Gained 1.5 stones in a year and feeling frumpy

[CoolToned]

And I feel absolutely annoyed at myself. I don't like dressing up anymore. Nothing looks good.

This is on top of me being overweight, so maybe I am pushing obese BMI now.

Went back to uni and I thought I'm going to lose weight because of the stress - guess what, didn't happen.

I guess I just want to vent. And maybe find people in the same boat - how do you make yourself feel good after a massive weight gain?

[Emilyclimbs]

I am aiming for half a kilo a week. I'm Hoping if I lose weight slowly then hopefully the change will be sustainable. So far it's been about adjusting portion size and drastically cutting down treats (having 10g of good quality chocolate a day). This is my first week and to be honest I have been having major cravings for sugar and carbs but today they were much weaker! Although I am a little hungry at bed time I know it's just my brain adjusting to the inordinate amount of carns consumed during the latter stages if pregnancy.

[ICJump]

Cool I have a suede jacket that is dying to be worn in the crisp morning we are having in nsw. But my arms won't fit!

I'll do a meal plan this week. I've already got OH on board with me swimming twice a week.

[CoolToned]

ICJump - Me too! I'm in Melbourne. Perfect time for leather jackets and I don't fit in them. Aaaargh.

EmilyClimbs - goodluck to us! I don't have a pregnancy excuse, just me and actually eating a huge amount of food. I don't even eat carbs a lot, just massive (or at least constantly eating) amount of food.

[Divineswirls]

Well just get off your arse and walk and stop stuffing your face then

[VioletBam]

I thought there were 14 pounds in a stone?

[CoolToned]

VioletBam - that's correct.

[WaxyBean]

Can I join in - I'd like to lose two stone and need a kick up the Arsenal. I've been buying make-up, shoes and accessories to make up for the fact that my clothes mojo has disappeared as my weight crept up. I used to be slim and stylish!

[CoolToned]

WaxyBean - exactly like me! Except I was never slim! But when I was 168lbs (overweight, but not so much because I'm almost 5'8"), I loved dressing up. When the weight started creeping up, my attention shifted to makeup - which I don't like wearing anyway.

Welcome, welcome! Let's kick each other up the Arsenal :)

Day one for me.

[AnthonyPandy]

So instead of weighing myself, what should I measure? Each thigh, hips and waist?

[CoolToned]

AnthonyPandy - yeah. :) I used to measure chest, waist, hips, each upper arm, each thigh, each leg. I was so obsessive!

I should have stuck to it!

[Eliza22]

I'm worried about you CoolToned. It sounds to me like you're well on the road to a lifetime of obsessive yo-yo dieting. Not good, as you might spend the rest of your adult life losing the weight; not being able to maintain that loss and it creeping back on; gaining the amount lost (and often more besides); feeling utterly worthless at the gain and your lack of control; being "good" and again, losing the weight..... And so it goes. The dieting industry thrives on this type of fruitless endeavour.

The alternative? Be kind to yourself. Stress affects different people differently. I tend to lose weight rapidly when stressed. That's not good either. What I do now is dress for my shape as best I can (I'm a pear). I eat plenty of fruit/veg. Try to cut down on the cheese (love my cheese!) and move more.

Unless you are clinically obese and the weight is, or will cause health problems, I think you're in dangerous territory here, Personally, I'm NEVER going to look how the media says I ought to look. But, I also know that gaining/losing weight mucks up your metabolism, your skin and your head.

[Pisssssedofff]

I measure in jeans not inches. I have a great pair of size 10's that when I'm looking good look smoking hot lol
So they are my baromitor

[CoolToned]

Eliza22 - thanks for the concern! You're right actually, I've lost and gained the weight a few times in my adult life. However, I really need to lose weight now that I am older because weight directly affects my PCOS and hypertension. :)

When I'm stressed, I pile it on. Like all hell breaks loose. I gained ten pounds this semester alone.

[Eliza22]

I'd say stop measuring your limbs!! Yes, you have weight related health issues to consider then. Even so, do it slowly and gently as a lifestyle change rather than "going on another diet".

Good luck.

[Emilyclimbs]

WaxyBean and Cooltined I totally identify with buying make-up as compensation for an utter lack of interest in clothes at the moment. I'm two weeks into eating healthily and the sugar cravings have ore or less gone. Rather than dieting I'm really trying to develop better eating habits long term. CoolToned don't be so hard on yourself like you I want to be healthier and hopefully we will get there!

[CoolToned]

Thanks, Eliza! I actually eat kind of healthy - I don't eat carbs a lot, no sugar, etc. But I think it's the quantities that's making it unhealthy and making me pile on the weight! June last year, I was 167 pounds.

Emilyclimbs - hi! Well done on the two weeks! And yes, we will get there!

[Statelychangers]

Cooltoned Lots of people have found low carbing really helps PCOS. Good luck with whatever way you go. It's hard to accept you body being bigger than you'd like - I wish I could but lots of exercise and lots of fresh veg is the key to good health and that is more important than anything else.

[Eliza22]

Good Luck, then!

[CoolToned]

Statelychangers - I eat fairly low carb. But I gain weight if I overeat, even if it's low carb. But the weight gain isn't as drastic as if I eat high-carb.

I lost weight on low-carb many times in the past. I'm going back to low-carb, sane quantities of food :)

Eliza22 - Thanks! :)

[AdrenalineFudge]

I also occasionally do a juice diet and intermittent fasting.
I can't say that I 'do' a diet as such, I think much like you cool it's about reasonable portion sizes.

[CoolToned]

How's everyone?

[Pisssssedofff]

I think im doing ok ish. I've given up smoking this week so I've had more lattes than I usually would have to try and keep the fags at bay. But I am hoping when I hit the gym next week I should notice the difference in lung capacity and therefore work harder and burn off those lattes 😁

[CoolToned]

Yay! Good on you, Pisssssedoff!

[AdrenalineFudge]

I'm still keeping it up, went to the gym this morning but I really couldn't face more than a quick jog and 30mins on the cross trainer. As it's summer I'm finding I'm more inclined to eat salads and not anything too stodgy.

pissedoff I am planning on quitting soon but you're right wrt lung capacity - you'll definitely notice a difference soon. Good luck! Are you vaping?

[CoolToned]

Well done, AdrenalineFudge! Summer would make it easy to curb the eating :) It's almost Winter here, but I think I'm doing an ok job. Maybe still overeating a bit, but not as much as before when I was eating throughout the day basically!