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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Need to lose weight, please help me.

8 replies

Jinsei · 17/06/2012 21:59

Sorry for starting a new thread when there are probably loads of others out there. I find them all a bit overwhelming but I do need advice and support, and am hoping I'll find it here.

I am very, very overweight, and want to do something about it, but my willpower is non-existent poor and I quickly lose motivation.

I work FT in a demanding job, and usually buy lunch at the local shop. This is a major problem, as I tend to buy high calorie junk to help me get through the day.

I do all the cooking for the family, generally cook from scratch but often batch cook and then defreeze during the week. I don't have time to cook separate meals for me, DH and dd, but they are both quite fussy in their own ways, so tend to stick to tried & trusted favourites. We eat fish but no meat btw. I don't think I'd be good at following a very prescriptive diet as it wouldn't fit in with the rest of the family.

I do exercise a bit, but not much. Bit of walking, dance on wii etc. I aspire to running but ashamed to go out and do that at the moment, as I am so very unfit.

I tend to comfort eat, lots of sugary & starchy snacks. :( It's almost compulsive, and I tend to do it more when I'm alone. I think I do it to treat myself but often don't actually enjoy it that much because of the guilt. I know I'm addicted to sugar, and tried cutting it out a few months back. I did well for a while but then slid backwards.

I am not very good at committing to extreme approaches - tend to stick at things for a few days and then revert back to how I was before. I need something moderate - and easy! But perhaps there is no such thing!

I know that I have to do this on my own, but please advise me, given my lack of willpower and time for cooking etc, what is the best approach for me to take? I don't want to be here in a year's time, facing the same problems.

Please help!

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 17/06/2012 22:08

You sound very like me. Food as a reward. Knackered. Guilt?
So far this year I have lost 3 stone. Things that helped...
I don't snack. Find distractions. Walk. Knit. Puzzles.
I eat a small breakfast. Salad for lunch and normal dinner.
I do not calorie count or deny myself something i really want.
I reward myself each half a stone with non food treat.
Zumba and running. (Until I got unrelated injury.) started running in dark evenings! Interval trained. Started literally jogging a minute and walking 2!
Yoga.
I think before I eat. Hungry? Miserable? Would a nice bath have the same effect?
I am a long way from getting it all right and expect I have another 3 stone to go but it's a start!

Jinsei · 17/06/2012 23:18

Thanks wolfie, you're right, I do use food as a reward. We do sound similar, so I'm inspired by how much weight you have lost. I'd be thrilled to lose even half of that!

I'll try to cut out the snacks first. Hopefully I can do that. And perhaps I'll go running when it's dark.

What sort of rewards have you given yourself when you have met your targets? I need some inspiration!

Also, do you not get hungry with just salad for lunch? What do you put in it to keep yourself going through the day? Also, you mention that you don't deny yourself when you really want something, but how do you know when you really want it?! Stupid question I know...

I'm really interested to know how youve kept the motivation up over the last year. I can keep going for a week but I don't seem able to sustain it for any longer. :( Is it just willpower?

And how do you feel having lost all that weight? Has it made a big difference to you yet?

OP posts:
Alibabaandthe40nappies · 17/06/2012 23:20

Jinsei - come and talk to us on the Paul McKenna thread. Lots of help and support dealing with your food issues, no need to go hungry.

Jinsei · 17/06/2012 23:58

Thanks alibaba, I'll have a look.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 18/06/2012 10:08

Today I popped into work wearing my fitness clothes and people kept stopping me and saying lovely things. I have lost the weight since the end of January!
I have fish or cheese on my salad. I also put on lots of crunch. Having to chew seems to make me feel fuller. Sprinkle seeds on top and have a bit of couscous or pasta salad.
I find myself taking a moment to think before I eat instead of stuffing in one biscuit while deciding how much of the packet to eat! (hmm that explains why I got so big!)
Treats. Watch. iPod to listen to as I run. Luxury bath or face stuff.
I am still fat but getting slimmer!

Youcanringmybell · 18/06/2012 16:16

Thanks for the tips wolfiefan- I too am needing to lose about 2.5 stone I am a compulsive eater and get terrible guilt from it all. I like your distraction methods and have been looking on the PMK thread too.

Just so hard not to want to 'treat' myself or bake a cake. I love baking etc and cannot do it because I eat the whole bloody cake!!

foreverondiet · 18/06/2012 17:38

Try and eat more protein each day. eg tub of cottage cheese, crab sticks, tin tuna, smoked salmon, slices turkey. Protein makes you feel really full.

ToxicMoxie · 18/06/2012 17:44

I have found that 8 oz broccoli with cottage cheese and/or a slice of turkey bacon is almost impossible to finish, and you are chewing forever! It really helped me feel satisfied and that I had eaten a lot.

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