Will I ever lose my hanging gut?

[foreverhanging]

I have decided that enough is enough - since becoming pregnant in 2016 I appear to have put on 4 odd stone and it's getting worse. I am going to join a gym - I can do healthy eating etc but I don't think it's enough so I'm hoping the gym will give me an edge to help me lose it and keep strong.

I used to be beautiful (albeit still curvy with big hips) but now my boobs are tennis-ball-in-socks-like and I have massive stretch marks on my enormous legs, fat arms at the top, huge hips, a double chin and worst of all a hanging belly which I just wonder if it'll ever go ? I'm not sure how my skin can stretch out to the disgusting awful shape I am now and then go back even if I lose the weight - surely I'll be left with a hanging bit?

@mrsscamander Oh well done that's a huge achievement! You sound like you're doing amazingly.

I've been to the gym twice so far - it's hard trying to fit it in around dh when he's home (he works in London and stays down there once a week so it's hard) and then doing things like dinner bath bed while in my gym gear and legging it out as soon as she's down. I've also been trying to walk and dance around the house just to be moving! I have lost 1.5lb and that includes a day where I really binged (I had been away for 2 days with dd and I got home and dh wanted a takeaway and I had no fight in me!).

Now I've lost that 1.5lb i feel stronger and more motivated.

When I had pnd I just completely lost it - I posted loads of things to here and babycentre and I really am impressed I am still here. It was so bad. I just cried every day for about 9 months. It's difficult to come back from that.

Oh and I'm an ENORMOUS Harry Potter fan - I even have mischief managed tattooed on my wrists @MrsScamander

Well done on your weight loss, and for having the motivation to get out and exercise, I have the same problem of either being at work or looking after a small child so will need to try and find the motivation to exercise when DP gets home from work!

I've just booked an induction at the gym for Wednesday evening, and I've got some new trainers and work out leggings. Now I just need a light hoody because there is no way I can have my arms on show

Your tattoo sounds lovely by the way and I'm glad you seem to be in a good place right now considering your PND. It's been a tough day for me, tough week really so I'm off to treat myself to my new moisturiser and an early night!

@MrsScamander well done! I find the hardest bit is walking in the first time. Hopefully they can give you a good idea of what to do. I think once you're there it's ok. Although yesterday I really needed a wee (and obviously can't hold it after having a baby) so had to skip off to use the loo and then realised I had left my glasses on the treadmill and had to ask the person on it for them 🤦🏻‍♀️ how embarrassing.

I bought a top from Matalan that had long ish sleeves on it. I need to buy more gym gear because I only have one outfit!

Well, it was pretty bad for about a year and she's nearly 2. I still have bad days but nowhere near what it was. At one point I would be up sobbing my heart out saying to my husband I wish I was dead. It was awful. I hardly went out or spoke to anyone because I thought they all judged me, I thought everyone hated me and didn't like me including my husband. And now I talk about it a lot to my friends etc because I really want people to know it's a thing. Because then people are more likely to reach out to you because it's way harder to find the courage the other way.

How is everyone getting on?

Can I join please? I too have ballooned since ds2 and need to loose 3 stone. This week I have hit 1 stone loss since the new year but 3 to go. Oh, the overhang is truly awful. I will worry about it when I have reached a healthier weight. Right now, I'm uncomfortable going out, and tend to shy away from thing's. Exercise wise I'm restricted as I have a mid prolapse and can't do any high impact exercise or weights in case it gets worse. I have taken up boxing.
Well done everyone. Aiming for 2lb by Friday.

Hi @Lamby80 of course. It's so hard isn't it? You never realise these are possibilities when you have kids... well done for starting boxing though, that's really admirable! Do keep it up. I'm starting to enjoy the exercising, I love it when it starts to feel a little bit easier and you can tell you're starting to get a bit stronger.

I only lost half a pound this week. Must try to keep positive though. It's always times like this that I think fuck it and just carry on like I was

Good post @IlluminatiParty

1/2 a pound is still progress in the right direction t the end of the day!

*at

How is everyone doing? I have had a bad day and feeling a bit rubbish. We have a wedding at the end of the month and nothing to wear! The wotsits I ate earlier won't help. Back on track tomorrow and hoping for 1lb or 2lb weight loss by Friday. X

I top your wotsits with a McDonald's breakfast. In my defence I did walk half an hour each side of it pushing dd in the buggy so I burned it off - my car was in to be fixed so I needed free WiFi and some distraction for dd. I'm still trying really hard to be active and eat well, it's going pretty well and I'm trying not to beat myself up when I do eat a bit too much.

I lost 4st 8lb 18mths ago and my 3 pregnancy, 50 year old belly apron shrunk nicely! Theres a little loose, stretch marked skin but certainly not enough to have to tuck in my knickers and if I wasnt now 53 I'd happily wear a bikini. Exercise was just walking the dogs and dancing in my kitchen with a kilogram weight in each hand. Have faith op!

Thank you @MaMisled that's good to hear!!

I need to join you all. I am SO unhappy and sick of how I feel. I have at least 4 stone to lose.

I'm starting myfitnesspal again tomorrow, aiming for 1500 calories max to start. Going to go for a walk too.

It's a start.

Hope everyone is doing well 🙂

Ho @KickOffTheSundayShoes welcome! It's really nice to have the support here. I feel like I bore my husband silly when he's home chatting about food plans etc. Thank goodness for MyFitnessPal! It's amazing that it's free

Well today didn't go to plan due to my well-meaning husband getting us takeaway pizza. He has since been informed I am starting my weight loss journey so will be on best behaviour from tomorrow

But honestly I can't count the times I have started and stopped. I NEED to do this. It's having a huge effect on my mental health and not wanting to fo anything. I feel so much better even after a few days of sticking to my calorie limit and being more active- it's knowing that I am actually doing it that helps massively. The lack of beating myself up about another failed day.
Sick to death of it.

I used to be very naturally slim which I think makes it harder in a way- I never used to have to think about calories or what I ate at all. I literally had no idea of how much I weighed or about calories. I've always been an emotional eater but unfortunately can not get away with it anymore!

@KickOffTheSundayShoes I know I am the same. It feels so cruel to have to make such an effort to lose weight. Why can't I be one of these people who are just naturally thin? I think about it all the time!

I've had a bad binge today. My mum called and said she has to have an operation to remove a growth in her breast tomorrow. She said she didn't want to tell me. I've been really shaken by it.

Oh bless you, forever. I hope your mum is ok and goes well tomorrow.

Here if you need to chat

I put on weight not through pregnancy but when I went back to work full time and my now exh took over the cooking.He cooked wonderful food which I couldn't resist after a long day.He gave us equal amounts,he is6'2" I am not so the weight crept on.
DD is 15 and so I am finally Inthe right mind set to loose weight.
We already eat healthily so I joined we online(looked at SW but apart from not wanting to call food sins when I have a teenager it doesn't fit our diet).
1.5st later it's not been too bad.
I think though it's mainly being in the right place mentally to do it.A bad day,ate biscuits become not I may as well give up but Start again tomorrow.
I am late 50s,tried fit bits,books about eating sensibly but have resorted to something that works for me.
To all those out there doing it,however you're doing it well done,onwards and downwards!

Thank you @KickOffTheSundayShoes

@Hotterthanahotthing thank you - I will keep going even when I have a bad day x