What nobody tells you about losing weight
Replies
-
You're definitely not alone. I noticed that too, even when I hadn't lost much weight yet. I think it's linked to being in a calorie deficit for a while, our fat cells being 'accessed' by our bodies for fuel or something. I'm hoping it gets firmer again in maintenance
It's such a strange thing to try to explain. Thanks for getting it.
I've read people saying that once you've lost all your weight it can take your body up to two years to tighten up as much as it's able to, so I too am hoping that in maintenance my body will magically sort itself out with a bit of patience. In any case, I'm trying to lose the weight to lower my health risks, so if I end up with slightly saggy skin, so be it. Maintenance is very far off for me, that's a next year project.
I've been keeping an eye on my weekly weight loss as it felt like it was consistently too high for ages, but it seems to have settled down to a more realistic loss each week now, so I don't feel as worried about loose skin as I used to. I'm just very bemused by what is going on. You definitely become more aware of your body and all its quirks as you lose weight...7 -
My body does that too but in stages. I'll get all weirdly squishy for a bit then in another few pounds it will go back to more normal. No clue why but it feels really strange doesn't it?!7
-
thelastnightingale wrote: »My fat feels different.
I'm not sure how to describe this or if anyone here has had a similar experience... My stomach felt firmer at maximum fatness. I'm not saying the skin is loose now or anything (well, maybe it's a bit looser, but that's not what I mean), but it feels... softer and squishier? I don't have to prod it to know it feels different, I just 'know' - but if I prod it, I can feel the difference.
There's less fat overall, but what is left feels like a different type of fat. A different texture. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just that it's different and it's a little bit weird.
Is it just me?
The explanation I have heard is that you’re losing density. Fat doesn’t burn away from the outside inward, it burns in totally random places. Like if you had a water balloon so full it’s about to pop vs a balloon that’s only half full.
10 -
thelastnightingale wrote: »My fat feels different.
I'm not sure how to describe this or if anyone here has had a similar experience... My stomach felt firmer at maximum fatness. I'm not saying the skin is loose now or anything (well, maybe it's a bit looser, but that's not what I mean), but it feels... softer and squishier? I don't have to prod it to know it feels different, I just 'know' - but if I prod it, I can feel the difference.
There's less fat overall, but what is left feels like a different type of fat. A different texture. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just that it's different and it's a little bit weird.
Is it just me?
I know exactly what you mean. I have it too right now. I can tell you from experience that this kind of fat we are feeling right now feels exactly like how my belly fat felt after I delivered with each of my pregnancies. I was overweight with all 4 of my pregnancies and my stomach fat felt just like this then so the main reason is that the skin has been stretched out by our fat and hasn't tightened up yet. Hopefully it will! I'm 50 so I'm thinking it's iffy for me!5 -
Funny about this. My apple watch was set to alert me with such a low RHR. i have also read that the newer ones will call 911 for you if its too low....i turned this feature off 3 -
joyanna2016 wrote: »I know exactly what you mean. I have it too right now. I can tell you from experience that this kind of fat we are feeling right now feels exactly like how my belly fat felt after I delivered with each of my pregnancies. I was overweight with all 4 of my pregnancies and my stomach fat felt just like this then so the main reason is that the skin has been stretched out by our fat and hasn't tightened up yet. Hopefully it will! I'm 50 so I'm thinking it's iffy for me!
Really interesting observation - thanks for sharing. Never been pregnant so don't have the same frame of reference. Fingers crossed for all of us! 2 -
thelastnightingale wrote: »My fat feels different.
I'm not sure how to describe this or if anyone here has had a similar experience... My stomach felt firmer at maximum fatness. I'm not saying the skin is loose now or anything (well, maybe it's a bit looser, but that's not what I mean), but it feels... softer and squishier? I don't have to prod it to know it feels different, I just 'know' - but if I prod it, I can feel the difference.
There's less fat overall, but what is left feels like a different type of fat. A different texture. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just that it's different and it's a little bit weird.
Is it just me?
Not just you. I went from firm fat to pillsbury dough fat...6 -
@thelastnightingale - Squishy fat is definitely a thing. And it's a good thing to go from firm fat to squishy fat. You are losing visceral fat but still have subcutaneous fat. Visceral fat is the stuff that really impairs your health, so you are already on the road to healing your body.
And this link will also help explain a lot:
https://bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat5 -
Funny about this. My apple watch was set to alert me with such a low RHR. i have also read that the newer ones will call 911 for you if its too low....i turned this feature off
My neighbor had a bad fall, hit her head on the sink and was knocked unconscious.
Her watch automatically notified 911, and the paramedics were at her door before her husband even realized there was a problem.
I had no idea the watch could do that. It saved her life. Beats the heck out of “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”!
15 -
thelastnightingale wrote: »My fat feels different.
I'm not sure how to describe this or if anyone here has had a similar experience... My stomach felt firmer at maximum fatness. I'm not saying the skin is loose now or anything (well, maybe it's a bit looser, but that's not what I mean), but it feels... softer and squishier? I don't have to prod it to know it feels different, I just 'know' - but if I prod it, I can feel the difference.
There's less fat overall, but what is left feels like a different type of fat. A different texture. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just that it's different and it's a little bit weird.
Is it just me?
This is a good article from MFP explaining the differences in fat type and what you are noticing a difference with. https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/the-most-dangerous-fat-is-the-easiest-to-lose/3 -
I notice that I have a harder time treading water! It's actually kind of funny, but it makes sense because fat is buoyant.8
-
How infrequently I poop. I used to have 2 or 3 bowel movements a day when I was gorging myself. Limiting to 1500 calories daily doesn't push the food through fast enough. Now I poop pretty much every 48 hours on the dot.13
-
How infrequently I poop. I used to have 2 or 3 bowel movements a day when I was gorging myself. Limiting to 1500 calories daily doesn't push the food through fast enough. Now I poop pretty much every 48 hours on the dot.
So right - and thank you for saying that out loud. And I would add how its not just water weight that drives you crazy with weight fluctuations. There's poop weight too!
12 -
How infrequently I poop. I used to have 2 or 3 bowel movements a day when I was gorging myself. Limiting to 1500 calories daily doesn't push the food through fast enough. Now I poop pretty much every 48 hours on the dot.
So right - and thank you for saying that out loud. And I would add how its not just water weight that drives you crazy with weight fluctuations. There's poop weight too!
Ah yes, the constipation bloat. Not to mention, it is way more obvious when I'm constipated now because the bloat in my stomach is much more prominent when there's less fat covering the area. Sometimes I think when I was at a higher weight, my diet was so poor that I just lived with being bloated and having regular constipation. Didn't know any differently.7 -
thelastnightingale wrote: »My fat feels different.
I'm not sure how to describe this or if anyone here has had a similar experience... My stomach felt firmer at maximum fatness. I'm not saying the skin is loose now or anything (well, maybe it's a bit looser, but that's not what I mean), but it feels... softer and squishier? I don't have to prod it to know it feels different, I just 'know' - but if I prod it, I can feel the difference.
There's less fat overall, but what is left feels like a different type of fat. A different texture. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just that it's different and it's a little bit weird.
Is it just me?
No it is not just you. I feel that way too...3 -
RelCanonical wrote: »How infrequently I poop. I used to have 2 or 3 bowel movements a day when I was gorging myself. Limiting to 1500 calories daily doesn't push the food through fast enough. Now I poop pretty much every 48 hours on the dot.
So right - and thank you for saying that out loud. And I would add how its not just water weight that drives you crazy with weight fluctuations. There's poop weight too!
Ah yes, the constipation bloat. Not to mention, it is way more obvious when I'm constipated now because the bloat in my stomach is much more prominent when there's less fat covering the area. Sometimes I think when I was at a higher weight, my diet was so poor that I just lived with being bloated and having regular constipation. Didn't know any differently.
This. Not only is it more visible, but I can feel it in there too, which is freaky. I get regular constipation from TOM (and issues associated with TOM) so being able to see/feel it actually helps to know when to take medication and get everything flowing again instead of waiting until it's really bad before taking the medication. So I never thought that would be a thing, but it is.
6 -
Oh man. It's so much I can say in this thread.
-I focus more on fitness especially strength training since it has helped me get a curvy body. I will say my cardio has gotten a lot better.
-I've gotten like 500 guys request me to be their friend on Facebook all of a sudden.
-My clothes have changed to where I order more since I've gotten smaller.
-I get a lot of praise based on how much I have lost and I have gotten treated like royalty compared to what I did back then.
-While walking my dog, I get a lot of stares from guys and even some have tried to pull up on me and asked for my number.
-I feel a lot more confident when I look in the mirror.
-I like to go out more because when I was bigger, I was afraid of going anywhere due to the fear of being made fun of because of my weight and being laughed at.
I'm sure there's more but I can't think of them right now. Lol
15 -
I will say, however, that one of the negatives is that when you lose so much weight, you have excess fat/skin hanging like in your stomach area and your tricep area (aka bat wings) Lol7
-
wateryphoenix wrote: »-You will discover bones you forgot (or never knew) you had.
I'm obsessed with my collar bone!6 -
How hard it’s become to shave my underarms.
Realized that (rotflmao) the part that needs shaving has dropped down several inches below where it used to be located.
Also, the strange Stretch Armstrong pouches that randomly pop out around my tank armholes.
My butt’s gone soft and flabby again. I’m sincerely hoping it’s not another woosh coming, but it has all the earmarks.
Twenty one months and 90+ pounds in, and my body is still finding the need to rearrange itself. No one told me that. Hey, me! Do I get any say in the redecorating plan?32
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393K Introduce Yourself
- 43.7K Getting Started
- 260.1K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.8K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 417 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.9K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.6K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.5K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions
Do you Love MyFitnessPal? Have you crushed a goal or improved your life through better nutrition using MyFitnessPal?
Share your success and inspire others. Leave us a review on Apple Or Google Play stores!
Share your success and inspire others. Leave us a review on Apple Or Google Play stores!