Don't get discouraged, give yourself time

Erinsmiles2015

I joined MFP in May and now 5 months later lost 15.4 pounds,yahoo! When I first looked at friends weight los, I saw numbers like 15,20'40'or 50 pounds lost. I felt so discouraged (and still do sometimes) and felt like I'd never be one of those people. What I didn't ever look at is when they started and how long they have been eating under their calorie intake for the day( and sometimes what they r eating if food diaries r open). My point is, it is hard to look at other people's weight lose when you r just staring off! Looking at other people's weight loss can be motivating but also can lead to some disappointment. I'm still learning to not compare myself to others and just to be patient with myself. You'll get there, be patient!!!!

sashayoung72

Erinsmiles2015 wrote: »

I joined MFP in May and now 5 months later lost 15.4 pounds,yahoo! When I first looked at friends weight los, I saw numbers like 15,20'40'or 50 pounds lost. I felt so discouraged (and still do sometimes) and felt like I'd never be one of those people. What I didn't ever look at is when they started and how long they have been eating under their calorie intake for the day( and sometimes what they r eating if food diaries r open). My point is, it is hard to look at other people's weight lose when you r just staring off! Looking at other people's weight loss can be motivating but also can lead to some disappointment. I'm still learning to not compare myself to others and just to be patient with myself. You'll get there, be patient!!!!

Sometimes I feel more change with a 5 lb loss then a 20, it takes time for it all to catch up. And Hanging in there is much better than sitting on the sidelines never getting anywhere!

KateTii

The thing to remember is your body is completely unique. There isn't a single person on this earth whose body is exactly the same as yours. Even identical twins who are genetically 100% the same eventually become different due to environmental factors. Because your body is unique, it will lose weight differently, look differently and respond differently. Every body follows the golden rule of "calories in vs calories out" but how your body follows that rule is (again) unique.

My rule is this: You don't know how that person has lost that weight. But it's just more proof that yes, you can do it too. You have no clue if the person who has lost 40 pounds is "crashing and burning but keeping outward appearances". You don't know if it's the guy's fourth time at losing 20 pounds and is terrified of regaining the weight having to do it a fifth time. You don't know if they have lost 50 pounds but it has taken two years to do it.

You are doing it! You have lost weight in a reasonable and healthy timeframe. You are making lifestyle changes that will be maintainable for life. You don't have to beat anyone.

Cortneyrenee04

I so agree! We shouldn't compare our goals or losses to anyone else's.