Any Slow Weight Loss Success Stories?

strongmindstrongbody

Did it take anyone a a long, hard time to lose all the weight? I need inspiration. :flowerforyou:

0110Charlotte

I have 40ish pounds left to lose but am not forcing myself to lose it all in a certain amount of time. Just working away at it slowly so I look smokin when I get married 4 or 5 years down the road. lol
Since May 1st I have lost 17.8lbs and although it has been slow, it has been a total lifestyle makeover, not just a quick fix. And that feels amazing:) I have gone from XL/L to L/M.
A few years back, I lost 35 lbs over the course of about 3 months and felt pretty bad. I lost the weight too fast, I guess my body couldn't adjust. I had never fainted before but had fainted 3 times, was always cold, and to make the worst of it, within a couple years I had put it all back on plus 10 lbs!!
My advice, take it slow, you will get there and will be more likely to stay there!

desertcrafty

It took me about 4 months to lose 10 pounds. I was losing about .5 lbs a week. Still working at it....

vanillacoffee

<i>XL/L to L/M. </i>

Sometimes this is the best inspiration. Mine started quick but has really slowed down, and I am also really active now. However, I was getting frustrated with myself when I had two NSVS. I could fit into all my sisters medium sized clothes & look good in them, and I bought a pair of jeans from a store that I used to be a 15/16 in, and I fit into a 9/10 comfortably. Sometimes it really isnt the number.

strongmindstrongbody

Glad to hear you're all making it work. I've been here since late May and WAS enjoying taking the slower route. Been averaging a lb a week loss. But recently I had to cut calories even further to get the scale moving again and it's taking a toll on my body. Busting my butt for 1 lb a week is annoying sometimes. I want to lose 89 more lbs and would like to reach goal before I get gray hairs, lol.

BeckyMBisMe

strongmindstr, I suggest reading some of the interesting articles and comments regarding macros and calorie needs. Cutting your calorie total even more is probably not the correct answer for you. (Especially if you feel like crap. :frown: ) Don't be afraid to experiment with macro percentages, possibly changing your setting of normal activity level (sedentary/light/moderate) and even INCREASING your daily calorie count. But most of all always be honest with yourself and track every bite. When I tried MFP before I cheated MYSELF by not counting every bite. [notice I joined in Nov. 2012] This time everything that goes into the "pie hole" gets counted :laugh: and it is making a difference. [my weight loss is just in the last 2 months] Keep going! 1 lb a week is awesome, ANY amount lost is a win!

megalin9

Meeee! I am! I think I am definitely taking a long time to lose the weight, and I am totally OK with that. It has taken me 1 year 9 months to lose 62 pounds. For the most part, it's been intentional. I was hoping to be at my goal weight by October 31st this year, which would be 2 years since I've started, but I won't quite make it. That's cool with me. When I first started trying to get fit, I knew it would take a long time because I refused to eat like a bird, and I also wanted to preserve as much muscle and avoid as much loose skin as possible. I think I have accomplished that! I've also learned to eat in a way that I can maintain for the rest of my life. I didn't make drastic changes all at once that would make me lose weight fast and then gain it back once I went back to "normal." If it takes me another year to lose the last 25-30 pounds, I'm OK with that, too.

MensEtSalvere2013

Hello, I have been on a weight loss journey for about a year and and half. It has been slow, but I am alomost down 70 pounds. You know the old saying: "Slow and steady wins the race." Also by losing slower, it will also help prevent regain and it helps with not having as much excess skin. I have found that the combination of high-protein low carb has done wonders for me and combining it with circuit training and cardio is best. Good luck and feel free to add me if you want

sassyann45

It has taken me 2 years to lose 65 pounds. I have had to learn to overcome emotional eating. I do well most days. I take one day at a time and I feel great!!! I have 40 or so more to lose and I know it will take awhile but I am in it for the long hall. It is not a diet but a life style change. Add me as a friend if you want....just take one day at a time.

watercolorarteest

I've lost 18lbs since 4/11/2013. I don't know what's "normal" vs "healthy" vs "slow" weight loss; but for me it's slow. Of ocurse, I'd love to just have the weight fall off (I am working hard at it), but intellectually I know better. I didn't gain the weight quickly... but over time and neglect. So over time I must work to get it off. Stay the course. Besides, I hear slow weight loss is more permanent anyway. You can do it!

For me, I visit the "Success Stories" community board almost daily for a dose of inspiration to keep me motivated.

kristen6022

I started in October 2010 at around 190 (don't know the exact number because I never weighed myself). In August 2012, I reached my lowest weight of 145 (Goal was 157 but I wasn't really happy with what I saw in the mirror at that point). So, almost 2 years to lose 45 pounds. At 145 I was getting concerned looks and comments that made me realize I needed to put some back on (My BF was worried he'd break me). Took 2012-2103 winter off and by June 2013 I was 160. I'm trying to get back down to 155, but since I'm mostly lifting and eating at a deficit I'm not really worried about what the scale says, I'm more worried about what the mirror says.

I'm 5'11 and 34. I'm hoping to stay in the 150-160 range for the rest of my life. Maintainance is no picnic either, so don't be in an hurry to get to goal.

usernameMAMA

I started on January 1st and I've lost 31 pounds so far:/

rmendezjr

Starting in October of 2012, I weighed 261 lbs. My goaI is to lose the 61 lbs. I lost 37 lbs between then and May 2013. I currently weigh 228 lbs. Over the last 4 months I have stalled out and struggled to lose the extra 28 lbs. But because of Fitnness pal, I have not gained hardly any weight back in those months, other than fluctuating up and down within 4 lbs. or so. I did not get discouraged when I stopped losing weight but I was highly encouraged and more motivated by the fact that I have not gained the weight back. So just stick to the plan and I'm sure you will see the results. Maybe not as fast as you'd like to see them, but you will see them non the less. Remember, patience has its rewards. Nothing good comes from trying to lose it all in one day. Good luck.

inthedistrict

I've been in since May as well. I've done the yoyo thing over the past few years. Last year lost 17 lb for my son's wedding and gained it back plus some. This time I want to do it slow and effect lasting change. For the last 4 weeks I've been maintaining and am starting to lose again. I'm more active and have more energy as a result and feel much better. Lesson learned, less is more, slow and steady is better. Good luck on your journey. Feel free to friend me.

guessrs

Yes!!! It's the only way to maintain your weight. You have to take your time and make small changes. It will give you long term success and your skin will adjust nicely, too.

jesskreg

Me! I've been on myfitnesspal for almost 3 years. I was at 53 lbs lost in January, but I had foot surgery and gained back around 8 lbs. Currently, I've lost 49 lbs. My starting goal was 60 lbs, which would put me at 145 lbs. I'm thinking that once I reach that goal, I will work on toning up, more than cardio. I have had some bumps along the road- foot surgery, planning a wedding, 2 moves, etc. I'm happy with my progress so far, and I believe that losing it this way will help me to develop a healthy lifestyle, rather than viewing it as a short-term diet plan.

ImprovingEla

took me almost a year to loose 30 lbs! Had a few set backs, but the key is to start over the next day if one day goes not as you hoped!!!

kanadian_bear

Yes, it's taken me a year to lose 32 lbs doing it the slow and steady way! On average I'm losing about 10 lbs every 4-5 months and have set my goal to lose 1/2 lb a week. So far I'm on track and have about 13 lbs left to go till I surpass my goal weight and hit my "better than that" weight which is 5 lbs under my goal weight. That will allow for any sudden weight gain after I start into maintenance.

I tell ya this is the best way to do it. Just have patience. The rewards far outweigh the waiting.

AwesomelyAmber

I'm one... I guess :blushing:

I still have 12 pounds to go to be successful in my own mind... but I joined MFP in May of 2011. Got serious about it in July 2011. Since then I have lost 40 pounds (2 pounds up from being silly)

It's been slow, but that is A-O-K for me. I will lose my 50th pound eventually.
I'm 5'3", 33 years old, and I am a calorie slave... I don't watch much else, but I do strive to get in a minimum of 30 min of exercise a day. Sometimes that exercise is broken into 10 min increments. I drink a minimum of 64oz water a day in addition to diet drinks and coffee.
I know that I COULD lose faster if I worked harder... but I'm comfortable doing what I do. Good luck to you! :flowerforyou:

carrieo888

It took me about 15 years to gain the 60 pounds I needed to lose. I started my weightloss journey about 9 years ago, and I need to lose about 15 more pounds to make my goal. I feel like if it takes me 15 years to lose the weight it took me to gain in 15 years, I'm doing a fanstastic job. Besides, slow weight loss has kept me from having a lot of baggy, loose skin, and my stretch marks - which will never completely disappear - are becoming much less noticeable. Never, ever give up. This is not a race, but a journey that should last a lifetime.

dym123

<

---

I started my "journey" January 2012. Though my ticker says I have 15lbs to go, clothing size-wise I'm pretty much wear I want to be, so I'm just focusing on building muscle, which is causing me to lose inches but not much in pounds. I started by just watching what I ate, cutting back on sweets, by the time I joined MFP I became more conscious of portion size and calories. I think because I've been doing this for over a year, it has become second nature for me to make better choices without having to put much thought into what I eat.

Sedna_51

Oh man, this is such a relief to read. I've been on MFP just about 3 months and have lost about 5 pounds. I'm trying to lose very slowly, at a pace of about half a pound a week- my goal is to lose about 55 or 60 pounds over a 2 year period. I'm hoping slow gradual changes will make it easier for me to continue with a healthier lifestyle in the future. (also might give my skin more time to rebound- fingers crossed!) I try to start with small manageable goals, then once I've mastered them, move on. Right now I'm working on at least an hour of cardio exercise a week, in addition to the bodyweight training I've been doing.

Keep it up, everyone! This is a slow, steady push. As my wonderful friends remind me, we just have to keep doing what we're doing and the results will come.

james6998

My wife is losing weight very slowly but I told her this and keep it in the back of your mind.

What is your hurry? This is now a lifestyle so what does it matter on how long it takes, not like you plan on stopping when you reach your goal

Currently wife is at -8lbs in 1 month, which works out to the suggested -2 a week.
Btw i cant for the life of me get her on this board to help motivate her and support her, shes sort of strange that way.

Sometimes its the Quest or the journey that drives us. Reaching the end where you are no longer chasing numbers, you might be surprised how plain it feels. Also continue to improve your body. After all, no one is perfect.

Jesea

I joined MFP in January of 2012, and am down 47 pounds, with 13 to go. I'm okay with that, because I have done a lot of living in the past 20 months! Times when I made good choices, and times when I've made not-so-good choices. I can run 3 miles now, and am stronger than before. Last month I went for a bike ride with my BFF, and she noticed how much more balanced and confident I am on my bike than I was last summer. So I've lost weight, but gained a lot more! I'll get to my ultimate goal weight, when I get there!

prairiewalker

.....keep it in the back of your mind.

What is your hurry? This is now a lifestyle so what does it matter on how long it takes, not like you plan on stopping when you reach your goal
.........

Sometimes its the Quest or the journey that drives us. Reaching the end where you are no longer chasing numbers, you might be surprised how plain it feels. Also continue to improve your body. After all, no one is perfect.

wise advice..^ and I try to tell myself that all the time...I've been with MFP and very dedicated and very steady for a year now and it's very slow weight loss for me... I have hashimoto hypothyroidism and age as a factor so I've head to really be vigilent I'm working out 6 days a week and I'm very , very careful with lifestyle choices on food..I'm loving the new healthy me:flowerforyou:

..it's just my mental relationship with that darn scale. I need to divorce my scale and end the relationship once and for all..but it's hard, so very hard to let go...:sad:

hhen8

I consider myself a relatively "fit" person but have been in the "overweight" category for my height for a while now (160lbs @ 5'4") some of this can be attributed to muscle mass (got the quads and *kitten*, and have always had them) but I know some is the layer of fat, which is what I'm trying to get rid of. I'm not going for gigantic leaps and bounds, I know I probably won't ever be able to maintain @ 130lbs so my goal is 148. I just want to be under 150.

I joined in May, but didn't keep track on here in June and July because of a busy field season ( I study birds- long, early, hard days- not much time to log onto websites). I'm down 2 lbs. I've been concentrating mostly on watching my calories and running (some situps and pushups but I'm waiting to get into a good rhythm before I start strength-training again... like I said I've already got the muscles).

So here I sit- at 160. I've been weighing myself with all the running the past couple weeks (3-6 mile runs/4 times a week) but no change. It does look like I'm losing a little belly fat- which makes me feel sexier and goodness knows sex is a good workout too!

I'm concentrating on feeling good and getting in a rhythm, despite what the scale says- I feel good!

kewpiecyster

Well - it took me about 2 years to lose 75 pounds. I am now working to lose 48 pounds in one year (my goal is to be around 250 pounds by my Disney trip next august).

It was a very slow process for me, because I was not obsessing over everything. I made slow changes (less soda consumption, less candy, more movement, etc.) I had slip-ups. Started again, stopped again, etc.

I have been stuck maintaining the loss for the last 6 months...so that is why I joined MFP. I needed to up my game to continue my loss. I now am logging everything - and I started my exercise program again. I have already lost a couple pounds in the last week.

I know 48 pounds in a year's time is doable - because it is at a slow pace...really less than a pound a week expectation.

It is not a race - you just have to have the endurance to go the distance....and get back up when you fall down.

NovemberJune

I don't really consider a lb a week slow. I lost 85 lbs in about 18 months. :bigsmile:

Mischievous_Rascal

It took me five years to lose 60 pounds by just reducing stress and walking more, but I still had a pretty high BF (34%). The last 30+ lbs came off over the past two years by changing my eating habits and actually working out and my BF is now about 21%.

Slow and steady keeps it off!!!

sheleen302

Glad to hear you're all making it work. I've been here since late May and WAS enjoying taking the slower route. Been averaging a lb a week loss. But recently I had to cut calories even further to get the scale moving again and it's taking a toll on my body. Busting my butt for 1 lb a week is annoying sometimes. I want to lose 89 more lbs and would like to reach goal before I get gray hairs, lol.

Yup, slow route definitely. My challenge this year has been trying to budge my weight loss/inches loss while heavy lifting and dealing with the hormonal fluctuations that happen as women age. I'm stronger than I have ever been, and seeing strength gains, but nothing else. I took a quick look at your diary, sure you've heard this before, but sodium really disguises weight loss, maybe lowering sodium intake rather than caloric would serve you better--at least you'd feel better!

Chemburly12

It's taken me 11 months to lose 40 pounds. Like most people here, I'm okay with it. This isn't a diet. I'm learning how to eat for the rest of my life and that includes cake at birthday parties and popcorn at the movies. The important thing is that I feel healthy and even though I've got a ways to go I feel so much better about where I am compared to last year.