Anyone 16st+ and low-carbing?

[Macloveswill]

Hi, I started on 1st Jan at 18st 10lbs and I have so much to lose, it would be lovely to share my journey with others who have over 6 stones to lose.

I know it's going to be a really long slog and I'll need help staying on the straight and narrow. I have to do it this year, no excuses!

So far I have lost 8.4lbs in first 11 days, but that seems tiny when I've got nearly nine stones to lose altogether. My goal is 10st.

Anyone out there? All buddies welcome

Hi Letme -glad you are on board with the shred challenge, i had a 1am student pick up so i am totally with you on the knackeredness so my plan on starting tonight has been abandoned. May 1st sounds good, i will try and up my classes and general activity first as my poor old body wont know what has hit it. Also the best excuse i have come up with yet is that after all my naughtiness i am allowing my body to become fully keto adapted first!!! Have you done it before?

A bit of family related drama today - urrgghh

Food wise all good but its a pain having to deal with your emotions rather than eating them! BPC - Breakfast, Green smoothie - lunch, a few creamy coffees and dinner will be chicken wings and salad with cheesy coleslaw.

Lidl do hot and spicy wings 2 for a fiver in the chilled section and they are 2.2g carbs per 2 wings - really nice as well, i lived on them last year in the summer. I did a little happy dance when i saw they were stocked again.

Will be weighing in tom morning - wish me luck, just hoping the last week or so has undone all the damage i did. I weigh on my wii and its depressing to see your little mii get fatter!

Also i have MASSIVE headache even though much water has been consumed so i might have to try a stock cube in water - otherwise bed is the next thing to try.

Funnily enough I got my second wind (still in the office now), but leaving now, have good evenings all.

Thanks for all of your encouragement and advice during my frustrating weight loss drought. And of course your patience putting up with me whinging about it

You'll be pleased to hear your predicted whoosh has finally happened

3.4lbs off this morning!!! Woo-hoo!!!

I have now lost just over 30% of what I have to lose and I'm back on track. From 18st 10.6lbs to 16st 1.3lbs. That's 2st 9.3lbs off.

I can almost smell the 15s from here!

Hoping you're just as lucky with your weigh in this morning Blessed. Keeping everything crossed for you!

S•B•C

Well done Mac thats amazing - go you. I did weigh this morning and i am 3lbs down - not that i deserve it! So i now weigh 13st 8lbs - 12st something here i come!

I did read about the principle of carb cycling - it was all a bit technical for me but my poor grasp was, that if you increase your carbs for a set period (cant remember how long) it can kick start your metabolism and break a plateau. It was the same with upping your cals and fat. There was a lot more to it than that however.

Will be walking to playgroup today, the way there is fine but coming home is via a massive hill, plan this year is to get DD3 out of pram and walking as she is getting too heavy to push!

Breakfast BPC. Lunch will be salad with chicken wings, dinner slow cooked gammon with cauli and broccoli cheese.

Headache was sorted with a cup of stock, thank fully and a good nights sleep.

Wow, those are some great losses Mac and Blessed, well done! A total loss of nearly 3 stone is amazing Mac, you must be feeling such a difference.

Poor choice on dinner last night - a supermarket pizza and salad. But time was not on my side last night as I didn't get in til 7.45pm and was knackered, so wanted something very quick and easy. It's pretty clear that the key for me is organisation - it's when I'm not organised and run out of time that I make poor food choices.

I've been walking the dog early recently - if I leave between 6.30am - 7am I can get into the office a lot earlier, get more done, hopefully leave a bit earlier, and have a more productive evening.

I came up with a plan while walking this morning. I'm going to Shred Monday - Thursday after work, swim twice a week (flexible on days dependent on what I'm doing), walk the dog every weekday morning and on Sunday.

I think I'll have to see how I get on with my ankle and the shred - if it's too high impact, I can always swap shredding for something else high intensity, but lower impact on ankles. I'll also have to buy a swimming costume as the only one I have is a size 12!

Shred is hard on the knees, i found and i dont have bad knees. Letme - That sounds like a good plan, i was surprised by how quickly i saw results. Just back from my mammoth walk pushing the buggy - uurrgghh. Sore legs now.
Davina DVDs get lots of good press on here.

Leftover chicken wings and salad with cheese for lunch. I still have a headache so off for another cup of stock.

I still need to find the tape measure but i tried my old jacket on and it actually does up now, yay.

It's a lovely feeling when clothes that were previously too tight actually fit, and even better, when they become too loose!

We're in the process of booking our wedding (for April 2016) this week, so I've decided I really need to pull my finger out on the exercise front.

I'm actually now questioning my decision to start shredding - I have a metal ankle which hurts just from walking. Even when I was slim and fit I still had issues with it (although no where near as bad as when heavy).

I'm now considering buying an exercise bike (perfect low impact for ankle) and maybe looking at shredding when I have more weight off.

I've always been against buying an exercise bike as I have nowhere to put it (hate the idea of it being out on show making the room look messy). But on looking just now I see they do fold up ones.

Hmmm decisions, decisions.

Thanks guys....yes it's feeling like the 3st off isn't far away now!

Well done too Blessed....that's bloody brilliant after your slippage!

Loving the shred/swim/workout motivation from us all. I'm polishing my halo too after doing swim and class again this morning We are so going to do this...yay! Doesn't it feel amazing?! It really feels like we're getting somewhere.

Letme you will be the bride of your dreams by next April!! Us virtual bridesmaids will be looking pretty darn great too

Letme - have fun planning your wedding, it will be here before you know it. Let us know if we can help - i love a good wedding and am thinking of finding some younger friends just so i can go to more!

30 day shred isnt too jumpy - if that makes sense and the cardio bits are 3 mins long and there is usually an easier way of doing it, are you ok with jumping jacks?

I really want to do something with weights i think that helps change your shape the best. Marks daily apple (paleo) has a good section on exercise and he doesnt recommend too much high intensity cardio - just lots of weights and med intensity movement.

Exercise bike sounds like a good plan.

MAC - With 3 st loss you must feel like a new woman - do you feel loads better, fitter, lighter?You must get loads of compliments now.

Disappointingly i am only really just over a stone off since Jan 19th (and 2 since May last year), i think i have lost an inch all over but that doesnt really make sense as i was a size 20 when i started and I am now in most of my 16s. There seems to be 2 inches between dress sizes - no clue.

Looking on the bright side i am not a stone heavier which i could have been if i hadnt started to actually loose weight.

Well done on the exercise Mac - i MIGHT get my exercise dvd out as hubby and students all out tonight to see me. Will update later, send me positive exercise vibes ...please.

Yes I do feel a lot better and lighter, but I've still got 70% of my journey to go, so daren't get too excited. I've had lots of lovely compliments. One of the school mums noticed this morning, but I'm the worlds worst at accepting them graciously. I go bright red and stumble over my words. I enjoy them later though when I'm not in front of the person anymore

You're right Blessed, you must have lost a lot more than an inch to lose 2 dress sizes and 2 stone since last May is still incredible!

I know weights are one of the best things you can do to improve body shape, just wish I could muster the courage to go and get a weights personal training session at the gym, but I find that part of the gym really intimidating. I may do it when I've lost a few more stone!

And def up for some wedding planning too Letme if you need any impartial opinions!

My problem is i am getting complacent... i was mostly a size 14 and whilst i would love to be a size 10 a big chunk of me never believes i will get there even by next xmas! I dont want to settle for a 14 however as i was still chubby then! 2 st doesnt feel much in that time but the health benefits of this woe are worth it alone so i will koko, its not a diet but a lifestyle change.

Mac you had better get used to receiving compliments as by the time xmas comes you will have had tonnes of them!!

On the weights front i am thinking of circuits and kettlebells - i know prof loves hers, the classes near me are at a funny time however.

Dinner is in and smelling amazing but i have 10 days until holiday sowillbe cutting out diary for a week and see if that can help with a chunk butthen it really does feel like a diet!

If you carry on on this woe, you'll definitely get to a 10 or at least a 12 Blessed. You've just got to believe it will happen and it will. I was between a 10 and a 12 at 10st 3lbs so should be in a 10 at just under 10st. I'm 5' 7" if that helps.

Haha....yes when I've shrunk to half the woman I used to be I reckon the compliments will stop and they just won't recognise me

Kettlebells are meant to be amazing for you. You'll be a 10 in no time doing those!

I'm very similar blessed. Through all my 20s I was a 12 - 14 (though in the old sizes, not modern vanity sizes) but I was quite happy with that. I've never been super skinny. Post kids my weight's varied a lot but when I was bfing dd2, when she got to about 10 months the weight started falling off. I got down to 10 stone but was still a 14. This time round even 10 stone feels distant and unobtainable.

At the moment my plan is to koko and just see where my weight settles, then I'll decide what to do from there.

My local kettlebell classes are at odd times for me too so I just use DVD's. I can highly recommend Paul Katami. I started off with his beginners DVD then progressed to his Kombos and Drills DVDs'. I got a set of kettlebells off Amazon, the vinyl ones start off quite cheap.

I agree Prof...sizes these days are much bigger than they used to be, so when I was at a 10-12 4 years ago, I'd probably have been a 14 too in old sizes!

At my lowest I was 9st 10lbs, but that was 20 years ago and I can't remember what size I was then, but I think a 12, so a 10 in today's sizing.

It's unbelievable how much sizes differ between shops too.

At the end of the day, as long as we look bloody amazing, I don't think we'll care what our labels say will we?! Beware though, for the very short time I spent at that size 4 years ago, I developed a serious shopping addiction!

Hi ladies, can I join you?
I've been following you a bit but never joined you.
I have sooo much weight to lose I don't even want to think about how much..... I am 5'11 and 18st6.6 according to my scales today. Started with my diet at the end of January and lost just over 3 stone so far following a low (ish) carb version of Paleo (no dairy, grains, legumes but don't check carbs in vegetables and eat fruit). I would ideally like to lose another 3 stone which should hopefully take me to BMI of just under 30. Anything more would be just added bonus The weight loss stopped for a couple of weeks but thankfully started to lose again since the weekend.

Exercise wise I am just trying to walk more at work and occasionally pop to gym for 30-40 mins. Will try walking a bit more....

Hi SW welcome, well done on your losses so far, 3 st is fab. We all do it differently here, i am high fat and low carb but everyone does what works for them. I am going to have a bash at no dairy and massively increase my exercise.

I am thinking by the time i get to 12st 7lbs ish i should be a size 14, thats the weight and size i was when i got married and that would be a massive achievement for me - then i will re-evaluate.

Whilst the labels dont matter -IF i ever get to a size 10 i might just wear a cardi inside out so everyone can see the size label!! I was 21 last time i was a size 10 that was 15 yrs ago!!!!

Off to google kettlebells dvds.

Hey Nanny, you're absolutely welcome to join us! It's a strictly supportive thread, so please feel free to post anything about anything along your journey. We're all in the same boat and can usually relate.

Your weight loss is amazing since just the end of jan! Well done you. And good on you for managing to cut out dairy...it's my real weakness and I'm sure it slows my weightloss down, but I've not managed to give it up yet.

We've all gradually got into the exercise. Mine's still pretty gentle with body balance classes, walking and swimming, but I'll hopefully step it up as I weigh less.

How are you finding the Paleo style way of eating? Are you counting anything?

Haha Blessed....I'm with you on 'accidentally' wearing my clothes inside out if I ever get to be a size 10! I too was in a size 14 (just) at 12st 7lbs I remember it being great, as clothes suddenly become easier to buy at that size.

Thank you ladies
you are so supportive , thank you.

Mac I did Paleo for a bit 5 years ago and it worked well for me but after 4 months I kind of gave up. I am not good with gluten and milk protein (love them but not good for my health/weight/digestion) so actually feel better not eating them. I think what I did wrong last time was that I was doing quite low carb but not eating enough fat.
I also have underactive thyroid (hashimoto) and have to have my dose adjusted quite often which doesn't help with weight management.
I am not counting anything but trying to stick to food from Whole30 list and pick ones with lower carbs - don't eat sweet potatoes etc but still eat fruit like grapefruit, berries, plums , oranges,melon but try to limit the amount of fruit.
Tried that BPC but as I don't do dairy it was really weird with just coconut oil. So just use coconut cream in my chai tea.

Blessed I don't think I ever was size 10 - I went from newborn clothes to size 16 and expanded ever since ..... Would be really happy to be back in size 16 again and super happy if I ever fit into size 14
When you do LCHF do you limit your vegetables as well?

Nanny it sounds like you've cracked it this time around. Not heard of whole30 list before, so just googled...it's a good list. No I don't count veg, I just try to avoid the ones I know are sweet like peas, carrots and butternut squash. I don't count anything though...mainly because I wanted to get away from my all or nothing mentality that has tripped me up so many times before. This way I kind of forget I'm on a diet and just get on with it. I did have a wobble about not counting recently when the weightloss stopped for nearly a fortnight, but sticking to my guns for now and hoping I can get away with it.

Most clothes look better in smaller sizes and size 14 is about where it starts at. I have never understood a size 20 mini skirt in topshop. I used to love clothes shopping when you have lots of choice and most things look good and you arent trying to hide problems areas!!

My main issue is shopping for an xmas party dress such few suitable choices this xmas WILL be different. One year i nearly cried in debenhams ( i dont cry EVER) as nothing fitted or suited and i dont want that again.

I cant wait to have a shopping addiction again when shopping becomes a pleasure rather than a chore. Hubby promised me a new wardrobe when i hit goal and i intend to keep him to that promise. God help our bank balance when i get to a size 12 but atleast i wont be eating so much food!!!

Funny how we're all different shapes. I'm now 12st 8lbs but still an 18, a long way off a 14 yet! Also lost just over 2 stone since January but my 16s are still a squeeze. I must be shorter than everyone else.

Welcome Nanny, it sounds like you're doing brilliantly a 3 stone loss is fantastic. You've clearly found something that works for you.

Dinner was good for me last night - pork chunks in a honey and mustard sauce, corn on the cob, asparagus and roast pepper.

Off to walk te dog now, will check in again from the office later. Hope you all have good days.

I am a size 16 - some are a bit tight but basically in my 16s and i am 5ft 5in - i am very curvy i tend to get fat all over and carry it well. I like my clothes to be fitted so whilst an 18 might look more roomy on me i am more likely to be wearing the next size down!! Clothes sizes are weird.

I remember in the mid 80s my mum getting upset as she was a size 16-18 ( just had 4th child) and couldnt find clothes anywhere to fit and everything was too short in the leg (shes 5ft 9in) - A size 18 was considered plus size and most places didnt stock them. Now she is a size 18-20 and she is much larger but doesnt have a problem clothes shopping now. Back in the day size 18 was considered huge and that was before vanity sizing kicked in!

Prof how tall are you?

So made my gym rota last night, hubby is on board, so the training for a 5k starts this week eek!

I've not actually measured myself for years but I think I'm about 5' 3" though my torso is quite short for my height iyswim. I also carry my weight around my stomach so things like jeans can be awkward, if the waist fits the bum and thighs are usually a bit baggy. I also prefer my clothes to be a bit loose fitting.