Why do I still feel fat ?

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dorothy2512
dorothy2512 Posts: 21 Member
in Goal: Maintaining Weight
I have slimmed down from 215 lbs to 135 lbs and I do feel good, but I have been trying to lose this last 11 lbs for me to reach my true goal of 124 lbs, and I seem to struggle so much with this last bit, my family and friends, all say that I look fine as I am and I don't need to lose anymore, but I feel like a failure, for not finishing what I started, and that makes me feel fat.
I can't seem to motivate myself to lose weight, I am maintaining my weight, within 3lbs and I seem to just carry on going between 134 lbs and 137 lbs.
I am 51, woman and am 5' 5" tall.
I know that I have done well losing the weight in the first place, but feel like a failure as I cannot seem to finish my journey !
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Replies

  • rainrain83
    rainrain83 Posts: 82 Member
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    don't feel like a failure. If you really think you should be able to loose more change it up. do the 5/2 diet, try eating clean or find an exercise you love doing. your body gets used to the same old things you need to mix it up.
  • PrimalGirl
    PrimalGirl Posts: 148 Member
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    Oh my gosh you've lost 80lbs! That's fantastic!
    I'm also 5' 5" and I know there is no way whatsoever that my body would be healthy at 124lbs. Your body has most likely reached its perfect weight - perfect for you, not for your brain which has chosen a different goal.
    Maybe you should focus on a different challenge now instead of weight loss. If you did a specific exercise regime to lose the weight, try something new. Try and run faster or further or lift heavier weights or swim more. Focus on something else. Focus on all the things you can do now you've lost that 80lbs. It may help shift your focus away from the last 11lbs you most likely do not need to lose and onto something more healthy.
    There's no way losing 80lbs should make you feel you're still fat or a failure. Pick a goal that isn't weight loss now and achieve it - you can't be a failure then. Well done!
  • flatlndr
    flatlndr Posts: 713 Member
    edited January 2015
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    I can sympathise. Having lost a significant amount of weight, with a bit to go still, some days I feel trim, other days I look at myself and say "ugh". But then I look at my starting photo, and I remember what fat was.
    Your diary isn't open, so I can see if you are exercising or not. Exercising will make you stronger and feel better, and help you get through those last pounds. That said, failure is not a word you should be associating with yourself. 80 lbs off is a huge win! Give yourself a pat on the back; you've earned it!!!
  • Delilahhhhhh
    Delilahhhhhh Posts: 477 Member
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    Firstly you are not a failure!! You have worked hard and long to get rid of that weight. (cue the marching band, gentleman jugglers, let's celebrate!!)

    Great advice right here
    PrimalGirl wrote: »
    Pick a goal that isn't weight loss now and achieve it - you can't be a failure then. Well done!


    and I would definatley listen to Mr Flatlndr (I can't resist 007)
    flatlndr wrote: »
    Exercising will make you stronger and feel better, and help you get through those last pounds. That said, failure is not a word you should be associating with yourself. 80 lbs off is a huge win! Give yourself a pat on the back; you've earned it!!!

    Good luck!!!



  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
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    It takes time to get your head to catch up with your body. The first time I was aware of how out of touch I was with my body was when I noticed I kept choosing clothing sizes that were too big and had to ask the sale associate to bring me a smaller size - it went on for about 6 months.

    Also, the weight you're at may be your maintenance weight. I'm 5'3" and weigh 126 (well, I'm 2lb above that after the holidays). I wear a size 4. In my range, it lists 115 as a possible goal, but I couldn't maintain that to save my life. :)
  • pkw58
    pkw58 Posts: 2,039 Member
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    Congrats on the 80 lbs gone! I highly advise going to see a medical specialist to determine what your weight should be for your particular frame - you may find that you are at the perfect weight now, or within your maintenance range. That being said, if 124 is within your range, then go for it. It took about 4 months to lose the last 10 pounds of the 46 I lost. Try new exercise activities - mine are barre3,walking and the occasionally 5 k run. I also found concentrating on getting enough sleep helped - not only lose the weight, but my mental well being also. The journey doesn't end when you hit the magic number on the scale, there is a reason we need a maintenance forum!!
  • dorothy2512
    dorothy2512 Posts: 21 Member
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    Many thanks for all your kind comments, my profile on here, isn't open, as when I logged to lose the 80 lbs, my email got hacked and I couldn't get onto it anymore, so had to re- start on here again.
    - I have arthritis in hips, hands and shoulders, so I walk on my treadmill, nearly every day and walk between 3-5 miles, throughout each day.
    - I was told by the physio, that I could walk as much as I wanted but not to run at all, as it would upset my hips.
    - But I think my body has got used to the walking, and perhaps I need to try something different, as you say.
    - I am a small frame, and was always, 124 lbs, before I got married, 33 years ago, but haven't got there since, my mum is a small frame and was 6 St 13 when she got married, 60 years ago and is still the same weight now.

    Some days, I do look at myself and know I have come a long way, but others, like today, I just feel fatter.
    Thanks for all the advice.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
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    I'm 5'5" and been around 133 forever (want to get down to 130 at least) and I still feel fat too. I guess the difference is that I localize my fat areas, whereas before I was fat, well, all over. But the loose skin I have doesn't help either. I have a large frame though... but you're definitely not alone (and that's why I want to try to lose more now).
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,150 Member
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    You lost 80 pounds. Go look at a starting photo!
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
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    You've come a long way.

    I would suggest potentially lifting- and also picking a goal that's tangible that you can train toward and achieve.
  • flatlndr
    flatlndr Posts: 713 Member
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    dorothy2512 wrote: »
    - I have arthritis in hips, hands and shoulders, so I walk on my treadmill, nearly every day and walk between 3-5 miles, throughout each day.

    My arthritis is limited to my knees, and like you, I can't run because of it. So for cardio I walk, cycle and "run" on the elliptical.

    What I don't see in your exercise is any strength work. As a fellow 50-something, I strongly recommend you take it up lifting. It will really help you tighten up - I lost an inch around my waist without dropping a pound - and it will make you feel so much better. It should help you burn off that remaining bit as well.

    Best of luck!

  • CarrieCans
    CarrieCans Posts: 381 Member
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    It definitely takes time for it to sink into your brain. My kitchen is too small for what i have in it and the end of the table is too close to a chest freezer. The other day i went to squeeze through like i have a million times and realized that i didn't have to turn sideways. I just barely fit through but the realization had me so excited i had to call my family in to witness it and then i walked back and forth several times. I guess that was my first NSV. I am just starting to see changes that have probably been there for a while now.

    Maybe you could stay at the weight you're at for a while and wait for your head to catch up. Then you can decide if or how much more you want to change.
  • BigGuy47
    BigGuy47 Posts: 1,768 Member
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    flatlndr wrote: »
    As a fellow 50-something, I strongly recommend you take it up lifting. It will really help you tighten up - I lost an inch around my waist without dropping a pound - and it will make you feel so much better. It should help you burn off that remaining bit as well.
    Another +50 year old here. I also recommend some form of resistance training. Particularly for anyone suffering from arthritis. It strengthens the muscles, this takes some of the stress off the joints. Also, it helps slow the process of losing muscle as we age.
    dorothy2512 wrote: »
    Some days, I do look at myself and know I have come a long way, but others, like today, I just feel fatter.
    Like CarrieCans said, it can take a while for the mental aspect to catch up with the physical changes. I think the whole process of long term weight loss can beat us down mentally. It makes us overly self critical in the effort to get to some magic number on a scale. The most important thing is being healthy and feeling good about yourself.

    Be confident with what you've accomplished.
  • SuggaD
    SuggaD Posts: 1,369 Member
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    Awesome job. I had the same problem. I switched to what I thought was maintenance and continued doing the activities I love and lost the last few lbs without even trying.
  • Rose6300
    Rose6300 Posts: 232 Member
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    BigGuy47 wrote: »
    flatlndr wrote: »
    As a fellow 50-something, I strongly recommend you take it up lifting. It will really help you tighten up - I lost an inch around my waist without dropping a pound - and it will make you feel so much better. It should help you burn off that remaining bit as well.
    Another +50 year old here. I also recommend some form of resistance training. Particularly for anyone suffering from arthritis. It strengthens the muscles, this takes some of the stress off the joints. Also, it helps slow the process of losing muscle as we age.
    dorothy2512 wrote: »
    Some days, I do look at myself and know I have come a long way, but others, like today, I just feel fatter.
    Like CarrieCans said, it can take a while for the mental aspect to catch up with the physical changes. I think the whole process of long term weight loss can beat us down mentally. It makes us overly self critical in the effort to get to some magic number on a scale. The most important thing is being healthy and feeling good about yourself.

    Be confident with what you've accomplished.

    51 yo female here, a few days from 52. I want to add my vote to strength training. It'll help with your arthritis, as you'll build up muscles around the joints. You'll also regain your bikini body. Even if you'd never wear a bikini (as I wouldn't), it's nice to see a young looking body in the mirror when you're changing. :wink:
  • nanosuitninja
    nanosuitninja Posts: 30 Member
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    You're not a failure, the only true failures in life are never trying, give yourself some credit. You've earned it.

    Also i second the recommendation of strength training and believe that it may hold the key to the success and goals you are talking about.

  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
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    dorothy2512 wrote: »
    - But I think my body has got used to the walking, and perhaps I need to try something different, as you say.

    Your body "gets used to" regular exercise in the sense that it becomes normal and no longer produces musculoskeletal adaptations. That is, if you walk 3-5 miles most days, you get to the point where walking that far doesn't produce new fitness adapations.

    However, you still burn the same number of calories. There's not a lot of variation in walking efficiency between people (unlike running, where technique makes some difference, and swimming, where technique can be very important).

    It can be good to try new activities if you get bored, or if you want to develop different muscles, but if it's just about calorie burn, there's no reason to change just for change's sake.
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,290 Member
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    it is a bad habit to self hate….nothing is ever good enough. why don't you maintain for a while..then blast off the last 11 when you are ready. You must know that you look great right now..that the last 11 is vanity weight..and it is just fine that you want to lose it. but that 11 pounds does not define you. The fact you've lose all that weight shows you are a dedicated hard worker..you should be nothing but PROUD.
  • kellycasey5
    kellycasey5 Posts: 486 Member
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    Maybe time to modify your goal? Instead of weight lost, maybe try increasing minutes of exercise, increasing repetitions, increasing weight lifted, increasing speed or distance. It's hard to feel fat when you hit personal records. Again, while losing weight is an admirable goal, I think with an 80 pound weight loss you succeeded and proved you can. The rest may take longer. My mother at 56 lost 10 pounds in the past year by walking a bit more (taking stairs, parking car a little farther) and cutting out her afternoon bowl of tortilla chips. That's a measly 0.3 pounds a week that added up to 10 pounds. If she can do it, you can too!
  • paulandrachelk
    paulandrachelk Posts: 280 Member
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    72 here. Arthritis in back, legs, feet, neck-you name it. I lift using machine to ease the "inertia" problem. Start at very low weight and gradually build up. After several months am at a point I couldn't imagine when I started. Go for it.

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