If you've ever lost a considerable amount of weight, what finally made you do it?

[SausageSimon]

After 18 months of terrible mental health, I'm gradually coming out the other side and I've really piled weight on from comfort eating. Realistically I could do with losing 2 stone (3-4 would be a dream but I can never get below a certain weight) and I'm struggling to find the motivation this time round.

What finally got you on the right track?

Was it finding exercise you loved, finding a certain way to permanently sort your diet?

I saw a photo of myself recently and felt devastated at how bad I looked. It's knocked my confidence but I don't seem to have the motivation to do anything about it!

I also put on a lot of weight due to a 2 year period of depression.
I started to get dizzy spells and feeling sick, and violent migraines. I took myself to the GP and they did blood tests and it turned out I was developing symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
I thought no bloody way am I going to let myself become diabetic. Got a personal trainer rather than focusing on diet. Lost 5 stone and made a life style change not a diet. Feel amazing now, love exercise and find the endorphins 1000 times better than a slice of cake or a pizza. So it's about changing your life style not going on a stupid diet and focusing on calorie counting or hoping slimming pills or shakes will do it magically for you.
I would recommend something like couch to 5k to give you some goals and definitely get to park run it has an amazing community.
Remember you can do this, you are the maker of your own luck and if you want it enough it will happen!

That's amazing @HerondaleDucks how long did it take you to lose it?
I would love a PT but can't really afford anything like that for the next 12 months or so. I'd love to start running again as I did it a few years ago and really enjoyed it!

I think I'm lacking motivation because I know I can never stick to things for more than 6 months, partly because of my mental health. But it's better to keep trying and risk failing than give up entirely!

I think couch to 5k might be the place to start!

Think long term, more life style change than diet.
Don’t try to eat only foods you do t really like, you’ll be miserable. Concentrate on more veg, healthier foods in general, and much smaller portions. Don’t say ‘no more chocolate/cake: crisps etc’. If you want something have it, but only if you really want it. Savour treats, don’t just inhale them.
Find exercise that you enjoy. Be it walking,DVDs, dance, gym classes, whatever. So much easier to do exercise when you enjoy it.
Don’t beat yourself up and keep going no matter what.
I enjoyed ‘I can make you thin’ by Paul McKenna. Found it really opened my eyes to how I ate.
Good luck.

The book say goodbye to overeating by gillian Riley.

Thank you @EleanorLavish I think you're definitely right about making it a long term goal. I think I panic when I think ahead when really I should be focusing on one day at a time to keep it simple and manageable.

I'm glad I started this thread as it's just reminded me a customer told me last week about a woman who does small women's only classes so you get the benefit of a PT without the expense. I've given her a message as I think it'll do me good to meet other women and to start taking care of myself for once!

I've struggled so much and all my energy goes into looking after DS, the dog and the house. Then there's little left for myself at the end!

I lost over 4 stones 9 years ago but gradually put almost all of it back on. :(. I can’t remember what motivated me to do it but it took 9 months and I felt amazing. I just got up one day and decided to go to a slimming group and something just clicked. It stayed off for a couple of years but gradually crept on again so I’ve just gone back and lost 1.5 st so far. I want to lose at least another 2 st but don’t want to go as low as before because it was too hard to keep off.
Tell yourself you can do it, try a group - you can make some great friends, and take it in tiny chunks; 2lb at a time, half stone targets etc.
Depression or mental health must make it hard but couch to 5k will help with wellbeing I would think and your health generally will improve immensely.
Good luck with it and take care 🙂

Severe stress. It's not a method I recommend; nor, I suspect, would most GPs.

Friend pointed out a short dress in a shop window and said ‘What do you think of that? Not for you obviously’

Honestly the times I've lost weight has never been a conscious decision. I've been really depressed but external events have made me so busy or stressed or excited I've not eaten as much. Being mentally occupied and out socially really helps. Eating doesn't take long it's all the time in between you need to worry about. Hope you make time for you op. Time alone really tired watching tele is my code red!

I lost 1stone over a year and got back to a healthy BMI it was mainly middle age spread which didn’t respond to my previous attempts at dieting & exercise. Our workplace started offering 1 hour exercise classes straight each evening after work Mons-Fri for an nominal fee so I signed up and after 3 months I could see positive changes in my body shape but only lost 1kg. I then decided to not eat breakfast 3 days a week when my mornings were really busy so cutting down my calories (tried5:2 but couldn’t get on with it) without noticing after 3 months I had lost another 6 kg. I’m now maintaining my weight by eating sensibly (though do have regular alcohol and chocolate) and do at least 1hour structured exercise 6 days a week

I lost five and a half stone on the cancer diet, I don't recommend it .

A serious health scare gave me the push that I needed. I was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism at the end of May this year,after feeling increasingly ill for the previous 10 days. I was told that if I'd left it another 2 or 3 days it could have killed me. Although I was told that being overweight probably didn't cause it,it wouldn't have helped. Nonetheless,I decided there and then that I WAS going to lose the weight,and keep it off this time. I've lost 3 stone 4 lbs since the 28th May,and have gone from a size 24 to a 20,and I feel so much better for it already.. I still have another 6 stone to go,but I'm confident that I can do it this time.