Lost 20lbs in 8 weeks. Feeling disheartened

[M0chaJoe]

I had a total of 4 stone to lose. I've put a 20lb dent in this over the past - almost - 8 weeks but right now I feel like it's just so SLOW

I can't increase my exercise any more. I'm doing short weights sessions 3 times a week and I walk 15-17K a day in total. I can't really tweak my eating plan - I eat fresh, healthy food up to a total of 1300/1400 calories a day and although I don't specifically low carb as I don't like it, I keep an eye on my carb intake and if call it moderate

Any tips for me at all? 20lbs just seems rubbish for 8 weeks when I've got 4 bloody stone to drop

Wow thats great. Weight loss often takes a grind to a halt as your body adjusts. I used to find weirdly taking a day off an eating loads od calories for a day semed to trick the body. No science but anecdotally it works. It also takes the psych pressure off for a day

Honestly, that’s not rubbish at all! That’s nearly two stone. You should be proud! Also you’re far more likely to keep to weight off if it’s slow and steady. Frustrating as it seems let your body catch up with a new lower normal, rather than dropping a big amount straight away. Your skin will thank you too.

You're doing well. You've lost 2.5lbs a week on average and you're 20lbs lighter.

Well done!! 👏👏
Weight loss does slow after the initial losses, it's your body gradually getting used to your new size.

Carry on as you are. You can do this!!

That’s incredible OP. Well done you.

I'm tempted to say is this a wind up?! Seriously. A stone and a half in two months exceeds the generally recommended safe loss guidelines and is an astonishing amount. Do you have history of disordered eating or a distorted relstionship with food, because your perspective is worrying.

Weight loss is slow. This is why I think so many people fail. They get to this point and give in. 2.5lbs a week is an amazing rate. Keep going and you'll be finished by July.

Come on you must know that's good?

No disordered eating at all - to a previous poster. Unless stuffing my face with loads of cake counts?

I really am trying very hard and I've deliberately chosen a 'plan' that I can sustain afterwards. It's no good for me to go in eating huge piles of keto style stuff - won't work long term - mainly because I'm a non egg eating vegetarian!

I just felt a bit despondent because of course the first few drops in weight were at the beginning and quite good - 7lbs, 4lbs etc and now I feel like I'm fighting to see 1.5lbs a week.

And I can't walk any more! My legs are dropping off as it is

I honestly don't know what you are expecting. You've lost a stone and a half. In 2 months. That's loads. I know weight loss is frustrating but you're exceeding the recommended loss. You are doing great. Keep going!

OK it seems my expectations are a little high!

So many plans out there though. How the hell do you choose? That's why I decided to calorie count and do my own. Here's a typical day - any tweaks I could make at all?

Breakfast

Total 0% yogurt
Berries
Couple of nuts

Lunch

Wholemeal pitta stuffed with salad/roasted veg/ quorn / cottage cheese (not all of these!)

Dinner

Veg. Sweet potato wedges. Stir fry. Tofu. Grilled veg ravioli. Nourish bowl. (Again, not all!)

Snacks

Fruit
Carb killa protein bar
Pot of 10 cal jelly
Babybel lights
Rice cakes with almond butter (not all these every day!)

And it generally adds up to between 1100 & 1400. I have one day where I eat 1500 calories every 7 days or so

I've lost about the same as you since January and I thought I was doing really well!

1 - 2 pounds per week is sensible and realistic. I'm hoping to lose about 3 stone in total over the year, maybe 4 if I'm lucky.

Keep it up! You'll get there.

2.5 lbs a week over 8 weeks is brilliant. Please start posting your daily food because there are a lot of people (myself included) who would love to follow your lead!

I get you though. I have the same to lose. Last year I got to this point, got fed up at how much longer it was going to take and gave up. Don't do that because I put it all back on again. I'm kicking myself because if I had just carried on I wouldn't be here, again.

I've lost 15lbs in 3 MONTHS which is not as good as I would ideally like but I've been on and off the wagon a few times so there you go.

I've done all sorts to lose weight rapidly: fast 800/Dukan/keto etc but it all goes back on again.

You sound like you have made a lifestyle change rather than being on a diet. Consistency is what needs to happen and you have to resign yourself that it IS going to take a 'long time'.

If only I could follow my own advice.

No disordered eating at all - to a previous poster. Unless stuffing my face with loads of cake counts?

Actually, it very much could. Compulsive overeating, especially sugar/flour, could definitely constitute a form of disordered eating.

That's bloody amazing - well done! I have 70lbs to lose and have my first weekly weigh in coming up. TBH I'll be thrilled to lose even 1lb (PCOS and shit metabolism).

You need to get yourself out of thinking that if you can't lose weight in double-quick time then it's not worth bothering. You are 20lbs lighter than you would have been if you'd done nothing.

What did you want to lose??? Over 2lbs a week is amazing!

Maybe you're not eating enough? I've lost 9 stone in two years - a typical day for me is:

B: 2 Weetabix with skimmed milk, skinny latte, banana

S: Hard boiled egg and cherry tomatoes

L: Chicken wrap or sandwich with loads of salad. Fat free Greek yogurt, honey and berries.

D: Spaghetti Bolognese/chicken curry/Shepherd's pie with loads of added veg - all sauces cooked from scratch

S: If hungry later, banana pancakes made with just egg and banana, with Greek yogurt and honey

Sometimes I'll add a small pack of Sunbites or Walkers Baked or a Club biscuit or similar

And exercise wise, I have arthritis and fibro so only manage an hour's walk per work day, a bit longer at weekend with plenty of stops!

This sounds about roughly right. If it's around a 3500 calorie deficit to drop 1b. Assuming an average ish tdee of 1900, you're eating at a calorie deficit of around 500 per day, plus around 15-17k steps is going to burn around an extra 900 cals. That's a calorie deficit of 9800 per week, divided by 3500 translates to a loss of around 2.8lbs per week. Multiply by 8 is 22.4, allow a bit of leeway for your own individual stats, body composition and/or fluctuations in water retention etc and a 20lb loss roughly fits, mathematically, in the range of what you'd expect.

2lb a week is generally considered the upper end of sensible, sustainable healthy weight loss, so I think that you need to adjust your expectations a bit. I have about the same amount to lose as you, and aim for a minimum of 0.5 lb and a max of 2lb a week.

Don't worry about me potentially having disordered eating ... I really don't! The stuffing my face comment was just a joke. Forgot to signpost it as such 🙄

@riotlady Id like to lose a stone a week of course No, I think I expected about 3lbs a week and not this stupid lose nothing for a fortnight and then lose 4lbs over ten days kinda of thing

Unfinishedsymphon - that's amazing! Well done

You have done amazing ! It took me 9 months to lose just over 2 stone. Some weeks I didn’t lose any, I never gained though so for that I was happy. I’m at my goal now and honestly although 9 months seems like ages I’m here and I can’t believe last summer I was 2 stone overweight! You will get there. It’s better to maintain a slow and steady weight loss.

Well done

Don't worry about me potentially having disordered eating ... I really don't! The stuffing my face comment was just a joke. Forgot to signpost it as such 🙄

It's not a joke to a lot of people. Compulsive overeating is hell for those who have it - and many do have it.

I'm not saying you do have it, just it's not a joke for (very) many, a recognised eating disorder.

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That's really good OP. Thinking it this way - you didn't gain 4 stone overnight and you're not going to lose it overnight either.

Losing a lot of weight is hard. It fell off me to start with but now I'm 6 stone down I am fighting for every single ounce. Still got 2 stone to go so it's stressful, but slow and steady and we'll get there in the end.