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If you don’t try to get your weight under control, you never will. That’s a pretty simple fact that rings true for a lot of things. If you don’t save money, you won’t. If you don’t apply for a job, it’s likely that you will never get it. I could go on and on, but I’ll spare you the boredom!
I’ll be honest with you. Trying to lose weight was a job for me when I weighed 250 to 300 pounds. It felt like a lot of work to watch what I ate, try to figure out what I should eat when I was going out, and plan on exercise.
Honestly, there were a lot of times when I either gave up completely or considered giving up. But I kept trying.
I know a lot of people who literally or figuratively throw their hands up in the air and say that they aren’t even going to try anymore. “What’s the point?” they tell me. “I’m never going to get this weight off.”
True fact. If you don’t try, you will never get the weight off.
So, if you are in the midst of a weight-loss identify crisis, considering giving up on your efforts to get off the obesity carousel, don’t. There – I said it. Don’t give up. Sure, things may not be going perfectly right now, but giving up is going to ensure that things will continue to go downhill.
I often think about where I would be if I had completely given up. I could have ended up having to use one of these, not because I was ill or needed it, but because of my weight.
I wouldn’t be able to easily run, play basketball in the driveway or even get in and out of my high van without a lot of difficulty, if I hadn’t just tried one more time.
Where are you today? Are you ever tempted to give up, and what keeps you going? Diane
I have been tempted many, many, many times to give up. But the reality for me was that I have a drive to “solve” the puzzle. I was recently told that for me, losing weight is complicated. It is not the simple equation of move more, eat less, or I would have already done it. THAT being said, you still have to learn to move more and eat less WHILE you are dealing with all the other complicated “issues”.
Jules Big Girl Bombshell´s last fabulous musings ..Not Important
I am so grateful to be in a good place today. I’ve had days when I felt it was too hard to do it another hour. The only thing that kept me from throwing in the towel and tying it around my neck as a bib was the promise I made to someone that I would just get through that day and reconsider tomorrow. Tomorrow it always seemed a little better. This still works when I have a day where I want to say WTF and collapse into a vat of goodies.
What keeps me going? The thought of going back into the hell of morbid obesity: the limitations, the chronic pain, the high blood pressure, the ridicule from strangers. I keep going for myself and for my family and fellow food addicts who see that it can be done. Life is so much sweeter without the sweets.
Jane~
Keepingthepoundsoff.com
Jane C´s last fabulous musings ..Accepting Gastric Bypass or Lap Band Surgery
Blogging really helps keep me going:)
Karen@WaistingTime´s last fabulous musings ..Say Yes to the Dress
Hi Diane! Thanks for the supportive comment on my blog!
Scooter–What a reminder of how far we could have sunk into bad health! I got very scared when I got to size 18–I would burst into tears about it at random times!
Now at size 14 for a few years, I am finally ready to make another step. I did the safety step of getting out of those women’s sizes, getting all of my internal numbers (i.e. cholesterol down, trygliceride down etc…) good. This next step is *not* out of fear, this one is for *me*! And I will prevail!
Marion@affectionforfitness´s last fabulous musings ..Eating Healthy 30-Day Challenge: Day 8
I never fully give up but there definitely are lots of days where I just don’t have the motivation to eat perfectly and exercise. When you have been overweight for so long and it is always on your mind, sometimes you just need to push it out of the way for a while (and then you suffer the results after).
Right now I am maintaining a 40 pound loss but I have another 50-55 to go. So still quite a but to loose. But I’m motivated by some clothes in my closet that I would love to wear! Someday
Ali @ Peaches and Football´s last fabulous musings ..Orientation Nerves
I agree. No one should give up. And if they want to give up, that they should look at this picture you have posted. I for one, would not wanted to ever want to use of of them to be able to get to point B.
blackhuff´s last fabulous musings ..Bloggers are the shy people
When I was young & fat, yes, I actually just did not try but once I lost it – NOPE, never going to give up. Honestly Diane, with the way these age hormones fight us women, at times I just want to say – UGH, I will just put on 5 or 7 pounds & stop this endless fight cause it really does get tough with age. BUT, I always look at how much it is worth it & how hard I fought to get here & the health benefits!
Jody – Fit at 53´s last fabulous musings ..Great Coupon Sites(TJ’s & WF’s); Fit Stanley Winner
Looking at each day as a new opportunity was (and still is) very helpful to me. When I look at each meal as an opportunity to make a good choice (or a different/better choice from the last meal) and each day as an opportunity to exercise, it becomes less overwhelming. Even when I had quite a bit of weight to lose, looking just at the next choice was really helpful.
Andrea@WellnessNotes´s last fabulous musings ..Exercise Thoughts
Thank you for this inspiring post! You are so right…I can relate to this feeling like a full time job by itself. Sometimes it just takes so much physical, mental,and spiritual effort to stay on track. You are also right that it is so worth it….SO WORTH IT! I feel so much better than I did this time last year…and I am motivated to keep on going to see how much better I feel at goal!
Brenda´s last fabulous musings ..Tea Time
The saying is “Argue your limitations and they are yours!”
If I may add: It doesn’t matter what your issues are, you need to walk an hour a day! The time doing that will not only be physically good for you, but give you the mental insights to understand your “issues!” Try it and it will all become clear.
At age 30 I gave up the fight and gained 100 lbs extra in about a year. Twenty years later I lost the extra 100. While I would still like to lose more, I’m back where I started in a healthy body size. Oddly I don’t regret the 20 years of 100 extra as much as I resent the 15 years I spent before then fighting with my body.
I can’t give up. If I give up, I loose. Not pounds but happiness, health, life!
I once weighed over 190 pounds which for me, was a lot! Over the course of 2 years I dropped down to the low 160′s. Today, I am happiest in the 140′s but often have setbacks during stressful times. This past summer I added 15 pounds by bingeing 1-3 times a week. I founds myself unhappy with out of control habits. Am I quitting? No way! I just can’t throw in the towel. I just need to regroup, get my healthy habits going again and I’ll get my weight down again. That’s my current journey.
HI Diane,
I think that both choices can be hard – it’s hard to forgo instant gratification for long term results but there’s also a lot of pain (as you mentioned above) with the effects of giving in to gratification. I like the quote – “pick your hard”.
Thanks for the insightful post.
Liz@LastChanceTraining´s last fabulous musings ..Confidence
I lost about 60 lbs 2-3 years ago and then got pregnant, gained 75, had my baby, lost a few lbs and still have 40 to go. I think the thing that helps me going the most is knowing I was actually able to accomplish the weight loss initially, and knowing how great I felt. I’m still struggling to see consistent weight loss but it took me almost 3 years to lose the 60 lbs before so I know it will take time. I absolutely loved being smaller and healthier. I felt so alive and I didn’t cringe when I saw photos of myself. I keep those photos around to look at often but instead of being angry with myself like I use to be (when I’d gain weight), I simply use those photos to remind me of how wonderful I felt.
Nicole´s last fabulous musings ..House Dreaming: Backyard with Patio/Deck
I haven’t given up yet, although I’ll tell you after five years going at this I’m the teensiest bit weary? LOL. That plus a half-pound “gain” this week doesn’t have me tickled.
But the option is giving up or, worse, going back. Not happening, no way. So onward I go… continuing to tweak until I get it right
Amanda´s last fabulous musings ..WW Weigh-In, Week 26
As usual, you are so right! There will always be good and bad days, but the key is not to give up. I’ve been struggling for the past 6 weeks, not losing anything, but I’m still trying. One day I will get it right. But I should remember it would only be worse if I weren’t trying at all.
Laura Jane @ Recovering Chocoholic´s last fabulous musings ..Week 20 Results
After being ‘at it’ for this long, it’s hard sometimes, but I will never truly give up, even when I am tempted to do so. I may/will have my down times and struggles, and I may even go backwards for a little while occasionally, but I cannot face ever going back to where I used to be.
That poor woman was so unhappy and, because she hated who she was, she damaged herself at every turn. Today, after the changes I’ve made and continue to make, is so much better.
Thanks for this Diane. It made me think (you do have a tendency to do that, clever thing), so I’ve posted a few words in response on my site.
Deniz´s last fabulous musings ..On track… up to a point
I ABSOLUTELY loved this post! I really needed this today. I found myself stuck in a rut and ready to just stay there. But what you said was right: “If I don’t try, I’ll never get the weight off”. That’s a very scary thoguht as is needed the scooter. Thanks!
Shanita´s last fabulous musings ..Better Luck Next Time
I want to be healthy and I love having energy and wearing cute clothes! I don’t ever want to wear fat clothes again! No, never!
Tami@nutmegnotebook.com´s last fabulous musings ..Favorites On Friday!
I have given up more times than I can count. This last time is the longest I have ever held on without completely throwing in the towel, and its time to get moving again. I am a little apprehensive, because I don’t feel the fire I felt when I started this journey, but I know its something that needs to be done. Pray for me, okay?
Pam´s last fabulous musings ..88 Days
I’m halfway to my goal, it’s been two years and I refuse to give up, I’m not sure why. There is something deep inside of me that just refuses to give up.
You nailed it too – I’ve no hope of reaching my goal if I quit, so I can’t quit.
Leah´s last fabulous musings ..Weigh-In … Just a Number
Ouch! I literally cringed when I saw that picture – what a wake-up call!
I have a “thing”, not about scooters, but hip replacements. I didn’t realise I had scoliosis until I started running after I lost weight (like many people, I just assumed that I could become a runner). It took a lot of tears, pain and physiotherapy to straighten me out, and I have to work on my hip mobility every single day. But how scary is it that I didn’t even know I had that issue until I was in my late 40s? And how super-scary is it that I could have continued getting fatter and fatter, and less and less mobile, until I needed a new hip?
I think we all need to give ourselves a kick in the pants/wake-up call every now and again…
This is SOOO true! When i started my whole goal (& blog name at the time!) was to NEVER give up. Because I realized that i would be extremely obese (more so than i was already) very quickly if i gave up. When i started my journey, I realized that in the first 6 months of a year, I had gained 20 pounds. From 259 to 279. Which means, that if i didn’t TRY then I would be 299 by the end of that year! Well over 300 pounds the year after that. That was scary to me. That is what got me to keep going.
I have kept up with it for 2 years WITHOUT LOSING WEIGHT. It just wasn’t happening & we finally figured out this year that i am insulin resistant, which was keeping the fat on, especially b/c i wasn’t watching carbs, only calories. NOW the weight is finally coming off!
When I initially lost my 60 pounds what spawned me to never give up was the dire health crisis I was in. I was so sick of being sick and unable to do anything. This time now that I have kept my weight off for 2.5 years, but have gained 10 pounds…what keeps me going to get it off? Is knowing that sickness is lurking and hasn’t gone anywhere and if I don’t get my weight and food back in control I could end up right back where I was and I don’t want that ever!
Sheri @ TheMotivationalGirl´s last fabulous musings ..Tired Of Thinking About It
The thing that keeps me going is the desire to stay healthy and, truthfully, vanity. I’ll never seen 20 again (or 50 for that matter), but I can look darn good at 60.
Siobhan´s last fabulous musings ..Rule #1 …
It is not the simple equation of move more, eat less, or I would have already done it.
alison´s last fabulous musings ..How To Conceive Quickly
Brilliant, and you’re absolutely correct! If we don’t try, we will NEVER lose the weight, so keeping on at it, even through the tougher spots, is crucial to long term success. I’ve been struggling the past few weeks but I am with you 100% – though it has been a rough spot, the only way I can fail is if I quit and I’m not prepared to do that. Thus, every day I plug away at it, and slowly but surely the good habits I have cultivated get me through (even if it is just to maintain or lose a fraction of a pound).
Taryl´s last fabulous musings ..Yup, still sick.