Yes - it DOES get harder...

TheViperMan

Time for more fun with Excel (and Photoshop, too!)

I posted this graph first in mid-October, showing how my weight loss had been pretty consistent even when I thought I was frequently "plateauing"...

Well I've kept the spreadsheet up to date with each new weight-loss entry on MFP, and the information is pretty interesting.

I definitely started slowing in weight loss around the holidays. I blame some of that on the Holidays themselves, but not all. I did get a bit relaxed on my eating and - most significantly - drinking (of alcohol that is.) I also had a big weight drop right after Christmas due to eating hospital food for nearly a week (see profile pic...)

Anyways, here's the newest graph:



You can see the average dropping off substantially just before Thanksgiving. I brought it back up just a bit recently (.13 on 1/16) but should be less than I weigh currently, so I know it'll drop back down.

Thing is, I'm close to my goal - about 21 pounds or so left to go. So honestly this is what I expect to be seeing, but it's a bit tough to swallow. I was really hoping to be DONE by January, then I was hoping April, and now this says July... Poop...

Anyways, enjoy, discuss, ask questions like "How did you get that MFP logo in there?!?" and have a nice day.

TheViperMan

Hmm, not sure why it cropped my graph... Lemme try something and then I'll edit...

Edit: Fixed...

BeachGingerOnTheRocks

As the weight drops, the BMR drops, the TDEE drops, and calories need to be adjusted accordingly if the person wants to continue a speedy rate of decrease. A person who weighs 249 pounds is going to have a higher energy expenditure than a person who weighs 170. It's science.

But slowing the weight loss as you approach your goal isn't a bad thing. People who succeed in keeping weight off adjust better to a permanent reduction in calories, permanent increase in activity, etc. this way. It doesn't need to be a rush to the goal line. If you rush to goal and are hungry, aren't you less likely to stay at goal than if you take it slower and let your body adjust to the changes?

cubbies77

I've heard from a lot of people who say the last 10-20 pounds are the hardest because the pace slows so much.

On the same token, even though I'm sure I'll be frustrated trying to go from 170-ish to 157, I'll (hopefully) be so happy to be back to my high school weight range and able to ride roller coasters that honey badger won't care.

You've done very well so far!

castell5

I reached my goal in November, and was very happy, then wanted it to be lower, so I adjusted my goal and now I have reached that and again, I find myself thinking.. a little lower... but really I should be saying you did it, you did good, now carefully, carefully, learn to maintain it. This is the hurdle, not the last few pounds.

nxd10

My weight loss graphs look very similar, although I hit the holidays within 12 pounds of my goal. But now I'm within 5!

Maybe like you, I relaxed my attitude a little. I still hit my calorie goals, still logged everything, but I could feel a change in attitude and I did eat some things that were definitely less healthy, even if the cals were okay. I only lost a pound between Thanksgiving and New Years. Good news was that I got back on my normal eating and dropped 5 pounds in two weeks.

I thought I was at the 'last 10 pounds are the hardest' zone. But what I think is happening is that there are weights that my body easily maintained for years at a time - 170-175, 165-168, and 152-155. Every time I hit those zones coming down I just stick there for a long time before suddenly dropping. That's what happened here. I hit 172 and just sit there a month. Then plummeted 5 pounds. His 163 and just sat there a month, then plummeted. I still seem to be dropping quickly, hopefully towards that 150-155 zone where I hope to stop.

My doctor told me at my physical today that she thought I should level off around now, but was okay with me going to 150, but not lower. It has been MANY years since a doctor told me to STOP losing weight!

IronGirlShae

It gets harder in some ways, but also easier. Eating less is getting a lot easier for me, and exercise is getting easier too. I know that with my injuries and health issues I'll never be able to do crazy weights/running 5 hours like some of the really fit people on here, but I am amazed at what I can already do just 2 months in! Knowing how much easier being healthy can be makes me hope that this will continue for the rest of my life. I pray I'll never have to look at the scale and tell myself "Well...time to lose 60 pounds" ever again!

TheViperMan

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't really griping about the results - just sharing the data, really.

My biggest problem remains time-management. It's not that I can't manage my time, I just don't have enough!!

With two jobs, our first baby, family visiting, and a home to maintain (through this terrible weather,) I just have zero spare minutes in the day for things like exercise and such.

I'm still hoping I can pick up the pace here at some point, but as it's been all along, time will tell.

And if NOTHING else, I'm really glad to have gotten this far!

prokomds

I love the graphs!

Congrats on maintaining a pretty awesome rate of weight loss over a long period of time, that's a huge success

And yeah, being near your goal is rough. I started out in June wanting to lose 15 pounds, and six months later I've lost about 10 of those 15

But realistically, I've really backed off from focusing on pounds. More important to me are the inches lost around my stomach, the increased energy I have now, etc etc. Do you take measurements and chart them? As you get closer to your goal, there may be weeks/months where you don't lose pounds, but the inches could still slowly be shifting. You could face frustration in the future because you're not looking at all of the relevant information, just a warning! But it sounds like you've got a really awesome handle on things. Good luck!