Anyone else too impatient?

[Mazroz]

Is it just me .... Only eight days in, and I'm feeling impatient to see some changes! I am not weighing myself every week because I get too demoralised if I don't lose anything, also, I don't measure myself every week in case I don't see any reduction in girth. I will do the big weigh and measure on 1 February. However, I feel ridiculously frustrated that I haven't already dropped at least one dress size! I must be more patient! This is how I've lost motivation in the past, so I'm hoping for some good advice on how to keep motivated at this early stage. Anyone else suffer from the same thing?

[YellowRose55]

Hi Mazroz

Eight days is still very early in your weight loss journey. The way I look at it is the weight we have gained did not go on over night so it's not going to come off over night either. Be patient you will get there.

I have been doing the nhs 12 week plan for 6 months now and have lost 3st 4lbs during that time. Also I have gone from a size 22 to 18 so If I can do it anyone can.

Take a look at some of the posts in the "Topic" section they are good motivators.

Rose

[debsdelight in reply to YellowRose55]

Well done, what a super motivator you are.

Keep up the good work.

[Mazroz in reply to YellowRose55]

Wow what a great weight loss and what a great example of perseverance! Well done Rose, I want to stay as focused as you! I will do it

[Itsbab]

Hi when I first started I waited 4 weeks from my initial weigh in till the next then for the next 4 months I weighed every 2 weeks because it's what I could cope with, since last October I now weigh every week but only the once, I don't step on the scales again till the following week.

It's all about what you can cope with just do what you feel comfortable with, don't expect unrealistic goals set small ones maybe to loose first half stone and claim your badge reward yourself with a non food treat then make a new goal.

For motivation keep active on the forum, set yourself targets to up steps/exercise etc.

Good luck for 1st Feb hope you manage to loose a few pounds and feel better about yourself.💐

[Mazroz in reply to Itsbab]

Thanks Itsbab - I am just trying to think one month at a time as I know that if I jump on the scales too often I get so demotivated. Keeping the eye on the prize and believing it's actually going to happen this time is what I find difficult!

[Aussiegirl270416]

Me! Hand in the air waving!

I too am ridiculously impatient, but good things come to those who wait - so they say.

It will happen just keep working at it

[Mazroz in reply to Aussiegirl270416]

So glad to hear from a fellow impatient slimmer! Deep breath! It will happen (if we stay focused!}

[Hidden]

I hear you, Mazroz, and trust me we've all been there. It's important to remember that dropping pounds/shrinking in size is only secondary to what's actually going on inside of you - that is, your metabolism speeding up and your body learning how to use the energy you've given it to work properly, rather than storing it all away like it's been doing in the past. This "inside" change does take time, and it's the hardest waiting game ever, but keep at it and your body will adapt to your new lifestyle choices really soon. It won't be long before you see the pounds starting to drop off.

Seeing a physical change in your dress size/body shape can sometimes take a little longer, because there are fat stores all over the body (neck, face, shoulders, arms, ankles, you name it) and the body won't specifically target your waist/bum/thighs when it starts burning those stores. You'll lose weight from all over your body, which means visually this change is not always obvious at first. The first 15lbs I lost, I noticed it first in my face and my wrists, weirdly enough. It's only now that I'm 30lbs down that my trousers are getting significantly looser than before.

I know the phrase 'perseverance is key' is a cliched thing to say, but when it comes to a big lifestyle change like this, it really is true. Keep at it, and you'll start seeing results soon, I promise.

All the best in your weight loss journey!

[Mazroz in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the motivational reply, E-Sparkles. I need to hear how long it takes, so I know it's not just me. I am impatient for a visual difference to become apparent! I've been overweight for so long I think I find it very difficult to imagine what I will look like! I also imagine my body won't lose weight - it won't respond to my efforts! I know that might sound mad, but it's as though other people do diets and exercise and lose weight, but when I do it I won't! 🙄

[Hidden in reply to Mazroz]

Our own mind is often the biggest obstacle we face in our weight loss journey. That little voice is hard to shut out, and all you can do is keep reminding yourself that you CAN do it and surround yourself with lots of positive motivation that'll speak louder than that voice. xxx

[Windswept1 in reply to Mazroz]

Although I felt better and had looser clothes from losing weight, the big body changer for me was exercise. C25K and doing weights changed my body shape completely.

Once people start to notice your weight loss, that should be a big motivator.

Good luck.

[wa2un7 Maintainer]

Stay with it. This isn't a race you will win if you are too ambitious. It can take a while for changes to show. Some are lucky and it happens quickly, for me it was 5 weeks before I lost an ounce. This forum kept my spirits up And I got there in the end. Set small achievable goals and look for steady, even if slow weight loss. Good luck. You'll always find encouragement here.👍

[Mazroz in reply to wa2un7]

Wow, I really admire your perseverance if you didn't lose anything for the first five weeks. I would find that really difficult to keep my motivation going. But it's reassuring to hear that eventually you achieved a loss.

[SlimmerSue62]

You know what they say slow and steady wins the race. I know what you all mean though this is exactly what I do. I even jump on the scales every day. Not good I know

[Mazroz in reply to SlimmerSue62]

Yes, jumping on the scales every day just makes me feel more dispondent as I'm (obviously) not losing weight every day, and some days I'm actually heavier!

[Claz]

when I started dieting and exercising I lost nothing for the 1st month or so... but I kept going and doing what I was doing and my clothes started to feel looser... then in 1 week I lost 5.5lbs and have lost every week since... so give your body time to recover from the shock of healthy eating and the weight will come off.. if you are eating the right food and exercising and feeling better then continue and not obsess about the scales.. I do still weigh myself weekly but it doesn't rule me anymore as I know the scales lies and I use how my clothes feel as a better measure instead . keep going x

[Mazroz in reply to Claz]

Obsess is the key word here - you're so right. This is why I get so frustrated - because I'm obsessing with the fact I'm healthy eating and exercising, and then obsess with 'I should be losing weight/looking different'. I am so in awe of you that you persevered despite not losing anything for the first month. Thank you so much for your motivational post. I will try to remember it if I don't lose during January...!

[Claz in reply to Mazroz]

it wasn't easy to keep going and I thought what's the point many times but for the first time ever on a diet something clicked with me as I knew I was doing all the right things and just kept going.. Ive set myself 7lb monthly goals and in Nov i lost nothing... in Dec I lost my 1st 7lbs and got 7lb badge... and already in Jan I've lost another 3lbs... so hopefully I will get my 1st stone by the end of this month.. We are all different & some people lose weight really fast (my husband lost 10lbs in a week) and some don't like me.. but the main thing is to keep motivated and u will get there whether your a hare (my hubby) or a tortoise (like me)... x

[Cooper27]

I know how you feel. I'm half annoyed that I haven't lost a stone already, even though I've only been here 5 days!

[Hidden]

We have a running joke in my house that its been two days, why I am not thin yet? My OH has just started trying to lose weight and he said this just the other day.

I have no patience with weight loss, which is why I haven't managed to keep it off over the years!

[Mazroz in reply to Hidden]

Always pleased to hear others are like me!

[ClubW]

I have been like this in the past and i obsess a lot and it ends up demotivating me. This time to try and be different I am not going to weigh in for a while. I don't know how long yet but I think I can feel a difference in my body and I am happy with that.

I am eating healthy meals, I am calorie counting and exercising and I am trying to keep the mindset that this is for my health this is to keep me healthy for the rest of my life. The number 1 goal of this is not to lose weight but to improve my health and fitness in a sustainable way the weight loss should come with it but *hopefully* if I do lose all the weight again I will continue to live this better lifestyle forever.

It is frustrating but you take care of what you eat and what exercise you do and your weight will drop on its own.

[Mazroz]

ClubW you do sound just like me - I am going to weigh myself once a month, and am trying to eat far less processed food and sugar, and I've cut out booze. As you say, I think it's a good idea to consider it a change to improve health with a possible side effect of jettisoning some weight!

Good luck to you, and I hope we can reach the health and weight goals in due course! (Ie, not next week, in an impatient fashion!).