How do you lose?

[Kynekke 0]

I myself am frustrated with the lack of weight loss as are a number of people on these boards... maybe this will help.

Tanya

[cinward2001 0]

Tanya, I'm not sure that I'd consider 60 lbs a lack of weight loss. But I know what you mean...I've hit times where I'm so frustrated because it seems like the scales aren't budging. When that happens, I put them away. Well, actually, I let DH hide them. It might sound kind of silly, but one way I lose is to NOT weigh. Here's why.

When the scales aren't moving, I get frustrated and stressed. Then, I want to eat more. If I don't let myself eat more, then I get more frustrated if the scales STILL aren't moving because I feel like I'm being so "good." Eventually, I say "to hell with it" and eat something I shouldn't.

If the scales ARE moving, then I'm much happier, so I want to Celebrate. Even though I don't mean to, I have a tendency to eat more because in my mind, if the scales are moving, I can "afford" to indulge a bit.

I also think that, since stress raises cortisol levels, and higher cortisol levels have been linked to weight gain, that the less stress, the better.

So when the scales are gone, I try to follow the guidelines. I focus on eating only when I'm really hungry and NOT because of emotions. I try to stop when I'm satisfied. I don't eat just because I think I "should" be able to eat more...I try to see how little I can eat instead. I eat Protein and veggies first, take a multi-Vitamin, and drink lots of Water. I also exercise regularly.

On the days that I'm "panicking" because I just know the scales are going up, I find my "skinny" jeans and try them on. Most of the time, they feel LOOSER, not tighter, so I know that, whatever the scale would read if I found it (and yes, sometimes I go looking...which is why they're hidden...I'm a scale addict), it's not true. If the pants are looser, I HAVE to be losing weight.

Then, I try to weigh about once/month (after TOM). That way, I avoid the awful scale fluctuations from Fluid retention, the emotional ups and downs, and I just keep doing what I'm supposed to do. :eek: Eventually, the weight DOES come off.

Cindy

[tann 2]

i voted for smooth sailing because I've been loosing pretty steady since Sept'06...41 pounds lost since 9-23-06 the date of my last fill:car: :eek:

[juliegeraci 7]

Hi Tanya, it seems like I am a creep crawler at 1 lb per week. I tend to gain 3, lose 2, gain 1, lose 1, etc. etc. My body drives me crazy! Right now I am finally down 1 lb since I posted my last ticker. My goal is 6 more lbs, 10 by Valentines Day. That would be considered rapid for me. Good luck.

[GayleTX 1]

The rate at which people loses changes all the time throughout the journey. Hard to give a set answer. Right now, for the first time in my 10 mo since surgery, I'm at a plateau.

[lisah25 3]

I've been losing steadily since surgery, up until a few weeks ago. Granted, the holidays made things hard because everywhere I looked there was food sitting out, and I ate more junk then I should have. But I also think my body is kind of taking a bit of a time-out, catching up with itself, at least that's what's happened in the past. And this is the time I usually get frustrated and give up. Now though, I have this great sense of hope. That if I just keep following the rules, I'll lose again.

I do also notice that even if the scale isn't moving, my clothes continue to feel looser.

[Kynekke 0]

I know 60 lbs seems like a lot in 7 months but that all happened from Jun - Oct and I stopped losing then I'm can't seem to get out from the 245-250 lbs range.

[tonya66 13]

I know 60 lbs seems like a lot in 7 months but that all happened from Jun - Oct and I stopped losing then I'm can't seem to get out from the 245-250 lbs range.

Are you exercising? Have you tracked your calories? Switch things up a bit to get thru te plateau.

But please remember how far you have come. YOU HAVE LOST 60 LBS. :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: , that deserves a big round of applause! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

I agree also with Cindy. Hide those darn scales. Also, have you taken your measurements? Sometimes we are turning the fat into muscle, and shrinking. Measurements are very important.

Here is a good article on weightloss and scales - http://www.carbsmart.com/outout.html

Stay focussed and you will get there. Remember, this is a slow journey, Thats why they say it takes 18 mos to usually hit goal (or something like that). Your only about 6 mos out. Your still a newbie!

[tybalt 0]

My doctor has stated several times that he considers 1 lb a week the optimim weight loss. In his opinion it is an easy target to reach and helps the skin slowly restrict so you dont' have to face a body lift once you've lost your weight. And of course regular exercise is very important whether or not you need to lose weight. His opinion is that without adding exercise the weight loss alone gives you very little health benefits.

[mousecrazy 2]

After losing 50 pounds, I hit a period where I didn't lose any weight for a couple of months, I think it was.

My theory, purely unscientific but it makes sense to me, is that your body needs that time to adjust to it's new self. Your mind needs that time to adjust to your new size. When you are ready to move forward again, you will. Don't be discouraged! The weight loss is not over!

I am 17 months out, and losing like crazy now! I just had to get past a certain point of acceptance, I think...I'm now down into numbers I haven't seen in decades, and it's a little strange. Courage!

[cinward2001 0]

Mousecrazy, I kind of agree with you. :target: People get fat for so many reasons, and I think that oftentimes, it's as much psychological as physical. For me, I think the depression from being overweight made me turn to food more. Since it felt impossible to lose the weight, that goal was out of reach, so at least food was something I could have.

Some people hit plateaus because they're having to learn to deal with a skinnier body. My personal trainer says she sees it a lot. Someone starts losing weight, it gets kind of scary, so start putting it back on. Women start getting noticed by men, the "excuse" for not doing certain things is gone, etc.

At one point, I stalled out for about 8 weeks, maybe 3 months. During that time, I was feeling like maybe I was fine at that weight. Maybe I didn't want to lose any more. I was in the 180s, which was new territory for me and I wasn't sure that the effort involved was worth losing more. So I just coasted...and a few weeks later, I'd dropped another 8 lbs. AND decided that I WAS going to lose another 20 lbs. It's weird how much your mind is connected to your weight loss.

Cindy

[stacyrtl 0]

My doctor has stated several times that he considers 1 lb a week the optimim weight loss. In his opinion it is an easy target to reach and helps the skin slowly restrict so you dont' have to face a body lift once you've lost your weight. And of course regular exercise is very important whether or not you need to lose weight. His opinion is that without adding exercise the weight loss alone gives you very little health benefits.

I agree completely. Because without exercise you are more likely to lose muscle first, before losing any fat.

[faybie 0]

My new years resolution is to add a work out regime. However I completely disagree that "weight loss alone gives you very little health benefits". My blood pressure has gone from around 142/98 to 112/88 just from the weight loss alone. I would say that is a pretty significant health benefit.

I agree with mousecrazy, I think that at certain points your body needs to "compact" before moving forward. You may find that at this point you are losing inches instead of pounds. Try measuring yourself instead of weighing until you start to lose again. I bet you will find positive results. Good luck!

[Marimaru 7]

I lose 5 or 10 lbs, and then nothing for months. It's really frustrating, but each time I start losing again, it's always from where I left off, which is what the band has done for me.

[Meme 0]

Hi eveyoner