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

[Talkinpeace]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/fasting_diet/1904625-The-5-2-thread-number-30-Did-half-term-bingeing-make-you-feel-dirty-Then-hop-on-board-thread-number-30

[ppeatfruit]

Nitrox have you heard of the Paul mckenna way Of Eating? it seems to me (i've lost nearly 3 stone on it) that it would suit you because it reeducates your whole attitude to food So you can eat what you want BUT you have to eat slowly and consciously (not throw the food down yer neck) .

This works because your stomach shrinks naturally (it takes some people longer than others) there's a very good support thread on here Bssh knows about it ,it didn't suit her but it may suit you.It also helps with the emotional side as his CDs help you to 'take it all in subconsciously'.

[BsshBossh]

Yes agree, Paul McKenna's 4 golden rules of eating (eat what you want, eat only when hungry, stop when satisfied, eat consciously) makes a lot of sense and helps you get back in touch with normal eating. But I found 5:2 a much quicker route (for me) to getting back in touch those 4 golden rules. Combined together (again, for me) both WOEs are terrific.

[xCupidStuntx]

Do you mind me asking how long it took you bssh?
I really need to begin accepting that it's going to take time, strangely enough that's my biggest problem right now!

[Sirzy]

xcupid - set yourself small achievable targets, not necessarily just numbers on the scales but things like being able to fit into jeans a size smaller by new year, or being fit enough to do something you couldn't do now.

Be careful though I got myself a target dress for an event next month - I have just had to sell it because it is now too big for me!

[xCupidStuntx]

Oh Sirzy if anything was too big for me I'd be over the moon!! I zipped up my "big comfy lounging around hoody" and it wasn't one bit big or comfy on!
You're so right about small goals, I just wish I could train my brain to calm down, I am the way I am for the moment and slowly I can change that, but my brain is saying do all the fad diets and you could be two even three stone down by Christmas. Realistically I've been there countless times though and that's not how it works!

[Sirzy]

Ye I always found the fad diets sort allowed me to lose 2 stone and then put 3 back on when I stopped. It is hard to change your mindset away from that though and even now after 6 months I still have times when I get frustrated that things aren't changing fast enough which deep down I know is stupid but I think its just human nature.

I am now trying to focus more of fitness than actual weight having set myself 2 ambitious running goals and hoping that will help me tone up and shift the last of the weight at the same time!

[BsshBossh]

xCupid, I've been losing weight since February 2012 and have lost 5.5 stones. BMI was 36, now 22. My goal is to get to BMI 21. You have to be patient and consistent. My weight plateaued last autumn for 4 months but I didn't give up; I kept on doing what I was doing and started to lose again. Some weeks I lose nothing, over the school holidays I gain, but I keep on going.

The key thing is to find a weightloss plan that you don't feel deprived on. I don't feel deprived on 5:2 because I eat normally (though mindfully) 5 days a week (and truly enjoy my weekend eating - quesadillas, guacamole and choc/hazelnut/Nutella muffins for lunch today!) but then the 2 fasting days feel like a welcome break for my digestion and of course there are the health benefits too (intermittent fasting isn't just about weight loss - see the Dr Michael Mosley Horizon documentary about it on YouTube - linked to from the top of the most recent 5:2 thread TIP linked to).

I recently had my blood etc tested at my GPs and my doc was very impressed by my cholesterol levels, liver function, blood sugar, blood pressure etc. Heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia run in my immediate family so I am doing 5:2 for health as well as for weight.

[RandallFloyd]

Definitely doable.

I've just lost 5 1/2 stone in 8 months purely calorie counting.
No exercise at all other than my usual walking.

I did the same as a poster upthread and took it as a weekly goal rather than daily and it's worked great for me.

The thing is though, there really isn't a 'best' way to do it, there's just the best way for you. The biggest factor is motivation and willpower, unfortunately no 'diet' or 'eating plan' or 'lifestyle change' is going to give you that. You have to find it in yourself.

Good luck

[xCupidStuntx]

Thanks so much for your encouraging words, what amazing successes you've both had.
I think all the fad diets are actually what have worsened my bingey ways because they're so restrictive, when I'm not following it I can't get enough food!!

I know this may seem like a stupid question, but how do you drum up the willpower to keep going on and on? That is my problem, just seeing it through continually. Is this the first time you've both attempted to lose weight? I feel as if all my attempts have actually weakened me beyond repair. I did lose 8 stone on my first ever diet 5 years ago and it's been all downhill since then, probably because I'm always chasing that rapid weight loss.

The 5:2 is genuinely one of the only things I haven't tried, I just wish I could buy patience to go along with it!!
Randal, how did you work out how many calories to have a day and did you do it low carb or anything?

Thanks so much and Sorry for hijacking your thread nitrox!!

[Sirzy]

I have failed many times, I am 30 in January and decided that I didn't want to be fat and 30, if I manage to lose a stone more by then I will be happy and will have lost 4 stone in total, ideally I need to lose 6 but I know the last bits will be harder to shift. I think the mental battle is often the hardest, changing habits (especially comfort eating) and learning to enjoy food and exercise but at the same time controlling the food rather than letting it control you.

It is hard though, and its hard to put it into words but I guess its one of those things that you have to really want and you have to accept that nobody else can make you change, you have to change yourself and the biggest change has to be in your mindset.

If someone had told me 6 months ago I would be enjoying running i would have laughed at them, but today I have been persuaded to do a half marathon next year and I know with hard work I can do it.

Im not sure how much use any of that waffling is going to be, but really if I can do it anyone can. In may I was gutted to have to buy size 20 jeans, today I am wearing size 14s which are on the big side now.

[ArgyMargy]

YANBU for trying, but I think you're very unlikely to succeed unless you deal with the reasons why you overeat. Your history with the gastric band suggests you didn't change your food habits at all. So even if you lose 7 stone you are likely to put it all back on.

Restricting carbs is a good idea as it will lessen your risk of Type 2 diabetes as well as helping you lose weight. You could try getting a book called Carbs & Cals, which shows you actual pictures of each food to help you with portion control as well as carb/cal counting.

Good luck.

[BsshBossh]

xCupid no I've not really dieted before last year at 42 (hence why my weight crept up to 15 stones - but I was never truly unhappy with how I looked). I find seeing the lbs come off every week (or few weeks) keeps me motivated. But my biggest motivation - the key thing that keeps me going and why I decided to finally lose weight - is that my DD is only 5 and I need to be a fit, healthy mother for as long as possible. My mother has always been overweight and physically compromised and her quality of life has been considerably diminished. She's had knee replacements, strokes. My father was never overweight but undernourished and physically unfit and he had high colesterol, strokes and died of dementia. Loads of their friends in their 60s are the same. I looked at my DD and realised I cannot repeat my parents' mistakes.

[xCupidStuntx]

Oh it does help!! Well bloody done you should be so proud! I gave up smoking this time last year and I can't tell you how proud I feel even now, I just wish I could concur this too, it'd be nice to think that this time next year I could add that achievement.
It's funny it seems to go totally over my head when people say things like it's hard though, then when I find myself struggling I panic and quit, forgetting that everybody finds it hard, I'm not so special! If that makes sense!!

[xCupidStuntx]

Oh I hear ya bssh, my mam died of lung cancer when I was 23 just days after I had DD (I didn't smoke while pregnant but started again straight after I had DD) and continued to smoke until last year when I just thought my God I can't leave DD like this with no family etc and stopped with ease despite years and years of failed attempts.
My dad is very overweight now too and had a stroke at 55, his dad died of a heart attack at 60 and my dads only 59 now and not a well man, so I have it from both sides. I stopped smoking now I really really need to battle this!!

[RandallFloyd]

I'd did the standard 1200 a day so 8200 a week.

I use MFP to log my calories, the app is fab because it has a barcode scanner so it's really quick and easy. No low carbing or anything like that, I ate whatever I wanted just made sure I stayed within my calories.

Initially I weighed, measured and logged absolutely everything. I know that sounds obsessive but it was the only way I could do it, no room for error or fooling myself. It forced me to be completely honest with myself.

I don't need to bother weighing things now, unless I'm really unsure, as I've re-learned what a portion should look like iyswim.

As for will-power, I honestly don't know. I genuinely don't know how or why I stayed motivated but I didn't waver once. Once I'd decided to do it I just got my head down and did it. Grim determination, nothing else!

I did find the whole experience very empowering though. I know that sounds wanky but seeing my body change and knowing I did it myself was a fantastic feeling.

[RandallFloyd]

[xCupidStuntx]

It doesn't sound obsessive at all Randall, God fair play to you that's a huge amount of weight to lose in such a short space of time!!
I see why it'd be empowering, I'd love nothing more and I think I'm focusing too much on thinking about it and reading and researching while doing precisely nothing really!!

[BsshBossh]

Okay xCupid, you've said hello on the main 5:2 thread so... do your first fast on Monday (I'll be doing it too and can hold your hand if you need). Use tomorrow to menu plan your 500 cals. Go for it .

[RandallFloyd]

It's a nice easy distraction though isn't it.
An easy way to delay stuff whilst tricking yourself into thinking you're doing something.

Same as when we say "oh, there's no point starting this week because I've got that work thing on Thursday so best day to start will be a week on Friday" and all that shit!

I'd been fannying around like that for ages, then I saw a thread on here with an OP saying something like, 'fuck me, I got fat, how the hell did that happen?' and lots of us joined in to say similar things. I bought some scales the next morning and started that day.

That was the jolt I needed.

[RandallFloyd]

I can personally vouch for Bssh's cheerleading skills, she's an inspirational lady and no mistake.

[BsshBossh]

Back at ya Chief Randall!

[xCupidStuntx]

OK you're on!! Looking forward to it, have set mfp up eek. Thanks so much

[BsshBossh]

Woohoo xCupid. Okay, see you on the 5:2 thread. If you need help menu planning Monday come pick our brains on there. And think - on Tuesday you can eat normally :)

[RandallFloyd]

Weigh yourself first thing tomorrow morning.
Look at that number for a good long time. Let the reality of it really sink in.

That's the last time you will ever weigh that much.

Good luck