Finding it hard to see a difference after -30 pounds
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I agree with what others have said with pictures and measuring yourself. Maybe even going shopping to buy some new clothes will help you see your progress.
I'd also suggest if you still feel like you've had little improvement to just carry around 2 - 15 lb dumbells for 20 minutes doing regular activities like going up and down sfairs or just even walking around. I'm sure by then you'll see how far you have come and realize how much weight that actually is.1 -
In the beginning of high school I lost a significant amount of weight eating 1200 calories a day (sometimes less) and I still felt absolutely obese. Look into body dysmorphia and don't believe the thoughts that can come with extreme weight loss. Mine became an obsession and although I was around 125 lbs, I felt like the fattest person in the world. I have since repaired my thinking, but have gained almost 80 lbs in the process. I am now loosing the weight healthily and will try to focus on whole body health in comparison to just being skinny or hitting some goal that isn't important.4
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Congratulations on your weight-loss; averaging 10 pounds per month is a major achievement in my opinion. I'm no expert in his and I think this is my first comment but may I share what has motivated me. Firstly, take pictures - I regret not doing so. After 30+ years of being very overweight I started trying 11 months ago: I am 6ft 0 in and came down from 266 to 220 in 8 months by cutting down to 10g of carbs per day. I do not recommend that but I had not shown enough self-discipline on other plans.
Some ideas: Stick to your plan/process, clearly it is working, some weeks will be better than others, do not jump around on different plans. When you are not reducing, take time to congratulate yourself on not increasing or rebounding, I am constantly reminding myself of the emotional investment I have made. I didn't use photos but wish I did, I do use old clothes so suggest you keep some to remind you - I went from 44 inch waist to 38 and am aiming for 36, for example. Fill a backpack with 30 pounds and wear it for a half-day, wear it in the gym, everywhere, to remind you how easy movement is now compared to the past. I challenge myself by signing up to public running/jogging events (10K for example) that I think I can't do - that gets me out training when the weather is bad.........I rejoice that I can jog whereas previously I only shuffled.1 -
jojo19812018 wrote: »I started this journey on sept 20. I’m 5’1 and started at 198. I’m currently 168. I’m happy with 30 pounds down in about 3 months. The problem is I don’t feel like I look much different. I’m only on 1200
calories and don’t go over. I do a little bit of weights and cardio at the gym 2-3 times per week and average 8000 steps per day. I was hoping to hear from anyone who started on 1200 calories and stayed there until they hit goal. (Or any successes). I need to hear some inspiring stories. How long did it take and how much did u lose? I understand this is a journey and I have to be patient. I suppose I want to hear that I’m doing all the right things and the weight loss will keep happening. Im just having a hard time lately as I feel like I’ve made big changes and can’t see much in the way of results. Thank you 😊
Have you taken a look at your blood work?
Chances are your blood sugar, cholesterol, etc and other variables are all down and lower.
Can't ignore those benefits.5 -
try more strength training. cardio often wears you down and makes you fatigued, makes you crave food etc. Great on the steps, but doing strength training exercises will actually help to change the shape o your body. We have fat cells all over out body and exercise only shrinks them all over, it's impossible to lose weight in ONLY one spot, or gain for that matter. However, you can tone and train specific muscle groups and make them look better. Make sure to constantly update your TDEE so that you don't go into a caloric deficit you can't maintain. Another great part of lifting is that it builds muscle, muscle needs calories to grow, you get to eat/fuel your body more. When you lose JUST fat you have to get used to eating less overall. Keep up the good work.1
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I lost about 30 lbs in 5/6 months by eating around 1500 to 1700 calories and doing cardio/strength training 4 to 5 times a week ( i focus more on strength training though). I didn't notice it until I took my waist measurement and noticed my waist went from 37 inches to 32! I suggest taking measurements and taking pictures. it blew my mind looking back and seeing the before and afters.2
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30 pounds seem like nothing, I barely see the change sometimes!
The pictures do help!
Height:5’5
SW: 275+
CW: 2360 -
Something you need to keep in mind when losing a lot of fat. There is plenty of fat internally as well. Around your organs etc. If you are in a deficit and eating the proper food, you will be losing. However, you do not choose where you lose it. And maybe, that 5 pounds you lost was all internal, which health wise is the best place to start. Those 5 pounds will be harder to see.1
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By the way, I was 200 in jan 2018. I am 5.6.
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Pictures...
Changes are very slow and we look at ourselves everyday, so they aren't going to be particularly noticeable. Even now almost 7 years later I don't think I look dramatically different than I did when I was heavier...then I'll see a picture from back then, and yeah...it's pretty night and day.2 -
Thank you everyone for keeping the replies coming. I’m down 36 pounds now and can see a little difference. Just got to keep on keeping on!1
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I'm down 35 pounds and don't see a difference but everyone around me does, and I've been able to buy smaller clothes. But when I look in the mirror, I don't see it. I'm 5 pounds from my goal and it makes me want to lose more!1
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Well done, I’m sure it’s noticeable! 😊0
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Good on you girl! Your progress is amazing. Don’t get down hearted. I started and lost about 66lbs in 90 days. I got bummed out because no one seemed to notice. I let that justify giving up and putting almost all of it back on in the following couple years. Don’t do what I did! It’s all about consistency. Don’t worry about gaining anyone elses’ affirmations or even if you can see it or not on your journey. I’ve since committed to consistency and am now down 121lbs and still going. Stay with it. You can do it.1
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Instead of trying to see the change in the mirror, after all, you have been watching a daily transformation, think in terms of what 30 pounds actually looks like. As in, 30 pounds of ground beef, a stack of 5 pound bags of flour...something that will give you the visual. Someone told me this years ago, and it has always stayed with me. Believe me, no matter how you look at it, 30 pounds is a nice accomplishment, but when you look at it all in a lump and then imagine still “wearing” it, that really makes an impression. Congrats!1
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Thanks so much! Your all so positive.. I appreciate all your responses. ❤️0
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This sounds nuts, but when I don’t see a difference, I remind myself my dog is 25 pounds, and I’ve lost almost two Lucky dogs. Visualizing not having two dogs around my neck helps for some reason when I feel down about not seeing it.4
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For me, it was less about what I saw in the mirror.
I remember going to JC Penny to buy a pair of pants one day. I was about 30 pounds down but couldn't "see" it. I went to the big & tall (though I really needed the short & fat) section and nothing fit. Suddenly, I'm back in the "regular size" section buying pants there! I'd lost six inches on my waist.
That's when I realized it that weight loss was significant.3 -
Since August, I've lost 71 lbs. I'm eating 1000 calories +/- a day. I'm 5'2", so the losses are harder to see. I know from the way I feel--more energy, less pain, and a a feeling of confidence I never had. Shorter frames tend to carry weight different than taller, so don't worry about the image in the mirror. Weirdly, the remaining fat is more gelatinous. It's like I'm carrying around spongy material rather than a solid chunk. I've still got a long way to go, so I'm imagining a jelly belly ready to be burned up as energy, rather than a lard butt that won't move.
Mentality is important. Even if you don't see the losses, use it as motivation to do better. Use it as inspiration to be stronger, work harder, and create a difference no one can deny.2 -
JoJo you are doing just fine and doing all the right things. My quest is not about looking good, it is more about my health needs since I am in my 70's. I have lost 50 lbs and it has taken more than 18 months. I keep my calories at 1270 and it is more about the quality of food intake for fat, protein, sugar, carbs, potassium at my age. I would like to lose 30 more lbs and that would take me into the weight when I was in my 40's, much easier on my joints. I am just 2 inches taller than you, get this weight off while you are young, and keep it off....it will pay great benefits as you age!1
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I've lost about 185lbs from my heaviest and when I look in the mirror I basically see the same flaws and the same person. Good news is I never thought I was as fat as I was at 400lbs, so it probably kept me sane
I can see the difference in progress pictures though, and even more in pictures other people take from a distance. Honestly the biggest difference is in the way other people treat me, and how many people address the weight loss, but that didn't happen until I was down around 100lbs from my heaviest. Just keep on keepin on and make sure you take progress pictures because at some point the scale might stop telling the tale as it has with me, and you'll be more interested in tracking the changes in your body composition. Best of luck! 3 -
You all are heroes. Champions of your world. You are winning at losing. You are all looking great!! Keep it up.
If you are feeling down, that's a normal feeling. Don't be consumed by it to the point you give up. I say this, because I did. Frustration, didn't this I was making progress. Had to break out the "fat boy" pants again. I gained nearly 50 pounds back, from what I previously lost. I was at 105 pounds down. I didn't "see" or "feel" it. Until I got on the bike in April last year, and struggled to get going again. I was miserable. Miserable to the point I got mad at myself for letting go. I though the winter months I could take a break from this all. (Even though I still logged, and stayed under calories). I had to correct my attitude. And I have. That's another story.
So, when you are feeling like you don't feel/see it, challenge yourself to something you don't think you can do. You will then see and feel it. Remember, this isn't going to happen over night. Steady as you go, let you mind, your body, your soul, catch up to you. Then you will feel, and see it.
Keep up your awesome progress! You rock!1 -
Thank you everyone for your encouraging words! They really help xx0
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I am also down 30+ pounds and i dont notice a difference, but people i dont often see sure do1
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I've lost 43lbs and I still don't feel like I have lost anything. I mean, I can tell by my clothes and people have commented that I have lost weight but I personally don't really see it. I think it will take me a long time to do so.3
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springlering62 wrote: »This sounds nuts, but when I don’t see a difference, I remind myself my dog is 25 pounds, and I’ve lost almost two Lucky dogs. Visualizing not having two dogs around my neck helps for some reason when I feel down about not seeing it.
Haha, good idea! I don't have 25 lb. dogs, but when I was feeling discouraged about my progress I went to the store and bought four 5 lb. bags of flour, put them in a back pack and carried them around for a while, going upstairs and remembering what it was like to do that with the extra weight. Um, no thanks. It helped me visual what those 20 lbs represented and convinced me that no matter what I do going forward I really do not want to start carrying those extra 20 lbs again! Then, I gave away the flour so I wouldn't be tempted to bake something.
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I was mentioning this to my friend today "I've lost 30 pounds, does it look like I've lost 30 pounds because I feel the same" and she said, "It's that you always wear really baggy jeans" and I realized these used to be my tight jeans 7
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I just complained yesterday that I have lost 20 pounds and i see no difference. i even took progress pics and i look virtually the same, except more body hair. Its frustrating for sure.0
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I am 5'1" and started at 212 April of last year. Just by lowering my carbs and going the gym 3 days a week I am down 42 pounds and counting. My daily calorie limit is 1230 and although I feel like my weight loss has slowed down I can feel the difference in my clothes (down at least 1 size if not more) and people have definitely noticed the difference! Just when I start feeling discouraged someone mentions that they've noticed my weight loss. My husband shows me before and current pics all the time! Just keep taking pics and compare them to the before pics!3
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I hope your day goes well🙂1
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