Who has had to lose 7 stone or more - how and how long?

[tullytwo]

Title says it all basically. I have a lot of weight to lose - have lost smaller amounts before between each dc but never this much.

Am doing baby steps at mo - cutting out junk as best I can and cutting down portions and then will tackle exercise etc.

I used to eat really well and do love exercising but have 11 month dd at mo and 2 ds's so time is limited. This is more about getting back to how I used to eat and live rather than a diet but just wanted some motivation and advice really.

why do i always get ignored

Tully, I don't think you are being ignored - it's just there won't be very many people who will have lost 7 stone and be able to give advice.

I need to lose a fair bit, not quite as much as that but have been struggling and not really getting anywhere so have come to the conclusion that however much I hate them, I need to go to a class. I've persuaded Mum to join WW and we are off tonight.

If you have a look down the board you will find there is a thread with people who have a fair bit to lose who I'm sure will be a good place to swap ideas with.

Hi, I probably have 5 stone to loose - I only ever loose weight while I am pg, then it all piles on afterwards - I lost 2 and a half stone with dd2, and have put nearly 3/4 of a stone back on in her short 10 wek life time. I'm feeling really low about it now - I can't stop eating and am always feeling hungry.

Not sure why I'm blurting all of this out - not terribly supportive to you. Just didn't want you to think you were on your own out there

try weight watchers, doesn't feel like a diet and you can have a bit of everything in moderation. Walking is the best exercise in my opinion costs nothing and you can do with the kids!

What you don't want to do is lose it too quickly as then you may be left with loose skin.

cut your weight into smaller segments, 7 stone seems like a lot but if you think of losing 7lbs a month, in a year you will almost be at your target weight.

Good luck!

Hi tullytwo. I've got about 8 stone to lose so you're not on your own!!!

I lost 7 1/2 stone years ago by means of starvation. I tell you what tho, NEVER AGAIN!!! It was awful. I felt so ill and was always dizzy and lethargic.

However, before i got pregnant this time around i moved over from the dark side and started low carbing and lost 17lbs. It's GREAT!!! Initially the first 3 days are a bit hard because your body is craving the carbs you are cutting out, but after that it's a breeze and you will see "low fat" as a thing of the past as you can eat all sorts of wonderful foods that are forbidden on other "diets" and still lose weight slowly and securely.

Get yourself an Atkins book (or similar) and then join THIS WEBSITE for the most information you'll ever need and the best support to boot!

If you want any more info on low carbing, give me an email or private message or whatever it is people do on this site.

Thanx and good luck!!

I have a lot of weight to lose and joined weight watchers yesterday, I haven't really set myself an overall target weight as I know it's going to take time to be the weight I want, I'm going to greece in August and with only 4 months to go I'd like to lose as much as I can before then. Weight Watchers seems good because you can eat whatever food you want and if you choose your points carefully there is no need to feel hungry during the day, it's my first day follwing the diet, but I have done it before and it works if you stick to it. I think it's important to go to the class each week, when I stopped going last time I found it impossible to stick it without the weekly weigh-in.

I'm also going to try and exercise more.

Tully, there's a group of us with a lot to lose on the BigMoFos threads - the latest one is here

It's a nice, supportive thread and you would be more than welcome to join us. I've found it very motivational and extremely supportive.

Tullytwo,

I've got 8 stones to lose too. No idea where to start. Considering WW vs SW but it is so expensive.

Have started walking more, but would need to walk for hours to make any sort of difference. The thought of being on a diet for over a year / two years is too depressing for words.

I'm having to concentrate on little targets - getting into standard M&S sizes (!!!) as the full target seems too unrealistic. I've started and failed so many times before - I wonder whether this time will be any different.

Only thing different this time, is that I've got a few weight related health problems, and I really want to be there for my children....

Thanks for starting this thread - will follow any advice with interest.

hi not 7 stone but I lost 4.5 stone 4 years ago with slimming world, I didn't do any exercise other than usual running about with kids. It took me 5 months,
best advice is take it a day at a time, and reward yourself for getting to each mini goal. Everytime I lost 7 lbs I would buy myself a little gift, not food related.
Also visualise what your going to eat the next day and have emergancy food you can just grab when your hungry and don't have time to cook.

Ok - I shall join in for moral support even tho I didn't have to lose that much.

I am 5'10" and was 10 stone in my twenties. Put on weight due to pill, hormonal problems, then deranged after 2 babies 18 months apart. Ended up at 15 stone.

I'm now about 12 stone 10 and falling...

The thing you have to bear in mind is that if you are very overweight you have a good head start at losing it, as your body needs lots of calories just to maintain itself. So you don't need to 'diet' - just eat a bit more sensibly and keep snacking on low GI foods. Don't eat white bread at all, especially french sticks.

Try to cut out salty and sweet snacks - eat lots of high protein, low fat food eg ready cooked & flavoured chicken breast. Cut out alcohol except a glass or 2 at the weekend - loads of empty calories.

Start walking with a friend if you can - try to make it at least half an hour 3 times a week and don't stroll - walk briskly to get your heart rate up.

You have to make this a gradual change that you can stick to for years - don't starve yourself.

I bought 'The GI diet' book and found it helpful - didn't stick to it rigidly - it's full of great advice & info.

Above all, you have to believe that you deserve to lose weight - don't punish yourself by stuffing your face if you've had a bad day on your diet.

Once you go down a dress size or 2 you'll be able to buy some new clothes and you'll feel so much better it'll make you want to keep eating healthily.

Lastly... I always think of my kids... if your body mass index is over 30 you double your risk of oestrogen related cancers such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer etc. Also, when you're as old as me (46) you have to think that you will soon be menopausal and at huge risk from heart attacks & strokes.

Go on - you deserve to be fit & normal size

Ooh - spent so long typing that you've got lots of support now!

Good luck all you large ladies - YOU CAN DO IT!

I lost 5.5 stone with WW a long time ago and managed to mantain it for ages.

Then i got bad depression 7 years ago and put it all back on and lots more with it!!

I've now started dieting again in january and have so far lost 3 stone, which feels great already.

I'm doing Cambridge Diet this time because i want a quicker loss.

There's a cambridge thread running where you'll get loads of support from all of us.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.