To ask if you've successfully lost weight?

[SpaceToad]

What motivated you? What was the deciding factor that made you think 'enough is enough'?
I'm fat (16.7 stone this morning) pre- diabetic, and fully aware of how awful type 2 diabetes can be. Terrified that my 13 month old DS is going to end up obese through the shocking example I'm setting.
Yet I'm still eating the fucking chocolate.
I have the best of intentions but they crumble so easily!

[Laiste]

I've taken the same bloody few stone off and on again about 3 times. First time was after having DD1 - i was 21 yrs. Got 3 stone off within about 6 months counting cals and cutting down on fat. Simply felt fat and ugly.

2nd time was after having DD2 at 26yrs old. 2 stone off again in 4 months. Was down to only eating every other day and tried making myself sick a couple of times. Failed! The thing that stopped me was falling for DD3. I had to eat for her.

Stayed slim for about 4 years after having DD3 then it crept back on. Then left XH and lost 3 stone almost overnight with stress and lack of apatite.

Now i find i'm in need of shifting that same blasted 2/3 stone AGAIN as i've had DD4! I'm happily re-married and the weight has crept back. I'm doing the not eating again. Because a) that works fastest and b) i've tried the healthier ways and i can't stick to them.

It gets harder to shift it as you get older. My advice is get it off asap!

[ItsJustNotRight]

Two things recently have got me to tackle my weight, I need to lose about 2 stone. I met up with some long time friends who I see about once a year, we're all over the hill and they all looked fantastic. It made me ask myself if I really wanted to be the fat old lady of the group. Then a few days later someone on a thread about motivational books, recommended Freedom from the Diet Trap and said they'd had great results with it. It has helped change my mindset, I'm hopeful I can stick with it for the long term, not just long enough to shift the bulk.

[ferngrubb]

Being diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes. I have lost 11stones 2lb and am embarrassed at how I let myself get like that.

[grounddown]

Vanity.
Stopped drinking (and therefore also late night snacking and big calorie laden carby breakfasts) and lost a stone.
I've kept it off by making healthier food choices

[RhodaBorrocks]

I was always slim, the summer before I had DS I was commuting to and walking in London and dropped down to 8st 10lb and a size 8/10. I looked and felt fab. I only put on 2st during pregnancy and after giving birth settled back to between 9st and 9st 7lb. I was happy at a size 10/12.

My relationship broke down and my weight crept up to 10st ish. I was still a 12 so it was OK. I split with XDP and maintained my weight for 18 months when I had an acute depressive episode and my GP gave me Mirtazipine because I wasn't sleeping. Unfortunately as well as being an antidepressant, Mirtazipine is also given to anorexics to make them eat.

I ate my way up to 12st 2lb and could barely make it up the stairs without getting breathless. I was a size 16 and now depressed about my size as well.

I switched to citalopram and lost a little weight, but then had my transplant and was on and off steroids for the next 3 years. My weight fluctuated with that.

I got to 11st 2lb by myself, then did slimming world and lost a stone in 6 weeks, but the funding I had for it ran out so I couldn't go any more. I maintained for a year, then needed more surgery and more steroids so my weight went back up to 12st again.

I'm currently back at 11st 2lb. This time I'm not doing any fads, just eating sensibly until I'm full. Evening meals are lean protein and veg with maybe a low fat yoghurt if I fancy. Lunch is soup and fruit. Breakfast is a meal replacement shake, only because I find it hard to eat in the morning but drinking is ok.

For me the alarm bell always goes when my belly sticks out more than my boobs. I'm a 32F so that really shouldn't happen! And when my knees hurt or I feel breathless taking stairs I know it's because I'm too heavy. I have a joint condition which would be helped if I was smaller, but makes exercise very difficult.

I bought new bikes for me and DS last Summer. I used to love cycling and we have some great cycle routes nearby. He's taking his cycling proficiency next spring so we'll be able to do more road cycling together then too.

I've finally accepted that with a thyroid problem as well I will not see quick results and slow and steady works best. I only weigh myself every 8 weeks or so and prefer to judge by how my clothes fit. Currently there's definitely more room and a colleague has commented that I've lost weight again. I tried on a 1990s size 12 Etam bodycon dress (that was my Mum's but I have now bagged as it is back in style) last night for a night out I have coming up and it fit nicely. With my spanx on too I'll look the bollocks!

It's an ongoing journey, but I think once you accept that and forgive yourself the occasional pizza or chocolate bar and just keep on keeping on it becomes more of a habit. My downfall has always been slimming down and then falling back into old unhealthy ways to 'reward' myself, which is why my weight has been fluctuating since I was 21!

[RhodaBorrocks]

Shit guys, sorry for the essay!

[Bluntness100]

I have lost 11stones 2lb

[Catsize]

I realised that I wanted to live for as long as possible to see my children get as old as possible. The only thing I could do to control that was get within a healthy weight range.

It was a similar MN thread that kickstarted it. I read it and that evening joined a SW group and it is great. 1.5 stone in 3mths. Hasn't been too bad at all.

My main weakness was wine so have cut back. Figured I didn't drink when pregnant so can do it.

Sometimes it's a bit tough going - especially when eating out - but the benefits are great. Have dropped two dress sizes and feel fitter. Confidence has grown too.

[OhPuddleducks]

I stopped wanting to be in photos with my kids because I hated how I looked. felt like a crap reason to edit myself out of their photo albums so I joined the gym and gave up bread.

[amusedbush]

I'm doing the not eating again. Because a) that works fastest and b) i've tried the healthier ways and i can't stick to them

That really can't be good for you? It's not sustainable at all.

And I say that without judgement, as someone who has tried and failed at everything.

[KinkyAfro]

I was 16'8 in August, currently 14 stone with a couple more to go. Luckily have no health problems apart from a few aches and pains (fibro and arthritis) but I was fed up of being fat. Rubbish tent-like clothes, chub rub when wearing skirts/trousers.

I do Weight Watchers and attend meetings, the support is great and I need someone to weigh me which keeps me on the straight and narrow

[ferngrubb]

Bluntness100 Unfortunately it is not a typo, I really did loose 11stone 2lb

[uggmum]

I'm still on my weight loss journey. I have lost 2 stone in the last few months. I want to lose one more stone to be at a goal that I have set.

I am at my lowest weight for 17 years and I feel so much better. I've struggled with my weight for years but I now feel in control.

I don't know what the trigger was, but I now do between 9 and 11 exercise classes a week and I've drastically cut down on food. I've reduced calories by a huge amount and now I just don't feel hungry anymore.

I've always been a massive food addict and it was sugar all the way. I was never full, ever. Now I just don't feel the need for food. I'm not sure if this is an emotional or physical reaction but I am not complaining.

The thinner I become the less I want to eat.
I tend to have one small meal a day and a smoothie that I make with milk and fruit in the morning. I also top up with fruit.

[Catsize]

fern, you are an inspiration - that is amazing!

[Clarabumps]

I've lost 2 stones in four months on low carb high fat diet and training with a trainer. I've now plateaued weight wise but have continued to change shape. I started swimming 2 years ago and lost a stone just by swimming 3x a week and watching what I was eating. I've went from a size 16ish to a size 10 ish.

I just love the endorphin rush from exercise. It took me a while but I eventually found out that I like exercise. I now have the confidence to try other forms of exercise and I'm about to start training as a yoga teacher. The thing that made me lose weight was vanity to start with. I looked at my face and it looked like a fat person had ate me. I wasn't used to it and I didn't feel like me. Every night out I was in tears at the thought of being seen by people or getting photos taken. It changed my personality. Now I just look at food as fuel. I Love LOVE food and carbs especially but now I can have them guilt free as an actual treat once in a while.
I just love the freedom in my head from the negative talk. I used to eat something and then the voice would start " that's it, you've ate that doughnut, you're a big fat pig who can't even go a week without a doughnut, you're totally worthless....blah blah" I don't miss that at All.

I do miss bread though.

[Bluntness100]

Fern, then congratulations, that's a massive achievement and must have taken a huge amount of hard work and determination.

Don't be pissed you got to that size, be delighted you got back down.

[Fruityflapjack]

My children were the reason I gained and the man reason I'm loosing. I gained 4st with the first and 2st with the second. I was always tired and hated the clothes I had to wear and absolutely hated the way I looked in pictures.

Being obese rules your life, nearly every waking thought it's there, tormenting you. I'd always been fit and exercised a lot but I had to do low impact versions of moves in fitness classes, my knees were hurting, I was struggling in work ( very physical job), I'd choose the less active options on days out when the real and old me would have been striding up the mountain or running about playing football with the children. I'd become someone I didn't know and it was really affecting my life.
I have two wonderful daughters and the thought that their most important role model was obese and so unhappy about everything associated with that broke my heart.

12 weeks after DD2 was born I started on Cambridge. I'm 6 weeks in and I've lost 2 stone. I already feel so much better an I'm excited about how great I'll feel when I've lost the other 4. I'm doing this for me but the side effects for my family and how I'm starting to feel make it worthwhile.

I am looking forward to living a life in the sunshine instead of in the shadows where food and weight no longer rules me.

[SpaceToad]

fern wow that is amazing!
Thank you everyone who's replied! . A couple of books to read and things to think about!

[ChopsticksandChilliCrab]

That's amazing fern, well done!

[Ludoole]

Last year i was a size 18, now im a 12. However I lost my dh and my appetite last December.
My appetite hasnt returned although i make the effort to eat a main meal every day. I also work nights now and find that hasnt helped my appetite either

[fiorentina]

After I had DS it was vanity that got me back to a lower weight, I wanted to be fit and look good, I was more conscious of this post kids than before to be honest.

I are healthily loosely following weight watchers and swam 3 times a week plus walked wherever I got the chance. To me being overweight felt so awful compared to being fit and feeling good about myself it is definitely worth the work.
Everyone is motivated by different things but feeling energetic would be the catalyst for me.

[Madeyemoodysmum]

Yes nearly two stone 4 years ago on 5:2 diet The trigger was my peas to telling me my back would benefit from weight loss and also really wanting to buy a particularly funky t shirt and it was too tight. It took about 4 months but so pleased I did it. I'm fitter. No longer so sweaty and my backs improved. I can also get any t shirts I like.

[SpaceToad]

Ludoole I'm sorry for your loss

[INeedANameChange]

I lost a stone of baby weight naturally by breastfeeding, enjoyed being slimmer and did weight watchers to shift another three, which took me to a lovely size 8. I maintained 8 for a year, then stayed at a 10 for the next 6 years or so.

I've started slimming world in the last week as I've crept up to a 12, gained two stone back and hate the way I look. If I'm honest it was seeing my weight on the scales that made me go back to dieting this time as I was in denial until I saw the numbers!

[INeedANameChange]

Should add that I was down at an 8-10 at the beginning of the year but that was down to the bereavement diet rather than a conscious effort. Wouldn't recommend it!