Anyone who has lost two or more stone ...

[Mintyy]

Please tell me how you did it?

And is it still off?

Thank you.

[Ragwort]

I have lost weight (3 stone) successfully in the past by going to slimming clubs, both WW and Rosemary Conely. I like being part of a group and treating the weight loss as a specific project. However I have never maintained the weight loss - my problem is I love food/am greedy/love cooking and going out to eat etc etc .

Sorry, not much help - the actual losing weight isn't really the hard bit, it's maintaining all those good habits for life .

About to start Slimming World next .

[TyrionTheImp]

Have lost 3.5 stones this year. Been maintaining for about 4 months.

I lost it by eating less and moving more. I haven't dieted at all because I think it's only ever a miserable and short term measure. You become obsessed with what you can't have and if you ever go back to your norms, you just put it back on. You just need new norms. Ones which support a healthy weight.

So I eat healthily, drink enough that I know I'm not dehydrated (thirst and hunger feel the same at first), chew slowly, eat only when hungry and stop when full. I have a treat if I feel like it.

I exercise. As well as going for a run a couple of times a week, I go to zumba. I also walk everywhere. Walk dd a couple of miles to school and home each day. DS is carried in the sling which also helps. We go on bike rides regularly. I always take the stairs, walk quickly and get out of breath, run up the stairs if I'm doing housework, dance around to the radio and on and on.

And I've stopped watching television completely. This means I sit down much less and snack less. I get up and go out, go to the library, go for a walk, garden, paint etc. I'm just active and eat healthily. And it works.

[Jins]

I lost nearly three stone on Atkins in 2003. It's still off now bar 5lbs. Blood pressure and cholesterol still lower than they were on a calorie controlled low fat diet too

[Ambrosius]

I've lost 3 stone through SW then my fitness pal. I've kept 2 off the other stone is a bit less consistently off. Doing SW again to try and keep it off.

[TyrionTheImp]

It's worth pointing out that I've never had longterm weight issues. I have always been slim and active. Weight gain was down to two babies (gained A LOT of weight both times), emcsx2 and health issues afterwards which reduced mobility and increased comfort eating for a time.

I know it's much, much harder if you have longterm issues with weight or reasons behind weight gain that don't just disappear.

My Dad struggled and struggled to lose weight and this year has finally reached and maintained a healthy weight. He lost the weight by doing what was probably a Dukan type diet (it was a diet designed by his nurse, he has health issues) and has maintained by having counselling to address his psychological issues and by taking up walking/cycling/swimming.

[Ragwort]

Tyrion speaks a lot of sense; try to avoid being on a 'diet' but eat healthily and learn what being 'hungry' feels like (confession - I don't really know as I obviously eat and drink far too much ). Exercise is really important, find something that you really like doing - walking/swimming/zumba - whatever.

Easy to say all the right things though doing them takes a lot of discipline, good luck.

[Ambrosius]

Oh and lots of excersize as part of my daily life is what has helped me to maintain.

[YingTongIddleIPo]

The stress diet. Not recommended !

[Trickle]

I lost just over 2 stone, I've put most of it back on now but should be loosing at least half a stone sometime in the next week when I give birth . I've managed not to put too much weight on though I think about 28ibs and I don't think thats bad when they say between 25 and 35.

I went Primal/Paleo which is a low carb diet essentially, you cut out grains, processed food, sugars, and legumes. You pretty much eat as much veg as you like with a few exceptions like potatoes and sweetcorn. Dairy is restricted and usually femented for predigestion if it is eaten. My IBS cleared up, I had less pain from a chronic joint condition and if I 'cheated' I just didn't loose weight that week so I either maintained or lost I didn't put on an ounce the entire time I was doing it.

If you are interested try Mark's Daily Apple blog, I'll be doing it more strictly when I'm not pregnant and craving m n m's but because I'm planning on breastfeeding I'll just make sure I'm getting plenty of good carb like sweet potaote and plantain and fats.

I swim at least twice a week, go to aqua and do pilates too, but then I need to do excercise as I use a powerchair - I'm sure if you did ye olde take the stairs instead of the lift and walk to the next bus stop you'd see some good results too.

[Trickle]

Oh yes and I mostly only drink water - gets rid of hidden calories or sweetners that just mess up your metabolism.

I've found that Paleo seems to help flick that 'full' switch - I swear it's the lack of sugar and grains, if I eat either I loose control of my appetite. There is quite a lot of evidence starting to show that fat is good for keeping your apetite under control and that sugar and sweetners are playing more of a part in the obesity problem we have. Makes sense as before we switched to a grain based, high sugar/sweetner, low fat diet we had less problems as a culture with weight gain (I wouldn't like to swear by the evidence for saturated fat as I'm not sure enough research has been done into that).

[QOD]

I've lost 8stone but I had a gastric bypass

[Foshizzle]

Lost 4 stone last year to get back to (near) pre-DC weight and it has stayed off. I ate no carbs after 2pm. Had weekends off. According to the theory / science this shouldn't work as my body doesn't got into ketosis but it did work, and fast. I couldn't face an entirely carb-free existence. Before DC I used to do two hours of exercise on Saturday mornings and I think I had good muscle memory as I noticed a big change once I started exercising again. Didn't do much - Erin O'Brien DVD to strengthen my core for the first couple of months and then my own routines with a step for 45 minutes (30 minutes of proper sweating). Also walking uphill pushing a double buggy, which has made my legs even better than they were pre DC.

If I feel as though I've had a bad week I just have a couple of carb-free afternoons and it seems to even me out again.

Everyone's theory about losing weight while breastfeeding did not work for me. I put it on with DC1 and assumed it would be the same with DC2 so didn't expect it to happen. Stayed fat after DC1 which is what made me more determined to become myself again after DC2!

[munkysea]

I've lost 43 pounds over the last 5 years. I lost weight in steps where I'd lose 7-10lb, then maintain or gain a bit, then lose another 7-10lb and so on. I have often put on quite a bit when I've stopped being careful, but never got heavier than I originally weighed when I first decided to lose weight.

I first used WW, then calorie counting using Livestrong.com, and am now low-carbing but I hope to wean myself off and get back to eating more carbs when I've gotten down to my goal weight of 10 stone because I'm a vegetarian, and think it is the hardest diet to make work when you eat out or visit friends. In addition to this, I do go to the gym 5-6 times a week and find on a low-carb diet I have less energy than when I was on a high-carb/low-fat diet. However, I am much, much less hungry than when I was on a high-carb/low-fat diet, which is why I hope to wean myself off when I am maintaining, and find my skin has improved due to cutting out sugar.

[Mintyy]

Thank you and bump. All very interesting.

[fatlazymummy]

I have lost 60 pounds and have maintained for about 6 months now. I did it by reducing portion sizes, eating mainly 'clean', reduced snacking and did [and still do] lots of exercise. I didn't follow a specific diet, I just improved my existing one.

[TellMeLater]

Dh lost 2 stone and I lost 1.5 stone - we used different methods - calorie counting, lower carb then low carb to maintain. Now doing 5:2. My weight is 1-2kg over my lowest, dh is currently under his target. We have maintained for 4 months now even though we still eat out a lot and drink vats of wine. We both run, me more than dh. More than anything else I think it has helped enormously having a supportive partner who has similar goals, we keep each other on the straight and narrow.

[StealthPolarBear]

I have lost 4 and a half stone since last summer, still trying to lose another 2. I am resigned to the fact that I will be calorie counting for a long time even if it's just to maintain, as I hvae no willpower and binge eat.

[Mintyy]

All very impressive, everyone.

fatlazymummy - isn't it time for a namechange?

[workshy]

I have lost 3 stone in the last 2 years

no diets, no calorie counting, just 1 less

1 less roast potato, 1 less spoon of pasta etc
I don't follow this theory with veg btw

I have also learned to stop eating when I was full -I was conditioned to clear my plate from a young age so with large portions and always clearing my plate, I piled weight on

I now find that I naturally eat much less and am satisfied with what I have eaten

[justtryingtodomybest]

About 3 years ago I joined Weight Watchers and lost 4 stone using their core plan.
I didn't do any exercise to start with (would have been to embarrassed to go to a gym) but did start going once I'd lost the weight and that really helped with toning and changing my shape.
I must admit that I've put about 3 stone back on but there are reasons for that - mainly lots of chocolate!
I have re-joined WW although I'm not keen on ProPoints so I'm recreating the core plan from what I can remember.

[cinnamongreyhound]

I lost 5st 6 in 8 months, I started in November last year and have been maintaining to within 3lbs (mostly due to monthly hormonal changes) since the middle of July. I had several things that made me thing more seriously about my weight and I decided I had to do something. I lost 3st at 16 with my mum at sw and when I moved out at 18 I gained 9st in a year, I kept that until I was 24 when I lost 5st to take me down to 13st. Been between 13 and 16st since, with all weightloss when I was pregnant and bf (was less at full term than before I got pregnant with both babies). Just to give you an idea of my history.

For me the mental side is most important, I love food but have actually found since being more careful about what I eat I enjoy it more. I had to make a conscious decision that my weight/lifestyle change was more important than the food. My family on my mums side are all big and although I don't believe that being overweight is genetic I do think that some people are more predisposed to gain weight and that food means such different things to different people, a lot based on your upbringing. I saw my aunt lose 3st at 65 as her knees are very weak and watched my family at a party all struggle to move around which will only get worse with age. My main vice was chocolate, cake and biscuits all of which I ate in excess and was starting to worry about type 2 diabebtes, plus I have two boys who I want to be able to run around after and my embarrass at school when they get to that stage!

I started cutting down portions and cutting out all evening snacking, I bought a packet of the kids dairy milk bars and galaxy hot chocolate for my cravings. I joined mfp in late January after seeing it recommended on my c25k thread here. It makes calorie counting very easy and retrains the mind on what is high calorie, as some things are really surprising! I started the c25k in January after seeing it here again and now run three times a week and love it!! I DO NOT eat low fat/diet foods I don't enjoy them and only eat what I enjoy. I don't waste calories on food I don't like or want to eat. I eat small portions, only eat when I'm hungry, drink plenty and eat mindfully. Hopefully that all makes sense!

[Creamtea1]

I've lost 3 stone since January. Maintaining now, lost it thru low carb. Problem now is I live in constant paranoia that any little 'treat' or sometimes just from a big meal, that I have will cause me to wake up tomorrow and have that 3 stone back on. So therefore I cannot stress the importance of weighing yourself. Every day is needed for me so I know where I am. You also have to get in tune with yourself and know how much (quantities as well as types of food) you can eat without gaining weight.

[MrsTomHardy]

This thread is so inspiring.

I have just joined WW...i have my first weigh in on thursday!

I have a lot to lose - 5/6 stone
But ive got to do it....for myself and for my kids.

Its great reading all your tips....my main problem is portion control and snacking whilst im cooking!!!

Since thurs ive been really good but im finding im sooooo hungry by the time my evening meal is ready that i eat it in about 10 seconds then get bad indegestion....