If you have lost a substantial amount of weight…

[redambergreen70]

Can you tell me about the benefits you’ve experienced or how it’s made you feel please?

I have a huge amount of weight to lose… likely around 8st but the task just seems so big and I’d like to hear other people’s stories.

This is me, I've lost 8 stone though diet and exercise alone. I'm mid forties took me about a year.
Benefits:
All movement is MUCH easier from getting out of bed to walking, sex, literally everything.
I can wear almost anything now and shop in any high street store.
I go out more and get invited out more (this can be a bit upsetting to be honest when you realise the comparison to before)
Exercise is easier and more enjoyable
More opportunities are open to you in lots of different ways, I can't emphasise this enough, you will have a new and much more interesting life being able to embrace as much as you wish to
Big improvements to my blood pressure, anxiety, and general feeling of health
I had an unrelated emergency operation and noticed that i didn't worry about doctors judging me because of my weight or having to factor it in at all, I am convinced I have recieved better health care attention since I have lost weight

Things to consider:
I am cold A LOT and I don't think my body has adjusted, I have had my electric blanket on literally every day including the summer
My breasts are... a bit different now
You will receive a LOT of comments mostly people trying to compliment you but many of these will be badly phrased "you look so much better now" "You're much more professional now' "You're actually not that bad looking " "don't go too far" "are you ill" etc. This will be multiple times a day. You'll have to deal with these with grace even though the third one of the day by 10am will make you want to scream.
It's a daily worry about keeping the weight off and people's perceptions and potential monitoring of you.
My hair is terrible now despite taking vitamins and having a really good diet. I've lost a lot of volume and the ends are thin. I have new hair but it won't grow beyond a couple of inches.
Facebook memories are difficult to deal with fashback photos to when I thought I looked nice make me cringe and I can see just how different I was and how much of my life was wasted to be honest

Overall yeah I am glad I managed to do this, I guess I am proud of the achievement but it's not over yet even though I am a normal weight. I think this is my ongoing challenge.
I'm not 100% sure what finally flipped the switch after 30 years. Possibly because I had someone I wanted to get to know better ;-) but also I found MyFitness Pal and maintaining a streak felt good!! I also weighed everything and it hit home that my portion control was insane. My diet wasn't ever horrendous but just waaaay too much. My bowl of cereal was 3 times what it should have been, nuts are much more calorific than I had realised and stodgy food just isn't worth it. I'm much more in tune with nutrition and eating for optimum benefit than eating crap, I literally will choose fruit over biscuits now happily. I am good at saying no. I do have slip ups but I do this with "healthier " foods like eating a massive bowl of porridge instead of a tub of ice cream.
I'm not an expert, I have complex food issues dating back decades and I am trying to access counselling because I see now how much they have affected me and that I haven't dealt with it.
I wish you all the best.

I've only lost 5kg at best so far, but I guess that's 10lb which is worth doing. For me the biggest single thing is just finding it easier and more comfortable to move around and exercise. Less joint aches.

When I'm losing weight I have immediate goals which are usually about 2kg at a time, and bigger milestones like getting from obese to overweight bmi, being able to wear a size 18 dress comfortably, that kind of thing. It's good to break it down rather than be overwhelmed at the scale of it.

I am happy to have my photo taken & I can look at myself in a mirror

@FlowerShowers that is so well written and insightful. Well done on changing your life, and hopefully I can take a bit of inspiration from you!!

I’m 5’9, I’ve only lost 3.5st so far and have gone from a size 24 to an 18 - I have about 5st still to go, I reckon. Even at this early stage this is what I’m noticing:

• I no longer need to catch my breath after doing normal tasks like climbing stairs or bending over to tie my shoes.
• I have far more energy for activities with the kids and anything physical
• I have regained some ‘shape’, am far happier about how I look in my clothes, and can now shop easily in most high street shops
• I can cross my legs when I’m sitting on a chair (I try not to as have read it’s not great for circulation, but if I wanted to I could!)
• I’m no longer ever uncomfortable in bus, train, cinema, or theatre seats - neither physically uncomfortable because I don’t fit, nor socially uncomfortable because I feel like I’m taking up too much space
• DH reports that my snoring is vastly improved. I feel my sleep quality is better.
• The shape of my face has changed, and I prefer it with just the one chin!
• Although I’m still significantly larger than my friends, my mentality of being ‘the fat one’ has changed.
• My default setting now is to feel proud of myself and what I’m achieving with my weight loss, rather than a low level background noise of shame and disappointment about my size. I hadn’t realised this was going on for me until it changed.

I’ve lost a significant amount of weight. Much more to go though. Benefits include finding it easier to move and exercise. The only con is lots of spare sagging skin that will not shrink. There would be minimum 10kg alone in spare skin at this point and whereas before I was happy to wear singlet tops and short sleeve shirts and just have fat arms, I now need to wear three quarter sleeves minimum as the hanging skin looks hideous and I refuse to pay tens of thousands (which is what it will cost) to have it removed. I may end up needing to splash out on my face though as it looks even older than it should due to the sagging skin where I’ve lost weight as opposed to having a fat face.
Edited to say, mine wasn’t rapid weight loss, very slow and steady over a long period.

I've lost 5 st 2lb up to now, I want to lose another 3st 7lb. I haven't bought any new clothes yet as I live in leggings & hoodies. My bum no longer looks like a shelf & I have found my kneecaps which had long been buried under a ton of cellulite. I'm disabled but I have found I don't get out of breath when I'm moving around. I've not really strictly dieted, I just only eat my meals & have completely cut out all the crap I used to eat. I no longer have "food noise" despite not using weight loss injections.

This year I have lost 26kg. I don’t know how, I just completely lost my appetite and have dropped from 86kg to 59kg (I was down to 56kg but have gained in the last couple of weeks). Not sure if it is hormones, bloodwork all okay etc.

Anyway, my confidence improved. My body looks better. I had to buy new clothes and I love how they fit on me. I get less tired, moving is easier than before. I feel more energetic.

Negatives: hair loss. Ironically now I weigh less I am more obsessed with my weight - and food. I used to eat what I liked, when I liked. As soon as I got to 60kg I found myself stepping on the scales daily and obsessing over eating healthy. I am scared of gaining back the weight I’ve lost despite not working at all to lose it. I used to weigh myself once or twice a year.

Edit to add: my boobs feel less full than before. I feel weight loss has aged me. Everyone asks me if I’m on ozenpic. My pert firm bum looks deflated.

I am trying really hard to overcome the mind games weight loss has played on me and I’m actively trying to gain weight now. I would like to gain muscle next year

I'm 3st down now. Bit more to go but so far positives have been:
I am able to walk three flights of stairs at work without feeling I'm going to collapse at the top
I have a shape as opposed to looking a bit square and shapeless
I enjoy taking DC out more and am more likely to join in
Improved confidence
Improved sex
Social life has improved as I mix with people at fitness classes
I look in the mirror rather then avoid at all costa
I buy clothes and they fit. Also I can vary my wardrobe slightly rather then sticking to one style.
I can get up off the floor with no hands
Less joint pain and back pain

I have lost 3 out of the 4 stone I need to lose, and I’m very short so it was quite a significant amount of weight for my height. My fat percentage was around 45%. I hated any photos being taken of me, and I hated being restricted in what kind of clothing style I could wear that would look even remotely flattering. On a holiday abroad I was walking quite a bit and the bottoms of my feet felt like someone was using a meat tenderiser on them. My overall cardio fitness wasn’t bad at all but my poor feet couldn’t take all of that extra weight on them.

I have another holiday coming up and I’m looking forward to seeing if I am better this time. I can dress how I like, and photos are fun not a torment. I like the way I look when I see myself in a mirror. In the past I would avoid looking in the mirror as much as possible. I had a health check done and my cholesterol and liver tests were not good, so my health was suffering behind the scenes. Cancer risks go up as well. I feel good that I’m taking care of my health and doing what I can to stay healthy. My focus is shifting from my weight being about my apprarance to wanting to be healthy.

There are some incredible stories here. Well done, all.

I’ve only lost a couple of stone (12 down to 10 stone), and not many people have noticed! But, for me, the overriding difference is that I’m simply not in pain anymore.

Hips don’t hurt, nor do knees. Plantar fasciitis simply stopped at some point. I don’t have awful sweat rashes under boobs.

I’m just more comfortable, generally.

There was a great thread along these same lines a while back, I will see if I can find it

Unexpected or unusual advantages of weight loss http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/4846992-unexpected-or-unusual-advantages-of-weight-loss

This is a lovely thread - well done everyone!!

I've lost 35 lbs since the start of August doing keto, and I do feel better for it. I still have around 8 stone to lose ideally so there's a very long way left to go!

I'm not sure whether I feel better physically yet. I'm autistic/ADHD so sometimes I struggle to work out how my body feels, if that makes sense! But I can tell I'm slimmer and my clothes are a lot looser.

The other thing I've noticed is that I don't get swollen feet/ankles now. I used to really struggle with my menstrual cycle and once a month my feet would balloon up. From what I understand, carbs carry a lot of water weight and I think that by cutting right back on the carbs with keto, I now don't have the surplus water in my body to puff up!

I did consider the injections but I decided not to go for it. There's nothing wrong with the injections but I wasn't completely convinced about their safety. I have a tendency to react badly to medication (I ended up in hospital with a blood clot from the COVID jab) so I just didn't feel that it was a good idea for me when I could just try harder to lose weight in other ways.

I really doubted that I'd be able to lose weight, especially as I'm now 49 and very much in peri menopause. But I had to give it a try as my blood sugars were in the pre diabetic range. So when the weight started to drop off just by changing my diet, I was so proud of myself. And I think that's a big point for me - I actually feel in control of what I eat, and my body, for the very first time in ages. I can make conscious decisions about what to eat and when to have a treat without just binging mindlessly. It may sound ridiculous but I'm so proud of what I've achieved and it spurs me on to keep doing what I'm doing! Taking that first step felt momentous and I'm hoping this is a permanent change.

I'm 2.5 stone into my journey (to be a healthy BMI I need to lose another 6 stone, but realistically that's not going to happen, I'll be happy with another 2-4 stone). I'm using the jabs.

The first 2 stones was already life-changing - going from puffing when I walked to being able to just walk, easily, didn't feel like I couldn't breath when I bent over to put on my socks, fit into the car better (no belly rubbing on the steering wheel), even my shoes fit better. It was day to day stuff when I realised that something that used to take so much effort, I could just do.

I can only imagine what it's going to be like when I've lost another 2 stone.

I have lost 5stone (keto) and then wandered off diet and plateaued but really should try to lose 2-3 more.

Can cut toenails more easily again.
Gone down 2-3 clothing sizes
Blood pressure reduced
Much more energy
Can get in and out of narrow car spaces better.
Less worried about health and developing diabetes
Towel wraps round me better after swimming

I haven’t lost that much but have managed 4 stone so far. I sleep better (no snoring), can walk much further than previously and have less back pain, to name but a few. The amazing thing that I wasn’t expecting is that I actually notice how I look and I like it. I really thought that I was too old to care and not that vain, but clearly I’m shallow and ancient 🤣🤣
I did it without weight loss support and it’s been bl**dy hard work but in some ways that makes it an even bigger achievement especially as (hopefully) I’ve staved off some serious looming health problems 🤞🤞
Good luck with your journey and no matter how hungry you are, don’t give in; it’s worth it in the end. 🤗🤗

If you are eating healthily,after you have lost weight why can your hair go downhill in appearance?

Basically I feel 10 years younger. I have so much more energy. I am happy to do more things. I look better. My clothes feel better. I enjoy my life much more. I have much more confidence.

I’ve lost 5 and a half stone so far and life is incredibly different. I have stopped snoring, I am a lot more comfortable just generally existing, I fall asleep far easier, I’m not scared of an early heart attack. Sex is better. I feel great about myself. I’ve gone from 21st to 15 st 7lbs and still have a few stone left but it really is life changing.

Sleep apnoea will disappear! 8 stone seems like a long road but you will feel skinny after losing 3!

Similar to @FlowerShowers bit I'm only halfway through. 25 kgs down another 25 kgs to go. My blood pressure is now normal and stable and I'm no longer breathless on exertion. I have so much stamina, previously I would need a sit down after 5-10 minutes of effort, now I can manage for a couple of hours. I am stronger and fitter. Portion control and exercise.

I have been making collages of before and during pics so I can get my head around the physical changes. I know this is what threw me before. I have started getting the 'you look well' comments. This past week, I've been asked if I've had my teeth done (no), told that I look svelte (I don't, but I guess I am compared to how I used to be) and been told that I look really healthy (not sure what that means). This is the bit I need to work on as I know it derails me.

Also, my knees are bony when I lie on my side, so it's uncomfortable. I'm cold now when I go swimming, which is irritating. I've taken to wearing thermal leggings under jeans too as my legs get cold. I'm spending a fortune on bras.

I am still really thrilled with the weight loss. I do feel so much healthier and I have a lot more energy. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

For me, it is long overdue and I feel like I'm shedding a whole way of living that didn't serve me. I ate my way through a horrible marriage and having sorted out my MH, now I feel a bit like I'm finally leaving the last bit behind and stepping into the light again. Do it, you won't regret it.

My advice is to take it a day at a time. I needed to lose 5 stone, I'm just over 1 stone down so still a long way to go but I already feel better and am proud of myself. I have broken it into mini goals, so am looking forward to losing a few more lbs and being at 1.5 stone lost, then 2 stone etc. I'm also focusing on the fact that I've moved from Obese Class 2 BMI to Obese Class 1 BMI.... I'm actually really looking forward to "just" being in the overweight BMI category as that will represent a significant achievement.

Find a system that works for you. For me, that is intermittent fasting but different things work for different people. But try and find something sustainable. I lost weight before on Slim Fast but piled it back on because the shakes are just unsustainable. This time I've focused on eating real food but just shortening the time window that I eat in and I'll now intermittent fast forever because I feel great.

Good luck!

I know exactly how you feel OP. I'm also at the start of a very long weightloss journey. 1.5 stones down but realistically I probably have another 8 to lose to get to a healthy BMI.

I think the PP who said not to focus on the end game is right - I already feel so much better in my clothes even though I haven't dropped a size yet. Any change in the right direction is good. I can't wait to feel like I have enough room in a bus seat, that will be great for me. That shame I feel about taking up space in public is massive, but already improving.

There are some really inspiring posters and stories here, hope this thread keeps going for a while

And I know it's not for everyone, but I'm taking mounjaro and I have to say the positive way I feel about weightloss is absolutely life changing. I've been obese since I was 21. This is the first time I've ever felt like I could actually keep going to address it properly. They way it works on your mind is incredible.