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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

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Original poster

Fat but unmotivated

16 replies

Lemonandmint · 04/07/2019 12:18

I'm overweight. I'm getting fatter. I keep looking at my BMI every week and it's creeping up and up, I need to lose more and more weight. I'm unhappy and I'm not doing anything about it.

I don't know where my motivation has gone or where I used to get it from.

I care about how I look but clearly not enough to actually do something.

I used to be the sort of person who would just do it. I'd wake up one day and exercise, go to the gym, eat healthily etc. That seems to have vanished and I'm just feeling very blah.

Summer is making this so much harder. I don't know how to snap out of it.

OP posts:

Crazzzycat · 04/07/2019 13:26

That’s exactly what I was like for a good number of years and then, suddenly, I decided it was time to change, ditched the junk food and started exercising.

It’s really difficult to put my finger on what actually caused me to want to change though. I think part of it was to do with learning to be a bit kinder to myself and to stop thinking that I was a complete failure for putting on the weight. I’m sure some people will be able to use self-loathing as a force for good. But in my case I found it bloody hard to change anything about myself when I felt down about the stars I was in.

The other thing that motivated me was that being overweight was actually starting to cause me physical pain (sharp pains in my foot, painful knees). I’m really way too young for all that, so that encouraged me to take action in a way that looks never could. I don’t really care that much about what size clothes I fit into, but I do want to be as healthy as I can be.

I’m not sure if any of this is any use at all, but thought I’d share just in case!

rosesinmygarden · 04/07/2019 13:47

Lemon and mint, I'm the same. I'm heavier than ever since leaving my teaching job and working from home. My darling dog died 6 weeks ago and I've been doing a lot of comfort eating.

However, I've noticed that my knees and feet hurt and I'm having trouble moving about as much. I'm 40 this month and too young to be in pain like this! I've decided I'm just going to make sure I move about a bit more and stop constantly nibbling. I'm going to cut down on carbs and try to ditch sweets and treats. I'm not a gym bunny but I'm going to make sure I do gardening or cleaning or cycling to the shops every day.

My goal is for my knees to stop hurting by the autumn, when we are planning to get a new puppy. I need to be able to run around after him or her!

silverystream · 04/07/2019 13:59

I was a bit like that. But then I discovered I could run. Not kidding but I thought it was something I just could not do very well, never mind enjoy, since cross country at school left me wheezing even though I was fit enough to cycle for miles.

It was seeing this clip:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2khySLE

I tried it and found I could easily run 30 minutes without stopping. I was pretty pleased with myself. I'd always envied runners a bit. From then on in I got a FitBit. Sorted my diet as it will calorie count your food for you and monitor your activity to tell you how many calories you use. So I've lost over 2 and a half stones since last year and can wear a size 10 now at 5 foot 7. Still got about of fat to lose but I'm pretty pleased with it all. 🙂

roothyb · 04/07/2019 14:02

Get up right now (if you can) and go for an hours quick walk - it will make you feel great after it. Keep doing it! Keep thinking about the good feeling after! Walk longer every day. And cut small bad things out your diet to start with. Don't restrict yourself. Don't think of it as a quick fix but the start to a new lifestyle.

stayfit · 04/07/2019 17:25

@silverystream thanks for sharing the video gonna try this tomorrow

silverystream · 04/07/2019 17:34

You're welcome stayfit. Hope you like it.

CaMePlaitPas · 04/07/2019 18:10

I'min exactly the same position OP, I'm the heaviest I've ever been but can't get my arse in gear. I know I've got to get started but honestly I've got so much to lose I don't even know where to start.

cavalier · 05/07/2019 16:07

I agree with rootylhy B walking is such great exercise ... sometimes I tbink “ can’t be asked but when I’ve finished I feel elated and have so much more energy ... .. start off small and increase and try incorporate it in everyday life where you can .... 👍

NerrSnerr · 05/07/2019 18:13

I always find doing exercise i enjoy helps me stay motivated. I used to run but I need knee surgery before I can do high impact stuff again so swim and do yoga. Doing at least 1 hour yoga (occasionally 2) and 30-45 swimming a week is all I do at the moment but i can already feed my muscles harden a bit. I want to get better so that motivates me to lose the weight.

managedmis · 05/07/2019 18:24

You need to find what works. What you are willing to NOT eat. It might be crap carbs, it might be soft drinks, alcohol, cake, cheese.

You can't eat everything and expect to be slim.

As a famous mnetter said, pick your hard.

(it's hard not eating choc, cakes or whatever, but even harder being sick and overweight!)

Whyhaveidonethis · 06/07/2019 15:23

@silverystream thank you, thank you, thank you. I just went on my first runnin 6 months because of you. I was slower than normal but made 1.2 miles without stopping in 86° heat.

silverystream · 06/07/2019 16:37

Whyhave Excellent!😀

Whyhaveidonethis · 06/07/2019 18:33

@silverystream now I've just got to keep it up!!

silverystream · 06/07/2019 18:45

A lot easier if you run at a level which is enjoyable, I think. I started running after chemotherapy. I always tell myself, 'Something is better than nothing'. People beat themselves up if they are below their PB. However, if the alternative is lying on the sofa, I think doing something is always better. And it has training benefits. If you look up Maffetone training they explain the level to develop proper efficient fat burning utilisation is not that fast. And for long runs fat burning is important.

Whyhaveidonethis · 07/07/2019 16:25

So that's my second run under my belt. Totally agree with you @silverystream, I don't need to do a pb, just need to get my arse moving. I could feel my thighs rubbing together as I ran, it makes me feel awful that I've got to this.

silverystream · 07/07/2019 17:56

Fab, Why. Just keep it up and focus on enjoying it.

Don't feel ashamed of your thighs. I've had thighs that rub together. They might still, but my running tights are pretty sturdy and I usually wear jeans and trousers so I'd just not notice. I've got a couple of culotte style slips to wear with dresses and skirts. It's a lot to do with narrowly set hips, I think. I was looking the other day and although my thighs have good muscle definition and are quite slim now they might still rub together at the top. Once comfortable clothing is sorted, though, it needn't be an issue.

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