Needing to lose 4st+ - support thread!

[HippyJess]

Since I want somewhere to track my progress I'm gonna do it here and have it act as a support thread for anyone else who wants to join me - because it certainly feels daunting and we can use all the help we can get!

I am 5 foot nothing and post DS (almost 6 months) I weigh (as of this morning) 95.2kg which I believe is around 14.5stone, but I avoid using st and lbs as I find it triggering. I would like to be back down to my pre-baby weight of circa 80kg by BiL's wedding in June. So...

HippyJess
SW: 95.2kg
GW1: 80kg (June)
GW2: 68kg (September)
UGW: 58kg (March 2016)

Short Term Goal: Do Davina's 15 Minute Fit every day for a week, starting today. I did it, and some of the easy versions were hard :( which is why I need to keep going.

Hope someone out there will want to join me! Hoping to post once a day to keep myself on track :) now off I go to make myself an omelette and veggies for lunch!

[vickibee]

I am so overweight that I am only one third of the way there - I need to lose another 40 pounds to get to a reasonable weight. It does seem a very long journey so I am setting smaller targets. I am going on Holiday at end of July and would like to lose another 14 by then so I can at least sit on the beach without feeling like a beached whale!

[HotSteppa]

Hiya all can I join in please? I have loads to loose, 5 st + but just a couple of st to get me back to weight post baby number one would be a start! I really get that want it now feeling but if we keep chiping away we can feel better come summer.

I'm going with the eat less move more approach. Finding the energy and time is tough though. I enjoy classes when I get there but needs to be post bedtime 7:30 as would feel a bit mean leaving oh with the 2 of them (dd 18m and ds14weeks) to wrangle alone. Want to get on it now though and try and take advantage of this supposed b.feeding calorie boost!

[pippistrelle]

If you've maintained while under pressure, Tinofroses, then I think you can count that as a positive.

Hello HotSteppa. You have a lot on your plate (literally less on your plate from now on though!) with two tinies, but let your OH do the wrangling. They'll all get into a routine. I say that because I regret not doing so, and my baby is now 10 years old.

I've had a few failed attempts at losing weight but I've passed a landmark, and I'm now at a weight that I last passed while I was going up during pregnancy. So I'm feeling quite positive today.

[Tinofroses]

pippi well done on that landmark weigh in , it's all positive . Vicki if we all lost 14 by end of July it would be great. Have to work all weekend but feeling positive

[LondonHuffyPuffy]

Good to hear people feeling positive. I'm feeling better this week.
I'm down to double figures - just! 99.8kg

Total loss since 27 March = 11.2kg

I didn't get a chance to do any walking on Saturday or Sunday as we were at my Dad's, so I did a 10km walk today. I've signed up for the London Shine Walk at the end of September - just the half-marathon walk (just over 21km - agh!!) so will need to keep moving. A month ago I found 5km really hard work but enjoyed today's 10km and it wasn't too difficult.

I have re-discovered Sainsburys' My Goodness soups. The chicken laksa and prawn tom yum ones are really nice. I stir fry a load of extra veg including my current obsession, pak choi, and add it to the soup. Less than 400 calories for a massive bowl and it's really filling and tasty

[pippistrelle]

That's an amazing loss, Huffy.

I'm a bit less positive today. As weight loss is slowing down, I've upped my exercise - sometimes doing two sessions a day, as well as walking 10,000 steps. My negativity is because I haven't been rewarded on the scales yet. I know it'll come down sometime, and I just have to keep plugging away, but it's back to that WANT IT NOW sensation.

I weigh myself every day though which might be a mistake on some levels, but on the other hand, I feel that being really focused on it - by weighing, reading about it, watching TV programmes about it - is what's keeping me on track.

[squigglehead]

Hello all! So glad that this thread is helping so many people :)

I had an Awful April but managed to maintain through it at least. Now into Motivated May will get back on the 15MF bandwagon today too! Bought size 16 jeans yesterday too and am officially completely out of my maternity ones as they wont stay up :)

Not much change on the scales but I'll change that this month and am powering through with the jeans victory!

SW: 95.2kg / 209lbs (March 2015)
CW: 88.7kg / 195lbs (-6.4kg / 13.7lbs)
GW1: 80kg / 175lbs (June)
GW2: 68kg / 150lbs (September)
UGW: 58kg / 127lbs (March 2016)

[squigglehead]

I feel that being really focused on it - by weighing, reading about it, watching TV programmes about it - is what's keeping me on track.

pippi I'm totally the same! I'm running out of documentaries!

[LondonHuffyPuffy]

Thanks, pippi

If you're doing a lot of extra exercise the weight change on the scales is going to slow down as you lose fat but build muscle. Two sessions plus 10,000 steps per day is a lot, that's amazing! Your body will be changing inside and out. As you know, I totally understand the WANT IT NOW feelings, but in the long term you are giving yourself a stronger, healthier body which will burn calories more efficiently. Be kind to yourself, you're doing really well.

squiggle - yay to the end of maternity jeans and embracing a smaller size. Hurrah!

I know what you both mean about being focused. Up there ^ on this thread I swore I wasn't going to weigh myself every day, but I can't help it. I'm taking the Tesco approach... every little helps! It's good to see even 100g come off.

It was also useful, I think, to see my mid-cycle weight change and to notice the difference that makes

On days when I have had a drink my weight loss stalls, even if I'm on target calorie-wise and doing my walking.

HotSteppa I love your name! And with two small kids, especially a 14 week old, the eat less move more approach seems the right way to go.

[mimiasovitch]

Hello all. I just need to share that today is my birthday, and I saw a stone off on the scales this morning! So chuffed, as I've been skirting around there for a few weeks now. I have celebrated with a bacon and egg sarnie for breakfast, and a cake for lunch, but I know I'll be back on track tomorrow. It's good to see everyone's losses too. Now what motivational programmes are you watching?

[pippistrelle]

Happy birthday mimi, and well done!

I have episodes recorded of 'I Used to be Fat' (no idea what it's like, as I haven't watched any of them yet), 'The Biggest Loser' (for Jillian Michaels), 'Fat: the Fight of My Life' (with lovely Jesse Pavelka), 'Secret Eaters' (meh), and 'Obese: A Year to Save My Life'. The problem for me with many of these programmes is that they focus on people who are very large indeed, and even at the end of the year (or whatever period of time is involved), they often still have a way to go. But, there's still inspiration to be drawn - even if it's just encouraging me to be mindful: mindless eating every time I'm in the kitchen is what's kept me overweight for years.

[pippistrelle]

And thank you, Huffy, for your wise - and kind - words.

[ClubSmed]

Hi All,

I am 39 years old and 6 foot tall, I want to get down to a target weight of 12 stone.

I started back in Feb (at 16 stone) and have managed to lose a consistent 2lb per week (thou I have a feeling that this will slow down imminently)


Week St Lb Date
1 16 0 11-Feb
2 15 12 18-Feb
3 15 10 25-Feb
4 15 8 04-Mar
5 15 6 11-Mar
6 15 4 18-Mar
7 15 2 25-Mar
8 15 0 01-Apr
9 14 12 08-Apr
10 14 10 15-Apr
11 14 8 22-Apr
12 14 6 29-Apr
13 14 4 06-May


I have done this so far by:
? Using a slight variation on the old WeightWatchers system for counting.
? Cutting out snacks.
? Using stairs instead of lifts.
? Using bike instead of car for journeys under a mile.
? Not drinking at home during the week.
? Padding sandwiches out with Salad and main meals out with veg.
? Drinking lots of liquids during the day, if you feel hungry drink first and wait 10 minutes (mainly no added sugar squash).

I created an excel spreadsheet to help me monitor and calculate which has helped me a lot.

Typical weekday looks like this:

Breakfast
2 x Toast (danish bread) with low fat spreadable butter and Marmalade

Snacks
None, just drink something if I feel peckish.

Lunch
2 x Ham Salad Sandwich thins (use Dijon mustard and no butter)/ Flavoured Tuna and Salad Bowl (by varying the flavour of tuna and salad bowl variety it keeps it interesting)
Proppercorn / Velvet Crunch / Quavers

Dinner
What ever the rest of the family is having, just excersice a little portion control and pile on the veg if possible

Drinks
Tea/ Coffee
No added sugar squash (I drink litres of this through the day)

[pippistrelle]

Hi ClubSmed. You've done really well, and your consistency is admirable.

I've just had my first week without a loss. I'm still recording all calories so I know I haven't inadvertently eaten too much. Just one of those things. I'm trying to be grown up and level headed about it, but inside, I'm tantrumming like a grumpy three year old!

[ClubSmed]

Sorry to hear that pippistrelle, it is tough when that happens.

I think that some of the consistency in the weight loss for me is as a result of the inconsistency of the diet.
I have not been too strict at the weekends or for evening meal so my body keeps up the same metabolic rate.
That's my theory anyway.

[Xtrinity]

Hi, can I join in too please?
I'm 44, 5 foot 6 and weighed 13 stone 6lbs in the middle of January after suffering a particularly horrendous bout of depression, I decided to try and help myself feel better.
I started walking 6k every day and cut out all the crap, loads of fresh fruit and veg, v strict portion control.... and I've managed to lose 26lbs and feel fantastic, I'm now running 8k every day and have hit a wall. My weight has stayed the same for 3 flippin weeks.... I, too, am tantrumming like a grumpy three year old!!

[pippistrelle]

Hello Xtrinity.

That's an impressive amount of exercise you're doing! And an impressive weight loss. And I'm glad to hear it's all helping you to feel better.

I'm still stuck on my plateau too, and I've been reading up on it. The received wisdom seems to be that it's perfectly normal, that it happens to most people sooner or later (often more than once - grrr), but if you just keep plugging away, then the longest it should last is about three weeks, so I predict a loss for you very soon, Xtrinity! (Oh, and I'd like one too please.)

[vickibee]

It's great to see everyone losing their weight, I am checking in following my weekly ww weigh-in. Pleased to say another 3lb off (22 in total), still a long way to go so I need to stay motivated. My aim is to lose another 18 b4 we go on holiday at the end of July just so I can feel OK in my costume.

[LondonHuffyPuffy]

I'm down to 98.8kg and was feeling positive...

I went to the GP this morning, saw a doctor I had never seen before, for a medication review (I take regular meds for a chronic condition). She was perfectly nice and very encouraging when I told her that I had lost over 12kg in 6.5 weeks, but then she asked what I weigh now and how tall I am.

She checked my BMI and said (not unkindly) "well, you're still technically obese, as we call it... the last time we weighed you was 2004 and you were 90kg then which was still overweight"

I was crushed

Have resisted the urge to stuff my obese face with salted snacks and bread products

I know she was only trying to be encouraging, but still... crushed

[pippistrelle]

Well done on resisting, Huffy.

There is something about that word. It's so loaded with angst and emotion and judgement. And that GP has zero understanding of human nature if she thinks that telling someone who's working hard to lose weight how they've previously failed is encouraging: she seriously needs to work on her people skills. It's one thing if someone's burying their head in the sand, but you're doing an amazing job for yourself and your health now, and don't let this thoughtlessness put you off.

Well done on your loss, Vicki.

Meanwhile, I have de-plateaud - 2lb gone this morning. I wonder if it's something to do with the election...

[ClubSmed]

Sorry to hear of your experience with the Doctor, you would think that it that profession they should be able to deliver news better and be more supportive.
I think you are doing great, and to resist temptation after a blow like that is fantastic!

[vickibee]

Your Gp should be offering encouragement that your weight is reducing. It is disheartening when they are obsessed with targets, keep up the good work

[LondonHuffyPuffy]

Thank you, all. You're all so kind and encouraging. Am feeling better now, but felt quite emotional on reading your posts. In a good way!

Walked home from work (10km) and have done 17000 steps today! IN YOUR FACE, DOCTOR! And I've just had a healthy dinner of salad and M&S prawns (they are bloody delicious!)

I'm going to make sure that I don't see her again.

Well done for de-plateauing, pippi what do you think pushed you off the plateau, so to speak? My turn to thank you for your wise words. I agree that the O word is so loaded. Bleugh.

Belated happy birthday wishes ClubS and I like your notion of less restrictive weekends! I'm going to a friend's this weekend and booze will feature heavily. Oopsie.

Xtrinity your exercise mojo is v impressive! I'm hoping to start running soon... although - and this may sound stupid - I'm not sure I know how to run! I don't know how to pace myself and feel like I want to die after about 2 minutes! Apparently once you get beyond 10 minutes it gets better? Please tell me that's true! I've invested in some decent trainers...

vicki where are you going on holiday? That's a really positive event to work towards. Sunshine!

Well done on your successes, everyone. And thanks again for the kind words.

[pippistrelle]

You could try a C25K programme, Huffy, for providing structure when you're starting out running. I tried one, and it was good for helping you build up, but I mostly found out that running isn't my thing. I find the idea of it appealing, but I couldn't quite get my reality to match my fantasy notion of it.

I didn't do much special to de-plateau. Just kept on exercising and controlling my intake. I hope that plateaus won't be a recurring feature though.

[vickibee]

We are going to the holiday village in kos, can't wait. Last year on holiday ignorant people were making snide comments about me being fat, they didn't say it direct to my face but you could see pointing and whispering. I hated the pool area and one of my motivations is for my 8 yo old. Ds. I got into a pair of trousers today that haven't fitted me for yonks