Slow weight loss...

[big_mama]

I've been weighing myself too often. On Friday I had lost 6 pounds. Today I weighed and 4 of those pounds were back! I was feeling a little discouraged (and hungry) but I decided to try and figure out what is going on.

Yesterday I drank very little water and ate salty almonds. I'm guessing that was the cause of the weight gain.

Still it's hard to be patient. In my mind, I think the weight should just keep dropping off because I am eating clean and because I've cut my actual food intake down dramatically.

So...right now I'm boiling eggs! Anyone else struggling with slow weight loss?

[MullberryM]

I always think of myself as the slowest loser ever....I absolutely struggle with losing and I know how it is to be discouraged about it...I had to stop weighing myself because I would get discouraged and throw a pity part for myself...so I don't really have any great words of wisdom for you, only that I know how it feels--probably the best thing to do, is put the scale away, drink more water and stay on track. Good Luck!

[AlluraD]

Hello~

I know it can really drive you crazy when things don't seem to be moving much. If I were you I would try to stay off the scale. Some folks weigh once a week and some once a month. I know in the past I have made myself beserk by getting on and off every day...sometimes many times in a day.

Weight can fluctuate normally as much as 4 or 5 lbs a day based on water retention, glycogen stores, etc... The best way to counteract water weight being held is to drink more water...literally as much in ozs. as half your weight in lbs. Some swear the more you drink the more you loose...it balances the salt you eat too.

Progress is measured in so many more ways that those the scale can tell. The scale does not reflect an accurate measure of your progress. You can measure yourself and should. I never did and after 140 lbs lost that would have been great to know. The only thing the scale tells is what you weigh right at this moment and it can fluctuate too much from day to day, even from morning to night. Do yourself a favor and stick to whatever basic plan you have chosen and weigh once in a while...once a week say, if that is your choice. Know in youe heart that you are doing the right thing and take a deep breath...many deep breaths if needed. Relax in the knowledge that you are doing a wonderful thing for yourself and the rest will fall into place.

Easier said then done I know. Wishing you a wonderful week~

[TheMiss]

Yes! and I feel like if I have to do something hard (like smell or watch other people eat McDonald's or pizza) and I don't give in to it that I should automatically be rewarded with like a 5lb loss!

I'm impatient too, that doesn't help the matter! However, I remember someone posting that how quickly we lose weight depends on how much we are willing to work on it. I know I could cut back on calories, but I'm comfortable where I am and cutting back would be hard. I decided to stick with the slow weight loss instead of cutting back more. It's a personal decision, but once you make it, I guess you feel more relaxed. I know it's going to take me a year and a half to two years to get where I want to be at the rate I am going but that is fine. I feel more healthy, I'm not gaining weight, and many of the problems I had before low carb are gone. So let's all try to have patience, we can't all be the one posting that they lost 100lbs in 6 months! Those people are lucky, but we are still feeling the rewards, just not as soon and sometimes in other ways.

[pennink]

ohhhhh, 100 in 6... oh, oh... where do I join... :lol:

I think just remembering you have to eat anyway, and you're going to get to that day eventually (whether it's two years from now or more) you might as well just eat each day working on that goal. I'm going to have a birthday next year (Lord willing), so I might as well eat each day like I would have wanted myself to eat in Sept 2007.

As long as I'm not cheating, and sticking to foods I know are healthy for me, it'll come off (sometimes faster, sometimes slower). I'm on meds that have slowed my metabolism down, so anything that happens is wonderful.

[big_mama]

Thank you all for the support. I guess I'm also anxious because my wedding is in June. However I look, I'm sure it'll still be a wonderful day. :)

[Bat Spit]

I guess I'm also anxious because my wedding is in June. However I look, I'm sure it'll still be a wonderful day.

big_mama, I weighed something like 450 at my wedding. My husband didn't love me any less, and I still had one of the best days of my life. I still look a radiant bride in all my pictures.

Don't let over-anticipation ruin a landmark day for you! All you can do is your best, then you'll be the size you are.

It will be a wonderful day!

[pennink]

Congratulations!
Yes, I understand your anxiety now.
And, hey, he asked you to marry him as you are... just relax, eat well (and smart) and focus on the marvellous changes in your life. what a happy year you are having!!!!

[Donna I.]

June is far away enough that even if you are losing slowly, you can still make some pretty good progress by then. I know what its like to have a "deadline" for your weightloss, it kind of make you worry more when you don't see enough results. But as long as you stick with it, you will succeed.

[Charran]

big_mama.....I've seriously been there, done that more times than I care to talk about. I'm not just a slow loser...I'm a turtle, a very aged one at that! In the past, I've always given up and where has that left me? Bigger than I was before! I know it's frustrating! I'm reading the Get With the Program book and it has a great explanation of what happens with weight loss and why it looks like we're not losing sometimes. Demi, in the South Beach thread posted two articles about similar problems and if I was more technologically advanced, I'd post them here, but I'm not..LOL... so you can go the the South Beach thread..The one that says....Why we work so hard, but nothing seems to change. These articles might explain some things for you and make you feel better! I know they explained alot for me. I'm still impatient to see the loss, but I'm having faith that it will come!

[cutiefrog]

When I got down under 300 I weighed myself everyday.. It was like an addiction. And I would weigh..not just once...but everytime I passed that scale!

I finally threw those scales away! I mean..Literally THREW them in the trash! And now.... I have none. The only time I weigh in..is when I see the doctor... (cause I'm seeing them at least once a month now) or when I don't have to go to the doctor as often, I'll pick a place and go weigh in monthly. I can't have scales back in my house ever again, They make me go crazy.. LOL
:)

[cutiefrog]

Yes! and I feel like if I have to do something hard (like smell or watch other people eat McDonald's or pizza) and I don't give in to it that I should automatically be rewarded with like a 5lb loss!

I totally agree with you!! :) LOL

[LiveWell]

Ive had a real problem with the scales. Its like I really want to think of this as a way of life because it feels right and I try to tell myself it isnt a diet but that its me learning a new way of eating....but honestly with the scale laying around its JUST about the weight. I put it up into the garage because it affects me terribly.

At least this way I have to really think of going to get the scale. That gives me time to talk myself out of it... or talk myself into accepting what it says. Telling myself all the good things about this WOL and how I feel and that it takes time, weight fluxuates. Basicly pumping myself into not being dissapointed in anything and cheating (I did that alot in the past).

I did that very thing today acctually. I started again last monday and I was kinda dieing to weigh in to see if ANYTHING had been lost. I talked myself into thinking it has only been 7 days...Im not on induction...Im probably going to "start" soon so Im probably bloated...Maybe I have lost one lb of water weight. So my hopes were at 1 lb... to my suprise the scales say I lost 10.8 lbs!!! I am so thrilled. I know its at least probably 70% water weight...but its still great to see.

[big_mama]

Thank you everyone! You are all so sweet. Yesterday started out kind of tough with the bad scale moment then it passed. Even though I don't have weight loss I do feel better. I have more energy I actually move when I don't really want too. I've lost weight so many times for special events and I also want to be careful to do this right. The last time I lost weight it was for an event and that is when I put on this extra FIFTY pounds. OMG...this weight is hard for me because my "normal" resting weight is 250. Anyhow...slow and steady will work for me. But it does help having your support because sometimes I do get impatient.

I'll check out the South Beach thread and any other advice you guys have. Thank you. :)

[imwichya]

I like to weigh myself daily as well. It is my constant reminder that I need to focus on good nutrition and exercise. I don't pay a lot of attention to the daily readings. As others have said, I report my weigh in on Mondays, in the morning after I go to the bathroom, and work out.