So, I KNOW I'm losing weight. I can see it on the scale and my clothes and what not. But, whenever I see myself, I just think, "gosh, why is -insert some very large, fat part of my body here-." It doesn't exactly discourage me, I just wish that results would speed up, you know? How do you all deal with that?
This happens to me ALL the time, as I am a want-it-NOW type of personality. In particular, I have this ugly chub of fat around my armpit that looks like an extra boob. I haven't worn tank tops in years because of this. And I can't seem to make it go away.
Just remember to slow down, breathe, and be patient. It's hard, I know, but slow and steady always wins the race. Remember: the turtle beats the hare in the end.
You can't let it be the 100% focus of your life - I keep busy with work/kid stuff/etc and life seems to fly by sometimes. I absolutely do get impatient, don't get me wrong - but when I look back at where I've been - I think wow, that went by fast (even though some of those weeks seemed to draaaaag).
Plan a trip or start a project or learn a new skill or volunteer with kids in your area - something else to take some of the mental energy
I agree, you need to keep yourself busy with other things, healthy weight loss in a slow process. I know I'd like to have a killer body right now, without having to diet or go to the gym, but then, the harder I work, the more I know I'll appreciate my new body once I get there and hopefully that will motivate me enough to maintain it.
You have to focus on the good things you have now, and the good things you're doing now. How much better that apple makes you feel when you eat it rather than that candy bar. How good it feels to work out and especially after. How good it feels to be on the right path, even if your destination is still a ways off.
Take pride in taking care of yourself and the rest will follow.
This is what I'm going through too - the scale says I've lost weight, and I know my clothes are looser, but the other day I took halfway-through progress pics and I wanted to cry because I look exactly the same!
I just keep trying to tell myself that this isn't going to happen overnight. My body will eventually change and so will yours!
Patience is one of those very necessary skills ou need to have with weight loss. I'm like a lot of you too and want it now. I get very impatient with a lot of things lol. Usually, I have to kind of pep talk myself and next month I'll be so-so lbs.
I'd like to say this gets easier when you get closer to goal weight but it doesn't, lol. I have a little pooch on my tummy that I poke at every morning and tell it to go away! You just have to appreciate the little things... like how you maybe have more energy, can work out a bit harder with less difficulty.. loose clothes. All these things are great. You just have to trust that the other stuff will come later.
I, too, am an impatient person. I do EVERYTHING fast. I walk fast, I talk fast, I drive fast. I want to lose weight fast, too! - but unfortunately, I have not experienced fast loss. Waaah, dadgumit.
It's taken me TWO YEARS to lose this "39 so far" pounds. I've averaged 1/4 lb to 1/2 lb per week. Of course I did lose faster in the beginning. But it's like SUPER-DUPER SLOW now. I get that "might as well give-up" mind frame from time to time, too, & that does NOT help.
However, I look back & see how far I've come, and I only have "13" to go to meet my goal. Thirteen pounds.... that's doable. I think. Of course, I might be "done" with weight loss. I'm not willing to go crazy-low on calories or work out 2 hr per day to get to my goal. I want to be COMFORTABLE in my clothes. I am that - right now. I want to look decent in a swimsuit. I do that - NOW. I want to have a healthy relationship with food! - I'm STILL working on that, & I will be for the rest of my life.
If I don't make my goal? I'll be ok, as long as I don't regain all I've lost & then some, like I've done so many times in the past. If I do make my goal? Then yippee-ki-yay for me! My MAIN goal at this point is to be happy with my body. I've always had good self-confidence in all areas of my life, but I've always fought body-issues. Nearly 50 years old, and still fighting the same issues I've had since I was old enough to understand the word "FAT".
I still want "fast" weight loss. But apparently I ain't gett'n it! - soooo.... just move onward with the slow loss & accept it. There's other things in life besides losing weight.
Last edited by Beach Patrol; 03-30-2012 at 10:35 AM.
I remind myself that I didn't gain it all at once. I also try to remind myself to trust the process and the deficit.
This is what I do too, I tell myself that I didn't get so big overnight and I'm not going o get little overnight
I think Jenny's advise is great too, don't let your weight loss become the main focus of your day. I work, I have 2 kids to take care of, so everything ties itself together.
This does happen to me too though, the impatient thing and the hardest part is feeling like you don't look like you have lost any weight, its crazy
Patience is a virtue I guess.
I think everyone here understands this feeling. I have found that if I focus more on just living life and staying on my plan, the weight loss will follow.
We must remember that life is what happens when we're waiting around for something else.
So.... get on with your life while you stay on your plan. I know, easier said than done!
I'm having a hard time also!! I had my son in September and I didn't lose any weight I GAINED!! I thought the weight from the pregnancy would just fall off but it didn't. I want my body back now but it took 9 months to gain the weight I know it will take time to lose it. I''ve been trying to keep busy...makes the days past faster!
I think the impatience is part of our "instant" culture. With smart phones, drive-thrus, technology, drive up ATM's we are used to everything being attained so quickly that we want it quickly too. I know i do! I have made good progress so far, and in such a small amount of time, but it feels long sometimes. I just keep telling myself that its one day at a time and to keep going. So i keep goin
One of my biggest motivators after having lost enough weight was fitting into clothes that I used to wear but wasn't able to before losing the weight. It helps ease that feeling of "i have so much more to go" or "i still really hate this body part" because you know that even though you aren't where you want to be, you definitely are getting closer. And the only way to reach that end goal is to keep chugging along the way you already are.
If you can find small improvements like that to celebrate and make yourself feel good, it makes the whole process so much easier. Half the battle is having a good mind set about the whole thing, so always try to look on the bright side! You ARE doing it!
Coping with weight loss impatience..?
You just have to appreciate the little things... like how you maybe have more energy, can work out a bit harder with less difficulty.. loose clothes. All these things are great. You just have to trust that the other stuff will come later.
I get that "might as well give-up" mind frame from time to time, too, & that does NOT help.
