Slow-paced dieters? Let's rally!!

Hi everyone!  I've read so many threads where people are dieting quickly and eating like 1300 calories a day and stuff like that.  I've got a very slow-paced goal for myself.  I want to lose 63 pounds but plan on doing so over the next 23 months.  I'm in no rush and don't have the discipline to "crash diet". 

I'm consuming 1700-2000 calories a day and trying to work out 20-30 minutes/day but I'm REALLY bad at motivating myself to do that, especially during the August heat.  I'll be doing more bike riding as fall comes closer. 

So, who else out there is dieting slowly?  Who needs motivation to work out?  Let's get on each other's friends lists and start supporting each other.

This is great! I tend to lose slowly- perhaps because I'm not the most consistent person.   But even when I'm being consistent, I seldom lose more than a pound every now and then.  I do best if I eat at least 1600 calories, because then I'm less likely to be hungry and binge.  I try to work out six days a week, as well, and I just can't do it if I don't eat enough.

I'm 5'8" and currently 187, and my body seems to like being there. Every pound is a struggle.  I figure, I'm in it for the long haul, and I'll just have to find something that works, and stick with it!

Hey everyone!! Its soo good to be able to completely relate with so much that you are all saying!! I am taking in 1700-1800 calories  a day, I'm new to this calorie counting though! lol It was a little stressful at first, but it has opened my eyes to so much!! So I've been running for the past 5 months.. I try to do it everyday but with weather and work.. its about 5-6 times a week.  I'm up to 2 miles.  I weigh 157.5 (as of tonight) And im so happy because my body LOVES weighing 162. haha! Seems like no matter what I did for a month I weighed 162.  So I am finally starting to see some progress.  My heaviest weight was in December after a good friend of mine passed away (170 pounds.) My goal weight has always been 145. I just think my body would really be soo healhy if I get there!!! So goodluck w/ everyone reaching their goals! Feel free to stay in touch!  =)  Whenever I think about getting one of those Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies out of the cupboard.. I get on here and look at these postings! haha They are so inspiring and helpful!!

Here's to drinking lots of water, haha!! 

*clink!*

:oD

Good morning everyone!  I just entered a new "decade" this morning... at 309.5.  Yay!  I've now lost a total of 15.5 pounds...

I've been wondering a lot about how you all determine your goal weight.  I once had a gyno who told me he couldn't treat me until I was 120 pounds (!!!) because he felt that was an appropriate weight for me, and at the time I was 270.  (I think he had personal issues with weight apart from however it was affecting my health.)

I weighed 150 in junior high.  I played tennis several times a week, did gymnastics, walked everywhere.  I thought I was huge because of that number, while my friends were all around 110, but looking back at pictures, I think I looked great.  I also wonder if at 41 I can reasonably expect to be lower than that.  Or if I'd even WANT to be. 

It's all so far off in the future that it's not an urgent issue, but I was wondering what you think.  Frankly, at this point, I'd be thrilled to be 200!!!

Wishing everyone a great day,

:) Wendy

Hello all, I am a slow loser and like it!  I have been changing my lifestyle - eating / exercise since January 07 and have only lost about 22 or 23 pounds.  That equals about 1 pound a week more or less.  I usually lose a pound every 9 days.    I too get a little tweaked because every one else loses 2 pounds a week!!!! I eat about 1600 to 1800 calories a day and exercise - when I do - about 5 times a week.

5'8"  and 154 right now, started at over 180.  I got into a "healthy" BMI but I know it isn't really healthy because I still have so much fat.  My frame is extremly small so I can easily get away with 132 to 140. 

MOrning!

Hey sadie!  Go drink a glass of water :-)

wendy.  I think we have to decide what looks and feel heathiest for us.  I'm going for 160 because it's at the very TOP end of my healthy weight...  now, realistically... my weight is going to be somewhat skewed because of the amount of excess skin... when I was at 185, I went in for a plastic surgery consultation, and the doctor said there was 40 POUNDS worth to remove... so I guess that means at 160... I'm more like 120...

I'm so glad we all found each other.  THere is just no reason to starve yourself into weigh loss... if you do what you're supposed to you're going to feel better and lose it anyway!  You don't have to stick SPOT on to 1200 calories a day (and sometimes less)...

If my week keeps going like it is, i'm going to have to drop out of the group... *lol*... 2 pounds lost since Monday on 1700 calories a day... Granted.. that's still like a 1700 caloried "defecit" for me which is not supposed to be good for you...  but I SWEAR I eat PLENTY... and all healthy foods!

Wow, this thread makes me feel terrific.  I've been working at this since about March and I've lost about 20 lbs ... down from 225 to someplace between 203-208 right now.  I have been struggling lately with a very slow and difficult process and with binging. 

I am definitely on the slow road, as getting below that 1700 calorie mark is inviting a binge for me.  I just get so hungry.  I have been working out a lot the whole time, and have lost a little more than a whole dress size, which feels great.  I've also eliminated my knee pain.

Glad to see there are others out there!

Wendy: Everyone's going to have a different size that's healthy and "right" for them.  Read my post about my friend who had the bone density scan.  If your skeleton is heavier, then 150 might not be do-able for you and THAT'S OK.  Any reasonable physician will be happy to see an improvement in your overall health.  My doctor told me she wanted to see me get my heartrate up and start working out.  She wasn't as concerned about my weight as long as I was taking steps to live a healthier lifestyle.

Scalebeater: Sounds like you're on the right track.  Keep up the good work and stick with us! :)  I've been going through the junk food cravings lately and I try to binge on stuff that's not as bad for me as what I'd usually binge on.  Instead of a hot fudge sundae or a stack of cookies, I've been munching on chocolate teddy grahams or going to Costco for a frozen yogurt and berry sundae.  It helps some.

Great job... great plan scalebeater.

I often think diet sites suggest 1200 because they're afraid that people will get discouraged with slower weight losses and quit (although they still SAY you'll lose 1-2 pounds a week)

Regardless... You know... you lose an average of a pound a week for a year... YOu've STILL lost 50 lbs... which can sound horrible to people who have 100 (or in my case 200) to lose... but I could still be 200 pounds overweight in 4 years... or I could be at goal!

The other thing that I used to forget ALL of the time was how happy I'd be with myself WAY before goal weight.  When you've been 200 pounds overweight, 50 pounds overweight looks pretty good to you.  Heck, I'm still almost 100 pounds over now, and I think I look pretty darn good!

Morning all!

I had a lovely walk this morning and I am trying to get in the groove to clean.  This is my daughters last day of summer before kindergarten. 

I have had 32 oz of water so far!  For me that is really good.  Now if I can just choke down at least 32 more I will count today as a victory.  Keep telling me to drink that water--it actually helps!

Remember-This day holds 1,440 minutes.  Enjoy as many as possilbe.

Hope everyone has a great day.

Shanelle

Hi everyone......may I join in please?

Okay, so I am slightly taller at 5'4".  I started dieting a couple of months ago.  Initially I was 178lbs, now 168lbs, but for the past two weeks I have lost absolutely nothing.  Soul destroying or what.  I guess I am on a slow losing curve also!   I guess I really do need motivation to keep going though.

One thing that does help me though is a picture of a very large lady in a bikini stuck on my fridge door, next to a super svelte slim one (probably about 110lb at a guess).  So everytime I open the fridge door they are staring me in the face.  However, all I have to nibble on is a melon chunks, salad things and other fruit.  

I have been doing pilates at home in front of the tv which is helping and although I haven't lost much weight in the grand scheme of things, my body is toning up and I am beginning to look better.  So girls, next time you are in front of the TV get exercising!  I try and do sit ups, crunches, and exercises for my butt and thighs, and when completely worn out for that, I do arm exercises with heavy tins whilst in the armchair....its beginning to work!  Lynne

Hi ya lynne.. happy to have you...

I have a question... how many of us on here are somewhat slower "on purpose" as in we'd rather eat a higher volume of calories (HEALTHY ones of course)...even if it slows our weight loss because healthiness is what matters in the long run... and it's simply EASIER to diet this way.

CC says my caloric intake should be 2050... my Dr says 1200... (silly doctor!  I'm 231 pounds at work out HARD for an hour a day 7 days a week!)... but I kinda split the difference and aim HAPPILY and unhungrily at 1600-1800 which is actually about what I'll need to eat to maintain at a healthy weight for the rest of my life!

sadiesmom:  I'm on my 2nd 32 oz. of the day, too...I just have one with me... ALWAYS... and refill it every time it gets empty... doesn't matter if it's just a sipi... or you gulp down the bottle to get t over with... good for you!

kthompson92, your post about your friend's bone weight was extremely reassuring.  I agree that reasonable docs should be happy with an overall improvement, but I have found it so hard to find a "reasonable" doc.  I have lost a relatively small amount of weight so far, but I feel SO much better than I did at the beginning of the summer because I am eating so much healthier. 

texasteach, I also agree with your comment about why so many diet plans say 1200 calories.  You lose a bunch quickly and then when you can't sustain that, it's your fault, not theirs, because you have no "will power"... I think we need to find all the ways to stay motivated as we slowly lose weight, since we won't necessarily see a daily change on the scale... and yes, I am eating more (losing slowly) on purpose.  I've tried it the other way and I'm trying to learn from my mistakes!

And yes, I'd be delighted to be 50 pounds lighter in a year, especially if I knew it would stay off... you're right, the changes you see all along the journey are very satisfying! 

shanelle, take a sip :)

:) Wendy

Good morning, slow and steady people! 

If anyone needs support for their slow-paced weight-loss, just look all over the Internet under 'crash dieting' for some of the horrors of losing weight too quickly.  For example --

• the body reacts to severe calorie restriction by dropping both fat and muscle in about equal amounts -- (Yikes!  we need all the muscle mass we can get!). 
• Undernourishment triggers an ancient 'famine survival' technique to conserve energy by slowing down the metabolism and -bingo- your body is now recalibrated to store fat in greater proportions as soon as more calories become available.  etc. etc....

The research is all out there.  Crash dieting is terrible for you. 

Rather than just 'slowing down the furnace' by eating less, we can 'build a bigger, better furnace' by being more active.  Muscle burns way more calories than fat, working or resting, and even modest strength training can increase your metabolic rate by 15%! 

We already lose more than 10% of muscle mass per decade without resistance training, which slows down our metabolism and causes us to grow weaker.  Increasing muscle and bone mass through some kind of strength-building is the ticket to being able to stay healthy and strong into the future -- and, as a bonus, being able to eat more of the 'fun' foods we love. 

As for healthy weight ranges -- I can't believe that doctor who threw out '120' as a healthy weight!!  *lol!* what a silly thing to say -- I think there's quite a range for 'healthy', depending on many things like the size of your frame, or your activity level.  For example, an Olympic athlete would weigh so much with all that muscle, they might show up as obese on a chart -- but it's the measurements of their waist-to-hip ratio that would show their BMI as uber-lean. 

There's no reason to assume that age changes the optimum composition of your body -- if you want to be a ripped, chiseled 10% bodyfat at 45, then go for it -- but it will be harder than at, say, 25.  It isn't really important anyway -- to be strong, flexible, and energetic:  those are so much more important goals!

Which would you rather be, hungry, weak, and skinny? Or..

-- Feisty! lithe! and powerful!? 

:oD

If anyone really wants to figure out their suggested 'range', i'd suggest trying to find a detailed calculator that allows input for many variables.  This one isn't too bad... Lots of fine print though! 

http://ibw.dietitian.com/ibw.exe

Drink up that water, lol!  glug glug..

texasteach - interesting question.....I'm on a slow weight loss (1-2 pounds a month at the most) because

a) don't have alot of weight I'm trying to lose.  And I think it's now at the cosmetic level even though I'm 1-2 pounds above my ideal range. 

b) the biggest reason - I'm working on a lifestyle change rather than a diet.  I eat a healthly diet and get regular modest exercise (elliptical, treadmill, weights, walking)....I'm not willing to forego 200-300 calories a day to get that faster weight-loss.  Then it's a 'diet' to be endured.....I don't mind being hungry sometimes and before a meal....but I don't want to live hungry all the time.

I adore this thread!

I only just started the end of July, but my overall goal is to loose 40 pounds in a year. I am at about 1500 calories a day and man, right now I am having a heck of a time, bouncing back and forth from 169 to 168 and back again. and yeah, I'm 5'3"

GO -Feisty, lithe, and powerful people !!!

And yes, I am doing the slow and steady thing on purpose. ( just not the current frustrating 1 pound yo-yo act I have going on right now...)

I'm 5'3' too!  It's a conspiracy!  haha..

I'm glad to see all these positive messages -- seems everyone's on the same wavelength...

These 1200 - cal diets may cause an encouraging (mostly water-weght) drop at first, but then what?  The disappointment at not being able to maintain that rate, plus the inevitable caving into temptation (let's face it, not too many bowls of ice cream fit into 1200), it's all a recipe for guilty, depressing, failure.  Yuck.  Plus, my family would end up begging me to stop dieting b/c I'd be a total b%$#*!!!  to live with!  *lol*..

I'm seeing a lot of postings about 'plateu-ing'.. is anyone else there?  I've been losing and gaining the same 5 pounds for years. Someone said, "My body loves being x-number of pounds".. haha.. I hear that! My body's so stubborn!  But not as stubborn as me.. hee hee..

Any plateau-ers out there?  let's hear an 'Arggghhh!!!'

:o)

Tara

Hey everyone,

I'm with you on the slow and steady train!

I stopped counting my calories - but kept watching my food - for the past week, to see how I did (and focus on dealing with my new job schedule.) I've actually lost another pound in a week, and lately I've been losing only about .5 pound per week, so I think I'm doing better! It might be that increasing my calories is actually good for me. I'm trying to find that magic number. 1300 was way too low for me, and I was losing really slowly at 15-1600, so maybe my best number is actually 1800 or so.

In any case, CC has been great for me, and I have managed to lose 22 pounds since I joined 4 months ago. It has taught me what foods are "worth" in calories, something I never paid attention to before, and that is a lifelong skill to have. So I'm still plugging away!