Struggling to stay motivated...

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2004
Struggling to stay motivated...
8
Wed, 05-19-2004 - 1:31pm
I've been lurking on this board for a short time now and need a push to stay focused and hoped I'd find it here. I'm currently on day 10 of Phase I. I'm seeing little progress and am having a difficult time staying focused and on track. By way of history, I started SBD after having been on LA Weight Loss for almost 10 months. I had lost 55.5 lbs. with that program, but have struggled with weight loss for the past 4 months. My goal is to lose 45 more lbs. With no clear answer as to why I've plateaued for that length of time, considering I've stuck to the program and included exercise in my regimen, I made the decision to give myself a jump start and try SBD, with the highest of expectations. In addition, I've been getting moderate exercise for 8 months. I go to the gym 4 days a week for almost an hour each day focusing on cardio for now. In reading about the SBD, I understand that having been on a lower carb diet already may not yield the same results for someone as for a person who hasn't been dieting, but I had hoped I'd see more of a loss than I have to date.

I lost 2 lbs. in the first week - well below that I had envisioned and hoped for. I'm now on day 10 and struggling to keep going. I'm not a weeney-whiner, but having been dieting for this length of time overall, not meeting the goals set forth by the other program, knowing I've stayed tried and true to that plan as well as Phase I, I'm struggling to not get totally discouraged.

I intend to meet my goal somehow - just now sure when this plan may kick-in. Any suggestions? I'm getting tired of "dieting" and sacrificing. I'm well aware of the lifestyle changes that need to be made to be successful and I'm truly not looking at this as a "diet", but using that terminology only for purpoes of explaining myself. Believe me, I know that I got myself where I am weight-wise and know that I didn't gain it all in 10 mos., but I suppose I just need to see a jump downward on the scale to know that I'm doing right and to know that it will work given more time.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Debbie

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2004
Wed, 05-19-2004 - 2:36pm

Hi Debbie,


Welcome!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2004
Wed, 05-19-2004 - 3:14pm
Cathy, thanks for taking the time to reply. I have in the past 3 weeks intensified my workouts for just this reason, and substituted SBD for the other plan since that plan had stalled for several months. I know slow and steady is healthier and that's truly what I want - a healthy, long lasting weight loss, with modified lifestyle overall. I'm just getting tired of watching every morsel that goes into my mouth, doing without little perks of life (food-wise) for fear I'll have a gain that week (which is always discouraging), until I reach my goal and can then focus on maintaining the loss.

I'll try to keep the faith for now, keep the intensified workouts going and try to see that light at the end of my weight loss tunnel.

Thanks...

Debbie

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
Wed, 05-19-2004 - 3:20pm
Hey Debbie! I understand your frustration. Have you incorporated strength training into your excercise routine? That will make a big improvement. I have done LA weight loss and lost 40 lbs then moved to another city w/o finishing the program and gained 20 back. I got those 20 off again not by "dieting," but by adding weights to my normal excercise. I used to spend 45-60 min on the eliptical machine and then switched to 30 min cardio and 30 mins weight training. (muscle burns alot more calories than fat so you may not see as big of a diff on scale but you will in clothing)

Karen

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2004
Wed, 05-19-2004 - 3:35pm
Hi Karen,

I hear what you're saying. About 6 weeks ago I added strength training along with my cardio thinking that would jumpstart me, but continued to be stalled. I talked with the trainer at the gym and he suggested I return to cardio, but kick it up and intensify the workouts and eliminate the strength training until I'm closer to my goal weight. That's what I did. He said the cardio would give me more benefit for weight loss at this point.

I truly don't know which way to go right now. I do 40 min. on the bike (really working hard) - varying the programs for intensity and then add 20 min. on the treadmill at 4 mph. (My knees can't take running.) I tried the eliptical machine, but found I didn't have the stamina for a long period of time to get a real benefit, so I went back to the bike for cardio. The gym I attend doesn't offer classes to mix up my cardio otherwise. Going to the gym at 6 a.m. before work is the best way I've found to get my exercise in.

I'm open to suggestions - just hoping to get the loss moving again. Got a big anniversary (25th) trip in early July and had hoped to hit my goal by then. (According to LA Weight Loss I should have, but obviously I won't).

I am much improved being now 57.5 lbs. lighter, just disappointed I'm not close to the 100 lbs. lost I've been working towards. Is there such a thing as trying too hard? :)

Debbie

P.S. Congrats on your loss - I know what an achievement it is!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-19-2002
Wed, 05-19-2004 - 3:55pm

Hi Debbie, welcome to the board!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2004
Wed, 05-19-2004 - 4:39pm
Okay, my pity party is now officially over and I'm back to business. Thanks for all the support and suggestions. Perhaps my best option at this point would be to work into Phase II over the next couple of days. I read the boards whenever possible and just briefly checked out the recipes. It will happen, I just need to be patient with myself.

Thanks again,

Debbie

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2004
Wed, 05-19-2004 - 5:04pm
Debbie,

Have you tried mixing up the foods you eat?? I have always found that when I get to a plateau of some sort, if I start making everything at home I'll start losing again, or if I start changing the types of recipes I'm eating instead of the same thing all the time. Also, is it possible you aren't eating enough?? That would do it too, especially with how hard you're working in the gym. Another way, which sounds really weird, is to allow yourself one evening or day (evening is probably better though) where you can eat as much of whatever your heart desires. I know that when I was doing Weight Watchers, if I had a cheat night once a week, I lost more weight than if I didn't and just stuck to the plan. Worth a shot, eh? Also, maybe instead of doing say 1/2 hour on the bike, and 1/2 on something else, you should try doing say a 15-18 minute circuit, so you're doing about 3 minutes of really hard work on a few different machines. Or one thing I used to do is, go really hard on the bike for 3 minutes, then get off and do steps for 1 minute, then bike for 3 minutes, and steps for 1 minute, etc... If you shock your body into doing something it doesn't normally do, it will soon wake up (hopefully anyways).

Anyway, good luck to you. I know you'll get there, it just might take a smidgen longer than you had hoped for. Keep up the awesome work!

Liisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-19-2002
Wed, 05-19-2004 - 5:07pm

Debbie, I started this journey with about 68 lbs. to lose.