What nobody tells you about losing weight

LauraInTheWater · January 2018

I have cheekbones!!! And they are high af.

Also, I don’t care what people say, I now believe that leggings are pants...mainly because my booty deserves to be flaunted.

gymprincess1234 · January 2018

LauraInTheWater wrote: »

I have cheekbones!!! And they are high af.

Also, I don’t care what people say, I now believe that leggings are pants...mainly because my booty deserves to be flaunted.

Lol , I think I check my own bum in gym mirror more than anyone else

regina_demcuka · January 2018

It's definetley cold. And its not possible to sleep on sides anymore because my sholders and hips hurts and i need a pillow to wrap my arms around otherwise i have the feeling of emptiness

But the other thing is that it takes time to get used to the fact that you have actually lost certain amount of weight and the first times looking in the mirror was hard to see any difference and even if the scale showed other thing i still looked at myself in the mirror and couldnt see any changes. But the mind works little bit slower and after a while it got better.

SignpostPsycho · January 2018

I have read every single page (skimming all the replies of course). I'm down 33 of 60ish pounds and have found certain things to be true:

1. If you aren't really ready, it's not going to happen. I kept trying for years and years on this hopeless yo-yo...but until it finally "clicked", nothing ever stuck. I had to WANT it, not just know that it was necessary. And that "click" is directly in line with your mental health. You can't be hating yourself and your life and do a good job cutting out the only thing that comforts you. I spent 6 months with a counselor helping figure out WHY I was so unhappy...then the weight started falling off!
2. There is a difference between being desperate to lose weight, and being determined. Desperate is willing to over train, under eat, and eventually get too exhausted to keep going, get defeated, and gain it all back (plus some!). Determined is much more about moderation, forgiveness, and moving on.
3. You will still hurt almost daily. Except instead of aching knees and headaches and stomach upset, it's muscle pain from all the gains! And occasionally, hips from seeing JUST how fast you can actually run.
4. People don't know what to do or say. I'm lucky that I work in healthcare - when people ask and I say "diet and exercise" they get it to some degree. A lot of them know about MFP too! But always afterwards it's "But you didn't look bad before!!" Yes I did. We're just used to caring for 200+ lb short people half naked, not 180lb short people who wear baggy scrubs.
On that note, old people are the WORST. Yes grammy-in-law, I know I look good and you've never seen me this thin before...but I'm still not healthy. Please stop putting candy on my desk and insisting on seconds at supper. AND YES MOTHER IN LAW DEAREST, I DO PREFER A GLASS OF WATER TO A SODA WITH DINNER OUT...come to think of it, maybe it's just my in laws who are the worst!
5. How much you compare yourself to others in similar situations...but you still feel uncomfortable sharing with them your personal struggles because you started out at a lower weight than they did, as if that somehow negates all the work you've had to put in.
6. If you didn't have friends to start with, getting in shape isn't going to help you get them - you have to do that yourself.
7. How you can go from "look at that fit girl doing all those curls! That's impressive" to "Holy *kitten* I'm lifting the same weight as fit girl!
8. It can be a fight to the death to get your closest people on board. My husband is more a "strong man" style of fit and has been dirty bulking for about 2 years now. It worked for him, he's massive! But always having junk around the house and late night Taco Bell runs and having to prepare different meals was exhausting. I've FINALLY gotten him to get on his first real cut and it's amazing how much easier this journey is with him right by my side.

I look forward to the next 27 pounds and what it will bring! But I am even happier to be, well...happy!

whosshe · January 2018

regina_demcuka wrote: »

It's definetley cold. And its not possible to sleep on sides anymore because my sholders and hips hurts and i need a pillow to wrap my arms around otherwise i have the feeling of emptiness
But the other thing is that it takes time to get used to the fact that you have actually lost certain amount of weight and the first times looking in the mirror was hard to see any difference and even if the scale showed other thing i still looked at myself in the mirror and couldnt see any changes. But the mind works little bit slower and after a while it got better.

For the first time in my life I am a back sleeper.

mangrothian · January 2018

missKmorgan wrote: »

<<Picked up a kettle bell of roughly what I've lost, for reference.

Ya'll.

I couldn't even walk around with that thing. No one tells you HOW HEAVY the extra weight is. Losing 50 pounds slowly (especially when you have more to go) seems like a matter of fact thing but realizing that you were walking around with that is just... mind blowing. Like, where does that even come from?! I honestly have no idea where all of that weight was sitting.>>

No kidding! My daughter and I raise horses and we were just talking about how heavy a 50 # bag of grain is and I had been carrying that around with me for the last 30 years. I am shocked at how much extra weight I was dragging around with me whenever I unload grain into the feed bin.

I feel you there. I buy kibble for my dogs in 20kg (45lb) bags, two a month. To carry the equivalent amount of weight I've lost, I'd have to pick up three of them at once, and there's no bloody way I'd be able to do it anymore (I should probably lift more weights at the gym to remedy that....)

AMC110 · January 2018

SignpostPsycho wrote: »

1. If you aren't really ready, it's not going to happen. I kept trying for years and years on this hopeless yo-yo...but until it finally "clicked", nothing ever stuck. I had to WANT it, not just know that it was necessary. And that "click" is directly in line with your mental health. You can't be hating yourself and your life and do a good job cutting out the only thing that comforts you. I spent 6 months with a counselor helping figure out WHY I was so unhappy...then the weight started falling off!

I loved reading your perspective and this part of your post really resonated with me.

clicketykeys · January 2018

SignpostPsycho wrote: »

YES MOTHER IN LAW DEAREST, I DO PREFER A GLASS OF WATER TO A SODA WITH DINNER OUT...

I generally prefer water rather than soda at a restaurant because the markup on beverages is RIDICULOUS and I'm that doggone cheap

ridiculous59 · January 2018

clicketykeys wrote: »

SignpostPsycho wrote: »

YES MOTHER IN LAW DEAREST, I DO PREFER A GLASS OF WATER TO A SODA WITH DINNER OUT...

I generally prefer water rather than soda at a restaurant because the markup on beverages is RIDICULOUS and I'm that doggone cheap

Server: Would you like a glass of overpriced, sugary chemicals with your meal?
Me: Not today, thank you. And neither would my children.

emcclure013 · January 2018

So I know everyone has mentioned how cold they get... but I've noticed that I get cold in weird places. I was laying in bed the other night and my knees were cold. I think I've gotten used to my feet being chilly, but my knees were a new one!

Another little revelation this week - I didn't know there was such a thing as "size limbo" where you don't know what size you are. I was out shopping and had to pull three sizes to see what looked good because nothing fits like it used to, and I honestly didn't know what size I should be wearing! I've never been so lost in a store in all my life!

wifey826 · January 2018

"Another little revelation this week - I didn't know there was such a thing as "size limbo" where you don't know what size you are. I was out shopping and had to pull three sizes to see what looked good because nothing fits like it used to, and I honestly didn't know what size I should be wearing! I've never been so lost in a store in all my life!"

Yup. I'm right there with you. I am in the 18-20 range. 20's are loose, and 18's are very snug (of course, I buy everything stretchy, so maybe I'm still really just a 20? BOO!) I have worn elastic pants for so long, I don't even know how pants should fit on me.

If I can pull a pair of jeans up and down over my hips without unzipping first, Is that my true size? Ugh. This is the part I didn't expect. Not knowing how clothes are really meant to fit causes an unnecessary amount of time at the store! Meh.....

AMC110 · January 2018

wifey826 wrote: »

Yup. I'm right there with you. I am in the 18-20 range. 20's are loose, and 18's are very snug (of course, I buy everything stretchy, so maybe I'm still really just a 20? BOO!) I have worn elastic pants for so long, I don't even know how pants should fit on me.

If I can pull a pair of jeans up and down over my hips without unzipping first, Is that my true size? Ugh. This is the part I didn't expect. Not knowing how clothes are really meant to fit causes an unnecessary amount of time at the store! Meh.....

I think that means they're too big, of course I'm still in the elastic waist phase so who am I to say lol

sytchequeen · January 2018

wifey826 wrote: »

Not knowing how clothes are really meant to fit causes an unnecessary amount of time at the store! Meh.....

Also, sizes aren't consistent... I can be a 12 in one shop and a 16 in the next one. It does make clothes shopping a little more stressful. Luckily I am currently rediscovering old clothes I haven't worn for a couple of years, but there have been a few things I've needed to replace. It took me 5 hours and about 7 shops to find a smart black trouser suit!

vanmep · January 2018

The absolute pleasure of feeling hungry, sitting down to a delicious meal that satisfy that hunger and never feeling guilty about eating because I have planned and decided everything I’m going to eat.

jebr76 · January 2018

SignpostPsycho wrote: »

I have read every single page (skimming all the replies of course). I'm down 33 of 60ish pounds and have found certain things to be true:

1. If you aren't really ready, it's not going to happen. I kept trying for years and years on this hopeless yo-yo...but until it finally "clicked", nothing ever stuck. I had to WANT it, not just know that it was necessary. And that "click" is directly in line with your mental health. You can't be hating yourself and your life and do a good job cutting out the only thing that comforts you. I spent 6 months with a counselor helping figure out WHY I was so unhappy...then the weight started falling off!
2. There is a difference between being desperate to lose weight, and being determined. Desperate is willing to over train, under eat, and eventually get too exhausted to keep going, get defeated, and gain it all back (plus some!). Determined is much more about moderation, forgiveness, and moving on.

That second point practically jumped off the page and punched me in the face with how much it resonated. The number of times in the past that I've cut, over-exercised, gone full type A on my weight loss only to burn out in weeks or months numbers right up there with how many stars are in the sky. Determined is about moderation, forgiveness, and moving on - that sings to me right now. Not eating meals separately from my family, but eating what they have in moderation. Not going to the gym for two hours and neglecting my kids on the weekend, but 30-45 minutes of moderate exercise in the mornings before work. Forgiving myself for break/cheat days - because without them I'd be defeated and gain it back - and getting right back to my journey. Well stated.

wifey826 · January 2018

AMC110 wrote: »

wifey826 wrote: »

Yup. I'm right there with you. I am in the 18-20 range. 20's are loose, and 18's are very snug (of course, I buy everything stretchy, so maybe I'm still really just a 20? BOO!) I have worn elastic pants for so long, I don't even know how pants should fit on me.

If I can pull a pair of jeans up and down over my hips without unzipping first, Is that my true size? Ugh. This is the part I didn't expect. Not knowing how clothes are really meant to fit causes an unnecessary amount of time at the store! Meh.....

I think that means they're too big, of course I'm still in the elastic waist phase so who am I to say lol

Well, then it looks like I have to do even more shopping. NOO!!

HDBKLM · January 2018

LauraInTheWater wrote: »

I have cheekbones!!! And they are high af.

Also, I don’t care what people say, I now believe that leggings are pants...mainly because my booty deserves to be flaunted.

Hahaha love this. But question: because of my apple shape (and therefore relatively skinny legs) I've basically always worn leggings as pants, albeit with a shirt that covers at least to my butt. Is wearing leggings as pants 'for real' different, like with a normal-length shirt? Like, is the booty an integral part of the process or can I also be in the leggings-are-pants club?

kenyonhaff · January 2018

AMC110 wrote: »

wifey826 wrote: »

Yup. I'm right there with you. I am in the 18-20 range. 20's are loose, and 18's are very snug (of course, I buy everything stretchy, so maybe I'm still really just a 20? BOO!) I have worn elastic pants for so long, I don't even know how pants should fit on me.

If I can pull a pair of jeans up and down over my hips without unzipping first, Is that my true size? Ugh. This is the part I didn't expect. Not knowing how clothes are really meant to fit causes an unnecessary amount of time at the store! Meh.....

I think that means they're too big, of course I'm still in the elastic waist phase so who am I to say lol

Jeans vary so much in cut and style. And really there's no effective industry standard anymore. So saying "I'm a size 22" or "12" or "-5" is really not terribly useful. Body measurements are more accurate.

My general advice is if you can pull on a pair of (non-elastic waist) pants without unbuttoning them first, they are probably too big. But saying that, I have a few pairs that I keep around because they do pass the "do they look OK" test. That's what belts are good for.

clicketykeys · January 2018

kenyonhaff wrote: »

AMC110 wrote: »

wifey826 wrote: »

Yup. I'm right there with you. I am in the 18-20 range. 20's are loose, and 18's are very snug (of course, I buy everything stretchy, so maybe I'm still really just a 20? BOO!) I have worn elastic pants for so long, I don't even know how pants should fit on me.

If I can pull a pair of jeans up and down over my hips without unzipping first, Is that my true size? Ugh. This is the part I didn't expect. Not knowing how clothes are really meant to fit causes an unnecessary amount of time at the store! Meh.....

I think that means they're too big, of course I'm still in the elastic waist phase so who am I to say lol

My general advice is if you can pull on a pair of (non-elastic waist) pants without unbuttoning them first, they are probably too big. But saying that, I have a few pairs that I keep around because they do pass the "do they look OK" test. That's what belts are good for.

Yup. Also, the slightly-too-big pants are great to wear OVER leggings, though I still need a belt. This (a) helps me stay warm, and (b) makes it easier/faster to get changed at the gym after work - I just pull off the outer layer!

daltontf · January 2018

I was explaining to my daughter how we discovered in preschool that fart sound you can make by placing your hand(s) over your cheek and mouth. I used to be able make a obnoxious and loud one, but can't now that my cheeks are not as chubby.

What nobody tells you about losing weight

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