Hi all - First, I just want to say how much I love this site and all you guys. I have been on and off struggling with my weight, and on and off coming back here. Well, the struggle is always here. I say it's on and off because sometimes I just ignore it.
Anyway, I joined WW the end of January, and have lost 15 pounds, which is great. It's more than I've lost in a while. But it's soooo slow! Do you all find the loss slow? I do imagine I'll keep it off (or at least that's what they say, that if you lose it slowly you keep it off). But what am I doing wrong? I do stay within my points (except for the weekend, which I find impossible). But I do have activity points, and the extra 49 points. So even though I don't count on the weekend, I imagine I'm still within my points.
Congrats on the 15 pounds-that is definitely an accomplishment!
I'm like you-the weekends are extremely tough for me when it comes to counting points. I'm just running around and have a million things going on so I'm definitely not as careful with my eating as I am during the week. But I find that when I track during the weekends I have better results during the week. Even if I eat badly-I track it. Just so I'm accountable and know how careful I need to be during the upcoming week.
It's definitely a slow going process which has been the hardest thing for me to realize. But some weeks I lose more than others. You just have to stay with it!
You didn't gain the weight over night, you can't expect to lose it overnight either. Slow and steady wins the race (and keeps it off!) and 15 lbs since the end of January is awesome.
How can you know you are still within your points on the weekend if you aren't actually counting? By just guessing and assuming you're still within points you are doing yourself and the plan a great disservice as you could very easily be over eating on points. I know it can be difficult on the weekends, but if you really want to work the plan correctly you have to count everything you eat.
LOL...I am trying to lose 1 pound a week, and am only losing 3 pounds a month.
Now that is really slow.
But I have dropped down to a smaller size, and I feel much better.
So just hang in there. The weight will drop off, even if it seems it takes forever.
This year I have lost only 13 pounds.
The devil has put a penalty on all things we enjoy in life.
Either we suffer in health, or we suffer in soul, or we get fat.
~ Albert Einstein ~
Fifteen pounds off is super, and losing slowly has the benefit of making it less likely that you'll regain. The only thing is if you don't really change habits - I think (at least for me) - you may be more likely to backslide. Try taking each meal, like look at your breakfast and see how you can make it more healthy...get in more nutrition for the points. See if that breakfast leaves you really hungry soon, or if it tides you over till lunch. The next week, or so, do the same with lunch, then with dinner. There are probably some things you're eating that you can drop for some other things that are less points and more nutritious.
You say it's impossible to stay on plan on the weekends - how come? Take a look at what the weekend's about and try to get control over one or two of those meals.
Also, have a look at what you're doing for exercise. If you've been doing the same thing since January, introduce some new exercise activities. Are you working with weights or resistance bands to build some calorie-buring muscle?
I have found this whole process a lot of change....I have to focus on eating what I intend to eat and not what's 'easy'; I have to make sure I have the right stuff around, and I have to figure out what type of exercise I enjoy and get some in every day. Some days are easy, some days not so much. But I can definitely say that there is a positive 'snowball' effect and the more I chip away at it the more I want to succeed and the more resolve I have about making healthy decisions for myself.
Lot's of things to think about, which is great since learning these new healthy habits is a life-long thing. YOU are going to succeed beautifully - you already are - enjoy.
Hi guys - thanks for your replies! I think what really affected me this week is that I have a friend who has lost 100 pounds in about 8 months. She still has at least 80 more to go. She didn't join any particular program. She just woke up one day and started treadmilling, and has worked herself up to 10 miles every day.
I know I don't do that much activity-wise, and I don't know what she eats. But that is so incredible! It just has taken the luster off of my piddly 15.
Hi guys - thanks for your replies! I think what really affected me this week is that I have a friend who has lost 100 pounds in about 8 months. She still has at least 80 more to go. She didn't join any particular program. She just woke up one day and started treadmilling, and has worked herself up to 10 miles every day.
I know I don't do that much activity-wise, and I don't know what she eats. But that is so incredible! It just has taken the luster off of my piddly 15.
"Comparison is the thief of joy."
Just remember that we are all on our own journey and your 15 pounds aren't piddly. You now weigh 15 pounds less than you did at the start of the year and you should feel very proud of that fact! You are losing weight at a healthy rate that will help you keep it off, which is far more important and difficult than just losing it to begin with. Plus -- and please don't take this the wrong way -- but if you aren't doing that much activity, like your friend with her 10 miles every day, comparing your weight loss to hers is like comparing apples and oranges.
I understand the jealousy you might feel, but you're doing great as it is
Thanks. I love that quote "comparison is the thief of joy". I'm putting that up on my inspiration board.
I don't know if I'm jealous - I'm happy for her. It's more that I'm demoralized. But at the same time I realize she is definitely pushing herself more than I am.
OK. Enough crying for me. Time to move forward.
What I do daily is 1.5 miles on the treadmill. Maybe i should move up the speed and distance? What do you all do for exercise?
Also, do you all use your extra 49 points and the activity points? If I use fewer points, do I lose quicker?
I echo what Tudor said about guesstimating the weekends. I don't eat so great on the weekends and also have cocktails but i do track everything i eat. Points go quicker with weekend choices than you would think! I usually use about 1/2 my weeklies on Saturday alone and that is in addition to my dailies for Saturday!
Congrats on your 15 lbs! My loss is extremely slow as well, 9 lbs since end of Feb but I keep trucking!! Your doing great! Keep up the good work (i'm the same with friend that have lost lots of weight too, it's normal )
Last edited by pointspluspioneer; 05-07-2012 at 12:43 PM.
I lost 65lb without any exercise. What I did do was track! Tracking was key to my success. 80% of weight loss is what you eat. Exercise is important to your healthy BUT your diet is the most important when it comes to weight loss.
Thanks. I love that quote "comparison is the thief of joy". I'm putting that up on my inspiration board.
I don't know if I'm jealous - I'm happy for her. It's more that I'm demoralized. But at the same time I realize she is definitely pushing herself more than I am.
OK. Enough crying for me. Time to move forward.
What I do daily is 1.5 miles on the treadmill. Maybe i should move up the speed and distance? What do you all do for exercise?
Also, do you all use your extra 49 points and the activity points? If I use fewer points, do I lose quicker?
Thanks!
Maybe you could try doing the 1.5 twice a day and bump up the speed or the incline just a tiny amount, just enough to where you can feel it and tell that you are actually working your body.
I've got to get my exercise back on track! I have been slacking and I'm paying for it this week! I have lost slow, but not as slow. I am averaging about 2 lbs a week and I started in early February. I prefer to lose it slow, so it gives me a little more of a chance for my body to adjust to the loss, as well as a greater chance for keeping it off. I count calories daily, but I have done WW in the past. WW works, as long as you stay on it. I did well when I followed the plan, but once I stopped, I gained it back and then some.....
Last edited by ShrinkingPrettyGirl; 05-07-2012 at 01:48 PM.
As you continue losing weight and eat better, you will have more energy and you'll want to move more, naturally. If you feel like bumping up your time or speed, give it a try. But don't do it out of a sense of desperation, do it because you're enjoying the process. Maybe try other types of exercise, too. Doing the same thing every day can get boring (for some people) and it's good to do different things to avoid injuries that could occur if you do the same movements every day.
I do a lot of different things, I like yoga, and pilates, and I just discovered Zumba, which is really fun as long as I don't expect to keep up with the class! Whatever you do do, just do it to the best of your capability and be content with your efforts for the day.
As for the food issue, eat as many veggies as you can. Cooked and fresh, all colors. In soups, salads, snacks, etc. Veggies - have all the good stuff we need, for little calories.
Weight loss soooo slow
)
