Weight loss is really slow / 12 pounds in 3 months

MFP (and a wide variety of other real health officials) say that 1 pound per week is recommended for a reason. And yes typically the more weight you have to lose, the faster it comes off. I started this year at 303 pounds and have lost 64.6 pounds so far. That was with setting my weight loss goals to 2 pounds per week, exercising 3-5 days a week and being very good about what foods I put in my body. Once I got down to the 1300 calorie range I changed my weight loss goal to 1.5 pounds per week because I was finding it very difficult to feel full on that amount of calories. Of course, I also knew going into this that 2 pounds per week was not a realistic goal for the 150-160 pounds I want to lose.

Sounds like about a pound a week to me. It's hard when its coming off and it feels slow but it is coming off so you are doing something right. Keep doing what you're doing

A pound a week can seem discouragingly slow. But it adds up.

Remember - it's a lifestyle change, not a diet.

Hi! Im providing this for your comparison. I lost 11 pounds in the course of 4 months. Weight loss is different for everyone. The more weight you lose the harder the last pounds are to come off. Bodies adjust to new routines and must have change to move out of a plateau. You're doing great!

just worried for no reason. weight that comes off at a slow pace is more likely to stay off.
you're doing very well.

Unless you're over 200lbs, a pound a week is average.

What do you mean by this?! Should you expect to lose more being over 200? I weighed over 200 and lost the first 25 lbs pretty easy, then a few more slowly.. And now that I'm under 200 it's.. Not.. Working... Anymore!! Ugh. >_<!!

I don't know if I need to lower my calorie intake, raise it.. I don't know how this works!!

***Sorry if I'm stealing your thread OP, great work!! 12 pounds is great!***

The more your body composition changes (body fat/ muscle...etc) the more your body's needs change. It is a good idea to take a honest look at you diet and exercise program. Make sure you are working just as hard as you were when you were 200 lbs. Some people slack off without realizing it...not saying you have...just putting that out there because it does apply to some people.

Also if you were over 200 at some point...do you have special health concerns? Have you stayed in touch with your doctor? I know people like to avoid going to the doctor because it can feel shameful, not enough money, general fear or lack of a quality doctor. Losing weight however easy it may be for some it can be a real struggle for others, diabetes, hormone imbalance or asthma can certainly slow things down even more. Some people will use this as a crutch but if treated it shouldn't prevent anyone from losing weight...just might take longer.

You didn't discuss what your exercise routine is??? Are you weight training??? How much cardio are you doing per day/week??? The more you do the same routine the easier it feels to you right?!...it is a sign that your body needs more. In the beginning you can increase the time and resistance of your cardio and increase the weights that you lift...BUT there comes a point where that is not enough. If this is where you are at, CHANGE what you are doing. If your body knows your workout routine better than you, your not going to see the changes you want.

Personally, I struggled to get moving in the right direction. I wondered around the gym thinking I know how to workout and didn't need any help. I may have built some muscle but I didn't lose a pound for 6 months. I was extremely frustrated and wanted to give up. I HIGHLY recommend anyone and everyone talk to the trainers at your gym!!!!!! They are there to point you in the right direction and some advice is free. Many people are worried about paying more money but you will get what you pay for. My gym offered to set up a weight training program for me free of charge and it has been since then that the weight has changed. A few months in I hesitated but I paid for an additional program and have really started melting away that last hard to lose 15 pounds.

Message boards are for emotional support and they are great when that is what you need. They help me find motivation to get to the gym when I would rather not. But sometimes we need more than that, there are a few trainers that post here from time to time...however you will get more of what you need by asking one to walk you through a workout. They will see if you have issues with form, weight or reps...they can talk to you about your diet and they will be honest with you...nothing else makes them look good but your success! I am sooooo happy I talked to mine. I have reached a weight I didn't think I would see again and I feel so much better.

Good luck to you, I hope you get over the hump and get your weight moving again!

(I am currently doing a circuit training program, burning about 1000 calories, takes about an 60-90 mins...wanted to add that in case you wanted an idea of something different to do)

3 months = 12 weeks
12 pounds in 12 weeks = 1 pound per week

You are RIGHT on target. You are losing weight steadily in a way you'll be able to keep it off easily.

Be happy. You are the poster child for steady weight loss right now!

Unless you're over 200lbs, a pound a week is average.

What do you mean by this?! Should you expect to lose more being over 200? I weighed over 200 and lost the first 25 lbs pretty easy, then a few more slowly.. And now that I'm under 200 it's.. Not.. Working... Anymore!! Ugh. >_<!!

I don't know if I need to lower my calorie intake, raise it.. I don't know how this works!!

***Sorry if I'm stealing your thread OP, great work!! 12 pounds is great!***

The more you have to lose, the easier it is to lose those first pounds.

Have you entered your new weight into your profile and recalculated your recommended calories? Although MFP does this every 10 pounds, it doesn't always do it automatically. But if you go in and manually tell it to recalculate, you'll get a new calorie recommendation. The less you weight, the fewer calories you get because the less body mass you have to support.

You are losing a pound a week. Seems normal and perfectly right to me. Considering you are not morbidly obese expecting to lose more than 1-1.5 pounds a week is setting yourself up for dissapointment.

I hear ya! I "only" lost 6 pounds in 30 days... and it's too slow to me. But like some said: Your are losing, not gaining. So we have to continue our hard work and we will see our goals faster than we think.

That is still 12 pounds that is no longer on your body. A pound a week is nothing to be disappointed by!

And generally when weight comes off slower, it's because you are doing it healthier and in a way that will last, rather than losing weight quickly, returning to old patterns and ending up with the same body. (Actually, to be honest, I have no idea if this part is true. It makes sense to me, though).

Anyway, good job and don't give up!

I agree with this. If you are eating clean, working out (I highly recommend strength training, btw) and going at the lb a week pace, you are losing the RIGHT weight- the fat weight. Those who starve or work out too much and/or don't eat clean might lose more for awhile, but they will lose muscle, and in the end, the weight will come back and be replaced with fat. It sounds like you are right on- a lb a week is awesome.

I've been there- it feels so slow, but it is so worth it!

Finally, I found measuring monthly really helped me. There were months that I only lost a few lbs, but went down a full size. It's not all about the pounds!

keep at it!

Unless you're over 200lbs, a pound a week is average.

What do you mean by this?! Should you expect to lose more being over 200? I weighed over 200 and lost the first 25 lbs pretty easy, then a few more slowly.. And now that I'm under 200 it's.. Not.. Working... Anymore!! Ugh. >_<!!

I don't know if I need to lower my calorie intake, raise it.. I don't know how this works!!

***Sorry if I'm stealing your thread OP, great work!! 12 pounds is great!***

The more your body composition changes (body fat/ muscle...etc) the more your body's needs change. It is a good idea to take a honest look at you diet and exercise program. Make sure you are working just as hard as you were when you were 200 lbs. Some people slack off without realizing it...not saying you have...just putting that out there because it does apply to some people.

Also if you were over 200 at some point...do you have special health concerns? Have you stayed in touch with your doctor? I know people like to avoid going to the doctor because it can feel shameful, not enough money, general fear or lack of a quality doctor. Losing weight however easy it may be for some it can be a real struggle for others, diabetes, hormone imbalance or asthma can certainly slow things down even more. Some people will use this as a crutch but if treated it shouldn't prevent anyone from losing weight...just might take longer.

You didn't discuss what your exercise routine is??? Are you weight training??? How much cardio are you doing per day/week??? The more you do the same routine the easier it feels to you right?!...it is a sign that your body needs more. In the beginning you can increase the time and resistance of your cardio and increase the weights that you lift...BUT there comes a point where that is not enough. If this is where you are at, CHANGE what you are doing. If your body knows your workout routine better than you, your not going to see the changes you want.

Personally, I struggled to get moving in the right direction. I wondered around the gym thinking I know how to workout and didn't need any help. I may have built some muscle but I didn't lose a pound for 6 months. I was extremely frustrated and wanted to give up. I HIGHLY recommend anyone and everyone talk to the trainers at your gym!!!!!! They are there to point you in the right direction and some advice is free. Many people are worried about paying more money but you will get what you pay for. My gym offered to set up a weight training program for me free of charge and it has been since then that the weight has changed. A few months in I hesitated but I paid for an additional program and have really started melting away that last hard to lose 15 pounds.

Message boards are for emotional support and they are great when that is what you need. They help me find motivation to get to the gym when I would rather not. But sometimes we need more than that, there are a few trainers that post here from time to time...however you will get more of what you need by asking one to walk you through a workout. They will see if you have issues with form, weight or reps...they can talk to you about your diet and they will be honest with you...nothing else makes them look good but your success! I am sooooo happy I talked to mine. I have reached a weight I didn't think I would see again and I feel so much better.

Good luck to you, I hope you get over the hump and get your weight moving again!

(I am currently doing a circuit training program, burning about 1000 calories, takes about an 60-90 mins...wanted to add that in case you wanted an idea of something different to do)

Thank you! My health care provider took a few months off unexpectedly right after I started and is not back. And I don't have anyone else to talk to. But no, no underlying health issues to speak of. I probably am slacking because I'm frustrated that what I was doing before is no longer working. I don't think I'm doing enough exercise, I'm only doing the 30 day shred as of right now. I definitely don't know my way around the gym. And I just focus on cardio really.. I think I'm going to try lowering my calories, which sucks because really I'm still hungry even with the amount I have now haha.

Stop focusing so much on the scale. I cannot emphasize this enough. If you're trying to lose fat, take your measurements each morning. This will give you a better idea of how you're progressing. You can stay the same weight but see a steady decrease in inches by losing fat and gaining muscle simultaneously.

Where is the "Like" button? :flowerforyou: