new to weight loss another question!

o.k. I started losing weight on 7/24/08 I was 198.4 as of today I am 181.4 I was losing weight at a regular weight but from 9/08-9/27 I was between 184.0/183.0 and so I am feeling insecure about my progress.I am just wondering if a 17lb loss is good or should I have lost more?I wanted to lose more but the fact that my weight stood still for about 4 weeks has put me behind schedule,and made me feel like I am not making much progress. so is this a good loss?

That's great progress - when you divide by weeks, it's around 2 lbs per week!  Right on track!   

Just DON"T get discouraged.  Those first 4-6 weeks the weight usually just falls off, as your body adjusts to your new diet, lower sodium, higher water intake, etc.  But, our bodies being the wonderful creastion that they are, tend to self adjust, so it will proabbaly start to slow down a bit now.  Just hang in there.  Remember, it didn't take only 2 months to GAIN all that weight, so don't expect to LOSE it all that fast.  You need to look at making it a long term goal, and a lifetime change. 

Good luck!!!

WOW! I never even thought to divide it into weeks! Thank you I guess because 4 weeks there was no loss I didn't think of it bein 2lbs a week but YAY I'm so glad you pointed that out to me! WOO-HOO you made my day!

Keep up the good work.  If you continue to be stalled out, then you might want to revisit your calories and exercise and make sure that you don't need an adjustment.

There are also other ways to measure your successes...do your clothes fit better/looser, have you lost inches, do you feel healthier, do you feel stronger, etc.

do not get discouraged, that is great progress. You have lost about 8.5% of your starting weight, which is a huge acheivement. A good pace of weight loss is 1-2 lbs per week. So, you are on the right track.

I started the same day as you and exactly the same thing happened!  Don't give up because bam!  Monday I stepped on the scale and finally the downward motion began again.  When you first lose weight the body freaks out and says this can't be good and trys to equalize by holding on to the weight.  Show it who's boss and stick to your plan.  Also be sure not to drop your calories too low.  The body doesn't like that either, and it's hard to feel so deprived.  Best of Luck. Just think, next year on 7/24 the healthy new improved us will be able to say remember last year on this day?

Original Post by smwhipple:

Keep up the good work.  If you continue to be stalled out, then you might want to revisit your calories and exercise and make sure that you don't need an adjustment.

There are also other ways to measure your successes...do your clothes fit better/looser, have you lost inches, do you feel healthier, do you feel stronger, etc.

Thank you! yeah I've lost 2'' in my chest 2" in my waist 1" in my hips and my clothes do fit batter but I hate seeing a high # on the scale!

Original Post by meladventurebc:

do not get discouraged, that is great progress. You have lost about 8.5% of your starting weight, which is a huge acheivement. A good pace of weight loss is 1-2 lbs per week. So, you are on the right track.

 

WOW! 8.5% of my weight that is so cool! Thank you for pointing that out!

Original Post by betzc:

I started the same day as you and exactly the same thing happened!  Don't give up because bam!  Monday I stepped on the scale and finally the downward motion began again.  When you first lose weight the body freaks out and says this can't be good and trys to equalize by holding on to the weight.  Show it who's boss and stick to your plan.  Also be sure not to drop your calories too low.  The body doesn't like that either, and it's hard to feel so deprived.  Best of Luck. Just think, next year on 7/24 the healthy new improved us will be able to say remember last year on this day?

I am so glad I am not alone! so cool that we started on the same day! I wish you luck and I'll make you one of my friends for encouragement if my weight gets stuck again! YAY US!!!! WOO-HOO!

I began on July 5 and have lost 16 pounds, which is a little more than 10% of my starting weight and nearly 50% of my goal weight loss.  Since I'm pretty short I've been trying to focus on percentages because it can get a little frustrating to see such slow movement on the scale!

Keep up your awesome work, and if watching the scale doesn't make you feel great about yourself, look for a different number to watch that DOES reflect your successes and make you feel wonderful.

Congratulations!