To think I’ll never be able to get my weight down?....

[OscarWildesCat]

I’m currently the heaviest I’ve ever been, I realised 4 weeks ago I needed to do something and downloaded MFP and have been religiously logging every single calorie, I started doing HIIT workouts and body pump and was feeling much better about myself. I lost weight and went from 13st13lbs to 13st6lbs in 4 weeks or so. I have had 4 days off for my birthday and wedding anniversary and have to say I’ve still been relatively conscious of what I’ve eaten as I don’t have a big appetite at the best of times, generally I have logged on MFP and done a workout 1 day. I’ve been drinking wine again over the 4 days, which didn’t get logged, I had cut right down.
This morning I thought it time to get back on it after my few days of relative freedom and decided to weigh in first, I’m 13st10lbs!!, 4 days of being a bit relaxed and I’m practically back where I started?!. I’m in tears, I feel like throwing in the towel and accepting I’m just fat, I’ve had enough, I simply cannot sustain the level of obsessive weighing and measuring food and calories to slip up for a few days and go right back to the bloody start again.
Please tell me I can do this 😞. I’m 5ft 5 and a UK16 for reference.

1200 calories is fine, if it's well balanced with protein, fruit and vegetables (especially veg) and some fat.
I lost over 4 stones over a two year period, OP. There's no need to rush, just take your time, exercise to get stronger and fitter and try out new recipes.
If you want to drink wine I suggest topping it up or half and half with sparkling water to make a spritzer, tastes very refreshing and cuts back on the calories.

Don't give up OP! I too was struggling for ages because I wasn't consistent and was kidding myself. I'd religiously log everything on MFP Mon - Fri and stick to within 1200 calories, but then from Fri evening (take away, couple of drinks) - Sun evening I thought I could eat what I liked. I wasn't going mad pigging out, I just wasn't paying attention, and was completely undoing any deficit I'd managed during the week. Now with all days seeming a lot more similar during lockdown I'm taking the opportunity to try and be completely consistent 7 days a week. I'm trying to stick to within 1400 which for me personally is more easily sustainable long term, and finally, very very slowly the weight is now coming down, and I feel so much less panicked as feel that if just keep doing this, even though it will take a long time, I'll get there. Sticking to my calorie allowance, being mindful of my activity levels and trying to do something every day (but not going mad - I used to do mad workouts in the gym, but then also used to eat back exercise calories), just trying to maintain a consistent deficit over the long term. And my weight on the scale can easily vary that much over a few days, so whether you weigh yourself every day or once a week, try to keep perspective and not be bothered by day to day fluctuations. If you keep consistently sticking to a calorie deficit, the bigger picture trend will be downwards.

I can gain 8lbs in 3 days before my period and then it goes again afterwards, all water retention but it's bloody disheartening! Get back on it and I bet you get a drop in a couple of days (but don't weigh again for a week!)

One word. Slimpod.

Liberating, effortless.. and it actually works.

Lots of studies recently (as in last 20 years at least) have been debunking the idea that fat is bad and carbohydrate good. greatist.com/health/saturated-fat-healthy#10 Fat is certainly necessary for the brain and hormones which helps with cravings. I’m offering this up as your typical day has a few low-fat things in it.

The best thing I did whilst dieting was only weighing myself once a week. If I weighed daily, if I lost I thought 'ahh fuck it, I can eat/drink shit, if I gained, I thought 'ahhh fuck it, it's not working so eat shit' by doing it at the same time once a week I get a proper weigh in

Wine really bloats me and makes me retain fluid. Which is so sad skip it in favour of gin and I promise you'll drop a few pounds

I feel your pain. The only way I can lose weight is to eat minimal calories every day, forever. One meal out, one day off results in no loss at best and a gain at worst. I can gain half a stone on holiday when i just don’t count and I have a few drinks.
I don’t want to live a life where I can’t have a drink at the weekends or go out for pizza sometimes. So I just have to be ok with being fat. For me it is a choice of miserable with lifestyle or miserable with weight.

You have done an amazing job by recognising that you need to lose weight and by getting started. Well done for that. Try not to obsess with the scales, adding muscle with your exercise may alter the pounds slightly. BUT you are getting fitter, you will be getting nice toned muscles. Try taking a photo of yourself every fortnight instead, concentrate on how your clothes are feeling better and your health is improving. It's not all about the scales, success can and should be measured in other ways too