It's harder to lose 15 than 50

1RBelle512
1RBelle512 Posts: 53 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
For me anyway. I am looking for friends in a similar situation.

My story: I lost 50 lbs using MFP, but gained back about 15 basically just over the Christmas holidays. I feel really disappointed that I re-gained, but I've learned a lot from this experience. First of all, I lost weight too quickly. I frequently under-ate and over-exercised, encouraged by my success on the scale. That lifestyle just wasn't maintainable.

Now my goal is to exercise about 30 minutes per day and eat at least 1,400 calories (though I'm trying to do more research on what my TDEE really is, how much I really burn when I work out, etc.). My focus is shifting to getting stronger and building stamina, rather than watching the number drop on the scale. That said, I'm having trouble staying positive as I slowly lose weight on this regimen.

Is there anyone else out there struggling to gradually lose 15 or so pounds, or maintain a loss of about 50? I really want to have some friends who can relate to this to compare notes. Maybe I'm still doing something wrong, maybe you've discovered something brilliant, maybe I can share a few tips... I'm a very supportive MFP friend, so please add me (and please include a note that you saw this)!

Replies

  • 1RBelle512
    1RBelle512 Posts: 53 Member
    Anybody?
  • Hssh1988
    Hssh1988 Posts: 48 Member
    I agree! I ignored the half-stone I've carried for my adult life until it reached an excess stone, which I'm now trying to lose. As I'm not excessively overweight it's difficult, as I do most things right. And nobody wants to give up ALL their treats! I've been on MFP for 3 months and have only lost a kilo, could do with some support to amend my plan and get this stone shifted1 I've sent you a friend invitation, too :)
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    I started here last March wanting to lose 15 pounds. I lost it slowly over a 6 month period, then gained some back and I'm fighting it every day. I've realized that if I want to keep it off I'm going to have to keep fighting it every day for the rest of my life.
  • qbdeal1
    qbdeal1 Posts: 25 Member
    i was stuck at the same weight.. I did exactly this, i pushed myself harder on running and working out. I also drank a lot of water, i was on a 1500 cal a day but then I put myself on a 1200 cal a day. I only ran 3 miles a day and did a 1 hour walk before i went to bed every night..
  • LadyIntrepid
    LadyIntrepid Posts: 399 Member
    It took me 8 months to lose 13. (I had already lost 5 which took forever, but they stayed off.) It's slow going, but now that the time is passed it doesn't feel that long at all. I feel awesome and am moving on to other fitness goals. BTW, I started to lose more quickly when I made sure to NET at least 1200-1400 a day. I learned that from this site. Consistently going under 1200 net seemed to slow things down. Hang in there! You'll make it!
  • mabennett
    mabennett Posts: 53
    in this same boat! very frustrating!
  • ctalimenti
    ctalimenti Posts: 865 Member
    Yes! ME!

    I was never really overweight but in the last 4-8 yrs just kept creeping up. I am 5'8" and weigh 150. I would like to weigh about 145ish. I had a friend tell me that the reason it's hardest to lose that last 10 lbs is that the body holds onto to it for most likely health reasons. It's like money in the bank if you get real sick.

    Anyway, for the past 2 months, I have been trying. I've been eating about 1400 cals per day when I can. I think I dropped about 4-5 lbs.

    It's very important to log calories. I've dropped off several times and gained weight back. Also, when you have weight fluctuations from one day to the other, you know it's only water weight. It's a big relief!
  • bodyrocks365
    bodyrocks365 Posts: 81
    there's a thread on "the last x lbs" that you might enjoy being part of. -LC
  • CrisAlex
    CrisAlex Posts: 236 Member
    Oh my goodness, that sounds just like my situation! I packed on almost 20 pounds because of stress and maybe even taking my weight loss for granted. It's so frustrating, and the amount of information out there is overwhelming. Feel free to message me if you want to vent or need support.
  • MammaSki2Boys
    MammaSki2Boys Posts: 38
    same here. I try to eat 1400 cal and work out 30 mins a day atleast 5 days. this last 13 lbs is not coming off!
  • creech6317
    creech6317 Posts: 869 Member
    I started MFP in Feb 2012 and in the first 2 1/2 months I lost 15 lbs no problem. Then I didn't lose for a month and I have been struggling to lose the last 20 lbs. I seem to lose about 1 lbs every 2 weeks. If I lower my calories I don't lose at all. If I exercise more I seem to gain. It is getting so frustrating. I don't know what to do to get these last 20 lbs off.
    I have lost inches, but I hate looking at my weight and BMI and seeing "obese".
  • ctalimenti
    ctalimenti Posts: 865 Member
    I started here last March wanting to lose 15 pounds. I lost it slowly over a 6 month period, then gained some back and I'm fighting it every day. I've realized that if I want to keep it off I'm going to have to keep fighting it every day for the rest of my life.

    This is SO SO TRUE!!
  • BeccaLevine
    BeccaLevine Posts: 315 Member
    We'll we are already friends ;) BUT I lost all of my weight very slowly...it's taken my almost a year to lose this 65lbs! The first bit will come off really easily, but I am trying to get to 130lbs now and I fluctuate between 135-139 and it's SO frustrating! Getting the last bit off takes a lot of time. Just make sure your not only staying within your calories but not filling up on "empty" calories! And since you are working out every day, maybe you should up your cal intake just a little? I lost a lot when I ate 1200 a day but I was ALWAYS hungry! Just my two cents!

    Edited to add: make sure you switch up exercise routines!
  • Littlemissjackie1
    Littlemissjackie1 Posts: 122 Member
    Hi! I'm already your friend as well. But it looks like I'm having a similar problem. I'm 5'2 @ 146 lbs according to BMI I would be considered overweight, I'm aiming to loose about 26 lbs and It's been soooo hard. I've only been loosing a 1 lb a week :( I have learned so much about clean eating and eating back exercise calories, but with the scale moving so slowly its hard to stay motivated.
  • agent99oz
    agent99oz Posts: 185 Member
    Yip - Way harder! I suppose when you get down to the final pounds/kgs you have to look at the weight loss differently and focus on muscle gain and fitness
    It is hard not to just use the scale as a measure as we are so conditioned to do this
    I have been stuck at the same weight since Feb this year!! However - My jeans are much looser, I can wear a belt loop a smaller size I can run faster...I can lift heavier!
    I suppose stick with it - Fitness and weight loss and being healthy is a lifetime thing....not a week to week thing as once you get to your goal it is then a balance of staying there
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    Hi! I'm already your friend as well. But it looks like I'm having a similar problem. I'm 5'2 @ 146 lbs according to BMI I would be considered overweight, I'm aiming to loose about 26 lbs and It's been soooo hard. I've only been loosing a 1 lb a week :( I have learned so much about clean eating and eating back exercise calories, but with the scale moving so slowly its hard to stay motivated.
    One pound per week is actually a very good weight loss rate, especially when you don't have a lot to lose. I'm happy if I can lose 1/2 pound each week, frankly.

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