Any Slow Weight Loss Success Stories?

I have 40ish pounds left to lose but am not forcing myself to lose it all in a certain amount of time. Just working away at it slowly so I look smokin when I get married 4 or 5 years down the road. lol
Since May 1st I have lost 17.8lbs and although it has been slow, it has been a total lifestyle makeover, not just a quick fix. And that feels amazing:) I have gone from XL/L to L/M.
A few years back, I lost 35 lbs over the course of about 3 months and felt pretty bad. I lost the weight too fast, I guess my body couldn't adjust. I had never fainted before but had fainted 3 times, was always cold, and to make the worst of it, within a couple years I had put it all back on plus 10 lbs!!
My advice, take it slow, you will get there and will be more likely to stay there!

<i>XL/L to L/M. </i>

Sometimes this is the best inspiration. Mine started quick but has really slowed down, and I am also really active now. However, I was getting frustrated with myself when I had two NSVS. I could fit into all my sisters medium sized clothes & look good in them, and I bought a pair of jeans from a store that I used to be a 15/16 in, and I fit into a 9/10 comfortably. Sometimes it really isnt the number.

strongmindstr, I suggest reading some of the interesting articles and comments regarding macros and calorie needs. Cutting your calorie total even more is probably not the correct answer for you. (Especially if you feel like crap. :frown: ) Don't be afraid to experiment with macro percentages, possibly changing your setting of normal activity level (sedentary/light/moderate) and even INCREASING your daily calorie count. But most of all always be honest with yourself and track every bite. When I tried MFP before I cheated MYSELF by not counting every bite. [notice I joined in Nov. 2012] This time everything that goes into the "pie hole" gets counted :laugh: and it is making a difference. [my weight loss is just in the last 2 months] Keep going! 1 lb a week is awesome, ANY amount lost is a win!

Hello, I have been on a weight loss journey for about a year and and half. It has been slow, but I am alomost down 70 pounds. You know the old saying: "Slow and steady wins the race." Also by losing slower, it will also help prevent regain and it helps with not having as much excess skin. I have found that the combination of high-protein low carb has done wonders for me and combining it with circuit training and cardio is best. Good luck and feel free to add me if you want

I've lost 18lbs since 4/11/2013. I don't know what's "normal" vs "healthy" vs "slow" weight loss; but for me it's slow. Of ocurse, I'd love to just have the weight fall off (I am working hard at it), but intellectually I know better. I didn't gain the weight quickly... but over time and neglect. So over time I must work to get it off. Stay the course. Besides, I hear slow weight loss is more permanent anyway. You can do it!

For me, I visit the "Success Stories" community board almost daily for a dose of inspiration to keep me motivated.

I started on January 1st and I've lost 31 pounds so far:/

I've been in since May as well. I've done the yoyo thing over the past few years. Last year lost 17 lb for my son's wedding and gained it back plus some. This time I want to do it slow and effect lasting change. For the last 4 weeks I've been maintaining and am starting to lose again. I'm more active and have more energy as a result and feel much better. Lesson learned, less is more, slow and steady is better. Good luck on your journey. Feel free to friend me.

Me! I've been on myfitnesspal for almost 3 years. I was at 53 lbs lost in January, but I had foot surgery and gained back around 8 lbs. Currently, I've lost 49 lbs. My starting goal was 60 lbs, which would put me at 145 lbs. I'm thinking that once I reach that goal, I will work on toning up, more than cardio. I have had some bumps along the road- foot surgery, planning a wedding, 2 moves, etc. I'm happy with my progress so far, and I believe that losing it this way will help me to develop a healthy lifestyle, rather than viewing it as a short-term diet plan.

Yes, it's taken me a year to lose 32 lbs doing it the slow and steady way! On average I'm losing about 10 lbs every 4-5 months and have set my goal to lose 1/2 lb a week. So far I'm on track and have about 13 lbs left to go till I surpass my goal weight and hit my "better than that" weight which is 5 lbs under my goal weight. That will allow for any sudden weight gain after I start into maintenance.

I tell ya this is the best way to do it. Just have patience. The rewards far outweigh the waiting.

It took me about 15 years to gain the 60 pounds I needed to lose. I started my weightloss journey about 9 years ago, and I need to lose about 15 more pounds to make my goal. I feel like if it takes me 15 years to lose the weight it took me to gain in 15 years, I'm doing a fanstastic job. Besides, slow weight loss has kept me from having a lot of baggy, loose skin, and my stretch marks - which will never completely disappear - are becoming much less noticeable. Never, ever give up. This is not a race, but a journey that should last a lifetime.

Oh man, this is such a relief to read. I've been on MFP just about 3 months and have lost about 5 pounds. I'm trying to lose very slowly, at a pace of about half a pound a week- my goal is to lose about 55 or 60 pounds over a 2 year period. I'm hoping slow gradual changes will make it easier for me to continue with a healthier lifestyle in the future. (also might give my skin more time to rebound- fingers crossed!) I try to start with small manageable goals, then once I've mastered them, move on. Right now I'm working on at least an hour of cardio exercise a week, in addition to the bodyweight training I've been doing.

Keep it up, everyone! This is a slow, steady push. As my wonderful friends remind me, we just have to keep doing what we're doing and the results will come.

I joined MFP in January of 2012, and am down 47 pounds, with 13 to go. I'm okay with that, because I have done a lot of living in the past 20 months! Times when I made good choices, and times when I've made not-so-good choices. I can run 3 miles now, and am stronger than before. Last month I went for a bike ride with my BFF, and she noticed how much more balanced and confident I am on my bike than I was last summer. So I've lost weight, but gained a lot more! I'll get to my ultimate goal weight, when I get there!

I consider myself a relatively "fit" person but have been in the "overweight" category for my height for a while now (160lbs @ 5'4") some of this can be attributed to muscle mass (got the quads and *kitten*, and have always had them) but I know some is the layer of fat, which is what I'm trying to get rid of. I'm not going for gigantic leaps and bounds, I know I probably won't ever be able to maintain @ 130lbs so my goal is 148. I just want to be under 150.

I joined in May, but didn't keep track on here in June and July because of a busy field season ( I study birds- long, early, hard days- not much time to log onto websites). I'm down 2 lbs. I've been concentrating mostly on watching my calories and running (some situps and pushups but I'm waiting to get into a good rhythm before I start strength-training again... like I said I've already got the muscles).

So here I sit- at 160. I've been weighing myself with all the running the past couple weeks (3-6 mile runs/4 times a week) but no change. It does look like I'm losing a little belly fat- which makes me feel sexier and goodness knows sex is a good workout too!

I'm concentrating on feeling good and getting in a rhythm, despite what the scale says- I feel good!

I don't really consider a lb a week slow. I lost 85 lbs in about 18 months. :bigsmile:

Glad to hear you're all making it work. I've been here since late May and WAS enjoying taking the slower route. Been averaging a lb a week loss. But recently I had to cut calories even further to get the scale moving again and it's taking a toll on my body. Busting my butt for 1 lb a week is annoying sometimes. I want to lose 89 more lbs and would like to reach goal before I get gray hairs, lol.

Yup, slow route definitely. My challenge this year has been trying to budge my weight loss/inches loss while heavy lifting and dealing with the hormonal fluctuations that happen as women age. I'm stronger than I have ever been, and seeing strength gains, but nothing else. I took a quick look at your diary, sure you've heard this before, but sodium really disguises weight loss, maybe lowering sodium intake rather than caloric would serve you better--at least you'd feel better!