I’m about to give up.

Question

I’ve put on around 50 lbs over the last few years and I’m trying to lose it. I blame no one but myself. My diet was horrible. Greasy foods and soda, all day, everyday. Then for a month, I completely turned things around. No fast food. No soda (so hard to do btw). No rice. I eat about 1200 calories a day and I’ve only lost 5lbs. I’m so discouraged and all I want to do is grab a bag of potato chips and give up already.

Gillian Armstrong · Answer

Just remember, that was 50 lbs over a couple of YEARS, so it will likely take that long to lose it (the healthy, natural way). Keep lifting and working out, and eating the good stuff!

Anonymous · Answer

Read Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes -- it's NOT a diet book, it's more of a history of American food habits but it's SO helpful. It's what made Gretchen Rubin and many other people switch to a ketogenic/low carb diet. I would also say try Whole30 or Tim Ferriss's 4-hour Body book -- you might be better off eating healthier & in higher quantities so that you're not tired/calorie restricted.

Anonymous · Answer

5lbs in a month is also very hard to lose.

Emma Miller · Answer

Don't give up! Question: Are your changing your diet and workout? Or is this specifically a food change?

Anonymous · Answer

How old are you? How much did you weigh before you gained the weight? Do you have any food sensitivities or allergies? Do you have any allergies to environmental factors (dust, pollen, chemicals, etc?) Did you have any extenuating circumstances during that time (job change, family emergency?) Do thyroid or other medical conditions run in your family? If so, have you been tested for any of them? Is your current job stressful? Are you getting enough sleep?

Take the answers to all these, as well as a few more I'm sure I'm forgetting, and meet with some combination of your physician, a nutritionist, and a trainer. There are hundreds of different 'diets' and all of them eventually contradict each other. Your body responds in a specific way, unlike anyone else's. What works for your best friend or your mom or your cousin's officemate is irrelevant :-)  It may take some time (it did for me, but once I found what worked I lost 20 lbs in 6 months and have kept it off for 10 years) but when you find what works for you, you will see progress that motives you, you will be excited to keep going, and proud of yourself for taking care of you.

Best of luck on your journey!

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