Exercise Question

rcaruthie
rcaruthie Posts: 28 Member
in Motivation and Support
I am a big girl with about 100lbs or more to lose. I have been faithfully walking 5 times a week - I do at least 2 to 3 miles each night at a very brisk speed of about 3.5 - sometimes I even jog. I started MFP just over a month ago (almost 6 weeks) and I have only lost 21 lbs. I am eating about 2000 calories per day -and I have seen posts of people losing eating that many calories but for some reason I dont seem to be losing very fast. Or is this all in my head and I am doing fine? Should I cut down on my calories? On the weekends I walk/job about 6-8 miles each day and this weekend plan on taking out my bike and dusting it off.

Just wanted to get some opinions...this is a lifestyle change for me and I want to do what is right.

Replies

  • demorelli
    demorelli Posts: 508 Member
    21 lb in 6 weeks? Is that a mistype?
  • weatheredcheese
    weatheredcheese Posts: 112 Member
    21lbs in six weeks is pretty good, just over 3lb a week. On average a weight loss of 1-2lb a week is good, any more is great.
  • Arkie_Ali
    Arkie_Ali Posts: 106 Member
    21 lbs in 6 weeks is excellent progress!
  • meglynne1987
    meglynne1987 Posts: 382 Member
    21 pounds in 6 weeks? You should be proud!
  • javajinny
    javajinny Posts: 78
    You are doing amazingly! I had 150 pounds to lose; now I have about 65. It took 8 years to put on that 150; it's ok if it take 2 or 3 years to take it off. 21lbs in 6 weeks is fantastic. You don't want to lose more than 2 or 3 pounds a week; you've got to give your skin time to shrink. Haha
  • PhearlessPhreaks
    PhearlessPhreaks Posts: 890 Member
    At the risk of being redundant 21lbs in 6 weeks is awesome. Mathmatically, you've lost 3.5lbs a week. That's ridiculously awesome. Bear in mind, you won't continue to lose at that rate- because you have a lot to lose, you'll initially lose quicker than someone who only needs to lose 20lbs, but as you lose weight, it will start coming off slower. The important thing is to stick with it and not get discouraged when the scale doesn't move for a week.

    My advice: in addition to weighing yourself, be conscious of how your clothes feel; take measurements. Also, if you haven't already, start incorporating strength training. While the scale won't always move in the direction you want, as you strengthen your body, you'll notice changes in how clothes look and feel on you.

    As an example: I am currently 20lbs heavier than I was before I got pregnant with my 1st child, and am 25wks pregnant with my 2nd; howver, I've been working out regularly (strength training and cardio) and despite being pregnant and having gained 5lbs, I am able to fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans (the legs, hips and butt, my preggo belly makes them uncomfortable), and I'm wearing maternity shirts a size smaller than my regular size pre-pregnancy. If I were to go by the scale alone, I should be 2 sizes up from what I was pre-preggo. But primarily due to strength training, my body is reshaping itself for the better.

    Best of Luck to you!
  • rcaruthie
    rcaruthie Posts: 28 Member
    Thank you everyone for the feedback. I guess I wasn't looking at it correctly and yes I have made a lot of progress and my clothes do feel better. I even feel like my shadow when walking looks like it is changing too. That sounds funny to type - but my shadow is changing. LOL

    I am excited to start strength training...I lost track of myself while raising 3 beautiful girls alone, finishing my education (Master's degree) and working full time. I used to exercise all of the time...then I found beer (now wine) never drank until I was almost 30 and that was my downfall.

    Thanks for the words of encouragement.

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