Shit - I weigh 14 stone

[walkersareback]

I am 5 foot tall. I have always struggled with my weight and since Covid I've not even bothered to weigh myself. The last time I did weigh myself I was 12 stone seven. Today I decided to see what I weighed as I have had a couple of busy weeks. Shock is an understatement. !

I have been in denial about my weight – blaming it on menopause and other hormonal issues. I obviously need to get a grip for my health at the very least. Have any of you successfully lost around four stone and kept it off.

Could you please share how you did it and provide any advice/help. Thank you

Snap op, 43 & I’m 5’1 so a wee bit taller and a fraction under 14stone and for me I feel like a blob, nothing fits properly, I’m lugging myself about and I am miserable. Tired and look bloated. I have the added joy of having no thyroid so currently changing down meds a bit as was on too much. About to join a nice gym to help with energy levels but it’s a vicious cycle as I get so tired I over do it and then eat so I need to also cut out white bread etc I do feel that being too drastic is unrealistic I want to cut right down and reduce portion sizes whilst also being able to exercise etc cutting stuff out makes me want it more
happy to chat nice to hear other peoples experiences.

I'm just here for ideas. During the first lockdown, I calorie counted and did yoga every day. I lost 3 stone. But then I had an accident, couldn't exercise, started stress eating and put it all back on again.

It's controversial to say this and it's and not for everyone but i am using Saxenda. It's worked brilliantly for me.

It's expensive on from Boots online doctor but worth it for me.

Do check it out though.

I have lost a stone in 8 weeks so for me it's been reasonably slow and steady but others have larger loses.

I thought it was just me!!

Deffo cut out processed foods and sugar. A lot of the effort will be done then tbh as the weight will fall off. Processed food changes the way our bodies deal with fats. Eat pure ingredients and our bodies will go back to default

Everyone’s different. If you have insulin resistance you’ll need a different kind of diet and I would strongly recommend a properly qualified dietician.

I'm 5 ft 2 and thankfully have reduced from about 12st 7 to 10 at 10. Still far from ideal but it's taken at least 18 months to reduce this much.I'm vegan and need to be really careful of nuts and bread in particular.
Counting my steps has been really important, drinking lots of water and planning my meals. I can't tell you how many times the high fat and calorie plant life m&s reduced meals have tempted me and thrown my calorie consumption completely.
I've a DH who thinks nothing of buying a kg bag of vegan sweets for me, vegan chocolate etc and I have to be really cross with him.I actually think buying these sort of treats for someone who struggles with their weight is abusive.
Fitness Pal where I log my food has been really important, realising that you've had your entire calories by lunchtime is a great lesson.

Those of you doing OMAD, how does it work? Do you eat nothing else all day? Or do you have some snacks but only one main meal? How high calorie is your meal?

If in doubt don’t eat at all have a coffee 😁. If I don’t eat breakfast then I don’t crave mid morning snack either then a small lunch. That’s what 500 calories less each day already with minimal effort

Have tried not to snack this week but this morning I was starving at work so as a granola bar.

The hot weather has meant that we are having more salads and fruit so that has got to help.

I think I should try to cut out bread most days as suggested.

Please keep posting it is really useful to read your stories and advice.

I weighed myself and have lost 5lb. Things like tomatoes and pickled onions and bits of cheese are helping with the snacking.

Good luck <3

Haven't read the whole thread but didn't want to read and run .. just wanted to say I've always been big but these things ( and only these things helped.. a lot .. I lost six dress sizes .. still can't type the weight I was !): intermittent fasting
( break fast with protein like fage yoghurt never sugar or fruit)/ high protein ( not powder.. yoghurt/ steak/ chicken/ green veg)/ no booze for most of the week and gin and sodas when I do drink ... I feel your pain OP I was much much heavier than you and felt so awful about it but got it off and have kept it off xx

Also no sugar - just obvious sugar items .. honestly though intermittent fasting was amazing .. tried OMAD but couldn't function or exercise ( I started yoga and Pilates before work on YouTube and I didn't have the energy with OMAD

I've just lost almost 2 stone and I'm a similar height. I still have a way to go!

I have:

Cut out mostly all bread - have the occasional small wrap or small wholemeal bread roll.

Eaten a lot more salad, veg and fruit.

Only eating lean meat or fish. If I want sausages or a burger for a BBQ I'll buy reduced fat ones.

I make lower calorie versions of things. Dips, coleslaw etc.

I cook with Frylight.

I limit my chocolate but have a small amount most days.

I eat decent sized meals but fill up the plate with veg or salad, pickles etc.

18st 8lbs and 5ft 5. (160cms in new money).

It's causing problems with my knees, hip joints, and an ankle injury sustained a year ago. I also have atrial fibrillation and the GP wants to prescribe edoxaban, an anticoagulant. (I am resisting because of the side effects)I was in total denial. I realise now I need to urgently do something about it.

DH is carrying some extra timber too so we're going to try and lose some weight together. I've bought some scales! I already have a bike to cycle to work on! I hate gyms and organised exercise. I prefer to have a purpose, like walk to the shops instead of taking the bus. I find gyms and classes repetitive and pointless.

I'm cutting out all the crap food and as a pp said, trying to "eat clean". No processed stuff. Minimal use of oil and spreads.

I've looked into Noom etc but they are expensive! So will try and just stick to low calorie low fat high protein.

I've found myself doing OMAD only because when I eat low carb, high fat with a f**k tonne of green veg and drink loads of water, my blood sugar is very stable and I hardly ever feel hungry.

It the only way that has ever worked for me to moderate my eating.

You would be very welcome over on the Mumsnet Low Carb Bootcamp thread. Loads of information backed up with a lot of experience and warm, friendly approach.

Looking back, I started putting on weight when I started following low fat calories restrictive diets in the late 1970's. Switching to low carb, I had a few days of serious cravings for sugar, which I resisted so that they eventually gave up and went away, just like a toddler who stops tantrumming when there is no-one watching. Those cravings come back occasionally, often in locations or situations where I had got into the habit of having a sweet treat (so like dear Pavlov's dogs) Overall, my life is so much better for not being in the rollercoaster of sugar cravings.

When I eat low carb and avoid sugar, I can moderate my food consumption so much more easily than if I eat starchy and sugary food.

It might not work for everyone but it really suits me very well.

@walkersareback I'm a big lady too, I got health conditions so I take meds and side effects are weight gain, how exciting...not. I have to eat low fat, I went to the hospital emergency recently and I realised I have to eat low fat.

I'm five foot and gained a lot during lockdown. Obviously diet matters, but the only thing that makes me lose weight consistently is a workout three times a week. (Also very beneficial for menopausal mental health etc too.)

I lost 3.5 stone 5 years ago and Kept it off.
I started with weightwatchers- found it really annoying and kept rebelling against the points so only ended up doing it for a couple of weeks but in that time I did really learn just how bad some foods were as opposed to others.
From then on I stopped following any kind of set plan, diets don’t suit my mindset, they piss me off too much! I decided to make certain changes and to be aware of calories and healthy eating.
I cut out daily drinking (still drank if a social occasion), cut portions, cut snacking, upped veggies and swapped out puddings for frozen banana and options hot choc!
I didn’t cut out carbs because I love them and in fact my meals were often jacket potatoes, pasta etc- I just made sure what was on them was not fatty / high calorie.
If I wanted a treat- eg pudding at a restaurant, a slice of cake at work, I would but not too often.
I also batch cooked things that I liked that were lower in calories, froze portions and then I had easy healthy mid week dinners when I was too tired from long day to cook properly.
I also upped amount of daily walking- stopped using bus / car for shorter journeys or went for walks after work
I was mid 40s when I stated and it took about 6 - 7 months to lose the weight, so not fast but in that time I changed my eating habits and have just more or less stuck to that which has meant the weight has stayed off.
Wish you lots of luck in your journey!

@alex

Has anyone actually lost 4st and looked ok afterwards? I have 4st to lose but I’m worried about loose skin.

Sorry don't know what happened there. 😂
@AlexandriasWindmill

On a typical day of omad I don't have food all day.
I have black coffee and black tea if I get peckish but that's usually it.
If I'm feeling a bit rubbish I'll put salt in my water, milk in my tea and coffee, I also have electrolyte tablets. Whatever helps you stick to it.
When I finally eat in the evening, its a big meal.. I also take a multivitamin and omega 3 tablet with it just in case I'm missing any food groups.

I work from home so I find I don't feel like i need to eat more than once, but on the days I have my son I'll normally have something light but healthy to keep me going, as I'm a lot more active. E.g yesterday I had tomato soup, sometimes I'll have a bit of cheese just to keep my electrolyte levels balanced.
It's really easy if you stick to it properly and have a good balanced meal, preferably with some protein to keep you going. It does take a couple weeks to get used to it and might be harder if you struggle with your blood sugar

I'm 5ft3 and at my heaviest I was 13 and change. I managed to lose 4st with calorie counting and TONS of exercise (running). I more or less maintained that loss until I conceived my 3yo. I gained 2st (but I was still lighter than in my teens so not terrible). Got married and lost 1.5st for the wedding (same way calorie controlling and running), then got depressed found a new job and gained it back. For the past 12-8 weeks I've started a new routine, the difference bis I can't run, so try to keep it all at home + walking the dog. With that routine, I probably lost 1/2 a stone. However, this week I've experimented with tons more walking and an extra cardio session (because of the old adage that it's 80 diet / 20 exercise), plateau is gone, and I've lost 2.5lbs! Conclusion, I need cardio to lose weight, otherwise it's just slow and potentially not very productive.

How is this not an eating disorder.

@daisyjgrey

Well for one you are still eating every day, you eat a balanced meal and it can be whatever you want.. It prevents you from overeating but you can actually still eat too much on it.. I have.
Two, it's actually well researched intermittent fasting can be beneficial, especially if you are overweight.. It's a modern thing to be eating all the time throughout the day.
Three, the person doing it doesn't have mental health problems with eating.. If you have an eating disorder I wouldn't recommend doing any diets personally until you sort your mental health out. But as you can see in my post I am doing it responsibly, supplementing and making sure I keep my electrolyte levels up, eating more than once if I feel I need to.
I'm actually the healthiest I've ever been on it and only lost half a stone in 2 months so it's not that drastic as long as you are doing it right. I lose about 1 pound a week on it, but that's when I'm sticking to it rigidly which as you can see I don't.