2018 - Thread 2 of Help Me Mumsnet I have 4 stone to lose and 10k debt to pay off

[ChickenVindaloo2]

Hi everyone,

It's the day after the day after Boxing Day, Thursday 28 December 2017!

Just over a year ago, on Boxing Day 2016, I was 14 stone exactly (My highest weight ever was 14st 5, I'm 5 foot 2 ish). So I needed to lose 4 stone just to get to a healthy weight. After a false start, I lost 3 stone, getting down to a low of 11 stone exactly through stopping binge-eating. I also went to (private) CBT therapy and started going to the gym. I had popped back up to 11st3-4 in the run up to Christmas, mainly as a result of complacency and dropping the gym visits due to the dark evenings.Having eaten more than usual and some salty foods over Christmas itself, as of this morning, I'm 11st 5. I need to lose at least 2 stone really to be a healthy weight and perhaps 2.5-3 to achieve peak gorgeousness!

(I also had £10k worth of debt, mainly on credit cards. I re-mortgaged and I now have £5k on a 0% credit card for 2 years. I've worked out I need to pay it off at £200/month)

In terms of weight loss, the general rules are to err on the side of low carb, unprocessed food. I need to get in more salad/veg and restart the gym sessions. I also need to watch portion sizes and ditch the snacks, treats and extras.

Rowgtcfc has been an amazing help throughout and I hope she will join me on this shiny new thread! Would also be delighted to see new comrades of any size, shape or "diet" plans!

I've attached a pic of me at my heaviest plus one at the end of last year.

Thread 1: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/2811974-Help-me-MN-I-have-4-stone-to-lose-and-10k-debt-to-pay-off?pg=1

Some of my best tips which I hope help!

• every day is every thing. it's what you do every day over the course of a year which makes a difference. In a year, what will you wish you did today?
• it's ok to just not eat crisps/chocolate/sweets/cakes/biscuits, easier, even, than trying to moderate
• eggs for breakfast
• salad and veg are your friends
• low sugar but good fats is anti-ageing too!
• You need less food than you think. You won't die from hunger.
• The secret is: there is no secret. Most slim folk have to prioritise it and work at it.
• Practice being slim. Act like you're slim.
• Do what suits you, find your own path. Eg don't assume breakfast is vital for you.

Hello kitty ! Nice to see you out the other side. Don't worry about the pudding, there's a time for being good and this isn't one of those times.

Lady at work lost this week. Just not as much as me. Woohoo! Currently 14 6.

Chicken I've been starving all week. Haven't snacked though. I'm finding the best snacks for me are none at all. No self control at all!

Sorted the food now need to find an exercise I don't mind.

Have a great weekend everyone

Hi everyone. Hope you're all doing well! It sounds like people are generally bumbling along fine.

Kitty - Don't even think twice about what you ate in hospital. Firstly, it doesn't actually sound that bad! Secondly, having major surgery is not the time to be wasting mental energy thinking about dieting! Your weight will probably be a little all over the place for a while anyway from the surgery, so please just take this time to focus on your recovery. How are you feeling generally? Do you need further treatment? I hope you are doing as well as possible.

Row - I can't believe you're competing with a woman at work . Does she know you're competing? Glad you won this week though!

Chicken - Oooo now I want to know more than ever who you slagged off and what they said . I'll let it drop though as I know how quickly threads get pulled for very minor comments. On a separate note, I can't believe how many troll threads you get on Mumsnet. Why would people do that? Who has the time or inclination? Barmy...

As a personal update, I am now 10 days post partum and am starting to feel like a human being again. I am walking around ok, albeit I am hunched over and can't move very fast or far. I struggle a lot with getting up and down (off the sofa, out of bed etc) and can't use my tummy muscles at all...BUT each day I am getting a little bit better, so hopefully I can start doing some very basic exercise soon.

My weight this morning was 13 stone 5. On the one hand, this feels huge and it feels like I have SO MUCH to lose. On the other hand, this is less than I weighed at the same point after DS (I think I was about 14 stone then). I just need to stay focussed and not lose motivation. Hopefully it won't be too long until I'm in the 12s!

Hiyah coffee
Don't go doing too much too soon !
Yes the other woman knows. She thinks its funny and is as competitive as me!

Thanks Row, I'm definitely going to take it easy these first few weeks. I'm trying to be good diet-wise, although I have eaten a lot more cake than I should have!

Ha ha. Nothing like a bit of friendly competition. I hope you win this week as well 😂.

Hello everyone, how are you all doing?
I'm recovering well, no thanks to myself either! I'm not supposed to lift anything heavy (Nurse said only fill the kettle with enough for one cup heavy.). Anyway, I only have my 67 year old disabled mother to help me. She's been putting the food shop away and changing bins over, taking the wheelie bins out, etc. I noticed the cats' litter needed changing last night and felt to guilty to get her in to do it, so I did it. Oops. I did get a pain near my belly shortly after. I downplayed it but it only went away this afternoon. I'm not to concerned as the pain wasn't near any surgical sites. Will be taking it easy from here on in! (On a side note my mum actually admitted she didn't realise how much I do. Finally! lol :P )
Well done with the competition Row! I bet it helps having a goal to reach each week?
Hi Coffee, how are you and the little one? I have a follow up appointment with my consultant in three weeks to see if they got it all out, and/or want happens next. Touch wood, nothing!
Glad you're feeling a bit more human again.
Hi MrPeevly, how are you? Thanks for your kind words.
Hope you are doing well Chicken?

It sounds like you're doing really well Kitty. How are you feeling a few days on? I hope the pain is getting a little better each day. Bless your mum helping you out despite her own health problems.

I'm doing well thank you. Down to 13 stone 2 now. Can't wait to be in the 12s. Hopefully it won't take too long. I'm sure I'll then hit a wall and will need to up the exercise and lower the calories to see any weight loss.

Hi everyone! I've never had a baby and my highest weight was 14st5, maybe even more.

I've been struggling a bit tbh. It's a slippery slope isn't it, having a chocolate, then a few crisps then, och well, just one cake...

It has NOT helped that it's Snowmageddon of course! Every instinct in my body says to stay in with crisps, chips and cake! Salads just don't cut it. Once you start on the carbs the hunger comes back with a vengeance.

Well it's 24 weeks until Britney so I better get my finger out.

I was 11st 5 this morning but have have pre-period water retention etc with sore boobs.

Done some batch cooking.

At least I haven't binged or anything though, I've eaten more than I should have or needed maybe, but I haven't let if go into self-destruct mode if you see what I mean. So I am learning how to handle my weight for life.

I don't feel good though. It's easier when you just don't eat any "bad" foods at all. Rather than constantly thinking at the back of my mind "will I won't I should I allow myself some cake".

Like alcohol. For me it has to be all or nothing. So nothing it is.

I'm struggling with tiredness/lethargy in the cold/dark too.

Sending all the rest of you positive vibes!

Hi Coffee. You'll soon be in the twelves, I don't doubt. Did you watch that special on Channel 4 the other night? How to get fit fast. Much to energetic for me, lol! I plan on starting yoga when I'm all healed up. Thankfully I've not had much pain at all (Apart from the self inflicted. :p ) and haven't had to take any painkillers at all. I hate to lower the tone but I can poo now without getting to worried I'll bust some stitches! lol Are you counting calories or following a particular diet? I hope you are feeling even more human now.

Hi Chicken. I'm struggling too. I'm trying to stick to around 1200 calories a day, but I think I've gone a couple of hundred over a couple of days. I brought some low calorie (65 per bar.) Alpen bars, choc and fudge I think? Well, I can't be trusted with them, they are too nice! The cat got me up in the middle of the night to feed her (Thanks cat! lol) and I vaguely remembered the next day feeding myself a bar at the time too!
It doesn't help that I feel like I've been doing this for ages and I'm not noticing any difference. I must admit I have no full length mirrors. However, my clothes aren't getting baggy at all. I think my stomach may have gone down a little bit (It's where I carry most of my weight.) but that's about it.
Blah, listen to me moan. Sorry guys. Must get over my pity party.
I hope you're finding it easier to resist Chicken. Well done on finding out how to manage your weight for life. We must remember, it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change!
Hi MrPeevly, hope you are doing OK?
Hi Row, how's the competition going? cheers for Row
We can do this!!!

Helloo can I join? Need some motivation!

I'm 5'10 & the skinniest I've been was my wedding day in 2016 @ 12st 4lbs..

I had an ectopic pregnancy on November 16 & put on a stone whilst recovering from that so I was 13st 4lbs when I fell pregnant again early 2017.

I was very lucky & only weighed 15st at the end of my pregnancy, gave birth 2nd Dec 17, & two weeks post partum was back down to 13st 4lbs!

We're now 3 months on, was given the all clear that my 3rd degree tear has healed yesterday so I'm ready to start some exercise & try to get down to 11st I think would be an ideal weight!

I am breastfeeding so in theory all I need to do is cut out the ginormous quantities of chocolate I'm currently eating & do some gentle exercise & the weight should start to come off, but easier said than done when massively sleep deprived!

Hi All. I'm well and truly snowed in here (can't open the garage door to get the car out although I could go and get a shovel I guess and clear the drive but that sounds like a massive effort). Husband is in a hotel near his work as he couldn't get home last night and daughter is at her friends. Son is at uni in London but supposed to be coming home tomorrow with his friends but not sure if that will happen. I am quite content with the situation except the dog did a poo inside because it doesn't like going in the snow so that is a bit of a downside. Other than that I plan to use today to crack on with a few jobs I've been putting off for ever. Weight wise things are going very well and I am fitting in things that I haven't fit into in a long time. I really really hope this doesn't sound preachy as I am just trying to help but for me giving up sugar and reducing carbs has been completely life changing and my appetite has all but disappeared (which is incredible as I have been very greedy all my life). When I read the Atkins book years ago one thing that stood out was where he said words to the effect that "people confuse hunger with sugar addiction". He's absolutely right. Now I don't eat sugar I don't really experience hunger very often and can forget to eat for hours. Anyway sorry to bang on about it but it's been like discovering a new religion or something and people keep complimenting me on the weight loss and call me shallow but when someone says "you've lost weight" it makes my day. Kitty so pleased to hear you're making progress. I remember going to the loo without pain a couple of weeks after having my son (which involved A LOT of stiches) and it's wonderful.

Hi everyone. Hope you're surviving The Beast from the East / Emma. How bloody miserable!

Chicken - I'm so sorry you're having a bit of a rough patch. If it's any consolation, we all have them. Once you start it's so hard to snap out of it and get back to healthy eating. I agree that it's particularly hard at the moment with this awful weather. Every instinct tells me to sit on the sofa with the duvet over me and just eat cake! It sounds as though there are some positives though: if you're not binging and are simply eating 'a bit more crap than you should', then that is a massive step in the right direction! You have to cling to the positives . I'm sorry your period's on its way though. That's never going to make you feel particularly great about life.

Kitty - Congratulations! I'm pleased your bowels have resumed to normal service. It's awful isn't it. I'm still getting there...and the first two times post c section were genuinely terrifying (I actually ended up having to take glycerin suppositories as I simply couldn't go naturally because of the pain). I'm glad you're getting there with recovery.

I did watch 'How to get fit fast'. I felt really motivated by it! Especially as I used to do lots of mud races/obstacles back in my fitter days. It reminded me how much I enjoyed being healthy and able to move easily. Did you watch the last few episodes of 'Fit to Fat to Fit'? I enjoyed it, but found some of the people incredibly annoying .

Good luck with the yoga. It's meant to be amazing for you! I wish I had the patience. As or the weight loss, I'm sorry if it doesn't feel as dramatic as you would like. I always think it's so easy to gain weight, yet so hard to lose it . Keep at it though: better to have a slow loss than to start re-gaining!

Hi Womble and welcome to the group. I am so so sorry to hear about your ectopic. That must have been heartbreaking and incredibly scary for you . Congratulations on the birth of your baby in December. That's great that you're now well enough to start gentle exercise. Trust me I know just how hard it is when you're sleep deprived!!! I also find breast feeding exhausting and end up eating all sorts of rubbish .

Well done on the weight loss Peevly. It may be shallow, but I would definitely feel the same as you if people commented on my weight loss!!! I'm sure you're onto something with the sugar/carbs. I wish I had the motivation to quit sugar completely (as much as you can given it's in EVERYTHING), but all the little 'treats' I like are sugary! I'm sort of the opposite of Chicken: I find going cold turkey so hard and need the promise of a little treat. A few years ago I massively cut back on sugar after reading a book about it. I didn't lose weight, but my skin was much clearer and my head less foggy!

Hi everyone thank you for your updates and positive messages!

And welcome, Womble (and BabyWomble)! You have come to the right place, this is a lovely thread for lovely people!!

I'm eyeing up a nice relaxing snowed-in weekend and regrouping and focussing my mind on the task ahead.

13 stone 3 today. Up 1lb 😢. I may have the give up the cake sooner than planned!

Aww, sorry to hear that Coffee.

Let's give up the cake together shall we?

Sounds like a plan Chicken. A depressing plan, but a good plan nonetheless!

Hello, could I join please? I'm 13.5 stone, had my second DD 3 months ago and id like to loose weight. The lightest ive been was 10st before I got married in 2015. I feel so gross and having lots of backache which I think I related to weight gain and lack of exercise. I haven't done any exercise for 3 years due to health condition that's now more under control, used to love the gym and feeling fit and nibble. Id love that again! I also have debt to pay off, although unlikely to make heaps of progress whilst on maternity leave.
My diet and exercise starts tomorrow, ive been gearing up to this! I would like to lose a stone a month but not sure if that's realistic or not. Either way, id love to join for some inspiration and motivation. Thanks xx

Thanks for letting me join 😊

First weigh in this morning.. 13St 5lb so a lb heavier than I thought oh well!

All the naughty treats are gone from the house so now I just have to resist buying any more! Easier said than done!

Hope everyone has a good week 😊

Hoe has everyone got on today? Ive managed to have no sugar in my coffee and only had 2coffes, I usually have about 7 a day! Ive had a healthy lunch and snacks and a smaller portion than usual for dinner! I'm gearing myself up for a run later! So day number 1 has been good! I did stare a lot at the chocolate isle when I went shopping but I have resisted!

Hello everyone. Hi Womble and Sib Well done on the two coffees Sib! I had been having a coffee a day, but with four sugars in it. I stopped my coffee and have two cans of Pepsi Max a day instead. (I know in some fitness circles diet drinks are the devil but they help me out so I say, 'meh.' ) I understand about the chocolate aisle. I sometimes find myself looking at the cake section of online supermarkets! lol I find it helps.
Hi Coffee, how's things going now? Sorry about the weight gain. It can really put you off can't it? Specially when you haven't done anything to deserve it! Hope things are going better for you now?
Hi MrPeevly, you are obviously doing very well! I bet it's like getting a whole new wardrobe again? I don't think I could do sugar free (Although as a diabetic, it would probably help! lol), I can't eat without salad cream! I've eaten it since I was a toddler. I did try and make a sugar free cake once too. It didn't rise and tasted foul.

Hi everyone, how are you doing?

Sib - Welcome! How are you getting on? Did you manage to get out for your run yesterday or do some other exercise? Hope yesterday and today have been ok. I also have a bad back (also acquired during my first pregnancy and two years on it's still here!), so I know how painful it can be. I think losing weight and doing more exercise will massively help us both. A stone in a month seems like an awful lot. Try not to set the target so high that you can't achieve it and feel demoralised.

Womble - We're basically the same weight! Well done on getting rid of the naughty treats. Did you survive yesterday?!

Kitty - Sorry things haven't been so great. Please don't sack it off this month and wait until next, because you'll inevitably gain weight and then feel even worse about yourself. If you're feeling that low, could you aim to just maintain your current weight this month and focus on your recovery, then start dieting again next month? As for the 72 cal pudding, that certainly won't kill you so don't stress about that!

I'm still plodding along here. Feeling a little better with each day that comes (although the sleep deprivation is exhausting!!!). I'm going to weigh myself tomorrow, when I will be 3 weeks PP, but imagine I will be around 13 stone 3 still . I think a good target for me will be to be 12 stone 7 by the end of April (I've put it in bold, so I have to do it now ). That has me losing approx 10lbs in just until 8 weeks, which should be achievable if I step away from the biscuit tin...

Hi Coffee. Thanks for the pep talk. I did stop myself last night binging. I also realised it's only next Monday that is my weigh in day. Surely I'll be able to cope until then?!
Hope your back is OK? Good luck with your goal, I'm sure you'll do it. It can't be easy with lack of sleep!

Hi all! Hope you're all doing well today! I've got a stomach bug so ive actually only eaten some porridge and lucazade today! I feel rotten but it may help budge some weight! Lol!

coffe I did do a post partum core routine and some pelvic floor exercises. Didn't end up running. Ive out that off til the weekend, I think I need to ease in gently. Very weak pelvic floor and bad back! I agree regarding the weight loss, maybe a stone a month is a bit much! I'm going to go by how I feel and look as well as the scales!

kitty ive only had one coffee today because I'm sick but still managed without the sugar! I used to live off Pepsi max last time I did a big diet because it tastes good and felt like a treat! Do you still like to drink coffee? Maybe start by cutting sugar to 2 and go from there? Your palette definitely changes with time!

Hope everyone else is doing ok! I'm going to weigh myself tomorrow

Ps womble I am also breastfeeding my Dd who's 3 months old but I definitely do not fit into the category of those people that loose wight while breastfeeding! I didn't loose much weight with my first dd until I stopped breast feeding but maybe I was too busy stuffing my face! Haha!

Hellooo everyone!

Coffee Oooh at us being the same weight that should be helpful, definitely in it together!

Sib my problem has definitely been not being able to step away from the chocolate.. it's just so tasty!

Well I survived yesterday & today without buying any goodies, however at one point I did get so desperate for a sugar hit that I ate a spoonful of nutella 🙈 oops!

On the exercise front yesterday I did 100 strokes on the rowing machine, & 5 minutes on the bike.. starting very slow partly because I'm terribly unfit now & don't want to injure myself, & partly because baby girl won't let me put her down for too long! Today I went out with her in the pram for a 45 minute walk.. I think little & often will mean I'm more likely to stick to it 😊

Kitty - Well done on getting back on it. You will definitely feel better for it come weigh in day. How are you feeling today?

Sib - Well done! That's a brilliant start. Definitely don't push it until you're 100% ready. It's amazing how long it takes to recover after a pregnancy/birth. What sort of core strength exercises do you do? Do you just watch things on YouTube? I need to work on my core, as last time I just went straight into running (4 months post CS) and it was a really bad move .

Womble - Well done on the exercise. That all sounds great! It is so hard with little ones taking up all your time and attention. I agree that little and often is the best idea. As for the nutella, that really won't kill you .

As predicted, I'm 13 stone 3 as of this morning. I feel a little sad that I didn't lose more weight more easily and more quickly. With both pregnancies I have gained a lot, then not really lost much early on...whereas friends seem to have only gained a stone or two when pregnant then lost that straight away without even trying. I've decided that breastfeeding is bollocks for weight loss! I remember all my NCT friends saying how amazing it was that they were eating more than ever and losing weight because of breastfeeding, but both times I've ate normally for me (i.e not dieting and having a few treats, but hardly going crazy) and I just haven't lost any weight at all. With DS I only started losing weight very slowly once I started working out again.

Anyway, my plan for today is to get out and do a little gentle exercise. I'm hoping to walk into town, which isn't far at all, but is enough to begin with given my c section wound. I feel pretty exhausted as DD woke at 1:30am and has been eating/crying since then .