ZERO Motivation......

Becky · 12-29-2011, 05:43 AM

A bit of background...I lost 20lbs on WW but was getting sick of feeling hungry all the time so I started doing my own low carb version of WW (eating low carb foods and counting points). I was doing okay on that but pretty much kept hovering at the 20lb mark and couldn't shake it. Thanksgiving rolled around and I decided to "take a month off" from going to WW, then of course the Christmas treats made their appearance (I made 40 dozen assorted cookies for teachers and my husband's work group and had to taste a few of each). I gained back about 12lbs. At this point I really want to get back to my low carb WW (I NEED the points system as I have no "full" warning, I just keep eating). I plan on rejoining WW this coming Tuesday but will offically start back up on low carb January 1st. BUT I seem to have no motivation, there is no spark of excitement that I really had when I started WW last time. Reading the board seems to be helping but also depressing me as everyone seems to be losing weight so fast and it took me 1 whole YEAR to get 20lbs off (well now 8lbs....). I was thinking of buying a bathing suit a couple sizes too small and trying it on every week for motivation, but that also may backfire and I'll just give up...UGH! Anybody have suggestions (besides stop whining and get moving, I know I have to do that

).

jandjsmom · 12-29-2011, 06:09 AM

You know what, I think you weren't eating enough fat!! I have tried every diet under the sun and most I was miserable!! I even tried Atkins a few years back and didn't know to expect the Atkins flu and thought that I was just not able to eat this way.

I turned 40 last summer and saw a picture of myself out with friends and was horrified!! Knew that I had to do something. Started with Carb. Addicts and just somehow got to doing just LC. I did experience the flu, but thanks to these boards I found out that it only lasts a few days. So, I stuck with it. What I have found is that the reason most diets haven't worked for me was that I wasn't eating enough fat. Fat is your friend!! It keeps you full and not feeling miserable that you can't eat. I start every day with coffee with HWC and "bunnies" pudding which has 2 T. coconut oil (which is amazing!!). I am full most of the day and don't even think about food, energy like crazy!! Yesterday around 3 started getting hungry so melted a little butter and almonds in the microwave and it was so good!!
Dinner, chicken breast with bacon and chedder cheese and a Joseph's pita (with butter). Down a pound this morning!! I am finding that I really need that fat to lose and keep my appetite suppression going.
As far as motivation, tell yourself you are all in for a month!! What else is there to do in January anyway??? After that month, you will fill so good and clothes will fit so much better, that will be all the motivation you need.
Also, I love searching these forums, it has become my hobby! Love to find threads from way back and see what everyone was eating and talking about then. Keeps me entertained and focused!!

Good luck to you!!

clackley · 12-29-2011, 06:21 AM

Maybe stop looking at it as a diet but rather a means to good health. The benefits of low carbing go way beyond weight loss.

NoelleSilvia · 12-29-2011, 06:33 AM

I personally don't think WW in combination with LC is a good idea. WW only allows you to eat a certain amount of calories and the secret of LC is that you don't have to count calories, but eat enough fat so you will never feel hungry.

How about trying just Atkins/LC, like most of us on here do? Because like you said, people on here lose big amounts of weight in short periods of time. And this is because we eat enough fat and don't count points!!

Becky · 12-29-2011, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clackley

Maybe stop looking at it as a diet but rather a means to good health. The benefits of low carbing go way beyond weight loss.

I agree, when I did low carb for the first time back four years ago or so I felt sooooo much better but never lost weight (didn't gain it either though), I think it was bacause my portions were still huge. When I do low carb the dark marks under my arm pits clear right up, my skin clears up (adult acne is not a fun thing!) and my stomach seems to shrink. I'm borderline type 2 diabetes so yes I should really be concentrating on just the health and think of the weight loss (with portion control I hope to lose some) as a bonus.

I dug out my copy of DANDR (92' version) and will get started reading that, I know that will motivate me.

I think sticking to just this board will also help as I wandered into The Playground a couple months ago and never wanted to leave!

Leo41 · 12-29-2011, 07:30 AM

Sometimes the lack of 'motivation' comes from the carbs. I know that I am more 'down' when I eat carbs, but I also know that dropping a few pounds (and staying low carb) is the greatest motivator of all for me.

So why not promise yourself to 'fake it' for 2 weeks--i.e., go low carb, get back to WW, and stick it out for 2 weeks. Then see if the results you feel don't motivate you to continue.

Personally, I found that the more I lost, the more motivated I became.

Books and Cats · 12-29-2011, 07:36 AM

I agree about adding some fat. I've done weight watchers in the past and it worked for me but I was constantly hungry, even after meals. When I first started low-carb I had to mentally get past the fact I was eating so much fat (I had to keep telling myself it wouldn't clog my arteries

) but now that I do eat more fat, I feel amazing. I kind of feel like this is how I should have been eating all along.

By the way, I lose at kind of an average rate. I never have huge losses like many people, but I lose small amounts consistently. While I like the weight loss (and occasionally wish it would come off quicker), my favorite part of low-carb and higher fat is that I feel great and have so much energy all the time.

Becky · 12-29-2011, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo41

Sometimes the lack of 'motivation' comes from the carbs. I know that I am more 'down' when I eat carbs, but I also know that dropping a few pounds (and staying low carb) is the greatest motivator of all for me.

So why not promise yourself to 'fake it' for 2 weeks--i.e., go low carb, get back to WW, and stick it out for 2 weeks. Then see if the results you feel don't motivate you to continue.

Personally, I found that the more I lost, the more motivated I became.

I think that ^ has at least something to do with it, it seems the more carbs I ate the deeper I sunk into antimotivation, I knew I was gaining weight but didn't seem to care.

I'm trying to turn this attitude around, I started DANDR again and have dug out my low carb cookbooks (Dana Carpender has some amazing cookbooks).

I will try eating more fat this time too.

12-29-2011, 05:43 AM	#1
Becky Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: MA Posts: 2,899 Gallery: Becky Stats: 175/166/140...47 years old WOE: Trying LC/WW combined...again... Start Date: Start date: June 10, 2013	ZERO Motivation...... A bit of background...I lost 20lbs on WW but was getting sick of feeling hungry all the time so I started doing my own low carb version of WW (eating low carb foods and counting points). I was doing okay on that but pretty much kept hovering at the 20lb mark and couldn't shake it. Thanksgiving rolled around and I decided to "take a month off" from going to WW, then of course the Christmas treats made their appearance (I made 40 dozen assorted cookies for teachers and my husband's work group and had to taste a few of each). I gained back about 12lbs. At this point I really want to get back to my low carb WW (I NEED the points system as I have no "full" warning, I just keep eating). I plan on rejoining WW this coming Tuesday but will offically start back up on low carb January 1st. BUT I seem to have no motivation, there is no spark of excitement that I really had when I started WW last time. Reading the board seems to be helping but also depressing me as everyone seems to be losing weight so fast and it took me 1 whole YEAR to get 20lbs off (well now 8lbs....). I was thinking of buying a bathing suit a couple sizes too small and trying it on every week for motivation, but that also may backfire and I'll just give up...UGH! Anybody have suggestions (besides stop whining and get moving, I know I have to do that ). __________________ Exercise 4x per week. Drink more water (80+ oz per day) ~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Short term goal: stay the same or lose some while on vacation. 160: by June 15 150: by July 31

12-29-2011, 06:09 AM	#2
jandjsmom Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Sweet Home Alabama Posts: 453 Gallery: jandjsmom Stats: 155/128.2/127 5'4" WOE: Low Carb/ IF Start Date: June 2011	You know what, I think you weren't eating enough fat!! I have tried every diet under the sun and most I was miserable!! I even tried Atkins a few years back and didn't know to expect the Atkins flu and thought that I was just not able to eat this way. I turned 40 last summer and saw a picture of myself out with friends and was horrified!! Knew that I had to do something. Started with Carb. Addicts and just somehow got to doing just LC. I did experience the flu, but thanks to these boards I found out that it only lasts a few days. So, I stuck with it. What I have found is that the reason most diets haven't worked for me was that I wasn't eating enough fat. Fat is your friend!! It keeps you full and not feeling miserable that you can't eat. I start every day with coffee with HWC and "bunnies" pudding which has 2 T. coconut oil (which is amazing!!). I am full most of the day and don't even think about food, energy like crazy!! Yesterday around 3 started getting hungry so melted a little butter and almonds in the microwave and it was so good!! Dinner, chicken breast with bacon and chedder cheese and a Joseph's pita (with butter). Down a pound this morning!! I am finding that I really need that fat to lose and keep my appetite suppression going. As far as motivation, tell yourself you are all in for a month!! What else is there to do in January anyway??? After that month, you will fill so good and clothes will fit so much better, that will be all the motivation you need. Also, I love searching these forums, it has become my hobby! Love to find threads from way back and see what everyone was eating and talking about then. Keeps me entertained and focused!! Good luck to you!! __________________ *Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right. Henry Ford

12-29-2011, 07:36 AM	#7
Books and Cats Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Southeast US Posts: 493 Gallery: Books and Cats Stats: 257/187.2/150? WOE: Paleo Start Date: 08/19/11 (low carb), 6/14-8/18 (low-cal)	I agree about adding some fat. I've done weight watchers in the past and it worked for me but I was constantly hungry, even after meals. When I first started low-carb I had to mentally get past the fact I was eating so much fat (I had to keep telling myself it wouldn't clog my arteries ) but now that I do eat more fat, I feel amazing. I kind of feel like this is how I should have been eating all along. By the way, I lose at kind of an average rate. I never have huge losses like many people, but I lose small amounts consistently. While I like the weight loss (and occasionally wish it would come off quicker), my favorite part of low-carb and higher fat is that I feel great and have so much energy all the time. __________________ Start size 22W, Current size 14-16, Goal size 8 Almost 70 pounds down in the last year

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

12-29-2011, 06:21 AM	#3
clackley Chatty Cathy Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Toronto Posts: 13,227 Gallery: clackley Stats: 228.5/168/125 WOE: N.K.=vlc/hf/moderate protein & organic/pastured Start Date: Restart Oct 18 2009	Maybe stop looking at it as a diet but rather a means to good health. The benefits of low carbing go way beyond weight loss.

12-29-2011, 06:33 AM	#4
NoelleSilvia Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Germany Posts: 1,062 Gallery: NoelleSilvia Stats: H267/S260/C254/T200 WOE: Modified LC Start Date: August 2012	I personally don't think WW in combination with LC is a good idea. WW only allows you to eat a certain amount of calories and the secret of LC is that you don't have to count calories, but eat enough fat so you will never feel hungry. How about trying just Atkins/LC, like most of us on here do? Because like you said, people on here lose big amounts of weight in short periods of time. And this is because we eat enough fat and don't count points!!

12-29-2011, 07:30 AM	#6
Leo41 Senior LCF member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8,461 Gallery: Leo41 Stats: 340 then/145 now WOE: Low carb/calorie cycling	Sometimes the lack of 'motivation' comes from the carbs. I know that I am more 'down' when I eat carbs, but I also know that dropping a few pounds (and staying low carb) is the greatest motivator of all for me. So why not promise yourself to 'fake it' for 2 weeks--i.e., go low carb, get back to WW, and stick it out for 2 weeks. Then see if the results you feel don't motivate you to continue. Personally, I found that the more I lost, the more motivated I became.