Lost 16lbs, yet it doesn’t even feel like I lost 1 😔

NotThatDamselAnymore

How are you taking your weight loss?

Iwantahealthierme30

Lost 17.5 and I feel the same. Just...starting to notice. Good job on your weight loss!

Treab123

I've lost 46lbs and honestly dont feel different but everyone says I look like I have... i have lost 2 inches on my stomach and find exercise easier to manage so happy though...

Terytha

It took losing like 50 lbs to even start noticing it honestly.

Even now, I feel like I've barely changed.

Your self perception lags a bit.

cugogirl2017

oh wow I think all of you are doing so well. Just to lose 1 or 2 lbs per week means you are being so careful each meal each week. Each of you has lost a significant amount of weight and I bet even if you don't notice it, you are making changes in other very important ways even on the inside like with blood pressure, cholesterol numbers etc..Keep up the good work, I am just starting and have lost 2 lbs and you all are an inspiration to people just starting out. Don't reveal if it is too personal. but do you mind me asking how long it took to lose the weight you mentioned? I am impressed with all of your losses. It is true @Terytha "Your self perception lags a bit."

Terytha

cugogirl2017 wrote: »

oh wow I think all of you are doing so well. Just to lose 1 or 2 lbs per week means you are being so careful each meal each week. Each of you has lost a significant amount of weight and I bet even if you don't notice it, you are making changes in other very important ways even on the inside like with blood pressure, cholesterol numbers etc..Keep up the good work, I am just starting and have lost 2 lbs and you all are an inspiration to people just starting out. Don't reveal if it is too personal. but do you mind me asking how long it took to lose the weight you mentioned? I am impressed with all of your losses. It is true @Terytha "Your self perception lags a bit."

I've lost 88 pounds and I've been doing this for 13 months. I started at the end of March 2019.

It's slow going for sure. But even if I can't see it, the fact is I'm down 3 sizes in shirts and pants.

Small warning: my cholesterol tests keep coming back much worse, and apparently this is a thing when you lose weight. Since all your fat cells are shrinking and dumping waste into your blood stream.

So anyone worried about cholesterol should hold off on the blood tests if they can, until they're done losing weight.

LukesGreenMilk

Yeah I lost 14 so far and it's crazy how if I have a bad day, even though I'm still below where I started, it still feels like no change has been made. Have to look at progress pics every now and again.

NovusDies

Terytha wrote: »

It took losing like 50 lbs to even start noticing it honestly.

Even now, I feel like I've barely changed.

Your self perception lags a bit.

There is something I call "fat brain" that lingers and clouds how you feel about yourself and what you are able to do. It took me a long time to stop trying to find a seating option for my previous bulk. I would look at a normal chair and immediately assume I couldn't fit in it.

Sometimes I feel my current weight and other times I don't. I was heavy for so very long and even though my weight loss took 2 years it has been a quick transformation. I am losing my fat brain but it is not immediate.

SteppenFetchit

If you take Progress Pics, you'll see the difference. Take pics every other week and do comparison pics once a month.

RelCanonical

It's taken me two years to lose 70 pounds, so you can bet it's taken time for me to catch on that I'm on the thinner side now, since the process was very slow. It probably took about 20 pounds for me to even really notice a difference, and I'm only 5'1'', so each pound really counts. It's taken 70 for me to look in the mirror and think, woah, I'm kind of thin, rather than thinking I'm the mostly the same, just slightly shrunken. Pictures still haven't caught up yet. My mother has a picture of me from when I was about 130 and I think I look how I did when I was 170. I'm sure a lot of it was just posing/posture but man, it's frustrating when you see something like that and feel like you've made no progress.

SteppenFetchit

RelCanonical wrote: »

It's taken me two years to lose 70 pounds, so you can bet it's taken time for me to catch on that I'm on the thinner side now, since the process was very slow. It probably took about 20 pounds for me to even really notice a difference, and I'm only 5'1'', so each pound really counts. It's taken 70 for me to look in the mirror and think, woah, I'm kind of thin, rather than thinking I'm the mostly the same, just slightly shrunken. Pictures still haven't caught up yet. My mother has a picture of me from when I was about 130 and I think I look how I did when I was 170. I'm sure a lot of it was just posing/posture but man, it's frustrating when you see something like that and feel like you've made no progress.

Clothes, angle, lighting, distance... it all makes a difference in the pictures. Try to make sure to take the pics at the same place every time with as little or no clothes on for more accuracy.

I take mine on Friday mornings (I call it Photo Friday... how creative, right?) before jumping in the shower. That way, I haven't had anything to eat or drink yet, and that's the most consistent way I can think to do it.

cugogirl2017

Terytha wrote:

I've lost 88 pounds and I've been doing this for 13 months. I started at the end of March 2019.

It's slow going for sure. But even if I can't see it, the fact is I'm down 3 sizes in shirts and pants.

Small warning: my cholesterol tests keep coming back much worse, and apparently this is a thing when you lose weight. Since all your fat cells are shrinking and dumping waste into your blood stream.

So anyone worried about cholesterol should hold off on the blood tests if they can, until they're done losing weight.

Thank you for sharing how long it took. Also I didn't realize that about the cholesterol, that is good to know as a heads-up. I appreciate everyone that shared how long it took. I feel I have a looong way to go, just at the beginning of the journey. Hearing how successful others are is so helpful. Thank you, everyone.

Kaitie9399

My advice would be to take progress pictures of yourself. It's funny how we don't really see differences about out physique until we see a picture of ourselves. Congrats on losing the 16 pounds!

tuckerrj

Starting at 250 lbs, it took 20 lbs. before I started feeling it and close to 30 before anyone else noticed. At 30 lbs. I stopped wearing baggy old oversized clothes and got "new" ones at Goodwill. Once I was down 2 pants sizes I started buying legitimately new clothes. Wish I hadn't, because at 65 lbs. down (now) not of those fit. Relish the journey. I do have a couple of "before" pictures, so it's nice to compare.

beachbody4l

I think it can also depend on your height. Someone who is 5'0 is going to see a major change losing 16lbs compared to someone who is taller. It also depends on where you're starting weight is too. Higher weights will have to lose more to see a difference.

allother94

beachbody4l wrote: »

I think it can also depend on your height. Someone who is 5'0 is going to see a major change losing 16lbs compared to someone who is taller. It also depends on where you're starting weight is too. Higher weights will have to lose more to see a difference.

Love your hair...

NotSoFat70

I lost 40 lbs and I still couldn't see a difference. Only until I saw before and after photos. 25 lbs to go!

cugogirl2017

@NotSoFat70 You look completely different. Good job. We often don't see ourselves fairly.

beachbody4l

allother94 wrote: »

beachbody4l wrote: »

I think it can also depend on your height. Someone who is 5'0 is going to see a major change losing 16lbs compared to someone who is taller. It also depends on where you're starting weight is too. Higher weights will have to lose more to see a difference.

Love your hair...

Thanks!

Kiki_StartingOver

I've lost 28 lbs and don't feel different or look different in my eyes. No one has said anything. HOWEVER, I try to remember that I'm starting off really heavy (258.8 lbs on a 5'2 body) and it might take 50 lbs to see a difference. Also, be wary of the clothes you are wearing! I have noticed a shirt I always wear has a boob gap now. If you are wearing the same clothes as before, and if they are somewhat baggy like mine are, of course you or anyone else might not see a difference! It does take time. Just remember to take measurements! That really puts it into perspective.

Tedebearduff

NotThatDamselAnymore wrote: »

How are you taking your weight loss?

Could be allot of water which happens when ppl move to Keto for example... could of had your period which can be upwards of 10lbs in water weight thats stored shortly before your period.

Lots of factors, just keep going and don't expect to see results in the mirror for 3-4 months.

mlrtri

I have lost 10 lbs and I feel great! I can tell such a difference with just 10 lbs gone (50 more to go). Then I look in the mirror and at progress pictures and you can’t see much change yet. Sigh.

Trishkit

Find a sturdy bag and load 16 lbs of weight into it -- free weights, bags of flour or rice, etc... Now carry that around the house for a few minutes. I find this helps give me a little perspective when I feel like there's no change, because sometimes it's hard to feel like you've made any progress at all. Just this morning I put all of my small free weights in a bag and weighed it, and it came to 16.9 lbs. I'm currently 20 lbs down and occasionally think I notice it, but still have my doubts. Carrying that bag around for a few minutes really makes you think!

Shortgirlrunning

Progress pictures are seriously so helpful! I take one at least once a month. It’s hard to notice the slow changes in the mirror but typically month to month I can pick out changes in the pictures.

Lobsterboxtops

I’ve given up on relying on my brain to gauge myself and my loss. Just like I realized it lied to me as I was gaining weight.

On the days I feel like I am huge and big and all depressed is the days where the scale tells me I lost, on the days I feel like I look great and surely there would be a loss on the scale is the day I found I had bounced up by a pound.

Now I just ignore my brain and go with the scale and fact that I have to buy yet another pair of pants.

MeganD1704

I'm down about 10 lbs now , and I must say most of the time I don't notice it- except in my face.
My face to face comparison pics are wild. Apparently I carry all my weight there, my thighs and my arms.
Finally have 1 chin again- I will take it!

Trishkit wrote: »

Find a sturdy bag and load 16 lbs of weight into it -- free weights, bags of flour or rice, etc... Now carry that around the house for a few minutes. I find this helps give me a little perspective when I feel like there's no change, because sometimes it's hard to feel like you've made any progress at all. Just this morning I put all of my small free weights in a bag and weighed it, and it came to 16.9 lbs. I'm currently 20 lbs down and occasionally think I notice it, but still have my doubts. Carrying that bag around for a few minutes really makes you think!

This is honestly a great idea. last time I was successful and not fad dieting, I'd take a loaded bar at the gym representing the weight I lost and go up and down the stairs ten times. Amazing what being 35 lbs less did for me, can't wait to get there again!

springlering62

Body dysmorphia is a real thing. Prior to starting, I would have snorted and called BS on any such claim, but having been through it and come out the other side, I’m a believer.

I’ve lost almost 40% of my body weight. Yet, it was well over a year and a half before I could see anything in the mirror except the old version of me. It was disheartening, depressing, challenging. Made me wonder why I was continuing, yet the scale continued to drop, so I listened to what others here, who had been there, said about it.

In all seriousness, it was like a hypnotist snapped his fingers and said “poof! Now look in the mirror!” and the scales fell away from my eyes. Such a trite way of putting it, but that’s exactly what it was like.

For me, it was a friend taking a picture and posting it on Facebook. My first thought was who the heck is that woman with my husband? And then I realized it was me. It was like a punch to the gut.

If anything the scales have now tipped and I can’t stop looking in the mirror. I feel so vain, but it’s just wonderment. It’s like one of those sci-fi movies where the hero’s brain has been transplanted into a younger body.

Stick with it. It takes your head much longer than your pants size to catch up with your body.

Diatonic12

@springlering62 Brilliant. Your confident manner is great.

springlering62

I worry sometimes that I come off like having the big head, but I feel like a little puppy sometimes, chasing my tail, rolling over, feeling my oats, and just generally having a blast. Second childhood. Absolutely life altering. Biking, running, “flying” in yoga. None of this was on my radar twenty months ago.

I wish I could bottle this and share it.

I can’t, but I can sure try to encourage others here.

cugogirl2017

springlering62 wrote: »

I worry sometimes that I come off like having the big head, but I feel like a little puppy sometimes, chasing my tail, rolling over, feeling my oats, and just generally having a blast. Second childhood. Absolutely life altering. Biking, running, “flying” in yoga. None of this was on my radar twenty months ago.

I wish I could bottle this and share it.

I can’t, but I can sure try to encourage others here.

You don't have a big head at all, just a smaller, healthier body that you deserve to be proud of because it was your own dedication and hard work that resulted in such a great accomplishment. I can feel your joy in life so you have bottled it and shared it. I appreciate this inspirational post, at the beginning of my journey and reading posts like this are so helpful. Thank you!

Geneveremfp

I feel this.

I tell myself that if I've lost weight and I can't see it then it's probably internal fat around my organs and I've made myself healthier - I don't think there's any science to this at all but it makes me feel like I've got some success.