I honestly feel disgusting - please help

[DianaMitford]

I CANNOT BELIEVE that I weigh as much as I do. I didn't weigh this much when I was 40 weeks pregnant!!

I used to be so slim and fit and due to various factors my weight has crept up and up over four years really. It's due in part to medication but a lot to diet (alcohol!) and no proper exercise plan.

I bought a set of scales today to really start losing weight in earnest and I was absolutely shocked and disgusted to find that I am almost FOUR STONE overweight!!!! Jesus bloody Christ.

So - I need advice. What's the best way to start losing weight quickly? Low-carb-ing? The 5:2 thing? I just don't know! What I do know is that I am totally committed. I just haven't done this dieting thing before.

I also have gym membership which means I have access to all classes and a pool and a gym (obviously!) but I hate swimming for exercise, I find it so boring.

Also relevant is that I fractured my foot a while back so I can't run yet. I can cycle/cross-train though. And walk fast. I've also torn a muscle in my back so no heavy weight lifting or anything (partner is a GP so I have on-site medical advice :))

If there is anyone out there who can help me kick-start then I would be so, so grateful. I've waded through a few weight loss threads but I just do not know where to start!

[LiveLifeWithPassion]

What kind of things work for you?
Logging food and being accountable?
Calorie counting?
Eating freely from a list of 'allowed' food?
Do you cook?
Do you find it easy to fast?

[DianaMitford]

I would not find it easy to fast, no. I would find it easy to stick to a prescribed diet. Yes, I do cook, I could calorie count (though God knows how!!) I'm just at a loss......

And I will be exercising a lot.

[imjessie]

Try slimming world .. it's the only thing that's worked for me .

[PosiePootlePerkins]

Come and join us on the S diet thread! We're all trying to retrain our bad eating habits. Basically its no snacks, sweet things or seconds except for days beginning with S eg the weekends and special days like birthdays.
Its not a quick fix but hopefully will help us to form better habits over time.
There's a website which explains it all really well. Its probably the most normal plan I have ever followed.

[lilyborderterrier]

Yes 2nd slimming world it's great, easy to follow, you can eat loads ands get all the support you need, I've got no will power but lost the stone I wanted to on slimming world.

[ByeByeLilSebastian]

Personally I'd slow it down and start with cutting out in between meal snacks and pudding, exercise more and a lot less alcohol.
You'd be surprised how much you can lose just by keeping it simple.

Any exercise you can do is better than sitting on the sofa so just do what you can.

[NickyEds]

Third here for slimming world, I'm quite enjoying it.

[LiveLifeWithPassion]

If you go onto the slimming world website, there's a two week plan you could have a go at following.

[DianaMitford]

Thanks everyone :)

My diet isn't that bad - I don't eat that much and I don't snack or eat puddings.

This weight has really come from excess carb consumption and too much wine! Plus no exercise.

I shall go and check out slimming world now :)

Thanks again

[NickyEds]

What sort of carbs? With slimming world there are speed foods (most fruit and veg), free foods (this includes lean meat, pasta, rice)and everything else is given a syn value. You get 5-15 syns a day (a glass of white wine is about 6 I think)plus two healthy extras which are a calcium source (some milk or chese generally)and a fibre source (bread or cereal). What it amounts to is a low fat , low sugar diet with limited bread/cereal so good for me as I used to eat loads of bread and cereal. I find it quite straight forward but I know at my group some people are struggling to lose weight because you can still eat pasta, rice and potatoes so they do! Tbh being 'allowed' pasta, rice and noodles is it's mainly selling point to me!

[KeyserSophie]

Just stop boozing or switch wine to vodka-soda. My next door neighbour lost 2 stone in a year just from that.

[ppeatfruit]

Yes I 2nd stop boozing. There is also another way to lose well and KEEP it off. It sounds woo but it isn't , it's Paul Mackenna I Can Make You Thin (I lost the nearly 3 stone I aimed at and am maintaining with it!!

Also cut out coffee and tea if you OD on it, I drink lots of water and herbal teas (mint and green are great for flavour also give you some caffeine to cope with the cravings ).

Paul M. helps us eat slowly (not in front of screens) ! BUT only when we're hungry, stop when we're full, your stomach shrinks and you literally CAN'T eat too much, and learn to like, accept ourselves as we are before we lose the weight. It works

[AuntieStella]

I have lost 3 stone this year (and at one stage was two stone higher than that, and I'd spent years losing and regaining)

Giving up the booze was the single most important thing. I wasn't a huge drinker, but would have wine maybe four nights a week. It's empty calories and it often led me to nibble (usually cheese).

I had success this year by simply eating less. Which meant I tracked what I did eat, and looked at what could be changed to still have a way of eating which I liked, but on which I was losing weight. So that meant adjustments to portion size, swopping things dripping with calories (like marmite toast) for something with fewer and much more fibre (marmite on ryvita) and looking at when I ate. I find it easy to eat very little during the day, then have an ordinary family meal in the evening.

And sticking with it, even if you occasionally plateau. I found joining a chat thread here helped a lot in keeping going.

I've been at my target weight for a while now, and have just completed C25K.

If you'd told me that, back in January, I'd be a size 8 and able to run 5K, I'd have laughed at you.

But it can be done. One week at a time. If you aim to lose 2lbs a week, your excess could be gone by spring (even allowing for some slower times and potential Christmas excesses)

[BabyGanoush]

I'd aim for small, sustainable (for a life time) tweaks.

Cut back on alcohol
Put slightly more veg on your plate, and slightly less carbs
Eat fewer snacks, but if you are hungry (craving) have something nice like a piece of fruit and a handful of nuts.

Eat out less

Make regular exercise a habit.

[Candypops14]

Another one for slimming world, very easy to follow allways full and you can still have treats from your syn allowance! Iv been doing it for 13 weeks now and have lost nearly 1 and a half stone x

[DianaMitford]

Thank you so much for all the advice, much appreciated.

Is there a weight loss thread I can join??

[PosiePootlePerkins]

Have a look in weight loss chat. There are a few weight loss support groups going. Good luck!

[ppeatfruit]

Keyser Sophie The problem with drinking vodka (even with soda) is that it damages is not good for our livers. I'd rather be OW than have cirrhosis!!

[ppeatfruit]

If you're out you can have a cranberry or just a soda. Best not a caffeine containing soda though. I know that hangs on to water if you have it every day.

[KeyserSophie]

The problem with drinking vodka (even with soda) is that it damages is not good for our livers. I'd rather be OW than have cirrhosis!!

Well, she'd get cirrhosis on the wine to an equal extent - at least now she'll be a beautiful corpse

[ppeatfruit]

No, good (no sulphites) red wine is kinder to the liver, of course not in excess !

[Thefitfatty]

There is overwhelming evidence to say that diets don't work in the long run. What you need to do is overhaul your lifestyle to include an emphasis on healthy, home cooked meals that include all food groups (especially lots of veg) and exercise, but also allows for the occasional take away, drinks, pieces of cake.

It's not going to be quick, but it will be maintainable.

[ppeatfruit]

It really does depend on the diet\way of eating though. fit I have lost 3 stone with the Paul Mackenna way of eating and have kept the weight off for 4 to 5 years, I do eat very healthily though. I don't include all food groups and my health is perfect which at 65 is highly unusual.

[Thefitfatty]

If you're happy to cut out food groups and never have coffee/tea or a drink again, than that's great ppeatfruit, But most people want a balanced lifestyle, where they can have a cup of coffee and the occasional glass of wine.