Fat, sore and struggling with losing weight. How can I succeed?

[TeddyBear5]

I really, really want to lose weight. I'm sick and tired of being big and as every year goes past I'm getting bigger.

I've always been big on my lower half. It's just where I carry my weight and until I had children I was blessed with a flat stomach. Now I don't even have that redeeming feature and big babies (some over 10lb) have left me with stomach overhang. It's recently been rubbing and I got an infection in the crease. Mortifying and devastating.

Anyway this is my lightbulb moment. I have to lose weight. I have to!! I've been trying really hard but all I can think about is food. I'm reducing my portions, cut out bread, calorie counting, drinking more and had no chocolate, puddings, crisps etc but turning to fruit and protein for snacks.

A few months ago I started couch25k and got to week 4 relatively easily but stopped when work got very busy. Will start again when children are back at school. I also have an exercise bike which I have started using. Can only manage 10 minutes at a time on that though.

I'm 5'6" and last Monday weighed in at 16st 5lb.

How can I do this long term? It just feels so pointless but I don't know why I feel this way. I like quick results and get disheartened quickly when I only lose 1-2lb a week. I know this is better for you but I lose motivation. Am I a lost cause?

Hi Teddy, a year ago i was the same weight as you, now i am 2.5st lighter. I do the low carb bootcamp on here. Being low carb reduces my appetite, it is the only way i can diet. I was a toast fiend and not eating it as i was hungry but because i was bored and lazy and it was easy.

We have students to stay and i often feed 8 of us, so i am constantly thinking, shopping or making food. Low carb, high fat is the only thing that works for me. As a family we lower carb, kids included but i am stricter with what i eat. I no longer eat fruit or bread - the occasional strawberry in the summer and i dont miss it all.

I like you want to wake up a size 10 but it aint going to happen! Whilst a stone by xmas isnt a huge amount, if you dont do anything you could be another stone heavier - sorry. When i had lost about 1.5 st i felt so much better and whilst i have messed about a bit i know it works but it turns everything you know about dieting on your head.

I actually wanted to start exercising again and am now firmer although still a size 16-18. This time last year i was a size 20-22. I am aiming for a size 14 by xmas.

Good luck, being fat is hard, loosing weight is hard - pick your hard!!

Hunger is your body using up those reserves stored across the back of your hips.

Eating really tasty food a couple of times a day is better for you than any amount of grazing
and your body will - after less than a week - learn to make use of what it has before demanding more