Why is losing weight so hard/demoralising??

[Onlyrainbows]

I'm heavy in comparison to how I look (which doesn't really help!) But I know I need to lose 1st to be in my happy place. I'm doing it the right way (eat less - move more) but it's so slow!! And apart from my clothes (which obviously fit better when I'm smaller) I don't see any difference. I don't even think I look that overweight (which I am BTW), as by BMI I should lose at least 5kg.

Photo for reference.

It is hard because it requires conscious effort and for some of us the more we can't have something the more we want to rebel and want it, the more we fixate on it. Some of us feel discouraged and don't persist. Some of us use food and drink as a coping mechanism so without it life gets overwhelming unless you replace with another coping mechanism but that requires practise and practise requires patience, motivation, persistence and time. If it was easy everyone would be slim. Take heart in the fact that you look great already so it's really not a terrible place to be stuck at for a year if it takes you a year to slim to your ideal weight. Keep going but celebrate where you are now because you look fantastic!

Unfortunately I'm fairly impatient, I'm OK once I start losing the weight at a constant pace.

I think you look great - really fit, strong and healthy. Throw out the scales!

Thank you! Unfortunately I tend to more or less look the same in the 60-70kg range, but I know that I definitely need to keep an eye on it because it does make me feel sluggish.

"healthy" in terms of BMI is 18.5 - 25 so you're totally fine. The range is to allow for things like variations in muscle mass - you exercise so you shouldn't be on the lower end of it anyway.

You need to be realistic about the type of body you want vs the type of body you have. You also need to be realistic about what you want vs what you want/can/are prepared to do to get the body you want.

I would love to look a certain way. But I'm also not prepared to do what I would need to get there (ie exercise to excess and starve myself).

I'd love to put the effort. I love running and loved being a marathoner. Unfortunately until I get my anemia fixed , getting back to that sort of training is just a distant dream. I think I'll always look somewhat boxy if I aim to be slim. I like that, so that's not a problem. my biggest frustration is that in order to note any difference I need to lose 7-8kg