Lost 16lbs and very upset about it!

[BigJoe]

So I've been taking Phen for 3 weeks and disappointed when I went for my weigh in today. I only lost 16lbs!

Let me explain. I was 451lbs when I started taking Phen (originally 455). I'm currently 435, so I really lost 20lbs altogether I know most of you are amazed that I'm disappointed. But for me, I've been working so hard to cut out sugars, and limit portions that I've felt that I should've been 425lbs by now.

For me, I've been over the 400 mark since 2003. And am dying so much to be under it that I'm just frustrated. I have nobody to blame but myself, because I didn't work out as much as I liked.

I also have a lot of stress, saving up for my mom's wedding, and then trying to make sure I lose enough weight for six flags. Everybody at work noticed how fast I'm slimming down, even I noticed it. But I just feel someone as big as me, should've lost more.

I'm still going to keep taking Phen, and got a mini stepper so I can work out at home more. I'm hoping to post some pictures of my progress soon as I feel slimmer. And I know it's how your clothes feel more than the numbers on the scale. Forgive my rant.

[chibabee1]

Don't be discouraged...it will take some time but you will get there. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself on a weight loss timeline. There will be weeks where you do phenomonal and then you might hit a plateau, the important thing is PROGRESS in any form and to think that if you didn't start 3 weeks ago where you'd be today...maybe 2-3 lbs heavier, be easy on yourself and know that it didn't come on a month so it will take some time and so what if you can't make six flags this year, if you keep doing things right and living a healthy lifestyle you are improving your health and extending your life...six flags will be there whenever you are ready for it, now smile and enjoy your weekend

[RAELYNSMOMMY]

At least ya had the guts to rant about it I didnt wanna sound like a big titty baby but since you started it I sure will jump in and back you 100% I want MORE RESULTS I completely understand I didnt gain this weight in a month and I wont lose it in a month but I have drastically changed my eating habits and drinking habits to a very unsatisfactory way and it almost makes it seems very unworth it when I have been at the exact same weight now for 2 freakin weeks!!! I cant lose the fat on my arms thighs or especially my gut covered in stretch marks thanks to pregnancy! May 1 my horse shows start and i just really wanted to WOW everyone with my return to show season with my weight loss because I ended the year last year looking horrible riding and showing my horses I did good to find outfits that would fit. I am doing this for me...I want my confidence back. I dont want to keep being asked "when I am due??????" gahhhh that breaks my heart and poor total strangers dont know I just really want to ATLEAST BE UNDER 150 my goal is 135 but if thats askin to much then atleast under 150 BY MAY is this impossible tho...I mean am I being unrealistic??? What do I need to do?/

[katy625]

Have you ever considered a "flush"?
A lot of people advocate starting a new regimen out with a flush. U can really do them once a month or any time you hit a plateau. In 2008 when i started phen i did this in the beginning and once a month there after and it works.
It will rid u of those last 4lbs(probably more)...it will b water weight that of course will increase and decrease naturally during the month but it really does help a lot while on phen.
The best thing to use is Magnesium Citrate. u can get it at walmart, or any drig store or grocery store. They have cherry, lemon and grape flavors. Believe me whe i say the cherry is the best but the all taste horrible so you will want to hold your breathe when you drink it. U will also want to do it when u are home because this will clean you out and you will be spending some time in the bathroom
Drink a lot of water after drinking the Mag Citrate to help the flush and so you dont get dehydrated.
When i was in here back in 2008 we used to joke about creating a Magnesium Citrate bar!
It works.

[sosassafrass]

Just curious....what was your 3 week goal for weight loss?

I understand how you feel about doing everything and I mean everything right and you don't think the scale reflects your efforts. We are all there...however, i'm wondering (and i'm not attacking you...I'm guilty of it also...we are a society that thrives on instant gratification and I wonder does that impact our attitudes towards working towards a goal).

Its fine to rant...hell, its ok to be pissed off because we all have felt that way at one point or another and we'll feel that way at another point during the process. You can come here and let all of that stuff out...but once you let all of it out, we continue to push towards our goals. Only thing is make sure not to neglect your diet and/or overtrain because that will set you backwards longer than it will push you forward (I speak from experience).

Anyway...I was told that losing weight too fast (even though you are larger) has significant health risks associated with it including gallstones, malnutrition, dehydration among other things. Plus, your body can only metabolize a certain amount of fat per day and anything greater than that...you run the risk of your body consuming lean muscle mass.

My physician informed me that a loss of 1% of your current body weight per week would reduce the risk of you doing damage to your body. So in your case...4.5 lbs per week over 3 weeks...and you probably lost some water weight because of the reduction of sodium in your diet and the increase in water flushed your system out. 16 lbs in 3 weeks is most excellent...even if you don't think so. Congrats on your efforts and keep up the good work.

I will commend you on your attitude regarding getting the mini-stepper, keeping with the Phen and not giving up. I think you'll do just fine.

remember...abs are created in the kitchen not the gym

[herrweightloss]

Have you ever considered a "flush"?
A lot of people advocate starting a new regimen out with a flush. U can really do them once a month or any time you hit a plateau. In 2008 when i started phen i did this in the beginning and once a month there after and it works.
It will rid u of those last 4lbs(probably more)...it will b water weight that of course will increase and decrease naturally during the month but it really does help a lot while on phen.
The best thing to use is Magnesium Citrate. u can get it at walmart, or any drig store or grocery store. They have cherry, lemon and grape flavors. Believe me whe i say the cherry is the best but the all taste horrible so you will want to hold your breathe when you drink it. U will also want to do it when u are home because this will clean you out and you will be spending some time in the bathroom
Drink a lot of water after drinking the Mag Citrate to help the flush and so you dont get dehydrated.
When i was in here back in 2008 we used to joke about creating a Magnesium Citrate bar!
It works.

katy625 - did you just do this flush for one day then? Where you homebound for just the day or is it better to stay close to home for the weekend?

I have heard about doing flushes, but never tried anything like this myself.

Thanks!

[Kelliee]

Hi Joe:

Don't feel bad about feeling disappointed...I think we all started this with the hopes of being a certain size/weight by a certain date. I understand that at your weight, you would expect to have had the pounds melt off more than 4lbs/week but be comforted in knowing that you probably lost fat only and not muscle and that is where you want to be...

I would ask if you are eating enough to lose weight? I am just finding out myself that if we don't eat enough...we actually can slow down the process of losing weight. I couldn't figure out why I plateaued while consuming 1000-1200 calories a day and working out 5 days a week cardio and 3 days weight resistance. It made absolutely no sense.....so...... Once I did the research and read the articles explaining what was happening to my body, it all came together for me.

We have to feed our bodies the correct balance of calories in order to expect it to perform what we are asking it to do. Most studies show that a 500 calorie deficit below our maintaince caloric intake will support a weight loss of 1 pound per week. But who wants to lose 1 pound a week???? Not me.....that's for sure...

So...I think you can adjust this to achieve the results you want but I think you have to give up the idea of extreme weight loss without damage to your body. If you do an 800-900 calorie deficit and weight lift to build muscle, as a male, you should be able to sustain a 4-5 pound weight loss a week. If you plateau....or your weight loss slows more...you have to re-evaluate whether you have build enough muscle where your body burns more as a result of it and as strange as it may sound, increase your calories to sustain the new metabolic needs of your body.

I have am taking this approach now to my weight loss and throwing the 3-4 pounds a week out the window. The people who lose 7-10 pounds a week may do so at the beginning but they all begin to slow down and then they are frustrated because they cannot figure out what they are doing wrong. They spend 2-3 weeks with no weight loss and to me.....that is precious time lost. I would rather lose 1-2 pounds a week consistently and not have a period of time where I have not weight loss because my body refuses to let go of anymore weight as it adjusts to my low caloric intake.

I have posted a few websites on other threads that can help you calculate the amount of calories you should be eating to maintain, lose slowly and lose rapidly...They are just estimates and everybody's body is different so the number is just a starting point... and it all depends on metabolism etc.

I hope this was helpful and I hope you continue to be proud of yourself...you are doing awesome and you will get to your goals....happy losing Joe!

[katy625]

katy625 - did you just do this flush for one day then? Where you homebound for just the day or is it better to stay close to home for the weekend?

I have heard about doing flushes, but never tried anything like this myself.

Thanks!

It may last into a second day depending on when you drink it. You drink the whole bottle then a bunch of water and within a few hours you will feel your tummy making noises (thats the citrate and water breaking down the waste). Soon after it comes out like water for the rest of the day. sorry tmi.

The BIG reason why i like mag citrate is because it does NOT make your tummy hurt and you dont have to run to the bathroom like your gonna blow up....but when you do go....its like water. Very very effective.
Also phen makes you very very constipated on its own so is good to break up that waste every now and then.

Also on a completely separate note i just wanted to say....that the more weight you have to lose the faster the weight will come off. A 200lb person is going to lose more weight faster than someone at 150lbs. So the thought that reducing your calories will slow down your metabolism is out the window while on phen. The whole reason why we are on phen is to allow us to reduce our intake and calories while the phen revs our metabolism UP....thats what phen was made for.

But like you Joe, I am not eating sugars....well, the only carbs i get are from my bannana at breakfast and the veggies that i eat through out the day.
Are you doing a low carb diet Joe?
Its what helped melt the weight off of me in 2008. Now after giving birth to my son 3 weeks ago, i have started phen yesterday and i have began my low carb lifestyle )i couldnt do low carb while pregnant) that helped me out so much the time before.
Oh and btw (tip)....jack in the box has the grilled chicken strips....so that helps to get the fast food fix while keeping away from the carbs...they r great!
AND
Sugar free cinnamon gum is great because if you chew that type of gum then try to eat something sweet...the cinnamon does something to your taste buds and makes anything sweet, taste bitter. Try it...its weird but it will help u stay away from sweets by making it bitter. It works!

[Jessica82]

Katy625- How often do you do the flush? I too am frustrated with not losing weight quick enough. There's days where i feel like i'm gonna be chunky forever. WHy cant i be one of those people that can eat whatever they want and not gain a pound (like my husband) grrrr....

[katy625]

Katy625- How often do you do the flush? I too am frustrated with not losing weight quick enough. There's days where i feel like i'm gonna be chunky forever. WHy cant i be one of those people that can eat whatever they want and not gain a pound (like my husband) grrrr....

Do it once a month. Once you try it and see how you like it you will have a better idea on how often you want to do it. i think once a month is suficient. some people dont like flushes. I personally love it. It makes me feel clean. I especially love it when you are beginning phen cause you can get all of the yucky stuff you have been eating before making your dietary changes. But, its also great to use when you hit a plateau.
Just remember....some people actually get addicted to this stuff. Its a highly effective laxative so too much of a good thing can be bad for you. So once a month is perfect.

[BigJoe]

Hey thx for all your responses and understanding. I know that if one week doesn't go the way as planned, then I'm doing something wrong. I'll keep ya'll updated, thanks for all the opinions!

Now off to work, it's damn cold here in Chicago...

[caroline in florida]

Big Joe dont be discouraged! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! May I say you sure are a real cutie in your pic