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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Accept weight gain or try and lose it

93 replies

qwerty45 · 24/12/2020 14:54

Hi,

so basically when lockdown started back in March, I decided enough was enough and started to cut down on junk, snacks etc. I did this through intermittent fasting and regular walking/jogging to get out the house. I started at a size 14/16 and by October I had reached a 8/10 (I'm 5ft7). I stopped watching what I was eating from around the end of October and through to November and now. This was due to going back to work and another lockdown began.

I was getting ready the other day to go shopping and I couldn't get into my jeans. My tshirts were tight and my coat was difficult to zip up. DH bought me some new clothes as a reward/treat after I had managed to lose the weight. I did keep my bigger clothes so luckily I have something to wear.

I haven't told DH that the new clothes are a bit tight. Is it worth trying to lose the weight to fit back into them or should I just allow myself to eat what I want and not worry?

I think I'll have to watch what I eat most of the time though

OP posts:
ForTheLoveOfCatFood · 24/12/2020 14:54

Give yourself a break for Christmas and then restart in Jan

Scarydinosaurs · 24/12/2020 14:57

I’m the same as you but had the realisation I’d gained about three weeks ago. It had slowly gone back on from August when work really ramped up and I was eating/drinking like I was still working out like I had been in early lockdown.

I’ve lost half a stone again, and plan to get back down to a healthy weight. You did it before- the difference is this time you can keep it there.

flumposie · 24/12/2020 14:57

I'm restarting in January.

Mintjulia · 24/12/2020 15:01

Start on Jan 2nd.

Don't just accept it. Don't let it take root, get rid of it before it doubles or trebles. But have a relaxed Christmas first Smile

WhatKatyDidNxt · 24/12/2020 15:03

Another vote for enjoy Christmas and then get back on it in January

Charlie63849 · 24/12/2020 15:05

Doesn’t everyone or most people have to watch what they eat to stay slim....

Spodge · 24/12/2020 15:05

I reckon you should get it under control before you end up even bigger than before. You obviously don't want to be this size or you would not have gone to all the effort to lose the weight.

JovialNickname · 24/12/2020 15:07

Another voice saying enjoy yourself over Christmas and restart in the New Year Smile

OoohTheStatsDontLie · 24/12/2020 15:10

Its up to you surely. How fit and healthy do you feel? Are you happy with how you look? Are you a healthy BMI? Do you enjoy what you eat or is it just mindless snacking/ overeating through boredom etc? How hard would you need to work to lose it, is it just a few tweaks needed etc

One thing I would say is the longer you leave it the more you just get used to being that size and it seems normal. And also I'm not sure what age you are but suddenly when I hit late 30s it became much harder to maintain my weight now, I have to actively try whereas before my weight was naturally at a certain level

idril · 24/12/2020 15:12

Problem is that the next time you put on a few pounds and the next, it will just accumulate to the point where you are really unhappy and then have a lot of weight to lose.

Relax over Christmas and then make a concerted effort to cut back down.

Perhaps settle on size 10-12 rather than 8-10.

sirfredfredgeorge · 24/12/2020 15:23

Most people put on weight at christmas, and most people don't lose it again, in normal times, the inactivity and extra eating and drinking of christmas adds a few pounds, and then the next christmas it happens again, and the more overweight you start, the more you gain.

Watching what you eat and drink over the couple of weeks of this time is actually worth more to most people in preventing weight gain compared to do it the rest of the year (as adults - In children it's generally the summer where holidays excess weight is typically gained, that you need to watch)

So try and do something to keep the weight off - getting active has the double impact of burning extra calories and preventing any snacking - but avoid denying yourself too much as that's not the way to controlled weight.

BiscuitDrama · 24/12/2020 15:24

What weight have you been through your life? I am wondering what weight you can settle at without too much effort.

NeonSparkle · 24/12/2020 15:25

Can you do a happy medium- so not as strict as you were before but also not eating whatever you want? That way it will be sustainable long term and you won’t be depriving yourself which would make you more likely to binge on ‘forbidden’ foods. Just a suggestion Smile

sirfredfredgeorge · 24/12/2020 15:26

Doesn’t everyone or most people have to watch what they eat to stay slim....

I don't have to watch what I eat to stay slim, I purely have to manage my mental health, 15 years ago I was over 30 kilo's heavier than now, I lost it all to a healthy BMI without ever watching what I eat, just keeping enough on top of my agoraphobia that I could go out / be happyish etc. But yes, for most people they do need to have some sort of system to avoid over-eating.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 24/12/2020 15:27

I’d try and lose it. Health is so very important right now. To have outgrown a size of clothes in two months shows how it’s likely to continue if you decide not to change it.

Miseryl · 24/12/2020 15:28

Enjoy Christmas and New Year but limit your over eating to 2 days rather than gorging for 2 weeks. You could easily go up another dress size by the time 4th Jan (or whenever you start dieting) rolls around.

PandaBearCub · 24/12/2020 15:40

Maybe the way you lost weight isn’t sustainable? If you ate too few calories and did intermittent fasting then eating normally again will make you gain weight. Have you ever been an 8/10 before?

Original poster
qwerty45 · 24/12/2020 15:51

@Scarydinosaurs what made you realise?

I agree I have done it before. I just feel bad that I've gained!

OP posts:
Emeraldshamrock · 24/12/2020 15:57

It's been a tough year enjoy your Christmas be merry and restart January.

Original poster
qwerty45 · 24/12/2020 16:02

@Spodge I probably won't end up bigger than before as I am aware of my size. My clothes not fitting was horrible and reminded me of how I felt when I was larger.

OP posts:
Trisolaris · 24/12/2020 16:10

My focus over Xmas is to maintain rather than lose and will get back on weight loss in Jan.

I will be doing this through a long walk or a run each day and by having treats but in moderation.

Might this work for you?

Original poster
qwerty45 · 24/12/2020 16:15

@Trisolaris that sounds good. I haven't weighed myself (can't bring myself to do it!). So won't know if i've maintained after xmas.

Moderation is something I've been struggling with recently

OP posts:
Original poster
qwerty45 · 24/12/2020 16:16

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss yes health is very important. Thats what made me start to lose it back in March.

I couldn't believe it when my clothes were tight!

OP posts:
Lurkingforawhile · 24/12/2020 16:19

Rather than letting everything go for the whole festive period maybe get back to the good habits after boxing day? You can always have a day off on NYE too. I find if I say duck it for a while week or more it takes me a month to get back to where I was. Good luck!

OfaFrenchmind2 · 24/12/2020 16:20

I have accepted that between the 1st of December till end of January (January is for galettes and raclettes!) I will gain weight, because I want to refuse myself nothing during the darker months. So I go all out with no guilt.
Then I scale back the food indulgences and step a bit up my exercise as soon as February starts..
No pressure, all is expected, and it works well. By mid-march I am back to normal, and fit as a fiddle.