So I want/ need to lose 84lbs EEEEEK! Where the hell do I start?

[mummyisafatty]

Hi, I am sure my story is same as many out there. I am 28 years old. I have 2 sons. My eldest is 5yrs my youngest is just about to turn 1.

It's been a tricky year, DH got made redundant (sorted in new job now thankfully) but it added stress to our family for months, DS2 was/ is a difficult baby, I got diagnosed with postnantal depression in April. I probably should have got diagnosed after DS1 too but never dared go to the doctor. Anyway, gradually through the last few years of depression, baby weight, bordom etc, my weight has rocketed. I am now 16 stone 4 which is just faaaar too big. I don't feel good. I certainly don't look good. I am 5ft 8 and should apparently weigh between 9st12 and 11stone3... I am aiming for a middle ground of 10 stone 5.

Bottom line is can it be done??? How?? Any tips or any one want to join me. I seriously can not carry on like this. Every day it's the same thing. Wake up and think I'll eat healthily- before I know it I've gobbled 2 crumpets, a bag of crisps, an enormous galaxy bar and something with chips! It's disgusting and I need to stop. Help x

Are you me??? Same weight same height and same goal weight!! Creepy.

I've started doing weight watchers today actually. I've got a 5 year old, 3 year old and a 5 month old. I'm still exclusively breastfeeding DD. But unfortunately the BF isn't helping the weight come off. Instead I'm probably eating more because of it. I'm always really hungry.

Though I'm slightly regretting starting now looking at all the nice Christmas food!

Another one in the same boat , I have weighed myself this morning and I am bigger than I have ever been , apart from pregnancy .

I am eating rubbish , mostly through boredom or comfort . I need to lose three stone , I managed to give up smoking over a month ago , if I can do that then surely I can do this ?

Wow, free to join slimming world and gym passes. I think I need to visit the GP and explain to her what I am wanting to do and see if she can help. I got weighed this morning and I am now 15stone 13 so I've lost 5lbs this week! Rather happy with that but obviously it'll probably level out and slow down a hell of a lot. I am thinking a lot of it was just water weight that drops off at the beginning. Still a big step in the right direction though!

I am feeling a bit more positive about it today. I know it can be done... just not sure it can be done by me yet!!! But I am determined to at least shift some of the weight for health reasons. It can't be good for me to be this size.

We are going on holiday to Spain in June next year and I would very much like to be feeling healthier and fitter. Would like to be around 13 stone by then but not sure how realistic that is. That would mean I need to lose another 3 stone in 7 months hmmmmmmm!

I have a feeling the gym pass might have been linked not only to my friend's weight, but also she has anxiety and MH issues. Will investigate and report back!

Doshusallie What weight were you before you started doing low carb/atkins a year ago?

Creepy McKayz Just read your post!....and yep I've had the same feelings of wanting to put it off til after Christmas looking at all the yummy food I will be depriving myself of. However, I KNOW if I wait til after Christmas I will only have yet MORE weight to lose which is frightening and also every New Year I say to myself 'this is the year I am going to do it and lose the weight' but by Jan 9th I've either fallen off the wagon and stuffing my face on biscuits or I'm still yet to actually start and I will continue to put it off and never actually start . I can't keep doing this to myself! It's ridiculous. Every year it's the same thing and I am just getting fatter and fatter and feeling like it's more and more unachievable which of course gives me an even better excuse to put it off and gain yet more lbs! Argggggggh! I remember in 2004 before I had my dcs I got weighed and I was 12 sone 8 and I was horrified at how fat I was and really though I should do something about it. Well- 8 years later here I am.... only 3 and half stone heavier now. It needs to stop now. We can do this right???????

Well welcome to everyone who's on here. How are you all doing? What sort of diet's/ ways of eating are people planning on using. So far I have just been drinking more water, not snacking (at all because I know if I have one biscuit it will turn into 10!) and basically trying to limit my portion sizes.... and yep, I am starving :-(

Have a read around the various diets and see what you think would suit. I've lost 3 stone so far since May/June doing low carb/high protein and fat, which suits me better than anything else I've ever tried. It works well if you have to cook for a family, because usually you can just miss out the carb part of a meal and eat the casserole/curry/whatever.

Other tips:
-the one time you must be really disciplined is when out food shopping. If you don't buy the snacks and junk stuff, you can't eat it.

-It is often not meal times, but the unconscious, done before you've even thought about it eating that trips you up. Write down all the times of day you tend to do this and think of strategies to stop it, eg drinking water or herbal tea whenever you feel like munching something; enforcing a no snacks while watching telly in the evenings rule (I almost never eat after my evening meal anymore). For example, I have a small snack before I start cooking for the children, then I don't allow myself to nibble what I'm preparing or clear their plates.

-switch to Splenda instead of sugar.

-bear in mind that trying to use willpower and portion control alone is very hard to do. You can try eating more salad and vegetables, which are healthy and the least fattening foods, so you aren't absolutely starving. If you get starving the temptation to cheat is much greater. Have controlled snacks (a few almonds, some raw veg) rather than trying to go without completely.

You CAN do this!

Like Doshusallie I have also been low-carbing since mid-January. Not Atkins because it's too hardcore for me, but using a book by John Briffa called 'Escape the Diet Trap'. I was just over 16stones when I started the diet and this morning I was 11stone 5lbs - my target is 10 and a half stones so aiming to lose 77lbs in total - and I've lost 65.2lbs so far. I should also say that I've had my cholesterol checked twice since I've been on this diet and, despite the fact that low-carbing also means eating a lot of fat, it has been 4.5 both times it has been checked.

I know there are people who don't believe that low-carbing is sustainable, but I think that's mainly due to Atkins being the most well-known of LC diets - and to the bad press it has received.

Briffa's ideas are not a million miles from Atkins - basically he says you can eat all meat (being careful not to eat too much processed meat), fish, eggs, cheese (in moderation), butter, cream and selected vegetables (the lower carb ones - so peas and carrots are a bit of a no-no but most other veg are fine.) You can eat nuts (again in moderation.) Fruit is out as it is full of sugar.

I won't blind you with the science behind it, but what he says is that by cutting sugar (refined and natural sugars) out of your diet you stop your blood sugar levels from yo-yo-ing (the thing that gives you that craving for a choccy biccie at 3 in the afternoon) so you don't get ravenous and you don't get cravings.

You use your own body fat for energy, rather than carbs. You also eat a lot more fat than you would think is right on a 'diet' - but the fat that you eat encourages your body to use your body fat for fuel (it's alot more complicated than that!)

You also need to drink a lot of water.

There is a low-carb thread on MN and a recipe thread.

I think you need to find the diet that works for you - not just food-wise but also which fits in with your lifestyle (and your budget in terms of food shopping.) IME low-carbing works, particularly if you have a lot of weight to lose, but you need to be organised, and it can be expensive (all that meat!) The one thing that is really good is, if you do it properly, you don't feel hungry: so if you have the willpower of a flea (like me) it will work for you!

Thank you for the die tips everyone. I am researching which ones will fit in better for me but for now I am just reducing portions and also piling up the veges and doing without the potatoes/ yorkshire pudding/ starchy things. I am finding it a lot easier than I thought. I was hungry earlier but got an apple instead of heading to the shop for jammy dogers! I even did a 15 minute aerobic session on the TV today and then went for a long walk with DS2 in the pushchair. I've also switched to lemon tea with no sugar instead of my usual milky 3 sugars regular tea! Small changes but it must be working. I got weighed again today and I was 15 stone 11... still huge but 7lbs less than when I started a week ago. I have to keep it up.

Blimey, well done you, half a stone is fab, very tangible progress.

I have cut all sugar, potatoes and grains out.

You feel like you aren't on a diet because you can make things taste rich with oils, butter, cream and cheese. After all plain bread, rice and pasta isn't exactly something to look forward to is it, it's the sauces you put on it. I just put those sauces on my meat and veg instead.

I also allow myself a recommended amount of 3 squares or 30g of 85% or higher dark chocolate a day and a large glass of good red. The one I drink is 13% and an "allowable" daily serving is apparently 273ml. They both have health benefits and they are a nice treat to look forward to.

In my coffee I now have a dollop of extra thick double cream with a teaspoon of cocoa and a teaspoon of cinnamon sprinkled on top instead of milk and sugar.