100 pounds down, not as excited as I expected to be

[Nick]

I started Atkins February 28, weighed in today and found out I lost my first hundred pounds. I really notice in my clothes and can tell in pictures and when looking in the mirror. A lot of other people notice too, it's always nice when somebody mentions it. It was great the other day when I saw an old friend and she thought it was funny that her arms went all the way around me when she gave me a hug. I feel great. But even with all this going for me, every time I look in the mirror or see a recent picture of myself I'm completely bummed out. I still hate how I look most of the time, I hoped I would feel a little better about myself by this point. It's just frustrating that I've lost so much and still have another 140 pounds to go. I'm sure I'm just being a baby and I shouldn't think about it so much, I just kinda need to vent a little. I'll keep going though, I don't have much of a choice. If anybody has had any similar feelings that they'd like to share it would be nice to know that I'm not completely alone.

[Sarina D]

Originally Posted by Nick

I started Atkins February 28, weighed in today and found out I lost my first hundred pounds. I really notice in my clothes and can tell in pictures and when looking in the mirror. A lot of other people notice too, it's always nice when somebody mentions it. It was great the other day when I saw an old friend and she thought it was funny that her arms went all the way around me when she gave me a hug. I feel great. But even with all this going for me, every time I look in the mirror or see a recent picture of myself I'm completely bummed out. I still hate how I look most of the time, I hoped I would feel a little better about myself by this point. It's just frustrating that I've lost so much and still have another 140 pounds to go. I'm sure I'm just being a baby and I shouldn't think about it so much, I just kinda need to vent a little. I'll keep going though, I don't have much of a choice. If anybody has had any similar feelings that they'd like to share it would be nice to know that I'm not completely alone.

Nick,

WOW, congratulations on such a fabulous accomplishment!!!! I know we don't know one another but I have to tell you...I am extremely proud of you What you have accomplished is amazing and you really need to pat yourself on the back, wonderful and amazing work!!!!

With regards to looking in the mirror and feeling completely bummed out....I can say "PICK ME!!!" I was right there along side of you feeling the same way. Up until a couple of months ago when I looked at myself in the mirror, I still saw that 403 lb woman starring back at me. I don't know why that was but I have spoken with so many people that have lost weight and have experienced the same thing. I can say that is now changing for me FINALLY. Having said that, when I look in the mirror I have a tendency to beat myself up because I look at what I feel still needs to be shed and that gets me down instead of realizing what isn't there anymore....something I try to do differently each time I look in the mirror. I found a pair of pants that I wore just last May. I was absolutely stunned when I found them. I can actually fit my entire body in one leg! It is physical things like these (clothing that we use to wear) that helps us realize exactly what one has accomplished. Find something you wore a year ago or six months ago and try it on....that will help you see all that you have REALLY accomplished.

I was having a lot of difficulties this past month regarding where I am and where I want to be and last week I found myself in tears because I just want the losing part to already be over...I want to be at goal where I am focusing on maintaining and tightening up and building more muscle....when one has come from having to lose a lot of weight, sometimes the end seems so far away and one becomes tired of the weight loss journey....for me anyway that has been the case...I hope the way I've explained it makes sense. I was able to snap myself out of that overwhelming feeling of frustration and fatigue by realizing that almost 1 yr ago when I began Atkins (July 19-08 ), I would never have dreamed that I would be 186 lbs. I really meditated on that and I realized how blessed I have been in losing this amount of weight in the time it has taken. I have worked incredibly hard for this success...it's been no cake walk as they say. I have earned every pound lost as I know you have too.

Nick you're not being a baby, I can completely relate....you're not alone in these feeling you're going through. Take a break and give yourself a huge pat on the back. I think you're so focused on losing the weight that you may have made the mistake I made.....I didn't let the accomplishment that I achieved sink in....I didn't stop to smell the roses so to speak. I had blinders on and just kept going hard and was focused on losing the next pound of weight and becoming fit and stronger. If we don't stop (and I don't mean stop eating this way...I mean stop and think and acknowledge all that we have accomplished) we end up feeling tired, disappointed, frustrated and discouraged. I think you're going through the same thing I did my friend.

I know what it's like to have another 140lbs left to lose...I been there and I have done it. I can say, you are and will be able to do it as well. For me, I had to keep reminding myself about the small goals each day....and to take my journey of becoming healthy and fit sometimes moment to moment and day to day. When I stop focusing on the small steps that I need to achieve and start getting wrapped up in the big picture (the grand total of what I have to lose) I start really getting overwhelmed and discouraged. Break your goal up into small steps like what I did....make daily goals...for me my daily goal was making sure I ate everything I was suppose to, drinking lots of water and making sure I fit some form of exercise in throughout the day. At the end of the day, I could look back and feel accomplished and proud of what I did. Some days I felt discouraged and disappointed even if I accomplished a successful day and when that happened I just reminded myself that I was doing it...I was overcoming my obesity and each hour, each day, each week each month I was getting closer and closer to where I dreamed I would once be.

This month I can say, I am finally seeing my goal ahead in the distance only because I am allowing myself to realize and to celebrate what I have accomplished....it is now visible to me and I know I will get there....I know you will get to your goal as well. I have as of today lost a total of 217 lbs....it can be done and you and I will make our goals I promise you that....as long as neither one of us ends up letting the pressures of the end result/goal make us fatigued and discouraged and end up giving up. I have no plans on giving up and I can see you don't either

Keep coming to this forum and keep expressing yourself....whether you express joy and happiness that you may be experiencing that day or discouragement and frustration. This board is an amazing place and a very valuable tool in one's success. Come here lots, read as much as you can and post as often as you like. The people on this board are truly amazing...I will never be able to find the words to describe the incredible individuals on this board. Someone is always here to listen and to show true care and concern.

Congratulations on all that you have accomplished...you are truly and inspiration to myself and many others here.

Keep up the great work, feel free to pm me or post on my thread and if there is anything I can do to help...don't hesitate to ask. We're all getting closer to our goals together.

All the best to you
Sarina
-------------------
Heaviest weight - 403 lbs. (2007)
April 1, 2008 - 387 lbs. (This is when I initially started to lose weight…but was not on Atkins at this point)
Atkins start weight – 347 lbs. (July 19, 2008 – began Atkins)
1st major goal met -----100 lbs. lost as of Oct 2, 2008 - Hit 300 lbs. on this day – From April 1-08 when I initially begin to lose weight.
2nd major goal met - 151 lbs. lost as of Jan 13, 2009 - Hit 249 lbs. on this day.
3rd major goal met - Wed, May 13-09 - Reached losing 200 lbs. in just over a year and a couple of months.
4th major goal met – Reached “Onederland” June 6-09 – 198 lbs.
Current weight – 186 lbs.
Goal weight - 150 – 160

[focus83]

Well done to both of you for an amazing weightloss result You should enjoy how amazing it feels to get to where you are from where you were. I know how you both must feel, i think that was where i was going wrong last time i was eating low carb i didnt think of how much i had lost but kept concentrate on how many more lbs i had to get rid of to reach my goal weight and that can be so draining. I went from 353 to 200 and then i couldnt focus anymore, when you have spent all this time concentrate on one thing, getting as far as you can and then feeling like you are still so far away it starts to become a struggle and thats when i snapped and went back to my old way of eating and ended up putting back on 69lbs of what i had lost! Complete failure as the more i put weight back on the more harder it was to get back on track and continue on my journey. And then something inside just didnt want to give up i wanted to work at it and came back to what i knew was best for me, low carb eating So far this time around ive lost only 20.5lbs but im happy i got that off, im just going to look at it lb by lb instead of all 136lbs i have to lose in total. Im gonna enjoy how i feel today compared to how i felt 2 months ago when i started which was a big blob. Now im a slighter less big blob and i know if i dont concentrate so hard on the end result but what is going on today then i be alot happier and less stressed and frustrated. Good luck to you both! and rant away we all need a good moan sometimes. x

[Elizellen]

Congratulations to all of you for how far you have come along your Atkins journies

I too often look in the mirror and see a fat person (especially without clothes on ) and get a bit depressed when I see all the fat rolls still there in spite of all my hard work. But when I am wearing clothes I do see the smaller person, so know if I keep on keeping on it can only get better.

I think all us heavyweights have those times when we can't get rid of those 'fat goggles' that won't let us see the improvement we have made to our figures.

[fat4now]

Hi Nick and congrats. You have done fantastic so far. I have lost 65 lbs. so far and need to lose another 65 or so. It is a long journey and can get frustrating for all of us. Glad to hear your going on, me too! Pick up two 50lb. bags of dog food and carry them around for 15 minutes. You are doing great! keep it up!

[goin2befit]

I know the feeling.. I was 417 to start and now I'm 358... your a little smaller then me and yes it is great to have lost so much, but I totally understand the feeling of yeah.. I'm no where near there yet and yes I still look FAT!!! Truth is we are still really overweight. And yes, our clothes fits better, but we are still shopping in a "plus size" section. It is nice to be smaller meaning the seat belt is not chocking me any longer!!! Always a plus! To be honest, the weight I lost so far just kinda shows... it is like going from extra plus size to just plus size!!! Get my point?

However, I think the next 100 pounds is when we will start to feel excited and that feeling of really getting some where. That is when we will be able to shop in normal size stores, really enjoy going out and not worrying about fitting (I still worry about that), we can ride a bike and all of our bottom fit on the seat.. I mean just so many different things will take place. Plus the load of weight will really feel relieved b/c you will be at a normal healthy weight then.

I know you'll keep going and of course you will not regret it at the end... Also, just know how lucky you are to have lost the 100 pounds in such a quick time... it is taking me forever!!!

Best of Luck on your Journey.

[FwL]

I know exactly how you feel. I even started a thread a while back on this same topic.

It's frustrating and discouraging.

I feel positively skinny at 263 compared to how I felt at 304. But I'm constantly reminded by the world around me that I'm still FAT.

There's nothing for it, though. The only choice you have is to keep going forward. Anything else is self-sabotage. The only way you'll ever get to look in the mirror and be excited by what you see is to get the weight off.

[chinadoll]

Hi Nick and congratulations on your first century gone! I know you don't look like you expected to yet, but I do have a bright spot for you. The more weight you lose, the more a smaller loss shows up in your physique. When I started it took 25 pounds to change a pant size, then 20. Now 15 will do it. So keep at it the changes in size will happen with fewer pounds and the next fifty will make a big difference as will adding more and different exercises to your routine. In fact, weight lifting changed my body more than my first 50 pounds did. Also, take a look at a photo showing where you started and you may realize you are looking better than you think!

[sham]

Hi Nick firstly I must say well done on your 100lb loss thats a fantastic achievement.It took me a year to lose 100lbs I have come from 283 to 175 in a year and a week so I must say you had fast weight loss and you should be proud of such an achievement.Just carry on going it will take time you have proven you can do it as your so determined one step at a time eventually the lbs will drop and you will get to your goal but remember it takes time and patience.Stay positive because if you dont think positively it can lead to you going off the plan celebrate all your mini goals that will keep you happy and encorouged.Good luck and keep losing!

[imagood1]

Amazing Nick -- congratulations to you.