failure

One of the hardest things for me when I started this journey was really understanding that this was going to take time. Intellectually, I understood the whole "you didn't put the weight on overnight and it's not going to come off overnight" thing. But emotionally, when the number on the scale wasn't moving as fast as I'd hoped it was devistating. Why had I passed up a perfectly delicious slice of cake if I wasn't losing any weight?

What really kickstarted me was a workout video I'd had lying around forever. It was one of the Biggest Loser videos, and had a 6 week workout plan built into it. I told myself that if I could just make it through these 6 weeks of workouts, I could say I'd accomplished something (even if the scale didn't move). At first, I couldn't even do a real jumping jack and I was struggling for breath within the first 10 minutes. By the end of the 6 weeks, my body had changed so much that I no longer felt like I was going to die before the video was over. I'd only lost a few pounds, but I'd lost 2 pant sizes and could feel my body getting stronger.

My point is, the scale really isn't everything. Maybe try starting with a fitness goal, instead of a weight loss goal. Work towards walking a certain distance without stopping, doing a certain number of pushups, or holding a plank for a period of time. Eventually, if you stick with it, the scale WILL start to drop. Good luck to you!

Edited by: MEGANSWORLD at: 1/4/2013 (10:58)

From my understanding, you only spent two weeks trying. That's not enough time for your body to react. Sometimes people lose weight quickly. It takes time for your body to get used to the fact that you're making a change.

It's easy to get motivated to start something, but it requires habit to keep it up. Don't get discouraged because you haven't seen a drop yet. Keep doing it and give your body some time to react. You may feel like what you were doing was working, but obviously eating the way you were certainly wasn't either.

I always tell people ( and myself) that sometimes the motivation comes AFTER. Just get in there and get the task accomplished and when you focus on how you feel after, the motivation to "lather, rinse, repeat" will be three eventually.

I never have motivation for making healthy choices, but I've found that if I do the right things for the right reasons, my "feelings/motivation" will follow. I don't let the number on the scale determine my attitude for the day - even if the number doesn't change, I know I made the right choices this week and eventually I'll reach my goal :) Stick with it - you can do it!!!

KNIBARG has given you good suggestions.

Also, you are you, not your sister. Metabolism isn't always shared among family members. Be YOU.

Happy New Year.

Good for you for restarting -- I find that logging into SP each day and looking at message boards etc helps keep me focused on making healthy choices. Just thought of an idea that may work for you -- take your measurements today and log them in SP. Don't weigh yourself or measure yourself until February 1 -- just focus on making healthy choices, tracking every bite of food and exercising -- I bet you will be amazed at the results and in the meantime, you can focus on how making healthy choices makes you FEEL instead of obsessing about the number on the scale.
Good luck!

Thank you guys so much. Sorry I took so long to respond, your comments have really helped me. It helps to know that it is probably working and that its ok if it takes a long time. I guess I see people like my little sister who seems to have the easiest time managing her weight and you hear things like "just take the stairs" that make it sound easier than it is. But I will get back on track! I started small yesterday and re-started working out, and I will keep it going today....One day at a time I suppose. It's nice to know there are people out there who have been there and succeeded before me!

The drill Sargent in me says. "SUCK IT UP!" Ok, so the pounds didn't fall off. How are you feeling? I mean, before the binging started again. Did you feel lighter? Healthier? Have more energy? Did you feel better about yourself emotionally?

The very worse measurement of how you are doing is the scales. Everybody falls, but the only failures is not getting up again.

C'mon, you can do this! GET UP! C'mon! Yeah! You're doing it. Yayyyyyyyyy! Now let's start again. Every day is a new beginning. Just make it today......

I take it that you haven't heard of the saying "Patience is a virtue!" Two weeks is hardly enough time to gauge whether this is going to work or not - it often takes much longer for that to start seeing results, but that doesn't mean that your body isn't benefiting from better nutrition and hydration, and increased exercise. Often we see results in how our clothes fit; the condition of our hair and skin; our energy levels, etc. etc., BEFORE we see any change in the scales. We also sometimes see a slight increase in weight, but this doesn't mean that we are doing anything wrong, either. With the increased muscle size due to exercise, our body will need more fluid (extra blood, etc.)

The other saying that I would imagine you head is "Rome wasn't built in a day!"

Hopefully by now you will realize that weight-loss doesn't just happen overnight, and you will get back to your BABY STEPS changes, and see positive results further down the track.

Take care
Kris

When I first started attempting weight loss I was at a stand still for a while and it was very hard to keep at it but i promise once you do you will see your weight come off!!! I often hit a plateu and it's sooo frustraing!!! but i always just keeep pushing and im so much more happy after i see the results!!! You gotta just keep strong!! and rememebr it def takes a lot longer thatn 2 weeks for your body to change and adjust to weight loss

JJOYROLLER,

While a safe weekly weight loss would be 1-2 pounds per week, there may be weeks you don't lose. there may even be weeks you gain ! And that doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong. This is not the Biggest Loser. the weight doesn't magically drop off the minute we decide we need to lose. It really could take 6-8 WEEKS of healthy eating and regular exercise before a person sees a change in the scale. And that is perfectly normal.

So, don't assume you're doing something wrong because the scale isn't moving as fast as you'd like. Weight loss isn't that simple. It takes time to change our bodies contrary to what happens on the Biggest Loser and other types of weight loss shows of that nature. If you could exercise 4-6 hours a day and you had someone watching every single morsel you ate, yes, you'd lose fast too ! However, most of us don't have the luxury of time to be able to exercise for hours a day. That's why you can't beat yourself up because the scale didn't move. That really is perfectly normal.

As I tell all new members,"Don't look at weight loss or good health with an all or nothing mentality". if the only healthy thing you did for yourself today was drink 8 glasses of water, that's still a step in the right direction.

Remember, you're trying to change habits learned over a life time. That's not going to happen overnight, a week, a month or even a year. Change takes time. Thus the need to be patient with yourself and your body. Spark People encourages its members to start with some simple changes first. Don't try to do everything at once or you will end up frustrated. Set some simple goals. Example, if you don't eat 6-9 servings of fresh fruit and veggies, set a goal to eat 2-3 servings each day for one week. if you're not drinking 8 glasses of water, set a goal to drink 2-4 glasses each day for one week. If you're not exercising, set a goal to take a 30 minute walk each day for one week. Once you've achieved these goals, then you set new ones.

No, all or nothing. It's all about making some simple changes we CAN stick with. One small change can change your life !!

As the Coaches all say,"trust the process"...

Sadly, our bodies aren't like bank accounts. Like the pp have asked...are you tracking everything? honestly? How much weight do you have to lose? (if it's a lot, sometimes you start with a larger number sooner, but if it's relatively little [in your body's "mind," not yours] it can take longer to get started).

Two weeks? that's not much time.

Are you still eating a lot of high-sodium foods? you could be holding water weight...

BOTTOM LINE: if you are living a healthy process, you are doing something WONDERFUL for yourself, even if you don't lose a pound for another month. Emphasize the PROCESS, and let the goal take care of itself.

Good success to you.

I'm glad that you shared.

Think of baby steps and try not to do everything on Sparks all at one time.

Keep coming back on other days, it will be more familiar to you.

We are here to encourage you!

Best to you!

Ok.... a few things- calories in vs calories out is not the whole story. Sorry, wish it were. But it isn't. Second, two weeks isn't really a lot of time. This is not a diet, it's a life style change. Did you gain the weight in two weeks?? No?? Then don't expect to lose it in 2 weeks. Now let me tell you a little story It starts with me being fat. No, really, I am. I started doing the Power 90 videos 6 days per week. Cardio three days, strength training three days. I did this for TWO MONTHS. Not two weeks...eight weeks. I didn't lose any weight. I lost inches! I dropped a pant size. People at work noticed. The scale didn't move, the tape measure did. It can be really discouraging when the scale doesn;t move, but it isn't actually a very good way to track progress. There are a lot of women here who have posted pictures- all of them at the same WEIGHT, but clearly at different fitness levels. You may not lose weight. Or you may. But being HEALTHY is not about a weight. It's about health, endurance, fitness. Keep it up. You can do this Don't be so hard on yourself. :)

Well of course it's possible to lose weight and 2 weeks in shouldn't get you discouraged. It takes at least 30 days to change a habit. Also, I work on 12 weeks at a time before I decide something isn't working.

You said you changed eating. Are you tracking everything? Are you working out too? What are you eating? All of these things will play a factor here.

You also need to change your mindset. Walking around calling yourself fat is counterproductive. Also, you didn't gain this weight overnight, so unfortunatley it isn't going off overnight.

My best suggestion is stick with a good meal plan and fitness routine for a minimum of 12 weeks and access from there. This is a lifestyle change not a race to the finish line.

Good luck! Keep posting and reading on here. Lots of great info to help you!

This is my first post I think. I guess I'm just on here because I know I need the motivation, and it's not coming from me right now, mostly because I'm not sure that its possible for me to lose weight. Just spent the last 2 weeks being careful (despite the holiday and everything...) I didn't meet all my goals but I should have been doing well enough to lose at least a pound- Should have been 4 lbs if the whole "lower calories in than calories out" thing actually worked. Apparently my body does not work that way- as despite eating within my calories and working out consistently I lost not a single pound. And I'm so discouraged. I need to lose like 50 to 100 pounds...but I can't even lose one. I feel like why should I bother and put in all the hard work if it doesn't work.

So of course, since I didn't lose anything I have just been eating junk food the past 4 days and haven't done my workouts at all, and have just been sulking around the house watching tv and calling myself fat. Which I know isn't productive but I don't know how to be successful.