discouraged....

blondie_0506
blondie_0506 Posts: 110
edited September 23 in Motivation and Support
I have been on this site for 3-4 weeks, and I have only lost 7 lbs and only about an inch overall. I'm gettin a bit discouraged. I'm eating better than I ever have and I rarely go over my calorie goal. I don't know how to lose more weight.... :(

Replies

  • Kristierlong
    Kristierlong Posts: 163 Member
    7 pounds in 3-4 weeks is fantastic! Hang in there, the weight will keep dropping.
  • cynn6604
    cynn6604 Posts: 10
    are you getting enough exercise? That important in giving your metabolism a quick start to burn those calories.:bigsmile:
  • Dan0myte
    Dan0myte Posts: 2 Member
    Typically you're only supposed to lose 1 pound a week. If you've lost 7 in 4 weeks you're doing amazing!
  • quara
    quara Posts: 255 Member
    I agree, 7 lbs in 3-4 weeks is nothing to sneeze at! You're doing fantastic. Those lbs will really add up fast!
  • Celo24
    Celo24 Posts: 566 Member
    Agree with everyone above me. Seven pounds in 3-4 weeks is awesome!! Don't expect Biggest Loser-type numbers. The healthy and sustainable way to go about weight loss is the way you are doing it. Keep up the great work!!!!
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
    What? That's progress!! Just keep working on it. Remember to exercise - lean muscle mass is important for fat burning through the day and with dieting you can lose quite a bit of it. Get plenty of protein and strength train along with some cardio and make sure you are staying above 1200 Net calories most of the week. And lots and lots of water.

    Start focusing on how you look and how your clothes fit as opposed to the number on the scale. I watched my scale jump almost 4 pounds this week just because of my time of month. (And each day on it I dropped a pound).

    This is what is working for me. We are all different though.
  • fuzzymel
    fuzzymel Posts: 400 Member
    Thats a great healthy loss. Don't be discouraged be very proud.
  • bahecasmart
    bahecasmart Posts: 2 Member
    7 pounds in 4 weeks is fantastic! If you lose weight at a reasonable, steady pace (just like you are, right now...) it is more likely to stay off. Often times, if you lose weight really quickly, you're more likely to put it back on. Also, think of it this way.. if you lose 7 pounds every 4 weeks, that's 91 pounds in a year! That's a LOT!
  • mistawalka
    mistawalka Posts: 108 Member
    Sounds like you are right on target for some healthy wieght loss at nearly 2 pounds per week :) Don't be discouraged you are doing it right.
  • backinthenines
    backinthenines Posts: 1,083 Member
    7lb in 3-4 weeks is perfectly fine.
    You need to remember that weight which has piled on over months or years is not going to go away in a month.
  • iheartmemories
    iheartmemories Posts: 42
    You are doing great!
  • blondie_0506
    blondie_0506 Posts: 110
    I exercise at least 1 1/2 hours a day!! I do the bike, strength training, boxing, and the elliptical sometimes. So, I think I'm getting enough exercise.

    I lost that much weight, but now my weight has stayed the same for about 3 days now and it won't budge... :(
  • elid
    elid Posts: 209 Member
    Yes, you shouldn't be discouraged at all! At your weight, 1 to 1.5lbs a week is probably what I would recommend, honestly.

    And you should try not to weigh yourself every day! (Or if you do, realize your weight will fluctuate daily.) Once a week at most is recommended; the weight of water and food in your body changes every day (in fact it changes hour to hour depending on your intake!), so you'll get the most accurate FAT loss numbers if you don't weigh so often.
  • mikeyml
    mikeyml Posts: 568 Member
    I would suggest not weighing yourself everyday. You will become obsessed and it might hurt your motivation. Aim for weighing in once per week and measuring every 2-3 weeks.
  • kld4239
    kld4239 Posts: 186 Member
    Sounds like you are making some good progress, just keep it up. If you're like me and are exercising more you also have to factor in that you are gaining muscle which will effect your weight. I recommend taking your measurements - this gives you another way to track your progress. I don't know about you but I much rather lose an inch in my waist than a lb or two. Remember it's not always about the lbs, it's about how much better you feel and how much healthier you are :)
  • TAPace1970
    TAPace1970 Posts: 2
    A 7-pound loss is great for the amount of time you've been working at it! You don't want to lose weight too fast. You're more likely to keep it off if you lose gradually. Keep up the good work. :o)
  • goohan
    goohan Posts: 155
    7lbs in 3-4 weeks is amazing well done, I wish i could loose that fast :):):) xxx
  • Celo24
    Celo24 Posts: 566 Member
    I exercise at least 1 1/2 hours a day!! I do the bike, strength training, boxing, and the elliptical sometimes. So, I think I'm getting enough exercise.

    I lost that much weight, but now my weight has stayed the same for about 3 days now and it won't budge... :(

    Don't weigh yourself every day. Everyone's weight fluctuates and you'll drive yourself nuts. Weigh in once a week and then hide the scale from yourself.
  • superwmn
    superwmn Posts: 936
    That's more than 1.5lbs lost each week which is within what is considered to be the standard for healthy weight loss. Means you're making changes that will stay with you forever and lead to a LIFETIME spent at your goal weight.

    Congratulations on your success!!!

    Charmagne
  • momof26
    momof26 Posts: 83
    Don't be dicouraged!! You are doing great! You lost 7 pounds and that awesome. WAY TO GO!!
  • Zaggytiddies
    Zaggytiddies Posts: 326 Member
    Don't do what I did! I was on this site a year ago, lost about 7-8 pounds in a little over a month... I got discouraged and quit. Gained back all that and more... And if I would have kept it up I'd be there already. That much weight in a short amount of time is great. You didn't gain the weight in a month... It won't come off in a month. Keep it up you're doing awesome!
  • shannon_stallone
    shannon_stallone Posts: 136
    7 pounds is great! Its a good idea to only lose 1-2 pounds a week, so you're right on track! Keep your chin up girl! :)
  • A_New_Horizon
    A_New_Horizon Posts: 1,555 Member
    7 lbs in 3-4 weeks is amazing. You want to lose the weight slow because it stays off. You don't want to lose it too quickly. You are doing it at an excellent pace. Keep it up. Also, it isn't a good idea to weigh everyday. I know that I am guilty of doing it too then get frustrated when the scale doesn't go down. Remember, your weight will go up and down from day to day depending on water weight. Don't get frustrated!! You are doing a great job!!! Keep it up!!!

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  • Liatush
    Liatush Posts: 627 Member
    The faster you lose, the less likely you are to keep it off, so take your time and just learn to lead a healthy life style. You have lost a lot already and you will continue to lose... eat lots of veggies, fruits and drink plenty of water.
  • markja
    markja Posts: 270 Member
    Blondie: I get it. You figure that after that amount of time, that you really ought to see something better.

    Fact is that you are doing fine. more that 2lbs per week means that your have more than a 7000 calorie deficit per week. That is not a good thing. Remember you also have to take in a certain number of calories per day just to break even and not go into starvation mode. That is where your body goes into a panic and refuses to let go of any body fat. My number is 1200 but you, being a lady, may have lower number. There are lots of tools to figure it out.

    I hit a plateau today so I'm very well acquainted with frustration.
  • reepobob
    reepobob Posts: 1,172 Member
    I will echo earlier comments, but will also add the following:

    Make sure that you are measuring things accurately!! That includes a heart rate monitor to accurately measure calorie burn, a good scale that measures in .2 pound increments (avoids rounding high aka discouragement), and a household food scale (measure by weight (grams for me) instead of volume measure and/or eyeball test).

    I had a crappy scale that measured in 1/2 pound increments that developed a crack in the case and was causing my weight to be all over the place (at least on the scale).

    I was in a 10 day plataeu and after researching the problem, the recurring theme (among other factors) was overestimation of food portions. A food scale eliminates that issue from the plataeu equation.

    Whatever you do, don't allow your calories to dip below 1200/day consistently. Your body will hunker down and hold onto that fat for dear life!!

    One last note...I am of the minority that weigh myself every day. I used to get easily discouraged when I tried to lose weight in 2008, but I am a little older and wiser and I do not allow upticks or unchanged weight loss discourage me anymore. I have made peace with the fact that variations are part of the journey and as long as you are eating right and exercising, the weight loss and most importantly, the body transformation will happen.

    Good luck to you! You are doing awesome!
  • poisongirl6485
    poisongirl6485 Posts: 1,487 Member
    1-2 lbs per week is the recommended healthy way to lose weight, so 7 lbs in that time frame is great!!!
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