I am writing this to read back in one year

[Okimbig]

I am writing this to read back in six months. You don’t have to read it, but I know that this will motivate me to keep going.

I am 5’4 and 19 stone. I have been dealing with horrific postnatal for one year and have gained six stone since birth.

I am deeply unhappy and am self conscious. I no longer make an effort with myself and my clothes are all huge. I have a double chin that makes me hate my face.

I was never like this. I was always slim and happy, my goal and natural weight being 10 stone.

Yesterday, I started a keto diet, because I am desperate to keep it up. And I am vowing to keep doing this and beyond getting to my target weight.

I know it will happen in steps and that’s okay, but I can’t be this way any more. I am unhealthy and anxious about leaving the house and even sitting in public chairs in case they break. This isn’t healthy.

I have a child who I need to be here for, so I am doing this for him as much as myself.

In six months, I hope to have lost four stone, and by one year, or even two, I hope to be back to where I was.

I hope I come back to read this when I am happy in who I am, and what I am.

Good luck OP! You can do this

Good luck OP!

Good for you! If it helps motivate you, I lost 60kgs on the Keto diet. Well done making the change. I wish I had done it earlier. I didn’t find it until my late 40’s. My life from my early 30’s until that time I was morbidly obese. I am so much happier now.

Bloody hell, what a brilliant idea, I'm going to copy this
Wishing you all the luck in the world

Good luck OP, you can do it.

Since mid Jan this year I've gone from 9 stone overweight to 3 stone overweight after rapid weight gain across two lots of pregnancies and BFing.

Very best wishes OP and keep posting if it helps. I've found low carb to be the best way for me to loose weight- hope it helps you. In the mumsnet diet section there's a low carb bootcamp which is a really supportive group of women who do a very low carb way of eating for 10 week stints, I'd really recommend you joining in on the next one. I find it easier to stick to with some support.

Good luck OP. Are you under the care of a doctor/dietician? My GP told me not to do keto because it puts strain on your heart, so given your weight I would be concerned about doing it unsupervised.

Good luck op! Definitely keep us updated, you've got this!

Good luck OP I was there 3 years ago. Lost 8 stone in a year on Keto and I am still keto because I feel amazing on it and it completely turned all my blood tests around. The first two months are hard but afterwards it's wonderful.

The weight loss was great obviously but it helped my relationship with food. All of my blood tests and heart health that were in really bad ranges are dead on now. I have loads more energy and my hormones are so so much better now.

You can do this and it's worth it.

With respect to pp I believe that doctors have different opinions. Or perhaps it depends on each individual patient's health. I do believe the whole high fat being bad for your heart is more to do with what kind of fat it is not all fats.
Being overweight also puts a strain on your body.

OP I really wish you the best of health and am absolutely cheering you on!!!
If you need something to read Mark Sissons has a really good site called Mark's Daily Apple. Lots of good information and support.

Hi everyone, thanks for all the kind support. I just wanted to update you - I’m on day three, just completed, and am down to 18 stone 10!!!

Yay @Okimbig! Great start!

Good luck op!

@Magissa it wasn’t about the usual dietary fat/heart disease stuff, it was that it’s been linked to heart arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation so needs monitoring

@Okimbig congrats on the loss

Im trying to reduce too. Good luck.

Well done! That’s the great thing about Keto. It really does pay off quickly when you’re going through the gruesome withdrawal from sugars and grains stage. Soon you won’t even think about it and the pounds will just keep dropping off. As I said, I lost a bit over 60kgs. 64, actually. (Tbh that’s really hard to admit to! Quick Google says 10 stones 8 Oz… but I don’t speak that language as am in another country.) The other thing I think it has helped with is cravings. I didn’t get involved in buying fancy, expensive “keto” products. I mostly make my own food from food I would normally eat, minus grains and sugar. (All sauces, condiments, etc included…) Takes a bit of organization, but it saves money and you ACTUALLY know what you’re getting. There are a lot of different ideas about what IS keto, btw. I’m lucky that I like fresh veggies and they’re cheap where I live. Wasn’t a huge leap there. The other good thing for you to know (maybe) is that I am a total gym-dodger. Not because I’m lazy, but because I have a deformed hip and leg. However, I’m also nearly 50 and my skin is looking pretty good, despite having lost the weight and having carried twins. I’ll never be a bikini model, but I don’t look like a sharpei, either. (Was worried about that, I must admit!)

Best of luck to you!
I've just joined a new gym and am making an effort too. It's a long slog but we'll get there!

Day four - had cravings last night, made a goats cheese salad instead.

Well done! Sounds delicious, recipe please

Making me hungry...

Well done!!
I'm on a weightloss journey also. Slow and steady wins the race 😊

Good luck OP

I was you in January 2016. I got down to 10 stones and I’ve been 62-66kg since then (it’s also my happy weight). I did it through LCHF too - easiest and tastiest way to keep my weight under control and I still eat like this the majority of the time now. I would recommend finding BIWI’s low carb bootcamp thread under the weight loss section as the encouragement and knowledge there is immense. The first few days are a bit rough, just keep drinking the water and keep going - it’s worth it.

@sheepysheep please would you share your height? If you don't want to, no worries. It's just that 65kg is my dream ideal weight and I am 179cm. I am wondering what size that would equate to.

Good luck Op. You've got this! I've just gone from 18st 2.5 to 17st 2.5 in 3 weeks and I already feel different! My clothes are lose. I've lost 4 inches off my waist and 3 off my hips and I generally feel better. I'm cheering you on.

@Liverbird77 I am 5’6” which I think is around 167cm? I’m not very tall. 10 stones on me is around size 10 - 34/28/34 are my actual measurements and that fits size 10 in most places, size 8 in others. Apart from cycling clothing which looks like it’s made for children and I need to buy in a size large! The posh Italian brands are particularly minuscule…