Unexpected or unusual advantages of weight loss

[crochetmonkey74]

I'm on a weight loss plan and have just got to the point where people are noticing. Today a lovely colleague who has lost 8 stone and kept it off said that she always had a rash under her boobs when she was bigger and psoriasis on her ankle that didn't ever go, and since she has been slimmer, these have gone. It led me to think of little things that bother me and if they will go. Anyone lost a lot of weight and noticed a change they didn't anticipate?

I’m finding that people who knew me when I was large and have noticed my recent weight loss, are eagerly asking me for health and exercise advice.

I find it difficult because although I know exactly what worked for me, I’m not a medical professional, nor a personal trainer. Yet I’m perceived as source of expertise.

I've lost 2 stone in the last 4 months, as others have said rediscovering my old clothes, more energy fewer aches and pains etc. but the biggest thing for me is that my post childbirth bladder incontinence has practically disappeared.

That's right, I previously would get the urge to wee and had to get to the toilet almost instantly or wet myself and now I don't. It's actually been revelatory and I think my weight which was predominantly around my middle must have been the biggest factor.

But you are the expert because you have done this. The others are just talking about it.

I lost a relatively small amount of weight, but there are small benefits like being able to see whether my pubic area needs a tidy by looking down! And being able to go to the GP without my weight being discussed, or even the fear of it.

My friend lost much more weight and loves being able to shop in any high street clothes shop.

Also, you can eat out in a restaurant and no one looks at you judgementally.

My acid reflux cleared up. Unfortunately, it's starting to make a comeback now that the weight is creeping back on 😕

My face looks thinner. Also love having control over food and it doesn't control me.

This thread is very motivational to me - I sometimes get an itchy rash on one hip just under a overhang (sorry TMI) I hope that will clear up

Can fit two pairs of jeans on my small radiator to dry instead of just one

Well done everyone, some astonishing weight loss stories here.

Ooh thanks for pointing this out, my eyes have become extremely hooded but I wasn’t sure if it could be due to getting fat or not.

IBS is much better, not gone but better, because im not overeating/eating crap.

I didnt have it badly anyway but chub rub ceased to be an issue.

Less visible cellulite when sitting down.

Always had wide calves because I heel walk, thought this was just my lot but they have slimmed considerably and, although wide by normal standards, I am so much happier with how they look.

Double chin has gone.

Generally happier with myself (although a bit obsessive/borderline ED).

Sat comfortably within "healthy" BMI range, which is just nice to not be considered obese or over weight anymore.

Clothes that you kept, thinking you'd slim into but knowing you were lying to yourself, not only fitting, but being too big! I tried some jeans on I kept from my 20s because I have odd emotional attachments to things and they were TOO BIG. That was a good day.

Downsides - I have always fluctuated, but im on the low end of the spectrum right now, super happy and confident, people complimenting, MIL told me yesterday it "suits me", therefore in a year or twos time when Im back up, im going to be miserable again, alongside knowing that everyone thinks I look shit when Im bigger. Its the same every time. Drop 2 stone, gain 2 stone, over a 4 ish year cycle.

This is a great motivational thread. I’m grinding away loosing ounces at time, I’ve lost some but not enough for anyone to notice but going in the right direction. Was losing faith a bit when I realised all my shoes were slipping ok easier! I never thought they were a struggle to get into but obviously they were. Never thought I had fat feet but it must have just been compared to the rest of me. Shoes on shoes off all day me now.

I'm 7 months in now and last month started really noticing hair shedding, it's quite alarming. Really hoping it started to settle down soon, fortunately I have loads of thick hair, of I didn't I'd be distraught.

My BP is way down and clothes fit better, tbh I don't feel more energetic despite over 3 stone weight loss.

Remembered another one, my IBS has completely gone.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor Same! It's such an unpopular opinion though, lots of people know one thin person with IBS therefore it can't be linked to weight right?

Definitely linked to diet with me, I was really struggling and it went almost over night once I started slimming world.

**I'm not sure it's linked to weight but rather diet so potentially a very thin person with a shocking diet would still suffer.

Multivitamins, occasinal zinc and bioting REALLY helped me with hairloss.

I've just bought some Biotin and have started taking it 🤞

I exercise with Team Body Project and what has really stuck with me is one of the trainers said that the big advantages of weight loss and exercise are the things you can’t see/don’t know about. So it’s the cancer you don’t get, the hip replacements you don’t need, the diabetes you don’t develop. I thought that was a really interesting way of looking at it because so much of weight loss and motivation is presented as appearance.

I agree with this. Naturally thin people can still eat crap and suffer the repercussions. In my case, when I eat crap, I get fat, losing weight/eating better means getting rid of IBS as a natural consequence.

I've put on weight due to health issues in the last couple of years and have gone from being a sun worshipper to a shade seeker. It's one of my motivations to lose weight as I usually love hot summer days.

This is exactly what made me really commit this time

My IBS has gone too - literally completely!

Unfortunately no such luck here. Dramatically better, but pretty sure I have a lactose intolerance that I am unwilling to cooperate with 😂