I really need some cheering up....

Avatar for airlily
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2004
I really need some cheering up....
27
Thu, 09-15-2005 - 10:28pm

I'm a depressed mess. Seriously.

So, I've officially been dieting for 28 days. I went to Curves yesterday on day 28 and was weighed and measured.

*Lost 12 Pounds (.5 pounds per day)
*Lost 2 inches (but gained .25 inches in each upper arm)

1) When I was an insane dieter, eating 800 calories a day, and exercising for two hours daily, I lost 20 pounds my first month. I feel like a loser in the weight loss department. Is 3 pounds every 6 days a normal speed? Am I slow?

2) How in the hell did I GAIN .25 inches in my upper arms? If I lose weight, wouldn't I lose inches, too? Why gain them? I lose only 2 inches -- that's sad in itself (why not 4?) -- all over, but gained .25 in each upper arm. How? I can't explain that at all.

There's my diet rant. I'm eating 1500 calories a day, drinking 3 glasses of milk daily, and exercising three times a week for a half an hour at a time at Curves, in case you're wondering what I did (when I go to curves, I push it until it hurts).

THEN -- One more thing. I'm turning 30 tomorrow. September 16th is my birthday. My last night in my twenties is being spent taking a bath, cooking dinner, and cleaning clothes. I spend my last afternoon in my twenties making lesson plans and correcting school work. I've decided, though, to just keep saying I'm 29. I don't know why it's bothering me.

Thanks for letting me rant.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 09-16-2005 - 12:41pm
One to two pounds a week is average, so you are doing FABULOUS! I'd be absolutely thrilled to lose three months a week, since I rarely do. And if it sounds too good to be true - it probably is. You wouldn't want to be losing so fast that it's loss of muscle!Those crash diets that promise "7 pounds in a week" and sometimes more (and your previous crash dieting) usually rely on loss of water and muscle. Also - remember that working out not only builds muscle (which is heavy), but also causes your muscles to hold on to more water - making the scale move a bit slowly, even if you're losing lots of pure fat!
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2004
Fri, 09-16-2005 - 3:00pm

It sounds like you're doing a great job losing weight!

~~Linda

 

Avatar for airlily
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2004
Fri, 09-16-2005 - 11:25pm
Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely try the smaller goal thing. I'll make monthly goals so it won't seem so overwhelming.
Avatar for airlily
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2004
Fri, 09-16-2005 - 11:28pm

You're 30, too? Cool, I'm not alone. I'm sorry you had a bad year, though.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

Avatar for airlily
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2004
Fri, 09-16-2005 - 11:29pm
Ouch... If you lost muscle, can you get it back, or is it gone forever?
Avatar for airlily
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2004
Fri, 09-16-2005 - 11:31pm
I am really beginning to feel better now LOL.... I don't know how you stay so optomistic with 100 pounds to go, but I want to be as positive!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2005
Sat, 09-17-2005 - 12:27am

I am sooo happy for u! I wish I could loose 12lbs. in a month!! I'm just hopeing to loose 20 by december 31st!! Keep with it you are doing GREAT!! My hubby turns 30 on Sept. 20th and I keep razing him.... He is a whole 6 months older than me.... I too am not ready to be the big 30!! But you could be in my shoes.... the other day my hubby found a GRAY HAIR and pulled it out. He showed it to everybody and said "see Theresa's got GRAYS" UGH.... What a butt head :) He is so lucky I love him. BTW do you like curves?? We have one here and I have been thinking about it. Let me know. Thanks!! Keep going.... you can do it!

Theresa



Avatar for airlily
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2004
Sat, 09-17-2005 - 12:39am

I totally love Curves. It's an awesome place where women of all ages and sizes go to just work-out. Of course, you and I would be the youngest ones... hehehe... it helps. I mean, I think to myself "I'm fat, but I'm young... heeeeeyyy!" Some women there are in their 60's! Bless them for getting out there and doing something about their weight.

Curves is nice: you go at your own pace; you perform circuit training; you get prizes for going so many times a week; the people there talk to you when you work out to make you feel more at home; the yalways have contests and prizes; they weigh and measure you so you can get a rounded picture as to your weight lose; they only weigh you once a month so you don't have to deal with that plateau crap; they offer nutrition classes; they will work-out with you if you need the motivation; the list goes on!

As of tomorrow, I will have been at Curves one month. It's small, but it's what I need right now. I do see myself eventually outgrowing Curves once I get the body I want, but until then, it's what I need. :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sat, 09-17-2005 - 1:06pm
You absolutely CAN build up muscle at any point in your life! Any physical activity will do it, although actual strength training is the quickest. It's never too late, and it's never gone forever - you have undoubtedly gained muscle already with your workouts. Just remember that muscle 'weighs' more than fat (although it is streamlined and much better looking, LOL) so if you aren't losing weight as quickly as you think you should be, it might be due to that increase in muscle. That is temporary, since muscle also BURNS a lot more calories (even while you're sleeping).


Edited 9/17/2005 1:09 pm ET ET by mom2morgan
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-01-2003
Sun, 09-18-2005 - 3:50am

I don't believe I'm so late but:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

And I won't post anything about the "not loosing enough" nonsense. You've got plenty of replies for that.

Keep it up!!

Mary
247/won't tell/165