I'm not struggling

dizzysarah
dizzysarah Posts: 34 Member
edited November 15 in Health and Weight Loss
Ok so this will be my first sensible diet in my whole life. I'm 33.

I'm not starving I'm eating well and still having treats. I'm logging EVERYTHING 100%

Because I'm not overcome by hunger pains andbecause I'm not seeing or feeling super rapid results I don't feel right, I don't feel like I'm trying hard enough

I'm not sure why I'm posting really, has anyone else had this feeling when they first started? I'm currently just under 20 stone I think that's about 278 pounds and eating 1700 cals a day.

Don't get me wrong I'm not breezing it, I'd love a pizza binge but I'm not struggling how I usually do. This isn't torture. I've toyed with lowering my deficit for a quicker loss as it's set at a pound a week for now

Anyone relate?

Replies

  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I can't relate BUT with that said - you don't have to be miserable to lose weight. You don't have to torture your body or under-eat to be doing it correctly. That is AWESOME that you found what works for you!! Celebrate - don't despair! Keep doing what you're doing (I wouldn't change a thing for now) and enjoy your successes!
  • courtneyfabulous
    courtneyfabulous Posts: 1,863 Member
    That means you're doing it correctly, congratulations!!

    I feel the same way - it's tedious at times and it might be fun to go a little crazy with the food and not count... but I'm not overly hungry and don't have cravings, so I'm sane enough to stay the course and just slowly lose weight while feeling perfectly fine.

    I think if you've done crash diets in the past it can be an odd sensation to be doing a diet that is comparatively non-miserable.

    But slow sustainable weight loss is BETTER weight loss. Youre actually losing body fat and not crashing your metabolism!!

    It can be hard to shake the feeling that this should be harder, that you should feel hungrier. That it's TOO EASY... I know the feeling... but nope! That's how it's supposed to feel. You're dieting correctly for the first time in your life- isn't it nice??

    Do not drop your calories.
    Do not try to rush the process.
    Do not feel guilty.
    Just sit back and enjoy the ride.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    Sounds great and very sustainable. I am not the same. I hate losing weight now though because I've already lost and regained.
  • dizzysarah
    dizzysarah Posts: 34 Member
    Thanks guys

    I think that's it, I'm really struggling to trust the process. I've never felt so normal on a diet that it's making me feel abnormal ha :)
  • mysticlizard
    mysticlizard Posts: 896 Member
    Some of the time I have no problem staying on track and it is easy. Then I go through periods where I want to eat the house and I struggle. The nice thing is that I now know when I am struggling that I will get back to where I am on track and it is easy again.
  • dizzysarah
    dizzysarah Posts: 34 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    Sounds great and very sustainable. I am not the same. I hate losing weight now though because I've already lost and regained.

    I know how that feels, through mad crazy unsustainable diets in 2012 I lost 120 pounds I've gained it all back plus some. So mad at myself xx

  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    edited January 2017
    I'm down 25 lbs since October 30th. And so far, my experience has been a lot like yours.

    First, my daily caloric budget is higher than it's been on any other plan (I think! WW's point system was generally 50 calories=1 pt the last time I checked, but hi-fibre low-fat foods could sometimes be higher in calorie lower in point values, so it wasn't as exact).

    Second, even if I'm not eating back my exercise calories, just knowing that they're around in case I go a little over and need a cushion is a relief.

    Third, I think I finally accepted that having dessert does not mean "I was 'bad'," "I cheated," "I had a moment of weakness and fell off the wagon." It means "I see how many calories are in this. I can fit it into my calorie budget and enjoy it without feeling any guilt whatsoever. Because that half of a jelly donut is 135 calories and that is doable!"

    I'm looking better. I'm feeling great. I'm never hungry, and the pounds are coming off!
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    dizzysarah wrote: »
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    Sounds great and very sustainable. I am not the same. I hate losing weight now though because I've already lost and regained.

    I know how that feels, through mad crazy unsustainable diets in 2012 I lost 120 pounds I've gained it all back plus some. So mad at myself xx

    Oh man....I mean, I gained 10-12 back on purpose, then an extra 5 when I wanted to lose again...and just THAT was like crippling to me. You got this.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    I've lost a sizable amount of weight twice in my life and I'll say that both times it was easy when I first started.
  • dizzysarah
    dizzysarah Posts: 34 Member
    estherdragonbat wrote: »
    I'm down 25 lbs since October 30th. And so far, my experience has been a lot like yours.

    First, my daily caloric budget is higher than it's been on any other plan (I think! WW's point system was generally 50 calories=1 pt the last time I checked, but hi-fibre low-fat foods could sometimes be higher in calorie lower in point values, so it wasn't as exact).

    Second, even if I'm not eating back my exercise calories, just knowing that they're around in case I go a little over and need a cushion is a relief.

    Third, I think I finally accepted that having dessert does not mean "I was 'bad'," "I cheated," "I had a moment of weakness and fell off the wagon." It means "I see how many calories are in this. I can fit it into my calorie budget and enjoy it without feeling any guilt whatsoever. Because that half of a jelly donut is 135 calories and that is doable!"

    I'm looking better. I'm feeling great. I'm never hungry, and the pounds are coming off!


    That's fabulous! So the process really is working for you.

    I always go by the rule that if something seems too good to be true it usually is. But this so far so good seems to going ok.

    Mad to think I've tried every diet out there apart from the simple tried and tested calorie counting! Ha xx
  • courtneyfabulous
    courtneyfabulous Posts: 1,863 Member
    dizzysarah wrote: »
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    Sounds great and very sustainable. I am not the same. I hate losing weight now though because I've already lost and regained.

    I know how that feels, through mad crazy unsustainable diets in 2012 I lost 120 pounds I've gained it all back plus some. So mad at myself xx

    Remember that after the weight loss you need to keep working- it's then time to do MAINTENANCE. You don't lose weight and then get to go "oh cool, I'm done now!". Luckily with this method you just need to change your settings from weight loss to maintenance and keep doing what you're doing. After a while of being in maintenance you might be able to stop tracking and be more intuitive about eating, but keep an eye on the scale and if it starts creeping up just start tracking again til it comes off. Try to catch it early too so instead of having to lose 120 pounds you only need to lose 10 pounds.

    You got it this time!
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    @dizzysarah If you're comfortable in your calorie deficit and logging everything 100%, you're doing it right.

    There are ways, many ways, to do it wrong and really most of us have found some of those ways in our live. MFP shows us how to just do it right. Enjoy the ride.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    I know exactly what you mean. This whole MFP thing just feels "too easy". Am I kidding myself? Am I really a fatty in disguise? I KNOW that it has to be easy to be sustainable. I KNOW that's how normal weight people live their lives. I KNOW that I'm not different, I just have to do normal weight things, and then I'll be normal weight too. But it feels so strange. I'm used to associate eating with "guilt" and failure, pleasure with worry. Two years in maintenance, and I still have to reassure myself every day.
  • ladyreva78
    ladyreva78 Posts: 4,080 Member
    It feels a bit like cheating, doesn't it? It just seems unreal that you can lose weight and not suffer from it. That you can eat a large variety of things, including favorites such as chocolate, pizza and chips in my case. That you can go out with friends and just eat what you enjoy and not a sad looking salad with no sauce.

    It doesn't mean it's always easy. I do have bad days where I eat all the food and then some. But since I log it all, I know I don't need to feel guilty since it'll average out over the next week or two.

    After a year of this, I'm still learning about portion sizes and balance. I also still wake up in the morning and think it's unreal, that those 20kg I lost last year where only a dream and I'm still obese. In an odd way it's reassuring to know that MFP will be here for as long as I need to learn to reach that balance. I'm hoping to reach a healthy weight within the next year and the lose some more for vanity. And using this tool, I know I'll do it in a healthy manner. Then I'm hoping to apply what I learned to maintain that weight and maybe one day learn to live without needing to log my food. But until then, it doesn't take me all that much time and it works. :smiley:
  • dizzysarah
    dizzysarah Posts: 34 Member
    Yes!!! Thank you so much for your replies, I too have always associated eating with guilt and failure.
    When I was drinking my (albeit low fat) hot chocolate last night I couldn't help but think this is all nonsense. But yes it's how 'normal' people eat. Everything in moderation.

    That word moderation is a whole new concept to me it seems xx
  • biglouie7504
    biglouie7504 Posts: 23 Member
    dizzysarah wrote: »
    Ok so this will be my first sensible diet in my whole life. I'm 33.

    I'm not starving I'm eating well and still having treats. I'm logging EVERYTHING 100%

    Because I'm not overcome by hunger pains andbecause I'm not seeing or feeling super rapid results I don't feel right, I don't feel like I'm trying hard enough

    I'm not sure why I'm posting really, has anyone else had this feeling when they first started? I'm currently just under 20 stone I think that's about 278 pounds and eating 1700 cals a day.

    Don't get me wrong I'm not breezing it, I'd love a pizza binge but I'm not struggling how I usually do. This isn't torture. I've toyed with lowering my deficit for a quicker loss as it's set at a pound a week for now

    Anyone relate?

    You can do it dizzy! switch up your diet every couple weeks and throw in healthier versions of your favorite foods that way it's easier to stay on track throw in a pizza and a candy bar every now and then gotta reward yourself! I'd say at least once a week good luck:)
  • Libellue23
    Libellue23 Posts: 76 Member
    I can totally relate! 32 and sticking to it, not struggling, not hating it and it's working!
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I wasn't struggling one bit when I lost my 80 lbs. The struggle started when it was time to lose the last 5 pounds.
  • ActionAnnieJXN
    ActionAnnieJXN Posts: 116 Member
    That is so amazing to hear, OP! I'm very happy for you and I am having the same experience. So very grateful to be released from the inner turmoil and struggle over food and weight control and I hope we are free of it for good. Here's to the MFP way!! :-)
  • dizzysarah
    dizzysarah Posts: 34 Member
    That's so great to hear. It's been staring me in the face the whole time .... CICO!

    We got this xx
  • beerfoamy
    beerfoamy Posts: 1,520 Member
    dizzysarah wrote: »
    Ok so this will be my first sensible diet in my whole life. I'm 33.

    I'm not starving I'm eating well and still having treats. I'm logging EVERYTHING 100%

    Because I'm not overcome by hunger pains andbecause I'm not seeing or feeling super rapid results I don't feel right, I don't feel like I'm trying hard enough

    I'm not sure why I'm posting really, has anyone else had this feeling when they first started? I'm currently just under 20 stone I think that's about 278 pounds and eating 1700 cals a day.

    Don't get me wrong I'm not breezing it, I'd love a pizza binge but I'm not struggling how I usually do. This isn't torture. I've toyed with lowering my deficit for a quicker loss as it's set at a pound a week for now

    Anyone relate?

    Soooo glad this isn't just me. Happy for you and everyone who is feeling this way!
    Ok so have only been logging for 2 weeks but feel like it is so natural that I have been doing it for ages.
    Not had any real 'cravings' and have had treats within calorie allowances and just feeling great!

    I started at 226lbs and do exercise alot, my recommended cals are about 1400 which I am normally hitting. But then MFP says I burn on average 800 calories a day through exercise. Lost 4lb in first week, but nothing feels OTT or too fast - don't feel hungry and am learning to recognise that if I do go to a cupboard I am probably just bored or some other emotion.
    :smiley:

This discussion has been closed.

Categories