Thread: Are you happy with your rate of weight loss?

Just wondering if those on owl are losing at a comfortable pace. Is it a steady or weekly loss or are there many stalls?

I'm currently at a plateau now for a couple of weeks. I know it's not uncommon, but I'm just wondering what your experiences are.

Thanks!

Gregg, I hate to say it, but I mostly had a steady downhill run. I don't think I stalled more than a week, it that, at any point. I'm sure that's not what you wanted to hear.

I've got to say that my OWL was a very long stretch (almost 2 years) with many stalls along the way. In a way, it was a good thing for me. I had a lot of time to learn - over and over in some cases - how to eat for the rest of my life. Since I had a long, slow education, it seemed to "take."

And there we have the situation that I am currently dealing with........ I am better at losing than at long term maintaining. Last time I made it three years before I started to gain. At least I got back in the game with the damage at only 25 pounds instead of the previous 40. This time I will be mindful for much much longer before I start to think that I have this down for good. Obviously I let the creep in before.

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess I'm slowly remembering what it takes to successfully and steadily lose again. I can't just eat all I want to of low carb foods. Calories matter and so does exercise. I don't get as much daily walking in as I used to when I would put in 30 miles a week at work. Man, those were the days when the weight dropped like a stone. So I've started upping the exercise and using some portion control. I'll get the scale moving again. I know stalls are common and a lot of people have them. I just don't like it when they happens to ME!

Thanks again for the input, it is much appreciated!

::looking around for Goddess::

No, I'm not. But, I know it's also because after scouring so many low carb sites and seeing people losing weight like crazy, I expected to be able to do the same since lc'ing is something I'd only tried years ago and not very long at that. But I also have to look at the fact that after "dieting" for over a quarter of a century my metabolism is probably pretty screwed up and needs healing. Or it's just flatout s-l-o-w. Plus I'm older, pre or post menopausal (who the heck knows, it's not a done deal yet!) and, obviously, a woman!

But, as per Goddess, I am trying to focus on all the positives. I feel better, have lost inches and a few pounds. Staying positive is my February challenge, but it is work to do so sometimes!

But I would really love having the Whoosh Fairy visit me really, really often if it were up to me!

Originally Posted by LucyB

Hiya Greg. I do think exercise is the key to steady wight loss. But even if you are working out regularly, you need to kick things up a notch periodically. Interval style training may help. More bang for your buck in the same amount of time.

Good advice Lucy. I'm cranking up the exercise now. After a pretty long layoff, it takes a while to get back up to speed again.

Originally Posted by lavender gal

::looking around for Goddess::

No, I'm not. But, I know it's also because after scouring so many low carb sites and seeing people losing weight like crazy, I expected to be able to do the same since lc'ing is something I'd only tried years ago and not very long at that. But I also have to look at the fact that after "dieting" for over a quarter of a century my metabolism is probably pretty screwed up and needs healing. Or it's just flatout s-l-o-w. Plus I'm older, pre or post menopausal (who the heck knows, it's not a done deal yet!) and, obviously, a woman!

But, as per Goddess, I am trying to focus on all the positives. I feel better, have lost inches and a few pounds. Staying positive is my February challenge, but it is work to do so sometimes!

But I would really love having the Whoosh Fairy visit me really, really often if it were up to me!

I used to be able to drop weight like crazy too Lavender, but it's hard to burn as many calories these days as I once did. I think it's going to require a little more patience this time. But it's ok I guess it is what it is. I didn't get fat in 1 month so I can't expect to get back to normal in a month either.

I wish I could say I ever dropped weight like crazy, but honestly, the last time I was in Onderland was 23 years ago and that was after doing some kind of injection/diet pill combo. Since then I've been no matter what eating plan I've tried, I'll lose a few pounds and then it stops dead.

I also guess I figured since I'm eating better and healthier, the weight loss would really begin happening. It seems logical that once the cookies, cakes, chips, etc. are eliminated the body would respond pretty easily, but .. obviously .. is just don't work that way!

You're doing great! I know you're a guy, but you've lost 15 lbs. since last month and I've only lost a little over 6 (4 of that is from Atkins). So .. to you! Way to go!

I dropped weight fast in 2000. Now over the last few years not so fast. I feel good and my blood sugar is ok so that is what counts. Now would I love to be back in my bikini? Sure but I keep telling myself I'm getting there slowly!

Originally Posted by lavender gal

::looking around for Goddess::

did i hear my name?!

the one thing i have learned without question in this journey for myself is that each time i get sloppy with my carbs and then come back to focus later on, any weight i've picked up during the sloppy period is slower to come off than previously. i never have totally abadoned LC, but i have had periods where my daily carb intake was maybe 2 or 3 times what it should have been and my activity levels where darned low.

it's also easy enough to get discouraged because of that. to me, it's confirmation that any "carb-creep" periods of laxness about my habits have a stiff price tag associated with them and the bill comes due with additional interest each time you put your health on the layaway plan.

the danger i see is sometimes folks begin to think of LC as the "ace in the hole," something they can keep in their back pocket and ignore until they get "pants emergency" or something. i do believe, based on my own experiences and observations, that's got bad idea written all over it for this very reason.

I just restarted on Feb 8th and so far I'm down 11.8 pounds so yes! I'm pleased! But I know in the past I've hit plateaus so we'll see. I plan to keep a positive outlook and a negative pounds balance

Originally Posted by Goddess

did i hear my name?!

I think I get a little down sometimes because given my "diet" history, this has been the easiest, most satisfying way of eating that I've ever done. Plus given that I had never really low-carbed (with the exception of PP a few months ago), I had hoped to see more weight loss in addition to the overall just feeling better.

I have to believe that it will come, though, and who knows, maybe I'll wake up one morning and see several pounds puddled around my feet.