The Things No One Tells You About Weight Loss

jennifer_417

For me:
1.The scale will break your heart 335786313689 times. All you can do is keep going.
2. You will have to learn to forgive yourself over and over again because you will mess up more times than you will think possible
3. To do it right takes patience, patience, and more patience.

What things have you learned that you didn't expect?

AllonsYtotheTardis

I had to find a new brand of underwear, because the one I liked didn't make sizes small enough for my new body.

MB_Positif

That it was actually pretty easy when I didn't over complicate the process.

KylaDenay

I actually learned that I can lose inches with out losing any weight. I never read up on that and know I am very knowledgeable thanks to MFP.

mimi14fun

There is no right or wrong, just whatever works for YOU.

Its way easier to lose weight when you are younger, especially before menopause.... I am being serious.

zoeysasha37

Nobody told me that it's normal for the scale to fluctuate, I had to figure that out on my own..(I started my journey before I knew about mfp, so I had to learn the hard way with a lot of things)

Also, I used to be heavy and dream about what it would be like to be a size 4 jeans... Now that I am a size 4, I've realized that pants sizes, and what the scale says, really don't matter that much at all

wheird

4. Your bowel movements are going to go nuts when you try to replace your "unhealthy" diet with a bunch of raw veggies and other distress causing items.

5. Increased water intake makes you pee. A lot.

kyoshiwarrior

4. Your bowel movements are going to go nuts when you try to replace your "unhealthy" diet with a bunch of raw veggies and other distress causing items.

5. Increased water intake makes you pee. A lot.

This.

darkguardian419

I have way more energy when I drink enough water (1 gallon for me)

Lifting isn't just training, it's therapy.

Cardio is not the only answer, but it's still something nice to maintain.

ravenmiss

Scale losses don't mean you're getting smaller. I'm only 8lb down and have dropped a dress size already. That took me around 20lb or more when I did WW with no exercise!

I can drink 2-3l of water a day.

I do have self control.

andeey

-- It takes your brain way longer to catch up with your body (i.e., you still feel you are/look heavier than you really are).

-- Nobody tells you to forget all the cr*p you tried/heard about in the past, open your mind, listen to people who have had success before you and learn before you leap.

-- Achieving results you never thought possible might make you reflect on many parts of your life and make the entire process more emotional than you expected.

-- Not losing weight on the scale doesn't mean you aren't making progress; you are fitter/stronger/healthier than before.

aledba

4. Your bowel movements are going to go nuts when you try to replace your "unhealthy" diet with a bunch of raw veggies and other distress causing items.

5. Increased water intake makes you pee. A lot.

This.

Not ashamed to admit, I have minimum 2 good BMs a day now that I consume fibre and more leafy greens.

PJPrimrose

Lifting heavy is always better than working with light weights for "toning only". Heavy weights increase your tone, strength, and speed for sports even if you can't or do not want to "bulk". The difference was astounding! Also, you burn a whole heck of a lot more calories to support muscle. I didn't know that either. Women who lift heavy don't start to look like men unless they "juice" with steroids. You cannot tell they lift until they flex or lift something really heavy. You also shrink without losing weight with heavy lifting. I've found cardio (my sport is cardio heavy) and heavy weights are the perfect combination.

ccm1912

Agreed on the inches without losing pounds thing. Ive lost 3lbs total in the past 6 weeks, fight medication weight gain, but have lost inches on my waist, hips and thighs.

Running for long periods of time sometimes makes you have to "go."

SymphonynSonata

Your feet are gonna get cold, like, literally.

carpe_vinum

No one told me I would still hate my body. After a 90 pound loss I have hanging, saggy yuk all over. I am looking at having a body lift and boob lift next year. I thought I would be "finished" when I lost the weight. I'm never "finished"......

haypennyt

If you're an above-average height girl, trousers in smaller sizes will start being too short! Seriously, my ankles come out every time I sit down. I can't bring myself to be too heartbroken about it though. UK size 12/14 (16 US?) to size 8 (4 US).

SymphonynSonata

That just because you ate less calories for x amount of years to get to your goal doesn't mean you're now that skinny girl you grew up with who can eat 5,000 calories per day and not gain a single ounce!

zillah73

bump .... love to see what everyone says on this.

joeboo81

That it takes a lot longer for your self-image to catch up to your actual image.

TheVirgoddess

4. Your bowel movements are going to go nuts when you try to replace your "unhealthy" diet with a bunch of raw veggies and other distress causing items.

5. Increased water intake makes you pee. A lot.

These.

And also to never post on MFP that you're having trouble meeting your calorie goals. Oh and how fing fabulous a good workout can make you feel.

TheVirgoddess

That it takes a lot longer for your self-image to catch up to your actual image.

And so much this. I think I'll be a fat girl inside forever.

caffeinified

Bump. This is the best post.

TheVirgoddess

Diet changes + Yoga = lots of farts. For me at least. Maybe I'm just a gassy girl.

oxers

Diet changes + Yoga = lots of farts. For me at least. Maybe I'm just a gassy girl.

Also squatting.

Also lifting in general.

You're going to fart in public is what I'm saying here.

rorae

-- It takes your brain way longer to catch up with your body (i.e., you still feel you are/look heavier than you really are).

-- Nobody tells you to forget all the cr*p you tried/heard about in the past, open your mind, listen to people who have had success before you and learn before you leap.

-- Achieving results you never thought possible might make you reflect on many parts of your life and make the entire process more emotional than you expected.

-- Not losing weight on the scale doesn't mean you aren't making progress; you are fitter/stronger/healthier than before.

this ! especially the emotional part for me.

HMonsterX

There is a huge difference between what is ADVICE THAT MAY HELP YOU, and actual biological fact. Breakfast, when you eat, how often, etc. None of those biologically make a difference with weight loss, but they may help an individual reach the same end result.

1princesswarrior

About all the farting that occurs at the squat rack. And running gives you the best endorphin high ever.

Oh, and nobody told me how expensive it would be to replace all my clothes multiple times, even by shopping at the Goodwill or Salvation Army stores.

neandermagnon

That it was actually pretty easy when I didn't over complicate the process.

^^^ this

kaseyr1505

I didn't realize how much my weight was impacting my confidence until I was ready to lose it. When I look back at pictures, I can see how uncomfortable I was, even in my wedding pictures when I was over the moon. I'm not too far from my first goal weight, and I can see such a huge change in myself, and how I look in pictures.

tinkbaby101

That I don't have to eat like a rabbit to see results.

That the best weight loss "supplements" are a good attitude and the courage to take those first steps to changing my lifestyle.

That exercise is the best, cheapest antidepressant.