When is slow, too slow?!

[MarlowesSister]

I've been dieting and exercising since early November. I actually don't know how much I weigh. But I am 40, female and in November was a size 22/24. It's now four months on (almost) and I've gone down maybe one and a half dress sizes.
I've not had chocolate or any rubbish (no crisps, no fast food, very very little processed food, no coffees) for almost five months. Surely I should have lost more?!

Have you tried tracking your calories? It’s surprising how quickly they can go up even if you are mainly eating healthy foods. Portion size is key, v easy to give yourself too much.

Well done though for such a big lifestyle change!

If you're not weighing, it depends on your height as to whether that's reasonable or not. I'm tall and it takes a lot of weight loss (1.5 stone) for me to drop a dress size. Plus when I'm overweight I tend to go for stretchy and more forgiving clothes. I may be able to wear a size 14 top or jogging bottoms or stretchy work trousers, but thay doesn't mean I am. By my measurements I'm around an 18.

As on another thread. Bad news, clothes are not great indicator.

As pps said. Measure yourself or weight yourself. Kudos on the life style change. That's big!

In terms of lifestyle change, I am definitely more healthy and it shows in my blood tests so that's something. I didn't really want to get into weighing at all for various background reasons. I did measure my waist and it has barely moved. I have definitely got a smaller bum and thighs.
Im 5'6 so not amazonian.
I didn't want to go full on with super strict dieting as I know I'd fail. I've just cut out all the rubbish (and I used to eat a lot of it!) and now eat well. In terms of exercise I've gone from literally nothing, to notching up 2 miles of brisk walking (sweating) every day, a zumba class once a week, yoga once a week and weights (only 1kg x 40 reps on both arms about three times a week, I would like to be stronger but even after three months I'm finding 1kg in each hand quite hard going still...)

You might have lost more than you think. It seems that there's quite a big weight difference between the bigger clothes sizes.

I started at size 22, took 28lb to get to only just fitting in an 18, then another 18lb to get to a comfortable size 16, I was able to wear a size 14 pair of jeans 10lb later.

Honestly, what you are doing is working for you. It's not too slow, it's exactly right.

I have lost 3 stone since October. I've only gone down one dress size, if that. I've not bought anything else, just taken in my trousers and started wearing the too tight clothes. I'm trying to get through the summer in clothes I already have, then buying more next autumn.

Honestly, you are fine! Well done, and stick with it.

There is no too slow, as long as the weight stays off.

Well done for your progress so far!

Clothes are funny like that. I have some which are absolutely falling off and some which still fit just bit freer.

Understanable you don't want to weight. You see a difference and that's the main thing. Eventually it will just be "boom" size 14.

Well done. Slow is way better if you have found a manner of eating and lifestyle you can stick to long term. Because essentially that is what you will have to do if you want to keep the weight off.

As for the weight training, 40 reps of any weight is going to feel tough - are you doing them all in one go? If you can get hold of heavier weights you might see more progress doing fewer reps.

Agreed. I do 15 reps 2x with break inbetween and 2 sets of it with each exercise and do other stuff in between. You could do 10 instead?
For example (please note I am not a professional, it's just what works for me)
10 biceps curls, tiny break, 10 biceps curls
10 squats, tiny break, 10 squats
Repeat bicep curls
Tiny break
10 press (above the head thing), tiny break, 10 press
10 sit ups, tiny break, 10 sit ups
10 press, tiny break 10 press.

And so on. Tiny break is just like 15 sec to catch your breath

I do this with 3 and 5 kg ones, depending on the move

I’d agree with previous posters that clothes are not the best indicators. Some can be so stretchy you can fit into a much smaller size. I have been losing weight since January and have gone from 13st8 to 11st11. I am wearing the same clothes, only they fit me properly now! Before I was kidding myself that I was still a size 14 as I could physically fit in my size 14 clothes. I was probably a 16-18. Now I am an actual size 14.

Well done on making the changes. Stick with it I’m sure you’ll start seeing a difference soon.

It took me ages to drop a dress size when I lost weight, roughly a stone for each dress size. You will need to track your weight if you want to be sure, but you only need to do so once a week and accept that some weeks will be slower than others. If you have changed your lifestyle you will start to see a difference soon.

You need to know your weight
Clothes size is a very unreliable indicator. I bet you've lost loads.