Originally Posted by kaplods
Yes, you're expecting miracles, but that's because we're all taught to expect miracles, and it's getting worse. I think shows like the Biggest Loser and Extreme Makeover weight loss edition contribute to the mythos, because the show not only shows personal trainers scolding, but actually screaming ragefully at contestants for having lost "only" 10 lbs in a week. And the shows present this as something that could be done at home (even if they add in fine print at the beginning and/or end of the show "don't try this at home.")
Sadly, most of us expect miracles, because we have absolutely no idea what normal, reasonable, or rapid wieght loss really looks like, and what we think we know is absolutely WRONG. We all expect a bare minimum of 2 lbs per week, regardless of our starting weight, as if that were the actual average weight loss for most weight loss plans, and it's not. Most people who are trying to lose weight, do not lose 2 lbs a week (and that's people of any starting weight). So 2 lbs a week, or even 1 lb a week (even if you weighed 400 lbs) is not the average weight loss success for anyone. Even half a pound a week is still rapid weight loss, if you measure "rapid" by how many people trying acheive it actually do.
Also, where IP advertises an average weight loss, you have to realize that's not a guarantee of weight loss, and that the actual average is going to be based on many variables including average starting weight, and your starting weight probably is not average. You started in the overweight not obese or morbidly obese range. Most people who resort to PSMF's (very rigidly controlled, lower-end calorie range diets) are morbidly obese. In fact these are the folks these plans are designed for. You're closer to goal than most, so your losses are also going to be smaller - but 1-2% of your total body weight per week is damned fine weight loss for any program.
If you weighed 300 lbs and lost 5 lbs a week, would you feel as cheated?
You're suffering from the misunderstanding that most of us are, and that is that losing 1-2% of body weight per week isn't super-rapid weight loss. It is.
You're not failing, you're succeeding amazingly. What you're experiencing IS RAPID WEIGHT LOSS. In fact, it's phenomenally rapid weight loss. You're losing more than 1% of your body weight per week (almost 2% in some cases).
When I was at near my highest weight and complained to my dr that I "should be able to lose at least 2 lbs per week like a normal person" my doctor scolded me, reminding me that "normal" isn't losing 2 lbs per week. Normal is losing nothing or losing for a week or two and then regaining more than was lost. I was losing only 1 lb a month at the time and even at that, my doctor reminded me that I was doing better than 95% of women of my body weight. I was losing and had been losing consistently for a year by that point. I was a success, not a failure (even though I had many people tell me otherwise).
I've used this simile many times (so bear with me if you've read it before), but weight loss (no matter how you do it) is like running a big city marathon (without understanding the race itself). We assume we're failing, in last place or close to it because we see 1,000 people ahead of us, not seeing the 20,000 behind us.
The numbers are probably more like 20,000,000 - there are 20,000,000 people behind you. You are succeeding, not failing. IP is not failing you.
You're not crazy, lazy, or stupid for having these expectations. You're also not unusual, you've just been sold a bill of goods by society as a whole and the weight loss industry in particular. Do not expect 1% weight loss every week. That isn't realistic or normal, and may not even be possible (at least not without risking your health, and possibly not even then. You could stop eating entirely and still not boost your weight loss much higher. That's just the way it is. It isn't sad, or unfortunate - it's just reality).
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