I spent two weeks staying away from the scale.I didn’t look at it. I didn’t think about it (okay I did think about it but it got a lot easier as time went on). In those two weeks I did some pretty awesome things like run 8 miles in 80 minutes and complete my first sprint triathlon. Something else happened over the course of those two weeks…
I didn’t lose any weight.
Well I did, but not much. In fact this will be my lowest loss recorded since starting this journey over the course of two weeks. I won’t lie: I’m disappointed. However I’ve been preparing myself that the weight loss may or may not start to slow down because of where I’m at in my total loss. I’ve lost a total of 85.4 pounds since recording my weigh ins and a total of 92 pounds from my highest weight of 270. I’m still 8 pounds from getting into the “normal” weight range (whatever the fuck that means) so it makes sense that it’s going to start to slow down quite a bit.
So I’m changing my focus.
I’ll need a few days (or weeks) to come to a decision on some things about where I want to take this journey and then I’ll share with the rest of the world where we’re going from here. I say we’re because you as much a part of this journey as I am.
- Week 0 = 263.5 (-0.0)
- Week 1 = 257.4 (-6.1)
- Week 2 = 255.0 (-2.4)
- Week 3 = 254.6 (-.4)
- Week 4 = 253.8 (-.8) *I started c25k
- Week 5 = 248.2 (-5.6)
- Week 6 = 247.2 (-1.0)
- Week 7 = 246.2 (-1.0)
- Week 8 = 244.4 (-1.8)
- Week 9 = 241.0 (-3.4)
- Week 10 = 240.6 (-.4)
- Week 11 = 238.0 (-2.6)
- Week 12 = 234.8 (-3.2)
- Week 13 = 232.8 (-2.0) *joined a gym
- Week 14 = 230.0 (-2.8) *graduated c25k
- Week 15 = 227.8 (-2.2)
- Week 16 = 225.6 (-2.2)
- Week 17 = 222.4 (-3.2)
- Week 18 = 219.2 (-3.2)
- Week 19 = 221.4 (+2.2) *the brother situation
- Week 20 = 213.8 (-7.6)
- Week 21 = 212.0 (-1.8)
- Week 22 = skipped
- Week 23 = 208.0 (-4.0) *over the course of two weeks
- Week 24 = 207.6 (-.4) *switched over to new scale
- Week 25 = 204.8 (-2.8)
- Week 26 = 202.8 (-2.0)
- Week 27 = 200.8 (-2.0)
- Week 28 = 203.6 (+2.8) *lost my job
- Week 29 = 197.0 (-6.6) ONEDERLAND!
- Week 30 = 196.3 (-.7) *I cut out starch
- Week 31 = 193.2 (-3.1)
- Week 32 = 188.0 (-5.2)
- Week 33 = 185.6 (-2.4)
- Week 34 = 185.1 (-0.5)
- Week 35 = 183.3 (-1.8)
- Week 36 = skipped
- Week 37 = 178.7 (-4.6) *over two weeks
- Week 38 = skipped
- Week 39 = 178.1 (-0.6) * over two weeks
Based on my unscientific knowledge and experience and from what I’ve heard from others, not losing (much) over the period of time that one does something like a half marathon, marathon or tri, is not uncommon. Something about the body holding on so it can make it through…
Then there’s this thing with the numbers…back when we were at the beginning and at our highest weights, we set a goal weight based on various factors. And it’s hard to get that goal weight out of our minds even if it might not actually be right for us…we compare ourselves to what others weigh and how much others have lost. Don’t get caught in that trap my friend! Especially because you are working your body pretty hard these days…
Be proud of all you have accomplished, not disappointed over what you haven’t!
Slowing down? No, it is simply that you may be reaching a plateau point. I have been there. It means that your body is now used to the workout/diet that you have been putting into. Now, you just need to change either: Diet or/and workout. Once you change your workout completely, the plateau will be gone and your weight will fall down more faster 🙂 🙂
That’s why one reason crossfit is so popular because they change exercises weekly so to confuse your muscles. The people there are FIT. Google Foundations Crossfit to get some idea of what they do.
I’m tremendously proud of your work… I have been there and is going through that too. I know how that feels, the struggle. It’s HELL. I tell to people who haven’t ever been overweight, they have NO concept of what we go through. They do not. Only people who have been through this understand. That’s why I feel spiritual kindred to you.
Go, girl! 🙂
Michael Cooper
You should DEFINITELY be proud of all you’ve accomplished. (And I know that you are.) And who knows? This may be your weight where you start building muscle. After all, most charts are utterly useless anyway. What is average? I know what is not average, and that’s completing a frickin’ triathlon. 🙂
You already know what I’m going to say, but I’ll say it anyways. The scale is not the measure of your worth. It’s a number, it’s feedback, and yeah – let’s not pretend we don’t care what it says. BUT, let’s not give it any more power over us than it needs to have. I am so glad you shared your disappointment with us but even MORE glad you shared your thinking about how weight loss will slow down as you get closer to goal, etc. THAT is healthy thinking. I also can’t WAIT to hear where you’re going next – pins & needles over here!
On the bright side, you are still averaging over 2 lbs lost each week. You’re right, it does slow down when you get closer to your goal. I’m looking forward to the days/weeks flying by before seeing where we’re going in this. 🙂
Kick-ass-triathalon-fitness-warrior. ‘Nuff said.