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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think I’ll be stuck at 16 stone forever

711 replies

justmeandthedogs · 23/04/2026 06:45

I’m in the process of losing weight and since the start of the year I’ve lost about 13lbs.

But I seem to be in a loop. I’ll hit 16 stone 0.3 on the scales and then go back up to 16 stone 4, then go back down, then back up. It’s like an annoying cycle.

I eat well:

breakfast - yoghurt with berries and sometimes a drizzle of honey. On low protein days I’ll add some skyr.

lunch - something from home. Usually soup, a salad or a bit of meat with some veg.

dinner - again something prepped. Can be another big salad, cottage pie, pasta bake.

I eat 1550 calories a day, which is a deficit for my height and weight. I go to the gym twice a week (under the direction of a PT, to lift weights), try to run 3 times a week but I’m waiting on some new running shoes, and the other two days a week I’ll walk 10k steps minimum. I try to drink 4 litres of water a day at least.

my clothes fit better but the scale just won’t change 😥 do I just accept I’m stuck here?

OP posts:
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Lemonbutters · Yesterday 17:09

Maybe try mixing up what you’re eating? More protein, less carbs .

Backawayfromthesausage · Yesterday 17:11

justmeandthedogs · Yesterday 17:07

Because I mentioned my weight in the title and i’m obese, so therefore I must be in denial and sitting stuffing my face everyday. Because I just lack self control apparently

Yes op we are all being mean as you’re fat, it’s not many of us have been there ans trying to help you with experience.

justmeandthedogs · Yesterday 17:12

DilemmaDelilah · Yesterday 09:11

For me, it's about portion control. It is so easy to underestimate the size of a portion when you are trying to lose weight! I have been buying ready meals for which I know the number of calories and supplementing them with green veg and salad. Apart from the veg and salad EVERYTHING I put in my mouth is pre-portioned. I'm just under what you weigh now, but was just a little over. I'm losing weight slowly but steadily, based on around 1200 calories a day, but I'm not very mobile and can't do much exercise.

Okay that’s good for you but as I’ve said, multiple times, I WEIGH WHAT I EAT. To the extent that I will weigh things from a packet (e.g., a slice of bread) to ensure it accurately reflects the calories.

OP posts:
justmeandthedogs · Yesterday 17:16

Backawayfromthesausage · Yesterday 17:11

Yes op we are all being mean as you’re fat, it’s not many of us have been there ans trying to help you with experience.

I think some of you are. Suggesting I’m lying about activity levels, calories consumed and tracked.

OP posts:
Frequency · Yesterday 17:20

justmeandthedogs · Yesterday 17:07

Because I mentioned my weight in the title and i’m obese, so therefore I must be in denial and sitting stuffing my face everyday. Because I just lack self control apparently

I think it's more that you mentioned, bread. Everyone who has access to Google knows you cannot lose weight if you eat bread. Bread is poison.

If you're interested in new ways to eat your bread, Greg Doucette (a pro bodybuilder/power lifter) has a recipe for French toast you could make with sourdough.

I don't eat bread because I also know that bread is poison (I also know that I have serious issues with food that I shouldn't project onto innocent people), but if anything could tempt me to eat bread, it's covering it in egg whites and cinnamon.

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justmeandthedogs · Yesterday 17:24

Frequency · Yesterday 17:20

I think it's more that you mentioned, bread. Everyone who has access to Google knows you cannot lose weight if you eat bread. Bread is poison.

If you're interested in new ways to eat your bread, Greg Doucette (a pro bodybuilder/power lifter) has a recipe for French toast you could make with sourdough.

I don't eat bread because I also know that bread is poison (I also know that I have serious issues with food that I shouldn't project onto innocent people), but if anything could tempt me to eat bread, it's covering it in egg whites and cinnamon.

Oh that sounds unreal for a Sunday morning treat! Alas I’m off for a cream tea this weekend (SHOCK HORROR, I’ll have a day off calorie counting!), so I shall postpone my sinning until next week

OP posts:
Passingthrough123 · Yesterday 17:27

Frequency · Yesterday 17:20

I think it's more that you mentioned, bread. Everyone who has access to Google knows you cannot lose weight if you eat bread. Bread is poison.

If you're interested in new ways to eat your bread, Greg Doucette (a pro bodybuilder/power lifter) has a recipe for French toast you could make with sourdough.

I don't eat bread because I also know that bread is poison (I also know that I have serious issues with food that I shouldn't project onto innocent people), but if anything could tempt me to eat bread, it's covering it in egg whites and cinnamon.

Actual poison? I can't tell if you're being serious or sarcastic.

Backawayfromthesausage · Yesterday 17:34

justmeandthedogs · Yesterday 17:16

I think some of you are. Suggesting I’m lying about activity levels, calories consumed and tracked.

I don’t think anyone thinks you’re,lying, I certainly don’t. I think you’re mistaken, like many others, but thays not the same as lying.

Frequency · Yesterday 17:35

justmeandthedogs · Yesterday 17:24

Oh that sounds unreal for a Sunday morning treat! Alas I’m off for a cream tea this weekend (SHOCK HORROR, I’ll have a day off calorie counting!), so I shall postpone my sinning until next week

Yeah, that recipe pops up on bodybuilding forums a lot. A lot of his recipes do, tbf, and they all look pretty tasty if somewhat odd. He's like the Slimming World hack of the bodybuilding world.

justmeandthedogs · Yesterday 17:36

Backawayfromthesausage · Yesterday 17:34

I don’t think anyone thinks you’re,lying, I certainly don’t. I think you’re mistaken, like many others, but thays not the same as lying.

Multiple people have accused me of being “incorrect” about what I eat, what I do, etc. even when I post proof they double down.

OP posts:
justmeandthedogs · Yesterday 17:36

Frequency · Yesterday 17:35

Yeah, that recipe pops up on bodybuilding forums a lot. A lot of his recipes do, tbf, and they all look pretty tasty if somewhat odd. He's like the Slimming World hack of the bodybuilding world.

I’ll take a look on his socials!

OP posts:
Satsuma55 · Yesterday 19:01

I dunno, @justmeandthedogs , you eat more than I do just to maintain my weight loss, if this isn't working for you , eat less...one meal a day.

MeridaBrave · Yesterday 19:10

Satsuma55 · Yesterday 19:01

I dunno, @justmeandthedogs , you eat more than I do just to maintain my weight loss, if this isn't working for you , eat less...one meal a day.

The problem with that is that it’s likely to lead to muscle loss, as hard to hit protein targets on one meal a day.

justmeandthedogs · Yesterday 20:58

I’ve done my food shop for the week and I’m just going to focus on protein and low calorie

OP posts:
bythefire6 · Yesterday 21:08

Satsuma55 · Yesterday 19:01

I dunno, @justmeandthedogs , you eat more than I do just to maintain my weight loss, if this isn't working for you , eat less...one meal a day.

But are you also 16 stone and active? Otherwise it’s not a comparison
I’m 5ft 10, it’s like comparing the calories I need to someone who is 5ft

thismummydrinksgin · Yesterday 21:21

I’m in a similar position with my weight, feels never ending x

justmeandthedogs · Yesterday 21:26

thismummydrinksgin · Yesterday 21:21

I’m in a similar position with my weight, feels never ending x

I feel like it just consumes me. I’m constantly thinking about my weight

OP posts:
Satsuma55 · Yesterday 22:33

bythefire6 · Yesterday 21:08

But are you also 16 stone and active? Otherwise it’s not a comparison
I’m 5ft 10, it’s like comparing the calories I need to someone who is 5ft

Calorie counting is not working though. She needs to stop eating so much, I doubt she ever actually allows herself to feel hungry. She doesn't "need" those calories, she's 16 stone.

StickyProblem · Yesterday 22:34

justmeandthedogs · 23/04/2026 06:55

Because I’ve tried lower calories before and it spirals into a place where I end up with very unhealthy habits. Carbs are nothing to be afraid of and needed if you’re doing a lot of cardio and exercise. I mainly eat wholewheat pasta and lots of lovely wholemeal sourdough

I’m not having a go at you OP but I’ve been watching Secret Eaters again 😀
IME it’s part of struggling with your weight to have with some level of denial about exactly what you eat.
The “lots of lovely wholemeal sourdough” isn’t mentioned in your OP about what you eat. What goes on the lots of bread?
Best of luck with it.

Frequency · Yesterday 22:34

You need to start thinking of it as a lifestyle, not a diet. It won't end (or if it does, you'll undo all your hard work). This is forever now. Obviously, at some point, you'll reach maintenance, but the training and thinking about what you eat, and tracking food to some extent, has to be forever.

You do get used to it, and it becomes second nature once you get into the groove. Meal planning gets 100% easier once you have a feel for what fits into your nutrient goals and find a few favourite meals.

Training becomes enjoyable, for the most part. I started running about 6 months ago, and I hated it with a passion. It was a struggle to even convince myself to put my running shoes on, much less jump on the treadmill or head outside, but I look forward to running days now, mostly. You'll still have days like I did today, every now and again, where just the thought of a training session feels like effort, but they become few and far between.

I've been into weightlifting/body-recomp/bodybuilding on and off since my late teens because it helps me manage my food issues, but even now, I have the odd day where I'd rather drop an 18KG kettlebell on my foot than do a 20-minute EMOM session with one.

If you don't love it within 6 months, swap something around, try swimming instead of running, a group strength class, or CrossFit instead of what you're doing with your PT etc.

If you're stuck for meal plans or fancy trying something new, plug your goals into ChatGPT and ask it to create a meal plan. Just make sure you sense-check the results. I find it to be way under on cals but pretty spot on with protein.

And when you feel down on your progress, or what feels like a lack of try, remember how far you've already come. It's not a race; there is no deadline, as long as you keep plodding on, you'll get there.

Sortingmyself · Today 06:47

justmeandthedogs · Yesterday 21:26

I feel like it just consumes me. I’m constantly thinking about my weight

Same 😔

justmeandthedogs · Today 08:39

StickyProblem · Yesterday 22:34

I’m not having a go at you OP but I’ve been watching Secret Eaters again 😀
IME it’s part of struggling with your weight to have with some level of denial about exactly what you eat.
The “lots of lovely wholemeal sourdough” isn’t mentioned in your OP about what you eat. What goes on the lots of bread?
Best of luck with it.

Jesus Christ I don’t know how many times I can’t sit and say I’m not a secret eater - if I was I’d admit it on an anonymous post?! I’ve shown a screenshot of what I eat on sourdough - a quarter of an avocado, a little bit of butter and some poached eggs. Sometimes with bacon.

Anyway, it seems the plateau has officially broken after what felt like forever. 15st 12.4 lbs this morning!

OP posts:
justmeandthedogs · Today 08:42

Satsuma55 · Yesterday 22:33

Calorie counting is not working though. She needs to stop eating so much, I doubt she ever actually allows herself to feel hungry. She doesn't "need" those calories, she's 16 stone.

What a nasty, vindictive post.

Yes, I do actually need calories to survive. Everyone does. I’m sure in your ideal world everyone who’s overweight would sit at home and starve, until they were skin and bones. But I’m active, I walk a lot, I run and go to the gym (last night I went and did an hours weight session), I have done the whole fasting thing and don’t really fancy passing out and ending up in a&e again.

OP posts:
Pinnacles · Today 08:48

Interesting conundrum. If your clothes fit better you are burning fat, which is important. Have you got one of those body composition scales to give you an idea of your fat/muscle percentage? Also, can you afford a dietician to help get to the bottom of why 1500 calories a day is not allowing you to lose weight?

borborygmus1 · Today 08:52

Honey is just as bad for the body at triggering insulin surges as sugar. The antioxidants in honey (standard serving) are the same as in half a blueberry. Why would you have low protein? Protein and healthy fats increase satiety.

Fibre (not any type of cereals/breads/porridge /potatoes etc.). I mean beans, lentils, vegetables should form the bulk of a meal and should be eaten first to lower insulin/moderate glucose spikes, this stops the insulin rising too quickly which leads to hunger pangs within a few hours and which can put the body into fat storage mode. After eating the fibre, eat protein and fat, and then carbs

I'm eating 1500 calories per day because I'm not hungry. I eat a massive lunch following the principles of glucose revolution book and can probably only eat 50% of my dinner as I'm just not hungry. I'm losing weight and changing body shape just based on this.

The food plate showing the different proportions of food that should be eaten was created in Sweden after the war as a way of showing how people could obtain calories from grains as there wasn't enough protein /meat due to rationing. We have taken this old picture too seriously with huge implications for health. Fats and protein are not bad for us and we overeat starchy foods/sugars.

Low fat substitutes and artificial sweeteners are horrible for the body and all types of sugars (brown, golden, castor, agave syrup, honey) all cause the same effect on the body. Some just have better marketing. Also greek style yoghurt is less healthy than true greek yoghurt.