What nobody tells you about losing weight

FibroHiker wrote: »

... the only thing that will work for me is the diet and plan that were meant for me. It will take some experimentation with yourself to figure out what works for you. That's the only way anyone loses weight, they do what's best for them.

I have been pondering your post and I am sorry you feel you had to learn this the hard way. My impression is that most people here at mfp realise - or have come to realise - exactly this. If you look round the forums there are lots of posts saying effectively "This works for me but it might not work for you." We share (or at least I share and I read the forums) because what has helped one person might help someone else, not because I think it is the only way.

Also, what I have found out (the hard way) is that what worked for me pre-menopause was different from what works post-menopause. I need a lot more exercise now to lose weight at the same level of calories intake, but it is happening. I just hope the spare tyre goes with it.

I'm terrible at returning clothes especially cheap stuff bought off ebay etc so I've a few things in my wardrobe that I bought optimistically that are starting to fit now.

katescurios wrote: »

That even early in the journey and with a relatively small loss you are healthier. I'm 15lb down with 40+ left to lose and for the first time in years I had my BP checked today and it was normal. Not high normal or high or WOW that's a bit scary high but totally normal.

Agreed, a lot of it is good habits that also happen to result in weight loss rather than just the weight loss itself.

It’s all relative. I went from 105kg to 85kg

Preciously XXL T-shirt’s and 17” collar and 38” waist to now: M T-shirt, 15” collar and 30” waist.

Now that my whole wardrobe has changed, I can look in the mirror and still see the overweight guy Sometimes.

RelCanonical wrote: »

I have to consciously remind myself how uncomfortable I felt when I was at a higher weight, because sometimes I catch myself wondering why I lost weight in the first place. It's easy to become complacent with your current weight and forget how much better it feels to have the weight off.

I can relate to this. Especially, the complacent part when I'm sitting here debating whether or not I want to eat these M&Ms despite having had a relatively higher calorie day.

It's easy to forget where I was when the now is so very present. I still have more to lose, but it's harder now.

it sure takes time getting used to seeing the new smaller body. I still double take when I look at my smaller self in the mirror today. While clothes shopping today I had to remind myself to look for clothes in my new size.

you wont necessarily see a difference in yourself until you see an old photo of yourself.
For me I knew I was getting smaller because my clothes fit baggier and people said I was, but I only really realised it for myself when I saw a picture of myself from this time last year haha!

This may have been mentioned before but a person can lose quite a bit of weight and still have their belly. I still have mine even though I've lost over seventy pounds. It's a lot smaller but it still sags and gets in the way. I think it'll be gone in another 30 pounds or so but honestly when I started I thought it would be more diminished.

Sand_TIger wrote: »

Nobody told me I'd become the type of person who likes to take pictures of my food. It just seemed outside my character. However it's hard not to when a salad, for example, contains so many colors and interesting textures that it's a true pleasure to behold! Not only that but I've started using THE GOOD dishes. It's more fun when I make a bit of an event out of my small, flavorful, nutrient packed meals. I still love to cook and I still love to eat, just not as much at any given time.

I do this too! Lots of my everyday meals on nice dishes and arranged nicely because I enjoy it and it looks beautiful.

GetZet wrote: »

How rewarding it is to nail a move in a workout that I believe I’m still struggling with. Really?? That was it?? HA! That’s where I measure the strength gained.

I couldn’t do a push up at all a few months ago. I could lower myself fractionally, and then collapse to the ground. There was no in between. While I still have a long way to go, I can lower myself at a controlled speed and hold that bent-elbow plank long enough to move legs or middle for some wonky push-up variant.

I still can't complete a full push up, but I'm working steadily towards it, and I have absolutely been surprised by a few different moves that seemed to suddenly work for me now like magic--but of course, it was actually a lot of work getting stronger and healthier and more flexible, lol. It's very inspiring to suddenly see progress concretely like that.

I keep trying to put bottoms on hangers wrong: I fasten the first end of the waistband, then go to do the other end but run out of fabric before I reach the second clip on the hanger, lol. I'm so used to my old-sized clothes where I needed to clip well in, not these new small clothes where I need to clip on either edge. Waiting for my brain to catch up!

I get excited about workouts. I got an email from UnderArmour inviting me by invitation to a special live Saturday at noon workout, and my reaction was, "Oooh, wow, a surprise workout! Yay!" I woke up on Tuesday this week and when I realised that it was morning run day, I was full of glee. I'm spending money these days on groceries (so much produce!), workout clothes/shoes because they're now too big or worn out, and virtual races. Old me would be very confused by all of this, lol.

The smaller I get, the bigger everyone around me gets.

No, they aren’t gaining weight, it’s just a size relationship. Well, my 16 year old is legitimately getting bigger/taller by the day but everyone else is seeming to get bigger, too.

My husband’s back is broader, hands are bigger, biceps are bigger around... it’s crazy. My husband is where I see it the most, his hand covers most of my back now, I feel tiny in his arms... it’s breaking my brain 😂 but everyone around me seems to be growing.

tomwatso wrote: »

Once you get healthy, you never stop counting calories. You look for really nice clothes. You relearn things, like how to be a man. You work on you. I strive to become a gentleman.

Thanks for that - for being one of the guys who values being a gentleman. You're appreciated.

Of course, no one has all of the answers. That's why we have each other.

motivatedmartha wrote: »

dhiammarath wrote: »

RelCanonical wrote: »

dhiammarath wrote: »

RelCanonical wrote: »

dhiammarath wrote: »

RelCanonical wrote: »

Bra shopping did not get easier. I still have a proportionally large bust, and it's actually harder to find my cup in the right size because apparently manufacturers think that if you have a small band, that you must have a C cup or smaller.

@RelCanonical This subreddit saved my LIFE. I am small around with a large cup. https://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/

I tried it out, they have brand suggestions for each shape/type of breast you have. It's seriously made bra shopping a lot more eye-opening.

As a 28F rn, I feel your pain.

That community is great! It's how I found out I'm a DDD, and I've continued to be a DDD because I've stayed rather proportional as I've lost weight. I'm in that annoying spot where I'll probably end up going down one more band size before I hit goal, so I don't want to invest in bras yet. I'm cheap, lol.

@RelCanonical I tooooootally get that. I don't want to go down one more bandsize... cause then I'll be hosed. XD I didn't spend a lot, but since I just recently found out about that community, I thought I'd pass it along! I've never learned so much as I have in the last week or so and now have at least 2 bras that fit!

They are back savers for sure. They also made me hate most regular retailers (except Nordstrom) because they just stock what women buy, but women don't know their size so they just buy what retailers stock, and the circle continues. Also, society thinks that D cups are huge when it's completely variable based on band size, so women are squashing themselves into cups too small or suffering from bands with no support because they're too big, because "there's no way I'm bigger than a C, D cups are huge".

What nobody tells you about weight loss is that you'd become more passionate about bras just because you were curious about how much your cup has shrunk with weight loss (and learned that no, it didn't shrink, and that cups are relative to band size). That's how I found /r/abrathatfits.

Slightly off-topic bra rant over.

Im just going to say... all of this. 🤣🤣 The Nordstrom ladies were good, but everywhere else... nope.

On the bright side, I learned the UK makes bras in my size that aren’t just beige or black... colors, man, colors. One of the things I hated when I was at my heaviest was that it seemed like none of the bras were pretty. They were thick strapped and just... in black or beige. To be fair I did end up finding some pretty bras but it was few and far between. I thought for sure when I lost weight I’d find all this beautiful selection. Nope. But now it’s like a whole world has opened up and I have the bra bug.

Bravissimo is my go to in the UK. The ladies who do the fitting can actually make the process fun and they do an amazing range of pretty/practical/active and sports - and do great swimwear too. Not cheap but so nice to be able to swim feeling fully supported and without worrying about falling out! They are online too

Yeah!! I just recently discovered them. I will definitely be trying them out.

Thank you!

(PS: supported while swimming is the best!)

You can drop the weight but not the inches at the same time
People will have different opinions on your weight...since giving birth in March,I have lost weight.only started eating healthy and monitoring my weight beginning of August and currently i'm at 75.2kg..after birth I was at 91kg so i've lost quite a lot.My helper has commented on my visible weight loss and then just last week a colleague told me that i'm gaining weight...I couldn't even respond,I was confused such that i actually went to the loo and checked myself out in the mirror.It was a bit demotivating I must say

That the further you get and the more successful you are, it's just never enough. The more exercise you do the more you need to do to get the same burn/results.