How realistic is losing 20kg?

[TheSlayer]

I was always pretty slim and did lots of exercise. Very rarely over 10st or size ten but I was very active.
I have put on an enormous amount of weight since having my baby, partly no exercise, partly the antidepressants I'm on make me stress eat and lockdown and lifestyle changes.
I've got loads of good quality clothes I am loathe to chuck out or donate, if there's a chance I will get back into them.
I'm 85kg and remember 65kg was my good muscle ratio.
I also have the issue I have not got the strength or stamina for the sports I used to do, aerial fitness, but my knees are fucked so I can't do running or jumping and my pelvic floor was anilated by baby's debut.

Just wondering if it's possible or if I should just settle in with some nice biscuits?

Of course it's possible if you want to do it. Focus on food though not exercise, weight loss is about 80-90% about what you eat. I've lost over 50kg in the last 21 months and I only started exercising in Jan.

Just to say I'm not saying either of these weights or sizes are good or bad, so please don't take any offense by it. I've a pretty weird figure and previously had built up much more muscle. I also am terrible at maths so may be super off. It's at least 3 dress sizes difference on a good day. 4 on a bad day.
But for myself, I'm bigger, clumsier and my sport is nigh impossible until I lose some extra weight because I'm not strong enough to haul it up if that makes sense.

I've got to admit, I've never really used food as a way to lose weight. I tried for my wedding and quickly realised I have self control issues. The pills I'm on give me the munchies too.

Do you mean cutting down food, swapping out food or really strict dieting?
I know my mum has had some success with weight watchers so I don't know if it's worth doing something like that.

I've lost over 50kg
What a fantastic achievement, well done!

I'm 14kg down from March with an initial goal of 20kg, but will probably shift it to 25kg. I would say more than do-able!

I just use myfitnesspal to track calories and exercise. There is a great community forum there too.

I'm 14kg down from March
Wow that's a great achievement. Do you mind me asking what activity you do alongside it please?

I would try and do it without dieting to be honest - dieting is a horrible roller coaster, although you will get tonnes of comments telling you to cut carbs or join slimming world etc they’re not massively sustainable long term. You do need to change your eating habits though. I would suggest either Eating Well for Optimal Health by Andrew Weil which is an absolute classic or checking out books by the Medicinal Chef. Both advocate sensible healthy eating based on the Mediterranean diet. MC is on Instagram too. Exercise wise you could start off by walking if you haven’t exercised for a while. Aim to get out everyday for an hour or so. I started this in Feb and lost weight. Once the gyms re-opened I went back to my PT and also do 2 or 3 classes a week. My knees weren’t great when I started so my PT sessions worked a lot on core strength and weights. You could look at lower impact exercise like Pilates or swimming too. I’ve lost about 30lbs which I think is about 14 or 15kilos.

I lost a stone and 10lb (no idea how much that is in kg sorry) between the start of the year and early May this year. Very little exercise apart from walking, but I ate less, tracked what I ate on my fitness pal and counted calories.

I’m short and have a naturally small frame, so the weight wasn’t looking good on me and I was at least two, more like three, clothes sozes bigger than I should have been.

I’ve put 4lb back on, but I’m back tracking and eating less this week and I’m more on track.

Im only just the right side of a healthy BMI. I have another stone to go before I’m bang in the middle of the healthy range. It’s hard, but possible.

You can do it! I lost 22kg last year from 84kg to 62kg and am now able to maintain. I did this through intermittent fasting. I usually eat for 6 hours of the day and fast for 18 (18/6). At the weekend I switch and I'll do 16/8. I try to eat as healthily as possible but no food is banned. Look it up on the web. At the beginning I just made sure I moved around a lot of bought a fitbit to monitor my steps. I go jogging now as well but it's what you eat and when you eat that's the most important.

I've done it. Mainly calorie counting and the 30 day shred. Good luck. I've got 7 or 8 to lose now and am totally failing to find the motivation

Arrggh, I have just looked on the NHS bmi and I'm in the overweight nearly obese bit.
Previously I ranged on the healthy weight/underweight side.

This is not good.

I lost mine through Slimming World but that's just what works for me. The main thing is to cut out the junk and focus on fruit and veg and a healthy balance of other foods. At the end of the day that's what's sustainable.

I have started Ww recently and doing well so far. I'm totally on it at the moment

I have given up trying to exercise and when I have lost a bit more weight, I'll try and get back into it when I have a fee more pounds off

I've lost over 30kg, barely did any exercise, all via diet and healthy eating, it's a long slog but definetly worth it!

OP I had more than that to lose after pregnancy. I work in fitness and had never really put on weight before that. I had a terrible back for months as well but the magic word is consistency! I ate really well even though it was so hard in the early.montbs and got out walking for hours with the pushchair every day. I lost it all, .& It helped back issues too. Losing the weight will also help with your pelvic issues.

I know it feels insurmountable but it is defo doable, one step at a time.

I also believe it's a lot more down to food than exercise, though both are important.

I've lost 11lbs over about 8 weeks and would like to lose a lot more. My main changes have been to stop the mindless snacking and reducing portion sizes by loading half of my plate with salad and veg. I'm still eating the same foods as before but just less of them.

OP & others on this thread, I want to use you as my inspo! I'm roughly the same weight and want to lose the same. I put the weight on with baby no 1. Had baby no 2 and only put on 10kg and was back to prebaby within a few weeks. Thought this is great, the weight is failing off like they said it would. Here I am 18 months later and i'm still the same weight!!!!!

I think my downfall is lattes and portion sizes as I eat well & rarely drink alcohol. 2 kids so I'm always on the move but with a 3 year old all the walking is not at the fastest of paces.

This was my two experiences.

To start is hard
Once you get going it's easy.....until
Last half stone, which is difficult again
And keeping it off I found impossible!

For me, the only way to get there and keep it off is to take up regular, lifetime, exercise. Even walking but that has to be a decent distance.

I've settled in now, overweight again, but stable. That's the problem if you don't do anything, where does it end?

So all the very best of luck! Anything you lose is better than bigger.

@daisyducky

OP & others on this thread, I want to use you as my inspo! I'm roughly the same weight and want to lose the same. I put the weight on with baby no 1. Had baby no 2 and only put on 10kg and was back to prebaby within a few weeks. Thought this is great, the weight is failing off like they said it would. Here I am 18 months later and i'm still the same weight!!!!!

I think my downfall is lattes and portion sizes as I eat well & rarely drink alcohol. 2 kids so I'm always on the move but with a 3 year old all the walking is not at the fastest of paces.

The toddler/young child years are definitely tough. They're too old to be pushed miles in a pram but haven't the stamina to go for miles so all the walks you do are at a snail's pace. My eldest is 4 now and we're just about getting there, especially with the help of a scooter!

I've joined the gym again as well and have been banishing the irrational guilt i've had about leaving perfectly capable and accommodating DH to do mealtimes/bathtimes while i get a quick gym session in after work once a week.

Eat regular,count your calories and don't drink your calories.
Give yourself a realistic goal and really don't think of it as a diet.
Healthy eating,but nothing is off limits if it's included in your calories.
I've lost nearly 2 stone since Feb doing just this.And drink water.

I would say hard! I dropped from
81kg (size 14/16 for my height and build) to around 56kg using weight watchers and a lot of exercise. The weight was literally falling off me even on the WW “maintenance” plan to the point where I had to stop tracking food / points and sat at around 60kg for a short time but over about 10yrs I’ve crept up to 70kg and finding it hard even to shift 1kg! I’m putting some of it down to age / peri menopause / hormonal issues but I tried WW again last year and spent 3 months starving and miserable for the sake of loosing a couple of lb. I do struggle to balance my exercise that makes me hungrier with eating though.