Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask you to help me lose weight?

132 replies

whereloveis · 23/11/2025 10:07

Would really welcome advice and tips that aren't calorie counting and weighing portions. Don't want to take weight loss jabs.

I'm a vegetarian (eat eggs and dairy), 38 years old, 5ft4 and weight 12 stone 1lb.

Have just started couch to 5K and want to loose a good 3 stone. Is this doable? What sort of things should I be eating and how long do you think it would take me?

OP posts:
iSage · 24/11/2025 18:30

Barnbrack · 23/11/2025 20:55

Yes and no. I am on medication for PCOS. if I take the eye off the ball even a little I gain very quickly, particularly if something interferes with my medication which all of the above did. And I mean literally having a bit of chocolate or a couple of biscuits too much daily or more sugar than protein etc I can gain a stone in a month. While on medication my weight is entirely steady. Has been since I was 22. I couldn't take it with my painkillers with my arm or while breastfeeding and in every way was haphazard in grief and stopped taking it. Hence gaining quickly and needing to rectify when I started taking it again.

I can assure you I've been living with this condition since I was 13 years old and I'm 42. I know more about my personal health than you do. Gently or not you are incorrect.

Also since apparently you require my entire physical history in order to believe the lived experience of a different body to your own, exercise is a massive part of maintaining my PCOS and each of those events interrupted my ability to exercise. I normally work out daily, be that running, dog walking, swimming, yoga or a competitive sport I play.

Show quote history

I'm the same, though I don't have PCOS nowadays as I've had my ovaries removed. Menopause seems to have replaced PCOS as my body's reason to try to hoard fat.

It has always really annoyed me, the assumption that if you're overweight you are mainlining takeaways, biscuits and chocolate 24/7. No, if you have the wrong kind of metabolism, as little as 100 extra calories - a slice of bread - per day can cause you to gain and can add up to stone or more in seemingly no time at all. It's like 'I woke up and I was fat again'. You have to be so disciplined to keep the weight off.

Theyreeatingthedogs · 25/11/2025 04:01

Brizzle1991 · 24/11/2025 16:49

look up Dr Mindy Pelz to understand the benefits of intermittent fasting ( very good for hormone regulation and keeping your insulin stable so you don't get the sugar cravings and crashes). Aim for 30g protein per meal ..... eggs are about 6-8g protein each. Greek yogurt and cottage cheese are excellent veggie sources ( and the 0% fat ones actually have more protein than the higher fat ones ones). Add in seeds to your yogurt too which will boost the protein intake a little as well. Even a slice of a quality sourdough like Jason's will have protein in it. I am a sugar addict too but since upping my protein significantly ( and I do intermittent fasting so only have 2 meals a day) I've not craved chocolate at all. I maybe have it once a week whereas before would be 200g a day 😳 This way by focussing on the numbers for protein you shouldn't have to think about calories as in theory you will be eating more healthily and be full up more quickly and for much longer. Good luck!

I wouldn't class Jason's sourdough as "quality" considering it contains a preservative that should not be in proper sourdough.
wearegoodinbread.com/fermented-wheat-flour-hidden-preservative/

Original poster
whereloveis · 25/11/2025 10:29

Popping in again to say day 2 done and am feeling really good! Avoided all sugary treats yesterday, had my homecooked meals and had a lovely melon for dessert.

Onto Day 3 now!

OP posts:
Smorgs · 25/11/2025 10:51

I lost about 13kg in about 3 months earlier this year and it's was 90% down to changing what I ate.

I agree with the comment above that you can't out exercise a bad diet. I did make sure I went for an hour-long brisk walk every day but otherwise I cut out breakfast so I fasted from about 7pm-12midday the following day and used MyFitnessPal app to set a calorie goal and track all my food intake and activity. It's easy once you get into a routine. If you really don't like tracking then just work out the calories for a few meals you enjoy and fit within your daily allowance and eat them on repeat. Good luck

Original poster
whereloveis · 26/11/2025 08:33

Just updating here again as I’d like to look
back and track my progress and so many helpful advice and tips and meal suggestions.

did another day of home cooking yesterday, nothing processed or sugary. Also went for a 20 minute run. Did feel incredibly bored in the evening and not going to lie, I thought I’d quite like just two Cadbury mini rolls but I knew I wasn’t hungry and I also knew I didn’t really want or need them. I was just feeling bored and wanted a bit of a pick me up. So I had a nice bath instead and then just thought I’ll go to bed. Pleased I did.

I used to wake up in the middle of the night a lot which I think was a combination of anxiety and huge sugar I was consuming but since Sunday I’ve pretty much slept through! Hoping it’s not coincidence.

woke up this morning and just went for a run. Was only going to do 20minutes but ended up running 5k in 36 minutes and feeling quite cheerful. Onto day 4!

OP posts:
something2say · 26/11/2025 10:31

Well done! I shall get up now having read your post, and do some trampolining downstairs (I have been working long days and today was a rare lie in treat) and I too shall eat well today. We are having home made soup later, with tons of tasty veg.

Original poster
whereloveis · 26/11/2025 10:58

something2say · 26/11/2025 10:31

Well done! I shall get up now having read your post, and do some trampolining downstairs (I have been working long days and today was a rare lie in treat) and I too shall eat well today. We are having home made soup later, with tons of tasty veg.

Thank you! And go you!

I must say I’m slightly worried because I have a big university reunion tomorrow and I think it will be snacks galore and cake possibly. And this has always been my downfall that when I’m in the right mindset, I’m good at controlling my home environment but less so if I’m out or at a birthday or event. It’s why lockdown was so helpful but holidays and social occasions can really undo me. It’s a mindset I need to change.

I know I need to start rewiring my habits because obviously I cannot live like a recluse - so my plan is to eat very well tomorrow and make sure I have my dinner at 5pm before heading out as I definitely make less good choices when I’m hungry.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page