Advice please

[skittycat]

I’ve been attempting to follow slimming world for the last two years and initially had success but keep self sabotaging.

I currently have approx 7 stone to lose in weight (I am very overweight) but struggle to control my negative impulses and comfort eating. When I’m miserable I eat to give myself that short term happiness.

I want to (and need to) lose this weight for my own self esteem and confidence and health but there’s a niggling thought in the back of my head already worrying about loose skin and whether the weight loss will actually make a difference to my thoughts about myself, or whether my issues actually run deeper than just being overweight.

Has anyone got any advice they can give? Any suggestions that can help me limit the comfort eating/sabotage... any reassurances that even though it’s a bloody tough journey that it’s going the best thing I’ve ever done for myself? I know that I need to do this, but the end result seems so far away right now.

Hi Skitty I have been doing SW for 18 months now and have lost 5.5stone. I have another 1.5 to go really.
Some days I feel really good about myself and other days I still feel as fat as I felt when I started. I do feel healthier, though and even on a "fat" day I can walk up stairs without puffing and just feel better doing things. I am aware that I have a "baggy" tummy now, but that is better than it being just a large fat tum!

I understand the comfort eating, too, but then don't you feel worse afterwards and wish you had not done it? I still struggle with this and lapse sometimes. I know I am going to feel worse after, but I still do it.

Try not to look at the fact you have so much to lose. Chop it up into little chunks. Perhaps the 1st stone, then 1/2 a stone at a time, or getting into the next stone bracket. And have non food treats waiting for when you have achieved that. I have one ultimate goal and treat to head for, but each time I lose 1/2 a stone I will go and buy a nice top, jeans or something nice that I want.

Believe in yourself. You can do this!! Come and join the SW support thread on here - we are all encouraging and lots of hints and tips, too.

I started SW last January and lost 1.5 stone which I've kept off all year.... till Christmas I struggled with using food as a 'treat' when I'd lost some weight, now I've managed to stop biting my nails after 25 years I'm hoping treats like a new nail varnish/manicure after losing so many lbs etc will work. I've got about 5/6 stone to lose though if you want to Message me for some mutual moral support

Our class have talked about this quite a lot. We wouldn't have issues with our weight if we didn't have unhealthy relationships with food, we're all in a similar boat, just with different triggers.

I struggle during quiet times alone in front of the tv. I tend to over eat at that point, so I am better planning something if I know I'm going to be on my own for an evening. I chop up a whole melon and pop it in the fridge ready. Then organise a 'happy tray' made ill of a mixture of syn foods and free foods. I like a big portion with lots of flavour so things like pickles help. I stuff my face but can still feel proud and happy as its in control and on plan.

As you lose weight you do get soft bits and lose skin, I swear by firm underway to encourage things back into the right place. I hit target a year ago and my tum is firmer and less saggy than it was even a few months again.

I met a woman who lost over 15 stone and she looked amazing. She said she does have saggy skin but she doesn't let it get her down as she's now healthy bmi and can play with her children

Thanks for the replies 😊

It makes sense to chop it into little pieces - half a stone at a time doesn’t seem too unachievable compared to the whole chunk.

The suggestions of non food related treats is a good idea - the amount of money I use to binge could be saved to get myself nice things when I hit a target I’ve set.

The boredom factor gets me a bit - i think I need to find something to keep me occupied on an evening as I know I’m never hungry when I snack.

I’m going to look for the support thread - although I get a bit of support from group I tend to find there’s so many of us and it’s easy to get lost in the crowd.

I just can’t imagine looking in a mirror and not seeing a fat girl... I’ve seen her for so long I imagine it takes a fair amount of time to stop seeing her there when I’ve lost some of the weight.

here's the link to the current thread, although I think we will be starting a new one tomorrow

When I catch a glimpse of myself in a window reflection I sometimes do a double take and dont even realise its me!!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/slimming_world/3126585-sw-support-thread-1-of-2018

The 2018 thread is ready.

I found half stones worked better for me.

Thank you both - I’ve posted on the new thread