Please can you tell me how your life improved once you finally got round to losing weight .

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Tia

I've went from a size 16 (probably an 18, but denial) to 8/10

I can go into any shop and buy whatever I want. I can wear things I like, rather than things that disguise my body or because it's the only thing that fits.

I'm more confident, friendlier, happier, outgoing.

I've taken far more interest in my general appearance - hair, make up, etc.

I enjoy having my photograph taken. There was a period of 3 years or so where I have no pictures of me with my children

My health has improved. Pains have disappeared. I have more energy. I enjoy walking and exercising rather than dread it.

I enjoy food more, because I appreciate it more. I don't stuff myself with it until I feel sick, but I eat less of it, which means I enjoy what I do eat, and I don't feel guilty. I don't have that sick feeling of fullness after a binge.

I have more money to spend on things as my grocery shopping costs a lot less, I hardly ever eat take aways now, etc.

I'm not embarrassed to undress in front of my dh.

My best friend is very obese and when she opens up to me, the one thing I say is that it doesn't have to be like this... You CAN be slim. It's just turning on that bloody switch is the hard part, but once it's on... It's ON and you'll wish you had done it sooner. Everyone deserves to feel this good and everyone has the power to do it.

Good luck to everyone on their journey.

Also just want to say that weightless can be surprisingly fast, I lost 4 stone in just a short few months.

Yes to being treated like a human being by other women. Which makes me appreciate dogs even more.

How did you do it MNetter15? That's inspirational. And if you lost it so fast, how long have you kept it off and how have you maintained?

Yy to buying clothes that fit and look good. I spent so long buying clothes to hide and disguise me.

DancingDuck - I eat very sensibly Monday - Friday. I don't count calories but I'd guess that it's around or less than 1,400 calories. I have pizza and wine on Saturday night and a big roast on a Sunday. I walk a lot. That's basically it. I'm only 5ft 2 or 3 so really don't need to eat much more than that.

I used MFP in the beginning.

I think some friends/family were very suspicious but it just really fell off me, very quickly. I am maintaining it quite easily but it does mean thinking about it every single day. An hour ago, I had a cup of coffee with 2 chocolate biscuits. When I was obese, I would easily have had 8, without even thinking about it. I was never 'full' then, or couldn't recognise it when I was. I just kept on eating, all the time.

I agree with a Mnetter it can be fast if you stick to food changes, eat less of better food, watch macros carbs proteins, log into MFP... I lost my first two stone over few months too... Lost a further stone quickly but slowly back in again now need two lose two further stone and keep it off!

I can't express MFP though as sometimes you think your calories are ok but it's that coffee from Costa or that wine you had last night... I've cut all those out now

But it is better to lose at a more steady pace as it is likely to stay off 4 stone in a few months seems a lot to me but everyone is different

Sorry I've kept off the first 12 kg for the last 3 years... It's the last two in battling with

This thread was exactly what I needed to read today.

I got married March 2014 and despite having already having three children which I got back to pre pregnancy weight after, I'v slowly but steadily gained weight. I'm 5foot nine and gone from 11stone 6 which made me a slim 12 to over fourteen 😞 I look in the mirror and feel awful at what I see. Iv tried many tines and failed after a day. I use to be able to diet and be so determined and lose weight easily.

I'm totally determined to start tomoro. I'm staying between sw which I actually did for a couple of weeks in September and lost seven and a half pounds or whether to do low carb. I'm going to start going to curves four times a week and try walking loads with the dog every day. I'm going on holiday in thirteen weeks with my size eight sister and I will not feel Awful! Last time we were away together was my hen do and I felt great in a bikini 👙 and I will again!

I've been every size from a 6 to an 18. Feel best around a size 12.

What I don't miss about being heavier:

Thighs painfully chafing together.
Having debilitating plantar fasciitis in my feet.
Struggling to get clothes that fit me properly, especially trousers and bras.
Having a double chin.
The ageing effect it has.
Low self-esteem.

I lost weight by aerobic exercise, cooking all my meals from scratch and cutting down on wine.

Marking place as I find this thread inspirational

I'm an 18 and am disgusted with myself. I hate my body and hate that in photos I'm the fat old woman.

Couch to 5k sounds appealing as I think you start off slow and build up. I even think there's a support thread on here for it

Following this thread.
My slimming world diet starts tomorrow... Need to lose at least 4 stone if not 6!!!

I lost over a stone back in sept/oct and felt so much better but then relaxed on the diet and put it all back on....

It's just going to be so hard

Yes there is a support thread for c2 5k

It's such a good programme with podcasts that tell you exactly what to do (and when to do it!).

I've just been out in the pissing rain and did 3.5k as I'm twitchy I haven't been out of the house.

The dog came with me and it was like watching a joyful toddler crashing around jumping in puddles. It felt like we were the only people out today we were

I lost 2.5 stone in 5 months by doing 5:2 combined with lots of walking and cycling. It started off as a diet but now has become a way of life (not so much 5:2 but being more aware of how much I actually need to eat).

The plus points:

I like clothes shopping again.
It's so much easier to pack for holidays - no need for covering up stuff.
I'm happy in a swimsuit.
I found I really love walking, and still do 3 or 4 long walks each week (6 or 8 miles at a time).
I'm much more aware of what I'm eating.
I don't feel I ought to eat if I'm not hungry just because it's a conventional meal time - breakfast never really suited me and I'm much happier with an early lunch instead.

My best moment was when even my teenage health freak son complimented me.

All very inspirational, thanks everyone for sharing!

Place marking, to come back and read soon!

I'm really impressed by all everyone who has lost loads of weight. I managed to get off the stone I needed to shift over the course of about a year, but found it unutterably boring and tedious. And although I knew better, I have gradually put most of it back on again (I blame Christmas).

As of tomorrow, I'm cutting out snacks, cutting massively down on the booze, making use of MFP which is now on my phone.

I know that when I weigh what I should, I feel better, look better, and keep fitter. That's why I'm going to shift it all over again.

I have just gone back on Cambridge diet. I lost 3 stone on it a year ago over 4 months and kept most of it off until end of 2015 when work stress plus Christmas esp alcohol and mince pies helped put two and a half stone back on. I have had to get back into my fat clothes and put away the new jeans etc I had bought until I can fit back into them.

Went from a size 18, 13 stone to a size 10, 8.5 2 years ago. Have been every size from 8-18 through the years. Have finally stabilised for the last 2 years. Loads of walking, no snacking and watching my calorie intake has done it. I'm not a big drinker I do love eating out but am careful most days so I can allow myself a treat. Why did I do it? I had totally lost myself, no confidence, I existed rather than lived, wouldn't have any photos of myself, avoided all social situations. Losing weight has transformed my life I wish I had sorted it a few years earlier.

Fab thread. Just starting dieting again after a nightmare December where I regained the 1/2 stone I l had lost. Interesting that 2 of my current health problems have disappeared upon weight loss for other. Two more reasons for me to stick to it.

Can go into any clothes shop and enjoy buying clothes. I look better, I'm healthier. My thighs don't chafe in summer. I have more energy.

I did it by eating less and walking more.

As a result of this thread, I've decided to start 5:2 tomorrow. I've had enough of my current weight, and I'm going to lose it!

Sex.

Both dp and I have lost 4 stone each. I'm not ashamed to say I find him more attractive now and he says the same. I've always loved him but to be frank we just didn't fit together any more. Sex was sweaty not in a good way

We've had sex about eight times in the last two months. Not massive amounts (two dc under 4 who dont sleep ) but prior to this the last time we had sex was when ds18 months was conceived and that was the first time we had done it since we conceived dd 3

I only lost a stone taking me from a bmi of 24 to 21, so higher end of nhs defined healthy bmi at my heaviest. The only difference was people treated me with more respect, especially at work (geek field, really not beauty related). Shocking, I am much more aware of fattist prejudice since then. I look a bit older for it, too.

I lost ten stone in 18 months between 2002 and 2004. Kept it off for a few years ...then slowly regained 4 stone which has taken me since Sept 2013 to lose. Weight loss slows down when you get older and also if your body is used to dieting. Ive now only got whatever my Christmas gain is to lose. But my problem is i lose off my back but never my boobs. The first time when i dropped 10 stone i went from a 46G to a 34F.

Dropping 4 stone i went from a 38K to a 34HH.....until last week when i was measured for a bra again and am now a 32HH.

Now for the psychological side of things. After being successful at achieving this i wont take any risks that could fuck it up. I wont take hormonal contraception. And as ive never wanted kids anyway and pregnancy causes weight gain im celibate although i had been for a long time anyway. I wont risk pregnancy or contraception because both cause weight gain and im child free by choice anyway.

And losing weight is not always the Holy Grail although women are often fed the line that it is.

It does not make someone a better person or make any problems they might have go away. They may end up having to deal with the same problems while wearing a different clothes size thats all. Dont get me wrong i feel better at a size 14 than i did at a 28.

But i think there has to be a bit of realism incorporated into weight loss rhetoric and the media is reluctant to talk about this subject in a realistic way especially when it comes to women.

Helena 10 stone is incredible - how on earth did you manage it?