Only 1lb off this week and feeling disappointed

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plinkityplonk
plinkityplonk Posts: 30
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm still very new to MFP and the whole calorie counting thing. I started about 2.5 weeks ago now. The first weigh in I did was last Friday and I'd lost 5lbs which I was very happy about. Did my 2nd weigh in this morning and I've only lost a further 1lb and I'm feeling disappointed.

I expected more to come off in the first week so wasn't expecting 5lbs again but I was hoping for 2lbs as all my numbers in MFP are set up for a steady 2lbs a week weight loss.

My calorie goal is 1400 and I have been exercising every day (swimming twice a week, wii fit for between 30mins - 1 hour every day and the 30 day shred every day for past week). I have consistently ended the day under my overall calorie goal.

I've been eating very healthily, have increased my intake of fruit and vegetables and have been taking multivitamins and iron as well as calcium supplements every day. My only junky food has been a little bit of chocolate on 2 of the days when my calories were way below goal and I just ate a small amount.

I drink only water most days (no tea or coffee and only the occasional diet coke when I take my Grandad to the pub). I have been struggling to drink full 8 glasses a day though working on this.

I started out at 19st 8lb (274 lbs) and am now 19st 2lbs (268lbs) and am around 5'7.

Should I be concerned that this week is just a 1lb loss instead of intended 2lbs or just chalk it up to a bad week (though I thought I'd done well?!). I really would like to achieve my goal of 2lbs a week loss and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

Any advice/tips?
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Replies

  • AlphamaleBAMF
    AlphamaleBAMF Posts: 373 Member
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    Your body is going to do what it wants and the weight will come off in whatever fashion it chooses. There really is no set forumla for weight loss. I think the 3,500 calories : 1lb of body fat rule is just a guideline.

    I went about a month and only lost 2 kg. And then I've lost 5kg this week.

    You should be happy, you lost 6 lbs in 2 weeks. And if your expectations are more than that you should lower them and take each positive step as it is. A victory in a single battle in the war against your weight.
  • debst24
    debst24 Posts: 3 Member
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    it's not a bad week if you lost a pound, it's a bad week if you gain a pound, plus if you work it out 6 pounds in 2 weeks is pretty darn good nearly half a stone :)
  • Tank_Girl
    Tank_Girl Posts: 372 Member
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    Im finding the weight drops off every 2-3wks with me... I didnt put the weight on overnight and i wont lose it overnight
  • fstephanie4
    fstephanie4 Posts: 196 Member
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    I understand where you are coming from. I only lost 0.4 lbs one week and it is upsetting. However, I've changed my view on weight loss which I was totally not expecting. I saw my 0.4lbs gone as a loss and I was happy that I lost it!
    Whether it is 1lbs or 10lbs, positive thinking that it is a loss will help. And then it gives you motivation for next weigh in.

    I said right...I lost 0.4 this week I will lose 1.4 next week and so on. Positively looking at it as a loss is difficult but if you master it then you will always smile on the scales :)

    Hope that helps.

    Feel free to add for support.
  • bradphil87
    bradphil87 Posts: 617 Member
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    Im finding the weight drops off every 2-3wks with me... I didnt put the weight on overnight and i wont lose it overnight
    I've noticed this too. On weeks that I don't lose, the following week (it's taken a few weeks before) it comes off in a chunk, like 2 lbs. one time almost 3! So I wouldn't be disappointed, and to be honest, I'd love to be losing a pound a week again lol but it slows down a bit when you get closer and closer. Makes those 1 lb a week drops look awsome :)
  • ElleBee66
    ElleBee66 Posts: 128 Member
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    I'm still very new to MFP and the whole calorie counting thing. I started about 2.5 weeks ago now. The first weigh in I did was last Friday and I'd lost 5lbs which I was very happy about. Did my 2nd weigh in this morning and I've only lost a further 1lb and I'm feeling disappointed.

    I expected more to come off in the first week so wasn't expecting 5lbs again but I was hoping for 2lbs as all my numbers in MFP are set up for a steady 2lbs a week weight loss.

    My calorie goal is 1400 and I have been exercising every day (swimming twice a week, wii fit for between 30mins - 1 hour every day and the 30 day shred every day for past week). I have consistently ended the day under my overall calorie goal.

    I've been eating very healthily, have increased my intake of fruit and vegetables and have been taking multivitamins and iron as well as calcium supplements every day. My only junky food has been a little bit of chocolate on 2 of the days when my calories were way below goal and I just ate a small amount.

    I drink only water most days (no tea or coffee and only the occasional diet coke when I take my Grandad to the pub). I have been struggling to drink full 8 glasses a day though working on this.

    I started out at 19st 8lb (274 lbs) and am now 19st 2lbs (268lbs) and am around 5'7.

    Should I be concerned that this week is just a 1lb loss instead of intended 2lbs or just chalk it up to a bad week (though I thought I'd done well?!). I really would like to achieve my goal of 2lbs a week loss and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

    Any advice/tips?

    No, you don't need to be concerned - the two pounds a week is the average weight loss you are aiming for and with 6 pounds in two weeks you have averaged 3lbs - so that's great. I find that I lose 2 or 3 lbs about every three weeks at this stage (I have lost 70 ish lbs). Weight loss is not linear for some/most people. I have weeks when I don't lose but when I look back over my entire time at MFP I am averaging about 1.5lb a week. Keep going and it will happen - but don't fall into the trap of expecting a big loss every week and then being disappointed if you don't get it and then falling off the wagon.

    Good luck, well done and keep going.
  • Lonewolf1507
    Lonewolf1507 Posts: 507 Member
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    As you have just started then the first week will give a larger jump than what you can expect all the time. Also you have added extra exercises to your weekly programme, this might increase water retention which will reduce weight loss.

    As Debs said, a loss of any kind is a good week, a gain is a bad week.

    Good luck with your goals, you might want to set mini targets and set treats for yourself when you reach them.

    Andy
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
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    There's nothing special about "1 week". Look at it as a total loss of 6 lbs - which is great, keep at it!
  • ElleBee66
    ElleBee66 Posts: 128 Member
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    There's nothing special about "1 week". Look at it as a total loss of 6 lbs - which is great, keep at it!

    This!

    (I have gained 4 lbs this 'week' - so I am begging for this to be true! lol)
  • TheGeordie
    TheGeordie Posts: 24
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    Your body is going to do what it wants and the weight will come off in whatever fashion it chooses. There really is no set forumla for weight loss. I think the 3,500 calories : 1lb of body fat rule is just a guideline.

    I went about a month and only lost 2 kg. And then I've lost 5kg this week.

    You should be happy, you lost 6 lbs in 2 weeks. And if your expectations are more than that you should lower them and take each positive step as it is. A victory in a single battle in the war against your weight.

    Wise words ^^
  • chatterbox3110
    chatterbox3110 Posts: 630 Member
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    You're doing great - 6lbs in 2 weeks is brilliant.

    If you've ever watched the Biggest Loser TV series, you will recall that quite often, week 2 is known as the week of gloom as the inital brilliant losses are invariably followed by a week of very little loss, despite the whole change in lifestyle and massive increase in exercise.

    As someone else has already mentioned in relation to irregular losses, I also have similar issues - I can go a couple of weeks without losing, then get a fantastic loss, but as time has passed I've come to realise this is the way my body works in relation to my new lifestyle (I don't see this as a diet anymore) and overall I'm averaging out exactly where I want to be.

    The secret is not to give up, but to put any disappointments behind you and look forward to new directions.

    Good luck on your journey.
  • JoanFalk
    JoanFalk Posts: 3
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    Don't get down I have a feeling that you may have gained some muscle. And that would be a good thing. I use to weigh 236 now I am at 139. I have lost 124 lbs of fat. and gained 15 lbs of muscle. be careful do let let you body go into starvation mode. you will lose muscle and gain fat YES! your body will start turning your muscle into fat. Hang in there nothing great ever comes with out hard work. That first week you may have also lost alot of water. And always remember there will be weeks when you fail. Forgiver yourself and go on. Get right back on the horse and continue!!! you well get there JoanFalk
  • Poods71
    Poods71 Posts: 502 Member
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    Any loss is good. As long as I am consistently losing then I'm happy. I did everything right this week and put on 0.10lb so I would have been over the moon with 1lb loss. You are doing everything right, stick with it and you will get the results that you want.
  • dakotababy
    dakotababy Posts: 2,406 Member
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    I had this exact thing happen to me at my 2 week weigh in. The first week I lost 7lbs (yeah thats a lot of water!) and then the next week I lost 1lb. I was disappointed, but continued onto week 3. At week 3, i lost another 3lbs! Keep your cycle in mind as well as this will add weight gain/water retention for about 1 week out of the month. :D Great job on the 6lb loss!
  • ebony__
    ebony__ Posts: 519 Member
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    If I lost 1lb a week I would be estatic.
    I have my goal at 2lbs a week.
    I log meticulously and exercise 4 times a week and dot wear back my exercise calories
    I'm lactose intolerent so I'm not eating dairy
    And I eat very clean and 'healthy' 95 % of the time .
    And I'm big and have a lot to lose so it's not that


    And im NOT usually losing as much as a lb a week
    6lbs in two weeks is fantastic
    Keep it up xx
  • discoqueen73
    discoqueen73 Posts: 24
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    Do not feel disappointed!!

    You have to get into a mindset of anything lost is a complete result :smile:

    My first weigh in is on Monday and my fear is that I will either be the same or put on which will be severely demotivatiing but I will keep on going!!

    I think you are doing everything right and like everyone says - 6lbs in 2 weeks is amazing work!

    Keep the faith :flowerforyou:
  • triskaidekaphile13
    triskaidekaphile13 Posts: 92 Member
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    I log my weight and waist measurements on TactioHealth on my iPhone as it links to my FitBit (I love getting a gold cup award for steps and workout!). I can see from my graph there that my weight loss isn't at all linear but as long as that orange trend line is going downwards, I'm happy. I lose in chunks and then plateau and then lose in chunks. I've recently started on Couch to 5K. I'm doing the NHS free podcast version and finished week two this morning. I'm finding it's really helping me to get in touch with how my body feels and despite being red faced and aching, I'm really enjoying seeing progress.
  • plinkityplonk
    plinkityplonk Posts: 30
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    Thanks everyone!

    Don't get me wrong, I AM happy that it's a loss (hey a loss is a loss right?!) and I fully wasn't expecting to lose as much as the first week as I know that's unrealistic, I had just been hoping for 2lbs.

    I'm not expecting overnight miracles or anything - I know this will be a long process and I'm prepared for that I think. It is TOM right now so I also know that may have something to do with it. I also have PCOS so I don't know if that may also affect the rate at which I can lose weight (this means I don't have a very regular cycle - I'm hoping losing weight may help with this).

    Definitely going to keep going, really want to shift the weight now and feel comfortable with myself. I think that's why I was disappointed with just 1lb down! Reassuring to know that's not actually bad. DH tried to show me with a tub of margerine how much 1lb of fat actually is and when it's presented like that it does actually look like quite a bit!

    Would love some new MFP friends if anyone want to add me?
  • plinkityplonk
    plinkityplonk Posts: 30
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    I've recently started on Couch to 5K. I'm doing the NHS free podcast version and finished week two this morning. I'm finding it's really helping me to get in touch with how my body feels and despite being red faced and aching, I'm really enjoying seeing progress.

    I've not heard of this - am off to google...
  • lacroyx
    lacroyx Posts: 5,754 Member
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    Any advice/tips?

    Patience. I dropped 30 lbs. my 1st week when I started back in Dec. 2009. It was mostly water weight....well in my case I say soda weight since I never drank water before. :laugh: I was almost 500 lbs. The more you have to lose, the faster you will drop. Did I repeat that the following week? Of course not. Was I disappointed? No. I didn't expect to lose that much to begin with the 1st week and I didn't have anymore double digit losses until 8 months later when I dropped 10 lbs. in one week.

    Unless you are super big like me, it's actually better to have small drops per week. Also I don't know if you are but I believe it's important to do monthly measurements. The scale will never tell the whole story. Just because you don't drop any weight for 1 month, doesn't mean you are not making progress in other ways. I think lack of patience is one of the biggest downfalls for people here. Progress slows down, people get mad, fusterated and give up without realizing that slow progress is still progress.

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