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Original poster

Horrified with myself...

29 replies

Iamclearlyamug · 30/10/2022 02:18

I know I've been gaining weight over the last year, I'm not stupid.

I knew that clothes that fitted me last year now don't fit, I knew that I couldn't run 5k any more, I knew I was eating way more than I should be. Refused to weigh myself as I was afraid of the answer and just didn't want to face it.

But for some reason I just swept it aside and pretended it wasn't happening. Until now. I'm waking in the night with terrible heartburn and acid reflux - googled it and read that it can be made worse by being overweight.

So I weighed myself. I AM 14 STONE 2LB 😭😭 I've never weighed that much before in my life, I'm 5'6 and a full 3 stone overweight. 18 months ago I weighed 10st 9 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

How has it come to this 😥😥 please give me some encouragement, a hand hold or something - it's 2am and I'm in tears, and can't sleep because of the hideous burning in my throat from acid reflux 😟

OP posts:
Ihaveamagicwand · 30/10/2022 02:41

I can recommend Gaviscon or equivalent, and sleeping propped up for the acid reflux.Been there and that’s what helped with mine.

And tomorrow is another day, good for a new start? Good luck OP!

mrsbyers · 30/10/2022 02:50

Awake with same , I find a glass of milk helps

Gunpowder · 30/10/2022 02:50

Holding your hand. You can do this! Maybe do couch to 5K? And lots of people do well with 16:8/5:2/fast 800. You can do this. It is the start of an exciting journey back to wear you want to be. Don’t beat yourself up.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Teaandcrumpets95 · 30/10/2022 02:54

Second gaviscon, I found the double action tablets really good when I was pregnant.

Don't cry , knowledge is power. And if you want you can absolutely do something about it.
If it helps I'm the same height as you and I weighted about that after having my baby this year and I've since lost 19lbs and am confident I can hit my goal around the end of the year. Years ago I was 15.5 st and got down to 8 st ( not going that far this time). If you want to change it you can, but please don't be upset, I know it's disheartening but life happens and weight fluctuates through life it's part of being human x

YukoandHiro · 30/10/2022 03:04

Do you know why you've gained? Is it menopause? Have you been comfort eating for emotional reasons? Have you been unable to exercise due to work/family/other commitments?
If you're able to isolate what's changed In the last year I'm sure you'll be able to find a way back. It will probably require some solid commitment for the first three months or so, but it will be possible.
I've also started gaining in the last six months. It's because I've found the juggle with work, childcare and trying to move house (which we've finally done) so stressful and my diet has really taken a back seat. I need to get on that.

Answerthedoor · 30/10/2022 03:13

I have Rennie in my bedside table for night time emergencies, lots of things make heartburn worse - are you taking any other meds like neurogenic?

MintyFinty · 30/10/2022 03:16

If its any consolation I'd love to be 14st 2lb.

Joystir59 · 30/10/2022 03:21

mrsbyers · 30/10/2022 02:50

Awake with same , I find a glass of milk helps

Drinking plenty of water helps enormously with heartburn

PearsInASalad · 30/10/2022 03:49

I'm in the same boat, I've been slim my whole life but slowly been getting fatter and fatter since the pandemic hit. I've now reached 14st 5lb and I'm absolutely disgusted with my body and the heartburn keeps me awake for hours😫

You've been overeating by about 300kcals a day on average - I always find it really helpful to know that bit!

Omeprazole is amazing for heartburn if none of the milder medications work for you and it lasts a good few days, though it's not to be taken long term.

FurnitureDisease · 30/10/2022 04:16

I found Tums were the only thing that worked for me. Bit pricey but amazing. They sell on Amazon

I was this weight recently due to pregnancy even though I wasn’t actually eating that much differently etc.
I think mostly lack of exercise and hormones did it.

Ive also been larger at uni due to poor diet and no exercise.

Im the same height 5ft 6

You CAN do this. It’s ok to be upset etc.
Perhaps view this as the little push you needed to get things started?

Its all the boring stuff we already know that has to be done if you’d like to make a change.

Blah blah out lots of sugar, junk foods, crisps etc.

What worked for me was doing this, but still will small treats here and there because A) you need to live life and B) it’s sustainable

If it’s possible to exercise weight lifting completely transformed my figure and gave me so much confidence.

I hope to return to it soon myself.

I know how hard this can be, you got this xx

Wingingit11 · 30/10/2022 05:41

Also come to the same realisation OP in the last week, coupled with a bit of midlife crisis ! There is a good thread I’ll try to link below

Blablablaaaaa · 30/10/2022 05:53

Try an experiment - going gluten free for the week to rid reflux

get moving. 10k steps daily.

do one week of calorie counting to understand portion size

have a cup of tea or glass of water before eating anything

Original poster
Iamclearlyamug · 30/10/2022 06:10

Thanks so much everyone

Definitely not menopause, I'm only 33.

I think a lot of it is stress related, I've always been an emotional eater and at different stages of my life I've had it under control better than others.

Basically I'm a binge eater - I'm actually fairly active, although not running or gym or sports I do have a physical job. But I can very easily get through 4000 calories a day sometimes, and I can get very hangry (even though I'm probably not actually hungry if that makes sense) sugar addiction maybe?

Who knows, I just know I've finally hit rock bottom 😥

OP posts:
anxiousatnight · 30/10/2022 06:33

Hey OP, I've been very much in the same boat as you this year. It's so hard.

We sound really similar. I'm fairly active and don't mind running and home HIIT workouts, but I'm an emotional eater and my diet is awful. I cook fairly good meals for myself and my family, but it's the snacking on crap which is my downfall.

I'm the same height and age as you. I was 14st 5lbs at the start of this year. I've managed to loose a bit and I'm about 12st 12lbs now, but I'd so love to shift another stone. I did a 10 week overhaul with a PT in January which is how I lost that bit of weight, but that involved a fair amount of targeted exercise and whilst my weight has mainly stayed the same, I've gained inches because I'm not doing the intense exercise anymore.

Do you fancy an accountability thread? We could check in daily and keep each other going?

The stupid thing is I'm on a diet every day of my life, except I'm not because I mess it up binging on crap. I'm hungry because even though I'm eating way too much, the rubbish I'm eating makes me feel more hungry. I'm never in a good place with food so I don't actually enjoy what I'm eating. I'm constantly in diet mode but never loosing any weight. It's a horrible cycle that effects every aspect of my life.

WrongLife · 30/10/2022 06:35

I'm 3" taller than you and 2 stone heavier and it's soul destroying. I don't have any advice as I have no idea where to start myself.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 30/10/2022 06:44

Don't be so hard on yourself. It's not the end of the world and you can change it if you really want to. It's totally up to you.
My advice is to only make one small change every three weeks.
example:
-drink more water each day
-take a short walk after lunch and dinner
-pack your own meals to work
-go to bed a half hour earlier
-wake up a half hour earlier and take a short jog or do another exercise for 20 minutes

Small and incremental changes always work best in the long term. 😊

TheaBrandt · 30/10/2022 06:50

You can turn this round. Same height as you I got to 12 stone had a medical and was told I was officially overweight which brought me up short.

Intermittent fasting sorted me out. Read Michael Mosley. Totally changed the way I eat though still eat nice stuff just less of it. Lost 2 stone and 3 years later kept it off and feel great for it. Also read or listen to Tom Watson Downsizing.

TheaBrandt · 30/10/2022 06:51

I disagree about the small changes. I went in fast and hard it’s motivating when the weight drops off. But guess it’s down to personality type

ohnoohnoo · 30/10/2022 06:52

Same boat here op. I have put on 3 stone since the pandemic and the heart burn has been horrific. I finally forced myself to join slimming world again yesterday and I'm actually feeling much brighter about getting back to it today.
I know it's not for everyone but it's something that I'm hoping will work for me!

Fireballxl5 · 30/10/2022 06:54

When I had painful heartburn and reflux I lost weight because I was so scared to eat normally.
You may find that tackling the heartburn will do the same for you.
I ate an apple every day, I bought liquorice dgl from H&B which really helped and I cut out wheat and ate minimal dairy.
I still eat only small amounts of wheat.

Rather than concentrate on only your weight think more about your health and adjust your diet accordingly.
And if you feel hangry have a drink of water first.

unicornsarereal72 · 30/10/2022 06:58

You have had your reality check. At the end of last year I was eating everything in sight. I'm an emotional eater and going through a difficult time

Something about being in the 14 stone bracket was my wake up call. I joined a small ladies running group. I'm no runner at all. But they were welcoming and inclusive. So twice a week I'd get out there. The exercise. Fresh air and socialising helped in so many ways. I was then able to think about my eating. It's not perfect but it is better and I'm three stone lighter.

You can do this. One day at a time.

sheusesmagazines · 30/10/2022 07:05

OP I've been there. I was nearly the same weight and height 3 months after having my first baby.

It sounds like you already understand about calories and running, so you are already halfway there.

I lost the weight and maintained by running just once a week, counting calories and sometimes intermittent fasting. I tend to binge eat too and intermittent fasting allowed me to have pretty big portions at night which helped me.

I was also realistic about how long it would take and did it by losing 5-7 pounds a month.

You've done the hard bit which is weigh yourself and admit to yourself that there is an issue you want to change.

I know you can do it.

Niftythrifter · 30/10/2022 07:14

Try Weight Watchers, you don’t have to attend in person activities if you don’t want to as there is an app that you use where you choose your weigh day and enter your weight. No food is off limits and it teaches you about portion control etc. you also get points for the amount of exercise you do.

hattie43 · 30/10/2022 07:15

I could have written your post OP.
I have a whole wardrobe of lovely clothes I can't get into and am living with only wearing about 3 items that fit .