Anyone else also have fluctuating body image?

Before I started losing weight I was always just dismayed to look in the mirror. Especially naked. Never wanted to, and every time I did I was just disappointed in myself.

These days it feels like flipping a coin. Sometimes I look in the mirror and think "damn, you sexy motherfucker - look at you now!" And other times, I see the same person that I did for all those years, flubber and imperfection everywhere.

Anyone that has gotten all the way to final goal and maintenance, do you have any advice on this front? I fully recognize that weight loss is primarially a mental battle. Any words of wisdom on gaining that confidence and positive self reflection of my body would be great.

Maybe it's worth noting that I am not done yet - I have another 8 pounds to my next goal, and another 2ish body fat % - things could get better on this front when I reach that point?

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I finally reached onederland!

M 24, 6'0, SW: 293, CW: 199, GW: Onederland I don't really know, just whatever weight that eliminates my moobs lol.

Hi All,

This post is not for me but to hopefully help at least one person out there. I started my weight loss journey on January this year after multiple failures the years prior. My ultimate wake up call was when I noticed my XL shirts were getting too big and I went to JCPenney to buy some shirts. Once I saw myself in the 3 sided mirror I was honestly ashamed of how much I let myself go and I left the store with nothing but a goal (well the second time actually, this happened twice late last year, the first time I failed and the second time was the real deal).

First rodeo

This isn't my first time losing weight though. The first time was in 2011, when I was in the 11th grade and I lost about 50 pounds (from 220-170 ish) in the span of like 2 months eating very little calories and exercising on the treadmill 6-7 times a week. I did the mistake of choosing such an unhealthy plan, and giving up exercise immediately thereafter and I was slowly going back to old habits and then once college started with the buffet style cafeteria I went overboard, and then once I left dorming to a local college in my city, I never recovered. This kept going until this year, and every year, I wanted to pick the perfect date and start new with a journal to record my food and failed.

Starting Slow and Sustainable This Year

This year though, I decided to again pick the perfect date, but go about it slowly. January was really my psychological training month where I only focused on my relationship with food and how it makes me feel. It basically amounted to realizing that yeah, that pack of Oreos made me feel good the first 5 minutes, but now I'm regretting the side effects the rest of the day, week, month, and lifetime and repeat it because sugar is addictive. It wasn't easy, but in the end of January, I decided to test myself and I bought the oreos just so that I can again ingrain in my head the 5 minute - Lifetime thing. Then Feb came and I slowly introduced biking in the park as a hobby, and bought an exercise bike for when the weather is bad. There were very few hiccups along the way, but I never went pass my bmr.

Basically...

To shorten what I did. Basically, I just ate less and exercised more like 3-4 times a week maybe more depending on weather, mood, and energy level, BUT I did it by making bike riding a fun hobby and it helps that I only tend to listen to music when doing that so it adds to the fun, and the foods I eat are what already really enjoy but cutting out the fast foods, soda, junk. On average, 1300-1500 calories (sometimes net) of a combination of cereal (200-250kcal) (raisin bran, honey nut cheerios, and others, as long as fiber is in it), a sandwich of 2 slices of bread (140 kcal), with ham (50kcal) , mayo (80kcal), and tomato, and maybe a home cooked meal when my family cooks which is typically rice beans chicken. "Cheat days" are rare but it's is just eating up to 2000 calories, and sometimes ordering a deli sandwich or Mexican sopes.

Like Frankie said I did it my way

I found a method that works specifically for me so I didn't use any tracking apps or kept a journal. I only really do rough estimates in my head based on the nutrition label. I honestly feel very good, like I don't feel stressed about how my new lifestyle is. This feels like something that is now a part of me and natural which I think is the biggest thing, sustainability and SLOWLY introducing your new lifestyle. There will be some hiccups, and sometimes family members bring things like peanut butter cups and I indulge in a few but it's very rare and again, my max limit is 2000 calories. At work, get used to saying no thank you like 10000 times a day when people offer you donuts, fast food and so on.

How bad you want it?

If there's one big tip that I can say, is that the time comes when it comes, and when you feel it, it's up to you to decide how bad you want it. (That came out right? I think you know what I'm trying to say).

Sometimes I bike when I'm tired, or when the weather is cold and windy, but all I have to ask myself is how bad I want it and a new fire lights up.

Good luck to all.

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Undecided: Continue weight loss eating at a deficit, or maintain and focus on recomp?

Some data first: 23F, 5'5", SW 205lbs, CW 185lbs, (rough and subject to change) GW 150lbs. Estimated ~30% body fat based on the variety of results I get from different algorithms that use body measurements. Current sedentary TDEE ~1900 calories, usually not eating back calories from exercise (about an hour each of weightlifting and cardio 4-6 days a week). Using CICO and tracking macros, trying to get ~100g protein every day (not always successful, but at least 20% of my everyday diet is protein).

I started tracking calories in late October this year, shooting for 1200 to 1400 each day. After I started working out heavily I bumped this to 1400 to 1600 and started focusing on protein intake. Weight loss has (understandably) slowed since I started weightlifting, but I'm still clearly losing fat and the number on the scale is still slowly decreasing. I'm visually leaner than I was a few months ago, but I still have a good deal of fat to lose. My jawline is still hiding, collarbones not yet visible, and I estimate I'm carrying around an extra 20-30 pounds of fat in my midsection and upper back / chest area.

Since I've been eating at a deficit for eight weeks now, I plan to eat at maintenance while traveling for a couple of weeks during the holidays to give my body a break. I'm currently trying to decide whether it would be more effective for me to go back to the deficit and my current exercise routine when I return home, or if I should maintain and focus on recomposition for a while. The weightlifting is making me stronger, but I'm not sure I'm building much muscle mass while eating at a deficit. On the other hand, I don't know (not having tried it before) if I will continue to lose fat if I eat at maintenance.

I'm still new to this and don't really have a coach or trainer I can consult for advice, so I thought I'd pose the question to you all and see what your thoughts were. Thanks in advance!

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Help! I want to change my life. Im ready. (Long post)

Im venting a little but ultimately, just want to get the best advice on where to begin. Almost 4 years ago, i had my beautiful baby girl. I have loved being a Momma and have just recently returned to work during the evenings. Before pregnancy, i was fit, had a healthy mind and had lots of friends. A lot has happened since. Let me bullet it all from where it began to where im at now.. - while pregnant, I ended up with bad mommy brain, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia. I went to term and delivered via c section. Ultimately i was given a clean bill of health when it was over. - I ended up with Postpartum depression and anxiety. So it made it hard to recover physically and mentally regardless of how hard i tried to bounce back. - I gained and gained and only maintained the baby weight during this time. - at 1 year, my spouse got a job that moved us to our dream city. We were starting over in a new place and As excited as i was, i still continued to struggle with my personal issues. - Then my spouse got sick and after almost 16 months of Dr visits and being a caregiver to my best friend and daughter, thousands in med debt, we finally found out it was autoimmune. So i stepped up more in the stay at home mom role but i still battled with my burden and lacked self care. - About a year and a half ago i got a good dr and i finally made it out of depression and am stable. I feel ready to make changes and build confidence. - 4 months ago, i returned to working part time in the evenings during the week..

So as of right now, im struggling to get my life to keep moving forward so i can succeed at the 3 most important things to me. Getting back to being fit (being a positive example to my daughter while doing so). Having a healthy schedule and healthy family nutrition. And making friendsfor myself and my daughter to start building support so i dont feel.. like all i am is just mom.

I got us a few months to the local YMCA so i can start working out and i dont feel guilty because my daughter can play in their kids zone while i work out. Part of me wishes she could be in preschool but we just dont qualify for assistance so it leaves us with the high costs and we cant take on that expense. So the ymca will have to do and besides that she is with me until i go to work after dinner.

I feel like i am a good cook. Although I admit i really need to be better at planning and prep to avoid last minute stress and to balance out our nutrition. My family has unique eating habits.. Im pescatarian, my spouse eats meat but also is a big snacker and loves sweets, and my daughter is vegetarian. (She eats eggs and drinks milk but just doesnt eat meat or fish).

I used to run track in college. Im very athletic but because of my weight at the moment it makes it hard to remember what any of the things i used to do for working out, feel like..

So as of today, i am 5’1 tall 185 lbs I can ride a stationary bike for 45 minutes aerobic intervals.

I am hoping for advice.. or relation. Maybe be part of a community where i feel like i can hold myself accountable. Most of all.. i really hope you guys can help me organize all of this. Because as long as my post is (sorry) i have a hard time sorting through and organizing all of this to be consistent and feel like i can maintain this new routine, weight loss, and commitment to being a better and healthier me. For myself and for my daughter.

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mixed feelings about my skin - probably will end up with some loose skin

hey everyone,

so I could use some support or advice. or anything. just would like to hear others' thoughts bc I'm not feeling emotionally well honestly.

my numbers are:

age: 25
sex: female
height: 165 cm / 5'5"
starting weight: 103 kg / 227 lbs
current weight: 83 kg / 183 lbs
lost weight so far: 20 kg / 44 lbs
goal weight: 70 kg / 154 lbs
weight left to lose: 13 kg / 29 lbs

BMR: 1837 according to a smart scale
diet: I eat 1500-1300 kcal a day
work out routine: every other day; 1 hour cardio on the treadmill and lifting as much weight as I can

so in the obvious places - such as my arms, my lower belly, and the part where my buttcheeks and thighs meet - I'm experiencing jiggly parts. Not straight up thin, papery skin like the skin on the back of my hand (I read that that's what true loose skin is like).

I know that moisturizing, drinking lots of water, eating healthy, losing weight slowly and filling yourself out with muscle helps the skin. but are there any other tips? I also heard about fasting after weight loss to make your body "use up" the loose skin but that's a controversial issue isn't it?

I'm also aware of visceral fat and subcutaneous fat.

so beside these tips is there anything I could do?

I feel like despite that I lose weight slowly, my weight loss even stalled for a year, I still will end up with loose skin. idk, it's hard to describe. but my fat is so jiggly on those areas I mentioned. also the fat on my upper arms, when I hold my arms straight, I have "bat wings" so the skin is not full, it's kind of not thick despite that there's still fat in them.

so I feel like the ratio of skin to fat, in the mentioned areas, are not equal. before I lost weight the fat definitely felt more firm. I know that when you loose visceral fat and got more subcutaneous fat left then the subcutaneous fat, so the fat under your skin, is more jiggly.

therefore I feel like I'm starting to have more skin compared to subcutaneous fat.

I know that skin removal surgery can sorta solve the issue. not that my skin will become smooth and tight from it, and it will still feel like loose skin it will be just tightened around my frame.

but how do I accept that I possibly ruined my skin? not ruined it like someone with a bigger weight loss would. but still. I still kinda ruined it right? I guess to this question the answer is therapy.

I know I'm asking questions then I'm answering them. sorry for that. but as I already said I'm not feeling well. so I would like to hear your thoughts.

thank you for reading.

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23 Y/O Male Is there something wrong about my understanding of calorie deficit?

Hello (TL;DR at the end)

I am 5'7" and started my calorie deficit on 1st November 2019 with a starting weight of 224 lbs (101.9 Kg), carrying most of my weight in my hips and thighs

My lifestyle is Sedentary, which gives me a TDEE of 2373 (source)

I went for a daily intake of 1300 calories, and as of today I weigh 203 lbs (92.3 Kg) which means 21 lbs (9.6 Kg) lost in 46 days. 1300 calories was just something I felt comfortable with, not following the number calculated by MFP.

From what I have read on this subreddit a lot, is that a 500 calorie deficit leads to a loss of 1 lbs per week which for me comes out to 2.146 lbs (0.975 Kg) per week (7 days) for my 1073 calorie deficit i.e. theoretically I should've lost 14 lbs (6.4 Kg) till now

I have been pretty much accurate with my food measurements, tracked using MFP and food scales.

My confusion: what could have possibly caused the additional weight loss of 7 lbs (3.2 Kg), something wrong with my understanding?

Its not like I'm unhappy about the additional weight loss, Just want to understand why it happened.

TL;DR 2372 Sedentary TDEE, 1072 Kcal deficit, should've lost 14 lbs, lost 21 lbs, why?

Thanks

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When did you start to feel your weightloss?

First post, so here is some background info. I am 5'1" 25f trying to lose weight the healthy way. I definitely have a muscular/athletic build under all this fat, and I've never been stick thin even at a very unhealthy 88lbs. My goal weight is 130lbs. My highest weight was somewhere around 210lbs, but off medication I immediately went back to my "normal" weight of around 195lbs and stayed there for the past 1.5 years.

Since I started tracking my calorie intake at the beginning of November I am down to 182lbs. Total weight loss since heaviest is around 30lbs, with 13 of those being in the last month or so. I should be happy but I'm not. I dont feel any different. I'm hoping to feel something when I hit my first goal of 175lbs since I havent been there for a long time. I'm trying not to be discouraged and give up because this is the first time in my life I'm actually making healthy progress.

At what point did you really feel your weight loss?

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