Fitness Frustrations...shout'em out!

[PinkSkates]

Hi ladies,
I'm writing an article for my website. And I want a solid list of what's standing between you and a hot body.
If you are in an exercise rut, vent here!:offrant:

[SoSweet08]

Depression/Emotional Eating. I will do fine for a couple of weeks. Perfect diet and my exercise will be on point. Then all of a sudden I let my emotions take over and I miss a day of working out, then a week, and so on. Or I eat some junk food that at the time I felt was going to make me feel better. Yea it did for 10 mins.. but then it will make me feel and look worse in the end. That's my issue.

[Quty_Bug]

Exercising and eating right, but not seeing any results.! I'm so frustrated. I've actually gained weight since I started. Granted its only been like 3 weeks, but give me a pound or two.

[Paradox]

I have a lack of control when it comes to eating chocolate,sweets
I was also too poor from being unemployed to eat organic, natural vegetables/fruit that way that I want. Right now I am too poor to get my vitamins :(
I hate routine so exercising is troublesome...but I think I have some solutions. I will try them and see how it works.
Portion control is an issue
1. A girl today suggested that i start eating dark chocolate
2. ChaCha is a life saver, I also participate in research studies. I'm still looking for a job though
3.Perhap I can find a dance group, and I shouldn't run in gym because I get too frustrated, i need to run outside.
4. I've have a limit of 2 fruits/3 veggies a day, 40 grams of protein..and slow down significantly on the carbs.I made a checklist of this, actually this week. So this basically this is all that I should be eating in a typical day.

[Te'TahHead]

-It is so much cheaper to eat bad. I could go to Mcdonalds with three dollars and get a double cheeseburger (two cheeseburgers on Wednesday) a large sweet tea and a fry. With tjhree bucks, I can only get around 3 small pieces of fruit. This is disheartening. No wonder why so many poor people are overweight.

-Weighloss is unpredicatable. I can lose 2 lbs a week for 6 weeks and then go on a platueu or even GAIN weight, provided I do the same thing. Consistency does NOT always get good results. THEN, you actually have to up your cardio game, even though aerobically you aren't ready. This sux.

-Time. You spend so much time prepping for your workout and getting back together after it, it seems like a huge chunk of you morning/afternoon.

-Family. My man and child are in great shape, but I am the only one of a WEIGHTLOSS plan. How do I cook for them and provide them with what they desire while fullfilling what I want? I can't always eat dinner with them because my baked chicken takes a lot longer to cook than their fried chicken. This is frustrating too. Seems like I have divided myself from them.

-My family's'coworkers' attitudes about my not eating the bad foods. People act as though it's a sin for a thin woman to DESIRE TO reman THIN.

-Not seeing someone like you in the gym. It hurts to never see another black woman.

That's all I have for now.

[PinkSkates]

Ladies...thanks so much for the replies...keep'um coming.

[cheetarah1980]

I need this marathon to hurry up and get here already. I'm so sick of running all the time.

[Monkeybiz]

Finding a balance with food. I am always hungry so I am having hard timed finding foods that are healthy and still filling.

Sugar is the devil!!!!! I have to have something sweet but all these artificial sweetners cant be good for me but cutting them out entirely is not an option.


The time and planning that goes into this. Man, its like I have to plan out when i am going to workout and what I am going to eat each day or I am screwed. For the past two weeks I have slacked on planning my meals and found myself eating more crap and other things I wouldn't have if I planned in advance. ( I had alot of cereal this week out of pure laziness) I needed a break.

Bored with workouts. Once I get started I am usually ok but somedays I am finding reasons to not workout or not working out as long. I am just burned out!


People like to sabotage your progress. Just because I like cookies doesn't mean you have to bring them to me everyday and then you have the nerve to act offended when I say no. You dont get to dictate my cheat meal! You don't get to decide when i have lost enough weight!


There are more but these are things that have gotten on my nerves this week.

[prettywhitty]

To work so hard and not have the scale move to the left at all...:nono:

[curvycurly78]

I hate having to practically kill myself working out to see results. I went from never working out at all (and hating to sweat) to working out consistently for the last year and a half. The only thing that yields results for me is very strenuous cardio workouts (including running) and no-carbing (even low carb is too many carbs for me). I would love to finally get all my weight off and just go into maintenance mode and maybe do fun workouts like bellydancing or yoga (apparently I'm doing a great job of maintaining the same weight :wallbash:)

I also get really tired of preparing two meals-one for me and one for my family. I feel like I'm the cursed one because I'm the only one in the house who wasn't blessed with the "skinny gene". :rolleyes:

[ManeVixen]

I cant gain a pound:perplexed:wallbash:

[Glitter]

There's WAY too much contradicting information out there -- it's impossible to know what diet will work for you, how many times a day you should eat and what exercise will suit you.

Finding time to work out. I have no time. I either have to wake up with the sun or exercise post-work, when I have no energy. Prepping healthy meals can also be very time consuming.

Also, I second the money thing. Biggest problem. Joining a gym, buying exercise clothing, buying DVDs, buying the right food -- all of this adds up very quickly.

[JOI]

Depression/Emotional Eating. I will do fine for a couple of weeks. Perfect diet and my exercise will be on point. Then all of a sudden I let my emotions take over and I miss a day of working out, then a week, and so on. Or I eat some junk food that at the time I felt was going to make me feel better. Yea it did for 10 mins.. but then it will make me feel and look worse in the end. That's my issue.

OMG This was Happening to me, I finally made it up in my mind to Actually stick with it. I Have depression and ptsd, ocd, anxiety, Mental illness runs on my mother side. It's so bad I am on different medications for it and I see a psychiatrist, Seeing my doctor and being on medication and having my husband their for me helps me lead a normal healthy life. I hope things get better for you, If I can get out of this you can too, I'm praying for you. :)

[andrea]

This is a really good questions. For me I think it is a few of the things already mentioned..

The lack of time.
Food Planning
Having to Work out excessively to see little results
Emotional Eating

But If I was going to be real honest with myself. Sometimes I think I do not want it bad enough. I mean I haven't always had a weight issue. It wasn't hard to gain but it is proving to be one of the hardest things ever losing it. I know that what I need to do. I have read enough, tried enough to know what works for me and what doesn't work for me.. I will do well for a short period of time and then I just stop. Sometimes there is a reason, family issues, time, etc sometimes I am just plain lazy and I stop... When I am being real with myself. I realize I just do not want it bad enough or I expect for it to magically happen.. Like I have all the time in the world.. The truth is I have been losing the same 80 lbs for 4 years and I set a new deadline each time.. So, I procrastinate because I think I know what to do, now all I have to do is get busy.. Then I don't...So, I become complacent and start making up excuses as to why it is ok for me to be this size. When I am really unhappy at this size.

I know what works for me but there is a disconnect between knowing and doing.. I think that is the bottom line.. I have no follow through.. I hope this helps you a little bit and it is not just me rambling... Any feed back is appreciated...

[metro_qt]

Having such a restrictive diet that limits me in many ways...
vegetarian+allergic to many things like nuts and some fruits, now, possibly corn and flour-will get those two checked.

not enough protein so that if i do cardio to slim down, i lose all my muscles (I strip away my muscles really fast doing cardio more than 3 times a week), if i focus on weights, my muscles don't really grow, cuz i haven't found a way to get enough protein...

very disheartening trying to find a balance.

I'm also an emotional eater. I eat large portions of things that make me feel better... like... cookies. If i buy a box or bag, it's pretty much done the same day.

All the factors above stop me from working out, cuz i'm like "why bother?, it's not working anyway"

[Ms_Delikate]

This might seem frivolous but I find it so hard to work out and maintain a cute hairstyle. I feel like I can be fit or be cute. I choose cute most days!:rolleyes:

[Chromia]

I love to get takeout or drive-thru food. I always have grilled chicken in my freezer, boiled egg whites in the fridge, I have fresh fruit, frozen vegetables, extra virgin olive oil, sunflower seeds, natural peanut butter, etc. at home.

I'll eat healthy and in reasonable portions for days or weeks, with a small treat here and there and then......

Sometimes I just can't stop thinking about eating junk. I try to distract myself from thoughts of burgers, fries, milkshakes, donuts, pizza, candy, Chinese food, etc. but it's difficult. I have many days when I end up overeating. Sometimes I'll get a slice of pizza and eat that in the car on the way to get a burger, fries, & shake, then I'll stop at a convenience store and get a Hostess apple pie or a buttered roll. Or I'll get a donut and eat that in the car on the way to get an ice cream cone, then I'll get some Chinese food. When I eat like that I feel relieved and free, or happy, or relaxed.

Then I have days where I feel on track, motivated, and I'm 100% sure I'll never overeat again.

I've been trying to find a balance between eating healthy and allowing myself greasy sugary food once in a while.

And sometimes I miss that stuffed feeling. I don't like the results of overeating, but I enjoy feeling stuffed. :ohwell:

[Je Ne Sais Quoi]

Mine is eating too many carbs. I love my fries, sammiches, chips, rice, etc. I know that I will need to give them up if I want to accomplish my goals :perplexed

[Ms Red]

80-90% Work-related travel.

When I joined the Pinkskates Challenge in January, I wasn't traveling nearly as much as I am now. I found it easier to focus: work out every day or 5-6 days a week; monitor my food intake and diet.

Last week I was in three states in 6 days. Yes, I exercised on my days at home. Yes, I brought my gym clothes but was literally TOO TIRED to do it. In addition, I ate barely anything. Between the rushing for flights, rental cars, flights, driving, tiredness.... my nutrition is suffering.

I have 40 lbs. to go. In order to make that a reality, I MUST find a way to incorporate CONSISTENCY back into my life with diet and exercise. It makes me think about switching careers. My health is more important. :perplexed

[bluwatersoul]

80-90% Work-related travel.

When I joined the Pinkskates Challenge in January, I wasn't traveling nearly as much as I am now. I found it easier to focus: work out every day or 5-6 days a week; monitor my food intake and diet.

Last week I was in three states in 6 days. Yes, I exercised on my days at home. Yes, I brought my gym clothes but was literally TOO TIRED to do it. In addition, I ate barely anything. Between the rushing for flights, rental cars, flights, driving, tiredness.... my nutrition is suffering.

I have 40 lbs. to go. In order to make that a reality, I MUST find a way to incorporate CONSISTENCY back into my life with diet and exercise. It makes me think about switching careers. My health is more important. :perplexed

This is me right now. I travel alot for work and it jacks everything up. Plus, it is so difficult to find decent food to eat in some cities! I mean, just some fresh cut up fruit and yogurt for breakfast instead of a myriad of danishes and muffins please? real salad - not just iceberg lettuce and a slice of mossy tomato and RANCH dressing? Ugh. And I am also fortunate to find a hotel that has an actual operational fitness room in it - usually its a funky bathtub they call a pool, a broken stationary bike, and mis-matched weights in a corner.

My other frustrations are ongoing, which is motivation. 90% of the time I will work out on my own, but I realy wish I had a consistent partner to do SOMETHING with. I swim, run, weight train, do elliptical - the only thing I don't like are classes. I am just tired of doing all of these things by myself. I know i could be a much better runner if I had a partner, for example. My other friends are too inconsistent and are just as likely to down a pint of Ben and Jerrys than take a walk around the corner.

Coming home and finding that the kids have pizza or cake - I cannot deal with that. The hours innediately returning home from work is my red zone, I will literally put almost any food in my mouth at that time.

I am surrounded at work by people who sit all day long, and will eat chicken wings and cheeseburgers for lunch. Leaving to catch 30 minutes at the gym or pulling out my salad is :wallbash:. I feel like I am sacrificing so much, and its sad Especially when the scale - and the clothing size - does not BUDGE.

I also agree with the PP who said something about not seeing other people like you at the gym. This used to be my issue (isn't anymore) and I can totally relate. It makes a difference.

I have some people who say I am inspirational for them - great. I just need some inspiration for ME!

I get very depressed sometimes and just pray this is all worth it. It is fleeting, because I am doing it for overall health and not necessarily size.

ok, vent over.