WTF - weight loss in 5 months

2

Replies

  • sophie_wr
    sophie_wr Posts: 194 Member
    Lot of tweens on this topic !!!
    Join in february, lost 12 pounds (I think it's a bit more, but not more than 15).
    I think if you really overweight (300 or so) you're gonna loose faster at the beginning.

    Good things with exercises, even if you dont loose that much, it's still make your body looks smaller... and this is a goal too no ?

    I have a PCOS diagnostic, so I know it's long and slower that for the average person... but I understand your frustration. You can add me and we can see our progress !!

    Good luck :)
  • lmarshel
    lmarshel Posts: 674 Member
    I'm finally at my goal weight. Started out just under 200 pounds (possibly a little over, but I'm sure I wasn't getting anywhere near a scale at that time!). I was a size 18+ and now I'm a size 6. My current weight is just over 150 pounds, and I'm perfectly happy with it. So I've lost right around 50 pounds. But it has taken me over 4 years to get here!

    Every single body is different, and you have to do what works for you. What worked for me was slow and steady... and stalling from time to time. I have never netted less than 1400 calories per day on a regular basis, and I always eat my exercise cals. But that's what works for me. It certainly won't work for everyone.

    Stick with your program. You'll get there. You will eventually find your groove and meet your goals! And you have a wonderful support system here to help you along the way. :bigsmile:
  • cineshome
    cineshome Posts: 97 Member
    Just a thought, but you might be building quite a bit of muscle with those kettleballs (which is a good thing) and you have lost a lot of inches. I know you can't go backwards but I bet you have lowered your body fat percentage by quite a bit. I know this isn't a scientifically accurate thing to say but muscle weighs more than fat. Well, okay if doesn't weigh more than fat but it takes up a lot less space in your body. Just some food for thought.
  • _Kitten_Kate
    _Kitten_Kate Posts: 520 Member
    Hey there... I am in the same boat...
    Started Jan 9th.. 5'10 SW 253...CW 235(depending on the day)... Started low at 1370... up'd to 1800... tried Primal... went up to 2100... went back down to 1500... now at 1750 after having my metabolism tested.
    I have tried eating back exercise cals and not eating back exercise cals. I still don't lose wt til the end of my period.... and then only a few lbs.
    all I can say is.. that has been consistent... I have lost 2-4 lbs a month for the last 5 months.
    and have come to accept it. 18lbs down in five months.

    I have read a lot and tried a lot and not much makes a difference. I have tried very high protein..high fat... low carb... and all variations around that.

    I have become ok with what I am losing because above all.. I am learning to change my way of eating. and living... and the longer it takes... the more it is ingrained in my head... and habits are formed hopefully for good.

    I don't stay exactly at my cals... i go under .. and I go a lil over here or there...
    And as of right now i am not eating back exercise cals.
    But I recently started working out with a trainer... and talkin to someone here that is a trainer...and decided to not focus on Calories.. but rather LBM... and my MACROS.... makes me more aware of what I am actually eating.

    But I stay in a range of 1450-1800... which is where the RMR testing suggested to lose wt. 2300 to maintain.

    I have also found that everyone has a story of what has worked for them...doesn't mean it will work for you. Only you can figure that out by trial and error. BUT I would try that in the healthiest way possible.... feed your body good whole foods...
    And you really can't go wrong.

    I am here for ya... feel free to friend me.

    Best wishes.
    Katie.

    ETA..... you have lost inches.. which in the scheme of things is way more important than lbs. The scale is a ***** .. and she can lie, lie, lie... so go by inches.
    and as I am sure you may know... muscle ways more than fat and takes up less space... so if you are doing any strength or resistance work... you are getting smaller! And yeah for that! isn't that the real goal?
    I know it is for me. I just wanna wear a size 12 and look damn fine!... who cares what lbs that is!
  • Di3012
    Di3012 Posts: 2,247 Member
    Hi. I've been on this MFP since 7th Jan 2012, so just over 5 months. And I have lost up to 20lbs, but currently at 17lbs loss (my weight goes up and down).

    I started off setting my goal to 1200 cals per day and was losing around 1lb a week but was advised by a lot of people that I should be eating more. I then tried eating more (for a month - 1600-1800) and gained 1lb every week, after the month I stopped and went back down to 1400, I waas losing some weeks, gaining or staying the same other weeks. I've then brought it down to 1300 and it's still the same, lose a pound, put it on, stay the same!!

    I have read so many stories on here, one recently about people that have lost 50lbs in 3-4 months, some 6 months, some 5 months - BUT 50lbs!!!! HOW??????

    I drink generally between 6 and 16 glasses of water every day.

    I burn between 2500 and 5000 calories in a week, a combination of cardio and kettlebells (lots of zumba, walking and the kettlebells).

    I am wanting to change my lifestyle, not go on a diet and therefore have been watching my portion sizes. I generally make my own food and therefore know exactly what goes in it. Yes i still have burgers, chips etc but i will also make sure I'm within my calorie count and when i do have them I generally don't eat the bun and will have half the chips at the most.

    I measure my food so that's correct.

    I drink lots of water

    i do lots of exercise (and mix it up with some weights)

    the weight is coming off but VERY, VERY SLOWLY. I'm just a bit disheartened when I see others, losing 50-60lbs at this stage.

    I started out at 219.5lbs CW 202.4 and I'm 5ft 8"

    Ok my measurements I started on the 12th Feb (I hadn't done it before):

    Neck: was: 15" now 14.1"
    Waist: was: 37" now 34"
    Hips: was: 46" now 43"
    Breast: was: 42" now 39"
    Thigh: was: 26" now 25.5"
    Upper arm: was: 14" now 14"

    I really feel I'm trying to do as much as i possibly can, walking up to school instead of taking the car, parking as far away as possible from the shops, walking to the park, literally walking as much as I can - this is in addition to my exercise classes.

    Where am I going wrong? Please help! (Lame man's English please as I don't understand the technical jargon - thanks.)

    x

    Go back to the 1200 calories per day, you were losing on that, why change?

    Some people do not like the thought of 1200 calories, but if it works for you, do it.

    I did it for 6 1/2 months and got to my goal weight - losing 30lbs, it can definitely be done. The trick is OP, stick to your guns, stick to your calories and do it you own way. If you suddenly stop losing weight after being completely honest regarding your daily calorie intake, then you will need to recap, until then, go back to what worked, you will not starve, nor go into starvation mode, but you may just get to your goal.

    Do it!
  • Di3012
    Di3012 Posts: 2,247 Member
    You may not be eating enough.

    Did you actually read the OPs post or have you just copied that phrase from other threads? Not being funny, but the OP is saying they indeed UPPED their calories and that is what actually started the whole weightloss to stop!
  • LisaEileen
    LisaEileen Posts: 185 Member
    I'm right there with you. I started in January too. It's really frustrating at times. I felt like crap when I was eating 1200-1500 calories. I got a Bodyfit Media to track my calorie burn so I know for sure how much I'm burning. I eat anywhere between 500-1000 calorie deficit a day according to what my BMF says I burn. I found out I actually lose better when I have a deficit of closer to 500 than 1000. But, even that isn't consistent with me. I did a round of Hip Hop Abs, then a round of Turbo Fire and now I'm doing a Turbo Fire/Chalene Extreme Hybrid. I walk the dog for almost an hour everyday. I am constantly on the go with my kids. I won't lose for weeks on end, then I'll lose 2 pounds. I'm like someone else who said they have been losing 2-4 a month. I really can't do much more than what I'm doing so I have no choice but to accept that this is how it's going to be. The only reason I have for me losing so slow is being over 40. I turned 43 in May. When I was younger and lost weight after having my 4 babies, I lost a lot faster. I wish I had more advise to give you, but it sounds like you're doing everything right. Just know I really feel for you and know exactly how you feel.
  • therealangd
    therealangd Posts: 1,861 Member
    You lost 17 pounds and 10 inches? That's fantastic.

    I didn't read all the responses, but I did skim over the fact that you are eating 1400 calories and not eating back your exercise calories and burning a **** load during exercise. You really should be eating them back, or at least most of them.

    I don't know how old you are but your BMR would be in the vicinity of 1700 calories. If you are adding back your exercise calories, then your TDEE of sedentary is about 2000 calories. That is just sitting on your butt all day doing nothing, you can maintain at 2000 calories.

    There is no reason why you can't eat 1700 or 1800 calories and not lose weight.

    Anyway 17 pounds and 10 inches is fantastic. That's why you are not losing the weight, you are losing the inches.
  • kerr218
    kerr218 Posts: 7
    Something to consider that I'm not sure if I read in other comments or not (there were a lot of comments!)... I'm not sure if you do any work with weights but if you tend to do strength training with high amounts of weights, it could be that you are burning fat but gaining the weight back in muscle.

    If you aren't doing weights then definitely consider what others have said on this thread. If you are doing weights, high repetition sets with low weight will help to tone muscles rather than build them bulkier.
  • ChristineDiet
    ChristineDiet Posts: 719 Member
    I'm right there with you. I started in January too. It's really frustrating at times. I felt like crap when I was eating 1200-1500 calories. I got a Bodyfit Media to track my calorie burn so I know for sure how much I'm burning. I eat anywhere between 500-1000 calorie deficit a day according to what my BMF says I burn. I found out I actually lose better when I have a deficit of closer to 500 than 1000. But, even that isn't consistent with me. I did a round of Hip Hop Abs, then a round of Turbo Fire and now I'm doing a Turbo Fire/Chalene Extreme Hybrid. I walk the dog for almost an hour everyday. I am constantly on the go with my kids. I won't lose for weeks on end, then I'll lose 2 pounds. I'm like someone else who said they have been losing 2-4 a month. I really can't do much more than what I'm doing so I have no choice but to accept that this is how it's going to be. The only reason I have for me losing so slow is being over 40. I turned 43 in May. When I was younger and lost weight after having my 4 babies, I lost a lot faster. I wish I had more advise to give you, but it sounds like you're doing everything right. Just know I really feel for you and know exactly how you feel.

    Thank you - I know this is not reassuring to you but it does help to think that there are others in the same boat as me.

    I'm thinking about looking to getting a PT who will advise and then once I have that info I will have to let him go (couldn't afford it!) Unless there's anyone on here that wants to offer 'free' advice??? lol

    I turned 40 in February so maybe it's to do with my age too. god damn it! lol

    thank you. x
  • torygirl79
    torygirl79 Posts: 307 Member
    I'm one of those annoying people. I've stuck to 1200 plus some of my excercise calories and it has worked for me - however bear in mind I started from a much higher point than you did.
  • ChristineDiet
    ChristineDiet Posts: 719 Member
    I'm finally at my goal weight. Started out just under 200 pounds (possibly a little over, but I'm sure I wasn't getting anywhere near a scale at that time!). I was a size 18+ and now I'm a size 6. My current weight is just over 150 pounds, and I'm perfectly happy with it. So I've lost right around 50 pounds. But it has taken me over 4 years to get here!

    Every single body is different, and you have to do what works for you. What worked for me was slow and steady... and stalling from time to time. I have never netted less than 1400 calories per day on a regular basis, and I always eat my exercise cals. But that's what works for me. It certainly won't work for everyone.

    Stick with your program. You'll get there. You will eventually find your groove and meet your goals! And you have a wonderful support system here to help you along the way. :bigsmile:

    Thank you for your kind words and congratulations on meeting your goal. x
  • ChristineDiet
    ChristineDiet Posts: 719 Member
    Just a thought, but you might be building quite a bit of muscle with those kettleballs (which is a good thing) and you have lost a lot of inches. I know you can't go backwards but I bet you have lowered your body fat percentage by quite a bit. I know this isn't a scientifically accurate thing to say but muscle weighs more than fat. Well, okay if doesn't weigh more than fat but it takes up a lot less space in your body. Just some food for thought.

    Thanks - i didn't measure my body fat % when i first started - only did that about 6 weeks ago and it's gone down 6%, not sure if that is good or not. I am getting more toned and clothes are fitting me now that havent for a while. maybe I was having a bad day yesterday and like others have said i need to be more patient. I suppose what I'm doing is working - just really slowly. Hopefully that means it will stay off forever!!

    thanks again to everyone. xx
  • jhale51
    jhale51 Posts: 2
    Have you gone to the doctor and had a physical? Maybe it is something like diabetes keeping you back... I know I just went and discovered I was diabetic...that was not even on my radar... I had no symptoms, therefore no clue but like you I was struggling eatting very little.. I changed my focus to maintaining my blood sugar at a healthy level and the weight has just started to fall off. in the last 4 weeks I have dropped 20 lbs... i exercise 20 minutes three times a day, I simply had to find out what carbs spike my blood sugar of all things kashi cereal which I ate for protein and fiber and yogurt, even plain non fat yogurt which I thought was a low calorie healthy food both spike my blood sugar... my doctor put me on oral medication and in 3 months I if my numbers are good he can take me off of meds... then I can manage the diabetes with diet and exercise. I hope this is not the case for you, but is worth looking into... and A1C test will show if you have been averaging high or low for the past three months. Good Luck and I hope you don't get to discouraged because it is so worth being healthy.
  • escloflowneCHANGED
    escloflowneCHANGED Posts: 3,038 Member
    I'm one of "those" people, I eat 1800 calories on non workout days, 2200-2300 on cardio days and 2500-2600 on cardio + weights days. I've found that weight lifting wearing a HRM, the calories burned need to be multiplied by 0.65-0.70 to get an accurate count of the actual calories burned.

    I eat very strict during the week but on weekends and vacation days, I don't log and eat what I want and drink beer...

    My Stats:
    SW: 271.5lbs Waist: 51" - January 2, 2012
    W: 249.5lbs Waist: 47" - February 3, 2012
    W: 237lbs Waist: 45" - March 2, 2012
    W: 233lbs Waist: 42.5" - April 2, 2012
    W: 224.5lbs Waist: 41.5" - May 1st, 2012
    W: 215.5lbs Waist: 39.5" - June 1st, 2012

    I also lost 8% body fat since March, I find the weight loss is starting to slow down now though..
  • alltacht
    alltacht Posts: 139 Member
    20lbs in 5months and 40? Congrats! I've only managed 11 since january and I'm 24 :D I'm happy to have lost that much but well done you!
  • NelehY
    NelehY Posts: 52 Member
    Another vote for the "try not compare your progress with others" camp!

    And "don't forget that the number on the scale is just one factor"

    I started a week or two after a friend who has lost an astonising 25lbs
    ...which is depressing if I compared it to my 9lbs!

    However - she has a lot more to lose, thus is carrying more weight-burning weight.
    And whilst my weight is shifting more slowly I can also feel a major difference in my clothes-fit.

    And finally - if I have managed to lose as much as you in the same time-span then I will be absolutely thrilled!
    You should be patting yourself on the back - you have done jolly well to lose so much weight!
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
    Just a thought, but you might be building quite a bit of muscle with those kettleballs (which is a good thing) and you have lost a lot of inches. I know you can't go backwards but I bet you have lowered your body fat percentage by quite a bit. I know this isn't a scientifically accurate thing to say but muscle weighs more than fat. Well, okay if doesn't weigh more than fat but it takes up a lot less space in your body. Just some food for thought.

    Thanks - i didn't measure my body fat % when i first started - only did that about 6 weeks ago and it's gone down 6%, not sure if that is good or not. I am getting more toned and clothes are fitting me now that havent for a while. maybe I was having a bad day yesterday and like others have said i need to be more patient. I suppose what I'm doing is working - just really slowly. Hopefully that means it will stay off forever!!

    thanks again to everyone. xx

    6% body fat reduction in 6 weeks is HUGE. I wouldn't have thought that possible. And now I'M green with envy!
  • josyjozy
    josyjozy Posts: 117 Member
    I would trust in those inches lost. That is progress, and great progress at that. I agree that you could be slowly building muscle and the fat loss is equaling itself out. Trust those measuring tapes.
  • stupidloser
    stupidloser Posts: 300 Member
    Forget about the weight for a second. Do u look like you are getting fatter? You maybe losing fat but gaining lean mass, so there is not much change in the scale.
  • juicemoogan
    juicemoogan Posts: 994 Member
    if you are around 200lbs, 5foot 8 and eating 1300 cals and not eating your exercise calories back.. that isnot enough for your body.
    im 5ft7 183lbs, and i eat 1800-2000 cals a day and am losing.. you should think about doing a little research on TDEE and BMR (search the threads theres tons of info.. \\and consider eating a little bit more..
  • NewChristina
    NewChristina Posts: 250 Member
    People lose weight at different speeds for a variety of different reasons; it really just depends on the individual sometimes.

    Rather than being jealous of others success, why not revel in your own? 17-20lbs in 5 months is pretty damn impressive. When it comes down to it, you can't force your body to drop weight faster than it is meant to. If you're doing all the things you say you're doing, then there's not much else you can do. Your body will lose weight at it's own pace.

    And look at it this way; slow, steady weight loss has proven to be far more easily maintainable than quick weight loss. I'm by no means saying those who have lost it quickly are going to gain it back, because I'm sure they aren't, but there is nothing wrong with losing slowly.

    I've lost 37lbs in around 6/7 months. A lot of people have lost the same amount of weight in half the time. Am I bothered? No. Why? Because that's them, this is me, and I'm still proud of what I've achieved so far, and what I'm going to achieve in the future. You should feel the same. If there's one lesson to take away from this journey, it's that comparing yourself to others is utterly pointless. Your body is yours, and theirs is theirs, and yours is not going to work out exactly the same as everyone elses.

    Well said! :flowerforyou:
  • tugers2
    tugers2 Posts: 139
    look at this,
    http://www.losertown.org/eats/cal.php
    your eating too many calories if you want to lose weight at a decent speed. at the rate your going you'll weight about 165lbs in two years

    i would lower you cals to about 1400
  • niciemetts
    niciemetts Posts: 49
    it also depends on your metabolism...........how much calories you burn off............the kinds of foods you eat.........such as are you eating processed food.........or are you eating mostly natural foods...........are you eating foods high in carbs.............more carbs you intake the harder your body has to work to burn the carbs before it can burn your stored fat.............of course i am having problems eating 1200 calories lol.......i need more calories but not more carbs lol btw i am 5 10 35 years old and 216 pounds........goal weight 165
  • wahmx3
    wahmx3 Posts: 633 Member
    This, you need to eat more, try it a bit longer and you should see results.
    So you have been doing this for roughly 26 weeks, and you have lost 17-20lbs. What's wrong with that?

    However this is what bothers me:
    "I then tried eating more (for a month - 1600-1800) and gained 1lb every week, after the month I stopped and went back down to 1400,"

    So you increased your calories by 400 a day. According to fitness frog, for Moderate exercise, your TDEE for your height and weight is 2500 calories! To gain a lb of fat a week you would need to consume 3000 calories a day! I think you quit RIGHT before you were going to see the losses kick in. How long have you been at 1200-1400? Are you eating exercise calories back?
  • marsellient
    marsellient Posts: 591 Member
    I feel like I'm taking a huge risk posting here as I've read so many controversial threads about issues like yours. No doubt the exercise is having an impact on how you are losing pounds and inches. You have lost both and that's a big victory. Good for you! There are many posters who are very knowledgeable about BMR and TDEE, etc. who can give you advice; however, I am an almost 56 year old who has lost almost 30 lb since the end of January on roughly 1540 calories/ day with moderate exercise (cardio, resistance training...but nothing like you're doing), and sometimes I eat back the calories per my HRM. Perhaps you need to look at changing up what you're eating to include more fresh vegetables and proteins? Just a thought. Whatever you decide, you are definitely going in the right direction and don't give up!
  • suziecue66
    suziecue66 Posts: 1,312 Member
    "I started off setting my goal to 1200 cals per day and was losing around 1lb a week but was advised by a lot of people that I should be eating more. I then tried eating more (for a month - 1600-1800) and gained 1lb every week, after the month I stopped and went back down to 1400, I waas losing some weeks, gaining or staying the same other weeks. I've then brought it down to 1300 and it's still the same, lose a pound, put it on, stay the same!! "

    That was your mistake - following advice to eat more when 1200 was working for you. Changes only need to be made if you are not seeing results and you were seeing results at 1200.
    A lot of those that have lost a substantial amount in 5 months or so seem to be lower in calories then most on this site approve of.

    In your profile you said:
    Please don't bother to ask me to add you if you don't have your diary open and eat at least 1200 calories a day. I'm trying to do this the healthy way and need to be surrounded by people with the same views."
    Quite a few of those that are losing huge amount are probably netting below 1200.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    Twenty pounds in five months is essentially a pound a week. Slow but steady.

    Keep it up!
  • LilacDreamer
    LilacDreamer Posts: 1,364 Member
    Eating out can kill your diet as well. If you eat out, leave a 1/4 of the portion on the plate and log the entire serving (or multiply the serving by 1.2). Weigh all of your food. You might be surprised at the difference.


    can you explain this to me? If I go out to some place...Olive garden for example, and I eat 1/2 of a pasta dish, why would I log the entire dish? If I only ate 1/2 I'm only going to log 1/2...it's like eating a bagel.. if someone buys a dozen bagels and I eat 1/2 of a bagel, I'm not going to log the whole dozen just because it was purchased. also... measure it by 1.2? you lost me..
  • mlynnea03
    mlynnea03 Posts: 41 Member
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