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

I suggest your dissatisfaction at losing an impressive amount, to the point you'd post about it, suggests something may be off.

I said may be.

Springydaff - YOU mentioned it. Not me. My post is about weight loss and what loss is to be expected. Please stop projecting your issues on to my post. Or rather, continue. I'll ignore you from now on

That’s amazing! It’s taken me the same time to lose 5lbs.

Honeysucklejasmine - that's amazing. How have you done it?

How long did it take you to gain that 4 stones?

At this rate you’ll be at target within appx 5 months or so. I really don’t see the problem.

If you’re serious about a lifestyle change then keep eating real, nutritious, filling foods and drink at least 2-3 litres of water per day.

And don’t up your exercise. It’s unsustainable for keeping weight off. In the long run it’s always about the food for weight, and about the shape for exercise.

Eating disorders are widespread. The vast majority have no idea they have a problem.

I don't know why you think I'm projecting when I picked up on your 'joke'. Projecting would be telling you you have an eating disorder. I haven't told you that, I've suggested and highlighted a particular eating disorder.

You may or may not have it, that's fine by me. In fact none of my business, your stuff.

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

But that’s not how bodies work. Even with a precise calories in < calories burned it wouldn’t be the same result every day/week/month. Too many other factors at play, hormones etc.

Weight loss isn’t linear, it’s about the overall trajectory.

Presumably you’re feeling other health benefits from your diet. If not, re-think it. You should feel energetic, clearer-headed, and satiated.

Presumably you’re losing inches as well as weight. Measure yourself now so you can see results during those weeks when you don’t lose pounds.

You’re being really hard on yourself - 20lb in 8 weeks is amazing. The key now should be work on sustaining healthy behaviours not on rapid weight loss. Weight loss slows as you drop it. 2lb for a week is more than reasonable. For the loss (and more importantly, lifestyle changes) to stick it could (and should) take you 9 months or more to shift 4 stone.

Losing 1 lb a week is generally considered sustainable, OP.

Calorie counting. I've tried things like SW in the past but I am indeed a compulsive overeater so being told I can have huge "syn free" meals doesn't help tackle that. I had to learn about portion size, feeling hungry and feeling full, using food appropriately (i.e. not as an emotional crutch etc) so it's a long process.

Weight loss really does come down to calories in Vs calories out, but actually managing that is much more complex and often overlooked in favour of short term quick fixes.

wow, that's huge if you'll pardon the expression.

some nasties in your diet though - 0% fat = added sugar, and yogurt is good but not very filling. And cereal bars - yuk and £2.50 a bar???. Eat more fruit! I see these snacks are advertised by a D-grade sleb so that tells you all you need to know. No-one advertises fruit.

OP, this is very good weight loss and I'd be very concerned if you want to try lose it even faster. Everyone loses in cycles, not least because your muscle/fat composition changes, hormones etc. As a pp said, it's the overall trajectory. Please stop looking for ways to speed up the process - you're doing really well. I took nearly a year to lose 20lbs....

I agree that you're actually losing weight faster than is recommended by doctors. There are so many other factors at play with weight loss. Even when I was anorexic, I wouldn't expect to lose more than 4 pounds a week max (and often not that) because that's not the way our bodies work.

You're doing really well, honestly. I understand your frustration though. I've lost 2st 3lb since Christmas but I've still got loads to go and I still look huge whenever I look in the mirror.

I think people are missing the point slightly. OP isn't saying that she's not lost enough so far, she's saying that it's slowing down and shes not sure what to do. So there's no point saying things like "at this rate" because the rate is changing.

I get it OP. I lost 35 pounds Jan-end of March and then have maintained all April but no idea why! It's so frustrating isn't it.

But weight loss does slow down - it's much easier to lose weight when you have more to lose. The first few weeks tends to be losing water more than anything - it's pretty much impossible to lose 7lbs of fat in a week!

@mencken there's no added sugar in total yogurt and I don't ever eat cereal bars

The only time I've consistently lost 3-4lb a week is when I was on 800kcal a day, on a very low calorie meal replacement diet. It's unrealistic to expect that sort of loss when eating a moderate diet.

You've lost loads of weight and at this rate, you'll be at your goal by autumn. What's the rush? If this is the plan you hope to sustain after you've finished losing weight, it means you'll be eating like this forever to maintain the loss. You'll get there - just keep plodding on.

That is good, but one thing to boost you could try is to reduce the number of hours that you eat - so don't eat breakfast straight away in the morning. If you can fast every day from between 12-16 hours it can boost weight loss. So if you eat your last meal by 7 pm and can try not to eat until 11 am the next day it might boost your weight loss without having to eat less calories. - It is worth trying for a week.

I've changed my strategies over the past two years, switching between low cal low exercise, high cardio, weights phases - anything to keep up the fun.

OP, it's much, MUCH better to lose the weight steadily. I've lost six stone over two years, 20lb to go. I don't have loose skin, I've acquired lots of different exercise skills, and learned lots of good exercise habits.

It's impossible to say this without sounding smug, but in the past few years, I've seen countless friends lose three stone plus very quickly, only to pile it back on and more. They ALL told me I'd put it back on - but I've sustained losing over a long period, and when I've paused my program for various reasons (injury, honeymoon etc), I've either continued to lose without even tracking calories, or have maintained my weight.

You want to lose the weight permanently, right? So take your time. Don't be one of those people who lost it all quickly then puts it back.

Jesus that's good. I have to go down to like 1000 to lose a pound a week and even then..

Make sure that you eat enough. Also slow and steady wins the race - I have seen so many people lose quickly then put it back on.

@springydaff I'm sure you mean well but it's not coming across that way.

Being 4 stone overweight is usually down to over eating. The OP knows this. Labelling it as 'disordered eating' isn't helping. Telling her off for her throw away comment about eating a lot of cake is unnecessary.

She's looking for advice and support.

Thank you all. Some great advice here and thanks to all those who get where I'm coming from.

I haven't always been overweight really. The last time I recall my actual weight was in my wedding day and it was about 10 stone ish. I was a size 10 - all my clothes were that size anyway, some 12s.

I put a couple of stone on over a few years and then nearly two stone on last year alone. My parents both died very close to each other and it was quite a shock so ...: hello cakes and chocolate!

I now feel a bit better so up today tackling it so starting back in February. And I'm quite overweight for me really - I was over 14 stone. And for my height that's just crazy really. And I felt it ... me and DH went away just after Christmas to Sweden and we did lots of walking. I needed a bloody knee support! My back was killing me and I was having to shovel down Rennies we had heartburn

Now I've lost 20lbs I no longer have any of the above ailments so that's something and I'm 12 stone something now so still another couple of stone to lose to feel totally comfortable. I don't need to be thin ... I want to feel stronger, fitter and a size 10 or 12 would be ideal. I'm currently a size 14/16.

20lb in 8 weeks averages out at 2.5lb per week. That's fine and most people lose weight a lot slower than that, usually 1lb per week. You're doing better than most other people.