to ask for fitness/weight loss transformation inspiration?

[RunningWhipstitch]

I have needed to lose 5 stone for several years. I have tried (unsuccessfully) many times to lose weight and get fitter.

After a year of severe depression that I am coming out the other side of, I would really like to try again, with a fresh attitude.

Would be interested to hear any health and fitness journeys.

@fishfingersandketchup yes it’s the ‘danger zone’ of bad food choices isn’t it? I have the morning off work tomorrow so I’m going to stock up on cuppa soups and healthy snacks that I can fill up on whilst I cook, clean, make packed lunches etc and I also need a refillable water bottle - I’m not drinking any water except for cup after cup of sugary coffee.

It’s good that we recognise where we are going on though! I’d love to feel sexy again 🤭 I’m mid thirties and my back and legs ache!

PearlandRubies good luck, its so bloody hard. I'm such a yoyo dieter, I'm 44 this month and heartily sick of it. Just started C25K and finding it gruelling, because of the extra weight. But I have to do something!
Sorry for slight thread hijack OP!

Those of you who have lost weight (well done) without following a plan such as ww or sw, how have you done it? Is it calories and low carb? Cutting out snacks? I need details

I lost 5 stone a few years ago. I tracked my calories and exercise on myfitnesspal (I used a polar hr monitor when exercising for accuracy). It was quite a low calorie diet which meant the weight came off quickly.

I maintained the loss for around 4 years until I met DP and then comfort and a pregnancy made me gain again.

I know what I need to do - eat less and move (not move more, just move because I don't at the moment). It's my willpower that has gone.

Thank you @PearlandRubies194 and @PippaRabbit ☺️
It's a long slog isn't it?

Started swimming - bitten the bullet despite being embarrassed by my wobbly body. It’s great! Good exercise, but i’m Not all sweaty and easy on my feet/ankles/ knees which suffer when i exercise other ways. A real spirit lifter. There’s something about being in the water that feels lovely and refreshing.

I’ve done c25k etc before but am too overweight at the moment to take up running again whiteout the risk of pulling or cracking something.

To the person who asked how: Loosely SW principles (a third to half my plate veg or higher fibre fruit) but I never joined a group or anything, and most days aiming at 1 meal per day carb free (usually eggs or home made veggie soup). I too get the "4 pm crash" so often have yoghurt and fruit/small amount of dried fruit then. I like evening snacking, so I try really hard not to snack at any other time of the day, so then I'm able to have something after I've got DC into bed. After about 3 stone off, I started couch to 5k, and have gone from fear of heart attack at less than 1 min of jogging to doing 5k regularly now and catching myself working out plans about how to get faster...weird!

I think the main thing though isn't the "how" for me, it's been the "why" of doing it - I made a small pinboard of pictures of all the things I wanted to feel/achieve (strong, healthy, active with my kids etc). When I wanted to stop, I tried to think about needing blood pressure meds from my GP soon otherwise, or not being able to run across the park and catch my DC in my arms. Whatever your "why" is, if you can tap into that, I found it kept me going. Here's hoping it carries me through the last remaining stone!

@MagicKeysToAsda you’ve done amazing, I’m definitely pinching the pin board idea - such a boost!

@Sowhatifidosnore well done on the swimming, my daughter used to have lessons 1-2-1 but she wasn’t making any progress. So I promised and promised that I’d take her myself, I can’t swim but I really want to build her confidence. But the thought of coming out of the changing room...arghhhh!! So good to hear you feel better afterwards

2 years ago I was 14 stones 4 pounds. Today I am 10 stones 10 (I am 5'4"). Have lost it just through eating less really, just ordinary food. I also exercise a lot, at least 5 miles of walking each day, and an hours swim most days. Carrying on, I want to lose at least another stone.
I am 58, so if anyone older is reading this, yes you can lose weight and get fit after the menopause.