To be horrified at how I look

[theavianexecutioner]

Just asked my mum to take a pic of me from the back and side, for bra measuring.
Horrified. I've been in SW on and off for a few years, need to go back. I've already decided I'm having a dry january and it needs to continue. I'm 43 in May and want to feel and look content.

Honesty - had an almond slice at work.

I don't think I will need much more than soup for dinner though.

I lost 4 stone in 2015 (was 15st to start with, only 5'6") through that women who advertises in Good Housekeeping Rachel Ricketts - had a specific eating plan based on virtually no carbs, big chunk of protein, loads of non-carby veg etc. One of them phoned me every week and I had to tell them how much I weighed and my vital statistics. Had to keep a food diary. Only allowed two bits of fruit a day. Can't say I felt massively hungry throughout, however, because of protein, and did it over 6 months April - Oct so took advantage of salad time etc. Was hoping that it would re-set my really sluggish metabolism but it hasn't. I have put two stone back on. I don't drink so that's not a diet problem for me. I don't eat huge amounts (slim colleagues at work have massive platefuls at lunch...) I can say categorically, however, that when I had no carbs my menopause flushes disappeared overnight (they are back a bit now) and also my sinus-related headaches stopped. I now rarely have sugary things and when I do, I get sinus problems and feel really crap. I have to try to remember how crap it feels. I try to limit high GI carbs but a life without bread, pasta, rice, potatoes is quite hard to manage especially in the winter. I haven't tackled the emotional causes of eating that which doesn't do me any good. Anyway, I am aiming to get rid of a stone by the end of March. I am happy being a tidy 14/16 if I can't get to 12/14 but I currently can't quite wear the sort of things I want to wear.

I did a team event over the new year and we took a "cheering in triumph" photo - oh my god. My arms looked like 2 enormous bloated hams, I genuinely think they are bigger than the legs of some of the other women there. Really made me feel quite sick :s

Yep. My head looks like frank sidebottoms on a NYE photo. Motivated me to do pilates yesterday, walk the dog today and make a healthy soup for dinner. I want a stone off

OP I feel your pain. My “moment” was the company “chrustmas jumper photo” which will go on inter company newsletter. Just kill me now! Circulated to circa 5000 “colleagues”. That moment when you realise you’re bigger than the woman you previously though was the biggest in the office 😱😱 xx

sheldonesque i thought that was an ability only I possessed! You taketh my super powers

I want to join in too - it's got to the stage where I ask my boyfriend to delete any photos he takes of the 2 of us. given that we only see each other 4 times a year as we live in different countries, photos really should be precious!

I'm 5'7 and currently weigh around 12st 10 - but I have GIGANTIC knockers at 34H which I loathe because they make me look massive all over, and they never shrink more than a cup size no matter how much weight I lose

I'm doing myfitnesspal sticking to 1400 calories a day - i work an active job with horses and aiming to lose 2lb a week - first weigh in on Saturday 🙈🙈 eeeek

Nt started the dieting aspect yet but I have been to the gym.

Not as bad as I had envisaged after a 5 week break (illness then Christmas week.) Using C25K I'd just got to doing a 20 minute (slow) jog before hand. I managed 12 minutes today and 8 minutes of walking, followed by some leg resistance machines. I actually ended up walking more as my knee was feeling sore (arthritis) more than for tiredness/breathlessness. So, did machines after to help restrengthen the muscles surrounding my joints.

And used the Boditrax scales too - was terrified to think about it! But agin not as bad as I had feared. Have put on 0.8 kg (less than 2lbs) in those 5 weeks - could have been so much worse!

Thanks all - also feeling a bit shite about my body and older looking face right now. Just doing the exercise helps, smiling helps, drinking lots of water is great for my face. Also - as well as fitting in the exercise - I am going to compliment myself every day. For instance - everytime I tell myself what a big bag of shite I look like - I am going to find something I like about my face/body and say that - today I decided my nails and hands were nice. I hate getting older (44) - knowing my best looking years are behind me - hating myself for being so bloody vain and shallow - but I am determined to maintain some self esteem.

Can I join too? I want to start SW, I planned to go today but in truth I cannot really afford it so made excuses about the weather and didn't go. I really need to get my head around this, meal planning makes me not only eat healthier but I am more organised with food. Planning to start tomorrow.

I have found my people! I'll be joining you too! I lost 2st last year due to a very restrictive diet connected to gall bladder problems and felt so well! I've put it all back since the op and I'm back to my fat jeans and shapeless tops. Something's gotta change.

Can I join too? Four stone to lose and only 5” 1 so it really shows. Starting tomorrow with just trying not to snack and eating mindfully. Definitely with you in deleting on all photos taken at Christmas

I've been in SW on and off for a few years, need to go back.

Do you maybe think SW isn't the way to go?

Not saying that to be mean but to be helpful. You need to chose something you can stick to.

Found slimming world really hard going. Did the ‘no carb or sugar’ thing last year and lost loads of weight and felt amazing and could have kept going which would have been perfect because it was so easy IF I hadn’t been a fool and eaten for ten since I returned from summer hols. Think I was so relieved that the seatbelt fitted on the plane that I ‘celebrated’ a bit too much 😳

I’m ashamed of the way I look. Joining this thread for a bit of solidarity.

I could do with loosing at least 3 stone to start with. I used to be a 10/12 but am now massive after two kids and too much food.

Had a good day today. Sensible breakfast, and then for lunch I got off my enormous arse, went to M&S and bought one of their salads made with odd grains I have never seen anywhere else. Had lots of fruit and a normal evening meal.

Am conscious that DD is 10 and I dont want her to see me obsessing over weighing food.. so am eating what DH provides for us, just watching portion size.

Actually feeling quite positive for having started to do something about it.

Enjoy being on this thread .. dont feel so lonely anymore! DH eats like a horse, all the wrong things and never gains a pound. Git.

I’m in. Like someone else up thread, I avoid having photos taken of myself. In my mind I’m ok face-on, but if I see a picture of me from the side, it looks like someone was accidentally stapled to me.

I started Whole30 yesterday. Drastic times call for drastic measures.

I want to join you all to- but starting Monday. I am 43 in the summer.
I was doing really well with SW (3 stone loss) this time last year and had started a sport I was good at and developed a health issue and put it all back on. Sorry for not elaborating but will be outing.
This Christmas I was trying so hard as we had a wedding to go to before Christmas.
Sadly I also lost my father around that time and I have eaten for everyone.
It's my dad's funeral tomorrow and I am so disgusted with how I am and quite mortified that everyone is going to see me like this.
Let's do this and support each other (and I have a good 7 stone to lose).

Let's just saying I'm taking an everything in moderation approach.

Had a chicken burger, sweet potato fires and coleslaw for lunch : ate all the fries because they were delicious, most of the coleslaw, all the chicken and left most of the bread as it was crap and not worth it.

Will have a light dinner - got some salmon so probably grilled salmon salad with spinach etc.

Chin chin everyone.

Some very familiar stories here! After being a size 8-10 for most of my adult life, I’ve crept up to a size 12 after having two children. Plus at nearly 40 there’s definitely the beginnings of middle age spread! And being short 5’2’ it really does show.

I know I’m not technically overweight but it’s more the fact that in my head I’m mentally a slim person, until that is I catch sight of a photo of myself. Plus my youngest child in now 3 and so I really can’t blame it on baby-weight any more.

I think the final straw was a photo of me standing next to my sister in law who is a size 6 (and who had a baby a year ago). Next to her I really could see the dumpy middle-aged woman I could so easily become!

I like this thread because it’s not as intense as some of the ones on the weight loss boards. I’m going to have another go at updating out of solidarity but this is my third attempt... I tend to lose interest if I’ve fallen off the wagon!

Love this thread. I'm in!

I’m joining too! Managed to lose 2 stone so far, combination of SW and exercise (well walking the dog). Don’t follow SW religiously as I can’t get onboard with the hysteria when I say I’ve eaten an avocado instead of a Freddo but knowing I’m getting weighed every week helps me stick to healthier eating. I’m getting married in May so need to shift some more pounds as I can’t stand looking at myself in photos which might be a bit of a problem on the big day!
Bought myself a soup maker too.... lush fat free soup anyone?

In Gin that sounds so tough.
Hope all goes well for you tomorrow, and don’t be too harsh on yourself about having gained weight. Shit happens, we all have different ways of coping.

At first it was vanity - I hated how I had ended up looking. But now I'm thinking health - heart disease, diabetes etc etc. If I don't stop NOW, when will I?????
Always been nice looking, petite, now a big bloated blimp with arms like hams and a barrel-shaped middle. No one to blame but myself. My husband is 6 foot, I am 5' 3", but I've been keeping up with him when it comes to meal size. When I was single I ate small, healthy little dishes. Now I am matching him with big man sized dinners.
I have had enough. I am size 16, veering rapidly towards size 18. If I could even be a 12 I would be so happy.
Looking to you guys for inspiration and hope. It's my birthday in early Feb and I want to be significantly lighter by then, and then I will take it slow and steady. I also have huge norks, 34 GG which just make me look extra dumpy, extra matronly. Oh, to be 34B again!