To ask you for some weight loss inspo/stories?

[HCantThinkOfAUsername]

Just as above ^^.
I see them in mags etc but can it actually be done? I've a big amount to lose and need some inspiration

I'm planning on cutting out junk & drinking water

Do you have a particular event or holiday coming up that you could use as a target?

I would say cutting out junk and drinking water is a great way to do it. I lost 2 stone when I was younger. It can definitely be done! Good luck!

This might be very outing for me but here is my before and after. This was 9 months and 4 stone later.

How I did It? Healthy eating, gym 3 times a week and a lot of squats and weightlifting.

Hey, I was 19st 1lb on New Year's Day, I'm 5ft 5

I'm now 16st 8lbs and although I have a way to go yet, it's shifting and I feel awesome

I've lost 2st 13.5lb. Still a way to go but getting there.

Divadee - you look amazing !

Thanks sarah I don't quite look like that now as I gave birth 13 weeks ago but I am on the road to that. About 13lbs to lose to get back to that weight but I'm happy with that. It takes 9 months to make a baby and at least that to get back to normal I think.

I haven't rushed it and start back at the gym in 2 weeks time.

7 stone difference.

First photo I could hardly run to the end of the road - actually walking there was hard enough. Second I had just finish my first half marathon!

Divadee wow!!! That is amazing!!! Tell us more. I'm so inspired. Had you ever been so toned before?

Sirzy. Tell us more too. How much water do you all drink each day?

Have you tried looking at some of the Instagram slimmers? They always seem to inspire me. It's taken one lady at DN school 15 months to lose 11stone...so even if it is slow but steady, it will make a big difference. Drinking more water/green tea and eating less rubbish and filling over half plate with veg/salad and I dropped a dress size in exactly one month ( one month today)...my DSibs just popped in and noticed the difference and that was a massive boost!

Well done to all of you who have stuck to it!

ferris nope not ever in my life. I hadn't really done any exercise other than walking since I left school. I'm now 40 next month and the weight had crept on and crept on over the years. I got a personal trainer for a few months and then took up by myself. I actually enjoy it. I couldn't exercise like I had during pregnancy due to an incompetent cervix and then post birth complications as my cervix tore during labour and I lost a huge amount of blood (over 6 pints) so the Dr has only just agreed for me to go back to exercising.

Not sure if I'm inspirational but this time last year I was 16 stone 2, horribly unfit and this was having an impact on my health. One day I just decided enough was enough.
I'm now 11stone 5 and at 47 fitter than I've ever been in my life. Gone from a size 18/20 to a 10 (I get such a kick from that!).
I used MyFitnessPal to track EVERYTHING I ate, and still do. I kept under 1400 calories. I started walking, then swimming, then started Zumba. Spin soon followed. Now I do kettlebells 2/3 times a week and run (I have just managed 5k, it's taken time!).
I look and feel completely different. It can be done. It's about changing your mindset.

What happens to the loose skin?

user1489 you can control some of it if you lose weight slowly and tone up as you go. It does take a long time though. I don't like my stomach naked as it goes all wrinkly when I bend forward but after 2 kids and no money for a tummy tuck I learnt to love it.

You have done fantastically well!

I've just joined weight watchers and their app is great. Loads of inspiring pics in there with lots of support.

I've lost over 2 stones over the last 6 months. I haven't done anything special really , just ate less and moved more.
I just eat normal food (things like beans on toast), walk a lot and go swimming. I need to lose another stone or so. I know it's going to take a while but I don't care because I feel in good shape due to the exercise.

One thing I've found helpful (alongside aiming for 10,000 steps a day plus 2-3 hours of exercise class a week), is buying these 80g packets of microwave-steamable broccoli, green beans etc. Even when rest of the family (all skinny) is eating badly, I can have a small portion and then bulk out the plate with 1-2 of these packets of green vegetables. Really quick and easy. Waitrose do them.

Also measuring portions until you get the idea of what you're supposed to have. Muesli portions are incredibly small.

Lost 7kg in 6 months, now middle of healthy BMI range, have a few more kg to go.

I weighed 18st 3lbs at the start of 2003. I am 5ft 6ins and was a size 22/24. I started a job which involved a lot of walking and by the end of 2003 I was a 18. I then stayed an 18 until summer 2014 when I done a temporary very active job and ended it 8 weeks later as a 14. That was my aim.

However I then split with my husband and continued to lose weight and I got to a size 10 and 11st 3lbs. However when I started working full time I put on weight and went to a size 12 however I maintained that until I got pregnant in February 2016 but my maternity jeans were 12s and I was still wearing my size 10 tops.

When I went on maternity leave I still tried to keep active and only put on 12lbs the whole of my pregnancy.

However my child is now 5 months old and I'm a size 14 on the bottom and still a 10/12 on the top. I weigh 11st 10lbs now and I am still very happy. I wish I could get back down to a 10 on the bottom again but my shape has changed since having my baby so i doubt i ever will but I'd rather be a 14 with my baby than a 10 without.

I was also told in 2010 I couldn't have children due to my weight and I was about 14 stone then. So I just piled on the weight thinking there was no point to losing it. Me and my ex then decided I would start to lose weight to go back to doctors for help to get pregnant but as I say we then split up.

I wasn't careful with my now partner due to me thinking it would never happen and it did the first month he moved in with me. So was a big surprise.

I'm waffling now but I didn't do any exercise other than walking.

ferris I normally drink 3-4 pints of water a day, more on days I have ran.

Because I lost the weight slowly and did exercise alongside I don't have too much loose skin but will certainly never have a flat stomach - as very few people see it unclothed though it doesn't bother me too much, but when I win the lottery that's top of my spend list!

In 2012, at my heaviest, I weighed nearly 17 stone at a (very short) 5ft 1 1/2 (which means i can round up to 5ft2). I had tried (probably not that hard) sw and ww and everything but don't think I was mentally ready. Something jnside me just snapped and i decided to lose weight. I had always been big (size 16 at 20) and had piled on the weight through unhappy marriage/children etc. I am the epitome of slow and steady. 4stone came off over the course of a year which got me to a 16. I then plateaued for another year but when I began a 16 was beyond my wildest dreams. I then extricated myself from unhappy marriage and lost another 2 1/2 stone and down to a size 12. I have a stone or so that i yo yo between and would still like to lose another stone full stop but I like wine too much and have big boobs.

At the grand old age of 40 I am skinnier than my 16 yr old self and fitter than my 16 yr old self. I did it all through my fitness pal, which allowed some flexibility as long as i stuck to my calories which i did...religiously. I now run (slowly) 5k quite regularly which helps keep it off. I am super proud of my self for it (not being am smug but never thought I could do it). Loose skin has not been an issue because of the length of time it took apart from my stomach, but the only person that sees that is my new partner and he doesn't appear to mind. Things I learnt: you have to be in the right place mentally, a little but of what you fancy is ok (swapped a while family size galaxy for a snack size pack if maltesers), portion control is key, cutting out snacking makes a huge difference and drink lots of water. Maintenance means i am good during the week and let go a little at weekends and I keep an eye on the scales and if i see it creeping up for a few weeks in a row i jump straight back on to mfp. I will never be a size 10 but for the first time in my adult life I am happy in my own skin. You can do it

I started Slim n Save at the beginning of January, and lost 2 1/2 stone by the end of March. I've had a bit of a break over April, but have maintained.

Back on it now to lose the last stone.

5 foot 6 and have gone from 13 stone to 10.5 :)

These are amazing thank you for sharing, it shows me it can be done :)