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?

@Somersetlady I meant posters, not pushers, and I stand by my comment when you are feeling as low as the op no amount of trying to cut out sugar or cutting out carbs is going to work until she sorts out her head space.
Everyone knows eat lower calories then you need to lose weight, it's not difficult to work out but if it was that easy won't the op already be back to her pre baby weight? She needs help with her feelings then the wright loss will follow. I know, ifs fucking hilarious isn't it!

I have to disagree @BusterGonad cutting out refined sugar was the single turning point for me to better MH feeling less sluggish and stopping binge eating.

Research has found that sugar tricks your brain into wanting more and more of it.

I agree cutting out refined sugar is the way to go as it has a huge impact on feeling sluggish, mood etc. However OP still needs to be in a good enough place mentally to override the cravings and need to comfort eat to achieve that.

The op sounds deeply unhappy and knows she emotional eats.

I'm definitely going to try and cut sugar. To be fair to myself I don't drink fizzy drinks apart from the odd meal out, I've never had sugar in my tea, and I also cook from scratch mostly. It's just reaching for chocolate/cake/dessert when I feel awful. And when my husband gets takeaway and I think what's the point in cooking and wasting food. I think I need to be way better at meal planning. I was really good at it before, but this month is just crazy. Husband away at the moment on stag do. My mum in hospital so coming back down there a lot. Then I'm on a hen do. Birthday parties etc as well. It's so hard to crack it without staying home all the time. I really do need to make better choices and not put so much emotion into eating. But I just love food!

I feel like I'd really be a bit sad about never having cake again! Is that bad?

I understand that cutting out sugar is great, makes you feel fantastic etc but if you are a binge eater and an emotional eater as soon as you decide to cut the sugar out you will then crave it and it becomes something you obsess about. For me anyway. I'm far far better at cutting down. If I decide to NOT eat a certain food it becomes the only food I want, then I'll have some and then I'll think 'Fuck it, I may as well eat 20 chocolate bars" and before I know it I'm hating myself all over again for being a failure and I've put on another stone. What works for me is having one chocolate bar in the evening watching the tv etc, it's far better for me to have one at a set time then to have none fir a few days then binge and give up.

Op I'm cutting back at the moment, I'm snacking on fruit mostly and having small treats if I crave them. What I tell myself is this, if I still want a biscuit in 1 hour then I'll have a couple with my cup of tea. I will consciously make the effort to enjoy them, no woofing them down, no shoving them in as fast as I can, I tell myself they will not be the only biscuits I'll ever eat, I am not going on a diet tomorrow, I can eat biscuits every day if I choose to but today I'm having just two. The moment I tell myself the diet starts again tomorrow is the moment I'll eat everything I can get my hands on...,until I fall of the wagon again. Vicious vicious circle!
So far it's working, I've not binged since Friday, I've already lost a few pounds but best of all I'm HAPPY, I'm in control!!! I can eat my nice foods but I'm enjoying them and savoring them. At meal times I'm filling half my plate with veg and the rest is food I enjoy. Some days I want to scoff my face, but I tell myself why??? You can eat what ever you like, when ever you like, the shops and the chocolate will still be there tomorrow!

that makes sense. I've had a nice dinner of tuna jacket potato with salad and veg. I think maybe what I need to do is stick to meal times instead of snacks.

Is it bad to skip breakfast? I never really fancy anything

I don't eat breakfast 🤷🏽‍♀️ far better to listen to your body (excluding sugar cravings).

I've had a good couple of days food wise. I have skipped breakfast both days because I don't want it. Then had salad/small sandwich at lunch. Fruit and veg on the side of dinner. I don't feel too bad. My dh is away at the moment though so it feels a little easier!

You've got to do what's right for you, I lost lose of weight a few years ago (unintentionally) by buying an almond croissant on my way to work, eating at my desk at first break, then having a Boots meal deal at lunch. I literally ate food I loved and because I felt satisfied I naturally didn't eat anything else's until dinner time at home. I was literally choosing a smoothly, pasta salad and a small brownie or something.
Another time I lost weight was when I'd have a jacket potato and beans/or tomatoes at work for lunch.

Sorry about the typos!

You mentioned before that you feel DH sabotages your efforts perhaps when he's back you can ask him would he bring alcohol in the house and drink in front of you if you had an alcohol issue?

Tell him that you want his practical support by doing x y z.

I can only say how much better I've felt since cutting out refined sure. I sleep better, less moody and he sweet cravings went. I still eat what I fancy just avoid eating crap - I ate it daily before though chocolate bar every night.

I tried low sugar high protein ice cream last night it was good! You live cake but have a small piece occasionally with cream - perhaps brownies are lower sugar than most but not sure.

Don't skimp on fat and proteins.

Well done on 2 days healthy eating

I do have halo top in the fridge. I'm not a massive ice cream fan but anything sweet will make me happy sometimes.

He also wants to lose weight so I think I'll try and get him on the bandwagon or ask him to not eat it in front of me.

I really do love cake. I love baking cake and eating it!!

Freezer 🤦🏻‍♀️

Time to research all the low sugar options and get baking then 😂

Tell me about it.... had my first 2 years ago and since then the weight hasn’t just piled on... got on the scales the other day and have gained a whopping 6 stone since my first baby.... I was overweight before so know it’s pretty bad now

It's hard isn't it @Firstmum03 and you see people bouncing back so well and I'm just getting worse and worse the longer it is!

I've managed to lose 4lb this week which I'm really happy about because the hen do is next week. It's not a massive difference and it won't stop me from being the biggest one there but at least it's something and I feel better for it

Well done op. It's so tough trying to lose it. X

4lb in a week is marvellous, well done

Thank you. I'm trying so hard to break out of my habits and so far I feel like I'm doing better. I'm even able to do it around my dh

How are things going @foreverhanging? Hope you enjoyed the hen do x x