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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say getting down to Size 8/8 stone is my greatest achievement?

116 replies

Strubger · 02/03/2023 19:18

A few years ago I went through quite a difficult lonely time - I felt I'd messed up a relationship etc. Things have improved for me overall now compared to then. However I felt so lonely back then I felt I needed to draw strength from somewhere - draw strength from within - and I thought that my greatest achievement had been losing 7 stone in weight to get down to a very svelte 8 stone - well 7 stone 10 to be precise.
I was wondering why it was that I considered this my greatest achievement and came to the conclusion that it was because weight loss tends to be associated with emotional control - if you can stick to your diet - you're in control emotionally. I value this achievement more than getting a university degree - everyone's always taken for granted that I've been academic - I feel my parents only valued me if I performed well academically. But losing weight means so much more to me. AIBU?

OP posts:
Parsley1234 · 02/03/2023 20:59

@Strubger did you get him lol

Original poster
Strubger · 02/03/2023 21:00

Parsley1234 · 02/03/2023 20:59

@Strubger did you get him lol

Yes I got him !!! Smile

OP posts:
WhyCantYourPartnerDoIt · 02/03/2023 21:01

You do you, but losing weight to attract a guy, and seeing it as your proudest achievement make me feel that you need to dig a little deeper, and truly puts you at risk for disappointment in the future, if health or real life comes into play.

picklemewalnuts · 02/03/2023 21:02

There are very few people who can do what you did, OP, so damn right it's a fantastic achievement. More people get great jobs or do higher education.

I've maintained for about a year after a 5.5 stone weight loss. It's not easy. It's a lifelong challenge in fact.

PerfectYear321 · 02/03/2023 21:02

How did you get control of emotional eating?

Original poster
Strubger · 02/03/2023 21:03

picklemewalnuts · 02/03/2023 21:02

There are very few people who can do what you did, OP, so damn right it's a fantastic achievement. More people get great jobs or do higher education.

I've maintained for about a year after a 5.5 stone weight loss. It's not easy. It's a lifelong challenge in fact.

Congratulations- excellent achievement! 👌

OP posts:
WandaWonder · 02/03/2023 21:03

Sure to you personally it is achievement I get that

Everything else is odd I think though

Original poster
Strubger · 02/03/2023 21:03

PerfectYear321 · 02/03/2023 21:02

How did you get control of emotional eating?

I was motivated by trying to attract the bloke who had been the school heartthrob!

OP posts:
picklemewalnuts · 02/03/2023 21:04

Those of you who think it's shallow, think again.

OP has reversed many years of damage to her body, has set herself up for a significantly healthier future.

Yes, she drew motivation from a new relationship. So what?

What she's done is freaking amazing, really hard, really worthwhile.

Parsley1234 · 02/03/2023 21:04

Well done ♥️🤩♥️

Aprilx · 02/03/2023 21:07

PacificallyRequested · 02/03/2023 19:26

I feel really sorry for you if you think that's your greatest achievement.

I actually started thinking no I can relate to this, because definitely managing my weight is more of a struggle than achieving anything academically. Because am naturally prone to putting on weight whilst I am academically very good.

But even so, no, I would never ever rate my losing weight above my academic and career achievements. I think that is just awfully sad.

QuietlyConfident · 02/03/2023 21:15

To be fair, sometimes silly things can be good motivation for a positive life change. Fixating on a specific dress to fit into for a diet, a visit from a relative to motivate a major declutter (even if relative couldn't actually care less), new veneers that you don't want to make yellow with smoking, a marathon in a city you've always wanted to visit.

People are irrational, sometimes you can make it work for you.

VladmirsPoutine · 02/03/2023 21:17

Well done! Everyone has different greatest achievements! For one person it could the ability to burb God Save the Queen, for others it's inventing penicillin, and everything else inbetween. Yours is no less worthwhile!

Serrassi · 02/03/2023 21:24

That’s awesome OP, well done!

I have two degrees and a bunch of postgrad stuff but I cannot even lose a stone (what’s your secret?!) so I know how hard you worked and how much self-discipline you have so do be proud of it, you’ve done very well.

riotlady · 02/03/2023 21:24

I totally get it. I’ve always achieved a lot academically but actually the achievements that mean the most to me personally are things like doing the great north run or even finishing my Duke of Edinburgh hike- because I’ve never been sporty and really genuinely doubted I could do those things, and had to find a lot of inner strength to power through, in a way that I didn’t when I was just getting a degree.

Supersimkin2 · 02/03/2023 21:36

As achievements go it’s not interesting but speaking from the wrong end of a weight loss diet right now, I’m impressed.

Perseverance and self-sacrifice are underrated virtues.

Well done OP. Now get a life.

piedbeauty · 02/03/2023 21:36

For everyone who's being snarky and saying it's not a big achievement, get stuffed!

Op, you have improved your health, your fitness, your longevity, cut your risk of dying young and increased your chances of a healthier old age. With the benefit of feeling and looking better, not getting so out of breath, etc.

I'd say that's a massive achievement - well done. 💐

Meadowlands · 02/03/2023 21:44

Respect OP. Be proud !
I too managed it and it was so so hard !!
But my life changed immeasurably. Confidence, happiness, self esteem all came flooding back.
Being overweight in my experience contributed massively to my mh issues.

PurpleSproutingSomething · 02/03/2023 21:53

Well done OP. It's my goal too. I'm already 40 and no degree.

How long did it take you?

Swiftswatch · 02/03/2023 21:57

I value this achievement more than getting a university degree

The most utter depressing thing I think I’ve ever read.

Flammkuchen · 02/03/2023 21:59

Rather depressingly, for women being slim is worth as much as a university degree. The Economist had an article about this recently. There was no difference for men.

So well done, OP. It is life-changing

Charles11 · 02/03/2023 22:04

It could be possible that op has overcome a sugar addiction or learned the importance of a healthy lifestyle and turned her health around completely. Would that make it more of an achievement?

MrsRandom123 · 02/03/2023 22:04

10 years ago i went from a size 18 & 15 stone to a size 8 & 8.5 stone & i’ve kept it off but its certainly not my greatest achievement so i think you’re placing too much on it! Well done though

NCSQ · 02/03/2023 22:05

I would say you should value your health (vs weight loss per se) AND your education. Both are valuable assets. Well done OP.