Feel like crying

Can you run? Running is the only thing that takes my weight off -- I feel like it literrally just melts it away!

Sounds like you're losing almost 2 lbs/week. That's perfect! It's not all gonna fall off at once. Just keep doing what you're doing, hold yourself accountable, and know that you are making the choice to better yourself and be healthy. Hang in there!

All i can say is WELL DONE YOU! 20 pounds is amazing! I wish I was there. I cant offer advise on anything else but I just wanted to say well done! x

no tears! no tears!

22 lbs in 3 months is absolutely incredible! our bodies all tend to plateau here and there, so please please dont get your hopes up. also, you should know, the scale can be your enemy. you had even said your self, you're down 2 clothing sizes, so your efforts are definitely showing. and its so true that muscle weighs more than fat, so sometimes the scale might not tip at all, but you'll lose inches.

in regards to your fitness plan, there are plenty of things you can do around the house to keep in shape, using your own body resistance to tone up. i'm not sure of exact routines, but im sure your fellow MFP friends or a quick google search will give you at home workouts that you can use. I dont recommend dropping your calories too drastically. Anything under 1200 will have you starving and your body will then hold onto fat for dear life.

Chin up!! Its the beginning of a new month, a new day, the possibilities are endless, and you are in control!

FIRST of all are you kidding! ONLY 22lbs that's flipping fantastic! You go! You are so on the right track. And if you keep it all up you will be at your goal in no time. It's NOT a race! It took years, months to put weight on it's not going to take only 3 months to get it off!. From what I've read the slower it comes off the longer it will last! Take a breath and don't rush it... It will work. I don't set goals so I don't have the presure to make it. I know I will hit my goal I'm in no hurry!

"Only" 22lb? 22lb is a great loss so you should congratulate yourself on this! Well done.

Now, I haven't looked at your profile, but what kinds of things do you like doing?

Me, I LOVE listening to the radio, programs like the UK's Radio 4, NPR in the USA and the ABC in Australia.

One of the things that I do while listening to the radio is fit in a few sit-ups, or see how many jumping jacks/star jumps I can do while a particular segment is on.

Or, if you like walking, then walk on the spot while watching your fav TV show or listening to the radio. Or try the "daily challenge" poster on here by a user named something like "Charger".

Do you wear a heart rate monitor? This is very helpful as both the MFP and gym machines can miscalculate calories burned - my gym had me buring 30-40% more than what my HRM says I burn!!

If the weather is ok outside, you could try to go for a 15 minute walk just for fun.

In terms of calories, why not mix it up a bit. Some days eat back all of your exercise calories, others less than half, others almost not at all.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Edit - gosh I'm a slow typer! When I wrote this there were no reponses LOL.

I tried running last week and was embarrassed at how little distance I could run...and my boobs are "run friendly".

C25k!! I started in April, with week 1 being a struggle, and am about to run my first 10k in 3 weeks!

22lb is a hell of a lot of weight to lose in 11 weeks!! you should be incredible proud of yourself.

how much are you aiming to lose? the first few pounds are the easiest and i would say the last 20lbs or so are the hardest. you need to up your exercise and really watch your diet. i wouldnt cut calories to lower than what your on now.

i think you have done so well already... you should be celebrating not crying x

^^THIS!! That's something that a lot of people aren't able to do in a lifetime. Stop the self pity and start celebrating your accomplishment. It might just be time to change things up to keep it going.

I have been trying to diet on and off for several years now, sounds like based on my own situation you are doing a grand job, sometimes I have noticed for no particular reason, you can go a few weeks and not lose any weight despite doing the same things.

Don't forget your metabolism changes also and sometimes your body needs energy to repair itself and keep your immune system in check....As others have said averaging 2lb a week is perfect and recommended for healthy weight loss....

Just keep going as you are I am sure the rest will fall off in time....once you over the next hill, it will start to drop again...:))):wink:

It's difficult to give advice with so little informaiton. averaging 2 pounds per week is amazing, btw. So mfp gives you 1380. are you exercisiing? are you eating back those exercise calories? are you getting to 1380 per day? are you being honest with what you're eating and logging everything so that you can see it (as parents we sometimes grab a morsel here or there without thinking about it as we're snacking the kiddos)? how are you tracking your calories burned? there are a ton of exercises you can do without a gym including running, home videos, on demand fitness shows, fitness training on the internet, saving up your pennies and purchasing some good home workout equipment (especially weights since you can cardio anywhere but weight training is difficult without weights and really important for women around our age for not just strenght in general but also to help fight osteoporosis (sp), I'd start with either a bar and rack or full kettle bell set).

Edit: when i was fuller figured I double up on the sports bras. Running does take time and can make you feel down a first when you can only make it short distances, but if you stick with it you'll start surprising yourself in very little time. Couch to 5K program is a great place to start.

I know the feeling. After I started the most recent part of my weight loss journey (I joined First Place 4 Health in January, 2010, long before I was pointed to MFP) I lost a little more than 20 pounds, and stayed within the same five pound range for an entire year. Sometime in August of this year, I made some dietary changes (going cold turkey on the sugary snacks at work, and limiting my dairy consumption by switching out regular milk for unsweetend almond milk) and intensified my exercise program (I had been on limited exercise after recovering from hip surgery.) That was what my body needed, and I've had small losses almost every week since then. You need to figure out what your body needs. It may not be reducing sugar or dairy, or changing your exercise program, but you likely need to change something about what you're eating and/or how you are exercising. Maybe you need a higher proportion of protein, or more healthy fats. Or more whole grains and fewer refined carbs. More strength training and less cardio, or interval training instead of cardio. I don't know what your current diet or exercise habits are like, but I wish you the best! It's so frustrating to get stuck, but keep trying things, and you will break through that plateau!

Kay

First of all, no such thing as "only" when you're talking about losing an average of 1-2 pounds per week!! Sure most of it came off quickly at the beginning but that's probably because you were making big changes and your body had no choice but to react. Now that things have become more normal, it's going to take a bit more time. Remember, you're not on biggest loser with trainers and certain foods available to you, this is up to you and it's going to be hard work. Think about the long term though, it's not just about losing the weight, it's about getting healthy and creating new great eating habits (and getting over the old bad eating habits).

If you can't afford to go to the gym, go to google and search for "at home workouts". There is a ton of stuff you can do. It's great that you tried running too! Invest in a good bra (or two, some ladies layer for extra support) to keep those girls in place and do another google for "couch to 5k" to find a great running training program. Also, remember to take it slow and steady. Don't try to run at 6mph the first day...there's nothing wrong with a nice slow jog until you build up more strength, speed and endurance.

As far as your calories go, that sounds like a pretty good number to me. It might be more the quality of the food than the quantity though so make sure you're keeping your sodium levels in a healthy range, getting plenty of fresh fruits and veggies and lean proteins and of course drinking your water too.
Oh and make sure you're eating back at least half of your exercise calories too.

Best of luck!

Hello. I began MFP about 3 months ago and have lost only 22 lbs. Most of I lost within 11 weeks. i haven't gained yet haven't lost. I feel really fat all over again staying at the same weight. All though I am proud to be down 2-3 clothing sizes...my scale is pissing me off! LOL. I wanna get rid of it, but can not. I am ALWAYS weighing myself, and I'm going crazy.Everyone says I look great...but I'm a 35 year old mother of 4...5'6" and a CW of 190.( started at 212) I feel fat again :O( I don't have the finances to head to the gym...I'm eating well, but should I cut back more than what MFP is allowing me? (1380 cal.) PLEASE send me some ideas or suggestions!!!!

It's mostly in the food. I would suggest you up your caloric intake (1380 is not sustaining your base requirement which is at around 1600 cals.) If I had you as a client, I would suggest an intake of 1800 (min. day) with a ratio split of 40/30/30 (P/C/F) - that is if you are expending calorically at least 3 days a week of training for a min. of 30 min. a day.

It is most likely your body is stalling due to the caloric deficit and it is wanting to hold on to the fat to survive the deficit which could also mean that if you stay there long enough, it will begin to take from your lean mass which could induce driving your metabolism down which then induces more fat storage.

The old school of thought to eat less and train more is false. Based on physiology and not my opinion, all the body wants to due is survive, so under cutting your calories can be a huge set up. Also, when you lose weight - it is imperitive to know what it is you are losing, fat or lean mass.

Anyway I can help you in more detail, please don't hesitate to message me. I would be more than happy to pass on what I have and also know, I speak from experience not only as a trainer but as a woman who used to weight almost 170 pounds.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and situation.

Hugs,

I'll bring the tissue. I am in the same vote. I will be 36 this weekend, my husband had a heart attack in July at 34, he is doing amazing and looks even better, and went cold turkey with all the things he shouldn't eat or drink, and hasn't looked back. I went to the other extreme. I had lost 17 pounds and was at 200, and couldn't get under it..and then when he had his heart attack, it all went to hell. I ate all that I shouldn't and now I can't get back on track and gained 6 back.

I too can't afford a gym, I'm a stay at home Mom with two kids under the age of three, and yet can't get the time, if not the energy, to push myself to go out for walk even...which is how I did it the first time.

I hope we can be friends to help push each other threw this...make us more accountable for one another when we have to report in and show what we have done in our day.

You'd be surprised how much walking can do. I did 30 minutes at a good stride and boom, 17 pounds. Eating for sure, plays a big part, but that little exercise went much farther then I thought it would. Water is a filler too, if you can make yourself drink lots of that, and the peeing all the time; it does get better.

When my husband starts his "rehab" they will be going threw some food options, of proteins, good fats, etc, so I hopefully will get my hands on some of that and can pass that on too.

Celery sticks and a LITTLE bit of peanut butter is a good healthy snack, just a few. Hard boiled egg. Pre prep so it can be done in portion sizes and quick to grab when those hunger/gravings start.

Not sure am I helpful, or a burden?

If nothing else, I wish you all the best with this journey, it isn't easy, but when you do have successes, it feels awesome and hopefully reaches a point, it becomes natural and not so difficult to maintain. We can't beat ourselves up...the Biggest Losers, have been known to gain all their weight back, and look at the things they had access to...!?

We can do this.

Good luck.

Tina