What’s the best part of being newly slim.

[startthedaywithkindnesd]

I’ve gone from just over 18 stone to 9st 2lb on WLI 2 years ago, so almost a whole person.! If you too have lost a life changing amount of weight (that’s entirely subjective, life changing for you) what has been your favourite moments beyond the astounding health benefits. ?

I’ll start . I can ride again , for the first time in 15 years.

I can shop for clothes that I like rather than just settle for dark coloured ‘tents’ .

A few things. I love being able to get up and get dressed without stress. I socialise more because I’m not automatically saying no because I’ve got nothing to wear. The summer is no longer unbearable because of being overweight and trying to survive in the heat. Enjoying experiences with my children such as rollercoasters and GoApe! I wouldn’t have dared before. Life changing!

I can cross my legs.I can cut my toe nails and breathe at the same time and I only have one chin. I love it

Zara

Basically everything is better. The health and fitness aspects are the actual best bit. But, I particularly appreciate choosing what to wear each day based on what I like or love rather than what I least hate. If I had to attend an unexpected event that required a specific dress code I could choose whatever I liked from standard high street shops and they’d have my size.

I also like people not having to wait for me to cross on stairs or avoiding sitting by me on public transport. I can shimmy through tiny gaps in crowded cafes without worry. Things like that!

Not feeling constantly embarrassed by my body. I have lost about 6 stone over the last 2 years by switching to a Mediterranean diet. So that means high in veg and olive oil, pulses, nuts, seeds,
lean protein and low in red meat. I have also kept pasta, bread and potatoes to a minimum because I cannot exercise very much.

Walking up and down stairs with no issue.

Being able to pass the bleep test without feeling like I’m dying!

I have lost 15.stone via weight loss surgery. For me, the surgery was the best thing that I ever did.

I was a food/ sugar addict and without the surgery I would have been dead!

I had lots of counselling before the surgery to looking at my behaviours around food and to see if I could cope mentally with the irreversible effects of surgery.

The best thing is that I have my health back.

I've lost a similar amount Dec 2024-Feb 2026, 9+ stone. I started 18st11 and now I maintain at 9-9½st, this morning I was 9st 3. Size 22 now mostly a size 8 (I got some size 6 jeans the other day!!).
I think the biggest thing is simply not standing out and feeling like everyone is staring at me and judging me. Whether they actually were or not isn't the point as that's how I felt.
I'm now doing loads of exercise and my fitness is actually pretty good, I assumed it would be awful after years of being massively obese. I can happily run, cycle, ride horses, do dance classes and not be that tired. I'm slowly toning up too.
I used MJ, at the start I was private irl about it but now I don't care. I used them for the 15 months of dieting, did 6 months maintenance and tapering and then came off.

Well done everyone. I'm reading for inspiration. I'm about half way on my journey. My goal: to curl up in a chair.

What am I missing? How is this nasty? I also lost weight through healthy eating, yes I used mounjaro to enable that, but it was still what I put in my mouth, which was healthy,

Ooh so many things. No longer hating all and every photo of myself, actually put myself in front of the camera now that I like what I see. Walking uphill with no problem, crossing my legs comfortably, not getting out of breath or having to use the handrail going upstairs, the unbelievable choice of clothes now and going in any shop knowing I'll find stuff that both fits and looks good, wearing close fitting clothes, being more adventurous with clothes, enjoying the gym and gaining a fit, healthy body. Bit of a weird one this, but people treat me differently, eg. seem to have more respect for me. Dont think I'm imagining it anyway, maybe its just more confidence.
I sometimes have to do a double take when I see my reflection and when I put new clothes on for the 1st time. Feels very strange being able to fit into size 8 clothes after decades of wearing leggings and tunic tops. Life changing in so many ways and I'm eternally grateful for my dose of mounjaro once a month 😀.

Best parts for me was first and foremost health, my blood pressure became healthy and my sleep apnea resolved, cortisol reduced,

secondly fitness, I always worked out but now I am much fitter, can run with ease and do quite extensive workouts,

thirdly appearance I like my appearance again and found my vanity, I wear lovely clothes and went a bit mad to be fair , I guess as I was sick of the dressing to hide thing, I now dress very different, I never wear black, and a, usually in pale colours like beige or cream with olives etc thrown in,

lastly I seldom wear a bra now, I usually just wear nipple pasties of various sizes, one set covers most of my breast, but everything is up where it should be, and is firm, so I don’t need a bra, and it’s brilliant to just shove a nipple pastie on and get dressed and they are completely undetectable under clothes,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DHW1KNKP?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1&psc=1

im six and a half stone down and now a dress size 8 and bmi 20. 57 years old,

I’m the opposite - I was going to say I love that I can just get dressed quickly when going out - no need for the long process of checking what’s fitting / not fitting / too tight / uncomfortable etc. I’ve far l less clothes now as they are not ranging over several large sizes - the ones I have all just fit the current and hopefully permanent me!

Not feeling deeply miserable when I see myself in photos.

Compliments
clothes and all outfits fitting and looking good

Not having to tuck folds of fat into the bra
Wearing anything I want - not what I can fit into
Embarrassed at how large I'd got so that I wouldn't meet with friends I hadn't seen in a long time
Not having belly sticking out further than boobs
Started running and going from jog/walk a 5km in 45mins to running a half marathon nonstop and 5k time under 30mins (I'm almost 60)
I believe I appear younger only because I no longer lumber about and move more sprightly 😀
My overall health improved as I've educated myself about UPFs and eat for nutrition (mostly!)
There are more - but those for now

@HesterLeggatt how did you do it, Hester? Amazing achievement !!!😮

Haha. I’m still not thin enough for Zara

For me, the greater flexibility I have in Pilates feels amazing. I love being able to do moves I couldn't previously. The strength I've built up too - deadlifting 65kg now, though as I was building up I was noting when I could lift as much as I'd lost and thinking about how heavy that is and how I used to carry it around all the time is quite something. I'm past that now - I've lost six stone so that's 38kg I think. No wonder my hips don't ache anymore. I love bounding up hills with the dog and not feeling out of breath. I love cooking and enjoying food without any anxiety because now I feel like I deserve to nourish my body instead of feeling guilt and shame around eating.

And like everyone on here, I did it through healthy eating and exercise. Mounjaro made it possible for me to succeed at that!

What lovely positive happy posts . My only sadness is that MJ has only been available to the vast majority because we could afford it or at least budget for it. I just wish the NHS would speed up the roll out to those suffering from obesity. For me alone I no longer have ;
high BP + medication
high cholesterol + medication
weight related osteoarthritis (knee injections)
Obstructive sleep apnea (CPAP machine)
Depression + medication
Underactive thyroid + medication.

Not to mention the various low grade infections and inflammation.

Now all resolved except Thyroid but even that medication has been reduced. How much did my obesity cost the NHS in medicine, GP appointments, Consultant appointments and hospital procedures. ?
Surely it makes sense to give everyone who has obesity. It would surely be a huge cost saving ?

I live on the 3rd floor of flats and always take the stairs now, I like the stairs! thats a WTF? I like the stairs? madness...

Also seeing myself on CCTV at work, absolutely fine and no cringing.

sit cross legged, comfortably.

buying clothes that i like, not ones that will fit...

8 Stone gone. nearly 19 stone to under 11 stone.. bmi 36 to just under 22.

Yes, actually liking photos of yourself is a huge one! I've lost 5 stone, and truly everything about me has changed! Face, body, smile - I don't look like I've been inflated like a michelin man anymore.
I'm still learning to shop for clothes I like, rather than the 'flattering' clothes.
Not getting out of breath at the slightest exertion.
Simply not carrying around that extra 5 stone anymore! It was so exhausting being so overweight.

Weird.