Weight loss slowed, feeling down.

CZoschke
CZoschke Posts: 7 Member
edited November 29 in Motivation and Support
I started my weight loss journey on June 1st, 2018. It's been 5 months and I've lost 28 pounds so far on a 1200 calorie diet alone. I started my first day at the gym yesterday.

I know there is a point everyone slows down at, but I feel like I'm failing after seeing 2 lbs off each week for the first 3 months. Hoping the cardio at the gym will help.

Replies

  • sea2sea39
    sea2sea39 Posts: 6 Member
    The same happened to me after losing 60. I’m trying to switch up my diet & do more weight training.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    CZoschke wrote: »
    I started my weight loss journey on June 1st, 2018. It's been 5 months and I've lost 28 pounds so far on a 1200 calorie diet alone. I started my first day at the gym yesterday.

    I know there is a point everyone slows down at, but I feel like I'm failing after seeing 2 lbs off each week for the first 3 months. Hoping the cardio at the gym will help.

    2 lbs is actually really fast, you can't realistically expect to continue to consistently see that through your whole weight loss. There are lots of variables that can show up on the scale - it weighs all of you, not just the fat.

    As you lose weight, your rate of loss will naturally slow, and you will also have less wiggle room.

    Long term aggressive weight loss can also affect your hormones and focus. Have you taken a diet break yet? You might want to check out at least the OP in this thread:
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10604863/of-refeeds-and-diet-breaks/p1

    Short answer: You need realistic expectations and can't get down every time you have a week or two where the scale doesn't say what you want it to. Hang in there!
  • gabi_texanmom
    gabi_texanmom Posts: 201 Member
    Wow - congratulations on your loss so far!

    I agree, try setting different goals other than the number on the scale. You can challenge yourself instead with increasing reps, time, speed, how many days you go to the gym, etc. You may want to get a measuring tape. I haven't lost much weight this month, but I am down 5 inches in my waist overall.

    I had actually lost 60lbs a few years ago. I gave up after being discouraged because of my plateau with weight loss. I regret giving up after all that hard work - please just keep going!
  • siobhanaoife
    siobhanaoife Posts: 151 Member
    I feel you. I got hooked on rapid progress. I'm in the nerve-wracking process now of:
    - switching my goal down to 1.5/week
    - exercising more
    - actually eating back my exercise calories

    It's emotionally challenging for me because rapid weight loss is a super short-term reward. But I'm trying to settle in for the long haul. I'm going to spend vastly more time in maintenance than in active weight loss, so I've got to calm down about it and just stay in the groove.

    I find it annoying that I've lost 184 pounds and am still fat (it's amusing how put-upon that makes me feel - like hey, c'mon, no fair!) But it's more important to me to get there healthy, strong, and not looking starved from losing all my muscle mass along the way.

    Hang in there. Feel your feelings, acknowledge them. Then set them aside as best you can, as they are not serving you well. It's ok for this to be an amble rather than a sprint.
  • Panini911
    Panini911 Posts: 2,325 Member
    edited October 2018
    28pds in 5 months is very fast, congrats on all the hard work.

    weight loss goes faster the more you have to loose. but as mentioned above, as hard as it is mentally/emotionally, as you get closer to your goal (last 20pds) you need to slow down the rate of loss to ensure best health. It's hard to see the slow down but it's the best way. Just keep telling yourself progress is progress.

    it's a marathon not a sprint. you need to keep your eye on the future not immediate results.
  • Kimmotion5783
    Kimmotion5783 Posts: 417 Member
    edited October 2018
    CZ, it's only natural to feel that way- all of us do in this journey at one point or another. There's always that time when you hit a weight loss plateau and feel like things have stopped working. The scale might not reflect it at the time, but all the efforts you make every single day are working. They do count for something. Plateaus are tough, but you gotta be tougher. You just gotta keep up the hard work, power through it, and the scale will eventually start moving down again. Some weeks you might lose a few pounds, some weeks you might lose a few ounces, some weeks you might stay the same and some weeks you might even gain. That's the way it goes- life is not linear and there will be bumps along the way. But as long as you don't give up and keep giving it your all, you will see the fruits of your labor come to pass. Everything takes time. I've lost 125 pounds, but it didn't happen overnight. It took me two years. I don't regret a single second of it. Stick with it! Enjoy your new gym membership and remember- you got this! Get fit, don't quit!
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