What nobody tells you about losing weight

CindyFooWho

Sitting has become less comfortable because I have pretty much no padding anymore.

Lost a boob size. That kind of stinks, but oh well. Fat is fat.

Lost a half shoe size. Thought that was weird.

And I'm convinced that I'm a better runner NOT because I'm in better shape, although I am. It's because I'm hauling 30 fewer pounds down the road!

amagus

maccabiah2013landers wrote: »

I'm only starting on my journey - 16lbs lost since Jan 2nd. But the biggest thing is quite how much time I have to dedicate to thinking about food, prepping food. Whoever mentioned earlier about the sheer volume of healthy food I'm consuming. I'm eating 5-6 times a day. Before I would eat 3 times a day (or sometimes 2 if I skipped breakfast), but what I was eating and my portions were totally out of control.
-
- I'm having to cart masses of food into work with me every day.

True. I spend a ton of time looking up food, recording food, making substitutions in recipes, finding specific foods in stores, making sure food is available where I am going to be (work, home, in cooler on trips, hotel rooms, etc). Preparing to eat takes up way more time than cooking and eating. Up's up with that! ;-)

daworley

lcantrell65 wrote: »

How many dishes you are going to wash.

Yes! That has become much more of chore, now!

mazarasltm

Hungry_Shopgirl wrote: »

GOOD: Chuckling to myself when people use euphemistic language to refer to my weight loss, like "Oh wow, you're looking really well!" which automatically translates in my head as "less-fat-than-before"

BAD: Constantly being scared that I'll stop losing weight and then gain it all back before reaching my goal. For example, the last two weeks have been crazy and I went back to some old habits. I stalled, didn't regain, but I started to panic inside, thinking "What if this is where it stops? I'll lose all my momentum!"

Ultimately I know I am in control of how much food I put in my mind, ipso-facto-ergo-presto, I am in control of my weight loss. But the fear....yep, still there.

---

Hang in there. My graph of weights is up and down all the time. Failure is part of weight loss struggled, its cliche but you get up back on the horse battered and bruised. In any goal (quit smoking, lose weight, heart failure, exercise tolerance, get bp undercontrol) three things are possible. 1 success, 2 stalemate, 3 failure. If you dont attempt to succeed things can only go the two worst ways. Remember this a math game: you eat what you can burn. Burn more than you eat, you lose. The calories have to go somewhere. (a professor lost weight eating twinkies, proves that its a math game not magic). Lastly Ive seen 70 y/o Open Heart Surgery patients become athletic surfers (no lie).

cookma423

The most surprising things to me:
1) With regards to wardrobe: the sheer volume of workout clothes (tech/moisture-wicking shirts, shorts, running tights, fancy socks, running shoes, etc) that I have managed to accumulate. And how often I use my workout clothes as my going-out-and-about clothes.
2) My unending appetite. I've gotten a bunch smarter about snacking (lots of fruits, veggies, and water during the day). But since I've started running and cycling, it seems like I'm constantly hungry.

All worthwhile, no doubt about it

agzram

I was shaving my legs and I still can't get over how many "hollows" fit legs have! Knees, ankles and hips! Crazy!!

I also agree about the shopping. Last time I was this size was my early twenties and even then I thought I was "fat"....now I'm not quite sure what my style is as a 42 year old professional not to mention mother of 4 daughters! Signing up for Stitch Fix has helped me a lot but it's spendy so don't do it until you are close to goal!

It's also strange being hit on. At first I wasn't sure that it was happening until my co-worker pointed it out!!

Keep up the great work everyone!

smantha32

bump

keithahayes78

I love cheering on others who come to me for advice because they've seen my results (about 45 lbs in 2 months).

I love it especially since my own household was not supportive at all and pokes fun to this day over my "obsession". Best quote anyone has given me lately is that "obsessed is the word that the lazy use to describe the dedicated"...never give up even when the people you thought/hoped would be the most supportive are exactly the opposite.

G33K_G1RL

Hyperbum wrote: »

How many veins show in your arms, hands and especially feet.

I have the same issue, though the worse is my thighs. Did some quick research when I noticed it and it turns out blood vessels are created when one gains fat, but aren't necessarily reabsorbed when the fat is lost, so they start showing if one has pale skin. Eh, its really a really minor cosmetic issue.

jvanessa89

How enjoyable eating healthy is and how you will feel satisfied
That you will exercise (willingly) on your days off
That you will enjoy shopping for cute workout clothes (I usually hate shopping)

mccokat

You need to change your selfie angles, and that's a surprisingly large amount of work. What worked for you before won't work for you now.

Syneea

That it COULD take for fudging EVER to lose that last bit of fat on that last problem area!! ... That everything else could Go. To. Bones before said area disappears!! Smh Yes, I'm annoyed but staying the course. Lol

suzu_2

KungFuArch wrote: »

The most surprising things to me:
1) With regards to wardrobe: the sheer volume of workout clothes (tech/moisture-wicking shirts, shorts, running tights, fancy socks, running shoes, etc) that I have managed to accumulate. And how often I use my workout clothes as my going-out-and-about clothes.
2) My unending appetite. I've gotten a bunch smarter about snacking (lots of fruits, veggies, and water during the day). But since I've started running and cycling, it seems like I'm constantly hungry.

All worthwhile, no doubt about it

SO true!! I do laundry constantly now just to keep the house from smelling like a locker room.
LIFE has changed.
- Before, every trip out of the house would mean time consuming planning what to wear that would camouflage the belly roll and the thigh rub - or just be comfortable enough to wear without pinching, rubbing, or chaffing. Misery! Now for casual I head out in a pair of running tights and a tech shirt and never give it a thought. Work clothes are a breeze because things fit and look good.
- Before "going out to do something" ALWAYS centered around food. Satisfying on the front end, but soon over leaving a legacy of pounds in it's wake. Now "going out to do something" means DOING something. A run with friends, biking, a swim that doesn't have me cringing at showing up in a bathing suit.
- Before I could barely walk a mile. Now I have lots of 5Ks under my belt and am training for my first 1/2 marathon. I'm 61 years old and I have never been happier or healthier in my life ...Times have changed!

Angelfire365

That you could loose 80 lbs and feel fantastic until someone posts a picture of you and you still look like a whale. . . :-(
Makes me wonder if the last 60 will be worth it.

sashayoung72

Angelfire365 wrote: »

That you could loose 80 lbs and feel fantastic until someone posts a picture of you and you still look like a whale. . . :-(
Makes me wonder if the last 60 will be worth it.

Think about how you felt dragging that extra weight around. Would you really want to strap it all back on? I completely understand as I went bathing suit shopping recently. Even though last year was an 18W and this year is a 10/12 juniors, I see the fat, the part I want to just chop off. BUT I know I feel soooo much better. so yes, it's worth it!

sashayoung72

keithahayes78 wrote: »

I love cheering on others who come to me for advice because they've seen my results (about 45 lbs in 2 months).

I love it especially since my own household was not supportive at all and pokes fun to this day over my "obsession". Best quote anyone has given me lately is that "obsessed is the word that the lazy use to describe the dedicated"...never give up even when the people you thought/hoped would be the most supportive are exactly the opposite.

LOVE that quote!!

mazarasltm

keithahayes78 wrote: »

I love cheering on others who come to me for advice because they've seen my results (about 45 lbs in 2 months).

I love it especially since my own household was not supportive at all and pokes fun to this day over my "obsession". Best quote anyone has given me lately is that "obsessed is the word that the lazy use to describe the dedicated"...never give up even when the people you thought/hoped would be the most supportive are exactly the opposite.

You're not alone. Its sucks when your support structure turns on you. Misery loves company. After I calmed down, I realize the psycology. I lost weight with no surgery, minimal exercise, metformin and a big big focus on diet controll. Not bad but the challenge is the other 50 lbs and maintainance.

KareninLux

Angelfire365 wrote: »

That you could loose 80 lbs and feel fantastic until someone posts a picture of you and you still look like a whale. . . :-(
Makes me wonder if the last 60 will be worth it.

You can do this! Stick with it!!!

sunshynes_

Angelfire365 wrote: »

That you could loose 80 lbs and feel fantastic until someone posts a picture of you and you still look like a whale. . . :-(
Makes me wonder if the last 60 will be worth it.

Agnelfire356, the answer to that is yes. Yes it is worth it, 100%. The improved health, those moments of catching your reflection and thinking "wow!" (and those *will* happen). Yep.

A picture is just a capture of a single moment. The lighting, camera angle, awkward pose, a bad hair day, unplanned gust of wind--any of those things can make that captured moment not reflect reality.

You've accomplished something huge, and are well on your way to something greater. Be kind to yourself--you're amazing!

mittenswillet

-you actually start to enjoy working out..(took me two weeks,) but tonight I had this grin on my face the whole workout.......then made my hubby feel how sweaty I got with pride hahahha