I've been on my diet almost a week now. ALMOST a week! Not even a week, how ridiculous am I? And I derailed today completely. I feel like a failure. A complete and total failure. My plan was to add exercise into the mix starting tomorrow, but now I have the "what's the point?" mentality and it just sucks. It hurts. I feel pathetic I have no one to talk to about this that I feel comfortable with and I hate feeling so unmotivated now after being so optimistic before. Do you guys ever feel this way? How do you get past this feeling? I don't want to give up, I want this to be just a bump in the road on my journey.

All. The. Time.

Stick with it. Sometimes it's an hour at a time, but stick with it.

*hugs*

I had this going on for a LONG TIME! Almost 3 months to be exact, but I think the best way is to just do it. Even if you're not motivated, try to suck it up (I mean this nicely lol) and just go and workout, I'm telling you WILL feel better!! and even though you did bad today, you can make it up with the next meal, don't be too hard yourself. You messed up, and you can change it around!!

I had a plateau for 3 months, by next week if I don't lose it'll be 4 months!! and I really believe it was because I had such a rush in weight loss in the beginning and it died down. I was expecting more results with the little I was doing to get it. It really is a journey with ups and downs, so it's normal to feel that way, but it is temporary!!

Every time I mess up, I always try to make the next meal better or exercise for 10 mins, just get ANYTHING in because it would be better than doing nothing.

Hope that helps!! It happens to everyone, and you will get past it!

My own efforts to lose weight do not always work. I find there are certain times when things seem to go right: it is then that I have to really make sure to seize the opportunity. In other times (when the weight loss seems to be frustrating), I try to be really kind to myself... treating myself at least as well as I treat everyone around me.

You don't say what kind of method you are using to achieve weight loss. Is it exercise only, calorie counting?

Wondering...have you ever considered going low carb/low sugar/and no artificial sweeteners.

I am doing one form of a low carb diet. It is called The Ideal Protein Diet and seems to be working really well for me. (I feel like I am turning into an evangelist for low carb!). Ideal Protein is only one form of many variations of low carb eating so if you are not into the idea of eating some packaged foods, I encourage you to do some exploration.

If low carb works for you, it shows that your body is intolerant/sensitive to sugars and also carbs. Also, not having enough of the right kinds of protein can set a person up for cravings.

with low carb eating, I find I have a high level of satiety. I don't get hungry very often.

Also, if you are sugar sensitive, things like aspartame are KNOWN to cause the same kind of reactions in the body as sugar spikes. This can make you feel even more hungry. Sugar itself is one of the most highly addictive substances going. Addiction to alcohol often has addiction to sugar wrapped up in with it.

This is not about being someone who has no self control. It is about powerfully addicting substances that feed a hunger drive.

More sugar/more aspartame = more hunger. We are led to believe that by choosing so called 'sugar free artificially sweetened' we are making healthy choices when in fact we are being drawn into the use of substances that put our internal chemistry right out of whack.

Carbs convert to sugar so can have the same effects in our systems.

If this is resonating for you, I urge you to explore going low carb. There are low carb sections on 3FC: Ideal Protein; and Carb Counters. Jimmy Moore has an information filled website (Livin' la Vida Low-Carb). (At first I thought he seemed like a bit of a nut but there is alot of good science that he is communicating to the world.) Experts like Gary Taubes (one of his books describes how not all calories are the same), Volek and Phinney (sp?) (The Art and Science of Low Carb Living) are another place to go.

If one is really sugar addicted, the first week or so is tough. You go through what is known as 'carb flu' ...essentially a detox/withdrawal period from the addicting substances that are carbs and sugars.

It could be that you are NOT a complete and total failure ( I strongly suspect you are not!) It could be that you are actually carb/sugar addicted... and if that is the case, addressing it involves more things than just 'self-control.' Addressing addiction through calorie counting almost sets one up for failure because just cutting calories doesn't address the deeper issue of chemical addiction. Carbs and sugars are chemicals.

Addictions are extremely powerful forces but with the right help, they can be overcome and/or managed more effectively.

Also, I was just watching programme about corn this morning. Unless you watch labels for it, you won't realise that it is in almost everything.... even meat because cows are fed so much corn to fatten them up.

Corn, though it seems filling, is a carb that converts to sugar... it doesn't necessarily satisfy. And because if this, it is now believed to be feeding an obesity epidemic.

The link to the film, King Corn, is here: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...cumentary.aspx

You are not a failure. There are just way more things affecting us than we really realise.

Hang out with people who support you. It will give you strength.

Hang out and talk here, you're among people who understand. I buckled down again last week and had a great week... until yesterday, where too much physical activity led to exhaustion, led to ordering pizza for dinner sounding like a good idea. Whoops.

But that was one choice, one meal. The immediate bump on the scale is mostly from carbs and sodium; I didn't eat thousands and thousands of excess calories (which is what it'd take for a couple lb jump to be "real" weight.) So today, it's back on track. You can do this, too.

Getting healthier for the long-run doesn't mean that you'll have an unbroken streak of perfect eating from now until forever. It means each meal is a choice, again and again. Make more good choices than poor ones, and you'll see results. But the occasional slip-up is human and perfectly OK. Hope you stick around!

There are a lot of times in a diet that are hard, but the first week is the worst. You are still detoxing off of your old ways and the cravings can be intense.

So this was not a failure on your part, it's a learning experience. What caused the slip up? If it was a food, then now you know to avoid it. If you got too hungry, note the time of day and make sure you eat a low calorie snack before you get to that point.

Everyone is different and I think one reason so many people struggle with dieting is that there is no perfect solution. I believe that there is a diet out there for everyone, but it's not the same diet. It's going to take time to figure out exactly what your personal needs are, but in a way this little set back is going to teach you a lot more about yourself than if you had stuck perfectly to plan.

So forgive and keep going! You are a star LetItBe!

Motivation never lasts. It comes and goes. If you rely on motivation alone then no wonder you keep stumbling. Make a commitment and stick to that, even when you're unmotivated. Write in your exercise on your calendar like it's a dentist appointment. Nobody wants to go to the dentist either but once you write it in it's set in stone.

Imagine if we waited for motivation to go to work, or motivation to brush our teeth, or motivation to take out the trash. You don't need divine inspiration for those things, you just do them cause you have to. Likewise with exercise, just do it and worry about enjoying it later. Here are some quotes that help me get past those bumps.

"If you want it, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse"

"Those who argue for their limitations generally get to keep them..."

"People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily." Zig Ziglar

"If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results." Jack Dixon

"Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time. "-Mark Twain

excellent, Wannabeskinny. Sure resonates for me!

You've come to the right place, LetItBe! People here definitely know where you are -- I was there just a few days ago, but I'm back on track now. Find yourself a home here on 3FC. Check out the age-range groups and the groups that are doing any kind of diet plan that is of interest to you (whether it's the one you're currently on or not). Introduce yourself and find a place where you're comfortable posting at least once a day -- that is so helpful for keeping focus.

Good for you for posting here!

I know exactly how you feel. I have the very same problem.

Pretend that losing weight is like driving a car. There are going to be some bumps in the road, some detours, some mechanical problems, some delays and that is okay. You can still get to your destination. When you hit a bump or a detour, hang on to the steering wheel, keep your focus on the road, use a map or GPS (like 3FCs) and eventually, you will get there.

This is better than giving up on getting to your destination. Every place along the road is better than where you started out.

Try to enjoy the ride along the way.

You're NOT ridiculous or a failure, you're simply just human! We all have temptations and bad days. I find that the easiest ways to deal with these is to:
1. Concentrate on your desired outcome-visualise what you want to achieve/how you'll look/feel when you get there and what it'll mean to you.

2. Find something else on which to concentrate your thoughts. Do something to take your mind off it.

Good luck and don't forget you're not on your own. We're all here for you!

Just read this suggestion on another page:

KEEP GOING even if you make a mistake (big or small); that is key in my books. Forgive yourself and move on to the next snack, next meal, and next day.

LetitBe...I would have to agree with what everyone has said. I have challenged myself to 30 days with NO sweets....I have a huge sweet tooth and was having cake, ice cream, cookies, brownies, or pie once a day! I am so proud to say that I have stuck by it....for the most part..and the only reason I did it was b/c of the person offering the sweet...then I only took a bite...and made my DH finish it. For me...this is HUGE!

WannabeskinnyWell said and I love the quotations..thanks...I needed that too!

The difference between those who are successful and those who are not...is NOT GIVING UP!! To be successful is to know that slipping up IS AND WILL BE OK!

I love this quote: "One bad meal isn't going to make you fat...just as one salad won't make you skinny."

Remember...it's all about the long term! Drink lots of water, get back on the wagon and exercise!!! I promise, once you do this...you will feel empowered and confident!! Trust me, you will go through days like this more then once...the point is to NOT STOP...you HAVE to keep going!! :-)