Intimidated by large weight losses

[rubygirl]

My fitbit friends and MFP friends on Facebook often post huge weight losses in very short periods of time. Like, 100 pounds since February or 90 pounds since March. They show before and after pictures and that's all well and fine. But for people like me who really struggle to lose 1-2 pounds a week and sometimes less, I feel like I am not doing something correctly. I guess it would help if they in fact had weight loss surgery of any kind, that they would mention it. I realize they have to work hard at their food intake and exercise regularly but there still is an advantage over the people that haven't had the surgery. Bravo to them! But, like I said, I feel like I'm not trying hard enough, when I really am.

[1stepcloser]

Those are huge amounts of weight loss in such a short time. I understand its possible because I have watched extreme weight loss on t.v. but for the first 3 months losing weight is all they do, you see that once they get home it takes longer to lose weight. So I do wonder how your mfp's are doing it. I have been eating healthy and exercising since February and I'm down 30 lbs. That's around 5lbs a month and it takes a lot of work. I would say don't get discouraged by these extreme weight changes. You didn't put weight on over night and it doesn't come off over night. I have co workers who have gone through the surgery to lose weight and 3 years later most of them have gained their weight back. So be happy for your friends but know that life time healthy habits that make weight lose possible take time. Every pound off is an accomplishment!

[Tcup]

Don't get discouraged! Slow and steady wins the race

Just keep up with what you are doing- those 1-2 lbs/per week add up and will be MUCH sweeter knowing you worked so hard for it.

[Lightsinger]

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@rubygirl wrote:
My fitbit friends and MFP friends on Facebook often post huge weight losses in very short periods of time. Like, 100 pounds since February or 90 pounds since March. They show before and after pictures and that's all well and fine. But for people like me who really struggle to lose 1-2 pounds a week and sometimes less, I feel like I am not doing something correctly. I guess it would help if they in fact had weight loss surgery of any kind, that they would mention it. I realize they have to work hard at their food intake and exercise regularly but there still is an advantage over the people that haven't had the surgery. Bravo to them! But, like I said, I feel like I'm not trying hard enough, when I really am.

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People who lose weight quickly often regain the weight just as quickly, sadly.  I've seen it happen over and over, even with people who have had bariatric surgery.  These weight losses are often the result of a "diet" -- a plan of eating that these folks go on and then go off.  Once they go off, they return to their old ways of eating, and the cycle begins again.  This yo-yo dieting is a sure fire way to set yourself up for failure.

So don't compare yourself to the people losing weight quickly.  To repeat:  Slow and steady wins the race.

[Marcy]

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@rubygirl wrote:
... But for people like me who really struggle to lose 1-2 pounds a week and sometimes less, I feel like I am not doing something correctly.

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FWIW, I think you're doing great especially if you can keep it up.  That sounds like a healthy weight loss rate.  If everyone could consistently lose 1-2 pounds a week then no one would have a weight problem.  

[Heybales]

You too could likely lose a bunch of muscle mass with the fat, and fast too.

You'll weigh less, but so would you if you lost a leg. Is that the kind of weight loss you want.

Don't worry, when you take a year or two as a block of time, add in them gaining the weight or more back, and harder next time losing it - while you lose it the whole time.

Guess who will actually be faster and lose more.

[gerrymcd]

Sounds like you have made sensible lifestyle changes that will likeley stick with you for the rest of your life.  Few people who lose weight rapidly manage to keep it off in the long term. Even bariatric surgery is proving to only be a short term solution in 80% of cases.  

[LewWagner]

RG,

Don't obsess or worry about anybody else's weight loss.  Focus on where you're at and what is the desired and healthy end weight and time frame you need to obtain your healthy state.

Nutrition...Gradually increased exercising...and focus (read as self motivation - OCD, stick-to-it-iveness)

Don't piece between meals, gradually start eating smaller portions at those meals

I've found walking about 30 minutes after dinner for about three miles (and you don't have to start out at 3, just work up to a good hour of walking) at around 3.5 mph burns about 350 calories.

Think about ways to "just do it."  By that, I mean, don't sit on the couch watching TV...Pace around and do some light pushups/situps/sidel leg lifts/etc during commercials.

You'll find after building up your own unique exercise-nutrition-weight loss program, that you won't really care about other people's weight loss.  You'll be too focused on the most important person....you.

Good luck...heck...luck has nothing to do with it.  Just decide you finally want to do it....

Lew

[josephz2va]

From my experience, it takes a daily dedication to lose weight and tone up plus a careful eating plan.

I've been on Jenny Craig for a couple of years and I've dropped from 260 to 170 lowest without exercising.

But the exercising is key to toning up and losing any residual fat. Based on my experience, it helps to do a daily regimen. AM Strength Training, PM Cardio Training. Daily. I've dropped 10% body fat in a month when I followed my plan. It helps to keep Body, Confidence, and Spirit in order and achieve a goaled focus.

I work out at 4:30 AM for strength training, go to work (and avoid the chair as much as possible), and 6:00 PM I only need to spend 30 minutes to an Hour on the Elliptical to reach 3,300 calories burned in the day.

[LewWagner]

Joseph,

Great job on your wellness and weight loss!

That being said, I'm glad RG has gotten such a range of options.

You and I have achieved significant weight losses and embraced combined nutrition and exercise to do so.

If a person can so it without paying for groups like JC, NS, and WW and achiebe the same goals....I'm just saying...

Lew

[josephz2va]

Many have suggested me to quit Jenny due to the prices, but if you compare it with Cafeteria Food, Cafeteria Food costs more. Plus people like me don't have a giant fridge, have time to prepare for daily meals, nor have a healthy family.

When moms and dads don't have time to cook, they wind up calling Pizza Hut or bringing home KFC, you know what I mean.

[SammieH]

Hi, I'm new on here, wanted fitbit to keep me dedicated. So far I have lost 4.5 stone and have 2 more to go. My advice is all diets don't work you just have to make permanent changes and move more. Yes takeaways taste good but I guess it's all about the choices you make. Friends keep saying to me how do I stop eating the crap? How do I have the will power? Answer is I want to be healthier. Since losing the weight I no longer suffer from asthma which is great, it's things like that that keep me motivated. One last word of advice is you can only make the change for you, you are worth the commitment and hard work. Put in the effort and you will reap the rewards, good luck xx

[FB_Opus]

Everyone has a journey that will be different when it comes to weight loss. No two people are the same nor how they lose weight. Your goal should be just to focus on your own improvement and not try to emulate what others are doing.

I always keep this in mind: It's a marathon, not a sprint!

[LewWagner]

FB_Opus is very correct that each person has to "tailorize" a dietary and exercise regimen.

But....

I will respectfully agree to disagree, however, that a person can't take common good practices utilized by others or common sense (the opposite of why we're all overweight!!):

• Smaller portions at meals
• Avoid putting yourself into food tempting situations where you might binge
• Eat non-processed foods (fresh veggies/fruits, steam or flame broil veggies, nuts (I like cashews), etc.)
• Avoid or plan for very little pasta (lots of carbs that turn into sugar and fat if not burned)
• Physically exhert yourself
• Don't be a couch potato
• Set goals (realistic ones) and focus on meeting them
• Don't obsess (look who's talking - Mr. OCD himself) over one or two days "up tick" in weight or calories. 
• Do track and pay attention to weight and intake and calorie burn over time

I think the above are or should be part of everyone's diet and weight loss program. 

Lew

[becsta]

Something else to bear in mind, is when did they lose the majority of the weight? Yes, maybe they lost a large amount in a few months but was the majority in the beginning? When they had a lot of excess weight on? I'm someone who has lost 15kg in 4months and with my weight loss the majority was in the early days. (Not the same amount as what you are referring to of course but not a bad effort) It has really tapered off in the last 6weeks and I'm struggling to lose the last 6kg. It is going to be harder to lose that last bit of weight. As hard as it is, try not to compare yourself to others. If you're not large then it isn't going to be as easy (IMHO). If you are doing the right things (calorie in vs calorie out) then you will get there.

[Onikenbai]

If it makes you feel any better, I HAD the surgery and I still didn't lose any weight.  All my WLS friends are posting their weight losses of 100lbs in two months and I gained 4lbs...  I stumped the doctors.  So I'm right there with you; we are all our own little brand of special snowflake.

[Heybales]

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@Onikenbai wrote:

If it makes you feel any better, I HAD the surgery and I still didn't lose any weight.  All my WLS friends are posting their weight losses of 100lbs in two months and I gained 4lbs...  I stumped the doctors.  So I'm right there with you; we are all our own little brand of special snowflake.

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Actually, with the laws of thermo-dynamics, no, there are no special snowflakes.

The eating side of the equation could be very wrong depending on accuracy of logging, eating more than someone thinks.

The burning side of the equation can actually be changed by eating too low and body slowing down, compared to what even the Fitbit might think you are burning.

And there are health issues, that still don't make a special snowflake. but do change usually the burning side of the equation. Because an already unhealthy or stressed or healing body won't take the stress of a diet without adapting.

Just to say, if you think special snowflake, you might stop looking for where the error is and say oh well.

Knowing your body follows the rules too means you just need to find out where your estimates are wrong.

You eat low enough, you will lose weight. Sadly fat and muscles. And may be terrible to sustain and adhere to it. And make maintenance miserable.

But you will lose.

Reasonable for you deficit though, you can lose just fat and not freak the body out to adapt.

So don't give up with excuses, there is a reason, you can figure it out, and you can lose the fat.

[LilyBethSmith]

Goodness.  I can't imagine losing weight as fast as some folks.  3 years ago, I was having a great debate with myself about whether or not to have WLS.  I chose not to, because I reasoned that if I couldn't change my eating habits before the surgery, I'd be unlikely to acheive long-term results if I DID have the surgery.  (This was MY thought process-- not to down ANYONE who chose that route.  It is a tough route to take, having the surgery, and I don't criticize anyone who has chosen it.  It just wasn't right for me.)

Fast-forward 3 years, and I'm down by 133 pounds-- all from change in eating habits, sleeping habits and exercise.  (152.4 as of this morning from a high weight of 285.)  Just keep working at it.  Life shouldn't be a comparison game.  I have met folks who have lost quickly and gained it all back.  I've met folks who lost quickly and kept it off.  I've met folks who have lost slowly and gained it back-- and those who lost slowly and kept it off.  Just keep doing what your body responds to, and don't worry about anyone else's journey.  You can do this!  (I keep telling myself that about the next 7 pounds--- until I finally enter a healthy weight range for my height.)  

[Sabern]

Hay Ruby girl, dont feel bad. Most people that loose real fast end up gaining it back, so as long as you are loosing 1-2 lbs a week that is great. I also am a slow looser due to medication i take for diabetes. If I loose 1 lb a week i am very happy. so you stick with it and do not compare yourself to others.

[patrickd123]

Just get this maths in your mind: the heavier you are to more your basal is, which is the amount of calories your burn natually, no effort, during a day. Therefore, the more amount of food you are allowed just to break even. Consequently, for the same amount of food sacrifice will require proportionally less effort for larger people than smaller people. And then, for the same effort, larger person will loose more weight then smaller person.