just about a week ago, i saw 145 on the scale and i jumped for joy -- feeling like i hit a mini goal (lower 140s). well since then, i have been stumbling and basically sabotaging all my efforts. why??

valentines day and i know people mean well but now there is all this chocolate around. i've been nibbling on m&ms, cookies, you name it!

i recently just stopped counting calories altogether. i don't know why. at first, i had a phone app where i could scan barcodes. i thought it was great. then people at work mentioned how insane i was with my phone constantly in my hand scanning things.

so i switched to a more relaxed app (calorific). i stopped doing this, too. it lists good, ok and bad foods and general portions. i eat a fiber one brownie like almost every day and i don't know how that ranks. i also sometimes will eat luna or cliff bars with a piece of fruit in place of a meal. don't know how that ranks. so i got frustrated and just stopped.

now i've been at 147 for days and days. its pathetic!! i kinda started this whole thing the beginning of january. so i've lost 4 pounds in a month and a half?? please! i almost feel like giving up. i have a 6 day work week ahead of me with 10 hours of running around being on my feet, not to mention i get home around 1:30 am and waking up is just so hard to do. i tried to go to the gym yesterday, but i was just so exhausted i left after just 10 minutes.

this feels impossible. i feel like i want to give up. like i'll never be thin. i'm starting to feel like there are two options in life: be miserable all the time because you hate your body or be miserable all the time because you're watching your weight and you can never enjoy food you like ever again.

its just hard for me right now.

i'm ditching the technology and i bought a daily planner. i'm gonna use that thing called a pen and write things down -- my calories, my gym time and my weight.

i just can't help but feel as though i'll never make it. but i haven't given up entirely just yet.

okay.

1. Breathe. You want this, and it will happen. Don't think about the results, but focus on the steps that you are taking to get there. Make good choices and the scale will follow.

2. I hate calorific. I tried it on a cruise and it's just too darn abstract, so i totally agree with you on that. I use myfitnesspal, but I also have the calorieking book (both kindle and the paper one that i used to carry in my purse as well as the ipad app and the website lets you search foods to double check) and use that in conjunction with my food scale to track things.

3. Don't worry about what other people think. For me, the people who are commenting about how "crazy" i am with my weight loss are the people are very overweight and have never lost weight, only gained. When i remember that, I consider the source.

you can do this, this is for you. remind yourself how much you want it. make the right choices and in time you will see the results!

1) Relax.

2) You don't fail diets or apps. They fail YOU. You've just begun, so keep searching for the tools that fit your style and your needs.

3) It will take time and you need to get realistic about it. Where's the rush?

4) 4 lbs in 6 weeks? This is EXCELLENT progress! Stop wanting to go faster than your body can go. You are trying to give your body what it needs and nurture it so it can heal. If you had a broken arm would you yell at your body for not knitting bones faster?

Hang in there.

A.

I have to agree with Jay. First off Breathe, and don't listen to what other people say about your "techniques." If you like tracking calorie count a certain way then do it-if it works for you then do it.

I use the old school pen and pad, but that's because I don't have an app capable phone. Plus its easier for me to wrap my brain around if I write it down. I feel like I hold myself more accountable for what I eat because I have to admit it to myself by writing it out-weird psychological thing.

My DH brought home a 440cal/per piece pie 2 weeks ago.....I really wish he wouldn't have but oh well. We ate it, and Im really really glad its finally gone-I hate how high my calorie count was but I made sure it fit under 2000 for both of us. It took a lot of will power and I had to plan out all of our meals out in extent-which is something I had only casually done before.

Just stick with it, plan your meals out and save room for desert if you want. If you cant exercise on weeks you work over time then just make sure you eat in a calorie bracket that still creates a sufficient difference(like 500 or so) to lose weight without the work out.

I can hear the frustration in your post. I'm so sorry you're having a hard time right now

Don't worry about how quickly or slowly you're losing. Just stick to a plan that you know is healthy and you will get where you want to be. It's always worth eating well, even if you don't see results, I guarantee your body is thanking you!

X-posted from before, but this may help you.

Planning ahead has been the only reason why I have success. I have said this about a million times on the board, but I cook ahead of time and freeze things and I meal plan. Here is a link so as not to bore anyone by posting it again.

For me, the trick is to cook my own meals and to make my food tasty. I have not once felt like I wanted to eat something else because I look forward to my meals. Not only are they healthy, but they actually taste great. If you don't know how - experiment, but in that link I suggested my top four "conscious eating" recipe websites.

Get yourself a lunchbox and invest in containers to make things easy. I even have teeny tupperware that I use for salad dressing, natural peanut butter, or hummus. At night, pack up your planned snacks and meals that you will eat when you're out the next day, then in the morning you can grab and go.

I really can't just guess what I'm eating for the day or I end up either over or under eating. I need the structure to keep me in the right range. I have NO idea how people can just "wing it!"

Lastly, I NEED to exercise before work. If I try to plan for it after, I always end up running errands, taking care of something time-consuming with my child, helping my God-children with homework, etc. It's always something and some excuse. Plus doing it in the morning gives me so much more energy during the day!

I have similar issues- I get a number in my head and I hit a comfort zone with that number and as long as I stay comfortable with that number I have trouble dropping below it. Instead I have to tell myself, I am NOT comfortable with that number. I want (insert number here)! I've been stuck in the lower 190's lately because I'm in a comfort zone. However I just started a challenge that includes diet and exercise with a group support and I think that will help me kick start some more weight loss.

So, why was it insane that you were scanning things all the time? Why do you care what other people think? This is YOUR journey, not theirs. So, if it worked for you, why stop? Really?

I could never do pen and paper, btw. I love the ease of just using my iphone or ipad. I use mynetdiary.com and it's how I keep track of calories, carbs, exercise, weight and my menstrual cycle. My mother in law thinks it's crazy that I track every bite I've put in my mouth, but it's helped me see patterns, find out my weaknesses and so on for the last 13 months and 80 pounds.

Why can't you enjoy food you like? Plenty of people eat rich/fatty/sugary foods and stay on point. I've been on a loss trend for a few weeks and I've eaten noodles, chocolates, cake, frozen yogurt w/candy toppings, pizza, drunk alcohol, and lost weight all the way. It's all about balance. I personally don't think denying yourself things you want is necessarily the best way. If you have a severe problem and are aware of addiction/binge issues abstinence may be your best bet, but it sounds to me like you're progressing at a good rate yet letting it consume you and trick you into thinking you're failing - you're NOT!

Balance is the key to living a healthy life forever.

If I want to have cocktails, I'm going to cut back somewhere else. It's just like a budget. I may splurge and buy myself something pricey, so I have to sure that I cut down spending somewhere else.

I've got through like every calorie/carb counting, WW pt counting lab, you name it. I learned that in your day to day life using something like that is too stressful. YOu aren't going to be able to do it forever without getting frustrated. Pen and paper can be a good start, and try graduating to keeping a mental ledger of what you eat in your head.

I feel your pain. And like you, struggle with alot of the same things. It is hard as we don't have a great deal to lose (more than 10lbs, but barely in the "overweight" zone). So it is hard to let go, and it also means eating less.

Something I noticed - I've struggled for a couple years now in getting my weight/food issues straight. I've tried luna/cliff protein bar meal replacments or protein shakes for breakfast. And for whatever reason, even though I stay under my calorie limit, still didn't seem to lose weight.

This time around Ive cut out the protein meal replacements and i'm eating real food. After the initial woosh, it is slow going (maybe 1/2lb last week) but it is still going. (and that includes indulging in cake today, a nice valentines dinner, etc, without going too overboard).

Stay strong.

thank you everybody for your encouraging words. i'm going to start with the pen and paper tomorrow and see how that goes for me. if it still isn't my thing, maybe i'll switch back to that first app and screw what people think.

i'm planning tomorrow as my day to get it started,and since it's the 17th, i want to do a mini goal for st pats. maybe, down to 140 by st. patty's day? that might be too much to ask, but even if i get within a few pounds i'll be beaming.


thanks again!!! <3 this board so far