What nobody tells you about losing weight
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That the only body part I loved when I was fat (my boobs) would be my least favourite now (so deflated!) This happened the last time I lost weight and time + chest exercises helped perk things up a bit but this was 8 years ago, I am older now and not sure my skin is still as elastic.
My butt too is sad now but I know with weight lifting it can be back to it's nice rounded shape eventually.8 -
What nobody tells you about losing weight? That you can lose 25 pounds, compare yourself to your "before" photos, see no change and get totally discouraged and ask yourself where you are going in life.36
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That it's not a magic button that you can press and all of a sudden women will flock to you. I had anxiety before, and still do. Was lonely before, and still am to this day. Don't get me wrong, i'm super pumped about the muscle gain/weight loss, but too much day dreaming causes unrealistic expectations. Ugh.34
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Since I've lost weight and become much fitter, I get ill less often and less severely.
It used to be that if I caught a cold, I'd have to take two or three days off work. I'd get feverish sometimes to the point of hallucinating (yes, that's for a cold, not 'flu), my nose would run like a tap and prevent me sleeping, it would be so stuffed with gunk that it hurt and stay completely blocked for a week after, and I'd have to take proper behind-the-counter Sudafed for days just so that my Eustachian tubes would occasionally drain and I might avoid the follow-up ear infection. It would take me a couple of weeks to fully recover, even if I didn't get a chest infection.
Now, I only have half a day of feeling really rough before recovery begins. My temperature doesn't even reach hot-and-cold levels, never mind hallucinations. On the second day of the cold I can even breathe through my nose again (albeit with lots of sniffling).
Is this what a cold has always been for most people?
Yikes! Your old colds sound terrible. I still have to take proper, behind-the-counter sudafed to avoid ear infections but the rest of your "now" colds sounds about right. I wonder, do you think some of it might be tied to better nutrition, or did you always eat well, just in greater quantities than necessary?
I didn't always eat well, but there were long periods where I was overeating good, nutritious food, and my colds were just as bad.
I spent years believing I was somehow pathetic, judging from how people reacted to my taking days off work for a cold. I didn't realise that other people just weren't suffering the same level of illness.4 -
That when you lose weight by dieting, that diet needs to become a permanent thing to keep the weight off. Maybe not exactly that diet, but if your caloric needs are 2500, and you lose 50 lbs, your caloric needs are going to be much lower, probably around 2000-2100, so, either you need to begin eating a lower amount of food permanently, or actually consistently exercise.
tl;dr dieting is not a one time occurrence, once it's started, it has to continue. You will never be able to go back to your old habits.17 -
I have to put my jeans in the dryer instead of hanging them to dry, they are too baggy if I don't!15
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I have to put my jeans in the dryer instead of hanging them to dry, they are too baggy if I don't!
I'm glad I'm not the only one that's been throwing clothes in the dryer (that I normally wouldn't) to shrink them. I would have balked at throwing my sweaters in the dryer last year, but now I do it so I can get more wears out of them before I give them up.7 -
sorchestra wrote: »That when you lose weight by dieting, that diet needs to become a permanent thing to keep the weight off. Maybe not exactly that diet, but if your caloric needs are 2500, and you lose 50 lbs, your caloric needs are going to be much lower, probably around 2000-2100, so, either you need to begin eating a lower amount of food permanently, or actually consistently exercise.
tl;dr dieting is not a one time occurrence, once it's started, it has to continue. You will never be able to go back to your old habits.
This is me, and I'm just getting to the new eating is now the way or "old habit"
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sorchestra wrote: »That when you lose weight by dieting, that diet needs to become a permanent thing to keep the weight off. Maybe not exactly that diet, but if your caloric needs are 2500, and you lose 50 lbs, your caloric needs are going to be much lower, probably around 2000-2100, so, either you need to begin eating a lower amount of food permanently, or actually consistently exercise.
tl;dr dieting is not a one time occurrence, once it's started, it has to continue. You will never be able to go back to your old habits.
That's why I had to figure out how to eat candy and pizza while losing weight, because if I couldn't figure it out now, maintenance wasn't going to work.26 -
I'm scared of maintenance. I'm still 35ish pounds away but I think I'll have to continue tracking. It's so easy to go from 1600 to 2000, it's a blueberry muffin at Panera. I know that I gained back half of the weight I lost the first time. I do NOT want to do that again. It's harder and slower losing at almost 50 than it was when I was in my 30s...14
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I'm scared of maintenance. I'm still 35ish pounds away but I think I'll have to continue tracking. It's so easy to go from 1600 to 2000, it's a blueberry muffin at Panera. I know that I gained back half of the weight I lost the first time. I do NOT want to do that again. It's harder and slower losing at almost 50 than it was when I was in my 30s...
I already know I'll have to track forever to keep the weight off, whether with MFP or with some other tracker. I just think of it like brushing my teeth or doing laundry - just another habit to stay healthy. I don't have the capability to eat intuitively, my natural eating pattern is disordered, so I will have to work my entire life to keep it in check, just like someone with any other behavioral health disorder (gambling addiction, ocd, etc.).12 -
I'm scared of maintenance. I'm still 35ish pounds away but I think I'll have to continue tracking. It's so easy to go from 1600 to 2000, it's a blueberry muffin at Panera. I know that I gained back half of the weight I lost the first time. I do NOT want to do that again. It's harder and slower losing at almost 50 than it was when I was in my 30s...
I'm finding daily weight tracking helpful in this regard. I did it while I was losing as well, so I'm used to my standard fluctuations. Now when I see my trend creeping up, I can easily adjust to get back to where I want to be.6 -
I'm scared of maintenance. I'm still 35ish pounds away but I think I'll have to continue tracking. It's so easy to go from 1600 to 2000, it's a blueberry muffin at Panera. I know that I gained back half of the weight I lost the first time. I do NOT want to do that again. It's harder and slower losing at almost 50 than it was when I was in my 30s...
Maintenance can seem daunting but you will quickly fall into a rhythm of continuously making healthy choices and intuitively eating foods that allow you to have more volume for your calories. And yes, you will eventually find a balance where you are able to remain healthy but allow yourself a little room in your calories for treats.
There are days where I waste an entire 500 calories on a frappaccino from Starbucks or Moka. But the rest of my day is carefully constructed around that so that I still hit my macros and I never feel guilty about it. It can be scary at first, but as you get used to it, it becomes second nature. It's not any different than tracking your food now, except you have more calories to work with. You'll find that balance.13 -
Thank you, everyone, for your kind comments. I weigh daily now, so I think if I keep that up it will help. I'll say it again if you're not using these groups on MFP you're not getting the full experience.9
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My underwear falling off. I don't want to buy new underwear yet, as I'm averaging a 2-3 lb loss per week... so I'm stuck with droopy drawers I have to surreptitiously hike up all day long.14
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brittanystebbins95 wrote: »I'm scared of maintenance. I'm still 35ish pounds away but I think I'll have to continue tracking. It's so easy to go from 1600 to 2000, it's a blueberry muffin at Panera. I know that I gained back half of the weight I lost the first time. I do NOT want to do that again. It's harder and slower losing at almost 50 than it was when I was in my 30s...
Maintenance can seem daunting but you will quickly fall into a rhythm of continuously making healthy choices and intuitively eating foods that allow you to have more volume for your calories. And yes, you will eventually find a balance where you are able to remain healthy but allow yourself a little room in your calories for treats.
There are days where I waste an entire 500 calories on a frappaccino from Starbucks or Moka. But the rest of my day is carefully constructed around that so that I still hit my macros and I never feel guilty about it. It can be scary at first, but as you get used to it, it becomes second nature. It's not any different than tracking your food now, except you have more calories to work with. You'll find that balance.
Yeah I hear you. But the thing is, it's not so much a change from your weight loss plan than you might think. And you've established some good habits by then. I still log in...ok maybe not completely but being aware of my eating every day has kept me on track 2 years later!2 -
Lesssambytheday wrote: »My underwear falling off. I don't want to buy new underwear yet, as I'm averaging a 2-3 lb loss per week... so I'm stuck with droopy drawers I have to surreptitiously hike up all day long.
I'm the same! I told hubby I needed new underwear and he said yes you do, I look at your underwear sometimes (while he does laundry) and think there's no way these still fit and not fall off!
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Lesssambytheday wrote: »My underwear falling off. I don't want to buy new underwear yet, as I'm averaging a 2-3 lb loss per week... so I'm stuck with droopy drawers I have to surreptitiously hike up all day long.
This is great and a nightmare right?!0 -
BattyKnitter wrote: »Lesssambytheday wrote: »My underwear falling off. I don't want to buy new underwear yet, as I'm averaging a 2-3 lb loss per week... so I'm stuck with droopy drawers I have to surreptitiously hike up all day long.
I'm the same! I told hubby I needed new underwear and he said yes you do, I look at your underwear sometimes (while he does laundry) and think there's no way these still fit and not fall off!
I got new underwear when I realized that I was stuffing them into my pants and it was creating this weird false fat roll where they bunched up. My husband encouraged me to get fancy ones but I was like not gonna pay high dollars for something I *might* have to replace again. So I grabbed good ol' fashioned cheapies at Target. Man. I no longer have this weird lump anymore!
Nor are they trying to crawl out of my pants like some fabric version of the swamp thing.18 -
I’ve lost over 30 pounds and feel the same! ( some trousers a little loose)Boba_14626 wrote: »What nobody tells you about losing weight? That you can lose 25 pounds, compare yourself to your "before" photos, see no change and get totally discouraged and ask yourself where you are going in life.
But I think I must’ve been hiding the pounds I’d been putting on. (My back my legs? Visceral fat?) I know I’m heading in the right direction, my body thanks me for not having to carry that extra around. I’m about half way there .. and I know the next half will be slower ... but I know I will get there!
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Lesssambytheday wrote: »My underwear falling off. I don't want to buy new underwear yet, as I'm averaging a 2-3 lb loss per week... so I'm stuck with droopy drawers I have to surreptitiously hike up all day long.
GO buy a pack of 2 sizes down, you will feel much better
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I replaced underwear 3 or 4 times through 55 pounds of weight loss. I can't stand wearing saggy undies! Agree with getting the multi pack of fruit of the loom or similar. No sense investing in fancy frills until you're done
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ExistingFish wrote: »That people will look at you and somehow make a comment using your body to make self-degrading comments about themselves. I struck up a conversation with two moms at the local community center who had little babies (8 and 10 months), I had my 21-month-old baby on my back, my husband was changing the other two kids from swim lessons in the men's locker room. I told them how beautiful and engaging their babies were and we chatted for a minute about their kids, then I complimented one mom's swimsuit because I had one in the same style. Instead of just taking the compliment she made a comment about how she didn't like to show her body because she "just had a child and didn't look good like me" or something like that. It made me feel awkward, so I just told them to have a nice swim and left. Look, lady, it's fine if you want to make self-degrading comments. I don't want to hear it, so I'll probably cut the conversation off soon after, but why did you have to bring my body into it?
I wish I'd been honest and told her my 21-month-old was her baby's age (8 months) when I started tracking my food, I was obese then. Within 6 months I was a healthy weight. I wish I had been able to encourage her, but I was taken aback.
Um, I thought she was just complimenting you.
She may have thought that, but even unconsciously she was throwing herself under the bus.
"You look great!" Is a compliment. "I hate the way I look because I don't look like you" is not - to me that is gross to involve me in.15 -
I can't wait to get to that level!! Thanks for sharing!!1
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RelCanonical wrote: »sorchestra wrote: »That when you lose weight by dieting, that diet needs to become a permanent thing to keep the weight off. Maybe not exactly that diet, but if your caloric needs are 2500, and you lose 50 lbs, your caloric needs are going to be much lower, probably around 2000-2100, so, either you need to begin eating a lower amount of food permanently, or actually consistently exercise.
tl;dr dieting is not a one time occurrence, once it's started, it has to continue. You will never be able to go back to your old habits.
That's why I had to figure out how to eat candy and pizza while losing weight, because if I couldn't figure it out now, maintenance wasn't going to work.
Yes!! This is why I’ve really fallen in love with tracking. No food is off limits, I just work things to make it fit. Thankfully I don’t crave junk much anymore but it’s refreshing to know I’m teaching myself proper portions and motivations behind eating in the first place.12 -
That one day, you will no longer look/seek for anything with an X or W or PLUS on the tag or section of clothes, you even completely stop/no longer look for these sizes, as they won't fit you at all. Even one day, you will also no longer look for size LARGE--just mediums and even smalls will be your target size you'll look for. This is THE BEST feeling/knowledge ever. It WILL happen to/for you if you so desire--it's just going to take time.16
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NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »That one day, you will no longer look/seek for anything with an X or W or PLUS on the tag or section of clothes, you even completely stop/no longer look for these sizes, as they won't fit you at all. Even one day, you will also no longer look for size LARGE--just mediums and even smalls will be your target size you'll look for. This is THE BEST feeling/knowledge ever. It WILL happen to/for you if you so desire--it's just going to take time.
I'm starting to run into this. I've been still shopping larges at Goodwill because brands all fit differently, and find it's now become an exercise in disappointment, haha. We wouldn't get the fancy brands that tend to size way small in our town, so they're pretty much all too large.0 -
How your feet change sizes.
How fitness becomes a staple part of your life.
How friends who don't work out or eat healthy start to avoid you
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RelCanonical wrote: »NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »That one day, you will no longer look/seek for anything with an X or W or PLUS on the tag or section of clothes, you even completely stop/no longer look for these sizes, as they won't fit you at all. Even one day, you will also no longer look for size LARGE--just mediums and even smalls will be your target size you'll look for. This is THE BEST feeling/knowledge ever. It WILL happen to/for you if you so desire--it's just going to take time.
I'm starting to run into this. I've been still shopping larges at Goodwill because brands all fit differently, and find it's now become an exercise in disappointment, haha. We wouldn't get the fancy brands that tend to size way small in our town, so they're pretty much all too large.
Shopping at Goodwill is so WISE, you'll find really excellent stuff at 1/2 or way less than the original price too. Also, it's smart to shop there because as you're getting down to size, you don't want to invest in certain sizes as even though the scale may not be moving as much as you'd like, the inches will be decreasing like crazy (at least it did for me). You don't want to be spending lots of money on sizes that will be too small sooner or later.
I went from a size 22w to now size 8's (which are starting get too big in the waist for me--even though my stomach area still needs a lot of work--it's weird, but I don't want to rush anything, slow and steady has won the race thus far with no loose skin, so I will continue to wait for my flat(ter) stomach to arrive. I made the mistake of buying too much stuff as I got to a size 16w and 14w only to drop down to a size 12 and 10 actually faster than I'd imagine. So when I got to sizes 12 and 10 I only purchased a few things and now that I'm a size 8. I'm glad I didn't buy a lot of 12's and 10's.11 -
NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »RelCanonical wrote: »NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »That one day, you will no longer look/seek for anything with an X or W or PLUS on the tag or section of clothes, you even completely stop/no longer look for these sizes, as they won't fit you at all. Even one day, you will also no longer look for size LARGE--just mediums and even smalls will be your target size you'll look for. This is THE BEST feeling/knowledge ever. It WILL happen to/for you if you so desire--it's just going to take time.
I'm starting to run into this. I've been still shopping larges at Goodwill because brands all fit differently, and find it's now become an exercise in disappointment, haha. We wouldn't get the fancy brands that tend to size way small in our town, so they're pretty much all too large.
Shopping at Goodwill is so WISE, you'll find really excellent stuff at 1/2 or way less than the original price too. Also, it's smart to shop there because as you're getting down to size, you don't want to invest in certain sizes as even though the scale may not be moving as much as you'd like, the inches will be decreasing like crazy (at least it did for me). You don't want to be spending lots of money on sizes that will be too small sooner or later.
I went from a size 22w to now size 8's (which are starting get too big in the waist for me--even though my stomach area still needs a lot of work--it's weird, but I don't want to rush anything, slow and steady has won the race thus far with no loose skin, so I will continue to wait for my flat(ter) stomach to arrive. I made the mistake of buying too much stuff as I got to a size 16w and 14w only to drop down to a size 12 and 10 actually faster than I'd imagine. So when I got to sizes 12 and 10 I only purchased a few things and now that I'm a size 8. I'm glad I didn't buy a lot of 12's and 10's.
I'm starting to size out of some of my transitional clothes too! The difference between a size 8 and 10 is also smaller than the measurement difference between a 16 and an 18, so the transition continues to speed up. I remember the first time I lost weight, I actually skipped size 8 and went from 10 to 6 because I waited a while before shopping again.
I also like thrift shopping because it gets me out of my comfort zone with style. I'm more willing to try something on just to see and have found some gems and styles I didn't realize I'd like.7
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