In need of motivation

[DarkDarkNight]

I know I need to lose weight. I feel fat, frumpy and generally like I've given up on life. I feel scruffy all the time as I have no clothes to wear, I am embarrassed if my son runs off and I have to run after him as I feel so uncomfortable.

I cannot seem to get my act together. I am a single mum and so lonely and bored at night I comfort eat. I have so many reasons to diet - I want to be full of life and energy for my son, not sluggish and achy like I do now. I want to get back to feeling comfortable, knowing my clothes fit, caring about fashion. Most of all I want to stop holding my son back. I want to be able to take him swimming, go on holiday, all the things I will not do while I am the weight I am.

So if you were overweight and lost it, please pop on this thread and tell me how good it feels!

[CoperCabana]

I am not at the end of my journey, far from it. But I can heartily recommend a Fitbit. I have lost over a stone since New Year's. But more importantly, I am getting fitter every day, and for the first time ever in my life (and I am in my forties) I am really, really enjoying exercise. I am not doing anything dramatic. Walking, tiny weeny bit of jogging, Wii fit. But I have so much energy. Today I did more than normal on my treadmill at a faster than ever pace, but just wanted to keep going. So I did step, yoga and free jogging on the Wii. I have done about 10 loads of laundry, loads of clothes sorting, loads of jobs I have had at the back of my head. I have had a laugh with the kids, am cooking a nice meal now. The thing is, I feel like this is my life now, being fit is what I do (although I am not fit yet!) and I cannot imagine going back. Logging my food on the Fitbit app was an eye opener. I was kidding myself that hormones were the cause of my weight gain.

[CoperCabana]

If you can run - albeit uncomfortably - then you are way ahead of me! Would you consider couch to 5k? Can you find time to run / go to the gym / exercise? I am lucky as I have a treadmill in the house and 2 kids that will play together happily for hours on end, with only minor blips!

[TwoTonTessie]

I've recently lost 3.5 stone in under 6 months. I feel much fitter (knees don't ache any more), look younger and have dropped 3-4 dress sizes. It's
great to be able to go into clothes shops,pick something off the rail and know that it's going to fit.
Does that help?

[CoperCabana]

Wow Tessie! Good to hear about the knees - I have got a really dodgy knee which I am hoping shifting some weight will help!

[CoperCabana]

And well done, I meant to say! Did you do anything in particular?

[DarkDarkNight]

I can't run - I get shin splints. When I went to the gym years ago I used to alternate running then walking or walking at a steep incline which got my heartrate as high on the monitor anyway. I can't go to classes now, I should be exercising once my son is in bed but just feel like collapsing. Impressed with your house work CoperCabana!

I've given up on exercise, I think I need something low impact at first. I was doing 30 day shred a d bits of Davina consistently and lost some weight and toned up but my joints were really achy - definitely the weight, my knees would creak carrying my child upstairs.

I think it's the eating, I just need to start thinking there is more to life than eating as much as I can at night.

[TwoTonTessie]

Thanks Coper. I joined Sliming World one day after just deciding that I didn't want to be fat and frumpy any more. I never used to exercise but now walk a lot and have started couch25k

[DarkDarkNight]

Yes TwoTonTessie it does! At my heaviest my knees were aching and I know it was the extra weight. I want to get excited about clothes again, I look horrendous, like I am not at all interested in fashion when I actually love it. I throw all my money into my son's wardrobe, so he looks great even if I don't.

More than anything I want to be able to take my son swimming. I have a long way to go, and even if I lose weight I need to get over that it is ok for me to not look like a supermodel.

[DarkDarkNight]

Did Slimming World work for you? I don't understand how things like pasta are free foods. I could follow it at home but not commit to a regular class.

[TwoTonTessie]

It really worked for me as I think the thought of weighing in every week kept me on track. I stopped eating bread,cakes,chocolate and had loads of lean meat and vegetables. I still have regular treats but don't feel the need to just sit there and keep snacking. You do have to plan your meals really as that stops you just grabbing the first thing you see in the fridge.
You can do the plan online and there's loads of recipe ideas. You can still eat pasta and potatoes but I found that my weight loss slowed down when I had them. I've never felt hungry because the meals I have are really filling. It's the first time I've seriously tried to lose weight and I'm so glad I gave it a go.

[DarkDarkNight]

I think I need to plan, I go to work and end up with either a coffee for dinner or chocolate or crisps. I think a meal plan would be good for me. I feel like all I do is eat all night.

[sylviassecrets]

I have lost just over two stone in six months going from 11 stone to 8 stone 12lbs and hoping to lose a further 7 lbs. I feel great, so much more confident and can wear most things and look ok.

[MrAliBongo]

Hey Dark, I've lost nearly six stone in the last eight months - it keeps on surprising me when I say that! It's taken some pretty determined calorie counting, but the first step was really dealing with the emotional eating. I'd lost weight with varying degrees of success over the years, but with the comfort eating, it's like trying to fill a leaky bucket... As soon as you take your eye off it, the weight's back with reinforcements! I know it's hard as a single parent, but you have to start looking for other, more effective ways to deal with the uncomfortable emotions than numbing them with food. Some of it might be practical stuff... If you're bored, find a hobby; if you're lonely, track down social activities or call your friends/family in the evenings. Other strategies might seem a bit more woolly, but if you're anxious, or angry, you might want to try mindfulness meditation (lots of apps, books and online courses available). If you feel in a hole, talk to your GP about treatment options.

Anyway, back to the original question: yes, I've lost weight, and yes, I feel physically sooooooo much better. But the best thing has been learning to like myself along the way, so I actually felt better at 15 stone than I used to in my early twenties at 9 stone. I'm about 11 stone now, and still losing (much more slowly!). My feet don't hurt, my ankles don't hurt, I can run for the bus without feeling like a lumbering oaf, my blood pressure's fine, my blood sugar's fine, I look about 15 years younger, and I am actually quite excited about clothes.