Is 15 st too heavy to come back from??

[Wantachangefor2024]

I am 32 and currently weigh 15 stone. 5’3. Had an accident and had to have surgery, sat around feeling sorry for myself and got depressed and the weight I’m at. I finally faced myself in the mirror and burst into tears. Am I being unreasonable that I’m too far gone to come back? I’d like to lose 6 stone and get back to 9 stone. Will I be left with terribly loose skin??

I'm in my 50s and lost 5 stone last year. I did it via intermittent fasting, low carbing, and walking a lot. Other methods are available! Good luck OP!

Absolutely not!! But slow and steady and healthy is the way, I am also 5’3 and have gone from 13st11 to 8st10 in about 18 months. I’m 33 and do not have loose skin.

Even 2/3 stone will make you feel so much better. Don't have a huge end goal, small steps, consistency and being kind to yourself. If you have a bad day tomorrow is a new day, don’t write the week off. You can do it xx

No it’s really not though I completely understand how difficult it is to start when it seems like a massive mountain to climb. I have crohn’s and was massive after lots of steroids and eating rubbish that didn’t make me ill but normal food did. Every single time I started I failed which then made it near impossible to want to try again.
In January after feeling so rubbish about myself on a whim I went to a class. I didn’t weigh myself first, didn’t take measurements just went and touch will see how it goes. I made a note on my phone each week of my progress working towards small targets of 7lb a time. I batch cooked and do so roughly every 3 weeks. Since January I have lost over 3 stone. No idea why it worked this time, no idea how in managing to keep going but I am. You can honestly do it, I’ve written many posts like yours and had many failed attempts. I believe if u keep trying one time it’s got to stick. So far no loose skin though my tummy is a bit hangy over my section scar which I figure is just how I will be from now on. Saw an old but rare photo of myself the other day and wow I can’t believe the difference. Made me realise I need to stop complaining that I feel fat! I was 15st 8.5 when I started same height as u, Ive set my target as 11st 7lbs so hopefully not long to go. I set my interim target at exactly half way so I had another goal to reach.
Good luck, u have got this 💪

Definitely not too late! Make your health a priority. I was 14 stone 9lb nine weeks ago and I've lost a stone since then. I've more to lose but it's a good start. I'm using Wegovy to help break my bad habits of huge portions and biscuits. It's definitely not a quick fix and you need a lot of willpower (not a miracle slimming pill, unfortunately!) but I'm doing this for my kids, and my future health. Its about changing my mindset. I'm not calorie counting, just eating smaller portions and being more mindful. Im no longer eating the kids leftovers, multiple chocolate digestives a day and a huge glass of wine come the evening. It's a lot easier to stay at a healthy weight than lose weight, so my goal is to be around 11.5 stone and keep to that weight. Come and join me!

I lost 7 stone at age 26 going from 16 stone 12lb to 9 stone 7lb on my wedding day.

I lost it over the space of 2 years and I do have some loose skin on my boobs and stomach. Nothing major but my lower tummy is what I’m most self conscious about. But I’d much rather have a little loose skin than go back to being 16 stone.

I think if you have an ‘over hang’ belly then it will shrink but that skin has been stretched so much no amount of weight loss or exercise will make it flat.

If you don’t have an overhang belly then you’ll likely be able to get away with minimal to no loose skin. Also it depends how long you’ve been over weight in regards to how much your skin has stretched.

I'm about the same weight but I only want to lose 2lbs. And when I've lost that 2lbs, I'd like to lose another 2lbs and then so on. But so far telling my brain 'I just need to lose 2lbs' is serving me well.

Loads of people significantly older and heavier lose more weight than this. As a veteran of every diet going I've finally started being kind to myself, eating well (but less of it) and committing to losing 'just 2lbs'.

Bloody horses! I was in a nasty horsey accident, piled on the weight. Previously, however, I lost about 8 stone with a lot of exercise and quite strict dieting via Slimming World. I didn't have loose skin, possibly because it wasn't terribly sudden. Go for it.

Of course it's not too late to pull it back

Not too late.

I'm 43 and 5'6. This time last year I weighed 17 1/2 stone. I've lost five stone so far.

No loose skin (although I have a slightly floppy belly from my C section). I have stretch marks from pregnancy but no extra ones from being overweight that I've noticed.

Even if I were to have loose skin and stretch marks, I'd still want to keep losing weight because I'd rather be healthy and fit. I'm not really either yet!

But I sleep better and don't get bright red and sweaty walking up a hill, and don't feel like my double chin is heavy when I lie on my back. Standard-sized chairs are more comfortable than they were and I can more easily find clothes that fit me. My knees are rarely painful, when they used to hurt every day. My back rarely aches now, and my plantar fasciitus has gone.

NOW is the best time. Because it gets harder, not easier, the older you are and the longer you've been overweight. And because people who are overweight rarely stay the same weight IME. We either carry on as we are, adding at least a few pounds a year. Or we change our lifestyle and lose weight. The latter feels better, trust me :)

Absolutely not at 32.
I lost 5 stones between the ages of 49 and 51 and my stomach was like a drum, you could eat peas off of it 😁 (had always been my pudgy area before, even when I was young and naturally slim).

You will have to be very realistic and committed, though and put a long term healthy eating and exercise plan in place. Quick fix diets don’t work.

I did it by signing up to a challenge and convinced an equally unhealthy friend to join me.
We both signed up for the Moonwalk. We trained for 10 months together. In the end, I had to go alone because my poor, dear friend became ill 2 days before the event!

I went from 14 to 9 stones, having never exercised before, completed 26.2 miles walking in just over 6 hours.

My friend also benefitted enormously. She went from being pre-diabetic with high blood pressure (on meds) to being completely healthy at 52.

You’re young. You could be a completely different person in a year or two, without doubt.

It's never too late, start with little changes as dr Jessen says

No, not at all! Take it slowly and, as others have said, a 1lb at a time. I've lost 2 stone this year, I weight train so not so focused on my weight now, just how my clothes fit and progress pics.
I track my calories but work on an average for the week so I can eat a bit more at the weekends. I haven't cut anything out of my diet, just been careful with my portion size. I eat a decent amount of protein, plenty of veg, overnight oats for breakfast.
I also batch cook a lot, use the slow cooker so it's easy. Then I've got healthy meals in the freezer for when I can't be bothered after work

You can totally do this. I was 13 stone (late 30s) after covid lockdowns. I’ve lost 3 stone over 2 years, now maintaining at a healthy 10 stone. I don’t have loose skin anywhere apart from my lower tummy, but that’s to be expected after 4 pregnancies! I do a lot of weight training/circuits/HIIT etc which has really helped to tone up my body alongside weight loss.

My top tips:

• Forget about 9 stone target. Concentrate on losing 1 stone to start with and then see how you go.
• Eat lots of protein. Deli turkey and chicken slices, eggs, egg whites, fish, protein shakes. It builds muscle, which burns fat. It also makes you feel full.
• Drink lots of water
• Don’t starve yourself. Lots of healthy snacks. Eat everything I. Moderation, no crazy diet or cutting whole food groups out.
• Weight training, body weight exercises, walking, swimming.
• Let yourself have a treat evening one night per week. Gives you something to look forward to.

I promise you they wouldn’t think you are silly. Any trainer worth their salt would respect someone wanting to get fitter and healthier. If we all started off perfect they’d be out of business.
The great thing with weights is that you can start low and it doesn’t rely on great cardio fitness. Weights can seem daunting at first but if you can get some guidance great 😊
You just need the final push to get going - honestly you might really enjoy it;) go for it!

@Toooldtoworry thank you for this! Similar height and weight really and you really came back from it. Every post is motivating me, really appreciate it!

Good on you for turning things around.

If you lose tne weight at a reasonable pace, like a couple of pounds a week, and go low carb and use exercise as a way of getting toned and raising your metabolism, them a lot of your excess skin will be naturally absorbed into your body. You're young so you'llhave no ptoblems.

Just accept you have a long journey but not an impossible one. Keep a selfie diary to stay motivated for when you want to drown in Ben and Jerry's. I'd advise to hit YouTube big time as there's a slew of nutrition and exercise vids.

Wishing you loads of luck and all the best. You go, girl!

I haven’t read the whole thread but I think you’ll be fine. I’m older than you and the same height but 14 stone. Would be happy at 11 stone to be honest even if it is a stone overweight but 3 stone seems a huge amount to lose.

Have faith and take it baby step by baby step. It's a brilliant feeling when your trousers wont stay up.

(Unless you're in the supermarket. I won't say how I know.)

Take care and take it one day at a time x

I put on loads of weight and got to 15 stone within 2 years of my second DC being born. I then lost 6.5 stone and have kept it off for 8 years. So yes you can do it OP. I don't have any loose skin either. I exercise a lot, don't know if that helps with the loose skin, but the main thing was sorting out my eating and drinking habits. Good luck OP, just focus on a bit at a time.

I understand that and know that if I found myself single again I would feel I couldnt show anyone this. However if I was that bothered I would just have to get it removed, which is no small thing, but when you see the before and afters of people who have, they look phenomenal.

However your biggest attractiveness to someone will be your confidence, your bounce, your fitness and energy and that you will have worked hard on a personal achievement, that will shine through.

Excellent advice!

Wantachangefor2024 · Today 18:15
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@Marine30 rewarding myself the right way sounds like a good plan! Unfortunately I have seen rewards as takeouts and eating out, all the wrong things! Thank you for telling me it’s doable and he sounds great. I’d get a personal trainer to do weights and get into the gym but I don’t know if they’d think I was silly at the weight I’m at”

A professional personal trainer would absolutely relish helping you. The mother of one of our children’s’ friends had her own practice: she was there with them every step and their success was a success for her, too.
As for rewards, the healthier you feel, that in itself becomes the reward, it really does.

I believe it's that muscle burns fat even when you are resting. So that is why using weights to build muscle can be really effective (that is definitely my experience).

I did it 15 stone 2 to 8lbs 10 (maintained for over 10 years now) but i did go up to 9 stone as i felt under was really restrictive and a lot of work and i didn’t want an obsession or my kids to grow up with food or diet issues so have always focused on healthy eating and choice and exercise but also everything in moderation and not “diets” and i have managed to maintain between 8 stone 12 & 9 stone 2 depending on how “good”
i am (gain on holiday etc) i’m nearly 40 now.

loose skin not too much (i’m 5”4) i have had another pregnancy after initially losing weight as well

I'm 35. In January, I was 16st. I'm 5'1. I'm now 14st 11. I also really need to lose 6, but for now, I'm settling on 4 stone over two years. It seems more manageable. All I'm doing is walking more and calorie counting. I eat 2100 a day (as I add 500 for breastfeeding and only have a 250 calorie deficit a day).

I know it's possible. I'm not dieting, I'm not completely cutting anything. I'm aiming for most of my calories to be nutritious and a good mix of protein, carbs and fats. I still eat chocolate, cake etc. it just needs to fit in my calories.