"Getting worse" the more you draw is actually part of the process, but it is mostly just in your head. Save you images and in a few weeks, when you have a more neutral view, look back and see the progress you made. Regarding your samples, you are much more successful when attempting a line of action instead of imagining the form of the figure, because the sense for volume and 3D is not developed enough yet. I would suggest doing two separate attempts of your reference images. In the first only the line of actions. Limit yourself to three or even just two lines. And the second attempt should be the bean, like Tara suggested. Ignore the limbs for now.