Anyone looking to lose 100lbs plus... - Part 4

[NoTractorsAtTheTable]

Hello, welcome to the fourth instalment of the ‘Anyone looking to lose 100lbs plus …’ thread

If you want to read them (but by no means feel obliged!), the previous threads are here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

We’re a very friendly, supportive group, and I think we’re all seeing some real changes in ourselves and our attitudes to food. It’s a long old road, but it helps to chat along the way 

Collectively, we’ve lost 869 lbs since the start of the first thread, which is pretty amazing! 

We tend to weigh in on Fridays or Saturdays, but feel free to join in at any time, with whatever weight loss method you think works best for you. Some of us have lost more than others, but we're all in this together, so if you're losing, gaining or staying the same, it's nice to have some inspiration to keep going.

We’re always welcoming to newcomers, but as with the previous thread(s), I’ll add one caveat - we’re all here because we are trying to lose a LOT of weight. If you’re looking to lose the last half stone, or even two or three stone, this might not be the thread for you. Good luck with your goals, but you may find more support with in threads with people who have similar goals to you.

Lego what does a Tdee calculator give you, here’s one : tdeecalculator.net

MegJo that’s not bad for April in the scheme of things though can understand it’s frustrating after half a stone. Hang in there with May, still early days, it will probably all start moving again. Think if you aim for around a pound a week on average that should be fine, bearing in mind that it won’t be linear and you may see a gain sometimes.

Thanks PostNotInHaste. I will keep going!

Is a Fitbit a good tool? I'm not one for running but am finding I am more willing to walk now I'm not as heavy. It's my birthday soon, I could probably get a basic one - any recommendations? Doesn't need to be a Fitbit branded one. I have Android phone if that matters.

I got one with birthday money when I first started and would be lost without it as always use that for my calorie burn. Started with the Flex 2 as thought I would swim but haven’t really then got a Charge 2. Every morning I see what my calorie burn was the day before versus what I ate and then have a running total each week of my deficit (or lack of sometimes!).

When I was trying to lose 2lb a week I’d aim for 7k deficit. These days I am doing a much smaller one or maintaining. My Fitbit is pretty accurate with a slight tendency to underestimate calorie burn which I think is unusual. The Charge 2 has a heart rate monitor and when I first got it , it did take a few weeks to find its level. Also find it interesting g for the sleep and heart rate data. I don’t think they are the world’s most reliable brand to be honest but haven’t tried anything else.

Welcome MegJo and well done on your progress so far, you've done really well. My weight loss has slowed right down too and I look back longingly at the days of half a stone a month. It took me three months to lose my last stone. I think we just have to accept that our metabolism slows as we lose weight on top of lower calorie requirements due to reduced body weight. Plus age doesn't come alone. I've upped the exercise to try and compensate and also been as strict as possible with weighing food and planning ahead. Lot of trial and error needed I think.

Did you manage to get hold of the new consultant's secretary or whoever phoned you, Notanurse? They are acting like a total shower

too for Nickname and Honey. Hope your difficult days improved and things have settled down now.

Lego, those fitbit numbers could well be approximately right as you do burn a lot more with a higher body weight especially if you are young and/or tall. I second Post in checking with a few online TDEE calculators. Does your fitbit measure your heart rate? If it gets a good reading then the calorie estimation is more accurate but even then it is all only an approximation. I frequently have to adjust my fitbit up and down my wrist to get a good reading as sometimes it is laughably off (saying 180 rather than 100) and sometimes just says --. They have a help page on it linked in the app. The app used to under estimate my calorie burn (I would lose more weight than it guessed) but now it over estimates (and I lose less weight).

Honey yes I am being verbose again I have a Charge 2 HR mainly for the heart rate monitor. It motivates me to walk faster and get my heart rate up. Like I was saying, it's a bit hit and miss for me. The step counter function is the best bit and you can get a cheap one of those for £10-15.

I am struggling a bit today with wanting to binge. Hotel Otter is open again and got a very full house so that is stressful. But mainly it is a bizarre feeling that I get where I feel like since I can't eat as much as I want in front of my mother family then I should eat as much as possible in secret moments to compensate or just in case or something... So ended up having a bowl of cornflakes with sugar an hour after breakfast even though I knew I wasn't actually hungry but because the house was empty and I could. I really felt like binging. Why is my brain so ridiculous?!

Not a good food day got v stressed at docs lack of seeing whole issue not just their specialist area of dd body they are looking at and ended up hitting the choc aisle. Didn't help I am on my knees with tiredness . Anyway tomorrow is a new day.

AnotherOtter sorry to hear that, but it does sound like you're reflecting really well on what is triggering you, and what patterns you're trying to break. It's really tough to do.

Nickname urgh, what a tough time. I'm sure you know the stress hormone cortisol makes us crave sugar (also have a DD with needs, which is how I am living proof of the results of high sugar intake!) You have had such a rough few days, supporting your DD day and night, and advocating for her needs when "professionals" seem to not be listening. Be kind to yourself and, as you say, tomorrow is a new day. I hope you get some good sleep.

MegJo this year has been frustratingly slow for me too, after much more reliable weight loss last autumn/winter. It's so tough to keep the faith, but every lb counts, and you're doing really well at the most important thing: keeping going.

I don't have a fitness tracker or use MFP but am finding reading about them is teaching me a lot. I really didn't completely get the tdee thing until those links you sent, thanks.

I had to weigh a day early this week.

Loss: 2.5lb
Total loss: 12.5lb
To go: 107.5lb

Thanks Post, that's really helpful. I asked a friend with a Which? membership to look at their reviews. I do have some fitness fanatic friends who might have an old one they could sell me too.

AnotherOtter sorry to hear you're struggling with desire to binge. I'm finding the same in the evenings. Sometimes I have about 500 cals left of an evening so splurge them all binge eating treats. So today I am trying to have a slightly more decadent meals so I don't have the calories left. I don't need to binge - if I've no calories left then I won't.

Nickname that sounds very stressful.

Bird I don't really get the TDEE either. Best get reading!

Moonlight super loss, well done!

Baby DS is teething, as if he didn't have enough problems. We're also eliminating the dummy from toddler DD. She's a bit behind with speech and I think that's why. I feel terrible so am condemned to listening to her cry for it. 😭

Morning all. Had a night at home last night and slept 9 solid hours so feeling a lot better today. Weighed myself this morning and I've s.s. which is the best I could hope for.

Ta for all your support.

Hello all! Sorry I’ve been a bit awol this week - job stuff still rumbling on, and I’ve not done any real exercise this week, save some walking but I’m hoping things will be better next week. Going to try to name check as many as possible, but please don’t be offended if I miss you - temperamental wifi connection means I might lose all of this at any moment So, in no particular order….

Lego - how are you doing? I bet the scales move in a better direction this weekend.

B1rd - how have your runs gone this week? I’m so impressed!

Another - how are you feeling today? I totally understand your ‘empty house’ eating - I did very similar things when I was younger, and still not entirely sure why probably my mother but we wont dwell on that

nickname hope things are looking brighter today after your sleep last night.

Breaking - week 8 is brilliant (even if rather beetroot - I’m a beetroot too)

moonlight - well done you loser!

notanurse - have you had any luck with the consultant?

honey you’re all going through the mill! I don’t actually remember a lot from when my DCs were that small, I think the tiredness just wiped my memory. Fingers crossed for teeth coming through soon, and DD forgetting all about her dummy.

chesty - hooray for 50lbs gone!!

Scared - well done on losing the first 2lbs, you can do this!

Post - I think I got a bit overexcited in the heat of…erm…Monday. Now it is decidedly cooler bloody baltic , the desire for a lolly has worn off, but I do think we need a lolly list for the summer

Meg - welcome! You’ve done so well so far!

Phew, I'll shut up now, and will be back tomorrow to weigh in

Thanks Tractors. We got as far 3pm without one but then it was all a bit much and she would not be distracted. I gave her a tiny baby one at that point, so it was quite unsatisfying to suck, which made me feel less guilty for caving before bedtime. I plan to do the same tomorrow and never give her the bigger ones again, until I end up not giving her any ever. Apparently punching holes in them is quite effective too.

My plan not to have too many left over calories at the end of the day seems to have worked. I've got 130 left so will probably have some popcorn to nibble slowly whilst I continue with my crochet project.

Oh Honeysuckle that is hard, you’re doing really well

Tractors is the job still not great ? Think you’re doing brilliantly to KOKP if that’s the case and a few weeks without exercise won’t hurt.

Nickname so glad you got some sleep and I think SS is actually bloody amazing in the circumstances.

Great stuff Moonlight, that first stone in sight now !

B1rd how’s the running ?

AnotherOtter that’s a bit of an eye opener when you get that with your family. I think when surrounded by them we have a tendency sometimes to revert to childhood roles a touch without realising. I’ve seen this with DD. She lived away in a different country for 6 months when she wasn’t even 18 and got on with it though was pretty homesick by the end. Came back, really Independent, just got on with things but over time in her childhood bedroom and me and her Dad here, she’s turning to me to make decisions for her more and more. I am trying hard to step back but it’s hard as we’re both conditioned in our roles . These roles are quite powerful I think and for those of us who have issues with our family and food it isn’t surprising that things you wouldn’t usually do start creeping in .

Finished the week having eaten about 500 cals more that’s Fitbit showed but finished last week about the same up so roughly maintenance for the 2 weeks which is good as by day 2 of the week I had eaten 3500 cals too many. Did a sort of 5.2 week with 800 and 900 cal day. Off away for the night with DH which will be involving curry so m going to skip Parkrun but get up and run locally in a minute. Good news, DD has pressed the accept button for her course so pretty definitely will be off this summer. I love her dearly and her bf is lovely but it will be so lovely to be 3 instead of 5 and am looking forward to visiting her as she’s going where I spent 3 very happy years.

Somehow I did lose this week so total loss now at 101.25lbs with 8.75lb to go.

Hi all

Sorry I’ve not been around, completely lost motivation for a while but now got my head straight. So just a quick weigh in today to help me stay motivated for the week.

Start 278

Last week 224
Week 12 Exercise Week 8 Calorie counting
This week 220

Week loss -4
Total loss -57

Goal 136
Left 85
Start 142

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

honey that sounds like a good plan on both counts! What's your crochet project I've been ploughing through a knitting project (it's just a big blanket) and while it's easy, there's a lot of it! Also mildly perilous when the cat decides to help . Or the DCs for that matter!

Post enjoy your night out tonight, and such good news about your DD too. Yes, the job stuff still a bit unsettling - I'm going to stick it out for 6 months initially, but keep an eye out for anything interesting in the meantime. Things were better this week, but it is so disorganised and a bit isolating, so I'm trying to plough my own path around various boulders and bogs (figuratively, not literally...)

fezzes welcome back! good to see you.

Weighed in this morning and I've STS, which is about right. Off to meal plan and get next week organised. DCs are both on an outdoor skills course (like Bear Grylls, but less pee-drinking) today, so going to have a productive day so we can chill this evening.

Lost this week: 0 lb
To lose: 124 lbs
Lost to date: 49 lbs
Left to lose: 75 lbs

Nice to see you back Fezzes doing fab too! Have you got nice weekend plans?

Tractors your job sounds really tough still - how are you feeling about it the longer you're there?

Honeysuckle giving up the dummy is hard. I only managed to stay strong because DD was a biter and I was scared she would bite off a piece in her sleep and choke! We ended up subbing in a chewelry when she was a bit older, as there are some sensory needs behind it. Anyway, you have my sympathy!

Post family dynamics and the roles we fall into are so interesting aren't they? And so hard to fight! Well done on your week, and good news about your DD too. Hope you have a good run.

I've done the first 2 runs of week 3 this week - due to bank hol and various other work/school issues, my only slots free were on consecutive days. There is evidently a reason they tell you not to do this as Weds was fine, but Thurs was HARD. Still, done, and next opportunity to do run 3 will be Monday.

Well done Nickname hope you get a peaceful weekend, and well done Moonlight that's great going!

Hi Fezzes, good to see you and great loss.

Tractors that sounds like a sensible plan. You sure about the DC’s and less pee drinking ?! Well done on STS.

B1rd well done, not easy at the best of times but even harder if you have to juggle everything to fit it in. I’ve just done 10.5k which is my furthest ever and will probably never be repeated, just wanted to see if I could do it. Bring on the curry !

Thanks everyone, just working all weekend but it means I won’t eat lol

Really determined to stay on track till the start of the summer holidays now

Well done on the losses all!

Tractors it's a unicorn blanket. A blanket with a hood and a horn and ears on the hood, mane etc. It's for my niece, in the colours of Rarity from My Little Pony. I also only manage to do it when kids and cats are out the way! After this one I've got one more (for my other niece) and then I have a blanket kit ready and waiting that is for me!

Morning all we are home so life can get back on track! I've been to the gym this morning- was a lil nervous at 1st but soon got into it.

Well done all on losses this week.

Honey suckle- stick in there my d's was a thumb sucker ended up using the nail biting stuff but it was hard but worth it.

Thanks for your support with the dummy situation everyone. Today's morning meltdown was diverted by a Reese's peanut butter cup, and DH has just taken both out in the car to help her sleep without it. I'm sorting out the mountain of hand me down clothes we have for DS.

Forgot to say - yesterday, for the first time ever, someone asked me where I got my clothes and admired them. I mean properly, rather than just "that's nice". Also, I ran round the park with my DD, carrying DS. It was great.

Right... Back to clothes mountain.

Afternoon everyone, well done on the losses and keep going if you sts or gained like me

So weighed in yesterday and I've gained a 1 lb, Not at all a surprise as it went downhill on Wednesday and Thursday, just felt super hungry and let my guard down. Don't know why I can be disciplined with exercise but struggle with the food. Oh well, got back in it yesterday.

PostNot curry most definitely deserved with a 10+km run wow

Honey unicorn blanket sounds fab and hang in there re the dummy.

Notractors hope you have a relaxing evening

Freeze welcome back

B1rd well done on the runs

Nick glad you got some sleep and hope your Dd is improving

Welcome aboard Meg you've done so well

Scared well done on the loss and yes you can do this

Sorry if I missed anyone and hoping everyone is having a good weekend