Losing only .5 lbs a week is so discouraging.

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  • jopalis
    jopalis Posts: 238 Member
    I don't eat back all my exercise calories. I kind of use them as a safety net in case I go over. I am 65 and also recently joined a seniors exercise class. Thought it would be easy but kicks butt! I also walk. I aim for 8k steps but often hit over. I would rather exceed my goal then have a higher one I don't often make. Plus drink plenty of water.
  • 08_GreenEyedMomma
    08_GreenEyedMomma Posts: 62 Member
    After the 1st wk, the scale went down .2 pounds. :( After the 2nd wk, .4. >:( I'm on wk 3 now (wk 4 starts Monday), and down 3lbs from my last weigh-in as of this morning (I weigh daily to track the trend, overall it's steadily going down). It's 3.6lbs from day 1. I know it's not a lot, but I've still been able to go out for ice cream with my husband, have a slice of pizza at the carnival, and have an unscheduled last minute night out with friends. 6 days is not nearly enough time to see real results! Don't beat yourself up about it, and give it time.

    I've got MFP set at the calorie goal to lose 1lb/wk, but I also know what the goal for 1/2lb/wk loss is. I try to stay at or under the 1lb goal, but I have an upper limit also so I know there is wiggle room for unexpected social events/spontaneous nights out with the SO. I don't exercise a lot either, so far this week I've done 3 days of weights (beginner program that takes about 30 mins), and maybe 1hr of cardio all together. My weekends have all been go-go-go this summer, and I'm still trying to become an early morning person to workout consistently before work. I've done it twice this week, once the week before, so I'm making progress! I'm one of those people who would thrive on a night shift, I have no problem staying up all night, but I am literally dragging myself out of bed in the am whether I go to sleep at 9pm or 2am.
  • SafioraLinnea
    SafioraLinnea Posts: 628 Member
    My weekly weight loss rate has been below a pound (around 0.5-0.75lbs weekly) for the last six months. I don't find it discouraging at all. Slow loss feels better for me than fast loss and I seem to be able to maintain the loss easier without feeling ill as I get closer to goal. Also, the smaller deficit allows me to enjoy a bit more food daily than I would get at a higher deficit which appeals to me.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    You can't come to any conclusions about weight loss in 6 days.
  • JoeCWV
    JoeCWV Posts: 213 Member
    .5 pounds a week equals 2 pounds a month. This equals 24 pounds a year. Not too shabby. What's the hurry?
  • Maxxitt
    Maxxitt Posts: 1,281 Member
    Polo265 wrote: »
    How much do you have to lose total? 2lbs may not be an appropriate goal. .5 a week when you have a smaller amount to lose is excellent. And as mentioned above 6 days is too soon to start panicking.

    I gained 30-35 lbs in 10 months. I hurt my shoulder in September and could not participate in usual activities (golf, swimming, pickleball (like tennis for old people), I had rotator cuff surgery in January and couldn't even walk for exercise because my gait was off with the sling. I couldn't even ride a bicycle until recently because it hurt to put pressure on the handlebars. Inactivity was a huge problem, but that led to depression, overeating and drinking.

    First of all, big ups to you for getting things back on track. You have been through a lot. Getting back in good physical shape will take time, just like it took 10 months to put on that weight. You are wise to approach this with an eye toward minimizing muscle loss. As you are cleared for activity from your PT, the more you move around the better you will feel. Walking outside will be good for your body and your spirit :) Strength training may be a ways off yet, but once you are cleared medically, it should definitely be part of your health regimen, and I would recommend getting professional guidance when you start out so that you don't re-injure anything.
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