Why do I feel like this isn't happening..?

I avoid the scale and just mostly look at how my clothes fit. The scale pisses me off. I can feel great, feel like I've made incredible progress, and then get on the scale and have it tell me there's no change or that it's MAYBE a # or two. Heck, one day, it told me I'd GAINED SEVEN lbs. In a week!
I had some choice words for that POC that morning, let me tell you!!

Instead of standing of the scale, maybe just take a tape measure and measure your upper arm, chest(just under the armpits, not your boobs!), upper thigh, calves, hips and waist.
Use those measurements as your new way to 'weigh in'.
Screw the scale!!

I've been very overweight my whole life. Now that I have lost quite a bit of weight I still find myself thinking like the fat person that I use to be. I know what the scales say; I know what size the clothes that I have to buy say; I hear all of the compliments, but I have a hard time seeing it. Sometimes I think that everyone must be in some kind of conspiracy to make me think that I'm no longer obese when I really am. It's hard to let go of a thought process that I've had my whole life.

Yes, I get that feeling all the time. I work out, the scale changes, my pants get a little looser, my stamina improves, but because the changes are so gradual I don't notice them in myself.

In general, we (and especially "we" as in those who are trying to lose weight) are our own worst critics.

Take a picture in your undies and put it in a drawer. In two months, go back and compare a fresh picture with the one you took today. You'll probably be astonished.

Why do you care what the scale says as long as you feel better? You're working out almost daily and trying really hard, isn;t that reason enough to feel proud of yourself?

Yes. I am right there with you. After almost 70 lbs lost, I still do not feel proud of myself. Being overweight my entire life, I guess I had high expectations for certain weights. I thought I'd look more different. I just use it as motivation to keep going and reach my goal. This is not just a physical process. It is emotional as well. You need to figure out what is making you FEEL this way, and work on that. Easier said than done, I know.

The scale is just a number and shoud not dictate your life. You are feeling better, your clothes fit better and people are noticing that your body is changing. Those are all way more than important than the number on the scale. I remember years ago reading a story about Gabby Reese the volleyball player, she was modeling at the time also and was amazed to see that she only weighted 10lbs less than me! I looked horrible and she was modeling! Muscle weights the same as a fat, it is just leaner and you look much better.

You should invest in the ribbons or a tape measurement. Even though the scale does not move, the body is changing and seeing those numbers get smaller should help you see that you are making changes and wonderful things are happening to your body.

Keep up the great work and forget about the scale.

I know what you mean. I still see the fat girl in the mirror and I've lost 75 pounds! Everyone thinks I'm crazy when I say that, but its true. You get used to the way you look, especially if you have been big for a long time. Just this past weekend I went to a party and wore a cut short skirt that I would have thought was not ok to wear, but my friend said it looked great. Well, we took a bunch of pictures and when I saw myself in the pictures in that skirt, I was like...OMG I am so small!! That was the first time I have felt that way. Hang in there, you will see it in time. What you are doing IS an accomplishment and you should be proud!

I don't think I was getting impatient... I was bumping the thread so it didn't get lost three pages back.

After 40 minutes.

My point is, taking the rest of my post into account, it's a lifetime change not a marathon that you have to solve in an afternoon.

I've been there with the impatience... trust me. It's when I get most discouraged.

Most people on this site that have had great success say the same thing over and over again. STICK WITH IT. Do not get discouraged just keep moving forward you will get there. I know it is slow it is for me too but I got nothing but time. If it takes me a year to lose 30 pounds well the year is going to come and go regardless of my weightloss so I may as well just stay on this path.

We should have this conversation in 5 months. As long as you keep on the right track would love to have you post something 5 months from today. Let's face it the 5 months is coming anyway. 12 pounds is nothing to sneeze at have you seen what 1 pound or 5 pounds of fat look like.....look it up on the internet and you will know just how much progress you have made,

Goodluck.

I feel as though a lot of people have missed the point of the topic...? :ohwell:

Its about not feeling like you've really achieved much even though part of you knows you have.

it just takes a while for our brains and eyes to catch up with reality. i often still look at myself and see the version that was 25 lb heavier, so i understand. we get used to seeing ourselvse looking a certain way and sometimes it is hard to readjust our mental image to our physical image.

This

I think it probably goes the other way as well, when people don't understand how they let themselves get this far gone, you look for what you want to see in the mirror, rather than what is there.

yes! i think the reality for me set in that i needed to lose weight when i saw a video of myself... wow that was a scary reality... so i lost the 25 lb yet somehow i kind of see a heavier person now even though i'm lighter... maybe i dont' see the heaviest version of me, but somewhere in between if that makes sense.

I'm not saying that I'm not happy with what I've done. I'm not saying that I'm "upset" for only losing 12 pounds so far. I know I've been kicking *kitten* lol the numbers are on my side. It is a matter of being in total disbelief that I'm on a diet that's WORKING. It's actually going well, and I'm losing weight! I haven't lost weight in years. This is amazing, and I can't believe it's happening, and sometimes, I legitimately don't think that it is actually happening.

yes, i know what you mean. i have dreams that i'll wake up and i didn't really lose the weight... but i think 12 lb is great and you are succeeding. you jsut have to find a way to convince yourself taht you are. have you bought new clothes recently? taht can be a huge boost of confidence.

I'm not saying that I'm not happy with what I've done. I'm not saying that I'm "upset" for only losing 12 pounds so far. I know I've been kicking *kitten* lol the numbers are on my side. It is a matter of being in total disbelief that I'm on a diet that's WORKING. It's actually going well, and I'm losing weight! I haven't lost weight in years. This is amazing, and I can't believe it's happening, and sometimes, I legitimately don't think that it is actually happening.

Ah, ok. In that case I did indeed misinterpret your original post. I totally agree with this as I never thought I could lose weight but am in fact doing so. Congratulations on your progress so far, I know you'll achieve your goals.

The scale is nearly (if not completely) useless for some people and you might be one of them. Measure yourself by how your clothes fit and/or tape measure.

See this post:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/580019-the-scale-is-a-lying-torture-device-i-m-proof