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

Stop weighing yourself. Then you don’t need to be disheartened.

I don’t know how much I weigh and I don’t have any scales to find out. If I put on a bit of weight, my trousers get a bit tight, so I don’t eat so much until they aren’t tight anymore. I’d recommend.

@ChanklyBore and that's great and totally what I'd do if I was a vaguely normal weight. I'm almost 2 stone over where I need to be so my size 14 or 16 jeans being tight doesn't mean I need to cut down a bit ... I need to cut down a lot!

So today I've had ..

A seeded wrap filled with roasted red onion, butternut squash, courgette, red pepper and some quorn chunks.

Watermelon

Carb killa protein bar.

Puts me at 720 cals for the day today which is about right for this time of day.

I only eat between 12pm - 6pm anyway which suits me well. I start each day with a Pukka chai latte thing which is only 39 cals when made with cashew milk in a Velvetiser

Why do you eat protein bars? Have you looked in to how much protein is actually in them compared to normal cereal bars/egg/chicken etc?

20 pounds in 8 weeks is amazing!!! Please don't lose heart. You wouldn't want to go back in time to 20 pounds heavier. Celebrate with a good boogie!

You’re doing it the right way, you’re educating yourself on portion control and calorie intake as well as exercising.
You’re losing plenty of weight, of course it slows down the less you have to lose, but you will get there - and maintain it as well due to making a sustainable lifestyle choice 😊.

@honeysucklejasmine I guess purely because I like them? I don't eat them day in , day out but I like the carb killa ones and they definitely deal with any sweet cravings. I don't eat them because of the word 'protein' though - I eat them because the flavours I choose are delicious!

Can't eat eggs or chicken unfortunately - am vegetarian plus even if I wasn't, they wouldn't hit the spot when I want something sweet

Fair enough. Absolutely fine to eat things purely because you like them. Just wanted to make sure you hadn't been confused by the marketing - they are often more expensive than standard products for v little gain in regards to protein.

That's amazing! I've lost 20lb in nearly 9 months going to slimming world. I have about a stone still to lose but Ive lost all motivation and seem to have gone back to eating what I like.

So you had a couple of big losses initially and lost ~11lb in 2 weeks (not uncommon) and have lost an average of ~1.5lb/week since (healthy rate of weight loss) - the only thing to say to that is "keep up the good work"!

You're doing an amazing job! I've lost a stone since NY and was quite pleased with that, and it only averages to a pound a week...

You’re being silly. 20lbs in 8 weeks is a loss of over 2lbs a week. If you carry on with that mentality you will put it all back on anyway. You need to get your head around the fact that it’s a lifestyle change - not a diet - if you want to keep it off. Slow and steady wins the race.

Focus on how far you’ve come and where you want to be. Don’t think to yourself “I want to lose this so I can get back to normal”. You can’t go back to eating crap because you’ll put it back on and all your hard work will be undone.

If you carry on eating 1400 cals a day and exercising you WILL aloes the weight. Chances are your weight loss will go even slower as you get to your goal so it’s important to not get disheartened. Just keep going - this is your new normal so try not to see it as a chore to be endured.

I am amazed that anyone has managed to lose any weight! I really must stop eating crap!

Just sliding in a with a PSA that fat doesn’t make you fat, overeating does.

You need fat as part of a healthy diet.

There is no reason to be eating 0% yogurt. As a PP said it isn’t satiating.

And my personal opinion is that 0% yogurt is one of the most disgusting products to be sold as food

No you’re doing brilliantly, slow and steady is the best way and means you’re less likely to pile it back on. You could always step up exercise if you have got used to your current routine and want to step it up. You should be proud of yourself

@WiseOwl69 I sometimes have full fat Greek yogurt but it's a question of taste for me. I prefer 0% Total as it's less rich. I'm aware of good fats .. I eat plenty of avocados, olive oils and Mediterranean style food.

There's probably not much I don't know about half decent nutrition but just because I choose to eat a certain item doesn't mean I'm ignorant to the fact of other, maybe more nutritious, foods.

@Pinkpepper9 aww thanks. I've added in an extra weights session but I'd struggle to walk more right now. Plus I start getting a bit bored after 5k

Oh well done!

I have 4st to lose and I figured at 1lb per week I'd get rid of it in a whole year. If I managed to lose half of it within 8 weeks I'd be cock a hoop.

Please don't let the weekly weight losses take from you what should be celebrated.

Sounds like you are doing brilliantly. The difference between being 14 stone and 12 stone is enormous from a health point of view. Which you already know as you are now able to walk miles and miles without being in pain.

Weight loss does slow down. It’s obvious really - to start with you were lugging 14 stone around with you - now you aren’t. 20 lbs is about 9kg which is the equivalent of 9 litres of water. If you fill a rucksack with 9 litre bottles of water and carry it round all day then (other than the teeny tiny detail that you will completely wreck your back!) be able to see how hard your body had to work before.

I’m technically a healthy weight but would like to lose a few pounds as I still have a “mummy tummy” from ds - who is now 6! It feels like I have to scrape Every Single Ounce off!

You have lost a considerable amount of weight.
Just keep doing what you are doing, this health benefit is for the rest of your life, not just for summer 2020.