AIBU to try to lose 7 stone in 14 months?

[nitrox]

Hello everyone,

AIBU in thinking I can lose 7 stones in 14 month (1/2 stone a month) by eating healthily, and exercising a bit more?

I'm female, 5ft 7", 18st 13.5lbs (prety much 19st), size 22.

I miss all the sports I used to do, my knee is really bad and won't heal after I damaged it cycling, and I won't go to Alton towers anymore as I'm too embarrased after the last time when I nearly didn't get the bars down on my tummy.

I've tried all sorts of diets, even had a gastric band a few years ago.. it worked but went wrong and slipped and I've piled the weight back on, silly me .

Is anyone else in the same boat? Would love to hear some inspirational stories or to at least feel like I'm not the biggest freak in the world ... I can't even seem to find a winter coat I like that isn't knee length or a ski style jacket.

It's so sad really, I'm 30 now and spent my 20's dieting, I don't want to do the same in my 30's. I don't have children yet, so I need to do this now!

I love sports, extreme sports in particular like snowboarding and scuba diving and I'm pretty depressed as I can't do them very easily now and don't want to book any holidays because of my weight.

Anyhow, I'm rambling..

Thanks for reading

The only thing we don't have in common is extreme sports :P

Are you on MFP?

You're definitely not a freak!

Have you considered hynpnotherapy? Ive heard good stuff about it and weight loss.

YANBU! It's awful being obese, I'm still fairly overweight but I haven't got any motivation whatsoever. It's totally doable as long as you're prepared for it to slow down nearer your goal weight!

You can do it!

Is there a reason you want to do it in 14 months? Not that that is unrealistic but smaller, sooner targets may help.

I started at 16 stone and I am only 5ft tall, that was in may and a few weeks ago I dropped below the 13 stone mark so I have managed 3 stone in just under 6 months. It has been hard work but its is worth it. You have to really want it and be willing to change your lifestyle complelty.

There is a thread over on the weight loss board for people who are trying to lose a lot of weight so feel free to come over and join us. (I cant remember the name but it mentions guinea pigs!)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/a1862690-Losing-the-stones-one-guinea-pig-at-a-time#42757811

I think that half a stone a month is definitely achievable, but perhaps not just by eating healthily and some exercise (although you might find that that works for the first couple of stone, you'll have to reduce calories more as the weight comes off). But I lost about 3 stone in six months once on weight watchers, it was hard, but the rate of loss is about right.

Good luck, I'm about the same build as you, and I wish I could find that motivation again!

Its definitely possible. I expect you will lose more than half a stone a month to start then it will get a lot slower.
Do you know what sort of diet you want to do and have you considered low carbing? I know its not for everyone.

With exercise I would go slow but steady to start with. When I was bigger I used to get bad knee pain which meant I couldn't do certain amount exercises. Now I have lost most of the weight I don't have knee pain anymore.

Good luck.

Hiya.
Ive lost 4st since january got alot more to lose so if you're strict with yourself you could achieve your goal.
Im 38 and am determined Im not going to be fat and 40.
Go for it

Thanks Purple, I have knee pain - good to know that it might go away the harder I try at the weightloss.

I expect you could lose that much in the time, but I would break it up a bit and celebrate more stages inbetween.

It's great that you love sports. Maybe do some swimming for a while- kinder on your knee, and nobody can see you.

I started MFP on Boxing dDay last year.

I am now 7 stone lighter.

Didn't do a lot of exercise at first. But once I had lost a couple of stone started gentle exercise and walking.

I now walk about ten miles a week and it's stating off

Wow - thanks for all the replies!

I'll try and answer some questions.

Why 14 months? - I'd like to go on a snowboarding holiday again next Christmas (too late this year, I'm not fit enough), so I guess it was a good goal to aim for.

Low carb? I've tried low carb and it does work for me, but I'm a total carb and sugar addict and I can't sustain it for long . I am planning on cutting back on carbs and sugars though, just not cutting them out. I can of course add that into my plan later to help if a start stalling with weight loss.

Purple - Great news about the knee pain! Ironically I did it on a home exercise bike, trying to get fitter. Not sure what caused it, but after using the bike for a week it must have damaged it and after 3yrs it's no better. If I'm not careful it gets bad, luckily it's fine for walking and snowboarding too!

I love swimming, I hate the pool being so busy as I'm strangely a very fast swimmer, even at this weight, so it gets frustrating, but maybe I need to stop being silly about that.

Thanks so much, never expected so many replies!

MFP - I am on it, but I find I get really obsessed with it and it really puts me off. I weigh everything and go all serious about it and then get fed up and annoyed with it...

I started at 15 and half in January and got down to 12' 10 by July. I put half a stone back on while on holiday and have only been playing at it since, but am still 12'11. I need to get to 12 and a half to be in the "normal" category, but for my build, I'd prefer to be about 11/11 and a half.

I'm about to get back on board with it, but I was using My Fitness Pal and sort of doing the C25K.

I think the key is being regimented in weighing yourself as this keeps you on track - I've not stopped weighing myslef once a week even when I have been not really following the diet. That's stopped me putting more on even if I haven't really taken any off iyswim?

I agree that having some in between targets would help. For example, I refuse to go back above 13 and if make a bit of effort over the next wee while and get below 12, I will refuse to allow myslef to go baove that and that will keep me on the straight and narrow.

What worked for me was filling my time with other things, preferrably exercise or walking as it leaves less time to snack.

Good luck with it, you kow that it is achieveable and whether you manage 7 stone in the timescale you've given or 6 or 5 or 4, that will still be a massive way towards living a healthier life and your goal of children too.

Coca - I have had massive knee problems since I was 13, but losing just 3 stone has made it so I have very few problems with it now for the first time ever, I have now been able to take up running which is really helping me with fitness and weightloss.

I am going with 10% of my current body weight at a time. I don't have a strict time scale but it would be awesome to be nearly there in 14mnths. I am doing it 10% at a time because 25lbs isn't as scary a figure and it means I will have 4 targets to hit and I have promised myself a (non food) treat at each target.

I found that at first the obsession really worked in my favour as it made me stop and think about what I was eating rather than kidding myself that what I was eating was ok if that makes sense? I used MFP for about the first 6 weeks just while I changed my eating habits

I know a couple of people who've lost upwards of 7 stone between 12 and 18 months, all through Slimming World. Now I'm sceptical about the SW plan because it's very carb-heavy and didn't work for me, hmmph but these women I know have done amazingly well on it and, crucially, kept the weight off.

If you're a carb addict, SW might be a good way for you to slim down. The meetings are very supportive and help keep you focused.

Also, how would you feel about joining a gym? I know they can be intimidating at times, but if you find the right one, it can be a lifeline. My local gym is lovely and full of all sorts of people from ultra-fit gym bunnies to people like me who hyperventilate at the mere suggestion of a jog round the block. If you sign up for an induction with a personal trainer, they'll suggest a program of exercises that work your cardiovascular system and build muscle tone as well.

Good luck!

I have just re joined weight watchers and have lost six pounds in three weeks, so hopefully half a stone a month is achievable :)

I am upset to be the weight I am as I was down to 13 stone last year but became ill and piled on 2 stone due to medication, but it is going to come off again, and I am determined to lose more.

I haven't been exercising either, other than walking the dog, so if you exercise too you should lose faster and be more toned.
Good luck!

Soontobeslender - love the name and well done on your weightloss! Some good advice thank you!

Sirzy - Okay, I might look again at MFP and try to use it in my favour.

CocacolaMum - I'm going to make a chart with 1 stone at a time on it, I need to break it down, 7 stones seems impossible! I have lost 5 stones before, but that was with the band.

Smiteyou - I've looked at Slimming world, but I hate groups! I have been to WW before but I found that their new plan didn't work for me. If I eat low fat, high carb I don't lose weight.. and as a lot of groups peddle this then I'm not keen on them.

Gyms are fine but I get bored easily.. I'd prefer squash, badminton etc but then I'd like something I can go and do easily, so I might re-consider the gym once I've lost a stone or so. I've got a few fitness DVD's to try too.

I sprained and damaged my ankle badly about 8 weeks ago whilst on one of my fitness bursts, so I'm a little wary of jumping in again and doing myself more damage..

Thanks SofaKing - and good luck to your weight loss !

If your BMI is over a certain amount you may be able to get vouchers for weight watchers or slimming world through your doctor.

I lost just over 3 stone through slimming world. They tend to re-educate your way of cooking/preparing food, which is something I needed, and therefore I feel I can keep the weight off because of that.

Can you go swimming at lanes-only times and hit the fast lane? It really is one of the very safest things for your joints right now.

A good friend has lost 12 stone through exercise, it can be done

nitrox, just throwing this one out there but have you ever considered 'going primal'?

The principles wrt to food are very similar to low-carb though not, imo, as strict, so might work for you if you found 'proper' low-carb unsustainable in the longer term. Fwiw I absolutely agree about groups and the whole low-fat, high-carb thing - yes it works for some but I think for many it is a dead-end.

Also, what you say about loving extreme sports etc but not much enjoying the gym makes me think primal would really suit you. There's loads of stuff online but www.marksdailyapple.com is the best place to start I think. HTH!

Thanks Nitrox :)

Good luck to you too, you sound really motivated!