Can I lose 4 stone in 6 months?

[keyboardjellyfish]

I am 5ft and 13 stone, which places my BMI at 35.5

I am currently TTC and have been diagnosed with a range of fertility issues which means I will need IVF. However my partner and I do not qualify for NHS treatment so we will be going private. My weight is a reason why we don't qualify but there are other reasons too.

The private clinic we are going to use asks for a 35 BMI as opposed to NHS which asks for 30 BMI but I would like to use the next six months whilst we save to actually lose a substantial amount of weight and maybe even get my BMI under 25. I know BMI is often a load of shit and not an indicator but the clinic take it into consideration plus I am incredibly unfit and it is causing me health problems so I will use the clinic as a motivation for something I should have done a long time ago.

My question is, is it possible to lose 4 stone in 5/6 months? I would like to get down to 9 stone for treatment. Or is this pushing it?

I lost 2 stone in 8 weeks at Slimming World. I followed the plan religiously and had no alcohol at all and loads of fruit and veg.
Have kept it off through juicing and doing the 5:2 and upping my exercise.

I'm sure I could have continued if I'd had more to lose.
So, yes, it can be done.

Yeah, you would need to have a loss of 2.3 pounds a week which is very possible. (Rough estimate.)

I’ve done 4 stone in 12 weeks but calorie counting (1600 per day) and exercising (3 mile walks a day and 45mins cardio and strengthening 4x a week)

I’d say go for it, worst case scenario is you don’t quite meet your goal but either way you’ll be in a much better position for trying.

Best of luck.

Great, thanks both. I am vegan but eating a lot (too much!) vegan junk food so veggies and protein-rich foods from now on! Plus actually going to start using my gym pass and walking more :)

Can I join you OP? I'm 5ft2 and 13st13lb. Wedding in November and desperate to shift 4 stone by then (5.5 months)

Planning on kick starting with Cambridge to shift the first stone then lots of walking and veg!

I've lost almost 3.5 stone since mid-Jan at Slimming world. Lots of fruit & veg, protein, very little sugar and fat. Its common sense really.

Can I also join? I would love to lose four stone in six months

The PP who suggested the exercise and walking every day - I love that. Having an exercise goal like walking for x every day or going for a walk every evening or something - that sounds perfect to me. And getting my ten portions of fruit n veg a day - I'm good with both but over eat on the fruit so I will focus on cutting back

WW has worked for me in the past so I'm planning on doing that but I get to mid week and start to flounder. Can we do a bit of a support group?

Thanks for the advice to those already doing it!

Yes, anyone welcome. I'm starting tomorrow morning. Feeling ok about food but really nervous about exercising- I'm so unfit! I have a gym pass though so determined to use it.

I’d like to join in too. At least 3 stone to lose but just can’t get motivated.

You have set yourself a huge goal and whilst possible, you should not be too upset if you don’t achieve it. Instead, consider yourself successful if you loose a little weight every week. Don’t mess about with expensive, faddy diets but concentrate on eliminanating the really naughty things. Alcohol, cakes, chocolate, sugar are the naughty boys that have to go. Start exercising gently and record what you do. Build up slowly. And be honest to yourself, ie. no cheating and praise yourself for success. This will work. Best of luck.

Can I join too? I have 3 + stone to lose. I am 5ft4 and 12 stone 12.

I started two weeks ago and am doing ok so far. Sticking with vegetables, fruit, protein, some fat (mainly trying to avoid saturated, but not fussing too much) and carbs really only what comes in veg or the odd bit of dairy. Also been drinking live kefir every morning just for the hell of it. Trying to avoid processed meat (ham/bacon), and no pasta, bread, potatoes, grains etc. Planning to add back in small quantities of rice in a few weeks.

Have also been swapping out some tea for herbal and trying to drink more water.

Going well so far. Need to do more exercise, but taking things one step at a time and focussing on food first.

Thank you @Fokker

I don't drink alcohol and don't like any liquids other than orange juice and water (as well as some herbal teas) but I'm worried about restraining myself from crisps. Also I tend to eat lots of ice cream in the summer so that will be missed.
Think I'm going to try couch to 5k!

FATE do you not take any rest days at all? That is seriously hardcore! I'd be worried about injury not taking any rest days, a lot of runners actually feel stronger if you take one day off a week.

No rest days. My dog needs a 30-60 min walk every day, so I'd have to be out every single day anyway. I make that 30-60mins a run with my dog, rather than a walk, which improves my health.

I'm of the 'no excuses' camp. Humans are evolutionary designed to cover long distances on foot every day. Plus, very fit people do exercise every day. Just because I'm not (yet) very fit, doesn't mean I can't start.

I read an article last year that was titled something like "how harmful is it to run a marathon every day" (in responce to someone doing this for charity). The summery was: it isn't as long as you prepare properly. If you want to characterise harm as being an increased risk of heart disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and all manner of non-communicable diseases caused by lack of fitnedd, then the answer is simple – running will help prevent harm not cause it.

So yes, I run every single day.

FATE I agree with you about no excuses, that’s what got us this way.

Don’t get me wrong I do have a bad day, where I don’t exercise or eat unhealthy things but I look at why and how to recognise signs eg waiting too long to eat, no having food prepared and work on this.

Also you know your body what feels right for you and in your case it’s working. I think it’s case of just doing it and any changes is better than what we were doing before.

I'm starting today too. I suffer with Fibromyalgia and Depression with a sprinkle of BPD, and that coupled with first year uni exam stress has seen me go from 9st to 13st5lb in the last 3 years I'm currently a 12/14 and I am desperate to get back to a size 10.

Breakfast: fruit and yoghurt
Lunch: omlette
Dinner: chicken and brown rice and veg

Also going to the gym a minimum of three times a week! I HAVE to lose weight

Morning all! @FATE well bloody done and I quite agree.

@itsBritneyBeach I also have fibromyalgia and I'm really worried about how that will impact exercising

Super ill today so only just up. Frozen berry smoothie for breakfast today. I have some errands to do which I would usually get the bus to but I'm going to walk it today. I also have a food shop to do although I will be getting the bus back from that because I think that might be pushing my abilities! Going to try and fit in a walk in the park somewhere too.

@keyboardjellyfish it's horrible sometimes isn't it, and the low mood doesn't help when it comes to binge eating etc we can do this! Just take it slow and push yourself, but stop when you are genuinely at a 7 or above in terms of "Fibro pain"

I do box fit for 20 minutes with a friend/PT who knows my limits but it gets your heart rate up and sweaty! Then 10 minutes fast walking on a treadmill, 15 minutes of squatting weights,
20 reps of donkey kicks and 20 reps of dumbell raises/bicep curls and then a slooooowwwwww 5 minute treadmill walk to relax muscles.

I have only done this 5 times but it feels so great afterwards, and we built up to the amount of time slowly. You can do this

I'm back on it too today, had a weekend of more treats than necessary and dreading the scales on Thursday! It's hard but at least you have a strong motivation to get you to your goal weight, it will make pregnancy much less risky
Good luck op

@FATEdestiny amazing effort well done

Please be wary of your calorie intake tho - 800cal when you're burning so much may result in hair loss/fingernail peeling etc - if you can get some healthy fats in there like coconut oil, butter, avocado etc and plenty of protein that might help. You're running the risk of gluconeogenesis which will burn muscle if an appropriate fuel source isn't available - your body will need more protein to build and maintain your leg muscles! 💪🏻 💪🏻 it takes about 3 months for hair loss to start showing so keep an eye out!

Please don't take this as a criticism it's not meant to be.
Well done again 😁

@keyboardjellyfish great plan, let us know how your day goes! :)

Can I join too please? I will be completely honest here and admit to joining many many weight loss threads on here over the years. But I too would love to lose four stone in six months. I have a holiday in Australia in November going to see some good friends and I would love to not be the fat one.

I bought Lisa Reilly’s Honesty Diet book months ago and actually read most of it yesterday finally. Am planning on using MFP and aiming for 1400 calories a day Monday to Friday with a bit more leeway at the weekends or social occasions. No alcohol. No crap.

I’ve planned my exercise for the week. 45mins cardio every day. Spinning/walking and a Body Balance class. I would love to do C25K. It I’m too heavy - have knee issues. Although I do spinning I do not stand up on the pedals but have just started standing for short periods. My chiropractor suggested i don’t try running until I can do a whole spinning class including the standing bits. So that’s the current plan.

FATE - you’ve done really well. Although I agree your calorie intake sounds a bit low to be sustainable.

I’ve just had fruit and yoghurt and am off to spinning so will check in again later.

Me too, CiderwithBuda! My watch list is still full off A Stone Off For Christmas threads But I’m finding this one really inspiring... 🤞🏽