how did you feel while you were losing

Hello everybody,

I have lost my first 10 lbs.  I can't believe I am even saying it!!  That number seemed so daunting a month ago.  Even though i am maintaining this new lifestyle, and adding more exercise every week, it's hard to believe that i'm going to KEEP losing.  I have been checking the scale way too often, knowing that there is no point.

Question #1:  Is the first 10 lbs the easiest/fastest?  Does it slow down after that?

People who have lost weight..

how did you physically feel as you were losing?

Did you feel cold all of the time?

Tired/more energized?

Any lightheadedness?

Women, did your period come later at first? (it's been 6.5 weeks since my last one)

I am 5'2" started at 167, down to 156 or so.  Goal weight.. 135ish  but probably 145 or 140 by the end of summer.  Exercise and diet are going so well!! 

Thanks guys!!!

Oddly enough, since you mentioned periods... I used to have very bad irregular periods. I'd normally have 1 very long period every few months, after I dropped my first 40 pounds my periods went regular, which I didn't know had to do with my weight loss, but my doctor said being overweight or obese can mess with your cycles. So this was a good thing! My periods are much more regular.

About feelings though, I never felt bad, my feet and back often hurt when I was obese and now I don't have any problems, I can stand and walk around or do any activities without any sort of problems.

I've lost 20 thus far and have...well probably around 60 left...weird to say...Ive lost 20 pounds...very odd...anyways...I'm 5 1, started at 192.5, now at 172.

I think depending on how bad your diet was before, the first 10 pounds will be easier because its water weight....Mine came off the same as the 2nd 10...because I am always in a semi state of dieting...so I really don't have much water weight to lose...I seem to be losing 5-7 pounds a month consistently with an average of 1600 in, 2000-2100 out (average of course, including 4-5X workouts).  What was neat is that I ate over my calories a few days out of those few months and it didn't seem to matter...

I haven't lost enough to feel the after effects of losing weight (more energy, etc)....For example, my energy levels are the same, Im always tired for whatever reason and that hasn't changed since losing....we'll see in the next 20 :) I still have no desire whatsoever to work out, I dont get the after effects of that either...I just get more tired....its quite a job to get myself to work out after work everyday, but I manage a large majority of the time

Of course, I also dont get the dreaded "Ive been eating healthy for awhile and now I ate junk food and feel like crap" feeling either...how unfair is that :P

I have yet to feel cold all the time....of course that extra 60 pounds of fat helps :D  Im still the "hot all the time" one of my coworkers....

No lightheadedness unless I stand up too fast :D

Im on seasonale, so my periods are regulated to when I want them to be, approx every three months, so I cant answer that last question.

I feel great!  Ive dropped 52 lbs in a little over 4 months: 19 lbs the first month, 12 lbs in each the 2nd and 3rd month, 7 lbs. the 4th month ... I'm in the 5th month now and am down 2 lbs. in the first 8 days of the month.  So yes, in my case I lose the most the first month, still lost lots in months 2 and 3 - but even at 7 lbs last month, I'm not complaining.

Sure, it's more gratifying when it drops faster, but from all I've read on CC, the slower it drops the greater the likelihood it is to stay off - and the easier to keep off.

Let's face it: we didn't gain all that weight in a short time period either.  I've been obese for over 7 years now ... so if it takes a few months more to drop the weight, it doesn't really matter.  What is important that it is lost in a healthy sustainable manner.

The back pain, pain in ankles, knees and hips is GONE!  I feel so much better!

I had surgical menopause at age 35, so can't give any info on periods being affected by diet.

I have no lightheadedness at all - never did.  I rarely eat in restaurants or fast food places.  All foods prepared at home from scratch (except for one Lean Cuisine a week - I love their Chow Mein!).  No junk food.  Just lots of healthy foods - probably the first time in my adult life I have eaten a healthy, well balanced diet: about 50 percent or a little more carbs, 20-25 percent protein, 20 percent fat.

I have given up butter completely, as well as white flour products and refined sugar products.

The only fat I use is a spray of PAM to prepare my egg whites!  I have red meat only once a week with fish and poultry the other days.

Today I went to the mall and bought a pair of white Ralph Lauren capris in size 16W - which seems absolutely tiny compared to the 24W's I've been buying!

Even though I still have more than 60 lbs to lose, it sure felt good to reward myself with something new to wear!

You know, I think that if you stick to "the program", meaning adequate nutrition, healthy foods and at least a moderate activity level you will feel better than you have in a long time.  I don't think lightheadedness, hunger or cravings will be a problem either.  I don't think you have to "suffer" - just be patient and in time you will be in great shape!

I feel better now than I have in a long time!  I've lost 55 pounds in 8 months and 36 inches! :D

I have more energy and my hubby has noticed that! I take a multivitamin every night as well since I've been losing.

My periods have always been irregular. But when I first started losing weight, I went 3 months without one. Then it lasted a whole month. But really light!

I never felt cold, I eat plenty to keep me warm. :) hehehehe

I have degenerative disc disease, and losing weight has helped my back and leg pain somewhat. I can't wait to lose more to see if it decreases anymore. Sure hope so. :D

I have 30 more pounds to lose and hope to lose it by winter. Good luck to you!

I was around the same stats--5'2, started at 150, now down to 125. Sort of trying to get down to 120, but if it doesn't happen, I'm perfectly happy at 125, too.

My pattern was weird. The first five pounds were brutal. The next ten went pretty fast. Then I was stuck at 135 hard, for a long time. Then it was hard getting down to 130, then pretty fast down to 125.

My periods have been irregular and are still irregular because I'm not on the pill and I've been between living at school and living at home for the summer, so my cycle's all wacky.

Losing was weird...I couldn't really TELL that I was losing weight, and I don't necessarily feel smaller than I did at 150. But it's weird to put on my old size 11 jeans (I'm a size 5 now) and feel all the extra fabric and realize that it used to be ME.

thanks everybody!!

minerva_moon how long did it take you?

Original Post by relis202:

thanks everybody!!

 

minerva_moon how long did it take you?

 I started in September, but I could have done it faster if I had cared to. But I was comfortable eating around 1600 a day, eating what I wanted, and just  being reasonable, and giving myself free days when I needed them. The thing I really changed was my exercise--I've become MUCH more active and that counterbalances what I eat. (Plus I lived in a college dorm so my food choices were NOT always the healthiest options.)

Congratulations, Relis! :)

I know that feeling well... before CC, I'd never had a diet last more than 2 weeks. Here I am, 5 months later, and still losing! I started at 150ish lbs w/ a medium frame at 5'4.5'' and 20 years old. Now, I'm down to 132! I'll tell you the truth though, those first 10lbs fell off  of me in the first 2 weeks. Since then, I've been battling to get from 140 to 130... and i'm almost there! Your weight loss will slow down exponentially, but with exercise, you're also getting muscle, so even though the numbers on the scale aren't going down as fast, you're getting smaller :) Take out a tape measure and keep track of your measurements. That's a much handier tool, and its fun to look back and see how much your body has changed! Even though I'm only down 18lbs, my pants have gone from about a size 10 to a size 4! :) No worries.

When I was physically losing so fast, I felt GREAT! I looked forward to calorie counting and weighing myself. It was like a game and I could start to SEE myself changing. Now, I still enjoy it, but I've made it a lifestyle. Its a little more lax, but I'm still losing and still feeling more energetic and happy :) I don't get light headed because I eat about every 2 hours but yes - I am FREEZING all of the time!!! lol. Best of luck to you :) Keep up the good work - its all worth it.

The bigger you are to start with the faster you loose weight in the beginning.  Don't let it get you down or stop you from getting to your goal.   I know for me a lot of it has just been a better awareness of what I'm popping into my mouth.

If you're periods have become irregular since you've starting restricting your caloric intake, you might want to consider backing off your calorie deficit.  If you're historically irregular, I wouldn't worry too much as long as your doctor says you're ok. 

I know that I already feel better and I haven't even dropped that much yet. 

Relis -- First off, congratulations on the first 10 pounds. I remember mine well.

We started at pretty close stats. I was 5'3" and 185 when I started in January. I am down to 149 as of 6 June. My average weight loss was 2 pounds a week for the first 25 pounds. I look the last 3 weeks of April off (after meeting my first 25 pound goal.) I still lost 3 pounds total during those three weeks eating 1800-2000 a day. I restarted toward my second 20 pound goal the first Sunday in May and have lost 1 pound per week average.

I haven't seen a change in periods, but I am on the pill so I am pretty regular either way.

I haven't seen an increase in energy per se, but I can run quite a bit faster now.  I quit smoking in August which I'm sure contributes to that as well, but when I am not lugging around an extra 35 pounds ...  Also though, I've noticed I sleep better at night -- no wheezing AND I am more comfortable sleeping on my back. I don't think I snore as much, though I sleep alone and can't prove this, I know I don't wake myself up like I used to.

As for cold -- not a problem for me as it hasn't dropped below 90 degrees for a month; 80 degrees for a couple months. I'd have to be sick to be cold.

The strange thing for me is sometimes I feel like I'm fat all over again. AND NO I DO NOT HAVE AN ED OR ANY OTHER RELATED CONDITION. I just sometimes forget I've lost the weight over time and it won't come back between lunch and dinner regardless of what I eat. It is just a strange sensation I get.

I'm not sure I was very helpful, but that's my story. Stick with it, even through the slow-loss/no-loss times. The old saying is true; good things come to those who wait. Good luck on those last 20 pounds or so.

Stacy

I'm glad to hear something else is getting cold. I haven't been cold in my life, and now I'm freezing.

I came home slightly overweight at about 198 lbs and now I weigh 188. It's a great feeling but I want to drop eight more of those.

I have lost a total of 31 pounds from 5'2'' and 159 to 128 as of this week :D

The first 10 pounds are the easiest to lose,I lost them in 1 1/2 month and I didn't even count calories properly then.But from then on it gets harder and harder now I lose an average of 3 pounds per month.:( When I was losing the first ,I didn't notice any big difference and I was even suprised that my friends and even random people were commenting on my weight loss. I only noticed as I was dropping pant sizes. Really even now,the best indicator of weight loss for me is the clothes.

I also wasn't cold quite the opposite I was feeling all the time warm in the middle of the winter which isn't normal for me :? but now that we have summer and I'm down to 128 I start feeling cold sometimes.I guess I am just weird.:/