Thread: Losing......but nothing to show for it

I lost another 2 lbs, putting me at 236. That is 19 lbs down from my start weight. Yet, I have not shifted sizes yet, and I am not noticing my clothes being that much looser, especially my pants. I have been told that you lose weight from the top down, and that it can take 20-30 lbs to drop a size. Granted, I have not made it back to the gym yet, which would help with the inches. Plus the same people see me everyday, so it may not be noticeable. This is just so frustrating! I have never consistently lost this much weight before, yet I guess I want to see tangible results. I guess patience, huh?

Robin

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." Thomas A. Edison

Started Protein Power 10/22/03
Doing a hybrid of PP/Atkins
255/238/140

I saw it in my face first. I've only lost 10 since I started at 1/2/04, but face showed it within 2 weeks. I started an exercise program at the same time, so it is now showing much more in my body (dropped 2 in everywhere).

Exercise will give you the biggest bang for the buck, but also will slow the loss as 'muscle weighs more than fat' - as I have to keep telling myself.

Mary Kay

01/02/04 - 230/219/150 Atkins

Robin, I feel your frustration! You feel freat about seeing the scale reading decrease, yet the tangible results--folks noticing, baggy clothing--are not quite here yet. But, how do you feel? Are you sleeping better? Has your moods changed? Are cravings reduced? Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel? These are all wonderful results of this way of eating! The wardrobe changes will come. Just look at this as more time to save some $$ to go shopping!
Hang in there, Robin! keep posting to this forum, it is filled with wonderful folks a ready to congratulate your progress and offer fantastic wisdom and humor.
You're doing great!

Cherub
304/280/160
5'9"
Started Atkins 01/04/04

Robin, take heart - for every instant you feel frustrated that your clothes aren't getting looser, there's been a post here by someone fretting that their clothes are looser, but the scale's not moving.

I have seen this comment so many times that I do believe some people either lose inches or pounds, just not both at the same time. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but there it is. Relax and enjoy! The time will come for you.

Laurelyn

LC Links

Robin, I found something for you on another board - how serendipitous!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> I found this great idea about weight loss attributed to Bob White. It is called the Paper Towel Theory.
You compare your body to a roll of paper towels, with the core being the lean you. Each day as you eat right and exercise, you peel off one layer of fat (or one paper towel). At first you don't see any difference. In fact, days or weeks can go by without seeing any difference. But eventually you will get to the core. It is inevitable.

"Fat, like paper towels, comes off in sheets. When you are heavy, you are big around. And when you are big around, the fat is spread over a much larger area, just like the outside towel sheet. The closer you get to the lean you, the more each pound of fat shows because it is spread over a smaller area. While the outside sheet may only cover one layer of the roll, the inside sheet may go around four times. That last sheet looks like it gives you four times the results of the first sheet, but in reality the results are the same -- your perception is just different! And you will never see the inside if you aren't patient while the outside is coming off!"

Hope somebody else finds this inspirational!
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Laurelyn

LC Links

Oooo, I like that, Laurlynn! Makes total sense to me.

Jen
175/129/120

That's a keeper, Laurelyn. Thanks for sharing.



BC
172/108/108--5'2"
Zone since 4/98

GREAT analogy! Thanks for posting that, I bet a lot of folks will find it an "Oh, YEAH!" moment when they read it!

Char

Being "over the hill" is much better than being under it....

Great analogy! Robin I feel the same way you do...I'm down 49 lbs and while my clothes seem to be fitting better I still can't get into the next size down! I contibute it to the fact that I have always been one to wear shirts that are 2-4 sizes bigger to hide my belly! And I always wear stretchy pants so of course I'll be able to wear those for a long time and not notice them getting loose! It stinks but we will prevail!!! Oh and I've been going to Curves 4 days a week since May 2003 so I have lost inches....GO FIGURE!!....lol Anyway just KEEP ON KEEPING ON!!!!!

Michele

Thanks guys! And that was a great analogy Laurelyn

Robin

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." Thomas A. Edison

Started Protein Power 10/22/03
Doing a hybrid of PP/Atkins
255/238/140

Yes, I completely agree with Laurelyn.

Over the years, I've seen so many posts by those in the 200 club who are having a hard time with the fact that they have to lose 40lbs before anyone notices...

how unlucky is that, that the folks who need the encouragement the most (because they have the longest way to go) seem to get it last???

Just hang in there Robin: the time DOES come when all of a sudden, people say, Good Grief! Where did the rest of you go???

but you never get to that, unless you go through this.

{{hugs}}

a.

That analogy is also a great insight mechanism for the value of exercise. If all you do is "peal off" the weight, you run the risk of looking like a 2/3 scale model of your full weight self. Exercise, especially weight lifting, changes your shape in addition to accelerating weight lose.The V shaped upper body is the product of a more muscular chest and back in addition to less fat around the waist, and it's one change that gets noticed.