discouraged

[Bertha Venation]

Sunday is my weigh-in day. Today: loss of 0.2 pounds. I am very discouraged. I have so much to lose, and I felt that at first I would lose a lot. I have lost a little over 18 pounds since May 6, and I am happy with the total. But to lose just 0.2 pounds, when I have been fighting, scratching and clawing and pulling hair, to stay on this diet -- well, it has just deflated me. (No pun intended.) This is too damned hard for such a lousy return.

My first goal is to lose 10% of my weight, which is 28 pounds. I have ten to go. I hope I can do it before July 6.

Have you any words of encouragement? Thanks.

[Tobin S.]

1. Stick with it, BV

Those pounds will come off if you keep doing the right things. Some weeks are just like that. If you hang in there, next week you might lose 3 or 4.

[Bertha Venation]

15. Thanks, Tobin.

I do not intend to give up!

[LiberalAndProud]

2. You've done very well.

I understand your impatience and I won't scold about healthy weight loss, because I'm sure you've heard it all. You hit the diet plateau and still lost weight. That's a win, no matter how you measure it.

[Bertha Venation]

16. L&P

Thank you for this -- it is encouraging to hear that I've scored a win.

[RZM]

3. I've been there. Just have to stick with it

It often comes off easy at the beginning and then starts to slow down. I've spent months on a plateau before. But in the long run, as long as you're doing what you have to do, it will keep coming off.

I think a common problem is that people see results and then when the pace of losing slows down, they get discouraged and end up slipping. Before you know it you're back to where you were.

You've already come a long way. Keep at it and you'll go further

[Bertha Venation]

17. Oh, I'm keeping at it, RZM

Believe me, I will not quit. I am not taking this poundage with me to age 50.

[RZM]

26. Good luck!

I'm dong the same thing (I weigh in on Tuesdays).

One thing I've noticed about the whole process is that it's not as difficult as a lot of other major challenges in life. It's still hard, but if you're in the right frame of mind and working a program, it usually works. It sounds like you've got both, so keep on keepin' on

[Lochloosa]

4. The first 10-15 lbs. is always the easiest to lose. Keep at it..you'll get there.

[Bertha Venation]

18. Thanks, Lochloosa!

[backwoodsbob]

5. keep going

.2 is good.It isn't healthy to lose too much too fast.

You can do this.Nothing good comes easy.Just keep the end goal in mind and go for it.

[Bertha Venation]

19. "Nothing good comes easy" -- boy, ain't that the truth!

Thanks, bob.

[fizzgig]

6. keep your head up

[Bertha Venation]

20. It's a little higher after reading this thread

[Kali]

7. the whole process is discouraging

how are you feeling aside from that random measurement? are you exercising too? I bet after a month
I bet you feel better and already have more stamina. 18 lbs is a great accomplishment, but keep going for feeling better, not so much for numeric goals.

you can do it, you are almost at "habit" stage - where it will get easier.

[Bertha Venation]

21. Not exercising yet

The instructions in Medifast are not to exercise yet for the first couple of weeks, to give the body time to get used to about a thousand calories per day. But it's been five weeks and I'm still not exercising yet.

Actually, I am dragging badly. I suppose exercise would pick me up a little -- is that so?

I LONG for this to be a habit.

Thanks, Kali

[GoCubsGo]

8. Don't be so worried about what the scale says.

For one thing, it tells you your overall weight, not your body fat. You could have lost way more than 0.2 lbs. of fat. Did you weigh in before or after your daily constitutional? Both "No. 1" and "No. 2" can each add a half a pound or more to your weight if they're still inside you. Or, you might be retaining water. My body weight can fluctuate as much as 5 lbs. in a day because of that. Too much salty food, hot humid weather, and all sorts of other things cause me to swell up like Violet Beauregard after she started chewing that gum that Three-Course Dinner Chewing Gum.

Also, some weeks, you'll lose inches, rather than pounds. You'll find your clothes fitting a lot looser, even though you didn't lose much. To me, that's more encouraging than anything the scale says.

And, have you been doing any sort of strength training? If so, you are probably putting on muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. If you want a gauge of how much fat you are losing, consider buying a scale that measures body fat. Tanita puts out several models that are all good. You can likely buy them at Target and other department stores, as well as at drug stores. If not, I'm certain you can get one on Amazon.com. The amount of fat you lose is what is really important, not the overall weight.

I have been fighting this same battle all my life. If there is one thing I have learned, it's to not become obsessed about the damn scale. The numbers are often misleading. And, be patient. If you work hard and stick to it, the weight WILL come off. Eighteen pounds in a month is an awful lot to lose, so don't be too fixated that you had an apparently bad week.

[Bertha Venation]

22. Thanks, Cubs.

I have had one very encouraging indicator: From time to time, I send pictures of myself to my sisters back home. Twice now, both of them have said they can see the weight loss! My clothes are just a tad bit looser, but my sisters' encouragement has been the best indicator so far.

[rubluetoo]

9. Stay focused...

Remember, unless you quit... you will succeed.

[Bertha Venation]

23. Thank you, rubluetoo -- and welcome to DU!

[HopeHoops]

10. Don't be discouraged. You can lose two pounds just by taking a dump.

Anything under five isn't all that significant in either direction. Eighteen is definitely significant. It took me about a year but I took off 50 lbs and subsequently regained 13 so I'm at my "healthy" weight of 135 again. The main thing is to keep the word "moderation" in mind. If you are satisfied, don't "clean your plate". The leftovers will make a nice lunch the next day.

[Bertha Venation]

24. I am guilty of practically licking my plate.

On Medifast, I have one "lean & green" meal each day, but I overdo it, eating way more green and usually more protein than are recommended. I should probably stop this practice.

Thanks for your encouraging words.

[applegrove]

11. You can do it Bertha!

[Bertha Venation]

25. Thanks, AG.

[Wounded Bear]

12. Hang in there, you're doing fine....

...and don't worry about daily numbers. Keep looking at the big picture.

You're probably better off using 5 day averages than daily numbers. Your weight will fluctuate as much as a pound or so just in the course of one day. If you're a half hour off your weigh in schedule it could affect your number by as much as a half pound or so.

Just remember: eat right, get as much exercise as you can without straining your body, and drink lots of water.

[Bertha Venation]

27. I think I'll try the average method.

Makes sense to me. Thanks, Wounded Bear.

[harmonicon]

13. Progress is progress. (nt)

[Bertha Venation]

28. Indeed.

[Digit]

14. Just keep going, you are doing a wonderful job

I lost 60 pounds mostly through cutting back on bread, potatoes and high fructose corn syrup wherever I could.

Somehow, my metabolism kicked in and it became rather effortless. There were days that I did not stick with it, but I
would get back on track the next day.

Eventually, it came off for me, and it will for you also.

You will notice it in your clothing sometimes when you do not see it on the scale.

You are doing great!

[Bertha Venation]

29. Thank you, Digit!

Good for you on your own weight loss!