a little discouraged

[songstories]

How did you guys keep yourselves motivated when you knew you had so much weight to lose? Sometimes I find myself wanting to give up just due to the sheer volume of weight I have to drop. I've never been able to lose 10 lbs in my life, how could I ever lose 150? I struggle with this a lot from day to day and it's hard not to give up so I am just wondering how you all kept reminding yourself it was worth it.

[Analog6]

Re: a little discouraged

Kristin

I started at 289 lbs and want to get to 135-140. Yes, it is a huge amount, but just go at it in small bites - just the way we put it on in the first place.

For me, doing a very strict induction and losing 11 kgs (24 1/2 lbs) gave me a huge kick start and has ketp me motivated since. I have lost 23 kgs (50.6 lbs) in 16 weeks. I can see huge sifferences - and even though it is now slowing down, my goal is the end of the year, and I know I can do it. Focus on samll goals, say 10 lbs at a time. Don't think how much you've got to go, focus on acheivements.

My tips:
1. Keep journal. I bought a cheap diary for this year and write in all food in and all exercise out, and comments on my moods and what is going on that affects my diet plan.
2. Eat mostly fresh food. Processed stuff, even low carb, will only make you crave the old evil stuff.
3. Exercise every day. Start with short walks and as you feel better and have more energy, increase the distance or maybe add a bike ride or whatever suits you.
4. Come here often for inspiration and tips.

You can do it - if a blob like me can take charge after many years of laziness so can you. Email me anytime you need help and encouragement - you can do this.

[Mary-chan]

Re: a little discouraged

How did you guys keep yourselves motivated when you knew you had so much weight to lose? Sometimes I find myself wanting to give up just due to the sheer volume of weight I have to drop. I've never been able to lose 10 lbs in my life, how could I ever lose 150? I struggle with this a lot from day to day and it's hard not to give up so I am just wondering how you all kept reminding yourself it was worth it.

Sorry for the long post, I think I will write out a bit of my own story in addition to writing some advice

When I started I tried not to think about needing to lose more then a hundred pounds. I started atkins at 262 (my heighest weight was 280, but I had lost here and there before starting atkins...) Anyway, my first big goal was "I want to be under 250!!" This is what I concentrated on. I remember going on a cruise to alaska, and wanted to do a helicopter glacier excursion, but I read that you needed to pay almost double if you weighed over 250.. For some reason it always bothered me that I was in that category.. so I told myself, just get under 250 no matter what!!

At the beginning it really is a day by day, sometimes minute by minute struggle. But every good decision we make and every day we succeed makes us stronger and better able to continue forward...

I was a slow loser at first, and didn't get a turbo boost like most people do.. But eventually about 6 weeks later I got under 250!! I wouldnt' have traded the feeling of getting there for any food in the world!

I had only lost 12 pounds, but I had gained so much in confidence, energy, and health. Before atkins I was having chronic foot pain and ankle swelling, already at 12 pounds lost I was noticing a major improvement. That alone was a great motivation, I was so sick of my feet being sore all the time!!

My next goal that I set myself was to fit into a pair of size 22 pants that I had in my closet for the last three years, they still had the tag on them I would try them on once or twice a week, and every week they fit a little better. It was a great motivation to keep going!!

Then I had another cruise coming up (to alaska again, going with family this time).. I live in a different state from my family and hadn't seen them since I started atkins, and we were all meeting in seattle to go on the cruise.. I wanted to shock them with my weight loss, and I wanted to have energy and feel great while in alaska! I managed to get doen to about 219 right before leaving for the cruise. When I went to meet up with my family in seattle, my sister said she almost walked right by me because she didn't recognize me, everybody was astounded, it was a great feeling, and that was only at about 40 pounds down!! And I wore those 22 pants on the cruise,.. and they were baggy!! Atkins is such a great way of life that I didn't even cheat once while on the cruise and managed to have a wonderful time and enjoy delicious food and not gain weight.. who can argue with that??

My next goal was "Onederland".. I was sick of being in the 200's and darnit I wanted to see a number "1" in front of my weight gosh darnit!!!!! This one felt like it took forever, because it was such a jump (from 220 to 200)..I really should have had an in between mini goal, but 199 was the number I wanted to see!! Every day that I saw the scale move a little bit closer to 199 it would motivate me more and more to keep working hard and exercising!

Right now I'm at 188.8 and my first major moment of glory will be at 180.. 180 is the magic number, it is the lowest I ever was (as an adult).. anything below 180 and I will be the skinniest I have ever been.. this is a huge motivating factor for me - just to be in uncharted territory, ahhhh I can't wait!!!!


Anyway.... My long term, overall goal is to look good on my wedding day (in april).. This gives me great motivation and really drives me forward.. but if I had started out and said "okay.. here I go.. 100 pounds to lose".. I never would have gotten to even where I am!! Think small, think of the little things that mean a lot to you! Are you trying to get into the '200's"? think of how good it will feel when you're there. Do you want to wear that old outfit in your closet? There are a million mini-goals to be found, find the ones that fill you with the most excitement and drive you forward.

Occasionally it's good to look at the big picture, but even if you lose 10 pounds you will feel better then where you're at now. It may feel like a long road ahead of you, but the journey can be SO MUCH FUN... each time you do something new you couldn't do before, you will be filled with this energy and life that will make you feel like such a new person and you know you will only move forward and not even look back!!

The journey also gives us time to adapt to becoming thinner. Since I've been heavy almost all my life (except one summer I got down to 180, and then ballooned up again from there).. I find people treating me different since losing weight and I've had to step back from it a few times and process how I feel. I write in a journal occasionally or talk to my fiance (who's also atkinsing). Why are people paying attention to me now who wouldn't make eye contact with me before? Why are people actually making small talk in stores? etc.. It can be an adjustment. Having time to deal with it is a good thing!

Another thing, When I was gaining weight, my mentalilty used to be a "well I'm this heavy, what's a few more pounds"? kind of mentality.. But I can honestly tell you, I can feel the difference every pound makes!! I wake up and know before I weigh myself if I gained weight or lost weight.. Every pound I lose gives me such a bounce in my step and makes me feel sooo much lighter..

Losing weight can be such a hard struggle - there will be ups and downs on the scale and emotionally, but the successes you feel along the way make it completely worth it!

If you lose even one or two pounds it will be a success, and you will feel it!! Each pound you lose will drive you forward to lose the next pound!! One step at a time, one foot in front of the other is how I drive myself forward.. Don't get discouraged, you can do this!!! We're all here to help,

[2big4mysize]

Re: a little discouraged

I quess it depends on your answer to this.
When you go on a long driving trip you start your journey and enjoy the whole traveling time or do you just be bored until you arrive there? if the answer is bored till goal then you need some excitement in small doses all along the path.
you know that joy you got when the scales said 299?? wel just set you up some it joyous occaions all the way down 5 pound increments if you are impatient 10 if not and do Brook's thing of rewarding yourself with a nonfood thing for every one.

Me I was patient so I paid myself $5 a pound and set 100 pounds lost as the spending date/ I even had a specail back acount for it and boy was that fun making the trip to deposit my "weatlth" every week.

[Analog6]

Re: a little discouraged

What a great idea! Put money away and have a 'spendup' day. I'm going to do that. I think you should post it in it's own post on the main forum - a great motivator.

[BenandHallesMom_1]

Re: a little discouraged

I feel the same way sometimes so I try to set short term goals. I know for me when I look at my overall goal it seems overwhelming but one thing that helps me is on my weight loss ticker, I set short term weight loss goal so I can see changes sooner. So eventhough I have 120 lbs. to go, my first goal is just 24 lbs. It just doesn't feel SO big that way. Just a suggestion, hope it helps.

[songstories]

Re: a little discouraged

I find people treating me different since losing weight and I've had to step back from it a few times and process how I feel. I write in a journal occasionally or talk to my fiance (who's also atkinsing). Why are people paying attention to me now who wouldn't make eye contact with me before? Why are people actually making small talk in stores? etc.. It can be an adjustment. Having time to deal with it is a good thing!

This is actually one of my biggest fears. Before I gained all of the weight I was very outgoing and social and after gaining 150 lbs I have only one friend that I visit with. I am not sure if I'll be able to deal with all the new attention, if there even is any.

I read all of this though, and it was very helpful. You're right, taking it in small chunks will probably making it easier so I am making it my goal to get down to 250 first and we'll see how it goes. Thank you!

[songstories]

Re: a little discouraged

You can do it - if a blob like me can take charge after many years of laziness so can you. Email me anytime you need help and encouragement - you can do this.

Thank you. The support in this forum has helped tremendously. You should all pat yourselves on the back.

[yemenitegreen]

Re: a little discouraged

Me I was patient so I paid myself $5 a pound and set 100 pounds lost as the spending date/ I even had a specail back acount for it and boy was that fun making the trip to deposit my "weatlth" every week.

Great idea, reminds me of a similar concept I've read in a German board. I call it the bikini savings account. So I'll start this now. When I'm at goal I'll have some money put aside to buy the fanciest swimsuit I can imagine, and will have some left to spend on other clothes

yemenitegreen

[LOWCARBINCLEVELANDOH]

Re: a little discouraged

Dr. Phil has a saying ...that the year is going to come and go whether you lose any weight or not. God knows there have been enough years in my life that have come and gone without the results I wanted.

I have a very long road, but the time will come at the end of the next year where I have to assess how I spent this one. The questions I ask myself are not about how i look, but how I behaved. I may not ever look good enough to be considered "Normal" or "Average" or "Nice Looking" by todays standards, but I already feel that inner beauty that comes from knowing I am striving for something better in my life.

That is what keeps me motivated.

[californiacasey]

Re: a little discouraged

Mary Chan - Thanks for your story. You're so right about the small goals. And how cool that your family didn't hardly recognize you : ) Bet you got a big kick out of that.

SongStories: You can do this. I started out at 280 and weigh 250. I've lost 30 pounds in a year. It's been slow but I've cheated. I haven't gained anything back and I'm exercising, threw away my 24's and my 22's are loose. It can be very overwhelming to have to lose so much, but like MAry Chan said, you will start to feel better with every pound or every 10 pounds.

I loved the compliments that I started to receive around 25 pounds lost. People were recognizing that I was looking better and that made me feel better and more confidant.

I can't say that it is going to be easy, but it is well worth it. My goal for 2006 is to lose double what I lost in 2005 (ie 60 lbs in 2006).

Why don't you make a small goal (ie 5 pounds) and celebrate that and make another goal of 5 pounds. Don't let the 150lbs loom over you.

Good luck and Happy Low Carbing!

[Desertthorn]

Re: a little discouraged

Kirstin,
So make you first goal 15 pounds. That will prove to you that you can do it. Also, think of it as an adventure, eat foods that you love. Fine an exercise that you love. BellyDancing, Kick Boxing, Walking in the woods, ice skating.

[Elmark]

Re: a little discouraged

Yeah, it's tough to think about the fact that I won't be able to reach goal this year...and probably not next year either. Maybe in 3-4 years time.....
But that's the way it is.....I'm probably gonna fail on my way to goal, but the next time I will pick myself up a little sooner than this time....It's so sad to "waste" a year gaining most of the previous loss back. But....maybe I have learned my lesson.....I'm hoping.
I'm making mini-goals by some of the clothes that I used to fit into before I fell off the wagon and some of the clothes I have bought hoping that I would fit into them one day!
When I reach my final goal, my boyfriend has promised me that he will give me a brand new wardrobe....WOOHOO....

We are here for all the good and the bad times.... Let's try and make most of them good!

[softnred]

Re: a little discouraged

For me, it's been a mixture of small victories and enjoying the journey. Someone on the board (I forget who...I'm sorry!!) has a quote in their signature that's something to the effect of "He who moves mountains begins by carrying away small stones." It's totally true...set small, achievable goals and soon you'll be so busy counting those that you won't realize that you've got half a mountain moved!!!

And congrats on the commitment you've made to yourself!!!

[Beat-The-Bulge-In_06]

Re: a little discouraged

How did you guys keep yourselves motivated when you knew you had so much weight to lose? Sometimes I find myself wanting to give up just due to the sheer volume of weight I have to drop. I've never been able to lose 10 lbs in my life, how could I ever lose 150? I struggle with this a lot from day to day and it's hard not to give up so I am just wondering how you all kept reminding yourself it was worth it.

We can be atkins buddies if you like.

I see we started on the same day and we both want to lose the same amount of weight.