Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Tiddler39 · 02/03/2023 22:06

GreyTS · 02/03/2023 20:21

She lost 7 stone! That goes far beyond looks, she has completely changed her health outcomes for so many things. Hardly a stain on feminism

Show quote history

👏🏻

NCSQ · 02/03/2023 22:06

Flammkuchen · 02/03/2023 22:00

@Flammkuchen this is behind a paywall. What is the upshot of the article please?

Yulelogs · 02/03/2023 22:17

Yanbu it’s a fabulous achievement. I’ve achieved academically and lost a lot of weight…not as much as you! Sadly i put most of it back on when I had kids.

Nobody cares about my academic or job success but as someone else said everyone noticed when I’d lost weight and all the attention I got from people and noticing how even people I didn’t know treated me differently was amazing. So was wearing a size 8/10.

However just a word of warning I found that when I lost weight after relationship breakdown it was because food was the one thing I could control, although I didn’t realise it then. I’d never managed it before and did then because my life had changed and I was miserable and I took it too far.

I think weight loss is actually harder when you’re happy and content and when you’re busy with kids etc.

Id also suggest you get some therapy because if you hit a bad patch again , chances are old eating habits will come back.

YANBU but improving your outside doesn’t necessarily heal your inside as I learned.

Flammkuchen · 02/03/2023 22:40

NCSQ · 02/03/2023 22:06

@Flammkuchen this is behind a paywall. What is the upshot of the article please?

Show quote history

The upshot of the article is that the difference in pay between slim and obese women is equivalent to a uni degree. For men, there is no difference.

Rather depressing, but rings true

moppa · 03/03/2023 00:38

I have a career, I'm a size 8, married, big house yada yada

Biggest achievements include breastfeeding my children and being a size 8 because these things are very personal to me. They make me feel good in a world that makes it very difficult.

You are amazing for your weight loss and I hope you continue to look after yourself.

EmmaEmerald · 03/03/2023 00:43

Did you post on AMA last week OP?

I admire the discipline of losing weight and wish I had it.

WiIson · 03/03/2023 00:49

Well done op.

ConcordeOoter · 03/03/2023 01:34

burnoutbabe · 02/03/2023 19:21

Well I would lead with that in a job interview as my greatest accomplishment

Ha you know what? I almost wish we lived in a world where people did this.

7 stone is absolutely no joke, especially if you can manage to keep it off, demonstrates some useful traits that most people lack (degree or not if I'm honest).

Zcity · 03/03/2023 02:04

I lost 7 stone, and I've kept it off for 15 years now, so I know it's never going to be re-gained but I'd say the easy bit was losing the weight, it really is changing your lifestyle forever that's the hardest part.

I'm definitely proud I'm healthier and stronger but I wouldn't say it's my greatest achievement as such, for me personally.

Running my first ever mile ranks highly as one of my best achievements...I run marathons now but the first time I ran a full mile without stopping was an absolutely wonderful sense of achievement.

mathanxiety · 03/03/2023 02:16

I really applaud you.

Losing that much weight can signify shedding of the habits of mind, the emotional baggage, and the psychological stress or other issues that led you to pack on the weight in first place.

It's as you say, a way of taking control of a very fundamental aspect of your life - how you treat your own body. Your life must have been quite a long way from the way you wanted it to be before you started taking back that control.

Please ignore the people here who have made snide remarks. Don't let them get to you.

HowardKirksConscience · 03/03/2023 02:21

How tall is the OP? Because it won’t be much of an achievement if it turns out she’s 5 foot 8. It’ll be something to worry about.

Original poster
Strubger · 03/03/2023 04:05

HowardKirksConscience · 03/03/2023 02:21

How tall is the OP? Because it won’t be much of an achievement if it turns out she’s 5 foot 8. It’ll be something to worry about.

I'm 5ft 1

OP posts:
Original poster
Strubger · 03/03/2023 04:22

Zcity · 03/03/2023 02:04

I lost 7 stone, and I've kept it off for 15 years now, so I know it's never going to be re-gained but I'd say the easy bit was losing the weight, it really is changing your lifestyle forever that's the hardest part.

I'm definitely proud I'm healthier and stronger but I wouldn't say it's my greatest achievement as such, for me personally.

Running my first ever mile ranks highly as one of my best achievements...I run marathons now but the first time I ran a full mile without stopping was an absolutely wonderful sense of achievement.

Excellent keeping it off for 15 years !

OP posts:
Original poster
Strubger · 03/03/2023 04:26

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?

Took me 1 year 5 months

OP posts:
Lucylock · 03/03/2023 06:07

Well done OP! That is a huge achievement. You've motivated me to get started.

Well done for getting your heart throb as well 😃

CornishTiger · 03/03/2023 06:12

Well I’m impressed. Well done. What resources supported you to change the emotional size of eating?

Mittens1717 · 03/03/2023 07:18

Well done you,7 stone is a massive loss, I've recently lost 3 stone and i also feel it's a huge achievement, I feel so much better in myself, some people dont realise the amount of blood sweat and tears that go into losing weight, you should be very proud

Thisisworsethananticpated · 03/03/2023 07:18

Yes
my biggest achievement was getting my driving license
took me a decade !!!

sometimes things that are easy for others are hard for us

TheKeatingFive · 03/03/2023 07:22

7 stone is a massive achievement OP, yes you should be proud.

Beginningless · 03/03/2023 07:23

I’m impressed and sad about the women telling you it’s sad to value this so much. Why would you lose it if you didn’t?! As others have said, the value is in the personal challenge, and it’s BS to say how you look doesn’t matter, that’s life in our society unfortunately.

Original poster
Strubger · 03/03/2023 07:33

Beginningless · 03/03/2023 07:23

I’m impressed and sad about the women telling you it’s sad to value this so much. Why would you lose it if you didn’t?! As others have said, the value is in the personal challenge, and it’s BS to say how you look doesn’t matter, that’s life in our society unfortunately.

This is so true

OP posts:
Original poster
Strubger · 03/03/2023 07:34

Thisisworsethananticpated · 03/03/2023 07:18

Yes
my biggest achievement was getting my driving license
took me a decade !!!

sometimes things that are easy for others are hard for us

This was a massive one for me too so - I get you !

OP posts:
MrsJamin · 03/03/2023 07:52

Are you healthy, OP? What's your BMI like now? That would be my concern. your weight is your relationship with the earth, it doesn't mean a lot by itself. Many people get down to a low weight and they are some of the least healthy people around.

MoreSleepPleasee · 03/03/2023 07:57

I think yabu before I had my child I was just always very slim and didn't have to work for that. It was no achievement. If you have had to work really hard for that well done but don't concentrate too much on your weight.

MoreSleepPleasee · 03/03/2023 07:59

Sorry its too early for me I've only just realised you lost SEVEN STONE. bloody well done op!