Begin Again

sistahqueen · December 2016

On this roller coaster ride of weight lost its important to remind myself that one step backward = two steps forward. It motivates me more and end up Loosing even more the next go. So her I am beginning again. Today is Dec 9, 2016 and I currently weigh 201.1lbs. Urrgh. My goal is to reach 150 by April 9, 2017. My birthday. I need all the support, inspiration, encouragement, etc etc etc I can get.

warriorsdontbitch · December 2016

You got this. I was in a similar situation last year.

Flapjack_Mollases · December 2016

My first advice is to set goals for yourself that don't require you to be "perfect" for a four month period. Losing 40 pounds over 4 months, especially since you aren't really at too high of a weight, is going to force you to do things that may not be good for you.

Let me elaborate, just so I don't come across like a know-it-all. 12 years ago, I lost 120 lbs in just under 11 months. I went from 295, down to 178. To this, you might say, "WOW! How can you not recommend losing weight rapidly when you got such great results?" Here's why. At 178, because I had been so strict with my calories (1200 per day) and worked my body so hard (working out on average about 1.5-2 hours per day), I was depleted. My body looked deflated, and looked like a skinny version of my fatter self. There was no muscle tone, there was no energy. I still couldn't manage a pull-up, even though that was one of my main motivations for losing weight.

Today, I have passed 295, and weight 343 lbs. I am on my second attempt at losing weight, and have taken a completely different approach. I lose about .5-1 lb per week. I know, it's not glamorous. But it's working. I have more energy than I ever had at 178, and my body feels great (doesn't look great yet, but it will).

My advice to you is this. If you truly want to get off the diet roller coaster, then going back to the same ways of losing weight, is not going to help you in my opinion. Have someone take your body fat measurements, find a calorie calculator, and find (based on your height, weight, and bf%) what your daily calorie intake should be. Then, subtract 500, and eat this every day. Be strict about 2 things. The daily calories, and the types of food you are eating. FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE. I can tell you from personal Experience, as great as it feels to lose 100+ lbs, it feels 10 x worse to gain back 160.

I don't say any of this to discourage your efforts. The fact that you had the nerve to post a message asking for help means that you are already in the right mindset. But if you truly want this to be the last time you have to "try to lose weight" then please don't jump back on the hyper-dieting train. This is the type of cycle that it creates.

The only other tip I would add, is find out a good ratio of fat/carbs/protein to go along with your recommended calories. I keep mine at 30/30/40 respectively, and that works for me. So what that means is that 30% of my calories are made up of fat, 30% from carbs, and 40% from protein. Not saying this ration will work for you, but the ratio isn't anywhere near as important as finding out your recommended calories, and only going 500 or so calories below that.

Doing it this way, the .5-1lb I lose per week is nearly ALL BODY FAT that is being lost. Which is very important because that means that I am retaining muscle that will keep me strong, and help me burn fat more efficiently.

I hope this helps you.

sistahqueen · December 2016

I truly appreciate your feedback and definitely will reevaluate. When I original wrote it I did not even calculate time. I just sort of said what I desired. After the fact I did calculate the time and was like woooo. I will take the info you gave me and do some true research and soul searching. As long as I am loosing more and not gaining more for me That is SUCCESS. Thank you for taking the time out to share and advise it means a lot.

Flapjack_Mollases wrote: »

My first advice is to set goals for yourself that don't require you to be "perfect" for a four month period. Losing 40 pounds over 4 months, especially since you aren't really at too high of a weight, is going to force you to do things that may not be good for you.

Let me elaborate, just so I don't come across like a know-it-all. 12 years ago, I lost 120 lbs in just under 11 months. I went from 295, down to 178. To this, you might say, "WOW! How can you not recommend losing weight rapidly when you got such great results?" Here's why. At 178, because I had been so strict with my calories (1200 per day) and worked my body so hard (working out on average about 1.5-2 hours per day), I was depleted. My body looked deflated, and looked like a skinny version of my fatter self. There was no muscle tone, there was no energy. I still couldn't manage a pull-up, even though that was one of my main motivations for losing weight.

Today, I have passed 295, and weight 343 lbs. I am on my second attempt at losing weight, and have taken a completely different approach. I lose about .5-1 lb per week. I know, it's not glamorous. But it's working. I have more energy than I ever had at 178, and my body feels great (doesn't look great yet, but it will).

My advice to you is this. If you truly want to get off the diet roller coaster, then going back to the same ways of losing weight, is not going to help you in my opinion. Have someone take your body fat measurements, find a calorie calculator, and find (based on your height, weight, and bf%) what your daily calorie intake should be. Then, subtract 500, and eat this every day. Be strict about 2 things. The daily calories, and the types of food you are eating. FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE. I can tell you from personal Experience, as great as it feels to lose 100+ lbs, it feels 10 x worse to gain back 160.

I don't say any of this to discourage your efforts. The fact that you had the nerve to post a message asking for help means that you are already in the right mindset. But if you truly want this to be the last time you have to "try to lose weight" then please don't jump back on the hyper-dieting train. This is the type of cycle that it creates.

The only other tip I would add, is find out a good ratio of fat/carbs/protein to go along with your recommended calories. I keep mine at 30/30/40 respectively, and that works for me. So what that means is that 30% of my calories are made up of fat, 30% from carbs, and 40% from protein. Not saying this ration will work for you, but the ratio isn't anywhere near as important as finding out your recommended calories, and only going 500 or so calories below that.

Doing it this way, the .5-1lb I lose per week is nearly ALL BODY FAT that is being lost. Which is very important because that means that I am retaining muscle that will keep me strong, and help me burn fat more efficiently.

I hope this helps you.

sistahqueen · December 2016

Thank you very much. I ending up gaining weight back because I stopped doing what I love which is working out. Started back eating at weird times because of training for a job. I took a job where I sit more for longer periods of time and my balance had to be recalibrated. Won't put working out on the back burner again for anything or anyone.

warriorsdontbitch wrote: »

You got this. I was in a similar situation last year.

masoi13 · December 2016

Good luck.You can do it.Dont forget to workout.

joans1976 · December 2016

I'm glad you read the above and decided to research your goals and time lines. I have no idea how tall you are but I am 5'2"and it took me from April 4, 2016 to December 7, 2016 to lose 50 pounds. We are similar in that I started at 204 pounds. My rate of loss slowed way down by the fourth month. I am very dedicated but not 1200 calories a day dedicated (that is miserable-please don't do it to yourself!)
Either way, if you follow CICO you will definitely weigh less for your birthday than you do now and THAT is success!
Good luck, you can do it!

rebeccaEsmith · December 2016

You go girl!

Heirgreat · December 2016

Begin again is hardest part- you did it and you got this now- were all cheering you on!

Menashinaye · December 2016

I'm sending a great big good luck to u and I am your birthday twin April 9!!! I am looking to lose 20 by then I'm gonna send u a fr

RedArmy1918 · December 2016

Definitely listen to Flapjack--I did an extreme juice fast last year and I lost weight fast but then I regained all that and more in six months!

I've since realized that it's better to do good food tracking and stay slow and steady. Eat fruits and veggies and go to the gym to strengthen my body and to be in better health--not just "to lose weight"...

I've had to change my mindset to be honest. So I'm starting on my weight loss journey again but with better tools than last time.

And whatever you do, don't stop tracking your calories!

Best of luck!

sistahqueen · March 2017

Thank you all for the support. Had to figure out how to find what I posted again. My biggest challenging was getting out to the gym. I have a nearly 2yr old who is so spoiled (not rotten) but he hates to leave my side. So I brought the gym to me. I was blessed to purchase a new to me eliptical machine. This has made getting work out "in". I also have weights that adds to this.
And now that I know how to get back here I can post a little more. Once again thanks for the advice and support.

MyLovesMyLife · March 2017

So how close are you to goal?

Begin Again

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