Why am I losing weight SO slowly?

76impala67
76impala67 Posts: 3
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey myfitnesspal community! :) I'm a little discouraged in my weight loss at the moment, and I thought I'd ask for some outside opinions on my predicament :)

So back in May, I decided that I wanted to lose some weight. I started off at 160 lbs, (I'm 5'2'') and since May, I've lost 20 lbs, which brings me to 140 lbs now. My goal is 125, which I weighed for a long time before I put the extra weight on, so I know that 125 is a healthy and attainable goal for me. All I need to lose is 15 pounds now! Which is encouraging, but I'm just not losing the weight very fast at all.

It's already taken me a over 4 months to lose 20 lbs, which just isn't fast enough for me. I'd like to be losing 2 pounds a week, ideally, and I just don't know why it's not happening for me! Right now, I'm lucky if I'm losing 1 lb per week. I eat pretty much exactly 1200 calories a day (lots of whole grains, fruits, veggies, lean meats, water - all the good stuff, very little processed), and I exercise 30-60 minutes a day, 6-7 days a week (circuit training, strength training, and occasionally walking). I honestly haven't been eating unhealthy at all, because I actually prefer healthier foods now, and overeating too much or eating processed food makes me feel a little sick. I also work out really consistently because I've really come to enjoy it :)

I'm not losing pounds or inches, and I don't know the cause! My goal is to lose 15 pounds by November, which is still really slow and healthy...it's not like I want rapid weight loss or anything drastic, just normal speed! Am I working out TOO much? Not eating enough? Do I need to incorporate more cardio? Or do I just need to be patient?

Any opinions welcome and very much appreciated!! :):)

Replies

  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    You're averaging more than a pound a week....and you're not happy? Ok.....
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    You're averaging more than a pound a week....and you're not happy? Ok.....

    This was my first thought, too.

    Then I saw that you are very active with your daily exercise, yet you insist on eating just 1200 calories a day. I eat more than that when I am being a lazy azz and not exercising. This week, for example, I average closer to 1400 calories but I haven't done any exercise at all. Are you sure your calorie goal was calculated correctly, or did you just input the numbers into MFP to lose the most amount of weight in the shortest amount of time which typically spits out the number "1200" for everyone?
  • LFG95
    LFG95 Posts: 13
    Well everyone's body is different. You're losing weight at a great and steady pace which is wonderful. Losing too much weight too fast can be unhealthy. Maybe this is just your body's limit without causing harm.
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  • Cindyinpg
    Cindyinpg Posts: 3,902 Member
    If I were you, I would just be patient, 1lb a week is great. You don't have that much left to lose. I do hope you are eating back some or even most of your exercise calories back though.
  • 76impala67
    76impala67 Posts: 3
    Makes sense :) I'm trying to lose the weight in a healthy manner, and I don't want to starve or overwork myself by any means! The only thing is, I'm modeling my progress on the last time I lost a significant amount of weight, 5-ish years ago, when I also went from 160 to 125 lbs (unfortunately, over 5 years, I put the weight back on...which is where I'm at now! I'll maintain better this time, I promise :). I was doing the same amount of exercise then, and had similar eating habits, but I remember losing the weight much faster, at a pace of 2 lbs per week. So I thought it would be doable this time too...I guess I've just changed since then!
  • 76impala67
    76impala67 Posts: 3
    Cindyinpg: Don't worry, I do eat back the exercise calories; I try to keep food and exercise calories balanced at 1200 :) Thank you for your advice!! :)
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  • brandiuntz
    brandiuntz Posts: 2,717 Member
    Be patient and adjust your thinking. You're making great progress. It took me a year to lose my first 20, then another year for the second, etc.

    The closer you are to a goal weight, the slower the weight tends to comes off. The last 10-15 can take the longest because you are very close to a normal weight for your height/size. You might want to think of health goals, or fitness goals, and stop focusing on the scale while you work on the last pounds.Monitor your deficit, and make sure it stays reasonable (not too large or small). You will hit your goal...patience and consistency is what it takes.
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    You need to be ore patient. You didn't gain 2 pounds a week, you shouldn't realistically expect to lose that much,
  • Fit_Natasha
    Fit_Natasha Posts: 83 Member
    The last 5-10 kg is the hardest to loose. I also started in May with 130 lb (I am also 5"2), wasn't loosing much at all at the beginning despite my heavy level of exercising (it was like lost 0.5 lb in a two weeks, then gain another pound after a month). Now it suddenly start sliding down. I was 122.8 this morning and thinking I will probably get to my 115 lb by the end of the year. Take your time. Your body is not the same as it was 5 years ago, so don't expect the same result as you've got 5 years ago. I never had problems to shed 5 kg when I was younger. In fact, I always was +/- 3 kg, and when I would gain 5, I would go on diet and easy loose it. Unfortunately, it doesn't work the same way when you getting older. I also read in Dukan book (don't know if it is true) that you body has tendency to store the memory of you've been fat. According to their calculation (that takes into consideration your lowest and highest weight), I am never going to be 49-50 kg as I used to be. According to them, my goal weight should be 52 kg. I will be happy even with that as long as I can maintain it. Good luck!
  • blueboxgeek
    blueboxgeek Posts: 574 Member
    I think you are going great! I know it's frustrating and you want to be at goal as soon as possible, don't we all! But you are averaging a nice weight loss, just keep doing what you are doing and you will get there.
  • grrrlface
    grrrlface Posts: 1,204 Member
    It took me a year to lose 10lbs, I still stuck at it though, as any progress even if its slow, is progress!

    Don't rush it, just sit back, enjoy your healthy lifestyle and if results happen then its a bonus! :D
  • Hildy_J
    Hildy_J Posts: 1,050 Member
    You have done AMAZINGLY well. It's entirely normal for the weight loss to slow down as you approach goal.

    You're doing great, just keep on!
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    Hey myfitnesspal community! :) I'm a little discouraged in my weight loss at the moment, and I thought I'd ask for some outside opinions on my predicament :)

    So back in May, I decided that I wanted to lose some weight. I started off at 160 lbs, (I'm 5'2'') and since May, I've lost 20 lbs, which brings me to 140 lbs now. My goal is 125, which I weighed for a long time before I put the extra weight on, so I know that 125 is a healthy and attainable goal for me. All I need to lose is 15 pounds now! Which is encouraging, but I'm just not losing the weight very fast at all.

    It's already taken me a over 4 months to lose 20 lbs, which just isn't fast enough for me. I'd like to be losing 2 pounds a week, ideally, and I just don't know why it's not happening for me! Right now, I'm lucky if I'm losing 1 lb per week. I eat pretty much exactly 1200 calories a day (lots of whole grains, fruits, veggies, lean meats, water - all the good stuff, very little processed), and I exercise 30-60 minutes a day, 6-7 days a week (circuit training, strength training, and occasionally walking). I honestly haven't been eating unhealthy at all, because I actually prefer healthier foods now, and overeating too much or eating processed food makes me feel a little sick. I also work out really consistently because I've really come to enjoy it :)

    I'm not losing pounds or inches, and I don't know the cause! My goal is to lose 15 pounds by November, which is still really slow and healthy...it's not like I want rapid weight loss or anything drastic, just normal speed! Am I working out TOO much? Not eating enough? Do I need to incorporate more cardio? Or do I just need to be patient?

    Any opinions welcome and very much appreciated!! :):)

    you shouldnt be so focused on the scale number. I am your same height, and I have much much more to lose. As a matter of fact, I am aiming for 5lbs MORE than you currently weigh! I have only lost 37lbs in 18 months :(

    That being said, the last time I wore a size 14, I weighed a good 20lbs less than I currently do. The only explanation I have is that this time around I am exercising, and actively trying to build muscles. There is no way I will allow myself to be "skinny fat" for the sake of seeing a certain number on the scale.

    My current goal is to get into a size 8, and I would like to weigh 145lbs or less.
  • tavinsmom
    tavinsmom Posts: 101
    I'd be excited if I was losing as fast as you! I've only lost 31 since the beginning of the year and I have a lot more to lose than you. I think you are doing great.

    Did you put all the weight on in 6 months? If not, just give it time. 2 lbs a week a your weight seems way to high.
  • doubglass
    doubglass Posts: 314 Member
    Slower weight loss=less likely to regain weight. Understand that it is important to change habits and loose slowly. Rapid weight loss means you are more likely to binge or revert to old eating habits. To keep the weight off you need to change lifestyle and habits--don't think of MFP as a diet plan it is a control tool that you can use for the rest of your life.

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