AM I THE ONLY ONE?

khubcap
khubcap Posts: 16
edited December 20 in Health and Weight Loss
So far i have lost 25 lbs since the begining of december, is it normal that i am not seeing that big of a loss? It makes it very difficult to keep motivated when the results are not showing after so much hard work. any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, I am losing steam and don't know what to do. :(

Replies

  • tigerlily8045
    tigerlily8045 Posts: 402 Member
    Many people seem to stop losing on the scale and yet their clothes are getting loose. Scales lie as you will hear many times. Try measuring.
  • green29
    green29 Posts: 2
    I think it is completely normal! I read a blog once with a woman struggling with the same thing and then she said she just questioned herself "Do I feel proud of the choices I have made this week? Do I feel lighter than I did this time last week? etc." Don't focus on the numbers on the scale - focus on the choices you are making to become healthier and the way you feel and eventually the numbers will line up - but don't let them define your progress!
  • JennW130
    JennW130 Posts: 460 Member
    nope. look at my tracker! thats ok though because any loss is a good one.
  • vhines57
    vhines57 Posts: 58 Member
    I just started and have alot more to lose, but the scale doesn't show much loss at all, for all the work I do. My hubby is noticing a difference in me and my clothes are definately looser, so I know that something is happening somewhere :)
  • wells0707
    wells0707 Posts: 251 Member
    25lbs since the beginning of December IS a big loss. That is about a pound a week.
  • sshetland
    sshetland Posts: 31 Member
    25 lbs in 6 months sounds like a good loss, congratulations. I understand that if you have a lot more lbs to shed, then you could be frustrated now. Are you still losing steadily, even if slowly? Don't lose heart, you've done really well. If you've 'plateaued', search the boards for further advice (there's loads) - essentially you need to switch something up (be stricter in keeping to your calories/ up your daily activity/ eat back your exercise calories). You can do it!
  • abbie72003
    abbie72003 Posts: 57 Member
    I'm almost 25lbs since early December. I'm looking at it as..... at least I'm losing. It's slow and it's hard to be patient, but life is still better lighter than I was. We've got nothing but time in life right?
  • rcharlee
    rcharlee Posts: 182 Member
    There are a lot of factors that could contribute to slowed weight loss, and those factors are different for everyone. I've lost 18lbs since January 2012, and I feel like my weight loss has slowed down also. I just found out that I was not eating enough for my activity level. Maybe you should evaluate everything you are doing. It took me writing everything down to physically see where the problems were. Here is a link to a great site that one of my pals on here posted.

    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    It is super important to make sure you are properly fueling your body.

    Good luck
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    It's completely normal. Generally, your first 10 lbs is water weight. And the closer you get to your goal, the harder it will be. This is why, if you set non weight goals, it will provide you more reassurance. For example, losing XX % body fat, which in reality is a bigger goal than cutting weight. Cutting body fat is what makes you lose dress sizes and become fit. Losing weight is just a part of cutting fat. Also goals like, being able to increase my rep count (for weight lifting) or improve my time running a mile, etc.. are all NSV (non scale victories).
  • cwade1021
    cwade1021 Posts: 95 Member
    It's completely normal. Generally, your first 10 lbs is water weight. And the closer you get to your goal, the harder it will be. This is why, if you set non weight goals, it will provide you more reassurance. For example, losing XX % body fat, which in reality is a bigger goal than cutting weight. Cutting body fat is what makes you lose dress sizes and become fit. Losing weight is just a part of cutting fat. Also goals like, being able to increase my rep count (for weight lifting) or improve my time running a mile, etc.. are all NSV (non scale victories).
    How do you ensure you are losing fat?
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    It's completely normal. Generally, your first 10 lbs is water weight. And the closer you get to your goal, the harder it will be. This is why, if you set non weight goals, it will provide you more reassurance. For example, losing XX % body fat, which in reality is a bigger goal than cutting weight. Cutting body fat is what makes you lose dress sizes and become fit. Losing weight is just a part of cutting fat. Also goals like, being able to increase my rep count (for weight lifting) or improve my time running a mile, etc.. are all NSV (non scale victories).
    How do you ensure you are losing fat?

    A small calorie deficit (20% less than tdee) and heavy weight training.
  • jangletits
    jangletits Posts: 1 Member
    It seems to me that everyone on this thread has completely missed the point here. I think the original problem was that she's lost 25 lbs (great work!) and is not seeing much of a result in the mirror...

    And no, you're not the only one. I feel exactly the same way.
  • lc971
    lc971 Posts: 104 Member
    "Unless you puke, faint, or die" "Keep going" :))
  • khubcap
    khubcap Posts: 16
    It seems to me that everyone on this thread has completely missed the point here. I think the original problem was that she's lost 25 lbs (great work!) and is not seeing much of a result in the mirror...

    And no, you're not the only one. I feel exactly the same way.
    Yes this is what I was meaning, but I do appreciate all the suggestions, I am definitely going to be using them. :) and yes "unless i puke faint or die I will keep going " lol !'
  • khubcap
    khubcap Posts: 16
    It's completely normal. Generally, your first 10 lbs is water weight. And the closer you get to your goal, the harder it will be. This is why, if you set non weight goals, it will provide you more reassurance. For example, losing XX % body fat, which in reality is a bigger goal than cutting weight. Cutting body fat is what makes you lose dress sizes and become fit. Losing weight is just a part of cutting fat. Also goals like, being able to increase my rep count (for weight lifting) or improve my time running a mile, etc.. are all NSV (non scale victories).
    Thanks I have just gotten the couch to 5k app for my phone so I'll use that as a goal to complete all days and run 5k, I do need to start the weights for sure all I've been doing is turbo jam and treadmill... Thx again :)
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    It's completely normal. Generally, your first 10 lbs is water weight. And the closer you get to your goal, the harder it will be. This is why, if you set non weight goals, it will provide you more reassurance. For example, losing XX % body fat, which in reality is a bigger goal than cutting weight. Cutting body fat is what makes you lose dress sizes and become fit. Losing weight is just a part of cutting fat. Also goals like, being able to increase my rep count (for weight lifting) or improve my time running a mile, etc.. are all NSV (non scale victories).
    Thanks I have just gotten the couch to 5k app for my phone so I'll use that as a goal to complete all days and run 5k, I do need to start the weights for sure all I've been doing is turbo jam and treadmill... Thx again :)

    If you want to see more fat loss, aka losing dress/pant sizes then you need to do heavy strength training 2-3.times a week. Cardio is great and all for burning a ton of calories but not as good at cutting fat. Now you might lose a bit slower doing more strength training but your body will tighten up faster and you will prevent muscle loss.
  • spoox71
    spoox71 Posts: 3
    I have the same problem. I started a little over 2 months ago. Going to the gym 5 times a week, doing 20-30 minutes cardio and then targeted weight training for each muscle group each time I go. I watch what I eat and have my calorie intake set so I am suppose to loose 2 lbs a week but so far I barely have lost 10 lbs. I drink plenty water etc etc so I really don't understand it.
  • Jezebel9
    Jezebel9 Posts: 396 Member
    "Do I feel proud of the choices I have made this week? Do I feel lighter than I did this time last week? etc." Don't focus on the numbers on the scale - focus on the choices you are making to become healthier and the way you feel and eventually the numbers will line up - but don't let them define your progress!

    THIS
  • tistal
    tistal Posts: 869 Member
    I have lost 25lbs since Jan 16th. 13 of that the first month! It has slowed down but the inches keep coming off. 20.25 total inches gone for me! But its not a race to see who can finish first! Its a lifestyle change and with the positive changes will come the weight loss. :)
  • cwade1021
    cwade1021 Posts: 95 Member
    It's completely normal. Generally, your first 10 lbs is water weight. And the closer you get to your goal, the harder it will be. This is why, if you set non weight goals, it will provide you more reassurance. For example, losing XX % body fat, which in reality is a bigger goal than cutting weight. Cutting body fat is what makes you lose dress sizes and become fit. Losing weight is just a part of cutting fat. Also goals like, being able to increase my rep count (for weight lifting) or improve my time running a mile, etc.. are all NSV (non scale victories).
    How do you ensure you are losing fat?

    A small calorie deficit (20% less than tdee) and heavy weight training.
    Sorry I'm still very new to all this... what does tdee mean?
  • DynamicArete
    DynamicArete Posts: 1
    Hi and congrats on losing 25lbs that is an awesome feat!
    I'm gonna try and toss out some information for you that may help you out. Ill come at this in two ways.

    The first thing is that it is very important to understand, when taking on this kind of healthy project, is that the scale is only a useful tool to a certain point. Muscle weighs more then fat so there can be situations where the scale should be tossed under the bed and the measuring tape should be brought out. Because, and this comes from personal experience, its starts getting really irritating when the scale seems to stop or move in the other direction even if your working your butt off. In this case the measuring will give you a far more truthful answer then the scale as to how you are doing.

    The second thing and I cannot stress this enough (again I fell into this trap and successfully killed my motivation for yet another 6 months) is the dreaded Plateau. If you keep doing the same workout ( no matter how hard) over and over again for more then 4 weeks your body will get used to it and adjust accordingly. So you may last longer when you run but your body being very efficient at its energy distribution, will not progress as far as it had as far as losing weight is concerned. The same goes for muscle building. The best thing you can do is keep your body guessing. Plan ahead and blast your body with different types of cardio, weight training, etc. You don't have to revamp your whole workout but changing things up every 3 to 4 weeks will really keep the body guessing. I usually change everything every 4 weeks but i'm beginning to think that throwing in big challenges whether it be for strength or cardio every week that is completely different will really pump things up.

    In my opinion your body needs a certain amount of calories and nutrients to survive so for me with my height, age and weight, to go below 1800 calories will leave me lifeless and brain dead (just ask my fiancee it happens sometimes when im knee deep in writing and I forget to eat. oddly enough that does not happen very often anymore thanks to MFP). Knowing that I know what range I have to eat in every day and what range never to go under. So ive my workouts are designed around that ( which all of ours on MFP are then I already know how to plan my workouts. However, if I do the same workouts everyday for months on end it will get to the point where I plateau and despite my eating habits my weight loss will stop progressing even if I do get better at running or stronger or something.

    I hope this helps and sorry for writing my finger tips off here haha.

    Thank you for your post

    Keep kicking butt out there!
    Feel free to add me as a friend everyone! The more motivation the better!
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    I have the same problem. I started a little over 2 months ago. Going to the gym 5 times a week, doing 20-30 minutes cardio and then targeted weight training for each muscle group each time I go. I watch what I eat and have my calorie intake set so I am suppose to loose 2 lbs a week but so far I barely have lost 10 lbs. I drink plenty water etc etc so I really don't understand it.

    You are probably over extending your and have too large of a calorie deficit. Do you eat back your exercise calories? Maybe for a month you should try and set your calories to 1 lb per week and eat 50-75% of your exercise calories.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    It's completely normal. Generally, your first 10 lbs is water weight. And the closer you get to your goal, the harder it will be. This is why, if you set non weight goals, it will provide you more reassurance. For example, losing XX % body fat, which in reality is a bigger goal than cutting weight. Cutting body fat is what makes you lose dress sizes and become fit. Losing weight is just a part of cutting fat. Also goals like, being able to increase my rep count (for weight lifting) or improve my time running a mile, etc.. are all NSV (non scale victories).
    How do you ensure you are losing fat?

    A small calorie deficit (20% less than tdee) and heavy weight training.
    Sorry I'm still very new to all this... what does tdee mean?

    Tdee= total daily energy expended. Its the total amount of calories a person burns throughout the day to include metabolic rate, lifestyle and exercise. So lets say your estimated bmr is 1400 calories, a stay at home mom, and burn 300 calories then your tdee would be

    =1400*1.375+300 = 2225.

    It means on average you burn 2225 calories. This is where you should cut 20% from. Because too large of a deficit and your body will start to conserve calories since there isnt enough calories to convert to energy.
  • MummyOfSeven
    MummyOfSeven Posts: 314 Member
    It seems to me that everyone on this thread has completely missed the point here. I think the original problem was that she's lost 25 lbs (great work!) and is not seeing much of a result in the mirror...

    And no, you're not the only one. I feel exactly the same way.

    It's taken me over 10 months to lose 32 lb. I look in the mirror and I see the same person that I saw a year ago. I haven't lost many inches and I'm still wearing the same clothes. :sad:
  • wurgin
    wurgin Posts: 241 Member
    It seems to me that everyone on this thread has completely missed the point here. I think the original problem was that she's lost 25 lbs (great work!) and is not seeing much of a result in the mirror...

    And no, you're not the only one. I feel exactly the same way.

    agreed

    I suffer from the same issue - my tummy shape isn't changing yet... and loss has slowed. 20 more lbs and it will show. I just have to stick to it.
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    And add on another that didn't read the OP carefully. :sad:

    Sorry OP.

    I am just now starting to see a difference in the way my clothing fits, unfortunately. I saw a small difference around the time I hit 210, but before that, none at all. It takes time to show, maybe, but it's nice when it finally does.
  • crimznrose
    crimznrose Posts: 282 Member
    I lost my first 25 pretty easily/quickly between November and January. Since then, I've been struggling to keep off the additional 10 lbs I've lost and lose more. I know I'm not gaining weight from fat because my cals or not out of this world and I watch what I eat daily, but the added exercise has definitely let me know I'm on the right track. I'm down two pant sizes and gaining strength and muscles in places that were once goo.

    I've lost 35lbs total since the start and while I look in the mirror and don't see a difference in myself, others are constantly saying how different I look and the clothes fitting different don't lie. :smile:
  • sandylion
    sandylion Posts: 451 Member
    When you have a lot to loose, unfortunately the first chunk of the weight tends to take a long time before anyone notices. When I first started and was at my heaviest, no one noticed at all that I had lost weight until 30lbs! And then it was like "Have you lost 5lbs? you look a bit slimmer." I wanted to yell at them "NO! I've lost 30! Thanks for noticing all my hard work!" It was so frustrating. My mother lost about 70lbs and she had the exact same experience. As you get farther toward your goal the pounds seem to make a bigger difference though. Try to think of the reasons why you are trying to slim down. Health reasons? Having more energy? Stuff like that, so that you can look at your day and think 'I'm not seeing the changes I want yet, but I am still working toward my goal', and hopefully that will help pull you through.

    I also found when I stopped looking at it as a temporary diet and started looking at it as a "This is what I am doing for the rest of my life", it became a bit easier. Am I not going to have pizza for the rest of my life? Absolutely not! So, now, if I want pizza, I get a thin crust with NO EXTRA CHEESE, and make sure I dab off the grease, and i have 2 slices instead of my usual 4 of my thick greasy double cheese double pepperoni. That is a change I can stick with, therefore it made it easier to stick to the plan.

    Does that help at all?
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