Has anyone really let themselves go and come back from it?

[myfavouriterain]

Just that really.
6 years ago even after child birth I looked OK. Size 8, younger than my years by around 5 years.
Depression, single parenthood, poor diet and sedentary lifestyle later and I'm size 16, lol older than I am.

Has anyone come back from being this run down, what did you do and in what order, how long did it take, results?

I’ve done it!! (I think...)

Turned 40 3 years ago and I was almost 2 sizes bigger than I am now and unhappy about it. My face looked flabby, tired and kind of grey.

I cut down massively on sugar (not hard as my diet was poor) and started walking 2ish hours a day until I could face the gym. I still hate the gym and would rather walk but I do go about twice a week now. Plus I still walk more.

My skin transformed; the sugar was horrendous for the grey tired look.

I also now use light retinoids and a balm cleanser. Plus a heinously expensive Sunday Riley moisturiser that is so good At making my skin look amazing I don’t need any makeup so I save on that.

I’m no stunner but my god I look better at 2 sizes lighter and with glowing skin.

It took about 3 months to really notice weight loss. Skin turned around from sugar amnesty in about 3 weeks. New Skincare regime (and diet with more nuts, avocado, salmon etc) took probably About a month or more to really pay off.

It really worked and my self esteem is so so so much higher. I felt so unlike myself and felt I looked flabby and grey.

Good luck!!!

Grey skin describes me well.

I went for a swim today and my filter bottle arrives tomorrow so the water intake will improve!

Yes. I had a very tough 10 years and ended up 3 stone overweight. I did a vlc diet and lost it but ended up anaemic and my hair fell out. I've since started taking supplements and have had it cut shorter so it looks thicker, and drinking 2-3l of water per day helps my skin massively

I hope so, I've really let myself go over the last couple of years, piled weight on due to underactive thyroid, I suffer from ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Anxiety & Depression & have recently been diagnosed with Autism. I haven't had my hair coloured for over a year, have inches of roots, can't be bothered to wear make up, haven't bought any new clothes, I spend most days in pyjamas & only get dressed if I have to go out. My diet is rubbish, even having a shower is an effort. I've let my home get in such a mess I don't know where to start to sort it out. I'm living like a hermit, something has got to change or I'm going to go under.

I've had a few days trial run now. Lessons - still need to increase water intake. I'm stiff, like an old lady with aches and pains so will start working on light activity. Sugar is like a drug for me so less of that, more small but hearty meals will be better. I started tracking calories yesterday using an app.

Honestly, tonight I just feel utterly depressed. DD has decided she's staying up until midnight so I'm trying to act happy for her. I'd really like to think ill be in a better place in a year in more ways than one.

We can all be in a better place this time next year with small changes.

I think my problem is that changing overall for me is so big, its overwhelming. I need to take it in small chunks.

What's got you so down tonight? This is such a tough day in general, it always gets me thinking.

This is a great thread

I started running a year ago and my body looks great, it's toned me up so much. And even better i love it and it has been a real boost to my mental health

BUT I turned 40 recently and really struggling...feel like I look old and rough so I'm looking for tips on that aspect of it .

I did this once OP after putting on around 5 stone when pregnant. Started cycling a bit, then to work, then did C25K, eventually losing 5 stone and lifting weights 3x per week. But....it was all quite punishing/ disordered and I did it by being mean to myself (in my head if you know what I mean). After a car crash, relationship break up and serious illness of DD I put all the weight back on and then some. 🙄 Have however worked on my mental health, invested in therapy and am about to start again. Will be doing gentle yoga for January (as feel stuff and crunchy like an old lady) not drinking and tracking food. Good luck all - am gonna watch this thread to get ideas!

Thanks for posting this, OP. I need to lose 5 stone and this thread has actually made me think that perhaps I'm not a lost cause.

My friend lost 5 stone last year she’s like a different woman. She didn’t look at us as 5 stone literally it was 1 lb at a time that made it seem real

5 stone in a year, how? And does she look healthy not just thinner?

Snipsnip I was OK until I stupidly glanced at social media while making a cup of tea. I'm trying to remember the Serenity Prayer (find it helpful) and that it's one step, one more to change things.

She lost 5 stone in 3 months basically on that Atkins diet. She looks great to be fair. It came off very quickly think 8lbsfirst week, 7lbs the next kinda thing.
Obviously I’ve not seen her naked but 150% improvement clothed

I’ve done it before but massively let it slip and need to start again.

Last time, it worked because instead of thinking about how deprived I felt and what lovely food/drink/lazing about I was missing out on in the present, I focused on being kind to my future self.

So if I choose salad instead of a burger and chips, I’m not depriving myself, but being kind to my future self who is going to stand on the scales/go clothes shopping/look good in a picture. The same with cleansing/moisturising thoroughly instead of falling into bed with make up on, going for a brisk walk instead of sitting on the sofa, scheduling and attending regular trips to the hairdresser/beautician etc.

Good luck OP

I saw on MN a post about a hypnoband. I am not overweight, have never dieted but wanted to lose a few kilos. I was curious so tried a free one.

This one called Full Gastric Band Hypnosis - Lose Weight While You Sleep. It works, listen when going to sleep for about ten nights. It worked for me after a few nights, it’s very relaxing, like a relaxation video. You can fall asleep every time and it still works. I found if I over eat it starts to wear off so I do it again for a few nights.

Use that with lots of walking or bike riding and the weight should gradually decrease while you get fit.

Yes! After babies I gained about 35kg. I got into a cycle of depression Elst exacerbated by moving overseas and not speaking the language and having my hypothyroidism mis-managed by GP. I ended up putting on about another 25. So this was over a period of about 12 years. I am only 5ft1, so can’t carry extra weight. Am intelligent enough to know the health consequences and was beginning to feel the effects. (Not to mention avoiding cameras!) It snuck on and I decided enough was enough and firstly put myself on the ELF diet. (Eat Less Food.) I lost about 10kg, then plateaued. I was getting multiple migraines daily as well. The neurologist put me on some bloody horrible meds, combined with trialing medical keto diet (not crazy coconut oil/all you can eat bacon Pinterest one - as my brain is full of scars from migraines and I don’t want to risk stroke, I stuck to it.) The diet worked on the migraines and of course I have lost weight. All of it. I have also maintained it. Three years later, all 60kgs remain gone. I am fitter than I was pre-babies and I am still a gym-dodger. (At an age where bone-health is a priority, so need to get into it, but it’s booooooring!) Am keeping migraines at bay and on half the dosage I was on previously as am literally half the person. The decent fats in the diet (avocado, olive oil and organic butter, mostly) have kept my skin in good condition thank god! Was worried about that! I don’t wear much makeup, but I do invest in sunscreen. Every day. I’m 47 and I think that’s what has made the difference. Good fats and sunscreen. (And vitamin c from food!!!)

overtheseagull. Wow! That’s an incredible weight loss! 😱💐

Happy new year everyone! I've decided I'm going to start with a week of walking every day before I start C25K. I just feel too old and fat to launch straight into it. I'm going to start upping my water intake today and eating fewer carbs from tomorrow. Fingers crossed I can turn myself around.

Day 1 I had a good energetic walk outside in the grounds of a stately home, trying to keep up with DD racing around the place. Ate 3 meals not junk. Did basics around the house like dish washing, laundry which I struggle with when feeling low (vicious cycle). Re organised toy space. Read with DD.

Feeling a bit claustrophobic by now just me and DD for nearly 2 weeks, but I'll be back to work on Monday.

Running on empty; how did you get started? Did you change your diet too? I am very interested in getting in to exercise again for the mental health benefits

I'm keeping up with the water, I'm up and down to the loo every minute!

I got on top of clothes washing today which was disgraceful. I'm going to shower tonight, put a colour in my hair cos I cant afford the hair dresser right now and do a little face mask and moisturise. Doing something to my skin is better than doing nothing at this stage!

Well done on the walk! I need a good bracing walk in fresh air but I've not got the energy and I hate walking! I think sometimes the things that are good for us take more effort than we want. I'm hoping small changes will snowball into other changes.

Today, well hmm I don't consider myself huge, a size almost 16. I met an older family friend who has known me for about 25 years. Intermittently seen me, and seen me mostly a slim size 8 to 10 until I developed a full blown binge eating habit about 4 years ago. We were talking, he referred to someone I don't know as 'your build' then this other persons wife as 'slim'.

I keep thinking, he knows this isn't 'my build', I wasn't podgy until pretty recently. I know it's one of those throwaway comments people make.

On the plus side I've cleared enough space in our living/eating/non - sleeping room to do some floor exercises as long as I don't move side to side, it's a start.

I've just read and enjoyed this whole thread. I would love to join you!

How is everyone getting on this week?

I had a serious accident early 2019, followed by 7 months off work, no sports/exercise allowed, several operations, so lots of time stuck at home recuperating (and feeling sorry for myself) and comfort eating.

As a result, I gained a bunch of weight and went from toned and fairly strong, to squishy and flabby

I now have my surgeon's approval to exercise again (but indoors only), so I'm motivated to get myself sorted out.

I'm back at work part-time and have joined a gym. I've also downloaded the DietBet app and signed up to a diet bet group, where I need to lose 3.2kg by early February.

In the meantime, I've bought a few clothes from Ebay, as nothing in my wardrobe currently fits well.

Posting here for accountability could be very helpful. I've already lost almost 1kg, so hopefully I can keep it up...

I refuse to think of it as letting oneself go, it's more that life just got in the way of my doing all the healthy stuff and fun vanity stuff that I might have!

To me, exercise is the catalyst. That then inspired better food choices and greater water consumption. As my skin improves, that then inspires me to care more about appearance.

Work out one small thing that matters to you and work on that, the rest will follow.

Ive been trying to do this for years and years. Got down to a size 10-12 but am now a size 16 with 5 stone to lose. Got my wedding coming up so I have to do it. Going to start with cutting out as much crap food as possible

I lost 7 stone over 3 years
Started regular exercise - mainly swimming
Stopped skimping on things that matter eg I used to try and stretch gap between haircuts to 8-9 weeks to save money - now I economise on other things but have hair done every 5-6 weeks
I have a smaller but quality classic plain pieces wardrobe with a few ‘liven it up - out there pieces’ eg bright pink Valentino shoes
I buy outlet, charity shop or eBay so don’t spend heaps either