discouraged - need to vent

[Satyr]

Ok,

So I'm entering my 3rd week of workouts and low carbin..
My friend and I started the same time. He is around 15 pounds heavier than I am. I go to the Gym 6 days a week, riding bike, walking tredmill and doing the cardio ski machine thingy

My friend, went 3 days the first week, 1 day last week. (and this morning, starting good) Needless to say, this is a lot of less workouts then I have been doing. I have been eating right, drinking my water. All the good stuff (bad carbs) out of my life!!!

We weigh ourselves every monday, to see our progress. When i started i was 252. After the first week, i dropped to 247 (pretty nice). Well this morning after the 2nd week, ive only lost 2 pounds!!! The part that upsets me, is my friend lost 6 POUNDS!! HOW? man this really discourages me from spending money at the gym and doing excercise every day I know i just need to ignore the weight and just keep drinking/eating right and it will start coming off, but man.. im really depressed today about this

[Chris]

Damon,

One thing we old hands at this have learned is to never compare our progress with that of another. You're sure to become discouraged that way, because there will always be someone else who seems to be more successful than you.

We each have a unique body with its own unique metabolism, and you just can't expect yours to behave like that of someone else. Hey, you've lost seven pounds, and that sounds pretty darn good to me! Also, bear in mind that with your extra workout, you may be developing muscle tissue, yet are still losing fat. Who knows, you may have lost even more fat than your friend, but have gained muscle to replace it. Now, which one of you would be better off?!!

So, don't let yourself get discouraged. Hang in there, keep doing what you're doing, and you will arrive at the finish line -- thinner, healthier, and happier. I promise!

[Kiasmama]

I second that. Don't compare...it's not a race. Just worry about the goals you set for yourself. I would also say....post a menu for review...just to be sure.

[Satyr]

Originally Posted by Kiasmama

I second that. Don't compare...it's not a race. Just worry about the goals you set for yourself. I would also say....post a menu for review...just to be sure.

I have posted, thanks...

I guess you guys are right...and i have noticed i am getting a little more muscle tone already.

-thanks for the imput was just feeling a little down thats all

[iyamamaschke]

Oh my goodness do I ever Know where you are comming from this is From an exercise Junkie Myself. When I did induction back a year ago I did lose 12 pounds in the first 2 weeks WOOHOO. The I started working out 6 days a week Just as you are I didn't lose a pound not even 1 after the first 12 for another 6 weeks I even gained 5 pounds while I was doing everything right exercising eating right taking my suppliment drinking my water I was sooo upset just as you are. But then I just kept up with it I did and BOOM after the 6 week it took me only 3 weeks to lose a further 17 Pounds WOW. It sure was worth waiting for.

Please don't knock yourself you are doing sooo great and get out that tape measure right now and start to measure yourself and do that 1 time a month or at least every 2 weeks I wasn't losing on the scale but, I was losing inches and Now 1 year 2 months later I am down 98 Pounds this little hiccup isn't gunna tell you the whole storey we all ahve littel stalla dn such but, we all get to where we want to be.

(((HUGS)))

Sarah

[kelly94942]

Originally Posted by iyamamaschke

Oh my goodness do I ever Know where you are comming from this is From an exercise Junkie Myself. When I did induction back a year ago I did lose 12 pounds in the first 2 weeks WOOHOO. The I started working out 6 days a week Just as you are I didn't lose a pound not even 1 after the first 12 for another 6 weeks I even gained 5 pounds while I was doing everything right exercising eating right taking my suppliment drinking my water I was sooo upset just as you are. But then I just kept up with it I did and BOOM after the 6 week it took me only 3 weeks to lose a further 17 Pounds WOW. It sure was worth waiting for.

Sarah YAY! You are like the story of my life! I lost 13 pounds in the first two weeks, just doing moderate exercise... then I started doing REALLY hardcore exercise last week (week 3) and gained 4 pounds! I wasn't super discouraged by it because I know it's muscle gain and I'm still losing that icky FAT. BUTTTTT now I'm SO much more excited to see that you lost 17 pounds in 3 weeks after the first 6 weeks. I'm not expecting nearly that much, but it's nice to know that patience definitely is a virtue in this case. I'll be looking forward to the possibility of that nice little wooshie down the road. Woo hoo!

[floydgirl]

Your measuring tape is a much better gauge at how successful you are. Throw away the scale!!! Seriously! Did you take your measurements when you started this WOE? If not, I implore you to find one and take those measurements. Oh my, you will be so pleasantly surprised at the results -- I'm telling you! I haven't lost much weight recently, but I have dropped an entire clothing size! The scale doesn't always show how effective you've been.

You are doing a great job so far. Hang in there! Congratulations on your loss so far.

[Satyr]

thanks for the comments guys makes me want to get back to the gym!!! haha. Im pretty small everywhere (arms/legs/butt) but my belly is where i gained weight. I was (still am) pretty athletic. Play hockey/softball but the weight just kept coming on in my belly range...so i know its food problems (yum yum)

I know your all right, its muscle im turning into, just frusterating when i went from 200 all muscle to 250 in 1 year of careless eating

[Analog6]

The tape measure, Damon, get out the tape measure! From Jan 1st to 20th I only lost 1 kg but lost 14'. Measure, ignore the scale. Remember, muscle weighs much heavier than fat and all that gym work means your body is hard at work converting.

[ValidRouge]

Damon,

I just posted the other day how I had been exercising and drinking my water and eating below 20 carbs yet I've gained 4 lbs this week...I even went up in inches a couple places. Talk about discouraging...HOWEVER I didn't stop there (I was determined to see some progress) I went into my closet and pulled out a pair of jeans that just 2 weeks ago I had to lay down to button (no way I could sit in them)....NOT ONLY did they slide right on, but after I buttoned them I could bend over and touch my toes.

There are so many different ways to guage your success other than the scale.

Two posts that caught my attention this week were about:
1) how your body retains water in the muscles when you shock them by adding exercise (and eventually it will release it)
2) how I may not be eating enough calories in a day and my body is going into "starvation mode" where it will store my fat instead of using it for energy.
Soooooooooooo...I'm going to keep up the exercise and add some more calories and hope for a big ole whooshie!