How to be patient with results?
meg7117
Posts: 42 Member
Hey there everybody!
So I just started or well restarted my weight loss journey last week (lost 1lb!). I know weight loss is a slow process and results don't happen right away, but I often get discouraged(based on previous weight loss attempts) when a week goes by and I either see no weight loss, a slight gain of like .5 to 1 lb, or even a slight loss of .5 lbs. I think my problem is I just get very impatient. This often leads to the awful mindset of 'why even bother' which is NOT what I want to think this time around. Do any of you guys have advice on sticking with weight loss, being patient, or simply how you deal with slow results?
So I just started or well restarted my weight loss journey last week (lost 1lb!). I know weight loss is a slow process and results don't happen right away, but I often get discouraged(based on previous weight loss attempts) when a week goes by and I either see no weight loss, a slight gain of like .5 to 1 lb, or even a slight loss of .5 lbs. I think my problem is I just get very impatient. This often leads to the awful mindset of 'why even bother' which is NOT what I want to think this time around. Do any of you guys have advice on sticking with weight loss, being patient, or simply how you deal with slow results?
2
Replies
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Look for other measures of success than just the scale. I find I do better if I focus on other things. I have this on my wall:
I am not defined by the number on the scale! I am defined by the fact that I can now: run 10 minute miles! Do real push-ups! Do 24 inch box jumps! Do 30 pound dumbbell curls! Run a half-marathon! Hold my yoga poses longer! Do the more difficult level of my yoga poses! SUCK IT, scale!
Find things you are improving at. Celebrate them. Document them. Compete with yourself. Use this for motivation when you can't seem to find any.
Good luck!9 -
I also focus on the process of learning and developing new habits that will lead to a better me.2
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It's a behavioral issue you learn to accept or not. Your body is going to do what it's going to do since weight loss isn't linear.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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I always think "the time will pass anyway, may as well put it to use". In a years time you could be 52lb lighter (if you need to lose that amount) or you could be exactly where you are right now, still.24
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philippakate197 wrote: »I always think "the time will pass anyway, may as well put it to use". In a years time you could be 52lb lighter (if you need to lose that amount) or you could be exactly where you are right now, still.
THIS!4 -
Incorporate short term goals and/or non-weight related goals. If you focus on fitness goals, for example, then weight loss becomes a side effect and it could help you to avoid the weekly weigh in frustration.
Such as start a couch to 5k program. It will give you something physical/active that has a time structure.Hey there everybody!
So I just started or well restarted my weight loss journey last week (lost 1lb!). I know weight loss is a slow process and results don't happen right away, but I often get discouraged(based on previous weight loss attempts) when a week goes by and I either see no weight loss, a slight gain of like .5 to 1 lb, or even a slight loss of .5 lbs. I think my problem is I just get very impatient. This often leads to the awful mindset of 'why even bother' which is NOT what I want to think this time around. Do any of you guys have advice on sticking with weight loss, being patient, or simply how you deal with slow results?
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I found it helped to remind myself that I didn't put the weight on overnight, so how could I expect to lose it quickly?5
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Weight loss is the fastest thing you've ever done.0
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I try to focus on things that aren't weight loss. When you're so focused on weight loss, it makes you crazy about it and you want to see it immediately. On the other hand, if you're trying to learn a new skill, trying new things, pouring yourself into work, spending more time with friends, the weight loss won't be so on your mind and it will just...happen.3
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philippakate197 wrote: »I always think "the time will pass anyway, may as well put it to use". In a years time you could be 52lb lighter (if you need to lose that amount) or you could be exactly where you are right now, still.
This, for sure. Until a couple of months ago, I was not super motivated but I would lose weight and maintain in spurts. While I'm not where I was hoping to be by this time, I'm still 36 lbs down from this time last year, and 54 lbs down from my highest weight about 1.5-2 years ago! I try to remember this when I look in the mirror and get frustrated that I don't see what I want to see. At least I'm not still 54 lbs heavier. I very much thank my past self for that, and I know in the future I'll be thanking the me of today for sticking with it.
I also like to focus on other things while I'm waiting to see the changes on the scale or in the mirror. Mostly I try to build up new habits a little at a time- weight-loss related or not. Anything from doing laundry more often to flossing my teeth more often to continue pushing myself with workouts.
Also, on a more vain front, I have been working on my appearance in other ways to make myself feel good. I've learned how to take care of my hair better (and am trying to learn how to do all those fancy braids and things), and I've gotten a lot better at applying makeup (though I still have a lot to learn). I've always wanted contacts and plan on getting them as a present to myself for when I get under 200 lbs (hopefully this month!). I got my eyebrows waxed and try to keep them groomed. Of course NONE of this is necessary in the least, but it really is kind of fun to pamper myself, and gives a tiny boost of self-confidence. They are more of a quick, instant change to satisfy me while the body is making slow changes.5 -
In your case, maybe it might be a good idea (at least at first) to not weigh yourself for a month. Then, provided you really are doing the things necessary to lose weight, you'll see a good drop.2
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I too am an impatient person so the deal I made with myself was to toss the scale. I only get weighed when I see my doctor (about an ongoing issue, every 6-8 weeks or so in the last year) and then I get the numbers from her. It saves the agony of fluctuations affecting my emotions, and it forces me to recognize other measures of my weight loss rather than what the scale says, like how clothes fit, my activity and strength levels etc.2
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Is this going to be a short term diet, after which you intend to go back to old habits and regain your lost weight? Or are you looking for a so-called lifestyle change? If it's the first: Don't bother. If it's the latter: Find a way to eat, train and live that you'd like to keep doing at goal weight, and aim to make that a habit (or rather, a set of tiny changes of many many habits), starting today.5
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Getting a life was really helpful to being patient.
I stopped focusing on food and started doing activities I enjoyed. I joined a gym that was close, I only weigh myself every other week (at the gym; I don't have a scale), only eat what I like (no yogurt, for example, and I have french fries every Sunday with my breakfast). 2 -
Force yourself to be patient.
Set goals that have NOTHING to do with the scale and recognize that sustainable weight loss takes a loooong time, more often than not.1 -
Hey there everybody!
So I just started or well restarted my weight loss journey last week (lost 1lb!). I know weight loss is a slow process and results don't happen right away, but I often get discouraged(based on previous weight loss attempts) when a week goes by and I either see no weight loss, a slight gain of like .5 to 1 lb, or even a slight loss of .5 lbs. I think my problem is I just get very impatient. This often leads to the awful mindset of 'why even bother' which is NOT what I want to think this time around. Do any of you guys have advice on sticking with weight loss, being patient, or simply how you deal with slow results?
Try harder? like you are the only thing holding yourself back... You set your goals, not me, not the other people on this site....
Why not lose 5lbs a week? that's unhealthy? said who? people on the internet said it you say, well *kitten* it must be true. Don't attempt that for yourself cause Fitguy27 said it was a bad idea, like he has "fit" in his name he has to know what he's talking about right?
I say *kitten* everyone else, force yourself to try harder, you aren't putting in enough effort. Go do a *kitten* ton of research on nutrition and exercise! Because when you actually know what that *kitten* food does to your body you don't want to eat it anymore. The taste of things doesn't really matter as much as living longer...to me at least.
Think of where you would be today if you had put in maximum effort a year ago on this day. . .
Disclaimer: Check with your doctor before you do anything cause I'm just an over opinionated idiot on the internet who doesn't know anything about your health situation.1 -
Day after day i just keep plugging along, logging my food. I have "tried" to lose weight so many times i've lost count. This time, it's not finding me. I know that this time is different, this time there is no going back, this time will be the last time. I'm not on a diet, but i know I will always have to count calories. I simply don't have it in me to stay on track without keeping up with it. I'm down 83, or 17 till 100!!!1
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I would say, think of the goods and toss the bads. The more you do this, the more it becomes a part of your daily habits and the less you think about all that is done to achieve your goals. Also, the scales don't tell the whole story. I wouldn't be discouraged that you didn't lose a whole lb, etc, or that you might have even put on weight. Because in reality, you could be getting stronger and gaining muscle mass.
I think the best way to get into it without it being torturous is to just do it and keep doing it, whether you want to or not. The days that you really really just.. don't want to.. you do it anyways. It's amazing because as humans, we think so far into things and start to anticipate ourselves into a black hole of nothingness. It creates anxiety, depression, and low self esteem. The solution is to think about it as little as you can while you do it. That way you can't anticipate, you can't become obsessed, and it turns into something you just do. Of course, think about ways to change your workout and food types up etc, but don't overthink the future and the effort needed. We all know it's a tough battle, and everyone has their ups and downs. But we can't focus on the downs.1 -
Tedebearduff wrote: »Hey there everybody!
So I just started or well restarted my weight loss journey last week (lost 1lb!). I know weight loss is a slow process and results don't happen right away, but I often get discouraged(based on previous weight loss attempts) when a week goes by and I either see no weight loss, a slight gain of like .5 to 1 lb, or even a slight loss of .5 lbs. I think my problem is I just get very impatient. This often leads to the awful mindset of 'why even bother' which is NOT what I want to think this time around. Do any of you guys have advice on sticking with weight loss, being patient, or simply how you deal with slow results?
Try harder? like you are the only thing holding yourself back... You set your goals, not me, not the other people on this site....
Why not lose 5lbs a week? that's unhealthy? said who? people on the internet said it you say, well *kitten* it must be true. Don't attempt that for yourself cause Fitguy27 said it was a bad idea, like he has "fit" in his name he has to know what he's talking about right?
I say *kitten* everyone else, force yourself to try harder, you aren't putting in enough effort. Go do a *kitten* ton of research on nutrition and exercise! Because when you actually know what that *kitten* food does to your body you don't want to eat it anymore. The taste of things doesn't really matter as much as living longer...to me at least.
Think of where you would be today if you had put in maximum effort a year ago on this day. . .
Disclaimer: Check with your doctor before you do anything cause I'm just an over opinionated idiot on the internet who doesn't know anything about your health situation.
I have to wonder if these words would have helped you when you were starting out your weight loss journey?
I think motivation and habit-changing is 75% of the war (maybe even more). I think sometimes people who are already where they want to be or close to it forget what it is like to need encouragement, and things like "just try harder" doesn't exactly help. I have a feeling that the taste of things mattered to you at one point even if they don't seem to now. After all, doesn't everyone swear up and down that they will NEVER gain weight back after having lost it? We know that a whole heck of a lot of people do, and most everyone already knows it's not healthy. Oftentimes putting in maximal effort right off the bat is a recipe for failure.
I'm not trying to rag on you, lots of people respond to tough love- maybe your words will help the OP. It's just an interesting trend I've seen on the boards- many people who have lost weight and are incredulous that other people still struggle to do so, but the biggest barrier of weight loss for most people is the mental aspect, not the physical feasibility.5 -
Tedebearduff wrote: »Try harder? like you are the only thing holding yourself back... You set your goals, not me, not the other people on this site...
force yourself to try harder, you aren't putting in enough effort. Go do a *kitten* ton of research on nutrition and exercise! Because when you actually know what that *kitten* food does to your body you don't want to eat it anymore. The taste of things doesn't really matter as much as living longer...to me at least.
I think each board reader has to decide how other posters affect them. Yeah, about a year ago I would have been really hurt if Tedebearduff had said this to me. But NOW? Oh yeah, I need NEED to hear this.
I am SO different (maybe older/younger, tougher/wimpier, slower/faster metabolism, better/worse at resisting trigger foods, higher/lower body fat percentage) than EVERYONE on this site, that I do need to set my own goals, and then really look at the research and decide whether it is c__p or not.0 -
It's a behavioral issue you learn to accept or not. Your body is going to do what it's going to do since weight loss isn't linear.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutritionIt's a behavioral issue you learn to accept or not. Your body is going to do what it's going to do since weight loss isn't linear.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
That.0 -
I clearly remember thinking the same as you describe OP but now I've done it and got slim I can't believe how 'Quick' it was to lose and why the heck did I not do it years ago!
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I often get impatient while waiting for results. I do this thing where I pantomime swallowing an imaginary "chill pill." Then I laugh at how goofy I am and feel better.1
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I have A LOT of medical problems and I really don't get results easily, if at all. I try associating my fitness journey to things other than weight loss. Like, I like how my cheeks warm up after a brisk walk, how I maintain a better posture on days when I work out, how being conscious of my eating aids self discipline, etc. I also notice changes in my body more than the changes on the scale. If you feel lighter, active, better, youre on the right track!0
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snickerscharlie wrote: »I found it helped to remind myself that I didn't put the weight on overnight, so how could I expect to lose it quickly?
This is exactly it for me. It took me from 1985 when I graduated from high school at 6'0" and 185 pounds to 2015 when I peaked at 387. While it doesn't have to take that long to get it off, it is unrealistic for me to think I will be 185 in a year.
Just as unrealistic as it was when I thought I would pick up an electric guitar and be Eddie Van Halen in a couple weeks.
That said, I am very encouraged by being at 299 today. 0 -
My sister decided you wanted to lose weight and started eating healthier and exercising. She saw no losses for an entire month. She got pretty discouraged but decided to keep going anyway. The second month the weight started to melt away and she lost more than 10 pounds that month. Give yourself at least two or three months before you get discouraged. Just look at this first month as prep work or laying a foundation. If after three months you still aren't losing, then something else is the problem.0
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I've broken down my bigger goal into smaller ones. 10 pounds is approximately a size so if you think about going down an entire size every couple months, that's pretty impressive!0
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