Will Power Needed

[RegTheMonkey1]

I am nearly four stones overweight and definitely not happy about it. I love clothes and and looking stylish, but now my wardrobe is stuffed with lovely things I can no longer get into. I know I've been eating too much, drinking too much, and taking absolutely no exercise. I know the answer is to eat less of the wrong things and move about more. BUT. Although I long to be slimmer and fitter both for looks and health reasons (high cholesterol, getting on a bit) I seem incapable of doing anything about it. I just sit there at work or at home, snacking and being miserable about what I've become. How on earth do I get some will power

Hit send too soon. Should have ended 'How on earth do I get some will power and get my arse in gear before I end up like those people who have to have the wall of their house knocked down because they're too obese to get through the door?

The thing is..just to start. Sounds simplistic, but it's true. Start somewhere (personally I recommend Intermittent Fasting (there are many variations) having lost 78lbs so far..)..accept that it will be hard for the first few weeks, but keep going (even if you have multiple blips)..at some point something will click..and then it will fall into place, you will find suddenly you have a routine, it won't feel so hard, and it will work. But you have to start for that to happen.

I should add that I was 9 1/2 stones overweight initially (which is horiffic, I know). so, I DO understand that it isn't easy.

Wow, FatGirlWithChocolate, that is some accomplishment! I don't know what is stopping me addressing the issue. I have a younger husband, who is in good shape and very attractive, and I sometimes feel that I just look like a fat old frump next to him. I miss just being able to 'throw something on' and looking great. Now it's all about camouflaging which of course fools no one. Thank you for replying. You are right - just start!

I will look up Intermittent Fasting. Funnily enough I had been considering doing a complete fast one day a week to start off and hopefully kick start weight loss.

I'm properly greedy, but also vain - the thing that helps keep me from gaining weight is being fairly strict about what I eat Monday through to Friday lunchtime, so three decent meals, no snacks or "treats", then having the weekend "off". I log everything in MFP, and use a Fitbit to make sure I do at least 10,000 steps a day (I have quite an active job, but also do things like going to the loo or printer on a different floor, always nip out for a 15 minute walk at lunch, and usually average about 16,000 a day Monday to Friday).

I am sure that your husband loves you very much and doesn't see you as you see yourself (don't be so hard on yourself, it won't achieve anything, quite the opposite)..but I do understand the wanting to do something, and you will be glad that you did. I never ever had the looking great thing, but I was slim once, and while I'm not yet there it's thrilling to be able to buy clothes I like (as opposed to clothes because they fit) again.

Fasting really works..5:2/4:3/ADF/16:8..there are many versions..and eventually it regulates your hunger levels too..and you don't want all the stuff you used to have before..couldn't recommend it highly enough.

I'd recommend the my fitness pal app to log everything you eat for a few days while you are looking into IF, I've just started 16:8 after doing 5:2 and it's working well 😊

Thank you for the replies. My husband never comments on my weight gain, he just goes about his own regime which is eating clean and exercising every day. We are off somewhere hot and sunny in July and I really want to be able to join him on his daily walk without feeling like I'm going to expire, and to feel like the 'old me' when we go out in the evening. I think my problem is a great big dollop of self-pity and an equal helping of laziness. I still work full time despite being a great age, but enough is enough. I need to tackle this head on. Thank you all so much for the support.

If you can Reg, and it's not easy when you work, try and go out for a walk most days..doesn't have to be long, 30/40 mins will do, and that will help a lot with fitness levels and feeling out of puff next to hubby. If you start that soon you will be amazed at how much better you feel come July.

Ref, I'm like you. A good four stone to lose but just don't seem to be able to get started. I'm going to log on MyFitnessPal and look into fasting if some sort. Going to make sure I have fruit to snack on at work to help me stay away from all the sweets and cakes that tend to be around. I'm going to make an effort to drink less coffee and drink more water. It all seems so simple so why does it feel so hard!!!? Feel free to send me a friend request in Mfp. Same user name as here.

Thanks dazzling. What's Mfp? I'm going to go out each lunch time for a walk. I live in a seaside town and there is a lovely walk along the front which would be ideal. I think a 40 minute walk a day will definitely make a difference. You're right dazzling about how simple it is really, so why is it hard?

One thing that really helped me was an observation that hunger doesn't build and build, it comes and goes and is nothing to be afraid of. I think I used to panic if I felt hungry, rather than noticing it and being like 'that's interesting'.

Also, study up on the nutrition your body needs. If you eat 3 good meals full of the nutrition your body needs it's actually pretty hard to snack constantly on crap.

Finally, rather than flagellating yourself and hating your body treat it like it's one of your precious children - love it, feed and nurture it and do your best to keep it healthy. Because your body is amazing! It gets you where you need to go, helps you achieve the things you want to do, gives great hugs and is your constant companion in life. You need it to do a lot more for you over the years! Good luck, I bet you can do it.

Swimminguphill is right..fasting teaches you not to fear being hungry, and that it does indeed pass. It's quite liberating (for me anyway, and I could eat anyone under the table any day).

Swimminguphill, that's good advice about hunger pangs.

5:2 certainly does work.. but also look up Michael Mosely's 8 week Blood Sugar Diet you may find it more doable if you havent done this kind of thing before . (MM is the same person behind the 5:2 diet) ..I did 5:2 and had great success but sadly havent been able to maintain it long-term. On the BSD i mostly can.. I actually prefer the BSD now..

Thank you Laska, that's a good link.

MFP is myfitnesspal. You can download the app. You tell it what you weigh, height etc, how much you want to lose per week and it will calculate your calorie intake. There's an extensive food list and you can scan items to get nutritional breakdown. You can also track your exercise etc. It's a handy little app.

Joining :)