Did it surprise anyone how easy it was to lose weight?

JustSammi

Losing weight by creating a 20% deficit is incredibly easy because I never really feel hungry or like I'm dieting at all. It's really sustainable. The thing that surprised me the most though is how easy I find it accepting that I'm only losing 1 lb a week. After years of crash dieting and losing 5 lbs a week (most of it being water and some muscle!) I thought losing 1 lb would feel really slow but it doesn't, especially since I know it's mostly fat.

Saying that, after six months of eating at a deficit and losing a reasonable amount of weight, I'm finding it a little bit harder to shift the lbs. I'm planning a 2 weeks diet break at maintenance to hopefully regulate my hormones and metabolism. Hoping that the weight will come off at normal speed after that because for the past 5 weeks I've only lost 2 lbs.

cwolfman13

I thought it was pretty easy. I maintained a modest calorie deficit that didn't leave me feeling hungry or deprived and started making better overall nutritional decisions...pretty much just melted away the fat. I do find it more difficult being at a healthy BF% though and trying to cut more...but when I was overweight, it pretty much just melted off.

Sabine_Stroehm

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TinGirl314

I get this a lot...and I even felt the same way last year.
But this last 40 pounds can go suck it.

Honestly I second one other poster...I was more surprised at how few calories I needed, and then was equally shocked by how many calories I had been consuming to gain the weight!

jwdieter

Definitely. This tool made the entire process easy to understand and control. Was like playing a video game with my body. Input this, bing bang boom. Huzzah.

The diet industry is a huge scam. Just wish I could help all the people struggling and missing the point.

HeidiCooksSupper

Yes and no. I knew that I was twice the size that is healthy because I ate twice the amount of food I needed to. So, yes, if I stick to TDEE-20% the pounds drop away at a consistent rate. But, no, because it is hard to break the habits of a lifetime, a lifetime of overeating.

What has surprised me is how I am doing it. I AM changing the habits of a lifetime. I am not "on a diet." I am learning to eat like a healthy person. I'm getting there slowly. I just spent a month or so "on a plateau" because I was eating more than I needed. The past several days, I've been keeping to the limits and again, the weight slowly diminishes day by day.

It would be hard to overestimate how much of this is due to the online community and tools of MFP. Online communities of interest are very powerful and participation here is a daily inspiration.

stealthq

Yep. Although, I do say that as someone who has never had an emotional issue with eating. For me, I mostly gained weight because I was eating out at restaurants a whole lot more, and like most people, I have a tendency to eat more than I really need or want if a huge portion is sitting in front of me. There was some overeating at home, but only every now and then. All I needed to do was to be aware of how much I was eating and not eat mindlessly, or I needed to plan for a large meal by compensating the rest of the day.

ETA: I also don't get the complaints that logging is so hard. OK, it's a little bit of bother to create recipes, but it only takes a minute or two. Usually only takes 30sec or so to log a meal.

It comes off slower now that I'm so close to goal, but all I have to be is patient. It isn't really any more extra work than the first 15 lbs.

jamielynas

losing weight is simple yes, body recomp. is much more difficult

SStruthers13

I was very surprised, yes.

unFATuated

Yes! Although I agree I think it is easier when you have more than a few kilos/pounds to lose. As long as you're fuelling your body with the appropriate amount of calories, it comes off easily.

One thing I think makes it harder for some is medical conditions. My trainer has PCOS and has lost over 30kg but it took her a long time. Some of my friends have thyroid conditions and that also impacts on weight loss.

Me, I am otherwise healthy apart from being overweight. I was so impressed that I could eat as much as I have been and still lose very quickly. The first 11kg came off within about 3 months! Amazing. I have been stalled a little the last few weeks, but I'm sure it will pick up again soon. Last time I did this I was down at the 1200calorie mark and while it came off quickly, it was so hard to keep eating so few calories. I'm eating about 300-400 extra this time and it's so much easier. I can factor in treats to my plan, I don't have to exercise much and I just feel so in control of my body now.

Crochetluvr

Logic tells us that the less we eat, the more weight we will lose. Research tells us otherwise. When you learn the facts, it really is a lot easier.

ames105

Yes! After years of saying "I can't lose weight", it started just melting off once I figured out how to eat and exercise. Now it seems almost easy. I'm at the halfway point and so excited about approaching the finish line.

thefragile7393

I never wanted to do a food diary or log or count calories. I figured it would be triggering too, but I really was kinda lazy. Nope. Lost 21 pounds without much exercise, now I am exercising and trying to find a way to exercise a little every day...once school starts I am practically going to be living at the tutoring place and I won't be able to do the 50 min stuff I am doing right now. I just need to keep it where I want once I get there. I don't plan on slipping but...

action_figure

I've been really surprised too. I thought my metabolism would suck because I was older and it would take forever. It's really been fast and simple. I think the discipline I've acquired since having my kids has helped me more than anything. Whenever people say "it's hard to lose weight over 40" I say "there may be a tiny bit of metabolic slowdown but not being a dumbass MORE than makes up for that." Not saying every young person is a dumbass, I'm saying *I* was a dumbass when I was younger.

JerseyGirlinTN

It's not hard, it's just very, very sloooooowwwwww. :laugh:

SailorKnightWing

Yeah, I've lost 13lbs in fewer than 3 months by just paying attention to what I eat, nothing else. No exercise, no cutting out anything I like. It helps that I actually like healthy foods, but it's pretty much come down to if I know I'm going to have a high-calorie dinner then I'll have a smaller lunch than I used to. I'm making a cheesecake tomorrow and I'll still hit all my macros and stay under my goal.

FromHereOnOut

Losing weight is easy... losing just fat is harder.

QFT

tootoop224

Yes. Once I understood losing weight is all about calories in v. calories out, and started keeping track, it became very simple.

guessrs

On one hand yes, it's incredibly easy to see us lose tens of pounds while eating all day!! On the other hand, I look at us as walking miracles. The pics are unreal. Also, daily determination to actually do what we know is the right thing. You have to extremely want it. I pray for it, I' ve been so desperate to lose.

Pearsquared

It hasn't been as hard as I thought it was going to be. I don't have to spend long hours at the gym, and I can still enjoy ice cream and whatnot. It's become purely a matter of patience, and that's something I can deal with.