Anyone looking to lose 100lbs plus... - Part 5

[NoTractorsAtTheTable]

Hello, welcome to the fifth instalment (wow!) 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, Part 3 and Part 4

We’re a very friendly, supportive group, and all at different stages, but 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 an incredible…......... 1024lbs since the start of the first thread in Dec 16, which is 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.

Hi, I’d like to join in too please. I want to lose 8st. Only started on Friday but am feeling positive. I haven’t binged or had any crisps or chocolate (I’d usually eat at least one large packet of crisps or 3-5 regular packets a day as well as a large chocolate bar and biscuits)
I’ve overcome my fear of fresh fruit which I know sounds totally stupid but I’d managed to get myself worried about eating anything that wasn’t out of a tin or sealed packet.
I had chopped peach and raspberries this morning with yoghurt and even by passed the chocolate and crisps at the shop for a bottle of water instead!
I’ve been out walking a lot and would like to try running but we live in a busy area and I’d hate to embarrass the kids if any of there friends saw me.
My long term goals are to feel confident enough to take my children swimming and to take them to a theme park and go on the rides with them.

Hi to all the newbies

Morning all. Just wanted to share a NSV. In Jan 17 I was wearing a size 28 jacket that couldn't do up, so I was probably a size 32 to be honest. Yesterday I fitted into a size 18 fitted top that I bought on the off chance (I was looking at sizes 20 / 22 but none in stock, and reviews said sizes came up small) for a wedding next week. Both jacket and top from M and S.

Feeling very happy!

Wow notanurse what a great NSV you must be feeling so proud of yourself right now.

Waving hello to all the newbies

Amazing notanurse, well done!

Welcome Lel. I've found it's not necessarily about eating less, but eating differently. My plate is still piled high but the calorie count is lower. Good luck with your first week.

Welcome keyboard. I'm doing C25K at the moment, but power walking rather than running as I have an arthritic disease.

Speaking of, Post et al who've done it - the step up to week 3 looks immense! Really nervous about it - will be doing week 3 run 1 tomorrow.

Welcome missed! Well done on getting the bingeing under control. The key will be to forgive yourself and move on if you ever lose the battle, but here's hoping you won't anyway.

I'm a bit frustrated today. This last week I used the Saturday morning reading instead of sunday because I was feeling crappy and bloated. It was a difference of 2lbs. Somehow on Tuesday I'd gone up another 2lbs! I'm now back down to only 2.25lbs over Saturdays weight but I am seriously miffed about it. I don't feel especially bloated so not sure what's going on.

Had to dig out some old photos to make myself feel better.

I'm having a much better week so far after such a disastrous one last week. Finding comfort in my routine of what I now seem to think of as my 'normal food' which is my 1600-1700 calories trying to keep up the protein, not go overboard with carbs and as much fibre as possible. My gut function is so much better sinceI I started logging and really planning my food too. I'm not sure if my mood is better simply due the change in food and reduction in sugar crashes or just the symbolic feeling of 'being in control' by making a plan and sticking to it. Had a lot of medication changes as well though. Still keeping up the walking and running too. I'm starting to increase my distance very slowly to eventually get to 10k. Have an idea of doing two 10k and a 5k parkrun a week as a goal. This time last year that would have seemed laughable whereas now it seems pretty doable.

It is very frustrating when the scales have unexplained large fluctuations, honey. It kind of unsettles me and makes my doubt what I am doing when it happens to me. But this forum is full of people talking about being pissed off with the exact same thing so it must be a normal human phenomenon. Are you in a hot part of the country? Could that be causing water retention? I hope it settles down for you soon.

Great NSV, notanurse. How are you recovering from your operation?

Welcome to all the newbies

Buying new clothes as I got smaller was a bit hit and miss for me. Really just wore larger sizes till they literally fell down. I wasn't into fashion or style as I felt it wasn't for me as an overweight person. Which I now know is fucking nonsense and that overweight people can be just as fashionable and/or stylish as thin people. If I put my weight back on, I will be keeping my new interest in clothes and beauty! Anyway, couldn't be arsed with clothes and now have a very limited selection that I am slowly expanding enabled by the S+B board knowing that I'm probably only going to lose one more size (unless I get a breast reduction). However, I bought two new good quality bras with every stone or so lost. I have kept them all too.

Weigh in yesterday and 1.4lb down which I am totally surprised at considering what I ate and drank on Saturday!
So -

Start weight 263lb
Goal weight 175lb
Total amount to lose 88lb
Amount lost this week 1.4lb
Total amount lost 25.4lb
Amount still to lose 62.6lb

Now that I am (barely) in the 16st my next goal is to hit 28lb off which I hope to hit in the next couple of weeks.

So many NSVs! I am glad that the effort that folk are putting in is paying off!

I am not at the going down a size in clothes stage yet, if I can get myself a new smaller winter coat this year I shall be happy

Well done Jing, that's great progress!

I'm down to 1lb heavier than last week's weigh in. Let's hope I can manage a STS this week.

Start weight: 299lbs
Lost this week: 2.5lbs (week 28)
Total Lost: 75.5lbs
Current Weight: 223.5lbs
Left to lose: 73.5lbs

So I have passed the halfway marker to my target. I suspect my target will probably be unobtainable for my height but aim high (or rather low) and all that so will just re-evaluate nearer the time.

Well done to this weeks losers.

Hi all. After my disappointment last Friday morning (half pound loss) I had to go see the nurse (not weight related). While there I mentioned I was trying to lose weight but finding it hard going.

Well. This prompted the biggest kick up the arse I’ve had in a long time. She told me at my age, my size and with a parent with diabetes I was a sitting duck to become diabetic as well. She basically told me I didn’t have any options now - I lose weight or I’ll get ill. She did it ina really good way though - kind of matter of fact but kind too.

Anyway, the upshot is that she agreed low carb was probably a good option for me and told me to read Michael Mosley. I’d actually already read his Fast Diet and the Blood Sugar diet but ignored both.

So this week I’ve been giving the blood sugar diet a go - and have lost 6 pounds. In a week. Very very pleased. And feeling really good in myself.

I’m off on hols for a couple of weeks now but self catering in France so will be carrying it on. Will post when I’m back :)

Starting weight: 18.13
Current weight: 17.8
Goal: 11.13
Lost: 1.5
To go: 5.9

Wow, well done Mind! That's amazing!

Really I dothink targets are so subjective and body types play a big part. My target will still have me in the overweight category but I think I am a heavier person anyway. I'm currently 15 stone but fitting in size 16 clothes. Whereas for other people my height, (I'm 5'6") they'd be in a much bigger size at that weight. I want to lose 3 more stone so I'll review when I get there, and maybe push for a 4th (well, 8th in total) if I think I need to.

really I agree. I’m a similar height and I know that when I reach 15 stone I’ll be looking pretty good (if I say so myself!!) I lose weight off my face chest and waist so it’s very noticeable and gives an impression of being quite slim! My target gives me a BMI if 26.5. For some that would be too high but I know that for me, it will be a good, sustainable, weight.

Interesting about clothes size vs weight - I am now just under 20st and wearing a size 20, when I was 16 st I wore a size 16 etc etc

My aim (post baby) is to get to under 100 kg (15st 9lb in other terms) as that will bring my BMI under 35 for the first times in years. Once there I'm going to set a new target but would happily hover around 13st right now.

Honeysuckle I agree! I am just in the 15st bracket and have a wardrobe ranging 14-18 currently so that is why I am thinking my goal might be too low so will evaluate as I get nearer.

I just want to buy size 12s I haven't been a 12 since I was 12!!!

Hi all - quick post to keep me on track!

Melting, fat and fed-up just about sums me up at the moment. I'm definitely not going through another summer like this! Lots of iced water is stopping me having a complete strop, but oh. so. much. boob. sweat. attractive

Hope you're all in better moods than I am! Will post when I'm in a better mood and properly check in.

I'm now in my first summer not being big. BMI 27.8 after losing 6st 5 so far.

It's made a massive difference. I have spent the last two days gardening whereas in previous years I would have stayed indoors 24/7 in this heat. It's been lively. Kids playing beside me in the paddling pool with the dog and I've been active and enjoying the sunshine. Yes, it's sweaty, but not unbearably so now I'm merely overweight.

I've also still been running every day in the heat. Not chasing PB's and keeping my distances low at 5k, but getting out there in the sunshine and enjoying it. I've not tanned to this extent in years, having always avoided the sun because I couldn't cope with my bulk in the heat.

Regarding targets - it depends on your mentality. My DH didn't want to face his total weight loss needed so he just aimed to lose 2 stone. Then added another stone when he got close and do on. In fact he needed to lose 5st to be BMI25 and now he's there he's aiming for another stone loss.

He felt he'd fail if he set a challenging target. I'm the oppose. I set my target at BMI25 (7st7 loss) from the outset and even added a separate goal of 8st11 loss (half my body weight) from the start too. I did set smaller mini-goals along the way, that I could tick off.

But my main aim is up be healthy (my main aim is not losing weight), so that can only happen if my weight is in the healthy range, I am eating a healthy diet and doing regular exercise. So being anything other than under BMI 25 when I finish this was never something I considered as an option. Very different approach to my husband.

Hang in there Tractors and everyone else melting, you’re well on the way and this will be your last summer feeling like that. I promise it gets better. I’m even contemplating visiting family in Asia in the future as think I could probably cope with the heat, though am still not particularly fond of it (red head).

Well done you bunch of losers ! Hard to keep up the momentum when routines change with holidays and heat really not helping.

Honeysuckle I’m the same height as you and think I was around the same size at your current weight. 11 and a half stone has me about a 12 on my bottom half and around 12-14 on top. Am a booby apple these days, thought I used to be a pear but all the fat shunted up under my boobs. I pass the string test but would like to do so a bit more comfortably and have too much fat sitting around my abdomen. My feet have shrunk around a size too.

I’m much the same weight still at moment which is fine by me as eating at maintenance, my last push will come in Autumn or possibly next year, don’t feel in a hurry and I staying the same for a bit is helping my bit of lose skin on thighs and arse. Off on holiday Sunday then Hospital when I get back. Pre op went well, was so lovely not to have to worry about weight being an issue.

This has been totally life changing and I’m incredibly grateful for all the support from all of you here.

My starting BMI was 45.5, It's now 34 so I am pleased with how it has dropped.... I have 26lbs to go until I am just in the overweight category and 59lbs to go to get to the healthy range with a BMI of 25....

I know I can do it, I am confident that I can but what scares me is maintaining it!

PostNot have a great holiday. Best of luck also for the Op. I love the being a "booby apple"!

NoTractors - keep at it, I have no doubt that you will succeed.

FATE - I too am aiming to be healthy. It's mind-blowing if I think that I have lost over 6 1/2 stone and am still obese, so instead I think about a lb at a time.

Still on a bit of a high about my m and s top! Managed 13 000 steps today, the most I have done for a month. Happy weekend everyone.

Thanks NotaNurse, just read back about your top and about inspiring DH, fabulous!!! So glad you’re on the mend.

Reallylosingit maintenance will be the challenge for all of us. That’s one of the reasons I find for me regular weeks along the way where I ate at maintenance have helped. I think we just have to accept that actually there isn’t really an end to it and it will always be a balancing act and need working at but that just puts at in the same boat as everyone else. Changing lifestyle along the way to include more activity if possible will give greater flexibility.

Was talking about this with a friend today who lost about 3 stone and kept it off for best part of 30 years. She says she always worries about it going back on again and just KOKO’s.

PostNot, so interesting about your friend. You are right, there is no end to it, and that's ok, but certainly for me I have to accept that and deal with it.

Yes me too. I think though once it becomes the new normal it should be ok (hopefully). It’s building strategies that help us cope with unexpected things so we don’t feel deprived at the time and can just cut back to compensate another time. Or accepting that things like holidays might well cause a gain and dropping a couple of pounds before to mitigate damage in anticipation or dealing with them after.

Guess it will be different for each of us what we decide works best. I do feel as we’ve discussed, not getting to the position whilst losing where you feel so deprived whilst losing really does help a lot of us, though again won’t work for everyone as we’re all different.

I’ve found that with the exercise aspect i’m accessing a part of some friends’ lives that have always been there but I was never part of. It’s slightly weird how conversations have shifted but in a good way.

Post lovely to hear from you today. Can you remind me what your op is (if it's ok to share)? I feel like it wasn't weight related but was a case of lower BMI aids recovery situation? Also, I am definitely going to have loose skin on my thighs and arse to quite an extent I imagine. Any tips on managing it, or do you treat it more as war wounds, as it were?

Tractors thinking of you

Notanurse I would still be pleased if I were you too!

Just did week 3 run 1 of C25K. Did not die on the 3 min "run". Of course, I'm not actually jogging but I'm doing 10 min per km pace so I don't know how much faster I'd be if I were - not very I imagine! 😁

Well done Honeysuckle! It took me 9.29 to do 1k when I started C25K so not much different. I’m having Fibroid embolisation so weight doesn’t really matter as not an open incision, they go in through an artery and put plastic balls in to block off fibroid blood supply. Other option was open hysterectomy due to size and location of it so trying this first.

Last year I had gallbladder out and the Surgeon gave me a lecture about my weight when i’d Just come round from the anaesthetic. He’d had a bit of a nightmare getting a very large gallstone out laparoscopically and looked knackered to be fair to him. I’d gone from BMI 43 to 45 to have the op so weight had been a big issue from the start that time round and it was what got me started as they wouldn’t accept referrals from GP if BMI was over 40. By that point i’d Had the gallbladder pain fir about 14 years and really needed it done.

With loose skin I haven’t really done any thing but do moisture it all fairly regularly. Also I think thx exercise helps to some extent as I have quite a lot of muscle in my legs and butt now. I think i’ve just been very lucky and think there is something in it keeps improving up to 2 years later, my thighs have definitely improved as at one point I could feel it on them when I swam but the other day I couldn’t at all. Friend of a friend has just had loads of Surgery on hers and sounds like she’s in a bit of a state so I feel incredibly grateful. Maybe doing this last bit slowly has helped a bit as gives skin time to adjust possibly?

There was definitely a point on the way down where I looked worse than at the start as the fat goes squishy but then as less fat shape starts changing and muscle tone starts showing through and everything looked better. From what i’ve read with loose skin it depends on your current age, skin elasticity which is genetic and time you’ve been over weight, I think as a 48 year old who has been overweight for years I got lucky on the genes front.

I plan on doing C25K a second time with actual running when I'm smaller. Then I can invest in a decent sports bra! Sounds like I maybe need to start doing some sort of thighs, bums and tums exercises to help give them shape. Looking at my mum, I'm not sure I've got much skin elasticity in my genes, and I've always been overweight. Eep. Oh well. Easy enough to dress around it, and if need be I guess I'll start saving for surgery! 😂 I hate the beach anyway so not planning on spending much time in a bikini in the future.

Good luck with your op. I remember talking to a surgeon after one laparoscopy. He was showing me the photos. I absentmindedly asked "what's the white tissue?" and he looked me straight in the eye and said "adipose tissue. There was lots of it."

My pre weigh in weigh in this morning had me at less than last Saturday so hoping for a good result tomorrow. No idea what's caused it to go crazy this week, and pretty unimpressed that I've put this much effort in to stay pretty much the same because of a random unexplained gain. Ah well. Onwards and downwards!