Feeling discouraged-when did you see a change?
 

So.. i thought i would have been happier..I lost 10 pounds and thought i would have seen some kind of change in my clothes and how they fit or in my body..but instead i look like the same big marshmellow..Even my stomach still looks ...well..marshmellowy.. How long did it take before you saw change??

Irk, that is a hard one. You are not just seeing the function of how much room your body takes up. You also see how you feel about yourself, on that day and in general. Think about emaciated anorexics who really, truly see a fat person in the mirror.

I take it you know about the paper towel metaphor? You have a full roll taking off 5 sheets is barely noticable, and when you are down to the last 10 sheets taking 5 off is huge?

I couldn't tell you myself. I don't see much of a change between me at 220 and 330. Mentally I just don't see it.

get 10 lbs of tin cans out of your pantry and put them into 2 carrier bags...then walk upstairs with them...thats how you will feel the difference !

Also we all have fat deposits inside our bodies where we can't see it..wrapped around organs..imagine just one pound of the fat wrapped around your heart......so even a pound loss is going to help your health..so 10lbs is brilliant ! Keep it up !

lb
 

When I had my breast reduction in 90, the dr. held up his fist and told me "this is a pound" you have lost 10 fists! I think it's a good visual. when you have a lot to lose, 10 lbs probably won't show. When you change to a new size, and then the next month another new size and another and another you will notice. I lost it first in my back of all places, so of curse I didn't see it, but my bra was too big! Don't get discouraged, it will come off in a short amount of time. Remember to do some light stretching along your journey. Don't do the heavy exercisig at this point.
IM me if you need more guidance. Look at my pics.
Mary

Notice little changes, like how it's a bit easier to walk up the stairs or how you've actually made so much progress... 10 pounds is a lot, keep ur eyes on your goal and aim to lose another 10 pounds. Before you know it, people will be asking you where you went. And then you'll have that secret smile only you can see! well done!

I agree 10 lbs. you might not see a difference but if you carried 10 lbs. up/down stairs you'll feel a difference. You lost 2 bags of flour, wohoo that is great!!

Look at my progress pics. I dropped weight...but didn't really drop the Look of the weight for awhile. My theory is that we drop fat that's underneath, and it just takes time for it to move into the space created. Honestly..One set of pics there's like a 3 pound difference, but the inches just fell away.

Keep on Keeping on..and it will come off.

I hear ya! I've been waiting for someone to notice but then I think, 10 pounds really isn't enough but maybe in another 10 people will start seeing it. I love the paper towel thing! It will all come with time!

I agree, 10# is not really that noticeable unless you really don't have too much to lose. Don't get discouraged! Keep at it and before you know it you will see the difference. Also, keep an eye for how your clothes feel. If they don't feel better already, they will in the next 5-10 pounds, and that is super encouraging!

you are losing NOT gaining, that in itself is great ! next time you go to the grocery store, pick up a 10 lb bag of apples...or potatoes...or imagine 10 bricks of BUTTER...that is a lot of fat you have taken off that body of yours and gone forever !!!! woohoooooooooo be proud :)

10 lbs may not seem like much in the grand sceme of things, but it is GRAND! Celebrate and enjoy the journey. :)

Girl, you are taller than me! 10# loss on us will not show easily. I have now lost 38% (26.5#) of my goal and I am just now seeing my size 16's getting loose (I started in a loose 18/tight 16) and I just bought new bras (band size not cup). The next 10 will should be a more marked difference. Mine first showed in my face...that's where people will notice. Be patient, you will be greatly rewarded.

I have lost 50lbs and have not changed sizes in clothes yet. I can see the difference in my face. I see the difference in my clothes and I can move better than I could before. 10lbs is 10lbs...its GONE! that is all that matters. Sometimes it takes longer to show than others, you maybe can't tell but people will start to notice...YOU will feel better even if you can't see the changes yet!

10 lbs is fantastic. I agree with all of the analogies on here. Ten bricks of butter is the one that seems to stick out the most to me. I haven't hit ten pounds yet but just the feeling of knowing that, in the future, I will be able to change pant sizes; I'll be able to wear a swimsuit in public without feeling like everyone is staring; I'll be able to keep up with friends when we go scuba diving or hiking up a mountain; I'll be able to see my kids (which I don't have yet) graduate and have babies of their own. Even if I'm not seeing the big changes in myself yet I've seen some of the pictures on here of people along their journey...that in itself is motivation enough for me to keep going.

I agree with some of the other posts that it will take time for you to see the change...and to appreciate that you have changed even if you don't see it. You see yourself in the mirror everyday so the changes might not seem huge...just wait til you see a friend or a family member that hasn't seen you in awhile...I'm sure their reactions will help you feel more confident in the program and in yourself!

10 lbs is fantastic! I agree with everyone above.

Body issues are just another part of losing weight. Honestly, I thought I had issues with my body before I started to lose weight, but I think that they are a lot more prevalent now!
Not seeing results quick enough or not being satisfied with your loss is an issue that will come up again and again (for most of us) while you are on the program (especially if you are a scale junkie). What is critical is the internal dialogue that you have with yourself to get you through these difficult times. Mastering the ability to find peace with where you are at in that moment in time is a gift that you give yourself...because this is about nobody else but YOU. Give yourself room to breath, praise your efforts and your results (however small, each one is a victory!).
This is a life-changing, life-long process for most of us, I applaud you for reaching out to try and make sense of how you are feeling now. Everyone here has given you a gift (or tool) to help you understand how proud you should be. It's like they are filling up the 'toolshed' of your soul, so you have a place to go whenever you need to remind yourself of how victorious you actually really truly are.