb bag of potatoes seems like so much more than losing 5 pounds. Love it. (You helped me at least.) I'm thinking I'd like to lose about 3 potatoes from each him, 3 more from the thighs and the rest from miscellaneous parts.

 

[hlane]

I sadly am in the same boat I started my weight loss journey 4/07...I am now down 90 lbs & about 10-20 lbs from goal. I have lost all my oomph and am barely getting by without gaining. I feel like such a loser (not in a good way either!) I have/had so many people look up to me for doing what I've done all on my own and now I feel like I am letting me & them down
Everyday I say ok this is it, today I am back on track...I'll do great then BAM I'm telling myself, well tomorrow is a new day, I'll start back tomorrow
I think part of the reason (hold on tight, here comes the excuses ) is that I am exhausted & stressed. I work 7 days a week, am starting back to school, my mom has very advanced cancer that there is no treatment for, I have two children, & even with working so much $$ is tight. Why I feel shoving junk down my throat is going to make all that better I have no idea I am just frustrated and disgusted with myself for slowly slipping back into my old ways.

 

[SpecialK]

I sadly am in the same boat I started my weight loss journey 4/07...I am now down 90 lbs & about 10-20 lbs from goal. I have lost all my oomph and am barely getting by without gaining. I feel like such a loser (not in a good way either!) I have/had so many people look up to me for doing what I've done all on my own and now I feel like I am letting me & them down
Everyday I say ok this is it, today I am back on track...I'll do great then BAM I'm telling myself, well tomorrow is a new day, I'll start back tomorrow
I think part of the reason (hold on tight, here comes the excuses ) is that I am exhausted & stressed. I work 7 days a week, am starting back to school, my mom has very advanced cancer that there is no treatment for, I have two children, & even with working so much $$ is tight. Why I feel shoving junk down my throat is going to make all that better I have no idea I am just frustrated and disgusted with myself for slowly slipping back into my old ways.

You need to cut yourself some huge slack. Ninety pounds, especially on your own, is an incredible accomplishment, of which you should be proud. You are dealing with some major stresses, so just go for maintenance now until things calm down.

I gained 15 pounds during my father's illness and passing, so I know how it is.

 

[yoopermom]

I can only share my story, and hope that it helps. I was in your boat with the extreme stress load this past school year. Then I was laid off, and just found out from the dr. that I have fibromyalgia. So now this is my "carrot": I will find the $$ to get to WDW to do the Family 5K in Jan 2010! I know I can't do the half marathon yet, but I'm back at the Y working out (much slower than before, but at least I'm doing it), and I'm not "counting calories" but I am trying to "eat from the earth" and cut out the "whites". I don't weigh myself every day, but I do ask, "How do I feel?" If I feel stronger, well rested, and have filled my body with healthy fuel, then I'm doing better.

Look within yourself and see what is "your 5K". It WILL motivate you!

Good luck!
Terri

 

[Planogirl]

You need to cut yourself some huge slack. Ninety pounds, especially on your own, is an incredible accomplishment, of which you should be proud. You are dealing with some major stresses, so just go for maintenance now until things calm down.

I gained 15 pounds during my father's illness and passing, so I know how it is.

Ditto! 90 pounds is a wonderful accomplishment and while I wouldn't go back to my old waya, a bit of coasting right now seems OK.

I've noticed that I fall off the wagon when stress levels get high. I can't seem to stick with anything when there's a lot of bad things going on.

 

[MushyMushy]

Thank you guys so much for your comments and support. This is exactly what I need right now.

hlane, you go! 90 pounds is such an accomplishment! I hope you're able to finish what you started, but you have so much to be proud of right now.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I sadly am in the same boat I started my weight loss journey 4/07...I am now down 90 lbs & about 10-20 lbs from goal. I have lost all my oomph and am barely getting by without gaining. I feel like such a loser (not in a good way either!) I have/had so many people look up to me for doing what I've done all on my own and now I feel like I am letting me & them down
Everyday I say ok this is it, today I am back on track...I'll do great then BAM I'm telling myself, well tomorrow is a new day, I'll start back tomorrow
I think part of the reason (hold on tight, here comes the excuses ) is that I am exhausted & stressed. I work 7 days a week, am starting back to school, my mom has very advanced cancer that there is no treatment for, I have two children, & even with working so much $$ is tight. Why I feel shoving junk down my throat is going to make all that better I have no idea I am just frustrated and disgusted with myself for slowly slipping back into my old ways.

OMG -are you me??? I've lost (about) 90 lbs too. I to, am about 10-20lbs from my goal weight, and I too have lost my oomph. I stay on track, do good, exercising and eating right, then go off and gain back what I just lost (it always happens when I step on the scale, and I haven't lose as much as I feel I should). Thats great if I'm trying to maintain, but I'm not -I need to lose. People say the same thing to me, that its amazing how I've lost 90lbs on my own, but all I can see are the 20lbs that I still have to lose. Its so hard, I keep telling myself that the smaller you are, the harder it is to loose. I lost 2-6lbs a week when I first started, and thats just not going to happen anymore but I'd atleast like 1-2 lbs a week....
Anyway, we have to stop doing this to ourselves and just do what we know is right for us. I know when your dealing with hard issues (I also work, have two kids, and have a mother with cancer), but eating BK isn't going to make any of the stress go away.
Lets all keep our chins up!!!

 

[agnes!]

I've been thinking...would we allow *anyone else* to talk to us they way we talk to ourselves? If someone else could hear our innermost thoughts would they be shocked at how nasty we are towards ourselves? What is running through your mind right now, positive thoughts or negative thoughts about your life?

As to getting motivated for health - I have a pedometer I bought off of Amazon.Com and it is keeping me honest. I can no longer fudge how many steps I've taken in a day.

agnes!

 

[MushyMushy]

I feel your pain. It's so hard to keep going when you hit the wall like that. I change up the number of calories I'm eating and really up the water intake. That seems to kick the metabolism into gear. I have better luck with playing with the calories than with the exercise. (Read the recent article in TIME regarding weight loss and exercise. Very interesting.)

I also put the number of pounds lost into a concrete visual like a ten pound bag of potatoes or a 4 pound (used to be 5) bag of sugar, or even a pound of butter. That seems to make it more real for me.

In case anyone else is interested, here is that article in Time: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914857-1,00.html It really gives some food for thought (so to speak ). It might make me rethink my reasons for going to the gym, although I am still going to go because it does make me feel good about myself -- maybe I'll just stop counting the calories I'm burning and not even focus on that.

I like your idea of the visuals. I picked up a 20 pound weight the other day and sat it on my lap and thought about how heavy 20 pounds really is... and I'm at 35 lost, so that's even heavier! I do have a way to go still in this endeavor, but I should still be proud of what I've done.

 

[taximomfor4]

MushyMushy, I am on Sparkpeople too. Don't know what to tell you about getting back momentum. I tell myself I'll by a new pair of pants/skirt/dress at 10 lbs. I am sitting at 9 lbs!! I find that I settle into maintaining for a week or 2, then try harder and lose for a week, then maintain for 2 more, then lose again. It's going VERY slowly at this pace.

I figure that overall, I feel better when tracking/being careful what I choose...so I will continue. I lose more when I don't exercise much, because I don't usually eat enough calories. If I get too low, my body holds onto everything!!

If you like, pm me. Maybe we can motivate each other.