I'm trying really hard not to let my thoughts keep me from being successful, but it seems impossibly hard right now. The amount of stress I'm feeling from school is just weighing down on me, not to mention the fact that I feel like I've lost mere ounces over the last 3 weeks.
It's really becoming too much. I mean, I eat 1200 calories, vary the calorie amount, and even tried eating more/less to try and stimulate weight loss. I'm active, and I do the gym at least 3-4 times a week, for 30 minutes cardio plus some weights, and I keep the carbs reasonably low (no bread, only carbs I get are from fruit every now and then, veggies, and sometimes yogurt and it's inescapable added carby-ness).
I feel like there's little more else I can do, and the depression and stress from everything going on outside of my weight loss goals is not helping the situation. Even after 20 lbs loss and finally getting down to 169, I've never been so down on how I look. Seriously hurting for some motivation or words of advice.
From what you have written, it sounds like you are doing the right things to lose weight. Especially since you have played with your calories by taking them up and down. Are you getting enough sleep at night? Are you changing up your workout routine? My personal trainer told me to do cardio for 10-15 min first to warm up and get your heart rate up. Then do weights. Then do a medium to intense cardio workout again for 30 minutes. I wish I had the magic answer for you sweetie :-( Perhaps it's an underlying medical issue?
Breathe. Do slow, deep breathing when you are feeling stress encroaching. Cortisol from stress will increase insulin in your blood and .... well, I'd have to do the research again to fully explain it, but you won't lose if you are stressing.
RELAX - think "Relax" -- while you breathe out bad thoughts (watch them go) and breathe in good feelings (think "I am calm, patient, relaxed, peaceful, whatever it is you need at the moment.)
Well then let's get excited about something! Do you like to cook? How about some new recipes. Cooking Light Mag is great, Clean Eating Mag is great. How about some new routines at the gym, is there a class you can try? What about a new lifting routine - New Rules of Lifting for Women maybe?
I don't know your height, so I don't know exactly how overweight you are, but at 169 down from 189 you should be proud of yourself. It's going to get harder to lose as you get closer to your goal, so hang tight you're doing great. I'd say all you need right now is to change up what you're doing a little. Be it a little more exercise with a little extra cals, a little whole grains never hurt anyone. My favorite whole grain right now is Quinoa, OMG it is tasty. Boil it with a little garlic and chicken stock with some veggies - heaven! Quinoa is awesome because it's a grain but also has a lot of protien.
Anyway, just hang tight, we've all been there. The most important thing is to stay consistant and keep going!
Wow, I must say there are many thoughts going through my heads over your post. First, I will deal with the concern I feel for you. Are your expectations too high? No, I don't believe so - you should be able to achieve any reasonable goal - the focus you are putting on yourself is too much. I know it's hard but focus on being 20 lbs less (in fact, lug 20 extra lbs with you while you go up and down stairs for 10 mins and you'll be very happy they are no longer with ya). School alone is stressful. I don't know if you need a certain gpa for the scholarship - or the classes you've chosen are more difficult than you expected...but with everything else in life...one thing at a time. The stress with school will subside as soon as the first final is taken and will cease with a heavy exhale as you leave the classroom after the last. When your working out - where's your mind? Is it on your goal or on all the stuff that's going on in your life that you can't change. Somewhere in your day make sure you spend time thinking of things that make/made you happy and only things that made/make you happy . That time will be valuable and special to you and you'll come to look forward to treadmil (just an example) if the gym is where you chose to go. Always know you are not alone and support is always near by for ya. Keep yourself first and take care...
I seriously cannot tell you how much your responses mean to me. Every now and then the stress just reaches a boiling point, and I think I was sort of in melt-down mode last night over everything, including the darn number on the scale. I -know- there's no giving up on this diet...but dayum, it would be nice to hit the scale and see a loss every now and then.
You know, I think that if I go another week or so without any loss, I'm going to go ahead and see a nutritionist about it. Can't hurt, and I'd hate to have gone an entire month without a solid pound or so loss.
Completely bummed out and losing hope :\
