to be deliriously happy to be an average sized (16) woman again??!!

[BigMomma3]

Want to shout if from the rooftops and tell everyone I meet (but then I'd have to tell them that I was a size 22 ). I bought a new size 16 outfit today and it fits me perfectly (actually it's a bit loose!). I am starting to feel quite normal now and don't want to hide myself away anymore.

It may not sound much to shout about to the skinny minnies but I have been a size 20/22 since I had my first DC almost 13 years ago (before that I was a size 10) and maintained it for all that time even with 2 subsequent pregnancies which I am sort of pleased about cos I could have got bigger I guess! I have suffered quite bad depression because of it and have even not applied for better jobs or socialised because of the self confidence issues that go with it.

No matter what diet I tried I would only lose a few pounds and then give up but now I have lost almost 3 stone and am on a downhill slope as I have finally figured out what works for me and it's not torture and I am quite enjoying it so I know I can keep it up until I get to a size 10 which I have been dreaming about being for years!

The way I've lost it is [drumroll] eating less and excercising more!! Am now a complete gym bunny and feel fitter than I ever have been - can cycle outside uphill in 6th gear (used to huff and puff in 2nd), can last for 3 minutes on level 10 of the crosstrainer (used to feel like I was going to have a heart attack on level 1 after 5 minutes) and have massively increased my fitness in less than 3 months.

AIBU in feeling I have made a massive achievement and wanting to share! Am looking forward to changing my nickname to LEANMomma3.

Well done,hopefully you can inspire me to do some exercise.That is some amazing weight loss,good for you

That's fantastic - well done you.

Thanks WT. I can throughly recommend exercise and that is quite amazing from someone who used to need to sit on the top step for a rest after walking upstairs . Can't beat the endorphin 'high' afterwards. It has definitely helped my depression.

Oh I hear ya!! I have just gone from an 18/20 to a comfortable size 16 myself and there is a great psychological boost being a "normal size". I can't wait to get down to a 14 - haven't been that for a long time. I am doing it by not eating much but you are much more sensible!

Well done you!

Congrats to you as well MrsB. Tis a good, good feeling .

YANBU in the slightest Well done on all your hard work!

I have been trying for some time to shift the 4 stone (and 3 dress sizes - went from a small 14 to a 20) I gained with DS2. Am having trouble still claiming it as baby weight as my baby is now 8! Am somewhat gym phobic now so will have to persist with the WiiFit instead............

congrats. hope to join you soon-ish.

Congrats, look forward to seeing the name change.

Awwww well done OP, that's a fantastic achievement.

I became a gym convert about 3 years ago. Prior to that, I didn't do any actual, proper exercise for about...erm...10 years! That shocks me now but I didn't think anything of it at the time. I was surprised at how quickly I was able to get to a good level of fitness and wondered why I hadn't taken the plunge years before! Like you, I am finding that exercise does good things for my mental health too

Glad you're doing so well. Hope you get down to your target weight in no time.

Big Momma, I have done the same gone from a 24 to a (elastic waist) 14

Brilliant feeling isnt it!

Well done BM3! That is fab.

How often do you go to the gym? How did you get started?

woohoo. well done you.

Congratualtions. I went up to 18/20 a few years ago and now I'm stable at 16. I totally don't see myself as remotely fat and I'm astonished that other pps sometimes moan about this size. We are perfect

Congrats!! Yanbu to be happy about it, welldone

Firawla - I have to ask - are you a strawberry....?

Well done for all of your hard work. I bet you look fab .

Bloody well done all of you

Well done! I have lost a stone on slimming world and bought size 16 shorts the other day It felt so good! Well done!

Many congrats! Relate with loads of what you've said, too. You deserve to be happy and proud

well done indeed hope you will get to 10!
Is walking too much classified as exercising?
because i have to walk a lot and am on my feet long time on a day, i wondered that could help me.

Thanks all! My motivation came from taking DD shopping for clothes (she is 12 and I have just started buying her size 8 clothes because she's so tall and she has a figure like I had!). I realised what I was buying her, I wanted for myself (nothing sexy just pretty stuff) and I just got angry that I had wasted my 13 years of my life away feeling like shit and wearing clothes which added about another 10 years to my age, starting and finishing diets that did not work because I did not have the patience to see them through. That is what I have learnt - patience .

wme - I go to the gym 5 times a week for an hour and a half. Luckily I am a SAHM (enforced through redundancy!) at the mo and am putting my time to good use. I do about 30 mins cardio and the rest weights (I also cycle to and from the gym which adds another 20 mins of cardio). I got a plan at first from the instructor but have changed it to what suits me which is weights with lots of reps at DH's advice and it's working. I do not envisage being able to keep it up at 5 times a week (need a job soon) but will keep on until I am down to a size 12 and then go down to 3 times a week (see how positive I am about getting down to a 12 ).

ideasplz - IMHO walking is excellent for maintaining weight and general health but will not make much difference if you want sustained weight loss. I was walking (fast) 6 miles 3 times a week at one point and felt better but did not lose. My mantra is weight training, minimal carbs, water and fruit & veg! And no I am not muscly but have been told that I look fit and toned even a size 16 so weights will NOT pump you up.

well done BigMomma, and just in time for summer!

I've lost over 3.5 stones in weight too, in just over a year and am now size 12-14 and I did it pretty much through eating less and exercizing more. i started off with 1 aerobics class a week then took up cycling to work twice a week. am now thinking of taking up swimming, just to mix it up a bit and keep it interesting. not a fan of the gym i'm afraid, but like you found something that suited. also eating smaller portions and watching the unhealthy grub intake though i have to admit i do still eat 'unhealthy' food, just less often. My turning point was when my BMI went into the 'healthy' range, that was a nice feeling and I've become a bit of a shopaholic

WELL DONE!!! I am doing the same as you - eating less and exercising more, and have lost 44lbs in 3 months( that is just over 3 stone isn't it?)
I used to hate exercise, now I swim for an hour at least once a week, walk daily for 45 minutes (briskly) and try to cycle for an hour once a week. And I love how I feel afterwards. Would love to take up running but years of being morbidly obese has ruined my knees

But a huge well done you! Size 16 must be great!! I have just gone from a size 28 to a 24. I want to lose at least another 5 stone, preferably another 7 but for now I am delighted with how much better I feel already