What nobody tells you about losing weight
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StephanieLWS wrote: »I never really thought about weightloss extra skin would be a deterrent for me. It didn't bother my husband. And it really wasn't noticible to other people, but it was flabby and actually uncomfortable with wearing pants or even sitting in some positions. I'm not sure what to do. I know that, medically, I'm healthier at less weight. I breathe better, sleep better, and generally feel better. At 300 lbs I was pushing into diabetes and high blood pressure. At 235 those seemed to be normal levels again. I was nearly halfway to my goal weight range of 150-160.
I'm not losing weigh to get attention. I want to be healthier and not a glutton. I want to be a good example for my children and to have more energy and stamina to live daily life, of which I was certainly gaining.
I'm rambling a bit now - I apologize.
I'm not sure that I've ever heard that after losing a significant amount of weight that I would feel less confident and uglier. But knowing that I'm healthier is probably going to be the prime motivation for me if I can get a hold of this. I crossed up over to 260 this morning.
I know what you mean. I'm finally past the halfway mark to my end goal and at around the same point you started struggling with that, so did I. I have a friend who wanted some updated nudes of me (totally fine, he's not a creep) and at first he had a hard time understanding why I was so uncomfortable and self-conscious, when that wasn't the case at a notably higher weight.
It's so easy to expect that the good points of losing will always outweigh the bad, but it just isn't true. It's hard. Nothing feels quite right anymore. Plump (overly so) flesh replaced by smaller flabby sag is rough to adjust to.
One of the best things I've seen posted in threads like this is that there's very very commonly a period where you do look worse before you look better, and you just have to hang on and see it through.
Easy to say, harder to internalize.24 -
That because I'm a 50 year old woman, I would feel like I'm in a skin elasticity/weight loss race!16
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Your earlobes get wrinkles...12
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That you would shell out 10 grand on a tummy tuck and 1200$ on a rad tattoo to cover your scar14
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The wife and I still like to play "slug bug" when we see a Volkswagen Beetle. This week she got a "slug bug" in and gave me a bruise!5
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- That you will suddenly have the energy and enthusiasm to do things you've always wanted to do but hadn't gotten around to - like go to grad school.
- That going to grad school represents a dramatic life change that will require a change in the eating and exercise habits that brought down your weight.
- That you will then gain more weight than you lost.
- That losing that weight again will be harder than losing it the first time.
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- That you will suddenly have the energy and enthusiasm to do things you've always wanted to do but hadn't gotten around to - like go to grad school.
- That going to grad school represents a dramatic life change that will require a change in the eating and exercise habits that brought down your weight.
- That you will then gain more weight than you lost.
- That losing that weight again will be harder than losing it the first time.
But you are doing it. - And grad school! Honestly, I did not know if I should press the "Hug" or "Inspiring" button.12 -
Just because you're lighter doesn't translate to faster running/jogging speed and that you need to still do VO2 training to get faster.
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That maintenance is it’s own journey and just as challenging...37
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You might need to resize your rings...I lost a few along the way😥20
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Losing weight is like giving up smoking. It's easy to say "I quit" but the difficult bit is not starting again. It's the same with losing weight. I found shedding two stone relatively easy - it's not putting it on again that's the hard part.34
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Your shoes may no longer fit.
Don't be too quick to resize your wedding bands, most jewelers won't do it more than twice.
Find and make friends with your local consignment shop, don't splurge too much on clothes until you reach (and have stayed for a while at) goal.
Some of your friends and family members will not be supportive.
It's not a linear process (especially for us girls)! Some days/weeks you will not lose anything and that's okay. Stick to your plan.
"Not a linear process for the ladies" - omg so true! Took me years to ignore the hormonal bounces on the scale!
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The fact that I'm literally half the size now was telling of how the skin would loosen up. It's not all bad. My abilities to give a flying squirrel a run for it's money have definitely increased. Loose most certainly, but not horribly bad. There is only so much that may go back to a better state, but I've always been a big guy so the skin is there. Surgery for me not likely since it isn't causing any issues. I figure its like scars. The skin for me is my way of my body telling me what I did to it. I'm still a good 30 before shifting to maintenance and will start the work of adding back some muscle. Hoping for 15, but I'll take what I can get over time. And the fact that I've lost most of my "behind" well all those Ethan Allen wooden chairs that I've owned for 20+ years ouch. I now give myself extra time before having to sit on the toilet. No more last minute wait and go and plop, because damn that toilet seat is cold and effing hard...18
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runfortheexit wrote: »Losing weight is like giving up smoking. It's easy to say "I quit" but the difficult bit is not starting again. It's the same with losing weight. I found shedding two stone relatively easy - it's not putting it on again that's the hard part.
Yes, and just like quitting smoking, you learn something with each attempt so the next try is just that much more effective. @ONUnicorn, I know it's hard right now. I know the feelings of failure that a regain can bring. But I can tell you, it really does get easier. You already know that you can do this because you've done it before. And you likely learned a lot about what not to do next time when you hit your goal weight - those are great lessons that will help you in maintenance. Most people don't hit their goal weight and stay there for the rest of their lives on the first try. You're in good company and you can totally do this!14 -
That the journey never ends. No matter how difficult or smooth sailing it may be at a given interval, it takes a lot of effort to make things work long-term.
Feel free to add me if you’re looking for an inspirational friend.19 -
How just 60 minutes of zumba will leave you motivated and stinky and looking like youd just ran through the sprinklers.
How EASY it actually was to stop drinking soda and how easy it is to decline when offered (i was a heavy soda drinker)
How one day w/o exercise doesn't feel like I've really unwinded or relaxed.
How gassy adding greens to your diet can make you.
How slightly annoying it is to run to the bathroom constantly bc of water intake.22 -
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- The first time people see you, some won't be smiling. It's not personal. It's their frustration at their own weight loss journey. I probably had the same look on my face when my friends lost weight! It's a great opportunity to tell them about MyFitnessPal and let them know it's a slow process, but it's doable and it's worth it.
- Aches and pains disappear. I need a knee replacement and it hurt so much I was ready to schedule surgery. 31 lbs later, I'm not really in pain and don't feel need to have surgery yet. I also am not nearly as stiff when I wake up.
- I recognize my body again. I forgot what I looked like when I was in shape; now it's all coming back to me!25 -
How much easier it is to walk!
Back Pain is disappearing!
Breathing is getting better!
Not dreading stepping on the scale! :-)24 -
Falling down is not the end of the world. Trying XC skiing with my dad this week, and snow is slippery, eh?
But I picked myself up quite easily and no damage was done. It would have been a sad picture 60 pounds ago. 25 -
I'm rediscovering my cheekbones.
I'm often cold and keep a jacket handy.
I feel more graceful and flexible.21 -
I’m 37 pounds down. I’m a teacher and doing a lot of online lessons at the moment. Every time I log on to teach I see the school photo of me from a year ago, and it offends me so much. It’s quite an incentive to keep going!30
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Loving this thread8
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Nobody tells you that through this journey you can learn so much about yourself. I've learned that I can stay on track easier when my life isn't full of chaos (like it was this weekend with the weather and power outages) but the most important thing I've learned about me, is that I can trust myself! I trust myself to get back on track when I get off and that a piece of candy (or other unplanned calorie/calories) doesn't mean I'm going to give up my lifestyle changes. My relationship with myself as improved immensely. I have more reverence for my body than I've ever had in my life! But, if someone had told me all this: I probably wouldn't have understood the value of these lessons.34
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jennacole12 wrote: »That maintenance is its own journey and just as challenging...
This, and this, and this again! I hit goal over Christmas but my weight has crept up ca. 2kg since then. I am still in maintenance, but only just... So I am back to logging and aiming to be back at goal properly. At least I am intervening now and not waiting until I got back to where I started... (I hear your pain, @ONUnicorn : that regain happened to me too. This time I am really thinking about how to go about maintenance.)
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jennacole12 wrote: »That maintenance is its own journey and just as challenging...
This, and this, and this again! I hit goal over Christmas but my weight has crept up ca. 2kg since then. I am still in maintenance, but only just... So I am back to logging and aiming to be back at goal properly. At least I am intervening now and not waiting until I got back to where I started... (I hear your pain, @ONUnicorn : that regain happened to me too. This time I am really thinking about how to go about maintenance.)
This - so much this! Definitely a journey not a destination!8 -
When I used to look at a nice looking woman and she noticed that I'm looking, I would look away because I felt she would think "Uh-oh. That fat creepy old dude is staring at me"
Now I I smile and nod and I imagine she's thinking, "Oh boy, that good looking guy is checking me out"26 -
Nobody tells you that through this journey you can learn so much about yourself. I've learned that I can stay on track easier when my life isn't full of chaos (like it was this weekend with the weather and power outages) but the most important thing I've learned about me, is that I can trust myself! I trust myself to get back on track when I get off and that a piece of candy (or other unplanned calorie/calories) doesn't mean I'm going to give up my lifestyle changes. My relationship with myself as improved immensely. I have more reverence for my body than I've ever had in my life! But, if someone had told me all this: I probably wouldn't have understood the value of these lessons.
"I trust myself." That's just what I needed to read today. This hit me hard in the very best way. Thank you!13
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