So big I barely recognised myself

[Unrecogniseabletomyself]

I saw myself in a mirror today and barely recognised myself. Genuinely didn't look like me. I am so big, my shape is lost.

I keep getting bigger. I am aware in talking in some sorry of passive way about this, yet it's entirely within my control to change it. I seem completely unable to stop overeating. I really do know that sounds feeble and it's not true. Yet I still can't seem to do anything about it.

Have you been at this point and what changed things for you? It affects my health, my confidence, my day to day life. I have young children and I hate being unhealthy.

I have had a stressful few years but I am doing much better, have dealt with that, yet I keep getting bigger. I don't know what answer I'm looking for. I'm hoping there is some way too approach this that will make a difference.

I thought about slimming clubs but can't find any on nights in free too attend. I have wasted money on gym membership.

I’ve been intermittent fasting since the beginning of the year after baby 3 last Sept. Its greatly reduced my appetite and stopped me thinking about food all the time. I also feel very energised. Look it up (Michael Mosley fast 800) it’s brill! 🍀

Following for inspiration. I've done so many plans, diets and ways of eating and read so many articles on 'good' or 'bad' foods I guilt about pretty much everything I put into my mouth unless it's green vegetables.

LCHF works well for me with regard to hunger/weight loss but I find I can't seem sustain it and have a social life or eat with my family.

I'm doing more exercise than ever at the moment but am at my heaviest although my legs must have changed shape as I'm not rubbing through my jeans at the thigh any more.

I'm another one saying read Fast 800 book by Dr Michael Mosley. It's a revelation.

I've always been an emotional eater, binger etc. 6 stone overweight. Ignored all the 5:2 / fasting stuff for a long time as thought there was no way I could survive on it. But the science behind it is incredible and now I've implemented it it's amazing how the cravings and bingeing have gone almost overnight. And I don't really get hungry as I'm now eating the right things for my body. Plus the food is bloody delicious as it's full fat and none of this artificial sweeteners/fat free nonsense.

I'm in the Facebook groups and it's amazing seeing the loss and lifestyle changes people are making. I also believe the nhs are starting to move towards this way of eating.

Please read the book!!

Thank you Pear, i also want to reread your post full of info and advice.

What helped me hugely was reading the Obesity Code. I’ve lost a stone in a month following his fasting methods. I had a crap holiday this year as I was so conscious of my weight. I was the biggest I’d ever been outside of pregnancy. Plus I’m heading for the menopause and just refuse to be old and fat. I just can’t fall into the stereotype.

I had no time to do all the good preparation so many of these diets require. Separate meals and endless cooking for family on top. Fuck that. I also can’t stand low fat, low calorie nonsense food. So it made masses of sense to passively diet. I instead fast. When I eat I eat food I like, when I’m not eating I have time to do other stuff. It’s perfect!

*food

There is so much on this thread that resonates with me as well.
I am the fattest I have ever been, I binge when I am unhappy and I am definitely addicted to sugar. OH said he was starting to get embarrassed by me and my weight. I have ruined so many holidays because I was so unhappy.
As soon as I tell myself I need to do something about it, I do the exact opposite because I am a contrary sod and hate being told what to do. Even if I am telling myself what to do 😲
I am trying to accept myself before I work on losing weight.
Congratulations and more power to your elbow to those who have cracked it. 😃

The book talks about breaking the link between eating and weight in a a way. So what would i chose to eat if I could be my ideal size and shape tomorrow if we had a cast iron guarantee that i wouldn't gain no matter what i eat. Would i choose to eat in a way that nurtures/honours my body, my health and fitness and reduces my risk of disease most of the time? Because that's what she maintains is most likely to lead to long term sustainable weight loss. A focus on eating for the non weight loss benefits and to improve self esteem. Weight loss is then just a happy side effect rather than the goal in and of itself. Its very interesting reading and big time food for thought. She says it's still ok to be mindful of looking good for an event or the holidays but not as the primary or only motivation. She also hammers home the importance of recognising your free choice at all times as key to stave away that feeling of diet rebellion a pp mentioned.
Anyway I've waffled on enough about it.

Chrissmasjammies are you talking about the Gillian Riley book? A few people have mentioned different books on this thread so just wanted to check which one you are referring to?

xx

Hi Gemi yes that's it. She has 2 the first one is called ' eating less,' and then 'ditching diets' . I'm not sure my summaries do them justice she phrases things much better.

This is a brilliant thread. I am going to go back and re read it.

I’ve ordered the book Jammies! You’ve got me intrigued!

Same here op.i know I'm too large but seeing myself in the round in A lift yesterday deeply depressed me I'm huge and I can't do slimming clubs because I've tired it in in the past and it makes me focus on food too much.

However what I did say to myself which did make me feel marginally more in control was...

What do you honestly expect. You don't exercise, drink too much, have a sweet tooth.

Which did make me feel slightly better because excise does help its just getting started. When I was slimmer but needed to loose a stone or two, with month of excersie (starting moderately and building up but not running) and watching diet I found I saw results so quickly which gave the impetus to carry on.

Now I'm so fat I can't see any difference and usually give up by the time it's actually starting to work.

She shoots, I'm not bad at fasting... How long do yiu fast for

Monday - I like your comment about being a contrary sod! Me too but I’m trying to work on it.

@EttyG I've read the Fast800 book and really like the idea of it but few of the recipes appeal, is there anywhere you could recommend to try different ones?

@notso most of my recipes come from the fast800 recipe book (i think it's £7 in Tesco at the moment, and you can have a flick through it).

The fast 800 Facebook group is also good for inspiration and I also google search for them.

I also adapt, so the prawn korma in the book, I changed to chicken korma as I don't like prawns.

But also it might be worth stepping outside comfort zone and just trying some, they are delicious. I'm eating different foods than before and finding them tasty. Like kale and butter beans!

Thanks @EttyG, I bought the book on my kindle ages ago. I've regularly do the classic thing of reading it on a Sunday thinking I'm starting Monday. Monday comes and I eat a baguette for lunch and that's the end of that.
I can fast quite easily and don't usually eat anything until 11-12 o'clock except tea or the odd cappuccino.

It's the breakfast foods that I struggle with most, I don't really like fruit certainly not first thing and I don't like eggs, mushrooms or raw tomatoes. I really wish I did and I keep trying them to set a good example to my children but I just can't swallow them!

So many of us with similar struggles. I am tired just now, a general "how did this happen!" life feeling. I felt like everyone was looking at me today because it was so fat. I spent my day pretending I don't care and it's exhausting.

The scariest thought is that I'm so fat that I can't change and that fear still lingers - but reading that others have done it helps. I'm going to start reading and planning. I'm guessing changing habits and the thoughts behind them isn't a quick thing. I'll definitely do the reading suggested here.

@notso with fast 800 you tend to have 2 meals a day. Maybe around 12 then 6. So you could actually skip the traditional breakfast anyway (and break your fast with something more lunch like).

I know 2 meals a day doesn't sound much, but the meals are so filling and delicious that it's not that hard. I do get a bit of hunger when it's nearly meal time but it's not like a sugar crash type hunger where I would want to devour everything in sight.

Honestly I am a usually a full on binge eater. Solo mum with a toddler and very little energy due to significant sleep issues. Zero will power. Yet so far it's the most successful I've been in the last 7 years, even pre toddler!

OP the key for me about changing habits was to tackle one thing at a time.

Yes it takes a while but you also don't beat yourself up and throw in the towel when life gets in the way and you slip up a bit with the new habit.

I would say it took 6 months to really adjust to a new way of thinking but all that time I slowly lost weight.

The weight didn't fall off quickly like the big fast/restriction diets but then I was still eating out, having the odd slice of cake etc. 9 months have pasted and several people have commented that I have lost a lot of weight and they were surprised as they hadn't seen me 'dieting'.

Watch the BBC Horizon episode called Eat, Fast and Live Longer as it explains it really well, should be a link for it on google.

This for me too. I've been doing 5:2 since late last year and have lost 14kg or so, nearly at "maintenance" now. And hand on heart it hasn't been difficult, and I haven't restricted myself too much as to what I eat on non-fast days.

Good luck OP and others .

Another one advocating for low carb and intermittent fasting.

I did both. I lost the weight, it curbed my appetite, I lost the cravings for crap food and have kept the weight off.

I don't eat diet/low fat foods ever - only ever ear full fat versions of everything and food that is typically avoided during 'dieting'.

It's true that you feel more satiated and inclined to snack/binge on rubbish. I go to the gym once a week - it's never going to make me a supermodel, but I can feel and see my body changing through that. I only ever go to the free sessions at our local council run gym.

And, throughout, if I wanted a slice if cake or a pint of beer, I had it. You have to make it work for you.

'Normal' eating patterns allow you to eat a slice of cake or a pint of beer. Just not the whole cake or the whole barrel.

Re IF, I found that the first 'fast day's was hardest. After the first week, i struggled to feel hungry y on my normal days which made eating sensibly a lot easier!

One thing to bear in mind op - everyone will advocate for the diet they're doing. But diets won't help you to deal with the reasons why you're overeating in the first place.