Accept weight gain or try and lose it

[qwerty45]

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

Find a physical activity that you absolutely love that will give you both more freedom to eat while also changing your relationship with your body. When you become more engaged with your body's abilities it really does change how you feel about how you treat it.

I was on a yo-yo gain weight mindlessly, lose weight consciously, then slip back into gaining habits again cycle. At 40, at a point after I'd gone from obese to a healthy weight, I found skating and it's become my passion. I'm heading into middle age now, athletically fit with extreme endurance levels, nicely muscular all over, increasingly flexible and with a BMI of 21-22. I can eat whatever the hell I want, but (post Covid recurring thrush sugar fixations aside) I mostly just want pretty good food. I'm almost always happy and satisfied from activity, so I don't have the same desire to eat crap. And I just love my body for what it can do. So many things that I used to fantasise about are now things I can either do or am realistically working towards.

@alittleprivacy

Find a physical activity that you absolutely love that will give you both more freedom to eat while also changing your relationship with your body. When you become more engaged with your body's abilities it really does change how you feel about how you treat it.

I was on a yo-yo gain weight mindlessly, lose weight consciously, then slip back into gaining habits again cycle. At 40, at a point after I'd gone from obese to a healthy weight, I found skating and it's become my passion. I'm heading into middle age now, athletically fit with extreme endurance levels, nicely muscular all over, increasingly flexible and with a BMI of 21-22. I can eat whatever the hell I want, but (post Covid recurring thrush sugar fixations aside) I mostly just want pretty good food. I'm almost always happy and satisfied from activity, so I don't have the same desire to eat crap. And I just love my body for what it can do. So many things that I used to fantasise about are now things I can either do or am realistically working towards.

I've started walking more and hoping to start running

Lose it. It's summer soon

@grassisjeweled I have started to intermittent fast again. I'm also exercising more.

I also lost a fair amount of weight in lockdown 1, reaching goal by October. I have to weight weekly or it can soon go on again, some weeks I’d gain 1, so I’d cut back to weight loss cals for a few days, then back to maintenance. I’ve gained over 5lbs at Christmas and so now I’m back to weight loss again. I’d definitely lose it before it spirals, as it very easily does.

@Darbs76 well done you. And yes it soon piles back on if you're not weighing in regularly, or watching what you're eating.

How is everyone else getting on?

I think the key is finding a happy medium. Something that you can adopt as a lifestyle as opposed to a diet.
If I:F will work for you all the time then stick to that.

I am all for small changes consistently over time getting big results.

It really works, but it’s slow and steady.

I didn’t practice what I preach over Xmas and put on 6lb and 5cm on my waist. Had way too much alcohol 🙈. I’ve started back with the principles of small tweaks and it’s slowly coming off 👍

Log everything you eat on my fitness pal.
Seeing it written down helps me not just with the calories but also the nutrition

@KellyTLC

I think the key is finding a happy medium. Something that you can adopt as a lifestyle as opposed to a diet. If I:F will work for you all the time then stick to that.

I am all for small changes consistently over time getting big results.

It really works, but it’s slow and steady.

I didn’t practice what I preach over Xmas and put on 6lb and 5cm on my waist. Had way too much alcohol 🙈. I’ve started back with the principles of small tweaks and it’s slowly coming off 👍

I've been doing IF and found it quite easy to get back into after having a break. I think I'm going to have to keep an eye on my weight regularly, so it doesn't get out of hand.

You sound quite like me, OP.
I lost weight extended breastfeeding and running and went from about 10st 7 with second baby to 8st 10 11 months later. I maintain now I've stopped feeding with a bit of intermittent fasting and running but the mistake I made in autumn was scaling back the running because of the weather, but not the chocolate consumption! Now my 10s are tight, so I'm having to do something about it (I'm about 9st 7 I think, I've switched to kilos and was 61kg this morning, aiming for 57kg).
I read some advice on twitter about intuitive eating and stopping when you're 70% full so I'm using that, have lost a kilo in a week already, with a bit of running and one afternoon of IF (skipping dinner, haha)

I've been doing IF and found it quite easy to get back into after having a break. I think I'm going to have to keep an eye on my weight regularly, so it doesn't get out of hand
This has been my life every since I decided in my teens that I didn't want to be fat.

I've managed it with some ups and downs but it certainly gets harder and harder.

It's a choice but every time I question it, I conclude that the aggravations of restriction is not as bad as how I feel when I'm not happy with my body, so the choice is made.

What gets to me is the constant 'youre so lucky to be slim' and people assuming I just wake up every morning amazed that I'm not 3 stone heavier.

IF is definitely the way for me. Was doing it 30 years ago when it was all about a copious breakfast and I was told I was damaging my body.

The older I get, the longer it takes to finally see the benefits of my efforts. Usually about 4 to 5 weeks. It makes it even harder as there isn't the reward to keep me going, but I know it will happen at some point!

What gets to me is the constant 'youre so lucky to be slim' and people assuming I just wake up every morning amazed that I'm not 3 stone heavier.

This would annoy me. They don't know your story/situation.

I had the opposite to this. When I reached goal, it was oh, you're too thin. Stop now otherwise they're will be nothing left of you. Because friends and family were used to seeing me as a bigger person. Never mind the fact that I had a bulging gut over my jeans.

@laPufalina

You sound quite like me, OP. I lost weight extended breastfeeding and running and went from about 10st 7 with second baby to 8st 10 11 months later. I maintain now I've stopped feeding with a bit of intermittent fasting and running but the mistake I made in autumn was scaling back the running because of the weather, but not the chocolate consumption! Now my 10s are tight, so I'm having to do something about it (I'm about 9st 7 I think, I've switched to kilos and was 61kg this morning, aiming for 57kg). I read some advice on twitter about intuitive eating and stopping when you're 70% full so I'm using that, have lost a kilo in a week already, with a bit of running and one afternoon of IF (skipping dinner, haha)

Thats what happens when you carry on eating and stop exercising. It seems easier to pile it on than it does to lose it.

@laPufalina

That’s great if it works for you.

It’s easy as not much to think about 👍.

I used to do it off and on as I’m not that hungry in the mornings.

Do you get a headache the first day though? I hate that.

@KellyTLC

That’s great if it works for you.

It’s easy as not much to think about 👍.

I used to do it off and on as I’m not that hungry in the mornings.

Do you get a headache the first day though? I hate that.

@KellyTLC yes I did get a headache the first few days. But I think thats my body withdrawing from carbs, sugar etc. It is hard work. Certainly easier in the summer than now. The cold weather isn't helping!

Has everyone started?

I'm enjoying fasting again. Haven't weighed, but I feel better in myself