Gone over into the obese category

Op I'm the same height and I'm around 12 stone, never been this heavy and like you I don't know how it happened. I tried intermittent fasting for a few weeks and I didn't lose a single pound, I don't know what I was doing wrong but I've just given up now to be honest.

I wasn't criticising, FFS. I've weighed a lot more, at 92kg. The BMI is a crap 'measuring tool' that can make people feel shit.
Sorry if you thought I was being critical, OP.
💚

I've only ever managed to lose weight by cutting out all sugar (that includes stuff like ketchup, a lot of store-bought bread, ready meals - just look at the labels). Also refined carbs like flour as well. When I do that, then I lose the weight quite quickly.

Trying to focus on exercise has never worked for me. I would work out and then feel like I 'deserved' a treat for doing so, completely undoing any good I'd just done. Focusing on eating healthier was what helped.

You can do it! 💪

You dont have to be very overweight OP to be into the obese category of overweight. Its just a category that marks that and categorises the amount of extra weight someone is carrying.

No one is looking at you and categorising that, its a medical thing.

Op - I'm the same height at 5'4 and ended up rapidly gaining weight when I was 19 to the point I was borderline obese. Turned out to be PCOS and a massive ovarian cyst. It took a lot of hassling the dovctors, but eventually I was put on Yasmin and I lost 2 stone in 6 weeks.

Def worth getting all your hormone levels checked out.

I know how quick the weight can creep up. I've put on 3 stone in 18 months! I'm getting my thyroid tested soon hopefully to see if it could be down to that.

Although it's probably down to losing 10lbs after a bereavement and ending up almost underweight at 5'8 and 8st 10 which is too slim for me. Once my appetite came back I piled it all back on and it just keeps going up, am now 12st. I just feel like giving up now because it's something I'm obviously going to have to keep my eye on forever. It's so depressing to have it happen so quickly after I was a size 8 two years ago. I did manage to stay at a steady 9st 7 for years before which was perfect for me, but I don't know if it's possible to get back down to that and keep at that weight after all this yo-yoing. I have so much work to do now 😔

I don't think of 12 or 13st as obese (unless you're tiny!) so I agree people probably wouldn't think you are. I'm sorry that must be a shock to find out.

There's always one. Hopefully it'll be the only one.

Precisely. It is a medical term relating to weight and health statistics. It does not mean ugly, unattractive or anything like that...and most people are surprised that BMI 30 looks as small as it does. I can absolutely guarantee that you don't stand out.

If you're worried for your health, the good news is that unless there are other issues, weight responds well to the right changes although I don't deny that they can suck!

But you look exactly the same as you did yesterday, and I bet you look great.

I’ve got fitnesspal and it’s worked wonders for me over the past year and a half. Also the renpho scales. Completely cut out bread and have rye crackers instead. Only under 100 cal chocolate etc. Small but effective changes.

Don’t worry too much, OP. My weight has fluctuated over the years and I’ve managed to turn it around. It’s horrible in the early days, feeling shit but after a month or so it’ll be come a new habit! I’ve seen lots of support threads on MN too.

I used to drink my calories and underestimate how many were in what I ate. But lots of women have been were you now, as you say it creeps up xx

Obesity is not a moral judgement about you. It's just a medical term. Doesn't make you less of a person.

It's harder as you get older.

OP can lose weight if she wants to, but you’re stuck with that personality

ah OP I’m so sorry. You’re just slightly in the obesity category though, not the dickhead category like some.

I’d get a good night sleep and think about it tomorrow. There are so many helpful resources and support if you did want to make a change

I understand exactly where you're coming from - I dared weigh myself a couple of months ago and I was horrified that my BMI was 29.1. I knew I was a little bit overweight, but being so close to obese terrified me and was a real shock as I definitely didn't feel I looked that big, and I had only gone up one clothes size compared to when my BMI was 22. I decided to instantly cut out all refined carbs (I still eat complex ones such as veg, chickpeas and lentils etc as I want it to be sustainable for me). In those 2 months I've lost over 6kg and my BMI is down to 26 already. I guess I'm saying, don't worry too much - you can take action and make a positive difference very quickly now that you are aware. I felt so upset like you did, but now I'm so happy that I got that shock as it's really spurred me on.

Also, I am guessing you were clothed and possibly wearing shoes for the weigh in at the doctors? If so, weigh yourself first thing tomorrow morning without clothes and I bet you'll be a few lbs lighter and probably just under BMI 30 - which will hopefully make you feel a little bit better! 😊

I had a similar wake up call to you, OP. Suddenly realised one day that I wasn't just overweight, I'd officially made it into the obese category with all the associated health risks etc.

If you're looking to lose weight I'd recommend 1) using https://cronometer.com/ to keep track of everything you eat over several days or a week. Weigh everything and include everything.

2. Consider intermittent fasting, even if only eating the same meals but closer together. So breakfast at 9 and dinner at 5, leaving a full 16 hours where you're not eating anything and so not raising insulin. You could even cut out breakfast some days, or skip dinner. Studies have shown that eating the exact same amount of food but earlier in the day or in a smaller eating 'window' helps with weight loss

3. Read 'the Obesity Code' by Dr Jason Fung to get an in depth understanding of how what we eat and when we eat affects our bodies. It will help you understand why you've reached obesity and how best to work with your hormones to get back to a healthy weight. He also has various videos on YouTube.

Wishing you all the best!

Anyway , hope you ok OP?

Are you thinking of trying to lose some weight ?

How you feeling about it now you've had a bit of time to think about it

I was surprised to find myself at 82kg too. I compete in endurance sports at a very high level, and am always on the move. I found it was relentless snacking that was the problem. I made a conscious decision to stop and my weight is heading back in the right direction again. Ignore sanctimonious posters like @Crazycatlady79 - they’ve contributed nothing helpful or supportive here. Have a good hard look at where your calories are coming from and start by cutting out the obvious and easy ones. For me the most obvious thing to go was the regular handfuls of chocolates at work. Once you start to see a positive result it’s much easier to find other ways to cut a little bit back. It’s not going to be an overnight thing, but it is not an insurmountable target to aim to lose even just half a kilogram a week - keep that up and you could be at 70kg by Christmas. A 500 calorie deficit each day will give you that weight loss - that’s the equivalent of cutting out a Starbucks latte and 3 custard creams a day.

Very kind
Do you feel better now ?

Obese isn't a description of how someone looks that means 'fat and unattractive'. It's merely a medical term to describe an aspect of your health. You've learned today that your weight is a risk factor that may well have health implications. You haven't learned anything new about your appearance. Many women are in the obese category and dependent on how they carry weight don't look extra ordinarily 'large'. I have several friends who are medically obese. They don't stand out.

That's helpful

I am also your height and weighed 87kg at the start of the year and yes I felt people looked at me and I thought I was fat. I was fat. My face was swollen and my clothes looked awful. I felt awful.
So have slowly slowly done something about it. You can easily turn it around this year. But sadly at the height we are that weight does make us look big and by loosing 13kg I feel great!

Small steps, small changes, take it one at a time. Focus on healthier habits overall rather than crash diets.

It gets harder as you get older, sadly. You do have to watch yourself more and more.

Now is the perfect time to tackle it. Have a really good think about what you ate yesterday and the day before. Jot it down, try to figure out where the empty calories were.

Go to a TDEE calculator online and figure out how many calories you need to eat to maintain your weight. Anything under that should result in a loss.

Exercise won't be great for weight loss but it will help with overall health, flexibility, posture, and just for making you feel more energised and better in general.

Then add in an absolute crap tonne of water. You need to be hydrated, water is used by your body to break down fat and to heal muscles.

You can do this, just get started

I'm also 5ft 4 and have weighed about that in the past. People think of obese as being enormous but BMI 30 is smaller than you'd think.
You know now so time to take action.