Disappointed

evileyefirefly wrote: »

shazia20 wrote: »

Feeling a bit defeated. Been so good all week and tracked stayed within calorie deficit but only lost half a pound. Could it be possible that my hard work will show up next week? Should i lower my calories? Im currently on 1436 calories a day.

Don't get discouraged. There is a lot that goes into weight loss. It could be you've added some muscle, or are more hydrated this time around. Also make sure you're weighing yourself at the same time of day each time. I wouldn't go reducing calories or adjusting until you're on a plateau for a couple weeks plus.

TO is (likely) in a calorie deficit and female. She also didn't mention what kind of exercise she's doing, if any. It's very unlikely she packed on enough muscles to show up on the scale in such short period of time. It take a lot of time, commitment, a proper training with actual weights and proper eating. But you are right that this could be waterweight fluctuation.

I agree with the folks above said, 100%.

I'd add this: Your post, though short, says "been so good all week" and "hard work". Maybe I'm wrong, but this suggests to me that you're already finding this process challenging (as most of us do, at first).

Under those circumstances, I'd be especially strong in suggesting you stick with the current calorie goal for that 4-6 weeks (whole menstrual cycle, if that applies).

A common thing to see here is someone who's on a strict regimen, finds it difficult plus discouraging when they don't see quick results, cuts harder (or increases exercise lots, or both), then finds the whole thing so hard that they give up. Or at least they disappear from MFP, and I'd bet they gave up.

Losing any meaningful total amount of weight is a long game: Weeks, months, maybe even a small number of years if extremely overweight. That puts a priority on a routine you can stick with long enough to get results. The "sticking with it" is usually more important for long term success than the speed.

I'm betting you'll see the scale drop more in the upcoming weeks, because water retention shifts tend to be especially weird in the first weeks of a new routine.

But let's say you actually do only lose half a pound in a week, and keep that rate. In 6 months, you'll drop 12 pounds. If you cut harder, how long until there's a deprivation-triggered episode of over-eating, a break in the action, or even giving up altogether? How long will it take to lose 12 pounds that way, and how will you feel about it?

Sometimes a slow loss we can stick with will get us to goal weight in less calendar time than some extreme fast weight loss routine that can't continue long enough to roll off very many pounds. Just something to consider.