Does weight loss slow down?

[timeformetolose]

Currently on

Wk 7, dose 3 of 5mls started on 29th January

Last 3-4 weeks slowed down to about a 1lb a week eating mindfully, eating between 1100-1200 calories a day, making sure I weigh everything and eat lots of vegetables and a little fruit. Also lots of protein and little carbs.

I have an under active thyroid on medication for it and since I have had that, I find I gain weight easily and lose very slowly.

I started at 12st 8 and am now 11st 10. I know I am in it for the long term but it feels a bit demoralising to only lose a pound when I have worked so hard.

Also exercising 10,000 steps a day and 3-4 workouts a week.

Any hints that may help me increase my losses? Or just keep my head focused on slowly getting to target.

I have thyroid issues and high blood pressure and also peri menopausal so lots in the background.

My ideal would be coming off my blood pressure medication.

5 mls is giving me good suppression so considering staying on that. I am definitely not thinking of food all the time

1lb a week is a good, steady, rate to lose and you should be pleased with it! It's sustainable and will greatly reduce the chances of getting excess loose skin, gallstones, muscle loss, hair loss, etc.

Start tracking your measurements if you haven't already as they will show you just how much your body is actually changing (especially since you are exercising) and in ways your scale can't.

It can be frustrating to go slowly but it's much better in the long term in my opinion.

That said, you could take a look at calorie cycling. I'm trying it this week and I think it'll be interesting.

What one are you on? I found Wegovy to be much slower than Mounjaro.

Thank you will look up calorie cycling, I know that 1lb a week is sensible it just feels a long way off with 32lbs to lose.

Mounjaro is what I am taking, just wish I could have a a few 2lbs etc but never mind.

Measurements also a good plan

I was wondering if you know what your TDEE is, and how much below that your 1100 - 1200 calorie total is. Then you can judge if 1lb a week is slow or to be expected given your calorie deficit, if that makes sense.

So I am 5, 5 or 165cm

My TDEE I have based on sedentary as I sit a lot for my job so don't feel active enough during the week.

It recommends 1180 calories which I am mainly at or below, only once last week did I go to 1232 kcals but otherwise usually about 1100 or less

Any recommendations I am 44

Yes it slows down

I started last May weighing 15 stone. I'm now 9 stone 7 and my revised goal weight is 9 stone 5.

I've lost 3 lbs in the last 4 months! That's very very slow and to be expected I suppose as my BMI is 23. All you need to do is keep chipping away at it.

I've always eaten 1500 calories a day (mainly because I know what will happen when I'm eventually off MJ if I've tried to get by on 800 cals a day or whatever! I'll have some hideous appetite rebound and want to stuff my face) so my calorie deficit will be tiny if it even exists

Similarly that is why I won't/cannot drop below 1000kcal as firstly I get dizzy but also my realistic maintenance will be about 1600-1700 or I will gain weight. My thyroid has a lot to answer for!

I will keep chipping away. How long did it take you to get from 11st 7 to the next stone and from 10st 7 to the next stone? Thanks

@timeformetolose I found the biggest slog was getting out of the 11s! Sorry!

But in the positive side, it happens even when you think nothing is happening. I weigh daily but I only take a figure every 30 days. So the fluctuations mean nothing because, without fail, every 30 days when I look back, there has always been a loss. So that is how you know it's still working just fine.

So I'd say it was a good 8 weeks to get from 11 7 to 10 7. And then it's taken me from nov 2024 to come down from 10 7 to 9 st 7

But when you average it all out, it's a perfectly acceptable rate of loss. Just doesn't feel like it when you see 9 stone 13 for literally a month on the trot!

Owlchops that is really good to know, I would rather be realistic than lose my morale. i just had in mind it would be faster, in reality although snacks can cause me issues, this weight loss is still better than trying alone as would find it really hard to shift even doing the same calories. At least I am in the right mindset. Thanks for your help

Totally normal. I started weight loss injections in May 2023. So almost 2 years ago. I have gone from 16st 13 to 9st 13. 7 stone in just under 2 years. 100lb in 100 weeks (or it will be in a couple of weeks when i hit my target of 9st 11). So I have lost 1lb a week on average. Yes at first it was more. But these last few months in particular it certainly hasn't been. I accepted around last May time that I was in this for the long haul, and to just ride the waves. I've attached some images so you can see my progression over the 2 years. On the first image, you can see how the weight loss curve is much steeper at the start, and then starts to flatten out more. On the 2nd image it shows the last 6 months and you will see it's quite normal for me to stay roughly the same, or small half lb losses for a few weeks, then have a sudden drop. It seems that is my pattern of weight loss now!
When you are at a lower weight already, your calorie deficit is less. So the bigger you are, the easier it is to lose those bigger weights each week. When I was my heaviest my tdee (sedentary) was 2050. Now it is 1516. That's why I could lose 1-2lb a week at first. And why now it's 0.5-1lb a week. I'm eating the same 1300 calories (I also started exercising both cardio and weights a year ago 3x per week and massively upped my steps, but that hasn't increased my losses which shows it really is all in the calorie deficit!) so it makes total sense when you look at it that way.

Thismustbemydream that is really helpful thank you, makes sense for it to slow down just disappointed about the slowness but it has always been the case since I developed my thyroid issue

There is a whole slow losers thread in here somewhere. I'm lucky if I lose a pound a week (menopause yay)but I've been consistent for a year now with every intention of carrying on - unlike other diets where I fall off way before this. It all adds up over time. I do get jealous of others who are at goal already but what can you do but plod on- the time passes anyway.

You've lost just under a stone in a month and a half. That's pretty good!

Why don't you wait a month and then weigh again? rather than focusing day by day or week by week. In a month's time You may be down to 11stone or just over :) or weigh in 6 weeks and you might see you've just snuck into the 10s, or are almost there! Just think what the scales will show in 5 months from now!

You've only been on this 1.5 months! That's nothing! And you've lost loads! Well done!

I have lost nothing this week (week 3) despite a definite deficient calorie absorption, BUT, I hs e lost almost 3% fat since I started with 1.2% this week. I've indeed increased my protein intake significantly so assume I've gained muscle mass hence the same weight. I'm happy with that.