I feel like such a failure
I've been dieting for 9 weeks now.
I hid the scales for the last few weeks to try and motivate myself better. I thought it worked. I thought I was looking a wee bit slimmer.
But I'm still the same weight as when I started.
I'm 138lb, 5'3", 30 years old. I was 128lb all last year, until Christmas when I put on 10lb of "waterweight" which I can't get rid of. I tried dieting in Jan/Feb also. Didn't work. I ate maintenance to prepare for this try, for 2 months.
I eat 1400-1600 calories a day (more when I do a big hike). Very very clean. Drink lots of water. I've virtually given up alcohol, and I lost 50lb previously drinking a glass of wine a day. I walk 3-5 miles a day. I hike 15-25 miles a week, hard hillclimbing. I weight train. I am generally active in between, I am always on my feet doing something, varied things. I weigh my food carefully. I've had my bloods checked. Doctor is not very interested because I'm not very overweight - it's understandable.
For the last two months, whenever someone's given me a suggestion it's something I've been doing since like... 2003. I lost weight before doing this, eating this amount. It won't shift. I feel lazy and greedy. I get comments like "if you were really watching what you were eating for 7 weeks you'd lose weight". People say I'm eating too much for a short girl, people say I'm eating too little for a hiker. I am totally confused and all I know is I lost weight on this amount before. I am almost loathe to post this because I'll get more of the same, from people who seem to do exactly what I do and lose 1lb a week. I know I lose weight very slowly (I went from 175lb to 128lb over 5 years - it was very tough and I overhauled my entire life but I was infinitely patient) but I feel like after 9 weeks, there should be something... just a lb or two would be enough to know I'd made a start.
I practise positive thinking and look at pictures of myself and cheer myself on and try to be kind to myself. I have lost 1.5 inches off my waist, so that is my only consolation point. My boyfriend says I look slimmer (in fact he convinced me to weigh myself this morning after weeks of hiding the scales because he was so sure I'd lost weight.) But I've been hungry for 9 weeks, and I've failed to even lose a pound. I am 2lb off "overweight" and I eat healthier than anyone I know. Why is it so hard?
its easy to call yourself a failure.. but just dont listen to your boyfriend, dont weigh yourself, dont even think about it, when your hungry, eat fruit, you'd be surprised how much better you feel, never starve yourself, ignore your weight and inches off your waist just keep exercising and if you think you look thinner then thats your motivation, because if your building muscle then that weighs mroe than fat so you probably just started building muscle, when you keep going and you get fitter you'll start losing weight, keep trying and do not give up :) its about how you feel.. no-one will look at you and guess your weight, if you care what people think then its all about if you look better? the weight doesn't matter :)
hope i helped! xxxxxxxxxxxx
People say I'm eating too much for a short girl, people say I'm eating too little for a hiker. I am totally confused and all I know is I lost weight on this amount before.
Okay I'm no expert, but here's the first thing that came to mind. Maybe you ARE eating too little for a hiker. You lost weight on that amount before, and because it was too little you're body is not letting you do it again? I remember seeing posts about people who lost alot of weight eating too little, gained it back, and then couldnt lose weight on that amount anymore. But I don't speak from personal experience.
Have you tried eating more and seen what happens? Maybe try eating an extra 300 calories for a month or so. See if it makes a difference (besides a possible spike at first, which should settle).
But I've been hungry for 9 weeks, and I've failed to even lose a pound - This makes me think you should eat a bit more as well. You don't need to be hungry. I feel absolutely stuffed everyday and I still have a 3-500 calorie deficit most days. If you're eating healthily and are still hungry, maybe try upping the calories.
I hid the scales for the last few weeks to try and motivate myself better. I thought it worked. I thought I was looking a wee bit slimmer - so what if the scale hasnt bulged? if you feel like you look better, then don't worry about the number on the scale.
I'm sorry I don't have any concrete advice to give. I just read around the forums ALOT (I have no life ha ha), so I always see what works out for some people and what doesn't.
Is it possible that your body just likes being at 138? Weight and BMI charts aside, maybe you were "underweight" for your body when you were 128...just a thought. Our bodies are amazingly smart and will try their hardest to maintain what is healthy for them. I've looked at your profile and pictures, and you are tiny and look fantastic! You look healthy! Also, the fact that you've lost inches but haven't seen any pounds drop from the scale indicates to me that you've quite possibly gained some muscle but lost some fat. Since muscle is heavier than fat, you won't necessarily see a change on the scale.
So, not only do you feel slimmer, but you actually are slimmer! If you've lost 1.5 inches off your waist, you are losing fat, no matter what the scale says.
Since you strength train and hike, I would guess that you are replacing it with muscle. Maybe go by the measuring tape for the time being. Alternately, you can get a set of calipers and start measuring body fat instead.
Sorry to hear you are having such a tough time.
Two things I wanted to comment on.
1. you stated you've been "hungry for 9 weeks" That doesn't sound like a good plan to follow for life. You stated you are eating clean, are your food filling? Are they high in fiber and protein? 14-1600 calories should be ok depending on your deficit (which shouldn't be over 1000).
2. You also stated that you lost 1.5 inches off your waist. Do you measure your other parts, bust, biceps, thighs, hips etc? because if you lost that much off your waist you probably lost a considerable amount elsewhere.
Try not to get down on yourself too much, I mean we all have our days but you don't want it to spiral out of control and begin to become a serious depression issue. I hope you are able to do some re-evaluating and find something (healthy) that works for you .
Your body likes that weight. You loss inches so you are more muscular, you did lose weight. Your calorie intake changes every time you lose. The last 10 pounds are the hardest to lose. Do HIIT everyday for two weeks and drink more than one gallon of water a day. If you do those two things and change nothing else, I BET you that you will see the number on the scale and inches go down. Are you up for it?
Im not usually one to reply to posts on these boards, but i read your story and immediately thought of the ol' "muscle weighs more than fat" thing.
From the sounds of it you get ALOT of exercise and eat right. So maybe you are just loosing fat and gaining muscle?
You've proven in the past that you can lose weight. You can do it again...you have a history there!
I'm no expert regarding exercise, but if I were giving advice, I would first look at maybe making your weight training more cardio-based, so you don't gain in muscle what you lose in fat. Just a thought...
The more you obsess over this, the more you condition yourself to fail. This is not an option! For anything worthwhile and life-changing, it is not a sprint...it is a marathon. "9 weeks" is a movie title, not an end-all or a be-all. It is a microcosm of a life that sounds like it will be lived in good health. Kudos!
