The Things No One Tells You About Weight Loss
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That your boobs will change, and not always in the direction you prefer1
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Love this and everyone's inputs. I can relate to so many. Saving for later when I'm feeling down about my weight or lack of exercise or something else one day.0
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Bookmarking for future reference.0
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That everyone will start treating you differently, better... And it'll feel good only until you start to think about why and ask yourself what they honestly used to think of you... :frown:1
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I learned that I had to research putting together a well balance prepared meal. Impulse eating was all I did. I still get to eat but I've swapped out processed, trans fatty, greasy, sugary, empty calories for vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. I feel so much better throughout the day.0
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That everyone's skeleton and frame size are different.0
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I'm just starting to learn that it's a lot easier to approach weight loss from a very scientific "if I do x, y will happen" approach than the old emotional approach I've unfortunately used in the past. The farther removed I can get from the process emotionally speaking, the easier it is for me to not get bummed out and keep going no matter what each individual day brings.
Totally agree with this! For me, the more I don't think about it and just distance myself mentally from the process, the easier it is. I don't have cravings, I don't care what others eat around me, I'm not even tempted. Its been 2 whole months - the longest I've ever maintained a diet - and I'm still going strong!0 -
For me, it was that being successful can sometimes be scary. Almost every time I lose 10 pounds, I go back up. Being heavy my whole life means I don't know any other way and that's terrifying!
OMGosh THIS! It took me over three months to finally break the 350 barrier...Every time I would get close (within one week's normal loss away) I would gain and go back up. I was ecstatic when I finally went under 350. Now I'm stuck at 340 (even though I already went under, it just went back over). I've always been overweight. The only time I was even close to 'normal' was when I was 7 and I was sick (we're talking barely being able to keep down water, chicken soup, crackers, and popcicles during the day, and then being up all night long puking it back up) for months on end. It's been somewhat scary to think that I just *might* not be obese or overweight forever...Much more so than I originally thought.
How EMOTIONAL the journey has been...I'd venture to say that it's more emotional that physical. And the constant roller coaster of up/down scale or measurements is frustrating. Even though it's trending downwards, it still is emotionally exhausting.
That I could actually LIKE exercise. I used to hate the very idea of moving or sweating. Now I love that endorphin high, but even that is sometimes not enough to make me get off my butt to go workout.
How frustrating it is when you KNOW you should/shouldn't do something, and you do/don't do it anyway!
The three types of people's reactions to my weight loss and shrinking size: 1) Genuine (if not misguided) compliments (ie Oh you look so skinny in that! It's such a slimming color), 2) Back-handed compliments (ie thinly veiled insults such as 'Oh you will be such a catch when you lose the weight'), 3) Cold shoulder (ie refusing to even acknowledge that I exist and/or that I've dropped 4 dress sizes).
How everyone and their third cousin twice removed, once they find out that I'm trying to lose weight, has advice on how I should go about losing. What to eat, how much to eat, what supplements/shakes/whatever else, when to sleep, how much to sleep, weird folk remedies (not kidding on this one).
How jealousy can begin to tear two people apart to the point that one will try to discourage the other from doing things they know they need to do. (Purposefully vague...)
New foods that I previously 'didn't like' are now my favorites! (Bell peppers!)0 -
This^^^ I am the smallest I've been in 8 years and I still see the double chin in the mirror even though it's not really there anymore.That it takes a lot longer for your self-image to catch up to your actual image.0 -
Before MFP, nobody told me that the non-scale victories could be as rewarding and worth celebrating more than the number on the scale. I'm a sucker for a good NSV. :laugh:0
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That I don't have to be a cardio bunny.
That I don't have to eat my lettuce and be sad.
That there is no magical formula of no carbs and micro greens that I have to eat.
That pills are all a scam. So is "diet food" and 100 cal. packs.
That I can move my body around doing things I enjoy, and eat all the foods I love, and lose weight. All I had to do was move more (and more often) and eat to live, instead of overstuffing myself like I was trying to win a contest.
:laugh: :flowerforyou:0 -
That everyone will start treating you differently, better... And it'll feel good only until you start to think about why and ask yourself what they honestly used to think of you... :frown:
It really does make me ask myself that sometimes .. lol
And it's not even just people that know you. Strangers, too.
When I was overweight, I could be standing at the road, waiting to cross for thirty minutes. Now, someone is always bound to let me cross after just a few. Waiters, cashiers, peers in class... It really does make you wonder. The irony is, if people were nicer before, my confidence would have been higher before and the weight loss journey would have been smoother. No one tells you this, definitely.
No one tells you how hard it is to adjust to your new size. When you gain weight, it feels as though it happens slowly. When you lose it... even if it happens slowly, it feels like it *doesn't* (argh, so many words forgotten in this post) takes forever. So when you get to maintaining, you will often feel pleasantly surprised by your reflection.0 -
For me it's day by day, meal by meal, seeing results takes forever....0
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That everyone will start treating you differently, better... And it'll feel good only until you start to think about why and ask yourself what they honestly used to think of you... :frown:
This. Also, some of these people can be very cruel to fat people. I've heard plenty of complaining and mean comments from fat people about thin people and thin people about fat people since I've been on both sides, but some of the most cruel things I've witnessed have been from people who've lost a lot of weight and suddenly hate all fat people for not doing the same.0 -
AMEN!That it takes a lot longer for your self-image to catch up to your actual image.0 -
that you can actually get tired of people noticeing your weight loss0
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That one could have so much energy from eating less food, than one has ever attempted their entire life.
That one can be so committed to a lifestyle in so short a time
That what counts is never giving up, no matter how many times one tried in the past, because one day, one solitary, blissful day..something might just click.
This! It really IS that easy.. and it DOES click when you figure out how easy it is and that you've failed over and over because you were not making it easy!0 -
That eating food when you are hungry tastes So Good! I went months never really being hungry because I ate all the time.
It feels really good not to have a stomach ache from overeating.
Some people who want you to lose weight also try to sabotage by constantly offering snacks. Does not make sense.
It's harder to go out with girl friends for dinner and drinks if one of the friends is overweight.
Lastly.. So obvious but it really finally sunk in.. This is for life and for my health. Not a short term thing to get into smaller clothes.0 -
that what you think you will look like at a certian weight very rarely happens even if you've been that weight before...
I am smaller than my prepregnancy weight and I know I've had a baby but I don't remember my hips being this small even then....
Our body changes a lot carrying excess weight around...
ETA: oh and I am bigger than I was in High school and in a smaller size (I can fit into my prom dress with room) 20 years later...so losing weight at this age has been a benefit as I did it correctly this time and lost more fat than I did muscle.0 -
That you can drop a dress size after loosing 5lbs when you incorporate exercise and not just diet.
That to succeed I need to focus on my needs and not everyone elses.
That I can do things that I never thought I would ever be capable of.
That having achy muscles gives me great satisfaction.
That time and perseverance is the key and not faddy diets.0 -
Someone already mentioned it but I'm always surprised how cold I am. Not sure if it's the smaller body, the lack of food in my system, or the ratio of water to food in my body, but I have to wear layers to work every day.0
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that you won't quickly adjust to your body changes. Once i went to put my hands on my hips and it actually felt weird to have to bring my hands in further in (or closer?) than they had been when my hips were wider.0
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That after losing 50-60 lbs people say, "you look too skinny," but I still feel overweight and want to lose more... A bunch of people nailed it with saying the mind and your perception of how you look now comes much later0
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That 1lb per week really is a good target to aim for at the beginning. Like everyone else I put in lose 2lb per week. Of course I ended up averaging 1lb anyway, especially once I realised the error of my ways and upped the calorie target :laugh:
Bacon sandwich are ok on a "diet" and anything else, so long as it fits into your daily calories.
Exercising is fun if you find the right activities. Going to the gym is not a horrible chore any more.
Losing weight is simple, it just requires a lot of planning to make sure you stay on track.1 -
Great responses by everyone.That one day you will be sitting and randomly cross your legs.. WAIT! That's possible now?
This happened to me recently and it took me a few seconds to realize what I was doing. I'd just gotten out of the habit of even trying.that you can actually get tired of people noticeing your weight loss
Heck yeah.That it takes a lot longer for your self-image to catch up to your actual image.
So very true. People were noticing my weight loss (had been a secret) around thirty pounds. I didn't see it until at least forty. I didn't see any change in my face until I stuck a before MFP shot and one at 50 lbs side by side and was amazed. I'm just starting to actually look at pics of myself and not be repulsed. And even post a few. That's big for me (no pun intended).
I learned that people can "compliment" you and you can be amazed at the rude and/or stupid things that come out of their mouths. I keep meaning to write them down.
That I have a lot of food police and that I can say "yes, it's real chocolate and no, I'm not on a diet" several times in a work shift.
That I can like lifting and that doing a "big girl" pushup is empowering.
That I don't have to pretend to buckle my seatbelt on the flight or have the buckle digging a hole in my thigh. And not to have to slide the buckle all the way to the end to do so.
That I don't have to use the barcode scanner in secret when I'm eating at a work party.
That the word "skinny" is not attractive in the slightest. Fit, thin, healthy ... yes.
That my clothes don't need to be baggy and it's okay for my shirt to actually touch all sides of my body.
That I can run a mile without a creepy clown with a knife chasng me and actually like it. And I can climb 25 feet up a pole and walk across a log with just a harness. That walking daily is both physically and mentally rewarding.
That my MFP friends (none of whom I know personally) are super supportive and the ones I prefer to go to for both the good and bad parts of this whole thing.
And finally - that it's possible to change habits, lifestyles, food, exercise, mindsets etc for the long term. :flowerforyou:1 -
My tattoos would shrink or become deformed. My midnight tattoo (my pet cat for 16 years, I call her my 1st born child RIP) doesn't look like a cat anymore, just a black blob :-(
Where are your tattoos located? I got mine on my upper back and on my calf while I was still my top weight....on the assumption that gravity gets us all in the end and extremities and least fatty areas would be least affected by it. Now that I have all the extra skin I can see that my decision that these spots would be prime real estate was spot on and they look as good as ever. I did worry about shrinkage on the back though as it does seem to have gotten a bit smaller and there's some writing on it that I thought might have been less legible. I had someone check yesterday and she said it's still good to go though, so I'm in the clear. lol0 -
That I don't have to be a cardio bunny.
That I don't have to eat my lettuce and be sad.
That there is no magical formula of no carbs and micro greens that I have to eat.
That pills are all a scam. So is "diet food" and 100 cal. packs.
That I can move my body around doing things I enjoy, and eat all the foods I love, and lose weight. All I had to do was move more (and more often) and eat to live, instead of overstuffing myself like I was trying to win a contest.
:laugh: :flowerforyou:
Exactly. Thank you. ????0 -
That raw honey, almond meal and coconut oil have the same, if not more, calories than their "evil" counterparts.0
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That I would be eating more delicious foods and be more culinary adventurous when eating healthy than I ever experienced while supposedly having the freedom to eat whatever I want. I put it off for so long because I thought I'd have to eat un-tasty food!0
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Weight loss will be difficult, it's generally publicised as an easy thing to do - just stop eating and the weight will fall off. I wish it was that easy!
However, losing weight within a community is by far the best way to go. The support and motivation my MFP friends give me - and I give them - is the best thing of all!That the planned "splurge" on a favorite pre-weight lose food will cause untold gastric distress, and cause you to remain housebound for at least 24 hrs
OMG this! My body hates me when I eat too much 'junk food' now - it leads to an explosive visit to the toilet!Bacon sandwich are ok on a "diet" and anything else, so long as it fits into your daily calories.
And this! My bacon sandwich on a Sunday morning is a perfect balance of macros for me, and it's just so good! Might have one for lunch today!0
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