Wednesday, June 20, 2012

PYHO: Disappointed


I've never been a fitness guru by any stretch of the imagination but I've had times in my life where I made exercise and eating better a priority and the results were apparent. 

It's been a rough eighteen months and I am definitely a stress eater. Those results are also apparent. 

In January I decided it was time to get my hand out of the chips and queso and do something about it. It wasn't what I expected and I was an exercise class drop out

I did hit the track regularly and sorta followed Weight Watchers with a friend who officially joined. I was excited by the results and even went down a size.

And then it was March. Three kids + One mother in law +3000 miles to see Big Yankee. We had to eat our for every meal for 8 days. And I started slipping and slipping.

Things kept coming up and I would miss a day at the rec center and one day turned in to three days which turned into a week and then a month. 

Our house finally sold which meant I had to pack up seven years of our life, orchestrate a cross country move, and solo parent three monkeys. 

That's when I truly gave up and the wine and chocolate and chips and queso flowed freely.


We crash landed in our new home about three weeks ago and I've been walking my ass off. I have walked more days than I haven't. 

We aren't talking leisurely strolls here...I am a speed walker. I hit the streets for 35-45 minutes an average of five days a week. 

And what do I have to show for it? NOTHING! Not a damn thing. My clothes aren't fitting differently. I'm not losing inches and my scale is broken but I'm pretty confident in saying I haven't lost a pound. And it pisses me off! 

I don't expect miracles here nor do I expect to be slim and trim overnight but I need something. Something to show me my hard work is paying off. I'm disappointed and losing my motivation which is just part of a vicious cycle. 

How do you work thru the disappointment and keep on keeping on?






25 comments:

Your Doctor's Wife said...

Think of how you're strengthening your heart muscle??? I know it's not much, but I that's my go to line when the scale weight doesn't drop. That and I'm I'm burning calories. It's so frustrating.

Larks said...

That's really frustrating. You were under a lot of stress, all this moving and change happened, and then you're not seeing the results you want from re-adopting healthier eating and exercise habits. And re-adopting habits like that is a friggin' difficult adjustment in and of itself. Boo!

My body doesn't response to changes in diet and exercise like it's supposed to either. I think when it's stressed out it's like, "Oh yeah? You wanna lose weight? You've had me sleep deprived and stressed and now you want a *favor*? Well, SCREW YOU."

So I end up having to play mind games with myself to stay motivated. When I've got a free half I have to frame the choice like, "When someone asks what I did with my time am I going to feel better saying that I went for a run or saying that I went into Target to buy a bottle of conditioner and came out with $145 of stuff I don't need? Because then maybe I should run..."

Good luck! Stick with it!

Jenn and Casey said...

Keep at it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You've got your own cheering section RIGHT HERE!!!!

Katie said...

You are not alone! I am having the same problem! I'm eating better, walking and going to hot yoga, and have been since March. My scale hasn't budged at all! But now I can make it through a whole yoga class without any breaks. So I'm going to let that be my reward for now. (But seriously, those pounds better start coming off before the wedding!)

Kim said...

Great question on a really frustrating activity.

I would stop doing it to lose weight and focus on what I can gain instead from the walk. I might learn by listening to podcasts, or just enjoy music that makes me happy.

Are you drinking your 8 glasses of water a day? When I was in Weight Watchers, a gal spoke up about her utter frustration at not losing weight in spite of eating right and exercising. The leader asked about water, and the lady said she wasn't drinking much water at all. She was back a couple of weeks later and said that the water made a huge difference. I have found it to be true as well, so you might check that out.

Good luck!

Michelle said...

That SO sucks!!!! It happens to me too and it is SO discouraging.

Don't give up...all the stress affects your metabolism. It will click and you will start feeling better about yourself as the lbs. come off! Each day is a new day and a new opportunity!
Michelle
http://normalchaosforamultitaskmom.blogspot.com/2012/06/place-i-need-to-be.html

Leighannn said...

I had the same thing happen to me. I kept going and found I was building muscle. I started losing inches not lbs.
Keep going!!

Lynn said...

Girl, I so feel your pain. I've been there. I went through week after week, month after month, working out on my elipticle most every day and was so proud, but each time I stepped on the scale...NOTHING....but then, I noticed finally, that some things were fitting different (namely my jeans). I'm going thrrough a spell now where I've just given up totally. for the past several weeks, I've done nothing so now I'm back to square one. Stress DOES take away all motivation! So I'm telling you to just stick with it! change will come in time! Maybe not as fast as you like, but it will happen!

cynthia said...

I feel that way at times about my exercise routine so I re-force my thoughts and say exercising is keeping me off any type of medicine. It will come don't give up and congrats on the big move!

Sorta Southern Single Mom said...

Keep doing what you are doing... you are making yourself healthier even if it doesn't show. I lost a bunch of weight this fall and since the end of March have put "it all" back on. I went to the dr yesterday for my annual physical and she basically told me to get over myself. I thought I'd put all the weight back on, but I'm 8 lbs down from last year, am in my normal weight range and my bloodwork looks FABULOUS... Seriously, my cholesterol numbers are poster material... so even though I feel like I'm not having success, I am... I just can't SEE it!

Kimberly said...

Don't give up, keep going! I know it's hard to see, but you are making progress. Sometimes you just start building muscle, but you will see the results. So proud of you!!

Robbie K said...

it is frustrating & if I saw even the slightest improvement I would be super motivated again.

Robbie K said...

you make me laugh. I've decided to increase my time and see it that helps....

Robbie K said...

Thanks-cheering section will keep me going ;)

Robbie K said...

Wonderful that you are making it thru the entire yoga class w/o breaks. I'd call that an improvement!

Robbie K said...

Thanks for your words of wisdom. i'm trying to think about it as my "me" time since it's the only break I get from kids/work. I definitely need to up my water intake too.

Robbie K said...

Thanks for your encouragement...hoping it clicks soon and I'll start seeing some changes.

Robbie K said...

How long before you saw any results? I'm fine with gaining muscle and losing inches instead of lbs but I need something to show for my hard work.

Robbie K said...

See that's exactly what I need-a little sign from my wardrobe to acknowledge that I am making some progress. Hope you get back in the saddle again too!

Robbie K said...

Thanks for the pep talk. :)

Robbie K said...

Congrats on your weight loss and fabulous numbers...well that is something to be proud of. here's hoping I see some results soon.

Robbie K said...

Thanks for cheering me on. I keep telling myself that at least i'm doing something and it's bound to happen sooner or later.

Bridget said...

Three weeks isn't nearly enough time. Give yourself three months. Plus trust that it is paying off healthwise. Also, add 10 minutes to your walk each week, you don't want to plateau.

Shell said...

Just hang in there! The change will come.

AnnMarie said...

I have no advice but only support because I am right there with you! I hate that the scale isn't budging! I think it is great that you are at least doing something. I am stuck where you were in March, only I'm not moving...just swamped now that summer is here. Just wanted you to know you are not alone.