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MyFitnessPal Community

Starting weight, or starting weight since joining MFP?

Heather_Rider

I have had several people ask how much weight i have lost.....

Well, My ticker says what I have lost since joining MFP, but when i have told a larger number than that... I was told I am a lier....

No, i dont care at ALL what people think of me, but damn, ya know?

So I guess my question is.. When people (who obviously cant see my MFP ticker.. ) ask How much i have lost.. do i tell them from my heaviest weight? or from when i *truly* started trying to lose weight?

Thoughts?

Replies

heykaraoke

Tell them the truth. Your journey started before you came to MFP, but that doesn't mean the weight you lost before joining simply doesn't matter. It totally matters. It's part of your overall success. If they call you a liar, well, they're entitled to their opinion. You know what you've accomplished and that's all that really matters

dr2k12

I tell my highest weight as that really is where I started from...

nicholettebell

Mine is from my heaviest. It's where I came from. But since joining MFP, I've lost about 25.

JustPeachy044

Tell the truth and you never have to remember what you said. For those calling you a "liar"...whatever. If they don't believe you that is THEIR problem. If they can see your ticker, they shouldn't need to ask anyhow.

laserturkey

I backdated an entry to put in my weight from when I started in January, even though I wasn't on this site at the time.

shoby68

Seems like a no brainer to me. You tell them what you have lost from the beginning.
I went from 250 lbs to 185 lbs on my own, and have lost 3 lbs on MFP. If you ask me I figure I would be a lying if I said I had only lost 3 lbs, when in fact I have lost a much larger amount!

And to be honest, your ticker has on it 27 lb lost, which in my opinion, is an awesome amout all on it's own!

Aviva92

that's strange that they would call you a liar. i had never heard of mfp when i started losing weight. i'd think that a lot of people would fall into that category. i tell them what i lost from my highest weight and when i started losing weight.

lilmisfit

I think it depends on how long you've known the person and how long you've been on your weight loss journey. For instance, 4 years ago, I was 10 pounds heavier than I was when I started losing weight this year, which was my highest weight. I lost 20 pounds that year. During the next 3 years I gained about 10 of it back. When I got serious about losing weight again this year, I was 10 pounds lighter than before. Truth be told, since 2008, I've lost 42 pounds, but I tell people 32 because I don't count those 3 years, if that makes sense. And, most of the people asking are people that I've known less than 4 years, so they never saw me at my heaviest.

rodneyderrick

Tell the truth, and keep losing until you're satisfied with the results.

irisheyez718

I'll tell someone my total if they ask, I've actually lost 106 pounds, but my ticker reflects what I've lost since I joined MFP.

Bess_74

I let people know that it took two months to lose almost 10, but have lost 11 more in less than a month since joining MFP for a total weight loss of 21 lbs in a little less than 3 months. I rarely admit to my starting weight or current weight in real life. I do have an open profile, but it just feels safer here. Either way, no one shoudl be judging you, regardless of how you word it. You lost the weight and you worked hard to do it...that's what counts the most!

Bess_74

I backdated an entry to put in my weight from when I started in January, even though I wasn't on this site at the time.

Great idea!!!

BehindBlueEyes988

I have had several people ask how much weight i have lost.....

Well, My ticker says what I have lost since joining MFP, but when i have told a larger number than that... I was told I am a lier....

No, i dont care at ALL what people think of me, but damn, ya know?

So I guess my question is.. When people (who obviously cant see my MFP ticker.. ) ask How much i have lost.. do i tell them from my heaviest weight? or from when i *truly* started trying to lose weight?

Thoughts?

I'm in the same boat as you. When I first started losing weight a year and a half ago I was 165 and got down to 133. I've put some back on due to thyroid, but am working to fix that and start losing again. I don't feel right claiming I've lost all this weight this time when I'm starting again in my mind.

Maybe I'm doing it because I feel like I'm cheating myself on new goals and accomplishments. I don't want to live on past success. I want to thrive on new ones

PatriceMG

I would (and did) start with my heaviest. Backdating with the original amount sounds like a great idea. Then your ticker would match your total weight loss too!

babeinthemoon

I backdated an entry to put in my weight from when I started in January, even though I wasn't on this site at the time.

I did the same thing, and backdated to june.

Heather_Rider

I have had several people ask how much weight i have lost.....

Well, My ticker says what I have lost since joining MFP, but when i have told a larger number than that... I was told I am a lier....

No, i dont care at ALL what people think of me, but damn, ya know?

So I guess my question is.. When people (who obviously cant see my MFP ticker.. ) ask How much i have lost.. do i tell them from my heaviest weight? or from when i *truly* started trying to lose weight?

Thoughts?

I'm in the same boat as you. When I first started losing weight a year and a half ago I was 165 and got down to 133. I've put some back on due to thyroid, but am working to fix that and start losing again. I don't feel right claiming I've lost all this weight this time when I'm starting again in my mind.

Maybe I'm doing it because I feel like I'm cheating myself on new goals and accomplishments. I don't want to live on past success. I want to thrive on new ones

^^ THIS!! I didnt think like this before.. because i kind of "teeter tottered" with those first 20 pounds.. but see, i didnt "start" fat. I was a skinny girl, and always was.. it wasnt until i had two strokes and was bedridden and had health issues that i became overweight.. not that that matters.. i was still FAT. but, what im getting at is that exactly how she feels.. why claim a success.. when you failed? when you put the weight back on? I want to be able to say.. I LOST IT AND KEPT IT OFF! I dont want to say.. well, i lost 10 pounds, and then put on 12.. and 4 years later i lost 18 pounds.. but 6 years later i found myself at 244.. then 3 years later.............. ya follow?

I guess maybe i just found my answer.. LOL! I want.. and i need to be able to say.. While i might have been my heaviest at 246 pounds, i didnt try to lose weight until June 28, 2012 and i weighed 233 when i stepped on that scale. From that day, i dedicated my life to losing weight and getting healthy, and I DID NOT FAIL MYSELF. Because of that, i am now, at this day.. 205 pounds and have gone from a tight size 20 to a size 14!! in Just over 90 days!! (of course, i hope my numbers are much lower.. thats just where they are now! lol)

Thanks guys

Sometimes just some out-loud thinkin is all ya need!!

You guys rock!

CassieReannan

My highest was 115kg but I started MFP at around 113kg. I still put my ticker as 115 as that was my starting weight.

NeverGivesUp

That is a huuuge pet peeve of mine. People wanting to hear the exact number I have lost!! . They sit and wait for it and then I feel like I have to go into a lengthy explanation. I mean how stupid?? I don't know how much I lost the last time I saw them specifically?? So I tell them a lot and leave it at that and often they say "you mean you don't know the exact number". I just tell them I am a work in progress. It is so rude asking particulars in my opinion, low class. Why can't people just say, "wow you look great" and leave it at that!!!

NeverGivesUp

I also hate it when people who know you have lost, say they can see you have lost more every time they see you even when you haven't. It makes me feel judged and I hate that feeling.

Heather_Rider

I also hate it when people who know you have lost, say they can see you have lost more every time they see you even when you haven't. It makes me feel judged and I hate that feeling.

aint that the truth!! I had a friend, who apparently at this point and time was more self concious about my weight that i was.. she was about 90 pounds pregnant... and i was probably 250... when she saw me taking out the trash.. in sweats, VERY oversized t-shirt, hair pulled up in a knot on top of my head, no makeup, lookin like hell... she would make a point to come out in her teeny tiny shorts and tank, hair perfect and tanned legs, makeup and baby on her hip and say...

"good grief woman, how much weight you lost?" and i would always say some crazy something like.. "oh about 30 pounds!" and she would reply something worse like.. "you can sure tell it! I hardly recognized you!" which simply made me walk into the house and shove food into my face. Boy that helped...........

People dont realize that being a friend... sometimes it means brutal honesty and other times it just means not lying....

Why cant you say.. "hey why dont you come over for lunch today & we will catch up?!" then have a fruit salad, some lean meats and cook a low calorie dessert. if the "invited" loves it and asks for the recipe, hand it over.. no need to point out its low cal.. they will find that out on its own. if they refuse it saying "i cant, or i shouldnt" hand them the recipe card and say.. oh honey, yes you can!" and drop it.

People are SUCH *kitten* sometimes, and they dont even realize it. I am SO with you... why cant they just be happy for you?

NeverGivesUp

my mother ruined me from all compliments since she uses compliments to manipulate people. I can't trust anyone now. I rememeber when I lost weight as a kid, she would open her big mouth to a neighbor that was driving by just saying hi, that I was in a size 12 yippeeee. I am the healthiest I have ever been now because I removed her from my life, sad I know. She had weight issues just like me, buuuuut somehow all her energy was spent trying to make me do what she wanted but couldn't do for herself. Totally backfired!!

Heather_Rider

my mother ruined me from all compliments since she uses compliments to manipulate people. I can't trust anyone now. I rememeber when I lost weight as a kid, she would open her big mouth to a neighbor that was driving by just saying hi, that I was in a size 12 yippeeee. I am the healthiest I have ever been now because I removed her from my life, sad I know. She had weight issues just like me, buuuuut somehow all her energy was spent trying to make me do what she wanted but couldn't do for herself. Totally backfired!!

I never had weight issues as a child, or as an adult either really until i got sick, but ihave also removed family, including my mother from my life (only having to be around her for my children about once every few months or so) and it has made the BEST difference in my life.. its when i actually got the willpower to stop smoking and lose weight. lol Not sad at all.. STRONG!

tonyggd

I started losing weight before using MFP too, what I did was to enter my weights for pre MFP so my ticker actually reads what I have lost since starting dieting not from when I started using MFP.

NeverGivesUp

So when people ask you, smile and and simply say "a lot" and if they push you to name a number, tell them that you are a work in progress!! It really is none of their business (maybe they will learn not to push if you react in that way) and this is for you after all. In regards to the skinny neighbor grrrr I really hate that!! Because she is trying to encourage you to lose more with her condescending comments when all she should say is either nothing or you are looking great!!. But mentioning anything makes you feel like she has been judging you. I only accept compliments from people who I know are honest and don't have an agenda, or from those that want the best for me. So many people do not think before opening their big mouths. Haha I am guilty of that sometimes too though. xxxooo Keep doing what is right for you!! And tell all those judgers to suck it!!

Heather_Rider

I started losing weight before using MFP too, what I did was to enter my weights for pre MFP so my ticker actually reads what I have lost since starting dieting not from when I started using MFP.

thats GREAT, but i really didnt start "dieting" until i started MFP... (and the ONLY reason i got on the scale and started on MFP was to support a friend with her business (shake/protein powder mix) and i *had* to get on a scale to start... lol..

so i have NO idea when those first 13 came off.. hell it could have been 2-3-4 years before.. so IMO, that wouldne seem FAIR. im sure in years to come, when ive lost it all.. ill claim it as my "heaviest versus my "current" - haha- weight.. and say "ive lost a total of...... " but i think for me, for now... it will just be on my ticker. maybe. haha.. ugh. i really hate changing my mind.

patrox247

I was 320 lbs when I started MFP in December. I am now 190 lbs and have 20 more lbs to lose to reach my goal weight. The weight loss is 100% due to MFP because I had never dieted in my life and had no clue how to lose weight. I also don't excercise but am going to start soon. I am not sure if 320 was my heaviest or not because I avoided the scale and didn't want to know how much I weighed before I started MFP.

Molly_Maguire

Well, I was at 142 or something equally horrifying right after I had my baby, but I really don't count that, as there was still enlarged uterus, bleeding, swelling etc (sorry for the TMI, lol). I started keeping track about 2 months postpartum, and I think I was 133. <-- So I go by that.

GeekGirl23

I think about 350 started MFP at 334 in July and am now 303

wahmx3

I would tell them the total lost, not just since joining here. All those other pounds definitely count!

LaColombicana

I tell people the total amount lost before MFP, as well. I agree, every pound we gain or lose counts no matter how others react to it. Remember this is your journey!