Things moving too slow, any advice?

Hi all, today I weighed myself again and I have nothing off from last week. This is the end of the 4th week and I have lost 4lbs in total, not much when you have over 40 to loose, it's very disheartening especially since I am sticking to the rules (for the best part) and exercising at least twice a week which is a big up from doing nothing at all. Has anybody been in the same boat, or can offer any insight as to what I'm doing wrong. I think my diary should be open, let me know if it's not, all advice and comments appreciated; need friends also please.

Who are you racing against? Jillian Michaels? The Biggest Loser?

I mean what's the rush? Did it take 4 weeks to put on 40lbs? Of course not.

My advice to you is to stay consistent.

Hi all, today I weighed myself again and I have nothing off from last week. This is the end of the 4th week and I have lost 4lbs in total, not much when you have over 40 to loose, it's very disheartening especially since I am sticking to the rules (for the best part) and exercising at least twice a week which is a big up from doing nothing at all. Has anybody been in the same boat, or can offer any insight as to what I'm doing wrong. I think my diary should be open, let me know if it's not, all advice and comments appreciated; need friends also please.

Who are you racing against? Jillian Michaels? The Biggest Loser?

I mean what's the rush? Did it take 4 weeks to put on 40lbs? Of course not.

My advice to you is to stay consistent.

This, and the slower you do take it all off the better the result, losing weight is one thing, not ending up looking like a deflated balloon is another.

What is your diet like?

Yes, open your diary and we'll take a look!

your diary isn't open. It's under settings I seem to recall. Let's have a look and see.
I think a lb a week is great! I know how you feel though, when you feel you have a lot to lose I assume I will lose it quicker at a rate of 2lbs a week.
I swear by a few things. (Disclaimer alert; this is me, not what you SHOULD do blah blah blah. Always consult a physician etc.)
* green tea - I drink 6-8 cups a day ( I feel it gets my metabolism going and stops hunger, also water intake is great!)
* low sodium - I seem to retain water weight if I eat salty food like gammon
* Breakfast - used to hate it, made myself eat it and now I'm starving in the morning. Stops mid afternoon binges and my poop is nice and regular!
* I went brown! (brown bread and brown rice)
* Forums - in the evenings if I wanted to snack I come here and delve into the success boards and read about will power etc

and finally.....
* I learnt how to throw stuff away! This was the hardest for me! I hate throwing food away but it was a mental block I had to get through!

you're doing great!
this is a journey I like to call it, explore yourself and what makes you tick. What's your relationship with food blah blah blah.
Good luck!

:drinker:

I am in the same boat. I've been on for 30 days and I have only lost 1 lb. Something is amiss with me, but I'm not sure what it is.

1 lb/week is fantastic!

I started on Jan 1st and have so far lost 13lbs - slightly over 1lb a week but that hasn't been steady I can gain 2lbs one week and then lose 3 the next and nothing the following week so I totally understand where you are coming from but like most people have said 1lb a week is awsome and if you don't believe me google what 1lb of fat looks like and I think you will change your frame of mind on the subject - I did! x

I'm so glad you posted this. It's exactly what I'm facing. I've been on MFP for 2 weeks, use my food journal faithfully, exercise 2 or 3 tmes a week for an hour each time, and I haven't lost one single pound. I'm sure it may take a little time for my body to adjust to good food and exercise since it hasn't experienced that in a very long time. Still, I wish I would see some reward for the changes I've made. If I lost a pound or so a week, I would reach my 60 pound goal in around a year and I'm ok with that since it took 20 years to put it on. I'm going to be 40 next month and would like to see a little progress by then, just for motivation. Any suggestions would be welcome. We can be friends and work through this journey together if you like. Take care.

Sorry to say it, but it just takes time. You have to be patient, and just stick at all the good changes you have introduced. Programmes like the Biggest Loser mislead people into believing that is how weight loss should be. In reality, for most people it takes time.

I have lost a lot of weight calorie counting, twice before in my life-sadly I eventually put it all back on again over the years. Each time as now, a pound a week was how I lost it all. Some weeks nothing, and other weeks a pound and a half or two pounds.

That is just what is happening to me now. One thing I do to encourage myself to keep at it, and to be thankful for every pound might help you. For every pound lost, I fill a small plastic water bottle with a 'pound' of water. Then each bottle I place in a carrier bag. Whenever I feel disheartened by my slow weight loss, and start saying I have only lost...pounds, I go and pick up that bag. By feeling how much weight I have lost, it makes me much more positive to keep at it.
I hope this idea helps you keep motivated.

I am determined that this is the last time I will need to lose weight, not going to repeat my past mistakes.

You're not alone! I've been at this (with MFP) for 5 weeks and I've lost 5lbs. I actually gained weight the first 3 weeks! Believe me I have questioned whether or not this was worth it. Hell, I could be sitting on my couch enjoying some Doritos and a Coke as opposed to busting my butt and eating healthy and only losing a half pound or pound.

With as much weight as I need to lose I was expecting more to come off quicker in the beginning, BUT I'm also committed to doing it the right way. I work out 6 days a week for 30 minutes. I'm just starting out, so I will ramp it up next week.

It is a little disappointing, but you can't give up. You are retraining your body. Hang in there...it will happen!!!

actually this the recommended way to lose weight..those who set unrealistic goals typically end up not meeting them, hence getting disappointed and fail. a slow gradual weight loss helps to keep you on track..as its realistic. those who choose slow steady weight loss tend to keep the weight off in the long run. plus losing too fast can mean you arent intaking enough nutrients to be healthy, because you may have lowered your calorie/food intake too much..this can also lead to muscle/lean tissue breakdown which means your bmr will lower. hence hitting plateaus...

This! I failed many diet/exercise attempts by setting extreme goals and pushing myself too hard. I finally gave up, deciding i just didn't have the will power. What I've learned now is that a pound a week is amazing progress. I know it feels slow (I feel this pain too!), but I also know that it's working... it's consistently working. You are making wonderful progress, and probably not driving yourself insane or starving in the process. Trust everyone who has said that you're doing it right! Congrats on those first four pounds! :flowerforyou:

I feel the same re things moving slowly, but we have to remember that this is a life style change! 1lb a week is perfect as it is sustainable and realistic. Loosing lots of weight every week would be wonderful but it would be too hard to keep up. I also thing the quicker it comes off, the quicker it will come back on if you slip up!

Keep with it and good luck!!