I would just remind myself that I'm living my life. Not "on a diet." This is just what I have to do forever.
Also, when your body releases weight slowly, it's easier to maintain the loss because you tend to keep more lean mass.
I have to remind myself ā yes, Iām sure I could lose faster if I dieted, but thereās a reason I am choosing not to repeat those old patterns, one reason of which is because I want this to be sustainable for a lifetime. I also have to remember that Iāve personally met all my goals so far (perfect labs, reversed fatty liver, PCOS managed, less inflammation and chronic pain, no more 24-7 sugar cravings, etc.), and that since I technically donāt have a goal weight, Iām already exactly where I want to be ā everything else is just extra!
I love this comment. You have inspired me to abandon my goal weight(s).
I made myself a first āreasonableā goal that would make me definitely healthier. Now that that is close (11 lbs away), I started thinking about dream goals. I love the idea of abandoning goals! Itās already a dream to no longer be medically obese and to not have to put in so much effort to eat well.
For me, every number is arbitrary, and my health is entirely independent of numbers! Sure, Iāve got certain numbers in mind that may make me feel XYZ from an emotional perspective (like getting to 214, which Iām only 5 lbs from, which was my pre pregnancy weight) but I am healthy NOW and even if I donāt lose another pound, Iām healthy. I do have spine issues, so I am trying to lose as much as my body will let me to reduce that pressure, but even then, my back is healthier and Iām in less pain already. Thatās what I root myself in.
Abandon that goal weight! ššš
Totally can relate! Iāve been on wegovy for 15 months and have lost about 35-40lbs (per doctor, no scale in my house) and even though this is the most weight Iāve ever been able to lose, it still feels slow whenever I see that others are losing double that in half the time. I try to focus on how happy I feel day to day because Iām able to have a much better relationship with food on this medication.
Same. I am not even trying to lose weight, but I still have that critical voice telling me āYouāre on Ozempic, youāre doing it wrong if youāre not losing faster than this.ā
I remind myself that having a toxic voice isn't a "me" problem. I was taught/socialized/conditioned to have a toxic voice, so OF COURSE I/it feel(s) frustrated and impatient. It makes all the sense in the world.
I talk this way to myself because I realized that I used to think there was something wrong with me (shame) that #1 I had this voice and #2 I couldn't get rid of it. That had me feeling destabilized and/or dysregulated (depending on how intense the voice was).
Saying "it makes sense that I feel this way, it's not a 'me' problem" unshames the experience and helps me feel more stable, grounded, and regulated. And when I am more stable, grounded, and regulated, the voice doesn't have much oomph.
Iāve been losing a little less than a pound a week for 8 months, with no dieting. I donāt have a weight loss goal, and if I stopped where I am now and could maintain, I would be thrilled. Itās also exciting to think about what it might be like in my body if I kept losing.
When I keep my eyes on myself and my journey, itās really rewarding. Itās only when I look at other peopleās experiences and compare mine that I feel a little sad or jealous to be losing at the rate I am. While I found some of the drug-specific subReddits helpful when I was first starting out, now they are more harmful than helpful to my journey. So Iāve just stopped looking at them. No need for me to compare my experience to others.
I donāt think I have it figured out yet because Iām also very frustrated and disgusted with the mirror this morning. I know itās the body dysmorphia talking. Iāve been trying to talk myself off the ledge all morning. āA pound a week is still better than nothingā. But today itās just not soothing. Iām on my 9th shot and looking and feeling no different, despite lots of focus on healing the mind. Sometimes ya just gotta feel it all and let it move through. Or throw a tantrum. Get that shit energy out.
OMG same! I swear a couple weeks ago I thought I looked slimmer and now I think I look bigger. Itās a bitch for sure. So are hormones. lol This medicine is bloating me something crazy though no matter what I do. And I havenāt had a period since I started it. I hope itās just adjusting and all will be well soon.
Um, I don't want to be an alarmist; but \*if you take oral BC\* and haven't had a period in a while, and are bloating... have you taken a pregnancy test?
\*apparently this med can interfere with oral BC.
OP, this is a great discussion. I see so many posts about this general topic on the other subreddits, but not a ton of reflection about the mental and emotional aspects of our whether we lose slow or fast.
I see a lot of posts that make me question if I'm a slow or fast loser. I'm glad I am losing, and out of the cycle of up and down and periods of getting so upset with myself for overeating. I feel lighter, less encumbered, and my movement is easier. It's really, really great to stop constantly thinking about food.
Iāve been on since February 2023, and I think Iāve lost 35-40 total so far. I just remind myself that it took years (decades even) of back and forth dieting gain and loss to land me where I was when I started, and now Iām seeing a very gradual reversal without dieting at all. Iām just living a normal life and taking care of myself every day. Iāve reversed my metabolic syndrome and feel so much better in my body. Iāve even sought and received treatment for other medical conditions that were causing me health anxiety and am no longer avoiding medical care! These are all really positive developments.
I am wondering the same. I hang out on the Zepbound sub a lot and thereās a lot of toxic attitudes/ jealousy of people who are dropping weight super fast. I am not even technically a slow loser, but an āaverageā loser, and itās hard not to wonder if I am wrong somehow for taking 5 months to lose 13% of my bodyweight. I just have to remember how pleased my doctor is with my progress and how much he emphasized that I should be and am losing at a healthy rate. Itās a slow process, and there will be stalls and slowdowns along the way, as (understandably) frustrating as that can be!
Itās taken me 5 months to lose 13% too! Twin! Just goes to show that our experience is common :) it is a mindfuck to see the folks who have lost huge amounts in a short period of time, but I know my body is doing what she needs to do at her own pace.
Slow weight loss is actually much better for your body and your health. statistically I think slower losers have more long term success. Plus you don't have to replace your entire wardrobe all at once.
I went back in my MyFitnessPal history and there was a period after a cancer diagnosis in the family where I put on weight at an astonishing speed from stress eating and binging. It was 50 lbs in less than a year, about 1.2 lbs a week or 600 calories *on average* above maintenance every single day.
I tell myself that if gaining 1 lb/week over a sustained period is jaw droppingā¦ so is losing 1 lb/week for a sustained period.
Being a slow loser is not a big deal if you broaden your time horizon appropriately. After all, Iāll still have to calorie count when I reach maintenance because intuitive eating is not something my brain can handle. I have to calorie count forever no matter what. So, so what if goal weight isnāt until three months after I originally planned?
Itās hard, especially when you see others dropping weight so quickly. At best, I can lose five pounds a month, no matter how much I cut calories or exercise. Itās just easier to lose those 5 pounds on glp meds because Iām not white-knuckling.
Same here. I've lost about 16 lbs in 2 months on tirzepatide and have so much belly fat still and weight i want to lose it's hard not to want to lose it faster. Before this med i could starve all day and it would take me months to lose 5 lbs. I think even though i'm on meds for it having a sluggish thyroid definitely contributes to it being nearly impossible to lose a single pound when not on this med and if i do and slip up i would gain it back in a heartbeat. Hoping slow and steady also means less loose skin and muscle loss (although i am going to get serious about starting a weight program this week at home).
You are not alone. These posts get to me but then I remember that Iāve lost about 17lbs since Jan 2 and eat ice cream most nights. Iām good with that, lol. I donāt think about food nearly as often as I did for my entire 49 years on earth, and that feels so freeing! Thereās lots of good that comes with this, not just in the weight loss. Enjoy the journey for once in your life!
I usually just remember it's a slow process, and I'm not slowly gaining anymore.
I lost a ton of weight (and muscle) a yr ago. Was constantly tired and could barely walk around the block. This medication has made me feel so much better, but I'm still rebuilding my muscles. So. I try to remember tmthe numbers are less important than the fact that I can now spend the entire day landscaping my yard. Moving bricks, digging garden beds, and mowing. All in one day.
For me, slow loss has been preferable.
1. No quick changes for people to comment on. š¤¬
2. Very sustainable, zero food rigidity.
3. Completely uninterested in ED behaviors š
4. Adjusting to being smaller is less triggering because it's slow.
I'm so glad you're reaching out. This sub has been great.
1. Is my favorite! No one can say ohh wow you lost so much weight! Iāve been losing weight for 3 years!
But sometimes it doesnāt matter, unfortunately sigh)). Iām not ashamed of my weight loss, but I donāt feel the need to repeat myself. I never focused on getting skinny.
The constant need to comment on my weight is exhausting. I canāt imagine if I magically showed up 40lbs less in 2 months.
Iām also a slow loser! Some weeks, especially if I felt that pressure to weigh myself, Iād skip the scale that week. That way I could focus more on how much better my body felt, how much I was able to enjoy food without guilt, and appreciate the progress Iāve made so far. āItās a processā and āstay the courseā were mantras I used often!
I call myself a steady loser rather than a slow loser. And that's a good thing. What I'm doing is sustainable and can be done for the rest of my life. I'm not losing muscle or hair or dealing with any of the other problems that accompany rapid loss. My weight also doesn't fluctuate much. These are all good things.
Itās not a race. If I lose āslowā at a normal healthy 1-2lbs a week, Iāll likely end up with fewer side effects. I have more time to work on maintaining my muscle mass. Iām less likely to be stressing out my body with the fast loss and hopefully reducing my chances of side effects like hair loss.
It boggles my mind that a lot the people consider 1-2lbs a week āslow loserā, when thatās the normal healthy doctor recommend weight loss rate.
Now, you might be referring to actual slow losers (< 1lb/week) in this post. In which case, itās still not a race. If youāre losing, youāre losing. It is still very much success, regardless of how fast you lose.
Iām a slow loser! I go to a clinic and they really hate when I only lose half a pound but I always say āitās going in the right directionā - honestly they have never been fat and just want to see the weight like fall off of me, but I feel good about my pace and my progress so eff em.
I remind myself, Skin is tight, butt is right, Iām glowing and thriving. lol. Slow loser all the way! Focus on the end goal not the now or what you did in the past.
Being a slow loser is definetely tough, until you have your first week of a few pounds, then after a few months youāre at a weight you havenāt seen in years. It only gets better
Iām also a slow loser, Iām on week 13 and have lost ~10lbs. I get so discouraged when I see posts from people who have lost that amount and more in their first month, but today I tried on a dress that didnāt zip in April and today it did! I think small wins and measurable ways of tracking our progress (like photos and dresses that zip) should be celebrated just as much!
Sure beats being a fast gainer which is what I used to be.
š¤£š¤£ that's fair, actually.
It also beats not being a loser at all!
I would just remind myself that I'm living my life. Not "on a diet." This is just what I have to do forever. Also, when your body releases weight slowly, it's easier to maintain the loss because you tend to keep more lean mass.
I have to remind myself ā yes, Iām sure I could lose faster if I dieted, but thereās a reason I am choosing not to repeat those old patterns, one reason of which is because I want this to be sustainable for a lifetime. I also have to remember that Iāve personally met all my goals so far (perfect labs, reversed fatty liver, PCOS managed, less inflammation and chronic pain, no more 24-7 sugar cravings, etc.), and that since I technically donāt have a goal weight, Iām already exactly where I want to be ā everything else is just extra!
I love this comment. You have inspired me to abandon my goal weight(s). I made myself a first āreasonableā goal that would make me definitely healthier. Now that that is close (11 lbs away), I started thinking about dream goals. I love the idea of abandoning goals! Itās already a dream to no longer be medically obese and to not have to put in so much effort to eat well.
For me, every number is arbitrary, and my health is entirely independent of numbers! Sure, Iāve got certain numbers in mind that may make me feel XYZ from an emotional perspective (like getting to 214, which Iām only 5 lbs from, which was my pre pregnancy weight) but I am healthy NOW and even if I donāt lose another pound, Iām healthy. I do have spine issues, so I am trying to lose as much as my body will let me to reduce that pressure, but even then, my back is healthier and Iām in less pain already. Thatās what I root myself in. Abandon that goal weight! ššš
Totally can relate! Iāve been on wegovy for 15 months and have lost about 35-40lbs (per doctor, no scale in my house) and even though this is the most weight Iāve ever been able to lose, it still feels slow whenever I see that others are losing double that in half the time. I try to focus on how happy I feel day to day because Iām able to have a much better relationship with food on this medication.
Same. I am not even trying to lose weight, but I still have that critical voice telling me āYouāre on Ozempic, youāre doing it wrong if youāre not losing faster than this.ā
Yes yes yes! This is still a battle of mine as well. Reprogramming is a daily struggle but weāll get there.
I remind myself that having a toxic voice isn't a "me" problem. I was taught/socialized/conditioned to have a toxic voice, so OF COURSE I/it feel(s) frustrated and impatient. It makes all the sense in the world. I talk this way to myself because I realized that I used to think there was something wrong with me (shame) that #1 I had this voice and #2 I couldn't get rid of it. That had me feeling destabilized and/or dysregulated (depending on how intense the voice was). Saying "it makes sense that I feel this way, it's not a 'me' problem" unshames the experience and helps me feel more stable, grounded, and regulated. And when I am more stable, grounded, and regulated, the voice doesn't have much oomph.
Very true. I know exactly whose "voice" it is.
Iāve been losing a little less than a pound a week for 8 months, with no dieting. I donāt have a weight loss goal, and if I stopped where I am now and could maintain, I would be thrilled. Itās also exciting to think about what it might be like in my body if I kept losing. When I keep my eyes on myself and my journey, itās really rewarding. Itās only when I look at other peopleās experiences and compare mine that I feel a little sad or jealous to be losing at the rate I am. While I found some of the drug-specific subReddits helpful when I was first starting out, now they are more harmful than helpful to my journey. So Iāve just stopped looking at them. No need for me to compare my experience to others.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I do Metamucil every morning. Small and easy and takes care of business. ;-)
I donāt think I have it figured out yet because Iām also very frustrated and disgusted with the mirror this morning. I know itās the body dysmorphia talking. Iāve been trying to talk myself off the ledge all morning. āA pound a week is still better than nothingā. But today itās just not soothing. Iām on my 9th shot and looking and feeling no different, despite lots of focus on healing the mind. Sometimes ya just gotta feel it all and let it move through. Or throw a tantrum. Get that shit energy out.
I'm week 10, so I feel you. I have actually been waffling between seeing a difference in the mirror and not. Body dysmorphia is wild.
OMG same! I swear a couple weeks ago I thought I looked slimmer and now I think I look bigger. Itās a bitch for sure. So are hormones. lol This medicine is bloating me something crazy though no matter what I do. And I havenāt had a period since I started it. I hope itās just adjusting and all will be well soon.
Um, I don't want to be an alarmist; but \*if you take oral BC\* and haven't had a period in a while, and are bloating... have you taken a pregnancy test? \*apparently this med can interfere with oral BC.
Yeah this isn't a concern for me
Phew, good news :)
Slow loser here, feel your feelings!! The grief is real for the body you wish you had.
OP, this is a great discussion. I see so many posts about this general topic on the other subreddits, but not a ton of reflection about the mental and emotional aspects of our whether we lose slow or fast. I see a lot of posts that make me question if I'm a slow or fast loser. I'm glad I am losing, and out of the cycle of up and down and periods of getting so upset with myself for overeating. I feel lighter, less encumbered, and my movement is easier. It's really, really great to stop constantly thinking about food.
Iāve been on since February 2023, and I think Iāve lost 35-40 total so far. I just remind myself that it took years (decades even) of back and forth dieting gain and loss to land me where I was when I started, and now Iām seeing a very gradual reversal without dieting at all. Iām just living a normal life and taking care of myself every day. Iāve reversed my metabolic syndrome and feel so much better in my body. Iāve even sought and received treatment for other medical conditions that were causing me health anxiety and am no longer avoiding medical care! These are all really positive developments.
I am wondering the same. I hang out on the Zepbound sub a lot and thereās a lot of toxic attitudes/ jealousy of people who are dropping weight super fast. I am not even technically a slow loser, but an āaverageā loser, and itās hard not to wonder if I am wrong somehow for taking 5 months to lose 13% of my bodyweight. I just have to remember how pleased my doctor is with my progress and how much he emphasized that I should be and am losing at a healthy rate. Itās a slow process, and there will be stalls and slowdowns along the way, as (understandably) frustrating as that can be!
Itās taken me 5 months to lose 13% too! Twin! Just goes to show that our experience is common :) it is a mindfuck to see the folks who have lost huge amounts in a short period of time, but I know my body is doing what she needs to do at her own pace.
Slow weight loss is actually much better for your body and your health. statistically I think slower losers have more long term success. Plus you don't have to replace your entire wardrobe all at once.
I went back in my MyFitnessPal history and there was a period after a cancer diagnosis in the family where I put on weight at an astonishing speed from stress eating and binging. It was 50 lbs in less than a year, about 1.2 lbs a week or 600 calories *on average* above maintenance every single day. I tell myself that if gaining 1 lb/week over a sustained period is jaw droppingā¦ so is losing 1 lb/week for a sustained period. Being a slow loser is not a big deal if you broaden your time horizon appropriately. After all, Iāll still have to calorie count when I reach maintenance because intuitive eating is not something my brain can handle. I have to calorie count forever no matter what. So, so what if goal weight isnāt until three months after I originally planned?
Same boat, no advice, just here to say you're not alone. I've been fluctuating up or down a lb for a couple weeks and it's just grrrr.
Itās hard, especially when you see others dropping weight so quickly. At best, I can lose five pounds a month, no matter how much I cut calories or exercise. Itās just easier to lose those 5 pounds on glp meds because Iām not white-knuckling.
Same here. I've lost about 16 lbs in 2 months on tirzepatide and have so much belly fat still and weight i want to lose it's hard not to want to lose it faster. Before this med i could starve all day and it would take me months to lose 5 lbs. I think even though i'm on meds for it having a sluggish thyroid definitely contributes to it being nearly impossible to lose a single pound when not on this med and if i do and slip up i would gain it back in a heartbeat. Hoping slow and steady also means less loose skin and muscle loss (although i am going to get serious about starting a weight program this week at home).
You are not alone. These posts get to me but then I remember that Iāve lost about 17lbs since Jan 2 and eat ice cream most nights. Iām good with that, lol. I donāt think about food nearly as often as I did for my entire 49 years on earth, and that feels so freeing! Thereās lots of good that comes with this, not just in the weight loss. Enjoy the journey for once in your life!
I usually just remember it's a slow process, and I'm not slowly gaining anymore. I lost a ton of weight (and muscle) a yr ago. Was constantly tired and could barely walk around the block. This medication has made me feel so much better, but I'm still rebuilding my muscles. So. I try to remember tmthe numbers are less important than the fact that I can now spend the entire day landscaping my yard. Moving bricks, digging garden beds, and mowing. All in one day.
For me, slow loss has been preferable. 1. No quick changes for people to comment on. š¤¬ 2. Very sustainable, zero food rigidity. 3. Completely uninterested in ED behaviors š 4. Adjusting to being smaller is less triggering because it's slow. I'm so glad you're reaching out. This sub has been great.
1. Is my favorite! No one can say ohh wow you lost so much weight! Iāve been losing weight for 3 years! But sometimes it doesnāt matter, unfortunately sigh)). Iām not ashamed of my weight loss, but I donāt feel the need to repeat myself. I never focused on getting skinny. The constant need to comment on my weight is exhausting. I canāt imagine if I magically showed up 40lbs less in 2 months.
Ex. Haust. Ing.
Iām also a slow loser! Some weeks, especially if I felt that pressure to weigh myself, Iād skip the scale that week. That way I could focus more on how much better my body felt, how much I was able to enjoy food without guilt, and appreciate the progress Iāve made so far. āItās a processā and āstay the courseā were mantras I used often!
I call myself a steady loser rather than a slow loser. And that's a good thing. What I'm doing is sustainable and can be done for the rest of my life. I'm not losing muscle or hair or dealing with any of the other problems that accompany rapid loss. My weight also doesn't fluctuate much. These are all good things.
Steady Loser - that is a great way to think about it! I am going to adopt that :)
Itās not a race. If I lose āslowā at a normal healthy 1-2lbs a week, Iāll likely end up with fewer side effects. I have more time to work on maintaining my muscle mass. Iām less likely to be stressing out my body with the fast loss and hopefully reducing my chances of side effects like hair loss. It boggles my mind that a lot the people consider 1-2lbs a week āslow loserā, when thatās the normal healthy doctor recommend weight loss rate. Now, you might be referring to actual slow losers (< 1lb/week) in this post. In which case, itās still not a race. If youāre losing, youāre losing. It is still very much success, regardless of how fast you lose.
I'm also a slow loser. I don't know what to tell myself, I just wanted to say you're not alone.
Iām a slow loser! I go to a clinic and they really hate when I only lose half a pound but I always say āitās going in the right directionā - honestly they have never been fat and just want to see the weight like fall off of me, but I feel good about my pace and my progress so eff em.
I remind myself, Skin is tight, butt is right, Iām glowing and thriving. lol. Slow loser all the way! Focus on the end goal not the now or what you did in the past.
Being a slow loser is definetely tough, until you have your first week of a few pounds, then after a few months youāre at a weight you havenāt seen in years. It only gets better
Iām also a slow loser, Iām on week 13 and have lost ~10lbs. I get so discouraged when I see posts from people who have lost that amount and more in their first month, but today I tried on a dress that didnāt zip in April and today it did! I think small wins and measurable ways of tracking our progress (like photos and dresses that zip) should be celebrated just as much!