Is 15 st too heavy to come back from??

I promise you they wouldn’t think you are silly. Any trainer worth their salt would respect someone wanting to get fitter and healthier. If we all started off perfect they’d be out of business.
The great thing with weights is that you can start low and it doesn’t rely on great cardio fitness. Weights can seem daunting at first but if you can get some guidance great 😊
You just need the final push to get going - honestly you might really enjoy it;) go for it!

You can totally do this. I was 13 stone (late 30s) after covid lockdowns. I’ve lost 3 stone over 2 years, now maintaining at a healthy 10 stone. I don’t have loose skin anywhere apart from my lower tummy, but that’s to be expected after 4 pregnancies! I do a lot of weight training/circuits/HIIT etc which has really helped to tone up my body alongside weight loss.

My top tips:

• Forget about 9 stone target. Concentrate on losing 1 stone to start with and then see how you go.
• Eat lots of protein. Deli turkey and chicken slices, eggs, egg whites, fish, protein shakes. It builds muscle, which burns fat. It also makes you feel full.
• Drink lots of water
• Don’t starve yourself. Lots of healthy snacks. Eat everything I. Moderation, no crazy diet or cutting whole food groups out.
• Weight training, body weight exercises, walking, swimming.
• Let yourself have a treat evening one night per week. Gives you something to look forward to.

No, not at all! Take it slowly and, as others have said, a 1lb at a time. I've lost 2 stone this year, I weight train so not so focused on my weight now, just how my clothes fit and progress pics.
I track my calories but work on an average for the week so I can eat a bit more at the weekends. I haven't cut anything out of my diet, just been careful with my portion size. I eat a decent amount of protein, plenty of veg, overnight oats for breakfast.
I also batch cook a lot, use the slow cooker so it's easy. Then I've got healthy meals in the freezer for when I can't be bothered after work

It's never too late, start with little changes as dr Jessen says

Absolutely not at 32.
I lost 5 stones between the ages of 49 and 51 and my stomach was like a drum, you could eat peas off of it 😁 (had always been my pudgy area before, even when I was young and naturally slim).

You will have to be very realistic and committed, though and put a long term healthy eating and exercise plan in place. Quick fix diets don’t work.

I did it by signing up to a challenge and convinced an equally unhealthy friend to join me.
We both signed up for the Moonwalk. We trained for 10 months together. In the end, I had to go alone because my poor, dear friend became ill 2 days before the event!

I went from 14 to 9 stones, having never exercised before, completed 26.2 miles walking in just over 6 hours.

My friend also benefitted enormously. She went from being pre-diabetic with high blood pressure (on meds) to being completely healthy at 52.

You’re young. You could be a completely different person in a year or two, without doubt.

Of course it's not too late to pull it back

Not too late.

I'm 43 and 5'6. This time last year I weighed 17 1/2 stone. I've lost five stone so far.

No loose skin (although I have a slightly floppy belly from my C section). I have stretch marks from pregnancy but no extra ones from being overweight that I've noticed.

Even if I were to have loose skin and stretch marks, I'd still want to keep losing weight because I'd rather be healthy and fit. I'm not really either yet!

But I sleep better and don't get bright red and sweaty walking up a hill, and don't feel like my double chin is heavy when I lie on my back. Standard-sized chairs are more comfortable than they were and I can more easily find clothes that fit me. My knees are rarely painful, when they used to hurt every day. My back rarely aches now, and my plantar fasciitus has gone.

NOW is the best time. Because it gets harder, not easier, the older you are and the longer you've been overweight. And because people who are overweight rarely stay the same weight IME. We either carry on as we are, adding at least a few pounds a year. Or we change our lifestyle and lose weight. The latter feels better, trust me :)

Bloody horses! I was in a nasty horsey accident, piled on the weight. Previously, however, I lost about 8 stone with a lot of exercise and quite strict dieting via Slimming World. I didn't have loose skin, possibly because it wasn't terribly sudden. Go for it.

I'm about the same weight but I only want to lose 2lbs. And when I've lost that 2lbs, I'd like to lose another 2lbs and then so on. But so far telling my brain 'I just need to lose 2lbs' is serving me well.

Loads of people significantly older and heavier lose more weight than this. As a veteran of every diet going I've finally started being kind to myself, eating well (but less of it) and committing to losing 'just 2lbs'.

I lost 7 stone at age 26 going from 16 stone 12lb to 9 stone 7lb on my wedding day.

I lost it over the space of 2 years and I do have some loose skin on my boobs and stomach. Nothing major but my lower tummy is what I’m most self conscious about. But I’d much rather have a little loose skin than go back to being 16 stone.

I think if you have an ‘over hang’ belly then it will shrink but that skin has been stretched so much no amount of weight loss or exercise will make it flat.

If you don’t have an overhang belly then you’ll likely be able to get away with minimal to no loose skin. Also it depends how long you’ve been over weight in regards to how much your skin has stretched.

Definitely not too late! Make your health a priority. I was 14 stone 9lb nine weeks ago and I've lost a stone since then. I've more to lose but it's a good start. I'm using Wegovy to help break my bad habits of huge portions and biscuits. It's definitely not a quick fix and you need a lot of willpower (not a miracle slimming pill, unfortunately!) but I'm doing this for my kids, and my future health. Its about changing my mindset. I'm not calorie counting, just eating smaller portions and being more mindful. Im no longer eating the kids leftovers, multiple chocolate digestives a day and a huge glass of wine come the evening. It's a lot easier to stay at a healthy weight than lose weight, so my goal is to be around 11.5 stone and keep to that weight. Come and join me!

No it’s really not though I completely understand how difficult it is to start when it seems like a massive mountain to climb. I have crohn’s and was massive after lots of steroids and eating rubbish that didn’t make me ill but normal food did. Every single time I started I failed which then made it near impossible to want to try again.
In January after feeling so rubbish about myself on a whim I went to a class. I didn’t weigh myself first, didn’t take measurements just went and touch will see how it goes. I made a note on my phone each week of my progress working towards small targets of 7lb a time. I batch cooked and do so roughly every 3 weeks. Since January I have lost over 3 stone. No idea why it worked this time, no idea how in managing to keep going but I am. You can honestly do it, I’ve written many posts like yours and had many failed attempts. I believe if u keep trying one time it’s got to stick. So far no loose skin though my tummy is a bit hangy over my section scar which I figure is just how I will be from now on. Saw an old but rare photo of myself the other day and wow I can’t believe the difference. Made me realise I need to stop complaining that I feel fat! I was 15st 8.5 when I started same height as u, Ive set my target as 11st 7lbs so hopefully not long to go. I set my interim target at exactly half way so I had another goal to reach.
Good luck, u have got this 💪

Absolutely not!! But slow and steady and healthy is the way, I am also 5’3 and have gone from 13st11 to 8st10 in about 18 months. I’m 33 and do not have loose skin.

Even 2/3 stone will make you feel so much better. Don't have a huge end goal, small steps, consistency and being kind to yourself. If you have a bad day tomorrow is a new day, don’t write the week off. You can do it xx

I'm in my 50s and lost 5 stone last year. I did it via intermittent fasting, low carbing, and walking a lot. Other methods are available! Good luck OP!

even if you’re left with a sack of saggy skin

You will have probably added on a decade to your life and your presence in your children’s lives AND your quality of life will be exponentially higher

Yes, it’s not that great but you can get used to it and nice eg as I’ve said or even on a baked jacket potato.

Amazing weight loss stories here! Good luck OP, aim for a 10 lb loss maybe.

I'm about 15lbs and currently stuck in a rut but a million times happier than where I was in January. If it takes me 3 years to lose 3 stone so be it. Loose skin never occurred to me. Anything is better than fat

You’re not missing much on the cottage cheese front 🤢

They do cottage cheese low fat, with chives or pineapple too. It’s an acquired taste but I eat it on eg Ryvita and another favourite, rye bread.

You can have Pepsi Max, Coke Zero/diet if you like and if you like the occasional cocktail or full fat coke you can do it but it’s good to do this on cheat days.

Personal trainers are what they’re there for at the gym. I actually feel if I’ve gone to the gym and seen anyone really large join, all I think is good on them. I’ve also seen a few people start very overweight and then after a few months they lose weight, build muscle and tone up.

I feel like that after putting some on - it is just your circumstance. Please don't beat yourself up

I'm 5'5. At 37 I weighed 17st. My mate asked me to do Race 4 Life with her and I started jogging with my dog (more to make sure I could do it). Within 3 months I had gone from an 18/20 to a size 14. I then started to calorie count and 2 months later was a size 12. I then decided to 'maintain' and still lost weight to the point I ended up losing 8.5st. I had no 'flappy skin' and 10 years later I have put on a few stone after severe ill health but I'm back in the gym and aiming to lose 3st to get back into a 12.

It is not easy. I have previously gone to bed hungry when getting used to calorie cutting but I never deprived myself.

You can absolutely do this!

I started at 94kg in Feb. I’ve spent years being scared off by the idea of having such a high weight loss. I’m now 83kg and bought a new swimsuit this week. Just calorie counting. Very little alcohol.

Don’t think ‘six stone’. It sounds immense. Lose 1lb first. Then mini targets. Be realisitic. It’s only this last couple of weeks I’ve believed I’m going to lose the weight, and comparing now to 11kg ago I can see the difference and that’s encouraged me too.

You can absolutely do this. Good luck.

I've lost over 14st. Yes, I have loose skin. But it's not visible when I'm clothed and my husband prefers me alive. The way I look at it is the skin is there regardless - the only choice I have is whether or not it's full of fat. Also make sure you're not using the fear of loose skin as an excuse not to start becoming healthier. You can do this, I promise.

Of course not! I was 22 stone and have lost 6.5 stone so far. My arms and thighs are definitely wobblier than I would like but it’s NOTHING compared to the difference losing the weight has made to me.