feeling deflated...

[Babytalkobsession]

Hi, hoping to find some motivation!!

I started a diet 3 weeks ago, not following a programme but basically eating a lot less calories and choosing good whole foods ( not low fat).

I'm 11st today, my start weight was about 11st 6. I'm 5'8''

The first week I lost 4 pounds! Then 2 and now I'm not losing at all.

Typical day has been porridge or Greek yogurt & berries, salmon & salad for lunch, fish and vegetables for tea or homemade veggie curry. Ive been weighting out portions where needed and roughly aiming for 250 calories for breakfast, 300 for lunch and 600 for dinner allowing 200 for snacks (banana & few nuts for example) so total of 1,350

I've been more relaxed in Sunday's so had an Indian one week (but chose the dry tikka!!) and we had a roast on Sunday with pudding but I've been good the whole rest of the time.

Should I expect to continue losing? Feeling demotivated - found it easy to be disciplined when I could see the results!

Frustratingly I got a new set of digital scales which added 5lb to what my old scales were saying so that has taken the shine off!!

Any tips? I imagine the answer will be exercise (I'm not really a fan )

[MumUndone]

Sorry buy yes, exercise. Or reduce calories more.

[MumUndone]

but

[VelvetPineapple]

I can relate. I’m literally starving myself but the weight isn’t coming off. I think it’s because I’m breastfeeding, which is annoying because everyone says it makes the weight fall off. It’s so disheartening and I hate myself.

[Babytalkobsession]

Oh Velvet, don't hate yourself!! You're doing an amazing thing which is taking a lot out of your body

[Babytalkobsession]

Oh Velvet, don't hate yourself!! You're doing an amazing thing which is taking a lot out of your body

[Babytalkobsession]

Oh Velvet, don't hate yourself!! You're doing an amazing thing which is taking a lot out of your body

[fishonabicycle]

And weight loss is not linear! Not losing for one week is nothing. If you eat at a deficit you will lose weight. It might not be massively quickly, or every week, but it will happen.

[SurgeHopper]

So you've lost half a stone in 3 weeks? Which included still eating pudding and an Indian?

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

I'm with surge, I think you're expecting quite a lot here. Weight loss is not linear and it's completely normal to have a week or two where the scales don't move.

Exercise will burn some calories if you want to do something else, but you can't outrun a bad fork, so it's not essential. Just be mindful of what you eat and try to be patient, it's all you can do!

[MumUndone]

Velvet, please don't make yourself ill by not eating properly whilst breastfeeding.

[Babytalkobsession]

Ok, point taken I guess I was really spurred on by the initial loss.

Plus I'm making really big changes, I've gone from eating so much cake & choc to no crap and finding it pretty hard so guess I expected to see more continued results.

Really must try to move a bit more

[VelvetPineapple]

No I’ve given up. I was literally dieting to the point of starvation and the weight still wouldn’t come off. It was impossible to cut down any further so I gave up trying. Stupid breastfeeding

[PinkHeart5914]

Start moving more, even if you just walk more. Alternatively you could take up running, swimming or even get an exercise bike and cycle in front of the tv!

I’d cut the takeaway/indulgent day to one Sunday a month as that one day a week could be undoing a lot of good work.

Just keep eating less and being honest with what you log on my fitness pal, as long as your not cheating the weight has to come off eventually

[OwlinaTree]

velvet I lost due weight while breastfeeding, but I couldn't lose the last bit until I'd completely stopped. Everybody is different, but I think my body held onto some of the fat as reserves or something. Just eat healthy, hopefully once you stop breastfeeding it will all come off quick for you.

[Tennesseewhiskey]

OP, body builders with low body fat will have a 'cheat meal' once a week, apart from leasing right up to competition when they are stripping more fat. The science is sketchy, but it seems to work. I think probably that diet is easier if you have a something to look forward to.

However, the general advice is the higher the body fat % the less you should do it.

How much weight do you have to lose? Did you know how many calories were in the Indian, roast and pudding? It is possibly to eat back your deficit.

Also, I have lost 20.5lb since Christmas. An average 2.5lb per week. 2 of those weeks I lost nothing. But I lost more other weeks. I have about 5 stone to lose though and I am tracking carefully on my fitness pal. Even if I go over I track it.

I hope some of that helps.

[BatsAreCool]

It's hard to feel demotivated. I use an app which shows my weight and despite ups and downs it shows that the trend is down.

I have lost 4kg in total from December. It isn't much but it's a loss and by altering my eating habit I am hoping it's for the long term. Plotting your loss is interesting because mine doesn't move for a few weeks then whoosh and then suddenly I am 1 kg consistently down. It stalls and then again moves a few weeks later.

[Crazzzycat]

I’m in my ninth week of dieting and, after the first few weeks, weight started to come off in stages. I’ll stay the same for about 7-10 days and then there’s a sudden big drop. The last one was way over 1 kg/2 lbs.

It could be that the same thing is happening to you?

If you are certain that you are staying within your calorie allowance, I’d start weighing daily and keep a record. I think you will start seeing a downward trend!

[Babytalkobsession]

Thanks for the updates. I've kept on track this week. I lost 200 calories to Prosecco tonight so really fighting the munchies!!

I haven't lost anymore this week but I do feel good that I've kept off the chocolate / crap and consistently kept to 1300 calories.

Tennessee, i have 1 Stone to loose overall, about 7lb to go. I think this 7lb will be significantly harder to budge than the first 7lb!

I really like having a chest meal to look forward to, so will have to accept that my overall weight loss will be slower because of it. It also part of life, most week I have one occasion where I'll eat more than ideal - a meal out with friends or an invitation to family for Sunday lunch etc. I don't want to miss out!