To ask if you lost a lot of weight ...

[fat13]

How long did it take you?

I have a total of 7 and a half stone - have lost 3 and a half.

I know it will slow down. But I need some encouragement I think!

I lost two stone at 32 or so. Put it all on over next 5 years. Now 10 years later and I can’t lose it again!

6 stone in 5 months. Kept it off for 4 years. Now gained 4 but just started my diet. I follow slimming world and calorie count so I don’t over eat “free” foods.

I lost 3 and a half stone in about 8 months-ish. Or at least that's how much weight I lost, I'll never know for sure how much but I lost quite a lot more fat than that because I'm significantly more muscular now. Odds are it was closer to 4st in excess fat. It's also more significant than it sounds as I went from 11 and a half stone to 8 stone. So realistically, I was carrying half of my current body weight again in excess fat. In BMI terms I've gone from an poorly muscle toned, obese category 30 to a muscular 21.

I did it by quitting processed sugar until I reached a BMI of 25, then (by chance) taking up exercise and become athletically fit. And (unless I'm stopped by illness/injury) I can't see that ever changing back as I'm just genuinely ecstatically happy and amazed by all the things my I am now capable of. I love, love, love being fit, strong and flexible.

@Blackdog19

Out of interest what age range are people in? Is it harder to lose weight as you get older?

I lost the bulk of it at 39. My 40th birthday looming in front of me was definitely a big catalyst. I had a really strong feeling that how I turned 40 would set the tone for the rest of my life. And while that 0 birthday itself wasn't magically important, it is shown that losing weight gets a lot harder once menopause kicks in. Tbh, I'm very, very glad that I'm going into it as a fit person.

I'm definitely finding a bit of a change in my metabolic rate in my early 30s. I lost 3 stone in my mid-late twenties really easily but now I have to be very strict with my calories to lose weight.

I might have undiagnosed PCOS (I have lots of symptoms of it) so maybe that makes a difference.

It's definitely harder as you get older. I lost 5 stone in a year when I was 21. Now I'm 40 and it's al back and then some. I've lost two stone on the low carb bootcamp threads on here and it's felt easy compared to other diets I've tried recently, but it's not even comparable to losing weight in my 20s, it was so much easier then. I don't think it's all about my body or hormonal changes though. A big part of it was that I was a single adult and only responsible for myself. I had time to prioritise exercise and eating healthily. I only had to cook for myself. At 40 with a full time job and a family to feed every day it is much harder to prioritise yourself. At 21 I didn't have anything sweet in the flat. I just didn't buy it, no crisps or junk. Now I cook high carb foods for my family and don't touch them myself

Yes, lost 3 stone in 6 months. Originally put it all on during pregnancy, as I literally ate everything I saw 😂 Lost it by following low calorie (weighing everything) and intermittent fasting (so only eating in an 8 hour window every day). Haven’t exercised, as that is for toning rather than fat loss and I haven’t needed to tone. Should definitely stretch more though!

7 stone took me 12 months, I've kept it off for 10 years now :)

I cut out refined sugar and processed food, learned to cook healthy meals with a focus of nutrition and now I love food and cooking. Saying that, if I want cake I have cake (homemade)! But I'm mindful of portions and calories.

I took up running and strength training a few years ago, but I lost the weight with no exercise at all.

I lost 8.5 stone over 3 years ish

but don't let the time it takes put you off

the time will pass anyway whether you keep it up or not

That exact saying is why I'm now 3 years later size 14 instead of still size 24

I lost 3.5 stone in 6 months aged 20. It was really easy. I calorie counted and was super motivated. After a stone down I started exercising and it came off even quicker and got down to 9.5st. I was spurred by a relationship break up. Ended up looking and feeling the best I ever felt. Kept it off until I was 26 with a comfortable weight of 11st. Was 2 years into a new relationship, stopped exercising as much, ate A LOT of food. In Jan 2021 I was heaviest I had ever been at 15st. I am now 13.5st. This time I have found it harder. I'm still in a relationship and find it's hard when I am cooking for us both, plus the gym being shut. This time I am doing it because I don't feel comfortable. I am reminded of how amazing I felt when I lost weight, how I felt in clothes, I just felt better within myself. So I am making sure I get my 10000 steps a day in, trying to log most foods on my fitness pal. I have also started running which I am trying to do 2/3 times a week. I weigh myself nearly every day and record my weight on an app called Libra. It shows my weight in a downwards trends and it motivates me to log my lowest weight in every few days. The biggest thing I've found is you HAVE to have the motivation to do it.

If youre not very motivated then you will give up after a few days. Dont give yourself too little calories if you're going to get hungry and binge after a few days. Don't set yourself 15000 steps a day if you're only used to doing 5000. Don't go and run a 5k tomorrow if you've never done one before. Take little steps to build up to them goals. I have a park run route local to me and just run/walk as much as possible. I have gone from 48 min to 37. The last thing I do is look at the community board on myfitness pal. Look at the success stories section and have a read of some of the threads. An example is 'what is your NSV'(non scale victory). Reading threads like this really motivate me to think about what is motivating me and spurs me on to keep going 🙂🙂🙂

8 stone lost in 18 months at 38 and I've kept it off for two years . I have the occasional up and down but I've noticed my food behaviour is so much better that if it creeps up I'm careful for a bit and it goes back down.

@Blackdog19

Out of interest what age range are people in? Is it harder to lose weight as you get older?

Yep. Particularly post menopause.

I’ve lost nearly 4 stone in 10 months. Started in May and the fear of dying from Covid is what’s kept me on track. I’ve lost 3 stone twice in my life before and I need to focus on not letting it all go again once I get to target. Maintenance will be my sticking point

I lost 9 stone from 20st to 11st, and it took me a stone a month Kept it off for years.

@CookPassBabtridge

I lost 9 stone from 20st to 11st, and it took me a stone a month Kept it off for years.

This is what I need to to. Aiming to go from 22 to about 12, 2 down and 8 to go. How did you do it?

Meal replacement mostly so I had 2 shakes, a bar and then my own low carb meal. Once I'd lost the weight I started eating healthy breakfasts and snacks and it's stayed off.
I know a lot of people think meal replacement is a bad idea but I just wanted the weight off quick and to only have to think of one meal a day!

5 stone in 9months just be embracing a complete change in eating habits

I've lost 3 stone in 6 months. I have a stone to go. It has slowed down a lot! Really annoying. I'm 45

Thanks @CookPassBabtridge . I have done meal replacements in the past and it is quick weightloss but I couldn't sustain it for as long as I would have needed to. Hopefully I will get there, just a bit more slowly. Well done, I'm very impressed and it's good to know that it can be done!

I lost about 3.5 stones in 5 months. I was inspired and helped by BIWI’s bootcamp (on the big slim whatever section under LCHF bootcamp). I’ve kept it off for 5 years and I’ve never felt hungry or deprived.

I lost 7st in 2020 through calorie counting and running. I'm maintaining now but still weighing and measuring everything. I weigh myself everyday and I have an upper weight limit that if I reach I'll take action. I'm determined not to put it back on again.

I had a baby 6 weeks ago and have 2 stone to lose. I'm losing a couple of pounds a week at the moment but I am bf which apparently helps a bit. I've read and am following the advice in Dr Chattergees new book. He says that calorie deficit isn't always enough and there are lots of easy tips to kick start your body into weight loss. Especially if you've yoyoed dieted like I have. That affects weightless massively. It's a really good read and all the tips are easy changes. For example having leftovers for breakfast rather than sugary carby cereal, eating whole foods, eating within a window of 12 hours etc. He also talks about how important sleep, stress and other factors are in your bodies ability to burn fat. Just changing your sleep pattern and reducing stress but not changing your calorie intake can kickstart weightless if they are factors in your life. It's very interesting.

I personally know that I wouldn't stick to calorie counting and weighing food long term.

3 stone in 6 months on slimming world. Another 5 stone to go.

OP that's some pretty impressive weightless yourself. How have you done it?

I really need to get myself sorted out. I have always struggled to stick to diets after losing the first stone.