A few disappointing weeks have killed my motivation (I need a moan...)

I stayed the same for two weeks, which was probably understandable as I'd had a few days off-plan-ish and I can't expect to get away with that any more even if I wish I could. Then last week I was 110% on plan, the best I've ever been, well within syns, 1/2 of each meal superfree, all my snacks except 2 yogurts were superfree. Lost 1lb which I know is a fair bit of fat gone and so on, but I really did want more of a boost as I would love to get to target by my birthday (11lb in 7 weeks).

My confidence is a bit shaken, and even though I told myself I still believe the plan works and I was going to have another great week and I'd see a really good loss next week, something in my willpower has just gone. I went over my planned syns on cider on Wednesday despite having hunted out a low-syn lasagne recipe and bought small wine bottles so I wouldn't overdo it (we were having substitute Valentines as both on leave). Yesterday I got to my 15 syns, and then my colleague brought out Celebrations right on the desk in front of me, and I had 8. And then I had leftover cider when I got home. Today I was on plan, but feeling a bit ill, got home, ate Pringles (for the first time since I started SW) and two chocolatey hifis. I'm out for both lunch and dinner tomorrow so I'm starting to feel this week is a bit of a write off...

Anyone got any words of wisdom that can help me get my mojo back, REALLY believe that I'll see a loss if I stick to it, and get rid of this weird impulsive eating that I seem to be doing almost on autopilot?

Thanks!

In the week where you lost 1lb after being on plan, maybe you were doing more like success express as you were having 1/2 superfree (I know it's supposed to be 2/3 superfree on SE but it's still more than the recommended 1/3) so possibly not eating enough free foods? Especially as all your snacks were superfree too. How many syns were you having daily that week?

Hey don't be disheartened, the plan does work, give it another week. Are you drinking enough water?

I can't see your stats, but it sounds as though you are reaching the end of your journey and unfortunately, it does get harder the nearer you get to target. The plan does work - there are plenty of target achievers to prove it - so just hang on in there and persevere. (I'm assuming that your target is not too low for your height etc.)

It is very tempting to take the attitude of 'I've given it my all, I've not lost, what's the point' and just eating anything that comes to hand, and goodness knows, I've done it myself often enough, but as I'm sure you are aware, it doesn't help. Have a think about why you decided to lose weight in the first place - write them down if it helps - and then have a think about how far you've already come. Then plan your food for the next few days - if you can, have a look at the menus of places you're going to and make the best choices you can before you arrive to reduce temptation - and stick to plan where you can; one meal off plan doesn't mean the whole day's got to be off plan. Think what advice you would give to a friend in the same situation and try to take that advice for yourself.

Finally, I know it's nice to use something like a birthday as a date by which to reach target but does it mean you're putting too much pressure on yourself? Would it really matter if you didn't make it?

Good luck and I hope you get back in the Slimming World groove again very quickly.

Thanks for the support.

Janey2014 said:

In the week where you lost 1lb after being on plan, maybe you were doing more like success express as you were having 1/2 superfree (I know it's supposed to be 2/3 superfree on SE but it's still more than the recommended 1/3) so possibly not eating enough free foods? Especially as all your snacks were superfree too. How many syns were you having daily that week?

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Yes, it probably was closer to Success Express, except that I will have had the extra Hexes only on 3 days (when I was doing Green). I would've said I was still eating plenty as I've never skimped on portions but I suppose my system may have been a little shocked at how strict I was being. I had an average of 13 syns a day, which I know is quite high for some people but it's actually the first time ever I've stuck to the limit all week! Most of the syns were on 'healthy' things like tortilla, smoked mackerel, milk, avocado, extra cheese, Hifis.

Happy Holidays said:

Hey don't be disheartened, the plan does work, give it another week. Are you drinking enough water?

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Thanks. I know it works really, I think something in my brain is just going 'Ooo it's suddenly not going to work for you any more!' I average 1.5-2.5litres of water a day I reckon, so not bad. You asking this has reminded me that one thing I did do last week was overdo the diet Coke so I am trying to cut back on it just in case that slowed me down.

NotsofattyPatty said:

I can't see your stats, but it sounds as though you are reaching the end of your journey and unfortunately, it does get harder the nearer you get to target. The plan does work - there are plenty of target achievers to prove it - so just hang on in there and persevere. (I'm assuming that your target is not too low for your height etc.)

It is very tempting to take the attitude of 'I've given it my all, I've not lost, what's the point' and just eating anything that comes to hand, and goodness knows, I've done it myself often enough, but as I'm sure you are aware, it doesn't help. Have a think about why you decided to lose weight in the first place - write them down if it helps - and then have a think about how far you've already come. Then plan your food for the next few days - if you can, have a look at the menus of places you're going to and make the best choices you can before you arrive to reduce temptation - and stick to plan where you can; one meal off plan doesn't mean the whole day's got to be off plan. Think what advice you would give to a friend in the same situation and try to take that advice for yourself.

Finally, I know it's nice to use something like a birthday as a date by which to reach target but does it mean you're putting too much pressure on yourself? Would it really matter if you didn't make it?

Good luck and I hope you get back in the Slimming World groove again very quickly.

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Thanks, lots of helpful words in here. Not sure why my stats aren't showing - my BMI is at 26.8 and I'm aiming for a healthy BMI of 25 (to start with anyway!), so not aiming too low. I know things slow down but I guess I wasn't expecting it just yet, and that just heightens the feeling that the plan is not going to work for me any more! You're right though that loads of people do get to target (and targets lower than mine) and I also know really that 1-2lb is a healthy loss for me at this stage. I think because of my two weeks maintaining I was really hoping for that great loss you sometimes get after being 'stuck'.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets that 'what's the point' feeling when effort doesn't pay off! I've seen it happen to so many people in groups, and they usually come back after another week on plan with a good loss after all. It's so hard to apply to ourselves though...!

I was earlier on thinking I would just hang this week and start again after next weigh in but you have encouraged me to plan the next few days as there are still 4 days to weigh in. At least with a cold I'm not going to want much alcohol with my dinner!

I did write down my reasons to lose weight and I re-read them a lot, but I think I need to think about what my reasons are NOW, now that most of my clothes fit again and I am happier in myself.

I've been wondering myself whether my birthday target puts too much pressure on me. I'm going to put that target on hold and see what happens at this week's weigh in and what is realistic now that things will naturally slow down.

Still feeling a bit rubbish but the support really helps, thanks.

I totally know how you're feeling. I had a gain this week but I'd been on an all inc holiday the week before. I gained 2lb at class but in reality I had gained much more and managed to pull a few lbs back!! Since being weighed I cannot get back in the swing of things. It's thrown me totally!! I hardly ever gain (even lost over Xmas an new year!)
Sometimes I'm a week behind. So I'll have a fab week on plan and then not lose anything but it will come off the next week! It's bizarre and frustrating to say the least!
Try and stay on track as best as possible and hopefully the scales will reward you next week.
Best of luck!

Right, lets get this into perspective

You had 2 weeks where you maintained because you had not been completely on plan, by your own admission. I'd say that's pretty good going!! I'd be sure to gain
Then you had a 110% week whereupon you lost 1lb!! Nothing wrong with that...you lost! OK, you wanted more (don't we all?) but we don't always get what we deserve in this dieting game, do we? We know that some can have a 'bad' week and still lose and another time have a near perfect week and maintain or even gain, its just the way it goes sometimes. Try not to see 'only' losing 1lb as unsuccessful because its not.

Now onto the part where you say your confidence has been shaken. I think we all suffer with this from time to time. Sometimes we go along and everything is rosy and SW seems so easy and you think you can do this forever and then....in a blink of an eye, you are stuffing your face with whatever is in front of you and you cant seem to stop and actually, you don't want to stop!!! Honestly, I bet everyone here has had that happen to them, I know I have! I'm sure there aren't many people who just sail right through to their target weight with no blips whatsoever.
So I'd say, what is happening to you right now is normal but you can't give up. Just keep trying each day to get back to it and something will click...you know it works because you have already lost weight...your stats look great!!

Remember, giving up is not an option...what you put in you mouth is!!!

Good Luck

steph1212 said:

Sometimes I'm a week behind. So I'll have a fab week on plan and then not lose anything but it will come off the next week! It's bizarre and frustrating to say the least!

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Yes, I was really trying to tell myself this cos I know it's happened to other people at group. Helps to hear it from someone else though! I have control freak tendencies and when things are unpredictable or hard to explain it really throws me!

lentil2 said:

Right, lets get this into perspective

You had 2 weeks where you maintained because you had not been completely on plan, by your own admission. I'd say that's pretty good going!! I'd be sure to gain
Then you had a 110% week whereupon you lost 1lb!! Nothing wrong with that...you lost! OK, you wanted more (don't we all?) but we don't always get what we deserve in this dieting game, do we? We know that some can have a 'bad' week and still lose and another time have a near perfect week and maintain or even gain, its just the way it goes sometimes. Try not to see 'only' losing 1lb as unsuccessful because its not.

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Yup, all entirely true. I don't know why it suddenly got to me so much - think it was just combination of a few slow weeks one after the other that did it and then the fact that I'd been expecting more of a loss - usually I'd be very happy with 1lb. I am not patient!

lentil2 said:

Now onto the part where you say your confidence has been shaken. I think we all suffer with this from time to time. Sometimes we go along and everything is rosy and SW seems so easy and you think you can do this forever and then....in a blink of an eye, you are stuffing your face with whatever is in front of you and you cant seem to stop and actually, you don't want to stop!!! Honestly, I bet everyone here has had that happen to them, I know I have! I'm sure there aren't many people who just sail right through to their target weight with no blips whatsoever.
So I'd say, what is happening to you right now is normal but you can't give up. Just keep trying each day to get back to it and something will click...

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Yes! That feeling exactly. Guess it had to be my turn some time for the complete wobble! I've been trying each day to get back on it as you said. I wasn't too bad yesterday til evening and then I finished off the Valentines chocs. But at least then they were gone, so I have been 100% on plan today, only 3.1 syns so far but might have a little brandy later if I still fancy it.

I'm hoping that I will still see some more benefit from my hard work last week, esp as I think my hormones may be a bit all over the place so perhaps water retention had something to do with it. I did a sneaky weigh this morning (I usually only weigh at home on the morning after SW weigh-in, but needed to collect my thoughts), and it was saying I've lost 1/2lb which seems impossible, so I might be in luck.

So, many many thanks for the support which has helped me get back on it.

let us know xxx

I know how you feel too. I once had a three pound gain on a week where I could have sworn I stuck to it!! It does come off again. If struggling just go back to week one and try to start from the beginning. It works loads.

Glad to hear you sounding more positive.
Tomorrow (or today, depending on when you read this!!) is a new day and its MONDAY!! What better day to start afresh? Mondays were made for diets to start again!! lol

Hi Gwella

Nothing really to add, just to say I had a month of feeling like that, most of January I was eating round me with an attitude of "I've blown this week, I might as well keep going". I had gains (unsurprisingly!!) for 2 weeks and had a lucky loss in the middle, so overall it more or less evened out, BUT I was in such a funk of not giving a damn.

I just went with it while it lasted, I knew I'd get back into it again in time and on the days I felt ok I just ate sensibly (was still going over my syns though). Sometimes you just have to be kind to yourself. Let the bad days go. We're not all perfect 100% of the time. A few bad weeks in the scheme of our lives aren't that important.

Can barely believe it but I lost 3.5lb this week! That's my second-best-ever!
Given my big wobble, I can only put it down to a) delayed effect of last week's healthiness, due to weird hormones and water retention going and b) three days of success express!
Just goes to show - those big losses after an unexpectedly disappointing loss can happen to me too! Definitely need to remember this and hang in there next time my efforts take a while to show full results!

Gwella said:

Can barely believe it but I lost 3.5lb this week! That's my second-best-ever!
Given my big wobble, I can only put it down to a) delayed effect of last week's healthiness, due to weird hormones and water retention going and b) three days of success express!
Just goes to show - those big losses after an unexpectedly disappointing loss can happen to me too! Definitely need to remember this and hang in there next time my efforts take a while to show full results!

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Thats great you had a loss after a few weeks maintaining. Here's to a great week!