Should I be discouraged after 4 weeks?

How long does it take to start seeing results? I have been doing a low calorie diet, and walking 2-3 miles a day for 4 weeks? I have lost close to 14 lbs. but I am seeing no results whatsoever! Maybe because I have at least 100 lbs to lose, but I am getting discouraged. I am wondering how long it should take for me and others to start seeing results? Thanks!!!

Replies

  • CooCooPuff
    CooCooPuff Posts: 4,374 Member
    edited May 2016
    You're losing a little over 2lbs a week. That's progress! :)
  • Meganthedogmom
    Meganthedogmom Posts: 1,639 Member
    Your progress is great so far. Keep going.
  • kirstinethornburg
    kirstinethornburg Posts: 300 Member
    You are doing awesome. It is a process not a quick fix
  • taco_inspector
    taco_inspector Posts: 7,223 Member
    3.5 lbs a week is amazing... If you can keep that rate going for a while, you'll be shopping for a new wardrobe before too long!

    A lot of this all goes to where you started and just how much 14-lbs is on your frame... I didn't notice too much until i'd lost about 10% of my starting weight ("your mileage will vary", of course)

    I'd dream of having your motivation and/or results!
  • RoseTheWarrior
    RoseTheWarrior Posts: 2,035 Member
    Take pictures. Often you can't see changes without a side by side. Also take measurements. Your loss is terrific! You have no reason to feel discouraged!!
  • minicougar
    minicougar Posts: 3 Member
    14 lbs is huge progress! Set yourself mini goals so that you get that feeling of accomplishment more often. Just remember not to reward yourself with food but something nice like a new top 1 size smaller that will show you're progress. Keep it up you're doing great.
  • pkoll
    pkoll Posts: 135 Member
    It takes a while for others to notice. Keep at it. You are doing great!
  • dlkfox
    dlkfox Posts: 463 Member
    Losing 14 pounds is a fantastic result!

    We all lose weight in different places first, so how it "shows" will always vary. In addition to the scale, take body measurements to compare.

    In the meantime, if you don't think you are "seeing" results, think about where that 14 pounds came from -- that is 14 pounds no longer around your heart and lungs and other organs...and that is such a good thing.
  • mathiseasy
    mathiseasy Posts: 165 Member
    You are seeing results-you've lost 14lb! Keep at it and you will continue to see changes.
  • Pikashel
    Pikashel Posts: 61 Member
    edited May 2016
    I'm kind of on the same boat. It's been 3.5 weeks for me and I'm down about 10lbs. Honestly, I wish it was a little faster but I know 2lbs a week is good progress. My weight fluctuates a lot so that doesn't really help me feel better when I'm holding onto more water weight. However, after reading many posts and success stories, I found that most people take 2+ years to lose over 100lbs. It's a process so you just have to keep going and trust that it will happen if you are diligent.

    Also, it may only be 10lbs but I look less bloated than I do 3 weeks ago!
  • 85Cardinals
    85Cardinals Posts: 733 Member
    Didn't a lot of posts just disappear?
  • 737jac737
    737jac737 Posts: 54 Member
    edited May 2016
    It takes 60 days before your body thinks you're not trying to kill it and you start shedding weight like crazy. You'll know when your underwear and bras are too big and your pants fall off when you walk. The weight comes off quickly after 2 months. Until then you think you're at a standstill. Don't be discouraged, but DON'T CHEAT ON YOUR DIET EVER. You also need an hour of cardio before your first meal so WALK WALK WALK. And PUSH YOURSELF to exercise HARD if you want good results. Friend me and I will motivate you.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    Didn't a lot of posts just disappear?

    No. The original post was posted twice. The other replies are over there: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10399329/should-i-be-discouraged-after-4-weeks#latest
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    737jac737 wrote: »
    It takes 60 days before your body thinks you're not trying to kill it and you start shedding weight like crazy. You'll know when your underwear and bras are too big and your pants fall off when you walk. The weight comes off quickly after 2 months. Until then you think you're at a standstill. Don't be discouraged, but DON'T CHEAT ON YOUR DIET EVER. You also need an hour of cardio before your first meal so WALK WALK WALK. And PUSH YOURSELF to exercise HARD if you want good results. Friend me and I will motivate you.

    how do you know the weight will come off quickly? every one is different and it depends on if they are eating less than they burn, also why an hr of cardio? why not an hr of weight lifting or any exercise? why does it have to be cardio,and why before your first meal? and why should she have to push herself to exercise hard? anyone can see results if they stick with CICO(calories in calories out). I lost weight during a 2 month break from exercise.
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    737jac737 wrote: »
    It takes 60 days before your body thinks you're not trying to kill it and you start shedding weight like crazy. You'll know when your underwear and bras are too big and your pants fall off when you walk. The weight comes off quickly after 2 months. Until then you think you're at a standstill. Don't be discouraged, but DON'T CHEAT ON YOUR DIET EVER. You also need an hour of cardio before your first meal so WALK WALK WALK. And PUSH YOURSELF to exercise HARD if you want good results. Friend me and I will motivate you.

    What the WHAT? Um, No. OP, this is nonsense, don't listen to it.

  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    to the poster. it all takes time. heck Im going on my 4th year of my weight loss journey and for me its been slow but I so far the results have been worth losing it slowly. for me I have no sagging skin(they say the slower you lose it the better off you are,I know genetics do play a part though). but I have kept all but 5 lbs off and I just recently loss those 5lbs and then a little more since then.I have 24 more to go. There are some days I still see my flawed areas and think wow Im still big,but its all in my head,everyone else says compared to before Im like a whole different person lol. Im even smaller in size than I was before/after I had my kids.any loss is to be celebrated.you weigh a little less now than before correct? take pride that what you are doing is working. also start using a tape measure as sometimes you may not see the difference but you will in a measurement.
  • mathiseasy
    mathiseasy Posts: 165 Member
    737jac737 wrote: »
    It takes 60 days before your body thinks you're not trying to kill it and you start shedding weight like crazy. You'll know when your underwear and bras are too big and your pants fall off when you walk. The weight comes off quickly after 2 months. Until then you think you're at a standstill. Don't be discouraged, but DON'T CHEAT ON YOUR DIET EVER. You also need an hour of cardio before your first meal so WALK WALK WALK. And PUSH YOURSELF to exercise HARD if you want good results. Friend me and I will motivate you.

    Your body thinks you're trying to kill it? The weight comes off quickly after 2 months? Don't cheat on your diet ever? One hour of cardio before your first meal? Good results only come from exercising hard? This post is full of so much wtf.
  • akerra27
    akerra27 Posts: 117 Member
    At 70 pounds down...I will say the hardest time for me was the first 6-7 weeks. During this time you are adjusting to portions along with trying to find a schedule, foods etc that work for you. While trying to fight off cravings.
    Keep at it! Just stay CONSISTENT and I promise you everything gets easier. You will find around the 2 month mark you will have a routine. Hunger pains have gotten better and it will become easy and second nature. Just hang in there!!
  • Tyrannasaur
    Tyrannasaur Posts: 10 Member
    I'm at a similar point to you. 4 weeks in, 9lbs down. 100 more to go. I this may be the hardest part for me as I know I'm making a positive change and I'm losing weight steadily but I can't see or feel any results yet. I think the first time I go down a dress size will such a huge motivator but sometimes I think it just won't happen or it's so far away.

    What keeps me at it is knowing that no crash diet I've been on has helped me lose more than 6lbs which I immediately gained back. CICO is working for me so I'm staying dedicated and looking forward to my first NSV. Stick with it!!
  • booksandchocolate12
    booksandchocolate12 Posts: 1,741 Member
    I'm confused. Have you lost 14 lbs or are you seeing no results?
  • pkw58
    pkw58 Posts: 2,038 Member
    edited May 2016
    So I found that it was when I lost about 50% of the weight I wanted to lose that I noticed the most, and then after that, every 2 pounds I lost was a higher percentage of what I had left to lose. So it was very noticeable. Some where here in the forums is the "weight loss is like a roll of paper towels" theory . I can't remember the exact words, but it was like you don't notice the roll of paper towels is getting smaller until some point where one paper towel is more than half or more coverage of the whole roll. I dropped one pant size with the first 50% , and then about every 15% of the total I lost another pant size till I got to my current maintenance size ... just my experience, your experience is your own unique experience!
  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
    How long does it take to start seeing results? I have been doing a low calorie diet, and walking 2-3 miles a day for 4 weeks? I have lost close to 14 lbs. but I am seeing no results whatsoever!

    I think you're getting mixed messages in this thread because "seeing results" can mean different things. If you've lost 14 pounds, you are seeing results on your scale.

    If you mean, "When will I look different in the mirror?" it's tough to say. You see yourself every day, so it's hard to notice very small changes. It helps to take progress pictures. I did them every 6-8 weeks. There doesn't seem to be much change between each picture and the next, but if I look at the first and then the fourth, the change is obvious.

    If you mean, "When will other people notice that I have changed?" the answer really varies. People you see regularly might not notice until you've lost quite a lot. People you see rarely are more likely to notice. For me, those people noticed when I had lost 25 pounds or so.
  • AlyM725
    AlyM725 Posts: 158 Member
    I've lost almost 20 pounds, but I still feel like I haven't seen any results. Everyone else sees it. I think it's more mental than anything. You are your harshest critic. Just keep going. One day you will see results and it will all be worth it.
  • cowano630
    cowano630 Posts: 7 Member
    sw - 183#, cw - 158#, goal - varies but right now shooting for 145#. I have lost 25# and still am the same pants size. While that is a bit discouraging, I do take pics every 4 weeks and you can see a difference in those. This is day 60 of being serious on MFP. It does get easier.
  • rkontaratos
    rkontaratos Posts: 3 Member
    for me it was 4 weeks that I noticed a difference in myself (ie. clothes fitting loser), about 8 weeks before my immediate friends and family could tell a difference and the rest of the world at around 4 mths in. Don't worry if you're consistant the results will follow, just keep at it. All the small changes will have a large payoff if you stick w/ it. All the best on your journey.
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    edited May 2016
    How long does it take to start seeing results? I have been doing a low calorie diet, and walking 2-3 miles a day for 4 weeks? I have lost close to 14 lbs. but I am seeing no results whatsoever! Maybe because I have at least 100 lbs to lose, but I am getting discouraged. I am wondering how long it should take for me and others to start seeing results? Thanks!!!

    Wait....how low calorie are you talking about here? How many calories are you consuming?
    How are you counting your calories @skirtgirl95 ? Are you weighing all your solid and semi solid food on a food scale in grams? Are you logging your food on myfitnesspal? Can you please open your diary?

    14lbs in 4 weeks ARE results..... HUGE ones.

    There is no hurry...take your time. Weight loss isn't a race, it's a marathon. 2lbs per week is plenty


    Giving up after 4 weeks isn't really the best thing to do. It didn't take 4 weeks to gain the weight, it certainly won't take 4 weeks to lose it. :)

  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    edited May 2016
    737jac737 wrote: »
    It takes 60 days before your body thinks you're not trying to kill it and you start shedding weight like crazy. You'll know when your underwear and bras are too big and your pants fall off when you walk. The weight comes off quickly after 2 months. Until then you think you're at a standstill. Don't be discouraged, but DON'T CHEAT ON YOUR DIET EVER. You also need an hour of cardio before your first meal so WALK WALK WALK. And PUSH YOURSELF to exercise HARD if you want good results. Friend me and I will motivate you.
    Seriously. No. I lost weight in my first month. If you're in a calorie deficit, it won't take 60 days.
    Also, no for the second one. I don't do that, and I've lost over 80lbs. Exercise does not equal weight loss. Those confined to wheelchairs can lose weight, so your post doesn't make much sense.

    I'm sorry, but this is advice is a little silly. -_-