Coping with 1lb a week :/

2

Replies

  • footiechick82
    footiechick82 Posts: 1,203 Member
    1lb a week is freakin' fantastic! Slow and steady wins the race and you will be able to maintain it a lot easier in the future.

    Good luck!
  • NikiChicken
    NikiChicken Posts: 576 Member
    Please readjust your expectations! 1 pound per week is PHENOMINAL progress! In one year that's over 50 pounds!!! It's also HEALTHY. You certainly didn't gain the weight overnight and you are not going to lose it overnight. It just won't happen.

    Also, stop comparing yourself to others! This is YOUR journey and comparing yourself to others doesn't help anyone, especially you. so, stop it!

    This isn't the Biggest Loser and I loathe that show because it makes people believe that fast weight loss is not only possible, but healthy and it's not either.

    Finally, NEVER EVER put "only" in front of "lost."
  • weinbagel
    weinbagel Posts: 337 Member
    I am in the same boat as you. Personally, I think that's the healthiest and easiest to maintain! I CAN lose more than that a week by being super strict with what I eat, but it always comes back when I decide to eat "sustainably" again.

    We got this!
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    So many get out of shape over years of neglect and bad choices, but want to be fit again RIGHT NOW!

    1 to 2 pounds a week consitently is an AMAZING weight loss rate. Just give it time.
    This right here. You don't get fat over night. It will take a while to come off.
  • Indymom45
    Indymom45 Posts: 7
    FOCUS on the fact u have lost,and u probably have more muscle from working out. try not to get depressed about it.I have spent most of the last 18 yrs dwelling on the size and weight I was as at teenager and through my 20's.I wished I had of took off a pound a week , or even 2 lbs a month because eventually it will all add up. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK & DON'T GIVE UP
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    1lb a week is ideal, don't rush it. You didn't gain overnight, so you won't lose it overnight either.

    You might benefit from slightly more calories. 1200 a day at your height/weight, and for that level of intensity in your exercise is very very low! (and not in a good way) From personal experience I've had greater success at losing when I eat well, higher amounts (but still a small deficit) Your body needs fuel to get through that level of activity! Plus it's easier to sustain long term :smile:
  • Candice_Says
    Candice_Says Posts: 24 Member
    I hear you, OP. For me the hardest part of this is not the dieting, not the restricting, and not the exercise. It's learning to live with myself while I am in this state!
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    I have yet to meet someone who's lost weight rapidly and kept it off. Keep your mind on the long term goal of sustainable weight loss. Xxx
  • rose228822
    rose228822 Posts: 186 Member
    I am trying to remain positive as I have been working out daily (sometimes twice a day) for about 3 months now and have been consistent on losing only about 1 sometimes 2 pounds a week. I am keeping my calories at 1200 goal per day and most days (6 out of 7) am under that goal. I am proud of myself for sticking to the plan and feel my body changing as I now have endurance, strength, and can tell my body is changing but the numbers are not what I hoped for. I wanted to be at my goal of 30 pounds down by now but perhaps this is how it's supposed to be to have "real" change in my health and habits? I know that ideally "they" say it's healthy to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week in order to keep it off but I am mentally having a hard time with it. I am 5'8 and started at 202lbs and am down to 186. I will keep up the work and it has been WORK as I have cried and yelled at the DVDs (body pump and Jillian) it's just a little depressing to not see the numbers go down as fast. My mom is doing the 17 day diet and has already gone from 203 to 189....which has also depressed me a bit. Even though I know her's is likely water weight mostly. Anyways, anyone else dealing with the same type thing or have any suggestions?

    I can definitely relate. I was really hoping to lose more than several lbs a week...I started at 189 and down to 175 but thought because I am down to 1200 calories and working out everyday and like you some days twice a day I'd be a stick by now lol...but I still feel that I'm making some progress because my clothes are looser on me. So when I'm ready to give up I just give myself a pep talk and motivate myself again when I'm at the gym or sitting down to eat and imagine how I will look when I reach my goal.
    Take care and good luck!
  • emmythedagger
    emmythedagger Posts: 76 Member
    You need to eat more. 1200 is too little if you're exercising twice a day.

    My body would burn 2400 calories if I did nothing but rest for 24hours. I aim to eat 1200 calories/day. Which means my deficit is 1200 = half.
    If I burn 700 one day I try to eat half of them back. Meaning I aim to eat 1550 calories that day, keeping my deficit at half.


    I've lost 20lbs in just over 5 months.
    I had my calorie goal set to 1450 up until 2 weeks ago, so was actually eating more.
    Currently I weigh 164lbs.
  • amandacepstein
    amandacepstein Posts: 93 Member
    I don't know if anyone else will find this amusing, but when I saw this post, I thought the op was gaining a lb a week. That's because I have been while doing a metabolic reset, and it sucks. But, I am gaining the same amount on way more calories than when I started, which means when I cut I hope to lose slowly at 2500. Congrats on your weight loss, but listen to those saying 1200 is too little.
  • nilbogger
    nilbogger Posts: 870 Member
    Man, I'm over here thinking it would be nice to consistently lose 1-2 pounds per week.

    Keep up the good work!
  • iamMaLisa
    iamMaLisa Posts: 278 Member
    :grumble: I would give my husbands left nutt for a pound a week :ohwell:
  • peachfigs
    peachfigs Posts: 831 Member
    You need to change your perspective. 1 lb a week is great. I lose about 1 lb every three weeks! I'd love to lose as fast as you are doing. :smile:
  • NovemberJune
    NovemberJune Posts: 2,525 Member
    1 lb per week is excellent :smile:
    I lost an average of 1.2 lbs per week for a year and a half. It was great :happy:
  • scrapjen
    scrapjen Posts: 387 Member
    The first time I lost weight (in 2006) it DROPPED ... seriously, I lost 50 pounds in three months. I was able to keep it off for a bit but then slowly but surely it crept back on over the years, even though I stayed quite active with daily exercise (it was the eating, I know!) I'm new here, but tracking what I eat has made a difference so far. It isn't the sharp drop I experienced the first time, and that is a bit disappointing ... but realistic.

    1-2 pounds a week does seem slow (although as many have mentioned, it's perfect and many would love to be able to say the same) ... just know the scale is going in the right direction now!
  • Sactown900
    Sactown900 Posts: 162 Member
    A pound a week is manageable. Hang in there.

    I to was frustrated on the "no-loss/or gain" Mondays, but it's a life-style change. I'd been 245-262 lbs for decades. So nice to be 16 lbs from my goal. You will also see the light.

    It's a roller coaster, but the ride is worth the ticket.
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    I read somewhere on the message board... we're living in a microwave culture. Everyone wants things done in mere minutes.

    Good things take time. Averaging 1-2 lbs is amazing. You will be back here in a few months time when the 1200 calories stop working and you are stuck for a couple of months.. You need to eat more, you need to stop worry SO much about the scale and think about the transformation that you are putting your body through.

    Are you cold? Tired? I was at 1200 for a very short time and I could NOT get warm. I chalked it up to me losing some insulation (fat) .. I upped my cals and it's like someone turned up the heat!
  • rebbylicious
    rebbylicious Posts: 621 Member
    :grumble: I would give my husbands left nutt for a pound a week :ohwell:
    Hell I'd give both of my husband's nuts for a pound a week. I have had a few weeks with no change.. wait In the last 2.5 weeks I lost .4 lbs. (burning an average of 600 calories per day and netting close to 1400) So honestly... consider me jealous! ;)
  • VinaAnderson
    VinaAnderson Posts: 104
    I understand your frustration. Don't let the scale discourage you. It sounds like you're getting stronger and healthier. That is more important than the number on the scale. Comparing your weight loss to someone else's can also frustrate you. Your journey is uniquely yours. I have to remind myself that all the time but it helps keep me sane! Stay strong. You are on the right track.
  • khall86790
    khall86790 Posts: 1,100 Member
    To begin with I really struggled with this because I wanted a quick fix to stop me being so miserable and self conscious.
    HOWEVER.
    Do you know how much better you are going to feel when you reach your goal weight knowing you did it the healthy way and hopefully taught yourself how to maintain your size?
    Or how much better you will feel having people refer to you as "small", "fit" or just generally telling you how great you look? To not have to feel embarrassed any time someone brings up clothing size, weight, etc.?

    This is SO worth it in the long run. Stick at it.
  • mrscarolbernard
    mrscarolbernard Posts: 32 Member
    I'm also 5'8" and I'm eating 1450 per day and losing 1-2 lbs per week. The only exercising I do is brisk walking and gardening and I always eat back the calories I earn exercising. I started out at 183 April 15 and I'm at 173 now. I tried doing 1200 per day cause it was going too slow for me but I just couldn't do 1200; I felt horrible, no energy. Have you tried increasing your calorie intake to about 1400-1500? You may still lose 1-2 pounds per week but it will be so much easier.
  • ClementineGeorg
    ClementineGeorg Posts: 505 Member
    I've lost an average of 1 lb per week in the last 39 weeks and I feel that is a great accomplishement. I did not have any major plateau, my skin is not saggy, I feel like I can mentally cope with my transformation.
    I didn't get fat quick, I will not lose quick. Of course, I wish I could lose over night all the weight. But in real life, things don't go this way. I could eat less, but for me 1200-1400 calories a day is not a desirable lifestyle.
  • MzManiak
    MzManiak Posts: 1,361 Member
    Girl, if you see a 0.2 loss, you better celebrate it! You are doing great. Matter of fact, celebrate the fact that you are living a healthier life and forget what the scale says! :wink: Good luck on your continued journey!
  • stephgcox
    stephgcox Posts: 9
    Thank you all for responding! I think I will make sure that I eat back what I am burning off (or at least half of it). This is the first time I have EVER worked out and watched what I have eaten in a long time so I know that I am on the healthy track and that this time it's for good. My mental state gets a little out of whack sometimes because in my head I feel like I "should" have lost more but I AM definitely happy with the weight loss and the way that my body is starting to look - don't get me wrong I am HAPPY with the weight loss it just gets me down sometimes when I see others losing more quickly but I know that it will more likely be that they will GAIN 1 lb back per week while I am at my goal weight. I was hoping to meet it and be able to get in a bikini this summer (maybe August) but I will keep it up. Lifestyle change not temporary fix!
  • stephgcox
    stephgcox Posts: 9
    So so true!!
  • Sarah_McQuary
    Sarah_McQuary Posts: 1
    You might consider checking on other stats than just weight. There are times when you don't feel like you are losing weight or seeing results on a scale, but you probably are still losing inches around stomach or thighs or arms. Nice commitment it is so hard to be good for a long periods of time.
  • stephgcox
    stephgcox Posts: 9
    I hear you, OP. For me the hardest part of this is not the dieting, not the restricting, and not the exercise. It's learning to live with myself while I am in this state!

    So so true!!!
  • stephgcox
    stephgcox Posts: 9
    You might consider checking on other stats than just weight. There are times when you don't feel like you are losing weight or seeing results on a scale, but you probably are still losing inches around stomach or thighs or arms. Nice commitment it is so hard to be good for a long periods of time.

    Very true - its being good for so long that sometimes make me want to say oh this isn't worth it I am going to eat something high calorie but it IS worth it and I am happy with my loss just wish it could be faster but I have been this weight now for about 8 years so if it takes a year to get off....it's worth it!
  • madhamey
    madhamey Posts: 70 Member
    Don't be disheartened at 1lb a week, that's amazing and easy to stick to.

    Plus 1lb a week works out at 4 stone in a year (minus 4lbs.) Look at the big picture rather than being upset at the weekly weigh change.

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