Hey all...
I know this may seem like a stupid question, but how do you get past the whole, i know i'm losing weight and i know it won't happen over night, but everytime i look in the mirror it is not nice and makes me all and want to eat a huge bar of chocolate or !!
I know i have only lost 10lbs and so it wont really show yet, but are there any little things you say to yourself to make you feel more positive and motivated to keep going. I want to lose weight so badly, but i have always been impatient and end up giving up! I really dont want to this time, so i need some advice about staying motivated and positive!
I also would like to know what people think a realistic amount of weight i can aim to lose by the beginning of september would be?
Thank you for any help and advice.
Sorry if this doesn't make very much sense!!!
Jess
xxxx
Last edited by jellybellyjess; 06-21-2009 at 07:48 AM.
Hi Jess I'm not in the 20 something crowd so hope you don't mind me responding....I think it's so hard to look in the mirror and see huge differences in ourselves because, well, we look at ourselves everyday and we don't really notice the small changes. I'd suggest taking a before picture and then take subsequent pictures as you hit mini goals. I remember the first 10 lbs I lost I couldn't see it in my body but everyone was suddenly commenting on how much slimmer my face was (OMG I do have bone structure!) I'd also take measurements so you can "see" the #'s going down. Another thing that feels great is to maybe find an old pair of jeans, a top that no longer fits, etc. and make that a goal to fit back into them. I had a pair of jeans that I hadn't been able to wear in years and when I first started losing weight they'd get up a little about my knees and stop! I'd lose a few more lbs and they'd slide up a little further. They are currently around my waist now but still a little to squishy at the top to fasten comfortably. I'm hoping by the end of summer they fit!!!!! You asked about how much you could expect to lose by September. I've heard that losing 1-2 lbs a week is safe. Keeping that in mind don't jump on the scale everyday or you'll just get frustrated. Also if you don't lose that much each week don't get frustrated...it's just a #. Many of us have gone weeks without a loss on the scale but that's why you take measurements and don't lose focus. LOL, we didn't gain our weight overnight so we can't expect the lbs to just fall off fast! My motto is slow and steady wins the race, focus on the right kind of meal plan for you and everything will fall into place. Good Luck!!!!!
BTW, sorry Jess I looked at your ticker after I posted a response. I see you have 7 lbs left to go. Congrats on your loss! Of course we know those last few lbs are the hardest to lose I know I mentioned losing 1-2 lbs a week is normal but it always seems like as we get closer to goal the losses do slow down a bit. Maybe someone who has reached goal can give you a better idea of how much you can expect to lose since you're so close to goal. I'm interested in a response too since I've been working on my last 9 lbs.
Hey
Thank you for the advice. I think i will definitely start taking measurements!! Brill idea
My problem is i have never been a normal weight so dont really have any smaller clothes or any idea where im going and what it healthy for me so it is all just a bit of a wild stab in the dark really lol but i will keep trying.
Thanks for the advice again, and i will aim for a steady weightloss like 1-2lbs a week cause i heard that makes it less likely it will go back on again! Is that true do you know?
Jess xx
Also s far as being impatient, then giving up...try to think of it this way: September is going to come around no matter what, when it gets here would you rather be 10-15lbs lighter or would you rather gain 5 lbs because you gave up?
Take pictures of yourself every 10 lbs, you will notice the little differences then. Plus be aware of your food decisions and celebrate those . EX: Wow, I ate 5 servings of veggies today!, or I turned down a piece of cake...for many people those are BIG changes.
I take it one pound at a time. I always felt that if I looked at the big picture, it was too overwhelming, so I will just aim to be a pound lighter the next time I weighed. It adds up!!!
I struggle with that myself, especially b/c I fell off the wagon for about 9-10 days and just got back on track a few days ago so it sucks my weights been the same and I havent lost any more now in 2 weeks =o( but I am just pushing through it...the best thing right now is just enjoying the empty feeling in my stomach from not eating so much! It keeps me goin! I wish I was 166 like you are right now!! =) Anyhow...yes you can deffinatly lose up to 20 lbs by september but even if you do only lose ten or fifteen, thats still Great! So just keep going stay strong <3
I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes, it feels like if it takes a week to lose 1-2 pounds, I start feeling like my diet isn't working, because I am SO used to instant gratification! I struggled with this in the beginning of my current diet, and have since overcome that feeling, and I think the longer you stick it out, the more you will overcome it as well.
I have now lost 10 pounds in about a month and a half, which is WAY slower than other fad diets I have tried, so at times I felt like it must not be working anymore! But, I decided to stick it out and did eventually make 10 pounds and you know every few days I notice the scale move more and more. Slow weight loss is healthier and although it isn't what we are all used to, it works better! Just imagine a few months down the road, you will be looking back at the time you were 10-15 pounds heavier! 10-15 pounds in a few months IS slow, but totally worth it!!
I try to find things that keep me motivated. You need to find something that makes you motivated too! Whether it be browsing the 3fC Goal Photo forum, or watching old episodes of the biggest loser, or reading inspirational weight-loss books...
I also agree with everyone else... take some pictures, and KNOW... that those pictures are going to change for the better if you keep at it. You'll start seeing a difference in no time.
What I find is that from 160 lbs down to 155 lbs, I lose about half an inch around my hips.
But from 155 down to 150, I lose about TWO inches from around my hips. Everyone's body loses the weight differently, and while you might not notice any difference from that last ten lbs, you might notice an INSANE difference in the next 5! Keep atter, honey. You'll notice soon enough, even if it's just that your pants are starting to fit a little better.
I have the same problem you have. I take a look in the mirror and get discouraged. I agree with taking measurements and pictures. It is a great way to pick you back up. Everytime i get discouraged i look at before and after pictures and feel better. I also have to remind myself that it won't happen overnight but it is happening. Also get some more form fitting clothing. I notice when i wear something that makes me look good i feel better. Anything to remind you that you are losing weight. But when i am especially down i talk to someone who knows about my weight loss. It's nice to hear encouragement from others and to know that they noticed. My husband and co-workers are really good at that. I get called skinny minnie now and they make jokes that they can hardly see me. But more than that they tell me i am doing a great job. So keep up the good work. It's great that you lost 10lbs. It's not easy and everyone on here knows that.
when i started out i look for differences, even if they werent there so i saw changes in my legs, arms, stomach etc. Didnt matter if no one else saw it (no one else is actually looking for it lol) but even if you think you see a small change that can help. So no, 10 lbs isnt huge in your scheme of weight loss, but its a start so when you look in the mirror maybe look for things that you like, and then see if theyve changed. Sounds kinda crazy i know
Also when i started out i noticed more differences in terms of fitness. So if you are exercising maybe keep a notebook of what you do, how far you cycle/run/cross train etc and see if that changes. It helps you push yourself too
This may sound crazy, but I keep a 20lb box of cat liter at the bottom of my stairs. Every time I want to go up/down the stairs, I force myself to carry the 20 lb load. In this way I learn what 20 pounds really means and how much more difficult it is to do simple tasks (it's also great exercise). Most of us have several boxes of cat liter to get rid of. Weight loss doesn't happen overnight, but it will happen. Please be kind to yourself and celebrate the small accomplishments.
This may be a silly question...
and want to eat a huge bar of chocolate or 
!!
so i saw changes in my legs, arms, stomach etc. Didnt matter if no one else saw it (no one else is actually looking for it lol) but even if you think you see a small change that can help. So no, 10 lbs isnt huge in your scheme of weight loss, but its a start so when you look in the mirror maybe look for things that you like, and then see if theyve changed. Sounds kinda crazy i know 
