Welcome to the MN Weight Loss Support Group.

[lovelearning]

This group was created to provide motivation and moral support to those serious about losing weight in 2017.

Guidelines for Members

1. Dieting is not allowed. The Support Group will help you to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

1. The Support Group will meet every morning in preparation for morning walk (and other exercise regimes).

1. Any Member experiencing the temptation to binge should appeal to the Support Group for assistance. The Support Group will bolster your willpower and provide distraction.

1. Problems in other areas of life can interfere with weight loss goals. The Support Group will empathise, and give practical advice when appropriate.

1. Members will celebrate each other's successes. A victory for one is a victory for all.

Just read through properly, I think I'm heaviest by a lot

icant honestly, it's OK. It doesn't matter what you weigh now. What is important is that you are willing to make the change.

ICant Honestly, nobody here is judging you. Making the change is the important thing, not what you weigh now, not what the rest of us weigh, just that we're all making a positive change for our weight and health.

HerChristmas you sound very busy as well. Sounds like you've got the exercise thing sorted with all the school runs on foot, I'm impressed. Do you have a fitbit or similar so you can see how far you walk in an average day?

How are people planning on making changes? When is everybody starting? I started in August, and although I had a blip for Christmas and anticipate another blip for new year I'm still feeling very positive about the whole thing. I'm listening to a weight loss hypnosis app every day, it's very relaxing and it really helps me make positive choices, whether that is choosing healthier options or choosing to stop when I've had enough rather than carry on eating like a pig. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone. It's called the Easyloss Virtual Gastric Band and only cost about a fiver. The same people do other apps which are similar I believe, the Bikini body app (I am nowhere near a bikini body, so that put me off that one) and the Little Black Dress app (I don't wear dresses either, so didn't think that was for me).

awesome I bought a fitbit flex 2. It arrived on the 16th of december. I split with controlling ex on the 17th, the 18th was DDs 3rd birthday and then Christmas...I've really not been doing much (actually the reason I've not been doing much is because I've been in a lot of pain. I had spd in my last pregnancy and it didn't go away. When I split with ex it was because he pushed past me, I tripped and hurt myself, was sick from the pain and he left me there unable to get myself up. I still need physio every week and because of what happened I'm back on pain killers)

Hello! I would really like to join. I am 12 stone and need to lose at least 3 stones. ( 76 kilos - aiming for about 56 - am more comfortable with metric!)
Am working and have 3 kids so short of time - as is everyone - so am trying to fit in exercise with minimum disruption.
The station is a mile away - so if I walk and not take the bus - that's a mile each way wvery week day. Really hoping that does something!

I'm in. I'm 10 st 5 (or was before Christmas) but as I'm only 5'2" that's rather on the heavy side... I have a few minor health issues which have / continue to restrict what exercise & diets I can do. The worst is a severe form of migraines, triggered by multiple things including a number of foods. A recent trigger I've discovered is blood sugar spikes, so I'm trying to avoid those. My migraine meds are currently rather severely curtailing my appetite, so I need to take advantage of that before it wears off in a few months (I only just recently went back on them). All the excess weight is due to coming off them for a year...I put on nearly 2 stone.

I figure I'm around 1.5 stone over my ideal weight. I like walking - proper fast walking so my heart is going - but I've had a bad time recently, health-wise so I haven't ben able to. Plus my DH has mobility issues so when we're out (with DD, who is 4), we walk pretty slowly.

I've decided that it's going to be one of my NY resolutions to get fit gain, hopefully weight loss will come with that. I'm also going to do some KonMari-ing of my stuff, in the hope that I'll feel more peaceful & energised in a decluttered space.

HerChristmas - what a horrible thing to do to someone, to just leave you there! Well done for getting rid of him.

I think I'll be one of the biggest on here actually.
icant one plus is that often, the bigger you are the quicker you lose the first bit of weight. Once you see the first bit come off, hopefully it'll be motivation for the rest.

So what are peoples plans? I think I'll be speed walking to start, but will usually have a baby in a sling or pushing a pram. Will probably get my bike fixed and aim to go on bike rides a couple of times a week.
Better eating habits definitely. I've fallen into such bad habits over the past couple of years, for various reasons, and often eat convenience foods which aren't that great, or just lots of snacks to fill me up. I should have lots more time for actually cooking and eating real food this coming year though.

Like Lego I'll also be konmari-ing stuff. I've already started that actually. Only clothes so far. My wardrobe and inside my drawers look amazing

Does anybody have any of those fancy scales that measure body fat etc? I have only ever used normal scales, and wondering if those are worth it or just a gimmick.

I'm scared to get on the scales but am going to have to. I'm also going to take body measurements.

I plan to go to paper chase and buy a lovely diary and keep it every day.

Mine is more about being kind to myself - no phone in the bedroom, less time on my tablet. Better quality of sleep is bound to follow (I am more than a bit addicted ).

I am going to eat healthily, of the 'if granny doesn't recognise it, I won't eat it', as little processed food as possible vein.

I am going to walk/run my target steps each day (I have a garmin).

I am going to do more Pilates so I can get STRONG.

I am going to be a bit kinder to myself.

I just weighed myself because I feel like starting today rather than waiting for new year. I haven't put any weight on over Christmas which is a nice surprise.

I will drag the children out for a walk today.

My DH works away so I have a lot of me time in the evenings so I am thinking of trying some YouTube fitness videos. Does anyone have any recommendations (not Gillian Michaels - I think I might die if I do that!)

Can i join in too?
I lost 3 stone the yr before last for my dd wedding but have managed to regain half of it!
Need to lose a stone and a half or so .

herChristmas that sounds like you've had a busy and stressful December I hope the new year is happier and more peaceful for you.

User I've got some fancy scales that tell me my body fat %and also my water %. I just use them to see how heavy I am, so IMO they are just a gimmick.

Cankle if you're after a gentle exercise video then I can recommend Leslie Sansome, she does walking exercises. I've done a few of them and consider them perfect for those of us assuming to get fit but starting from a stop position. I've tried Gillian Michaels before and hurt my foot on day 3, so then did less exercise than ever for the following month

Can I join too? I really need to lose weight, aiming for 7kg to get to 69kg - am someone else who thinks in metric! I just feel gross - the weight doesn't sit well on me and the dr has told me to lose weight for my health too. Am not sure what my plan of attack will bd without dieting though

I also bought the body fat scales but didn't find them very motivating after reading they can only read the fat percentage in your legs, not upper body

I have body fat scales too. Apparently I'm 56% fat.
To be fair if they do only measure legs then it's about right. I have thunder thighs and a huge arse.

Well I spent yesterday eating crap food and drinking wine. Today is a new day. Going to go out for a walk and once youngest back at school going to leave car at home on school runs. I can do do this and if I can anyone can.

Icant I weighed today and was absolutely shocked so I'm betting you are not the heaviest
I'm starting today I got a Fitbit for xmas and I am going out to walk my son is out for the day so I can walk for how long I want. Good luck everyone on your journeys.

Well, I've weighed myself this morning. Shockingly, despite an almost complete lack of any exercise, I have somehow managed to avoid putting on weight over Christmas! So I'm quite relieved. Now to start some exercise as my asthma has improved finally. I think it must be the increased protein (I've been deliberately keeping an eye on my empty carbs - mostly) so I'll just have to keep pate & nice cheese in the fridge. And lots of salad, which I love, luckily.

Does anyone have any fitness tracker recommendations please? I got a fitbug free with a magazine and I couldn't get on with it. Really want one with a display. Thank you

Cat lady I received a Fitbit hr charge for xmas it is going on its maiden voyage today so will see how we get on was easy to set up and syncs with my phone. So far so good.

Thank you

Joining the gang, if I'm allowed.

Am about 4 stones overweight. I joined the gym and was really enjoying it, quite a shock to my system. I was fitter, found a pair of biceps and a couple of collarbones.

Then Christmas loomed, and, well, I had to sample the brazil nuts and the mince pies - but, that was ok because I was sticking with the gym and concentrating on Being Active = Being Healthy.

Then I bust my thumb and couldn't go to the gym. And, it's Christmas. And, I like to eat. And drink.

So, I no longer feel healthy. And, my collarbones have retreated.

I'll go back to the gym, won't be able to swim for a few months though because of the stupid thumb.

I'm not intending on weighing myself - it does funny things to my mental health. But, I'll watch for non-scale victories. I love them. Or, at least, I did.

Onwards!

Can I join? I have about 5 stone to lose. (To be in bottom half of healthy for my weight BMI). I'm currently 14.5.6. Top weight was 15.0 morning I gave birth to my youngest!

I have been on a permanent binge/diet cycle since I was 13. Before children I was always slim/normal. Being pregnant meant I couldn't use my normal 'dieting' methods and I don't know how to eat 'normally' so I binged the whole time. And though three lots of 6 months EBF. I'm now obese.

I'm a SAHM and love being with my children but do find them stressful at times and miss the stimulation of the office. I self medicate with food. Everyone tells me how calm and together I am but I go home secretly stuff myself with junk.

I have read a few books recommended on MN which have helped and had a few sessions with a psychotherapist. I have had a lot of insight into why I've got into these patterns which has helped.

I need the odd treat and for it not to 'bad'. I'm going to loosely follow SW ideas and love more. I used to drop a few pounds get back into an old dress. I'm now obese and at risk of cancer and type 2 diabetes etc etc! I don't recognise myself.

I just need to get on and do it now! I'm aiming to get out of obese zone quite quickly on the first weight-loss wave. Then get down to my target weight slowly and surely. No 'dieting'.

Love the idea of binge support! That's what I need. Any tips on distraction/an alternative when you're at home with young children? I can't just sit down and paint my nails / do some colouring...

Good luck everyone! We can do it!

*move more! Maybe love more too! Sorry for the essay! It really helped writing it down.

I'm in, been posting on another two boards in this topic but they are quite quiet.
I started at 14 stone (BMI 38) at the end of August.
On 16 December, lost 2 stone 12lbs, to take me to 11-2. Just into overweight bracket rather than obese.
Gone up 2lbs over the Christmas period. I want to get to 9 stone. Ideally by the end of May.
Done it through healthy eating choices and getting activity (thank you Fitbit)