I've just lost 4 stone and would like to share how I did it.......(long...sorry)

[hammouhouseofhorror]

Hi, have mentioned on a couple of threads that I have lost 4 stone and people have asked me how, but I haven't wanted to go into detail on someone elses thread.
I haven't followed an official diet and everything I have done has been to suit me and my lifestyle, but if any of it is of any use to anybody I'd love to share....

I was 14 1/2 stone, drinking 2 or 3 cans super strength lager a night, and a chronic comfort eater. My Grandad died and my world was rocked in a number of ways and I could feel myself slipping into depression. I decided to give up drinking for a week, but at the end of the week felt so much better and had lost a couple of pound so I decided to stick with it.

I started walking. Small distances at first at a pace I was comfortable with and then gradually picking up the pace until I started feeling 'slightly warm'.

I added extra walking at every opportunity...getting off the bus an extra stop early, or parking as far away from the supermarket doors instead of as close as we could, find a bit longer route to walk the children to school. I took up cycling when my youngest started school and gradually built that up as well. Again, I didn't punish myself, it had to be enjoyable. After christmas I added running to my exercise....started at about 1/4 mile and now I can run 8.
As far as exercise is concerned It was important to enjoy it and also to build it up so it fitted into my daily routine so it was never a chore. I am now completely hooked!

Food wise I changed my eating habits rather than going on a specific diet. I slowly cut down my food portions..taking off a desertspoon of potatoes/pasta every other week until my plate was 1/2 vegetables, 1/4 carbs, 1/4 protein. I didn't cut out gravy or sauces but reduced the quantity..and I always have pudding. When eating the meal I eat the vegetables first so that as I fill up I am left with the tasty satisfying bit at the end. I chew slowly and always have water with my meal.

I drink constantly, water, juices, tea. I don't like cold water at this time of year so I drink it lukewarm.

I also found healthy snack options that I loved..for me it is a glass of tomato juice and a small handfull of nuts. I have a small handfull of nuts at breakfast which seeems to sustain me for longer in the morning.

Where I could easily devour half a packet of bicuits with coffee, I'd now have two biscuits and a piece of fruit. I ask in cafes if they do skinny lattes. If I bought in my favourite cakes I would put them in the freezer so that I had to think about eating them and only defrost one.

I haven't stopped eating anything, but I cut down what I ate and I have found that my tastes have changed with time and I now can't eat a whole cream cake let alone devour two in one sitting. But if I want one I have it. I have a 'treat' everyday, I am addicted to kitkats, and icecream. But along with my life changes it isn't a big problem. I have days where I stuff myself but tend to find it makes me uncomfortable so I don't do it very often.

Motivation was hard at first but for me as the weight started to come off and I started buying smaller clothes it felt good and I was enjoying it. I would time how long I could stay hungry for as I figured hunger was my body burning up fat, not to the point that it made me ill, but just not eating the minute I was hungry.

This has all taken about 18mnths and the key was always to do it gradually so that I was comfortable and enjoying food and life.

It is obviously not an 'official' diet and the details are what have suited me, but I hope it helps in some small way for somebody. I actually stopped drinking (alcohol) altogether in the end, but that was just my choice.

Good luck to anybody trying to lose weight, I know how hard it is and never take for granted how difficult it was to achieve my goal weight...but it can be done.

[zazen]

Well done hammou - that's an inspirational story!

[pellmell]

it's so inspirational I would like to print it off and place it in my kitchen.....do you mind?

[hammouhouseofhorror]

Of course I don't mind. I'd be thrilled to think it had helped someone.
Thanks for wading through it!

[thisisyesterday]

wow, well done hammou. you must be really proud of yourself

[pinkandbluespottywellies]

Well done mou! Great to hear how you did it. I might save this thread so I can keep on the straight and narrow when I've had this baby!

[pellmell]

I'm not going to do the running though

The roads around my little rural village have enough pot-holes already

[Lizzylou]

Well done you, I can lose weight, it's keeping it off that I find hard. The fact that you have just made lots of small changes whilst not denying yourself, is definitley the way forward.
Again, well done you

[pellmell]

on a serious note........
When I read your the op, I had just sat down on the pc feeling really annoyed with myself.
I have put back on 8 pounds of the two stones I lost.
I have not kept up the (brisk)walking and have been drinking alcahol every evening
I know what works for me. I JUST DON'T STICK AT IT!!!!

[hammouhouseofhorror]

Thanks for the 'well-dones' I am quietly proud of myself.
Goodnight for now.

[LadyOfWaffleIsScaryEnough]

Well done, thankyou I have the same ( & more to lose) but find it very hard to stick to diets.

[hammouhouseofhorror]

Oh. I didn't see your last post pellmell. Sticking at it is hard but I learned to stop punishing myself when I slipped up and then comfort eating out of disappointment. And you have still lost 1 stone 6lb haven't you?
Goodnight again, might check in tomorrow.

[pellmell]

thankyou

[whyme2]

Can I ask a question. I am inspired by your post but you mentioned the comfort eating thing and I wondered how you addressed that coz it's something I struggle with? Oh and well done - you deserve to feel proud of yourself.

[electra]

Well done! It sounds like your approach was sensible and consistent.

[hammouhouseofhorror]

whyme2, the comfort eating is a hard one to tackle. this is where I combined eating something healthy first..like a large apple or banana, make myself a skinny latte (with full skimmed milk), and then two or three biscuits.

I started to get angry with myself for being in the cycle of being unhappy with being overweight and then overeating to comfort/punish myself, and using that anger to push myself a little bit further with the exercise.
I also focussed on hobbies to distract me from food, and tell myself i'd have something to eat when i'd done a particular task.
I was thinking about food or my next snack most of the time so it took a lot of self discipline, and then I started to have something to show for my time instead of looking in the mirror and hating what I saw. (I started knitting..I am making a bedthrow. I can't remember where I read it but someone else did it to help her lose weight. she did a sewn one and used the money she normally spent on food on nice materials for the quilt.)

It also helped to get out for a short brisk walk, the chemicals it promotes makes you feel better so the need to comfort eat goes away.

I do still do it occassionally whyme2, but it is easier to get back on track. I also looked at the reasons I was comfort eating...thats a tough one though.

Thanks for the congratulations again to all.

[SharpMolarBear]

Well done and thank you.
I've always had a problem with comfort eating and on the times I have lost weight in the past it has been when something has taken over food's place in my mind iyswim. So I need ot make a conscious decision to have that happen,

[bozza]

I think that is brilliant. And the whole reason it worked is because you did it for you around your lifestyle. I think I will add it to threads I am watching for inspiration.

One tip I have to keep active at work is not to ring someone in the same building. Get up and go to see them.

[lavenderbongo]

Thats some brilliant and inspirational advice - thanks hammou.

I particularly like the quilt making and knitting idea. I find the evenings the worse time for picking at food and will try distracting myself with something like that.

I have lost 2 and a half stone since march but have stalled in the last few months so i appreciate advice like this.

[pellmell]

Does anyone else find hommous posts very very comforting?
You write in a very nice way!
I might make you my guru and sin never in the presence of your op (which is printed on the kitchen cupboard)

[SheikYerbouti]

Hammou for PM

I think I love you.

I am a terrible comfort eater. If the kids have been naughty, I will eat shit in the evening. I do need to look at WHY this is, and I need better mechanisms for coping with stress.

Plus I need to get off my fat arse more.

4 stone is a real achievement. I bet you look fantastic.

[hammouhouseofhorror]

Thanks so much pellmell, It took me 10 years to get here (after DS was born).

I think I really appreciate the whole image/selfesteem thing. It is so important to be content with the way you are. Some people seem to be genuinely happy with their bodies, big or small, but I do find it is a rare thing.

I never did it to conform to a social stereotype as that makes me cross, it always had to be about what I was happy with. Support and encouragement from friends really motivated me, and now i think I am lucky because i have found a balance that suits me. I also gave consideration to my Dc's as I knew my attitude to food and dieting would have an impact on them, especially my Dd.

You have all made me feel glad that I posted, thanks for that.

[fedda]

Thank you so much for your fantastic posts. hammou, I#ll try my best tp follow your inspirational advice. xx

[pellmell]

hahaha
I've just looked at my last. I spelled your name wrong. Only I could turn a name into something sounding like a food

[zookeeper]

Good for you hammou - that is good advice

[hammouhouseofhorror]

.Rofl at thought of me being PM, Sheik. I think I love you all.....! Dunno if I 'look' fantastic, but I certainly feel it.

Pellmell, if i'm going to be food can I be applepie?. And please do sin with me in mind from time to time, that's the best kind of food!

It is frightening how easy it could be to go the other way though, I had a few problems over the summer and for a couple of months sort of comfort dietted. I'm not proud to admit that but I think I should be honest. A really good friend pointed out that the whole food thing was probably a control issue as I had lost control over other areas in my life. And again I realised I didn't want to set a bad example to my Dc's.

On a note, I now have to clear my too big credit card debt that I had racked up over the years trying to find the perfect clothes that I would be comfortable in..(sits on the naughty step!). Any tips on that would be hugely appreciated!

Well done to you too lavendarbongo!

Time to pick the Dc's up. Bye for now.