Just seen a picture of myself that's shocked me

[OliviaBensonOnAGoodDay]

That really. Seen pics of a wedding from the weekend and I look huge. Knew I'd put on a bit but I had no idea I looked like that.

Can't kid myself that it's the dress or the angle. That's me.

I need to lose about 15kg. I'm cutting out alcohol for September and as of RIGHT now - no more chocolate, crisps, takeaways. I want to cut out sugar. Massively cut down on bread. Only drink water and green tea. Get at least 30 mins exercise every day. Lots of veg and protein.

I CAN get back to me.

Anyone else got stories of losing similar? How did you do it and how long did it take?

Encourage me, please. I've cried a lot tonight. Silly I know because some people have real problems, but still.

[Lottielou7]

Try low carbing - it's extremely effective.

[Unsurechicken]

Ill join you i put a post up last night. Ive done two days of being really good. One poster suggested planning so making lunch the night before and having breakfast. When do you eat your naughty things?

[amprev]

It might well be you, but I'm confident that our brain always accentuates all the things that we dislike about our appearance when it comes to photographs, so I'm sure other people won't view you as you view yourself. That said - the picture could end up being such a positive marker in your life, if it has spurred you on to become healthier. I don't have experience of weight loss, but do have experience of wanting to become fitter, and for me, my Fitbit-style bracelet which racks my activity has been a game changer - it really motivates me to improve my activity levels - quite addictive actually. Mine is only a cheap one from Amazon. Good luck and don't beat yourself up about being silly - you can't always rationalise yours vs other people's problems - we all do it.

[AlienTaxFiend]

That was me looking at summer holiday photos - which I can't even delete as I met up with an old friend not seen for 20+ years who also appears on them!! Looked like the side of a house. I started Slimming World the week I came back and am finding the food side really good and steadily losing a few pounds... The 'motivational' meetings not so sure about!!

[OliviaBensonOnAGoodDay]

Hi Lottie. Heard good things about low carb but I'm veggie and so I always discounted it - in the past I've always relied on bread etc to fill up. Which is obviously part of my problem! Will look into it. How much could someone lose a week on it? And how low is low?

Unsure I've just read your post, nodding along! I tend to reach for the chocolate or coke when I'm tired. I'm also had for skipping lunch because I'm so busy, then coming home from work and inhaling the bread bin/biscuit tin.

[OliviaBensonOnAGoodDay]

Thanks Amprev, just had a look and there's fitness trackers on Amazon for £23.99. How many steps do you do a day?

Alien I used to go along to SW meetings with my mum when I was little and I must confess it put me off for life! Just googled and they've got some lovely recipes for veggies though. Thanks

[MumOnTheRunCatchingUp]

I have to do cctv checks everyday at work.... So I see myself from all angles lots!

It's not what I want to see!

[Unsurechicken]

Olivia im awful for that not eating right and then scoffing junk because its easy. Ive been know to eat 2 pot noddles for my evening meal if my oh is away. What do you want to get down to? Have you a plan?

[OliviaBensonOnAGoodDay]

No plan really other than cutting sugar/bread, cutting out junk, upping my veg and walking more. Been googling quick fixes (shake diets etc) all evening but in my heart of hearts I know they won't work. I have to fix my head first.

I'd like to get down to 60-62kg. I'm about 76kg now.

[amprev]

Olivia I got my fitness tracker at the same time as I got a dog, and previous to this, I didn't do any walking, other than what I needed to do to conduct life - I probably did maybe 2000 steps a day. I'm now up around 14000 steps a day. My tracker defaulted to 10,000 as a target when I first got it (some guideline or other), but I have read that if you're a non walker, then ignore this and just go for a few hundred above what your normal average is to start with, and then gradually increase your targets every week or few weeks. Even when I'm stood cooking I find myself marching now (like the new bake off contestant does!). I started walking for errands and to places that I would previously done in the car. I childishly for a while didn't raise my target number of steps because I like getting the target achieved message, but then got real and realised my target steps was too easy because I achieved it every day, easily.

The fella I speak to when I do my click and collect does 22,000 steps a day doing other people's shopping! Makes me realise the potential for exercise there is, even if you're busy.

[OliviaBensonOnAGoodDay]

That's interesting Amprev.I could easily get off the tube a stop earlier. I wonder how many steps that would be...

Feeling a bit excited now. I like a challenge!

[avamiah]

Olivia,
I was out shopping earlier on with my daughter for school shoes and was sitting next to the mirror as you do(because the shop was bloody packed) and I didn't even look like myself from side on.😬
I was shocked.
Your not alone.

[OliviaBensonOnAGoodDay]

Ava at least I'm in good company!

[avamiah]

Olivia,
I'm starting with the wine and Diet Coke.
They have to go .
I'm mean I always have a cold bottle of Blossom hill in the fridge ha ha especially as it's been the school holidays.
I'm confident that from next week ( schools back ) that I will shed at least a stone .

[LazySusan11]

Get one of Sue Peckham/James Holmes apps.

I did their 21 day no chocolate hypnosis and haven't touched chocolate for 7 months, I was a huge sugar addict now I am not at all bothered by it. Having spent a bloody fortune on seeing a hypnotist and it doing bugger all I honestly didn't think it would work I got it because I have trouble sleeping and find listening to the radio gets me to sleep. Figured I'd combine the two and it worked!

[avamiah]

LadyS,
I have never heard of them?
Who are they?

[LazySusan11]

They're hypnotherapists, they have a few apps I just used the 21 day sugar stop challenge. Got mine from the App Store

[OliviaBensonOnAGoodDay]

Will look for it now Susan, thanks.

[Bagina]

I've done every kind of weight loss over the years, but you can't beat My Fitness Pal. It's free, and you see exactly where your calories are going. Set it to lose 2lbs per week. I'm a veggie and have always eaten too many carbs. I've a stone to lose to get back to pre-baby weight then another half trackers are good; I'm not moving enough at the moment. Back to the gym when school starts. You're right though, the bread is where it all goes wrong. Mfp will give you sodium alerts after 2 slices, never mind the carbs!!! Good luck!

[Thefitfatty]

I've lost 14 kilos between December 2015 and now. It's been slow going because I'm not dieting, just eating healthy food (not cutting any food groups out just focusing on home made meals and more veg, protein and fats than processed carbs), small/regular sized portions (I eat when I'm hungry and till I'm full), occasionally snacks and takes outs and getting exercise (1 hour of cardio & weightlifting 5 times a week).

The pics are the one that made me realize I had to look at my diet and say that obviously trying fad diets and falling off them hard was not working, and one that I took in July.

My weight has stalled at about a stone overweight, but I feel good and I'm quite happy. I think the weight lifting really helps with feeling good and strong.

[Sugarandsalt]

I've lost 22kg since January. Unfortunately still have 10-15kg to go. Using myfitnesspal, eating well, cutting out processed snacks and getting more exercise in. Have a step counter app on my phone- yesterday I was at appointments in 3 different areas in London so between walking to and from tube, the various appointments and my nursery run I hit 21000 steps- it's easy enough to do!

[Sugarandsalt]

The other thing I highly recommend is taking measurements monthly. My BMI has dropped from 37 to 28, my waist has gone from 36inches to 29 and I've lost 5 inches from my hips, as well as dropping several bra sizes. It's encouraging for the inevitable times the scales plateau.

[stripeyzebra32]

I've done the weight loss thing a few times.

Back in 2010 I started slimming world and lost 4.5 stone in 9 months. Went from a size 20/22 and was in complete denial until a photo popped up on Facebook.

Loosing it wasn't too bad but I have constantly battled with my weight ever since. Yearly I go on a diet loose about 2 stone then put it all back on again.

Turned a corner this year after seeing a pic of me on holiday, we have no full length mirrors so I didn't know how bad it was so took the bull by the horns and decided to low carb for 3 months solid with no cheats and lost over 2 stone. It's not a long term diet I found so came off and straight onto the 5:2 diet and where I would normally pile the lbs back on I have lost a further 7lbs in 4 weeks by just fasting eating 500cals 2 days a week. It's a fantastic diet and I'm lower in weight than I have ever been.

I did tinker with the Cambridge diet a couple of years ago and lost a lot very quickly but it was not substainable and gain it back quicker than I lost it. I am now lower in weight than when I was doing that.

[Chasingsquirrels]

I did the same with a short video of me on holiday last February, plus my larger clothes starting to be too tight, then significantly over indulging on chocolate at Easter.

I decided to give 5:2 a go, having never dieted before, and combined it with MFP to log calories.

I did a strict 2 days at 500-600 calories, 3 days at whatever MFP was telling me I needed to maintain at the weight I was (started at 1,850 now 1,620) and 2 days with a bit more leeway bit only 200-300 more max.

My plan was 2 stone over 14 months, to be in the middle of ideal BMI by my birthday the following year.

I actually lost weight quicker than that, and was down at least a dress size by the middle of July when we went away (had to buy new holiday clothes) and another by late September. I then needed new bikinis again when we went away this February.

I dropped another half stone Apr/May this year due to stress but have put that back on now and am hovering around the middle of the ideal BMI range.

I'm maintaining by doing 6:1, with 5:2 weeks if I've been having too many 'over' days.

I'm happy with this although my body does need toning - which I have zero enthasium for and so won't happen at the moment.

[Aftereightsarenolongermine]

I've done EVERY diet there is. The one that has worked for me is the 5:2. I started in 2012 & lost 4&half stone in less than a year. 4 years later I still do 2 days a week (but not as strictly) & I've maintained my weight loss.

I keep a picture on my fridge of the 2 'me's' side by side. Good luck.