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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What motivated you to lose weight?

138 replies

Ste23321 · 17/01/2022 21:57

Nothing has helped motivate me so wondering how others got motivated. My health is deteriorating so you would think that would be a big motivator! But it’s not. What motivated you?

OP posts:
ItsAllAboutTheLighting · 17/01/2022 22:03

When I sit in my car I can feel my back fat behind me. Grim.

I'm getting a double chin.

No 'nice' clothes are comfy.

ItsAllAboutTheLighting · 17/01/2022 22:03

They all motivated me into shifting this weight!

Original poster
Ste23321 · 17/01/2022 22:08

@ItsAllAboutTheLighting that’s brilliant to hear. How much did u lose and how?

OP posts:
babyboyHarrison · 17/01/2022 22:10

Having my blood pressure taken. I was unwell and went to the doctors and when they were checking me they took my blood pressure. It was alarmingly high and gave me a wake up call. It did transpire that largely it was so high as I was ill and it was much better two weeks later when I was better. But, it's given me a shake and that was in October and I've lost 24lb now and still loosing.

Original poster
Ste23321 · 17/01/2022 22:11

@babyboyHarrison well done! Do you mind sharing how you lost? I keep telling myself it won’t make any difference what I do as I’ll still be fat

OP posts:
Acrasia · 17/01/2022 22:28

This is going to sound a bit counter intuitive, but I watched a lot of plus size body positive youtubers, particularly those who were the same shape as me, and seeing what styles suited them so that I could dress in clothes that fit me and I felt good in. That then made me love myself, and accept my body as it was, which motivated me to treat it well, and accept that it won’t be perfect all the time. Previously, I had always been motivated by a self-hatred, which in the end caused me to fail because I was never good enough, and my body didn’t change fast enough or whatever.

The next step was to find a diet that suited my lifestyle, they are not one size fits all. You are guaranteed to give up if the diet is making you miserable. I tried a few out and rather than berating myself for failing, I moved onto a different way of doing things. I have now lost ten stone by intermittent fasting, limiting my carbs and calorie counting. It is a lifelong adjustment with a lot of flexibility, which works for me. I know someone who lost about the same on SW, but that was a constant fail diet for me.

JaceLancs · 17/01/2022 22:30

Considering having to buy new clothes
Hating having my picture taken
Getting out of breath when climbing stairs
Worrying about how much I drink
Hoping to lose weight for DD wedding

PamelaDoov · 17/01/2022 22:31

Getting married was my motivation. I used to watch Say Yes To The Dress whilst on my exercise bike.

CaptainMerica · 17/01/2022 22:33

@Acrasia

This is going to sound a bit counter intuitive, but I watched a lot of plus size body positive youtubers, particularly those who were the same shape as me, and seeing what styles suited them so that I could dress in clothes that fit me and I felt good in. That then made me love myself, and accept my body as it was, which motivated me to treat it well, and accept that it won’t be perfect all the time. Previously, I had always been motivated by a self-hatred, which in the end caused me to fail because I was never good enough, and my body didn’t change fast enough or whatever.

The next step was to find a diet that suited my lifestyle, they are not one size fits all. You are guaranteed to give up if the diet is making you miserable. I tried a few out and rather than berating myself for failing, I moved onto a different way of doing things. I have now lost ten stone by intermittent fasting, limiting my carbs and calorie counting. It is a lifelong adjustment with a lot of flexibility, which works for me. I know someone who lost about the same on SW, but that was a constant fail diet for me.

Wow, that is really inspiring.
Warmduscher · 17/01/2022 22:36

I also had a slightly high BP reading at a routine GP appointment. She said if it wasn’t lower next time she would recommend medication.

So I started MyFitnessPal and two years later had lost 3 and a half stone. At my health check last November my BP was 110/65 so it worked!

moirarosebabay · 17/01/2022 22:40

Getting really busy with life and treating food as fuel, not having much time to eat cos I was always on the go. Finding stuff (in my case hillwalking) that feeds my soul and gives me a feeling WAY better than the binge eating I used to do. Admitting to myself I'll never be 100% perfect and saying to myself if I'm binging that's what u am doing and tomorrow is another day. I did a virtual gastric band course which was also helpful. Was some hypnosis but mostly just adjusting how I view food. The Marisa peer book you can be thin did help for a bit but I don't always stick to stuff. Good luck.

PurpleDaisies · 17/01/2022 22:42

I didn’t like feeling flabby and sluggish. I focussed on getting fitter and healthier primarily.

PickAChew · 17/01/2022 22:45

Feeling breathless walking up a gentle incline.

Chronically sore knees becomig excruciating.

I was only just overweight but it was more lard than my body is able to carry, these days.

GalaxyPostcard · 17/01/2022 22:46

This is going to sound disgusting, but being so fat that white fluid/discharge would emerge from underneath my boobs and around my hip fat rolls.

Also having a major injury that probably wouldn't have happened if I wasn't massive.

CovidForChristmas · 17/01/2022 22:46

Changed my mindset around food.
I now use it to nourish me rather then punish me.

Once my way of thinking changed so did
my attitude to everything. I took up an exercise based hobby, got good at it and made new friends in the process.

I’m much happier now and 3 stone lighter.

Srirachachacha · 17/01/2022 22:47

At the end of 2020 it looked like my cancer had relapsed after 10 years (I'm in my 30s). Between that and covid it dawned on me that if my cancer wasn't back then I was putting myself at risk of other health problems. Being overweight puts me at higher risk of other cancers, and I'm already higher risk as it is. The fear of imminent death again really got to me.
I'm 30lb down and would like to lose another 30lb. My cancer isn't back. I'm vaccinated to fuck, but the more weight I lose the better chance I give myself if I do get it.

ToykotoLosAngeles · 17/01/2022 22:47

I've done it twice - first time was booking my wedding in 2010 and the thought of getting fitted for a dress at about 15lbs over where I wanted to be. I used a Wii Fit for jogging and yoga, which I really enjoyed using before work!

The second time was when it all fell off while breastfeeding for about 3 months, and I wanted to keep it off so made sure I walked miles and miles.

I need a third go around though. I'm probably 15 lockdown pounds overweight/into unhealthy BMI and most of my jeans have mysteriously shrunk.

Srirachachacha · 17/01/2022 22:48

The only thing that has clicked with me has been Second Nature btw. It's not a quick fix and it's taken me a year to lose 30lb but it's staying off and I'm building better habits. I live with chronic pain and while that isn't improving, my mood is better and I'm active, swimming a few times a week and feeling better for it. Wee habits build up.

Spaghettio · 17/01/2022 22:50

Realising that none of my jeans fit me. I hate jeans shopping with a passion, but jeans shopping in lockdown is worse. So rather than having to shop and buy clothes in the next size up I decided to just fit into the stuff I already own.

So basically I'm stingy and I hate shopping.... 😂

wishingitwasspring · 17/01/2022 22:51

Someone who I loved very much died, they were the same age as me. They had lived a healthy life, but died way too young

It made me realise how fragile life is, how fearful I was of dying young too, so I'd better buck my ideas up.

Motivated me far more than getting in to smaller clothes.

VioletVesper · 17/01/2022 22:51

@Acrasia Wow well done on your weight loss & that was a really lovely post.

OP one thing I’ve found that has helped me is making something a habit. You won’t always be motivated, it’s just not realistic, but if you made say exercising twice weekly at set times, or meal planning on a Sunday, a habit, you are more likely to stick to it. Easier said than done though I know.

baxterstockman · 17/01/2022 22:51

Got told I had Type 2 diabetes two and a half years ago. Read a lot about it. Became terrified. Lost 2 stone in few months to get in to normal BMI, by very low carbing/keto. Now relaxed it a little bit, still pretty low carb but also took up running and do that, or another form of exercise pretty much every day. Diabetes has been in remission for two years. Never felt better!

JangolinaPitt · 17/01/2022 22:52

Probably not at all helpful but I totally unexpectedly met a man who bowled me ver so that I couldn’t eat or drink and lost 13 kilos on 6 weeks. Now slimmer than I’ve ever been (but horrible wrinkled skin around my waist and lost a lot of hair…)

dramallama55 · 17/01/2022 22:53

Seeing a photo of myself and just thinking wow is that really me? I could feel my clothes getting tighter and I knew I was eating badly but it wasn't until I saw that photo that it really hit home.

nadiamumoftwo · 17/01/2022 22:55

Buying scales that tell you BMI, Metabolic age etc and give you traffic light colours based on height, weight age etc. Loads of mine were red and I was shocked.

Was 12 stone 3 start of lockdown 1 now 8 stone 6