New to this site...already disgusted with myself

sounds like you've hit a wall. you may be building muscle while you're burning fat. muscle weighs more than fat.

1.9 is PERFECT! You want to lose it slow so it becomes a permanent part of who you are, not a quick-fix deal---we all know those don't work (this is not my first attempt at this either, btw). Be proud of your loss and keep on truckin! If you want, add me as a friend and I'll cheer you on!

Sharon

You are doing great! I know it's hard, but you have to remember that you didn't gain it all at once, and you're not going to lose it all at once. One thing though, you need to make sure that you are eating the recommeded calories for your height and weight. If you come in a little under that is fine, but if it's a significant amount, you need to eat more. Not eating enough can actually cause you not to lose weight as well.

Welcome and good for you! Ok when you say it's under what are we talking about? The site gives you a set amount of calories to eat and lose weight. So you need to stick to that number. If you go to low your body could switch to starvation mode. Ok next water water water. When you think you've drank enough water have another glass. If you eat foods high in sodium then you can be holding onto water weight. Are you moving at all? Maybe 5 min of some sort of activity every day will get things going. Start slow and add. You'll feel better for it.

Ok next! 1.9 lbs for a week is nothing to sneeze at. Way to go!

Third you have to remember that you didn't put on weight in a week or two it took time. So taking it off is the same way. I mean it's not like a 5lb box of chocolate only caused you to gain 5 lbs. It's all calories.

you're on your way and it has hills and valleys. Just hang with it. Have fun becoming the new you. Check out new recipes, new workouts, and lots of people on this site.

try eating all your calories, dont deprive your body it will go into starvation mode and hang on to whatever you eat. dont give up, you are not alone in this weight loss journey. start strong, stay strong, and finish strong!!!

You should not eat below what MFP suggests, you should eat what is suggested, any less and you may not be getting the proper nutrition and nutrients your body needs.

Weight loss has been a life long struggle for me. I have dieted as long as I can remember. Now I am trying it again because I have developed Type II diabetes and i don't want to spend the rest of my life on insulin. I have been dieting since October and so far I have lost 27 pounds. It seems as though the harder I try to lose the weight, the slower it comes off. I am already digusted with myself. I weigh in once a week. This week I lost 1.9 pounds since last week. My caloric intake is well below what is required, so why is this weight coming off so slow? Will I always be overweight? Please give me some words of support because today I am really struggling with myself.:frown:

Eating BELOW you calories will keep you from losing weight. Track every crumb you eat and eat up to your calories. Most of all EXERCISE-- any kind-- doesn't have to be fancy-- just get moving. It will happen. Don't give up :happy:

It sounds like you're doing a really great job! Don't get down on yourself!
Truthfully, from what I hear, the weight comes off faster in the beginning because that's when your body is making a change. As your body gets used to the change, it becomes harder. Harder doesn't mean you should be discouraged!
Maybe change up your exercise routine? Try and work out longer...take a new class or push yourself to do extra reps. And like everyone else said, don't go too far below your calorie goals...you'll end up in starvation mode and you'll be tired, your metabolism will go down, and you'll be stressed like you are now- which is never good.

It sounds like you've made some great changes and are on a steady path to success. Keep it up!

Welcome. Don't be so hard on yourself. I suspect you'd be much more kind toward a friend. Be a friend to yourself, too. Your progress is wonderful. So pat yourself on the back first of all.

First of all, be sure to eat all of your calories. You don't need to eat your exercise calories, but you MUST eat your basic calories every day! I don't know how tall you are, or what you weigh, so it's hard to be specific in terms of helping you out. I can tell you that, primarily, it's a number's game. There are 3500 calories in every pound you want to lose. So if you undereat by 500 calories a day (from what it would take to maintain) then 7 x 500 = 3500 = one pound per week. If you exercise off another 500 calories a day, then you'd lose two pounds a week. That said, WHAT you eat does matter too. Eating the right amount of calories in food that's high in fat, very processed, low in fiber, low in protein or healthy carbs will slow your progress down. Plus, if I don't eat "clean" and start to snack on processed foods (even if I stay within my calorie range) my progress slows because I'm simultaneously losing lean body weight, which actually reduced the calories I burn every day. If you eat clean, nutrition foods, and keep your carbs at a reasonable level (and be sure they are healthy carbs), you'll maintain the lean and the fat will start to drop off.

Try to think of it not so much as losing "weight" but losing pounds of fat and KEEPING pounds of lean muscle mass. The advantage of being heavier is that you probably have a kick-butt lean muscle mass under the fat you're not happy with. I can speak first hand because I'm almost 100 pounds lighter than I was four years ago. Seeing a fat picture of myself did it for me! Keep up the exercise and don't be afraid to lift weights to hang onto that lean. Small, slender women have to work like maniacs to put enough muscle back on that they can eat like human beings -- and that's the goal in the end, right. To be at a healthy body composition and be able to eat and not have to starve for the rest of your life.

So be patient with yourself and keep on the right track. You're doing the hardest part -- tracking your food. I will say that I advise all of my clients to measure their food to ensure they are actually eating what they are logging. I demo this for my clients -- showing them that weighing food is more accurate than measuring. I'll pour out a cup of corn flakes and dump it in a bowl. They think that's one serving size. Then I weigh it. And holy cow -- they learn the broken chips allowed more to fit in to that cup than they thought and would have consumed 1.5 servings.

Plus, for me, I feel like I'm on a "diet" when I measure. It feels restrictive!!! When I put my bowl on the scale, hit "tare" so it zeros out and then add my cereal to the level I want (not what a "serving size" dictates, and then I log that in My Fitness Pal journal. I hit "tare" again and add the milk I want and enter that amount of milk into MFP. That way, for me, it's not like dieting. Instead it feels like I'm eating what I want and tracking it, and then when I have to stop, I'll either stop or exercise a bit to earn a few calories back. It's a subtle psychological "trick" but it is important to my own success. And several of my clients have finally found success through that method too. Maybe that'll work for you. OFTEN it is the case that folks are estimating servings and are sabotaging their own progress unwittingly! Measuring (weighing!) helps to counter that. I bought a pretty, modern, kitchen scale from Target that's cool enough to leave on the counter. That way I use it every time I eat something and it's super fast!!

Hope that helps. Keep it up. There is a beautiful, fit (and strong!) woman ALREADY underneath any fat that you aren't happy with. Your journey is nothing more than helping to uncover her! Keep it up. it took awhile to get to where you are and it will take a while to find the real you underneath. And, make no mistake, it will be a lifelong journey that will cause you to slip and fall along the way. I still have days like that, but what's important is that you're "on" 90% of the time.

Hang in there. Good luck!!!

I, too, have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember. I can understand and relate with you so much. I was once reminded that I "didn't gain all of the weight overnight, so don't expect to shred off the pounds quickly." Those words keep me from kicking myself in the butt. It took years and years for me to get at 270. I keep telling myself that, and it reminds me that I should keep up the efforts and exercise because this is a lifestyle change and not a fad diet. Keep your head up girlie try and think positively, and remember that we are all here for you!

I think the key to being successful at ANYTHING is a positive attitude. Something someone told me once, holds true. I didn't gain the weight overnight, so I shouldn't expect to lose it overnight. Losing weight is NOT easy.

@ t7mitch- Wow! It's amazing, we were given the same words of wisdom. That's awesome

1.9 lbs in one week is great! If you lose weight too quickly it is most likely water weight, which you will gain back easily. Slower weight loss is a sign that you are doing it the right way! Good luck to you!!

Don't be disgusted, everyday is a new chance to do it better and 27lbs???? That is wonderful that is equivelent to a small child :-)

Ok here goes, keep in mind you probably have nutritional guidelines as well regarding your food. You won't believe it but you need to EAT MORE TO LOSE.....I know, crazy isn't it?

This is a slippery slope you can sabotage yourself if you consume way too little. Staying under is ok occasionally but if you do this consistantly, this can cause our bodies to go into "survival or starvation" mode. At that point your body will hang on to the fat and use muscle to survive, and that is not good. Ideally we should eat all most of the calories we are allowed, and exercise so we end up in a negative calorie total.

At first when I had extra calories at the end of the day, I thought it meant “Yippee! I can eat more! But that’s not true and I know it. Bottom line: I think we should consume our daily allowance, and then REJOICE if (by exercising) we have caused a deficit! Burn more than we Eat. So, as a rule do not eat the "extra burned calories" or you are back to the break even point.

Last but not least, at the end of the day I think we should review everyone’s advice, pick through it and do what works best for you :-)

Good luck you are on your way, you have already lost 27 pounds!!!

Please don't be so hard on yourself! I don't have that much to lose but I am a yoyo dieter back and forth about 10. I am 41 and am just now starting to figure out what makes it easier to live a healthier lifestyle. First thing - weigh every morning right after you empty your bladder. A tip I can give you is measure out your food and have it ready to eat. I normally always have broiled chicken (seasoned with anything except marinade, i.e. salt, pepper, minced onions, spices, etc), and ground turkey (lately seasoned in taco seasoning and make taco salads w/salsa, lots of lettuce, and hot sauce). I cook these meats and weigh them out into 4 oz servings, and they are in tupperwares in my refrigerator. I also eat every couple/ few hours so I don't let myself get too hungry. I eat lots of egg whites w/ salsa (scrambled using nonstick spray), and i snack on apples and strawberries. I also eat salmon a couple of times per week. Try this and see if it works! If you want more tips let me know.... good luck!

im new here too and thought as far as the calorie intake i have done really well....granted, i literally JUST started this so i know im not gonna see much for awhile, but when i went and picked up a few pairs of jeans for myself, i too got disgusted...i have NEVER weighed as much as i do now....a size 15-16....wow come on really? i just need support i think....what motivates you? is it a picture, a person, an idea in your head? Me, i know what i want....my goal rite now is to loose 30 lbs...that will take me down to where i was.....my ideal weight (well, right now anyways) is 135, size 10-11 pants...maybe smaller