OK, so I'm sure I'm not the only one to experience this...I've been working out 6 days a week for the past 7 weeks while following Weight Watchers

Weigh ins look like this:

Start: 190.5
Wk 1: 188
Wk 2: 186
Wk 3: 184.5
Wk 4: 188
Wk 5: 186
Wk 6: 184
Wk 7: 182
Wk 8: 184

So help me out people. I have not cheated on Weight Watchers...my inches have gone down - although I didn't start measuring til about week 5, so its hard to say how much they've gone down....at least an inch in each of the bust, waist and hips...that is a certainty.

What's with the S-L-O-W loss and those weeks where there are actually gains? Can I tell you how incredibly upsetting those up weeks are?

I'm told the "muscle weighs more than fat" thing isn't true until you've actually been doing this for closer to 6 months...so what gives?

I'm doing the water
I'm staying in point range (and never use Activity Points) and vary point range
I'm exercising like crazy (3 days strength training/3 days cardio)


How am I not supposed to get discouraged with those numbers!

Anyone...anyone at all...help me out!!!

Er. Muscle weighing more than fat taking 6 months? Since when? I tend to start putting on muscle in the first week. And yes, it's noticeable. Not only will sore and hard worked muscle retain water, which might account for some of the temporary weight gains, but when they heal up they mass more. I'm not a WW person, so it's really hard for me to speak to your program. But I do know that numbers on a scale are not the be all and end all to getting in shape. It's coming off, you're losing inches, and you're gaining muscle. Sounds to me like you're on the right track, even if it's not quite as fast a track as you'd like!

Thanks for reinforcing that I'm doing something right. It is incredibly frustrating...I need to see it go down, even if only half a pound...those 2 weeks with "ups" just about made me quit...except of course, I know I can't do that - giving up won't help my cause.

The other thing that is weird is that normally any diet I start I lose a LOT in the first week, up to 8 pounds, and almost never less than 5...so weird that it has been so much slower this go round. Then again, exercise is a new thing for me.

The first 2 weeks of workouts were KILLER...muscles just seized up totally and I could barely walk...Now, I'm feeling much "fitter" even though I have little to show for it. Hubby can't believe the difference in my energy levels.

So...I HATE this slow pace and hope that eventually the fat loss mania kicks in to high gear.

Would enjoy hearing from anyone who has experienced my "style" of slow loss and kept with it. Success stories really motivate me...especially if I can draw a direct comparison.

Was a skinny kid - even lost all my weight after having my first child. Anti depressants were the root of 12+ pounds/year for 6 years of weight gain. Funny - when I went off them, the weight didn't fall off.

Doctors are funny -- give a depressed woman medication that will make them fat...explain to me how this is supposed to make you feel better?

Well I'm not exactly a fast loser at all. I tend to gain weight if I ramp up the weights in a week. Two weeks ago, my weight was up 1.5 pounds, but I knew it was because I'd started a much more demanding weight routine. The next week it was down a pound. This week I haven't lost anything at all so far. But I *know* I'm doing the right thing. Slowly, I have peeled off about 20 pounds. I realize it is taking me a while to get the fat off, but when I think about how many years it took to put it on, respectively, it's coming off a lot faster than that! There are a lot of success stories around... if you check out the Ladies who Lift forum, you'll see several.

I never took anti-depressants, but I hear that one of the side effects can be weight gain. They told me that one of the side effects of birth control pills was weight gain, too. I started on them about the same time I decided to change my life style. Perhaps that has some impact on the fact that I'm losing slowly. In any case, I could never go back to eating the way I used to, or not working out at all. I felt like crap all the time, and I find that the exercise is a very good stress reliever and anti-depressant all by itself. I hope some of the incredible "losers" on this site respond to you. I know their stories have kept me going when I felt like throwing in the towel a few times!

...its amazing, so easy to get down, but then you know, you are right...thinking of going back to no work outs doesn't seem within the realm of plausible...too many benefits even without weight loss to quit that.

The pill isn't as bad as it used to be for weight gain so don't worry -- it should have minimal effect unless you are on the tri-cycline type where the hormone doses change during the course of the month -- those are nasty and there is no need to take them in this day and age!

Thanks for the support -- I'll keep scanning the site for stories and hope that some of you big "losers" (aka winners) have some more motivation for me -- especially anyone who is losing it SLOW....

I have been losing the weight more slowly than I ever have in my life. I am not deprived and get an emotional boost from excercise. You gained 12 lbs/year for 6 years, if you lose 12 lbs/year for 6 years does that make you less successful? I don't think so. It's not a race. There are many other measure besides scale weight. I am thankful every day that I no longer get winded walking up and down stairs. Its these smaller wins that make you healthier in the long run than letting a number dictate your success. This especially is applicable if you weight train.

Miss Chris

What's the hurry? Really? I guess I'm tired as heck of looking awful. And during that 6 year period, it isn't like I didn't try to take off the weight. This battle has been going on far too long...but somehow, this time is different. I'm motivated for the "right" reasons, being healthy...unusual for me.

I won't argue - the work out benefits are great...but when I look in the mirror, I am disgusted by what I see...I know, I know -- that's awful..but its honest. It motivates me to continue but depresses me to no end at the same time. Sadly, I am a person of extremes - black and white - no grey - all or nothing - no slippage aloud...

Makes it tough.

How far will the self-loathing carry you down the road? To look at it another way, making healthy changes because we love ourselves leads to a whole new outlook. You can also appreciate the more subtle changes of weight loss through loving eyes. I have looked at myself naked and decided which parts I like. I have beautiful breasts that are moving up, I have long lean legs, I have pretty eyes, and a nice smile, and I am a good person. Hating the way I looked was another way to binge and abuse myself."I am already so fat and ugly who cares?"(I would do this after a 30 lb. loss!) Now I try to think I am so beautiful, I deserve to treat myself right.

Miss Chris

Your attitude is much, much healthier than mine and I strive to get to that frame of mind...but right now, if I say it, I'm lying.

I also hate my hair....to the point that I've worn wigs and paid absolutely absurd amounts of money on hair extensions...

Truth is - I don't really know what I'm striving for but somehow I feel like if I have my "looks", that life will treat me better...

I didn't say it was logical -- but you have to admit, good looking people get a lot more perks...they get a lot of attention, they get less speeding tickets, better jobs, more breaks (proven that a good looking convict gets less time in prison) and quite frankly - as much as it isn't "fair", its true. Things are getting worse...

Used to be large was lovely...Marilyn Monroe was a 14...she'd be ostricized today with our twiggy little models.

And guys don't necessarily like skinny chicks (you ever see skinny chicks in porn? Most of those ladies are pretty curvy....)-- but skinny models are everywhere you look and it starts to impact you after a while that this is somehow how you are supposed to look.

I'm smart enough to know better but my "heart" smart is not at the same level of education as my "brain". I'd say I'm pretty dense when it comes to emotional intellgence and looks and body image definately fall into the emotional intelligence catagory!

Looks fade. It is respect and presence that demand that people pay attention to you. If you endear yourself to others those breaks come. The skinny model theory buys into the media product and doesn't define what is good for the person. Hard work, tenacity, compentency, intelligence, wisdom, and the ability to grow impact others alot more than looks. If you meet a good looking person and they are just a shell your tolerance for them goes down. As we use to say about one of my co-workers, "Big tits will only carry you so far".

Miss Chris

You are very confident and that is a tremendous bonus...not just for you, but for people who come in contact with you.

I need to surround myself with people like you and hope the outlook wears off!

Keep up the great attitude...maybe you'll wear off on me...



Kelly

And they're especially annoying when you start having to tuck them into your pants....

I think there are a lot of folks on this site who struggle with the emotions, the fears, the self-loathing, self-disgust, self-hate issues. For so many reasons. Abuse, neglect, society... each person has their own reasons. And the self punishment only works so far where weight and physical fitness are concerned. The deeper issues of anxiety, depression, loneliness - all end up wrapped around food and self image. And of course, often the self image is so warped that what you truly do look like has absolutely nothing to do with how you see yourself.

Journaling has helped me break through a lot of stuff. I've found the more I shovel through the muck and crud of all the years, the more I realize how much time I've wasted on self hate. And how destructive it's been to my health, and my looks. I still have anger issues. And honestly, weight lifting is a huge catharsis. Screaming as you're trying to top out on a new move is anger embodied. I can be enraged and then expend it on steel. Cardio is my depression fighter. All the times I feel lonely or scared or start feeling that slide into despair, if I can force myself onto the treadmill, or to take the dogs out for a run, I can kick it.

Always it seems there is a battle of the emotions vs. the intellect. You are not alone.

I can't trace my "self loathing" to any particular incident -- since I was a cute teen and considered "hot" in my 20s...I think it is self-induced.

People see photos of me before and don't believe it is me. I look so different.

I wasn't healthy/fit back then either -- just blessed with good genes...at least at the time...

I LOVE the feeling of a good work out and that is a HUGE motivator for me. It took a little while to get to that point...those first couple of weeks were just so painful...but now, I go to the gym and wonder if I'll be able to up my weights...or push myself extra hard on the elliptical machine. I always come out "high" after a work out....

Seems I always "crash" though when I get home. Don't know if I overexert during the day and suffer burn out or what, but it is like having one too many drinks...you go from a happy drunk to a nasty one...

Any thoughts on why that would happen?

How often are you eating and what? Are you getting enough protein?

I generally don't do this, but if you are working out as seriously as you sound like you are, you might want to check into a bit different eating plan. If you hit the Ladies Who Lift area, there are a lot of programs for the heavier lifters which won't leave you feeling like you've been run over by a truck. Body Rx, Body for Life, several of them.

Just a thought.

Sleep and enough food to sustain a lifting program.

Miss Chris