Half way to goal slump

beth0277
beth0277 Posts: 217 Member
edited November 19 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm about half way to my goal, maybe a little less than half way, and I'm feeling sort of defeated. The days of seeing exciting losses is gone and I miss the way I used to eat sometimes. The thoughtlessness of running to Wendy's or Chick-Fil-A for lunch or having whatever I wanted for dinner without weighing everything. My clothes still fit the same, even though I've lost 30 pounds. I can't tell a difference, though I've had a few remarks. Is it really that much better once we get to goal? I've logged in around 100 days in a row now and have felt pretty positive, but my losses are slowing a bit, naturally, and I'm not feeling too great about everything. I guess I see everything I've given up but don't see a lot that I've accomplished and wondering if the trade off has been worth it.

Replies

  • animatorswearbras
    animatorswearbras Posts: 1,001 Member
    edited June 2017
    30 pounds is an amazing loss well done and yes it will slow down, I assume for that loss you've been very restrictive though as that's slightly over 2 pounds a week loss, I say now you're on the last 30 change your goals to a pound a week and bank some calories on your good days so that you can have a maintenance or over day at the weekend.

    Personally I have weekly deficit goals rather than daily and as I'm on the last 10 or so pounds I'm aiming for a1/2 pound loss a week or 2000cal weekly deficit, I do this by having an average deficit of -500 Monday to Thursday and then average maintenance Friday to Sunday. This works for me and means I can go out for a meal at the weekends or a couple of drinks on a Friday after work.

    Maybe try this and give yourself some wiggle room to eat at maintenance or slightly over some days as long as you compensate during the week, Ive been at this for 6 months (with a 1 week break for going on holiday/vacation where I didn't count cals) my method works for me and keeps me at it. Change your goals if you feel too restricted x I'm sure you've had results but it's hard to see the incremental changes when you look in the mirror everyday (hell I didn't see the changes when the scale was going up until I got some photo's as a wake up call) keep on it you can do it!

    Don't give up now you're over the half way mark, be inspired by yourself! xxxxx
  • Poisonedpawn78
    Poisonedpawn78 Posts: 1,145 Member
    Reaffirm why you started in the first place to yourself.
  • db121215
    db121215 Posts: 60 Member
    I'm down 44. At the beginning, that scale went down like clockwork every single morning. Very encouraging. Now, it may take a week, but it continues to move in the right direction. And that's what matters, right? Good things take time, patience and hard work. You've put in much effort to be down 30 and that's one hell of an accomplishment. You will get the next 30 off, may take a little more effort since it's not as excess, may take a little more movement and logging then you've been doing, but the goal is insight and achievable. I have 25 more to go by mid September. Hang in there. We are all in this together.
  • beth0277
    beth0277 Posts: 217 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    This is why so many of us leave comments about not having to give anything up. I eat fast food a couple times a week. I eat ice cream 3 or 4 nights a week after dinner. I don't regret giving things up because I didn't.

    One of the goals of your weight loss should be to find a way of eating that you enjoy, that is realistic, and that keeps you at the correct calorie level. So make your goal to start tweaking your diet so you enjoy it more. Often people get hung up on dramatic scale results because they aren't happy eating the way they are and they need constant affirmation that it's "worth it". If you can find a way of eating that you're happy with, your new lifestyle is it's own reward and you don't need constant affirmation from the scale.

    Also, are you active? Finding fun ways to be more active and burn more calories will have two benefits: 1 you will have more wiggle room in your diet and 2 exercise really can help to make your body look better.

    Try setting small non-scale goals to keep you moving toward a lifestyle that will make getting to and then maintaining a healthy weight easy and enjoyable. :drinker:

    I actually do eat, within reason, the way I want to a lot. I have an ice cream cone almost every night. Of course, I can't make Chick-Fil-A for lunch and Mexican for dinner work every day, it just simply wouldn't work out. I guess on days when the scale hasn't moved much in a few days and I'm not seeing any physical changes, it makes me miss eating with no regard as to how many calories are in things, if that makes sense. I am a proponent of eating anything, within reason. I can't overly restrict. I've done that so many times in the past and always end up bingeing and going back to my old ways. So I am more reasonable now, but days like today can still be tough.
  • susanp57
    susanp57 Posts: 409 Member
    I understand how you feel. It can become tiresome. I've been at it for about the same length of time, have lost about 18 lbs., but only had 27 lbs to lose. I do indulge in the occasional treat, but not those things other posters advocate as they would be the road to hades for me.

    I am curious about the clothes fitting issue. Just because they are still wearable or not falling off does not mean they are still what you should be wearing. Have you tried on anything new? Go out and try on something new! A new dress or pair of pants may help you see the changes in your body.
  • merekins
    merekins Posts: 228 Member
    You lost 30lbs in 100 days? I don't think it's possible to sustain that kind of loss nor would it be healthy. Life doesn't magically get easier after losing weight. People that have gotten use to overeating don't just automatically fix those urges by hitting a goal weight. If you want to keep the weight off, the reality is that you can't go back to the way you use to eat. Thoughtlessness was the problem. Mindfulness is the answer. I really, really, really wish that wasn't the case. The joy of eating a whole pint of Ben & Jerries whenever I want are over for me.
  • CTcutie
    CTcutie Posts: 649 Member
    edited June 2017
    You are doing great! I also would suggest going clothes shopping & bring a close friend or family member to take some pics of you trying on new clothes in smaller sizes & newer styles bc you will see yourself in a new way when you have a few new pieces :-) You can do selfies,but having someone else help you figure out what cuts of clothing look best can help! Don't be afraid to try new styles- it can be fun to try ridiculous outfits! And things often look different on vs the hanger.

    Just bc you can use spanx or a belt to hold up your old pants doesn't mean you should!!
    Thrift stores an also be fun!

    Also- trying new activities or workouts will give you new goals to strive for.
  • beth0277
    beth0277 Posts: 217 Member
    merekins wrote: »
    You lost 30lbs in 100 days? I don't think it's possible to sustain that kind of loss nor would it be healthy. Life doesn't magically get easier after losing weight. People that have gotten use to overeating don't just automatically fix those urges by hitting a goal weight. If you want to keep the weight off, the reality is that you can't go back to the way you use to eat. Thoughtlessness was the problem. Mindfulness is the answer. I really, really, really wish that wasn't the case. The joy of eating a whole pint of Ben & Jerries whenever I want are over for me.

    No, I should have pointed out that I had lost 10 of the pounds before I started tracking accurately so in the last 100 days, I've lost 20.8 pounds. Sorry for missing that point!
  • beth0277
    beth0277 Posts: 217 Member
    susanp57 wrote: »
    I understand how you feel. It can become tiresome. I've been at it for about the same length of time, have lost about 18 lbs., but only had 27 lbs to lose. I do indulge in the occasional treat, but not those things other posters advocate as they would be the road to hades for me.

    I am curious about the clothes fitting issue. Just because they are still wearable or not falling off does not mean they are still what you should be wearing. Have you tried on anything new? Go out and try on something new! A new dress or pair of pants may help you see the changes in your body.

    I think part of it is that I never really sized up so I was probably stretching the clothes pretty thin (no pun intended) at my higher weight but no, nothing is really falling off of me or looking sloppy at this point. I've been "shopping" in my closet from some old clothes to see if I can fit in some stuff and maybe fitting into a size smaller, barely, but nothing noticeable.
  • merekins
    merekins Posts: 228 Member
    beth0277 wrote: »
    merekins wrote: »
    You lost 30lbs in 100 days? I don't think it's possible to sustain that kind of loss nor would it be healthy. Life doesn't magically get easier after losing weight. People that have gotten use to overeating don't just automatically fix those urges by hitting a goal weight. If you want to keep the weight off, the reality is that you can't go back to the way you use to eat. Thoughtlessness was the problem. Mindfulness is the answer. I really, really, really wish that wasn't the case. The joy of eating a whole pint of Ben & Jerries whenever I want are over for me.

    No, I should have pointed out that I had lost 10 of the pounds before I started tracking accurately so in the last 100 days, I've lost 20.8 pounds. Sorry for missing that point!

    That's great! I'm happy to hear that's the case.
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    I've lost 30# exactly since this day LAST YEAR. But, I have made significant strides in improving my eating habits and getting off the diet yo-yo roller coaster. Long-term weight loss is WAY more important than fast. Keep doing what you're doing! Eat Chik Fil A if you want, just don't make it a habit.
  • brookekaczor
    brookekaczor Posts: 59 Member
    I'm not sure what your starting weight was to not see a difference with 20 lbs. For me I have lost 30 lbs and am now just starting to go down a size. I started at 220 and am at 190.... it can be difficult to see the scale go up a lb or 2 and then down and up and down... but as long as the trend is down, it's a victory. If you are starting at a higher weight and you may not change sizes as quickly, but as you finally start seeing that change it'll change more quickly with less weight loss.... please persevere...I know its tough but this is a long haul that we are all on, and are here to support each other
  • beth0277
    beth0277 Posts: 217 Member
    brookekaczor wrote: »
    I'm not sure what your starting weight was to not see a difference with 20 lbs. For me I have lost 30 lbs and am now just starting to go down a size. I started at 220 and am at 190.... it can be difficult to see the scale go up a lb or 2 and then down and up and down... but as long as the trend is down, it's a victory. If you are starting at a higher weight and you may not change sizes as quickly, but as you finally start seeing that change it'll change more quickly with less weight loss.... please persevere...I know its tough but this is a long haul that we are all on, and are here to support each other

    Sounds like we have similar stats. My highest weight was 213 but 100 days ago I was 204. This morning I was 183.4. Side note, the 180's suck. I have been here for so long, it seems. I was 188-187-188-187 and back and forth for like 2 weeks, and now I seem to be doing the same with 183-184. Boo.
  • db121215
    db121215 Posts: 60 Member
    beth0277 wrote: »
    brookekaczor wrote: »
    I'm not sure what your starting weight was to not see a difference with 20 lbs. For me I have lost 30 lbs and am now just starting to go down a size. I started at 220 and am at 190.... it can be difficult to see the scale go up a lb or 2 and then down and up and down... but as long as the trend is down, it's a victory. If you are starting at a higher weight and you may not change sizes as quickly, but as you finally start seeing that change it'll change more quickly with less weight loss.... please persevere...I know its tough but this is a long haul that we are all on, and are here to support each other

    Sounds like we have similar stats. My highest weight was 213 but 100 days ago I was 204. This morning I was 183.4. Side note, the 180's suck. I have been here for so long, it seems. I was 188-187-188-187 and back and forth for like 2 weeks, and now I seem to be doing the same with 183-184. Boo.

    I find that now instead of seeing movement on the scale each day, I will see every 3 or 4 days. Sometimes it stalls for a week and restarts. What I find motivating is to look back at progress charts. You see a pattern. For me, although some weeks I feel stagnant, overall, the loss is 9 to 10 lbs every 30 days. Having recently exited the 180s, I agree. They sucked.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    2 things,

    1. Nothing wrong with taking a "diet break" at maintenance after 100 days straight of restricting... I'm not encouraging you to binge or go wild, but relax a bit for a day or 2 or week or 2.
    2. As has been beaten to death. There's no reason why Wendy's or Chick-fil-a can't fit within a weekly or daily deficit.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    I think you'll struggle more and more if you're missing the way you ate before. It'll just be a question of time before you'll want to give up. You need to challenge your attitude.

    Maybe you need to give your diet a total overhaul too. Many of the foods you mention are calorie dense and made to make you want more. There are so many great foods and meals that are easier to moderate. Maybe you can keep losing without weighing and just loosely log, if you eat fewer and more nutritious meals. "The Plate Model" is one strategy if calorie counting bothers you so much. But if it's the eating less part that's the problem, you'll have to dig deeper.

    No, you can't just eat mindlessly and lose/maintain weight. That was how you got overweight. I don't think you want to regain. But you can't just not want to regain, you have to do the things that leads to not regaining. Is mindlessly overeating that great? Do you really like it?

    Keep in mind that even when you find your optimal diet, you'll still have days that are tough. But they can't all be tough. You need to find a new normal. The sooner you can find it, the better.

    And I think you may have a skewed perception/memory of how your clothes fit - if you have lost 30 pounds, you are slimmer. Your overall body shape may be the same - and it will still be the same when you hit goal weight. Don't expect to look like Naomi Campbell, unless, of course, you are Naomi Campbell.

    I'd like to recommend some books that have helped me: Eating Less by Gillian Riley, The End of Overeating by David Kessler, The Diet Fix: Why Diets Fail... by Yoni Freedhoff, Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin, The Pleasure Trap
    by Douglas Lisle, I Can Make You Thin by Paul McKenna - and Allen Carr's Easyweigh to Lose Weight. Also look into the works of Brian Wansink, Mark Schatzker, Michael Pollan, David L. Katz, Michael Moss, maybe I left some out, but these are great to start with. You can usually find long excerpts on Google Books or borrow from your library.
  • MJ2victory
    MJ2victory Posts: 97 Member
    I think others have hinted at this but you are in a lot of danger right now because you're focusing too much on weight loss. You need to give the scale a break. Weigh once a week at the most, even better to cut down to every other week or once a month!!! Think about non-scale victories like walking a father distance, being able to do more without getting winded, not feeling sick from overating, increased energy, etc. Your true goal has never been numbers on a scale; it's an improved quality of life. And by focusing too much on numbers, you can miss out on the real benefits of a new lifestyle.
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