To ask if there is a point of no return re: weight loss

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I am so disappointed and disgusted with myself and the state I am in. I am 5'6.5 and 180 lbs and size 16 (12 stone 12, 81.6 kg)

I am borderline obese and I want to do something about it, I'm just turned 20 and I don't want to spend my youth fat.

But after some comments from my mother, I want to ask can someone be too fat to lose weight?

Also what is a reasonable time frame to lose 3 stone. 6 months?

I'm 5 2" and was nearly 11 stone this time last year, have lost nearly two stone on 5 2 diet since January, something I never thought possible.

There are probably very few cases of truly "point of no return" and I tend to think, rightly or wrongly, of those poor souls who can no longer stand up, let alone attempt even gentle exercise. You are far from that!

I am 5'8" and was nearly 15 stone when I didn't recognise myself (who is that fat woman wearing the same jacket as me????) in photos of DS's 4th birthday party. The next week he asked me if I was so fat because I was having another baby. I wasn't pg. the next week I joined SW and started the C25k again. That was the end of September last year. Got to target 4 months and 4 days later on 31 Jan this year. It's still off. Never too fat to lose weight.

You're only 20, you can totally achieve the body you'd feel comfortable with. It's after you've had children and approached the menopause that it becomes extremely difficult, but still not impossible.

I can't help but feel that your mum is the problem here.

I've never heard of this concept of 'point of no return' re weightloss. Just look at programmes like The biggest loser' where people lose enormous amounts (though I wouldn't recommend such extreme methods).
I was nearly 15 stones at 5' 4'', I lost 4 stones, and more importantly became much healthier, fitter and stronger. And that was in my early 50's.
Yes, you can do it OP, and it is a great idea to do it at your age, to get into good habits that you can sustain for the rest of your life. To me that is the key - not 'dieting' to lose weight, but learning how to look after your body properly.
Good luck!

Please go about this very carefully and do some research before you start as yoyo dieting is one of the worst things you can do to yourself, physically and mentally!
I found healthy eating (around 1900 cals a day, plenty fruit and veg, lean meats, limited fats) and exercise worked wonders for me and I have lost 4 stone since August 2012 and my energy levels are through the roof.
I got my help from my practice nurse and the plan she gave me fitted perfectly into my personal circumstances so that my be worth a try in the new year.
Just remember what works for one person may not work for you and good luck.

You are the exact same height & weight as me so I know how you feel.

I turn 40 in 1 year and have no intention of being a fat munter at my party - I want to wear a slinky dress & killer heels . 2014 isn't going to be a great year for me financially & I've got some family shit going on so I've decided to take charge of my weight/health and am just starting to think about a proper life-change plan that will lead me to my goal (triathlon in the autumn & 3.5 stone weight-loss by December).

I'll be starting on 2nd Jan & it would be great if you want to join me here &/or link on mfp if you think calorie tracking will help (my portion control is so need to reeducate myself on normal amounts!). Absolutely no such thing as point of no return.

PMP

Thank you all, I feel more hopeful now especially reading about MNers who have lost a lot of weight, I have looked at the 5:2 diet and I'm signing up for MFP.

Have given myself a goal of 7 lbs a month, I think it's doable.

No, my mum isn't overweight - she just speaks without thinking sometimes

I can tell you from experience that your mum is wrong - when I was 21 I was 11 stone. Now I'm mid-30s, and I have been around 8 stone for over 15 years.

It took me about a year to lose three stone, and I chose to do it slowly - you could do it in less time if you wanted. What worked for me was not dieting, but eating three meals a day, of about 2/3 vegetables (apart from breakfast, obv. Not many breakfast vegetables around ...)

I am 5ft 5 and I used to weigh 12 stone 9, My 16's were starting to feel tight. I got that down to 11 stone 9 through Slimming World, then went up to 12 stone. Had DD2 and found myself at 12 stone 6.

I took up running and mindful eating (just not eating when not hungry and stopping when full. I still ate crap at times - hence my name) and now I am just under 11 stone (though on a bad day I may be a pound or two over the 11 stone mark) and a comfortable size 14.

I would still like to lose another stone and half and get down to a size 10/12. I plan to do this by keeping up with my running (I am running a half marathon in May) and Im starting the 5:2 (fasting by sticking to 500 calories a day twice a week) in January when I go back to work. Currently I am trying to do 16:8 (only eating in an 8 hour period and only eating three times at most).

Its small lifestyle changes that has helped me. Dont try to change too much at once, just one step at a time. The hardest thing Ive found is not reaching for the crap on a night. I used to have a full pack of biscuits or a full chocolate orange in 10 mins. I still have that craving on a night from time to time, but just tell myself that Im not actually hungry and its just the taste Im craving anyway. Give it a bit and the craving has gone.

Can I ask what is MFP?

Sixpence My Fitness Pal. Its a website where you can track your calories.

I am 5'5. In April this year I was 14st13. Now I am 9st6. You can definitely lose that weight and 3 stone in 6 months is a really good aim. You'll likely find it comes of quick to start then slows down. Plus there are so many ways and plans you can use, so if one doesn't work for you don't think you've failed, just try another.

I was in the same situation as you last Christmas. 5ft 7.5ins, 13 stone 8lbs, felt horrendous.

I joined the gym in February and do classes three times a week. First off Zumba-type ones and now the hardcore ones! I also use My Fitness Pal on my iPhone to keep a track of what I'm eating.

This Christmas I'm just under 11 stone and feel SO much better, plus my BMI is healthy. I want to get to 10 stone but I'm not unhappy with how I look now, whereas last year I was appalled!

Next Christmas you could feel so much happier, but it's about exercise and eating healthily, NOT faddy diets.

I am exactly the same height as you and have been just over that weight 3 times (post pregnancies). I manage - slowly - to get back to size 12, 10.5st doing dukan attack phase and then low carb, increasing exercise.i ordered it in from bodychef the first 2 weeks to get me into good habits. Definitely doable. I'm not there yet for this last time - one stone left to go and I will be there by end feb. Will have taken me 5mths. Go for it. You can do it!

Best thing you can do is to dibs food diary where you record not just what you eat and how much, but also when, where, who your were with, what you were doing and how you were feeling.

This allows you to spot patterns in your use of food and work out where your problems lie. You might find there's trigger foods, feelings, times, places, feelings. In my experience, most people find it easy to just eat for nutrition for 22hrs of the day and it's only less than 2 hours that is the make and break.

If you can identify and learn to cope with your triggers, you'll have a much better chance if making the changes you need to without it seeming like hard work and impossible to do for life as it's something you need to continue with to keep weight off, not just lose it.

No such thing as point of no return.

Also no such thing as falling off your 'diet' so hard you can't get back on, as so many seem to do.

Take it one day at a time.

Don't set a deadline. If you lose one stone in the next six months, you will be one stone lighter and healthier and that is brilliant. Aim for 1/2 or 1 pound a week and accept that some weeks will show no loss or even a slight gain. It's not a race. Start building a healthier life, including exercise that you really like doing (walking? gym? swimming? some sort of fun class? karate?). Martial arts are great because earning those belts is motivating over a long time frame! Pick anything you like, or a combination.

Have fun with it and do not rush.

Myfitnesspal is good just to keep a diary of what you eat, but ignore the goals it sets you as they are overly ambitious for everyone. You would be much better off setting yourself a goal at first of eating say 1800 calories a day and doing some exercise every other day than trying to be too ambitious.

Oh and I used the Hairy Dieters cookbook - the recipes are quite clever and are proper meals as opposed to all the 'have grilled salmon and a celery stick for lunch' guff you see elsewhere.

OP
Your mum is talking bilge.

Get going on MFP because it is great for understanding what you are eating even before you decide to lose any weight.

Then on January 2nd come and join the land of the 5:2 threads
and you'll be looking lean and mean by the summer.
Also you'll have the tools in your head and larder to stay that way forever.

I will definitely be joining 5:2 after the xmas period on Jan 2.

I would start now, but I think a fresh start at the beginning of the year is good.

Martial arts sound good, I'll be getting fit and learning self-defence, something to think about.

Thank you MN.

For now I am limiting myself to 1600 calories daily and 20 mins brisk walk after dinner. Will bump it up after xmas.

I am 5ft, in may I was just going into a size 20, I am now just about into size 12s. I have lost 3.5 stone, still got a couple of stone more to go ideally.

anyone can lose weight (obviously harder for people with medical reasons for obesity) but you need to be in the right frame of mind and willing to change your whole lifestyle.

Sirzy
you need to be in the right frame of mind and willing to change your whole lifestyle.
You have absolutely hit the nail on the head.

And well done.

OP - do use MFP just so you get a better view of the mix of foods you are eating and then it will be great to have you joining the happy place that is the 5:2 big threads.

Yes as TIP says, come over to the 5:2 boards. It will be my first fast on the 2nd too and Im sure there will be lots of other people joining then too. Its a good place for support.