A few questions about the start of my journey...

mommy2maddox
mommy2maddox Posts: 141 Member
edited September 23 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi! I am a newbie to the community as of today. I had a few questions that I was hoping some people could help answer.
First, I am a 5'4", 160lbs, 32 year old SAHM to my son. I was 120lbs before I got pregnant and my goal weight is 115. I started working with a personal trainer (a woman that I have been friends with for 22 years. She is a personal trainer and I finally hired her to come help me) on Thursday, January 14. She is having me do resistance training 3-4 times a week, cardio 6 days a week and a complete nutrition makeover (i.e. I am no longer eating "bad" food and I have replaced it with 6 meals a day of "healthy" food.) She works with me at my home twice a week--Tuesdays and Thursdays. She did all of the measurements and body fat % on the first day. I started at 158lbs on the 14th and I weighed 160 today. :cry:

So, my questions are...

*When can I expect to see a weight loss &/or inches lost assuming I stick with the above plan from my PT? (And I WILL stick with it)

*How much time, approximately, will it take to reach my goal?

*When can I expect to SEE or NOTICE a difference?

Obviously, I know that nobody has the exact answers. I suppose I am more looking for some ideas about what other people have gone through. I know not to trust the scale and that I probably won't notice the difference as much as others around me.

Thank you for your time!

Replies

  • lindainak
    lindainak Posts: 101
    For me with exercising every day, I did not notice losing weight for at least 3 weeks and it is still a slow loss but seems to be a steady loss. I really like the digital scales cause they show if you have lost partial pounds. Must be working, I can out ski my daughter and her friend.
  • mommy2maddox
    mommy2maddox Posts: 141 Member
    Sweet! That is awesome about being able to out ski your daughter! Go you!

    I do have a digital scale. My actual first weigh in was 157.6 and I am now 160 even.

    I suppose it will just take time. Lots of time and patience.
  • angelsandwolves09
    angelsandwolves09 Posts: 264 Member
    Hey mommy2maddox and welcome to the community!!!

    I have just began my personal change myself, but based on what I have been told through my own posts here, weight loss and inches dropped should be done slowly but steadily...i.e...i began at 198lbs, my goal is to be at 145. I was told I should aim to be there somewhere around June-August, as long as I stick to my workout regimen, and continue to stick to my new-found healthy eating habits. For me, the first 20 lbs came off drastically, but I wasn't eating all my calories at all nor was I eating my meals like I should....However, the weight loss has started to taper off and become a one - two lb loss per week. Which from what I've read, is a healthy way to lose weight. The hardest thing, in my opinion, is trying to actually incorporate the workouts and food stipulations into my everyday life, because it not only affects me but my family as well.

    Sorry to type so much...Just wanted to give my 2 cents.

    Have a great day!!! And good luck on your weight loss journey!!!
  • heather0mc
    heather0mc Posts: 4,656 Member
    i kind of think that only you can answer these questions. maybe you should post them on your page or start a blog and check in with yourself every week or something that fits your schedule? everyone is so very different, and it sounds like your PT/friend is going to get you going very quickly as far as changing you life goes. but it is most definitely a process that takes time and that time, in my opinion, depends on the person.

    for me, i have lost 25 pounds since september 13th of last year. that is pretty close to what i expected, remembering i may only lose a pound a week, and that is completely ok. i have not noticed any major differences except my pants keep falling off - lol - so i finally tried out a smaller size and they fit. took a picture one day where i actually saw a bit of a difference in the mirror, and that was just this past weekend. it seems like this is the same time people have noticed a change, like everything ends up going hand in hand.

    biggest thing for me is that i HAVE to constantly challenge myself to improve or i will slack off. changeling my self is a challenge in itself!! LOL!
  • MariSama44
    MariSama44 Posts: 340 Member
    You'll lose more at first, and less as you come to your goal. In december I had my 1 year anniversary and had lost around 73 pounds. Weight can fluctuate dramaticly and a gain shouldnt be attributed to fat gain. Its best not to get too obsessed with tracking numbers and trying to predict what will/will not happen. Just log your calories, start being active and you'll be successful. Do not be detered by blips in your weightloss, as the trend will always go down as long as you are living healthfully.

    Remmeber, one pound of fat is = 3500 calories. Dont become obsessed with the numbers so much...if you gain two pounds over a week of hard work, if there was no point in your journal where you ate 3500 calories above your basal metabolic rate, you dont have much to worry about. There are many factors that your body has to deal with so be patient and just learn to take care of it. That's what's truely important, not the end numbers or how fast you'll attain them. trust me, this is something worth waiting for, doing right, and enjoying. You'll learn alot on your way.
  • angelsandwolves09
    angelsandwolves09 Posts: 264 Member

    biggest thing for me is that i HAVE to constantly challenge myself to improve or i will slack off. changeling my self is a challenge in itself!! LOL!

    I completely agree with this line!! lol it is hard to challenge yourself to meet new challenges!!(in my opinion)
  • westcoastSW
    westcoastSW Posts: 320 Member
    *When can I expect to see a weight loss &/or inches lost assuming I stick with the above plan from my PT? (And I WILL stick with it)

    *How much time, approximately, will it take to reach my goal?

    *When can I expect to SEE or NOTICE a difference?

    As you said, everyone's different, so here's my two cents:
    -- I'm in a roughly similar spot (5'7", started at 180, working toward 135). Given that, I started seeing real results within the first two weeks or so. Not anything overly dramatic, but the 1 or 2 pounds I had specified that I would like to lose.
    -- How much time it takes depends on your body and your routine. For myself, I aim to lose 5 pounds every 4 weeks (I have a series of "mini-goals" for every 4 weeks, complete with non-food rewards.)
    -- Hopefully you will see/notice a difference soon after starting a diet and exercise routine. As you said, don't rely too much on the scale. For me, I weigh myself every morning (after peeing, before eating) just as a personal habit; my "official" weigh-in that I report to my profile here is each Wednesday morning; and my mini-goals are every 4 Wednesdays.

    Good luck to you in developing a routine that fits your lifestyle :)
  • heather0mc
    heather0mc Posts: 4,656 Member

    biggest thing for me is that i HAVE to constantly challenge myself to improve or i will slack off. changeling my self is a challenge in itself!! LOL!

    I completely agree with this line!! lol it is hard to challenge yourself to meet new challenges!!(in my opinion)

    i know right? lol! i would think it would get easier as i go along. *le sigh*. i guess it does because there is no way i am gaining that 25 pounds back!!!!
  • angelsandwolves09
    angelsandwolves09 Posts: 264 Member

    biggest thing for me is that i HAVE to constantly challenge myself to improve or i will slack off. changeling my self is a challenge in itself!! LOL!

    I completely agree with this line!! lol it is hard to challenge yourself to meet new challenges!!(in my opinion)

    i know right? lol! i would think it would get easier as i go along. *le sigh*. i guess it does because there is no way i am gaining that 25 pounds back!!!!

    Amen to that sister!!! lol It definitely don't seem easier to me yet....but I know I want to keep what I've lost off and continue towards my goal....that, along with all the support from my friends here on MFP is what keeps me motivated!!!
  • Kimke30
    Kimke30 Posts: 8
    just remember weight can fluctuate so don't rely soley on the scale. How are you clothes fitting? are you toning up? Muscle weight more than fat so as you go through this just watch how your body changes... It is a slow process but you will see results in the end.
  • franic1017
    franic1017 Posts: 41 Member

    biggest thing for me is that i HAVE to constantly challenge myself to improve or i will slack off. changeling my self is a challenge in itself!! LOL!

    I completely agree with this line!! lol it is hard to challenge yourself to meet new challenges!!(in my opinion)

    i know right? lol! i would think it would get easier as i go along. *le sigh*. i guess it does because there is no way i am gaining that 25 pounds back!!!!

    Amen to that sister!!! lol It definitely don't seem easier to me yet....but I know I want to keep what I've lost off and continue towards my goal....that, along with all the support from my friends here on MFP is what keeps me motivated!!!
  • franic1017
    franic1017 Posts: 41 Member
    I agree ladies...while we are on the subject of mini goals and motivation. Can anyone tell me where we create that information? I can't seem to find it and love that I can see everyone's progress. Thought it would help me if I can see that as well.
  • bbb84
    bbb84 Posts: 418 Member
    Muscle does not weigh more than fat .... a pound is a pound. However muscle takes up much less space than fat so although you may not always see lbs coming down watch your inches as one if not both are surely to change.
  • angelsandwolves09
    angelsandwolves09 Posts: 264 Member
    I agree ladies...while we are on the subject of mini goals and motivation. Can anyone tell me where we create that information? I can't seem to find it and love that I can see everyone's progress. Thought it would help me if I can see that as well.

    If you are talking about the tickers you go to tools at the top of the page, then click on tickers and follow the set up. If you are talking about your nutritional goals, you have to click on "my home" and then click on goals...you can choose to set them up on your own or have the site do it's own recommendations.

    Hope this helps!
  • mommy2maddox
    mommy2maddox Posts: 141 Member
    No change in the way my clothing fits. I had an awful food intake day today, too, so I'm pretty bummed.
  • kiuney
    kiuney Posts: 68
    Congrats to you for making healthy positive changes! Something in your post caught my eye and I wanted to comment on it... You mentioned a complete nutrition makeover. In general, this is a bad idea because people don't tend to stick with "makeovers." I've been a personal trainer for nearly 7 years and I've never seen anyone stick with a diet overhaul. When the going gets tough, you revert back to your old eating habits because it's comfortable and familiar. This is part of being of human. :)

    You might consider reviewing your old diet and working on making small changes so that those changes will be sustainable. Just some food for thought and good luck!
  • heather0mc
    heather0mc Posts: 4,656 Member
    No change in the way my clothing fits. I had an awful food intake day today, too, so I'm pretty bummed.

    changing your lifestyle is a true test of patience. try to stop wanting to see a change and accept the fact that you have changed, regardless of how much you weigh or if your clothes fit differently. you have changed for the better and you are doing an amazing job! keep that in mind everyday and before you know it, you will begin to actually see the changes.

    again, i recommend you start a blog to keep yourself accountable and to vent any frustrations. then after you write about whatever it is that compelled you to write that entry, you can put it aside and move on. :flowerforyou:
  • keepitoff99
    keepitoff99 Posts: 117
    No change in the way my clothing fits. I had an awful food intake day today, too, so I'm pretty bummed.

    First of all, you are just starting out.
    The scale fluxuates every day and within a day. I can go up and down 5 lbs in a day!!
    Just keep at it. You will start to see progress gradually.
    I have lost a bit of weight since November and I still have weeks where it seems as if I'm working my butt off/counting/etc and I'm not seeing anything....then a couple weeks after, I will have a large jump in weight loss or my pants fit better. This morning I put my bra on and it is too loose.
    Everyone is different - everyone loses at a different weight.
    I love the Biggest Loser and one thing it has helped me with is to realize that they are litterally being dragged around and beat up to lose weight and some weeks they lose hardly anything! If that happens to them at their pace, it can be expected at ours!!
    Give yourself some more time to see results. That is awesome that you have a friend to help you! You are blessed. She will help you a lot, I'm sure.
    We're here for you and welcome to this site - it's awesome!
    :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
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