I need some motivation...

tyrone2003 · #1 (**permalink**) September 3rd, 2008, 04:41 PM

So far I'm doing really well on my weight loss journey, at least.. that's what the numbers say. I'm coming up on about the one year mark of my weight loss journey, I've dropped from 245lbs to 190lbs without any signs of stretch marks, my clothes are fitting better, I'm feeling a little more confident (but not enough), I feel like I could go to the beach and take my shirt off without grossing anyone out.. I'd be "acceptable". (I'll post my before and afters when I'm completely done with the transformation because I want you guys to really see the difference and I want to inspire people the way I have been by some of the amazing transformations I've seen on here).

But "acceptable" is NOT acceptable to me. I want to turn heads, and I want to be able to confidently approach any woman that catches my eye. I know I need to break into the 12-15% body fat region (probably around 170-175lbs) to reach that level of confidence in my image. Call me shallow, but personality only gets me so far, speaking as someone who's never really been seen as "attractive". Right now I'm somewhere around 20-22% body fat.

Problem is everyday I need some kind of motivation to keep going, keep believing that what I'm doing is going to pay off. Some days I just don't have it.. despite the progress I've made thusfar I look in the mirror, see that I still have a good size belly, and stubborn fat still on my pecs, and I get discouraged.. big time. So I'm looking for any kind of motivation, any stories of how people's lives have changed after they worked hard to get in the best shape of their lives.. how much did life change for you afterwards? Did you really become a new person? Do people really treat you differently?

I've been on this 190 plateau for about 3 weeks now and I'm trying everything to break it, HIIT, eating less, eating more, continuing lifting, eating plain tuna from the can, eating plain oatmeal (yuck), sleeping more, running further, running 2 miles around this freaking mountain when people are at the track.. (for some reason I can't focus 100% when too many people are at the track with me).. and I can't seem to break this plateau.. I need some motivation to keep at it...

odd part is.. this is the 3rd time I've hit one of these plateau's.. the first was at 220, and the second was at 200, and both times what ended up happening was I just lost all motivation and stopped working out daily.. stopped eating right.. and 2 weeks or so later I would hop on the scale and see that I had dropped 5-10 pounds.. then I get amped up again to work out. Well this workout streak has been going for about 3 months, working out harder about 5 days a week.. and I'm scared to purposely "give up" in order to trigger the weight loss because I'm scared it might trigger a gain.

usedtobefatmatt · #2 (**permalink**) September 3rd, 2008, 05:09 PM

Tyrone,

Lots of stuff jumped out while i read your post. I am going to respond and will probably be all over the place so follow me if you can.

Motivation, let's see.

You said you are doing really well. I agree, 55 lbs is a lot of weight. Feels good doesnt it? I bet it does.

You said you look better in your clothes. Another good feeling.

How about overall health. I bet your heart and other functions are feeling pretty good about the weight you lost. Family, friends?

No sign of stretch marks, you lucky SOB.

That's pretty motivating to me.

Anyway, i wasnt so lucky. Have plenty of stretch marks, loose skin, manboobs but i like myself a whole lot more than when i was fat. It feels great to accomplish something like lose 55 lbs. It sometimes takes the mind longer to catch up with your body.

How do you know you are not making the ladies head's turn?

When was the last time you took some time off? Give yourself a week off from working out. Dont let up on your eating. After a week off, do so HIIT, maybe start a different lifting program. you will get past this.

I guess to pull this all together. Enjoy what you have accomplished. You lost 55 lbs. Probably added years to your life. When was the last time you weighed 190? I'm sure a lot of people have congratulated you for what you have accomplished. If you cant find motivation in this, try to remember what it was like 55 lbs ago.

Matt

Homer · #3 (**permalink**) September 3rd, 2008, 05:19 PM

Ahhh the plateau. Man oh man, that's the lamest part of it all. The consensus I've heard is that you should switch up exercises. Maybe finding something that is more fun will motivate you. And if not, is it possible to find a running partner?

I understand your thinking on people and well let's just face it: most people are a lot more superficial than they think. I've found looking at my before pictures or just taking new ones is enough to gross me out until I'm out the door in my running shoes.. haha.

I think taking a few seconds to close your eyes and think about what the day will be when everyone is going, "holy #$@% you've lost so much weight!" Think of what you can do when you reach that goal. Whooaa.. !

Plus, c'mon.. give yourself a pat on the back. You've got quite the progress. Don't let yourself down and give up. You've come too far and you're sooo close.

Make a journal if you don't already have one. It helps me keep my thoughts about this in order and there's so much good support here, you can't go wrong

I hope you can get over this hump and get back in 'er cause you're worth it. We all are. It's just a matter of perseverance.

Don't give up on yourself. You can do it.

eddydamas · #4 (**permalink**) September 5th, 2008, 09:57 PM

If you have weighed in at 190 for three weeks straight that's a good thing. Be thankful you haven't put on more weight.
Im wondering if you have a picture of yourself just before you started? Most people do. Take another one of yourself. And I am talking with only your underwear on. Side by side...does that motivate you?
Change plans...do something different. Maybe getting up early morning just before sun up and hitting the exercise routine. If you need to shadow box or dance, try that. Just get your body moving.

francodamico1 · #5 (**permalink**) September 6th, 2008, 06:02 PM

Your doing great... doesnt sound like you need that much motivation, your even eating tuna! i cant even eat tuna and im on my way to 9% bf from about 20%

Keep lifting... the calories burn for the next 36 hours after you pump some iron! good luck!

paulab_5 · #6 (**permalink**) September 6th, 2008, 11:26 PM

Wow lots of great advice on here! I would say definitely start your own diary on the forum. Not only will it help you keep track of your journey, but it will give others a place to keep up with your progress AND support you along the way! You've done great so far! Keep up the great work!

tyrone2003 · #7 (**permalink**) September 8th, 2008, 04:40 PM

Thanks for the kind words everyone >_<; So I've been keeping at it, my workouts have been abit more intense the last few days. On my hit days I head up the tennis courts and sprint the lengths 8 times with about 30s rest in between, and then i alternate bear crawls + crab walks for the lengths of the tennis court (exhausting!), then I end with 3x8 squat jumps (dunno what they're called but it works!) and 3x8 pushups. Then the next day instead of my usual 2.5m on the track I changed it up a little, I sprinted the straights 100% and jogged the curves, only managed 2 laps of that as I was already exhausted from the HIIT workout the previous day... spent another hour or so just walking and collecting my head.

Soo anyways.. I stepped on the scale later that night.. 189.. can't be.. checked again.. 189. An amazing feeling but I didn't think it was real, I tested it by putting some weights on the scale and it was accurate. THEN I wake up this morning after a nice long sleep, drained my fluids (TMI? lol) and step on the scale.. the needle is hovering around 185-186... wtf?? no matter how I stand on the scale the highest I can get it to go now is like 189. So yeah, today I ate that plain dry tuna and oatmeal and it was DELICIOUS. I'm excited now.. thanks everyone =P

I want to show you guys my before and afters but it's not quite "after" yet lol.

paulab_5 · #8 (**permalink**) September 8th, 2008, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyrone2003

I want to show you guys my before and afters but it's not quite "after" yet lol.

Then show us the before and in-betweens!

paulab_5 · #9 (**permalink**) September 9th, 2008, 06:57 PM

Hey Tyrone, thanks for sending me the pics... first off I'm going to start by saying that you look SO DIFFERENT from when you started. When I PMed you back, I couldn't remember how much you said you currently weight but now I read you are at 190... I decided to read your beginning thread and something caught me...

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyrone2003

I feel like I could go to the beach and take my shirt off without grossing anyone out.. I'd be "acceptable"....But "acceptable" is NOT acceptable to me...

You are EXACTLY like me! I too, think I am acceptable. I probably look better than the average girl in a bikini (no offense to anyone) BUT that's not good enough for me... I strive for a different level of "acceptable" (see my Motivation Photo Album under my profile and you'll see what I view as acceptable for me....
So as I told you when I PMed you, I think you could definitely post the picks now, but I understand you wanting to wait too...
All I can say is, "Keep up the good work; visit and post here as often as possible for inspiration (if you haven't checked them out already, the before and after pics threads are GREAT inspiration!), and don't give up!! Your goal is right around the corner!!!

I'll be back often to check up on ya so no slackin'!

paulab_5 · #10 (**permalink**) September 14th, 2008, 01:17 PM

Hey you! Just stoppin in to say hi! Hope you're doing well!

paulab_5 · #11 (**permalink**) October 18th, 2008, 09:50 PM

TYYYYYYRRRRRRROOOOOOONNNNNNEEEEEE!!!! Where you at!!!??

paulab_5 · #12 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2008, 11:03 AM

Hey! Get your a** in here and post! I want updates! You were SO close in those pics you sent me... hope all is well!