Keeping motivated

[Porgie1985]

Hey everybody, I'm new here. I've been on my "journey for about 5 weeks and I've lost 12lb so far, which when I look at it written down really is good but this week I weighed in and I hadn't lost any weight. I felt absolutely devastated because I'd tried so hard! How do you guys deal with a no loss or gain? X

[moreless Administrator SS Supercook 7 stone]

Don't panic Porgie1985, the same thing happened to me on week 6 and I was devastated too. I couldn't understand it, because I'd done everything right! I learned that our body's do odd things and since then I've weighed daily. I know that my weight can fluctuate wildly, from one day to the next and even from one hour to the next.

Weigh yourself daily, at the same time, in the same place, naked, before food, drink, or shower/bath and after going to the toilet, but only count your weight on the same day each week.

There are many things that can affect your weight, but don't let it derail you. Keep to plan, keep up your exercise and eventually everything will sort itself out. Concentrate on the bigger picture and don't get hung up on one weigh-in.

It's also a really good idea to take measurements too, because sometimes there will be inch loss when there has been no weight loss.

What you've achieved to date, is brilliant and you have an above average rate of loss. Well done you!

Keep up the great work and keep the faith, you're doing just fine!

PS Look at all the threads in the Pinned posts section and consider joining us at our group weigh-in tomorrow

[Sunny-day]

I find that its not all about the scales. Sometimes my weight fluctuates and I have water retention, or I lose inches off my waist-line and clothes start to get lose. I also re-evaluate what I've been eating and change my diet where possible and increase activity.

[muffintop67]

HI Porgie1985. Firstly I want to say well done on losing 12lb in 5 weeks - that is a fantastic weight loss. Average over 2lbs a week! I lost mainly 1 to 1.5 a week so it has taken me longer to lose your amount. However I too had a week when although I did lose it was only half a pound and I felt gutted. I tried hard too and stuck to my allowance and tried to factor in exercise throughout the week. I think the important thing is to not think too much about the numbers. As moreless has said (she is very clever) weight can fluctuate so much each day but as long as over a period of time your weight is on a downwards scale then one week of no weight loss will not really matter. Keep going as I am sure that next week the scales will be showing the numbers you want to see.

[Venusflytrap]

Sometimes we are a week behind at the scales. Does this scenario fit? Two weeks ago, had a not quite as good a week as planned, but still lost. So enthusiastic - it does work - you had an extra good week this week, but a stay the same at the scales. What you may have done is gotten away with the week before (no gain) by having an extra good week this week. Or it could be your hormones. Or a large coffee at the wrong time. Or what you ate the day before, holding more water than other days. Try recording your weight as a graph. If the overall trend is down, you are winning. But it also lets you see more clearly if there are monthly patterns. It could be worse. There are people out there whose pattern is 3 stay the sames plus a good loss the 4th week. How unnerving would that be? Keep going. The people who get the big losses are those that keep going. Also have a look through your food diary for the last couple of weeks. I bet you will be able to work out possible reasons, if there are any! What all your other supporters have said is right too. So think about their points too. I bet you will work this out at some time.