If you've lost two stone, come and tell me the benefits in your life

[growlingbear]

I have zero motivation and willpower. Definitely not a yoyo dieter. More like a never-dieted. But I now MUST lose two stone. I want some motivation. What's different in your life?

I want to be able to do plough pose in yoga without suffocating on my own fat.
I want my asthma to improve.
I really really want more energy.

Also - what plan did you use and how are you keeping the weight off?

I do buy crisps for DD and I actually don’t care, that’s how good low carb is for me. I could not control myself around crisps and have been like that since I was a kid.
So for me I just don’t have them any more.
The trick is to find other foods which are allowed on low carb which satisfy certain urges eg the urge for something crunchy (pork scratchings) or the urge for comfort (cauli mash with Boursin)

*@ I was exactly the same. I had depression and ptsd rather than pnd but otherwise our stories are very similar.

It was remembering how life used to be when I was a healthy weight that made me realise it could be the same again. I just had to do what I used to do.

It did take a few weeks before it felt natural again but it really does. The thought of eating more than I need to now is horrible. But I don’t worry about food and I enjoy what I eat.
I naturally favour a low carb diet but I don’t restrict anything. I find that my desires have changed though. I would rather have a dish of veg than a cream cake these days.

I’m 9st7lbs now from 12st4lbs. 5’7” with a broad build and big boobs so this ideal for me.

Good luck. You can do it!

Sorry should have read @growlingbear

This is thought provoking.....

@oddestsock
What is HDE out of interest? This thread is really giving me the motivation I need.
Ten years ago (!!) I was 11.9. I am 5 foot 3. I lost two stones and got to 9.7 by cutting carbs right down and walking for an hour most days. I found it very easy once I got into it. Half my plate veg and lots of protein. I wasn’t hungry .
I couldn’t believe everything how much better I felt. So much more energy and for the first time in years didn’t avoid being photographed.
Unfortunately life became very stressful shortly afterwards and the weight started to creep back on. I am now 13.3 which is just horrendous. I am borderline diabetic, struggle with stairs and feel unwell nearly all the time. I used to love walking but hills kill me now.
I’ve just started to try and lose the weight in the past few days in Janes Plan because I need something which takes the potential away to eat too much portion wise and get me into a disciplined mindset. I know if I don’t lose this weight now I will be experiencing major health problems very soon. I’m tired of feeling miserable and fat all the time. Recently saw a photo of myself on holiday and was horrified.

@honeysuckleandroses it's hunger directed eating. Basically you take away all the guilt associated with any type of food, and allow yourself to eat whatever you want, whenever you want.

There is a book called Thin side out, and it explains it all, it's a really thought provoking read. I've spent my life going between restricting and binge eating, and subsequently losing then regaining the same weight over and over again.

In December, I started on antidepressants for various reasons, and I realised I wanted to just live, and part of that was just allowing myself to eat whatever the hell I wanted and to stop feeling bad about it!

Making all good unrestricted has made it less desirable (as soon as I put myself on a diet in the past, i would just be thinking about eating and wanting all the things I'd tell myself I couldn't have!), and I've naturally stopped wanting it all the time, and can stop myself from wolfing down an entire share pack of maltesers in one go (though sometimes I still do this, but I know it's no problem!). It's made me address my relationship with food and have a much more healthy mindset.

Basically it seemed too good to be true, but it is true :) I'm far, far happier for it

That's great to hear Oddestsock!

I lost just under 3 stone and it pretty much changed everything!

I had some fairly serious mental health problems, crippling IBS and other physical issues I wasn’t even aware of until they disappeared

For me personally, I found my health to be a much more powerful motivational force than the idea of fitting into a smaller dress size. It can take so long before you can see the difference weightloss makes, but I could feel the impact a better diet and some exercise had on my health within a week or two.

I didn’t do anything too crazy. I stuck to the NHS recommended calorie limit for weightloss, which is 1400 kcals and introduced some gentle exercise (30 minute walks most days). It took me 6 months to lose the weight.

Bumping this as I'm finding it very uplifting to read everyone's stories.

Also, any comments about feet/shoes would be welcome!

I have dropped a full shoe size. I have gone from a 5 to a 4.

Low-carb diet which also has helped with IBS. I started to exercise - first walking then running (couch to 5k ) and have done half-marathon since. I'm now more into weights and my self-confidence is much better. I like clothes so now have more choices 👍 and I'm much much healthier as don't eat much sugar or processed foods etc
Good luck for your journey - it's absolutely worth it!

I have also pretty much given up alcohol because of how much calories they contain - I rather eat food for it. If you fo drink, make sure to count those calories. I also meal-prep and take lunch to work (proper food like salads with protein, no sandwiches )

This is really helpful and eye opening. Thank you all for taking the time to post your experiences.

I definitely agree that health benefits would be the top priority, Not being breathless or depressed or having stomach ulcers etc would be good.

Today is my first day of trying. I usually last about 4 hours on a diet (seriously it's less than half a day usually before a binge kicks in because I've decided to restrict myself!)

So far today I've had a bowl of low fat natural yoghurt sprinkled with toasted oats and seeds and 10 cherries for breakfast; a small bowl of left over home made chicken and mango curry - no rice, for lunch with another 10 cherries. Iced water and two coffees with milk.

For me that is definitely dieting, not normal eating, though probably that would just be a normal amount of food for lots of people.
I've been for an hour's slow ramble in the woods with DS2 and DH who can't walk far or fast at the moment due to an injury, so it wasn't exactly cardio, but better than sitting still.

@growlingbear it might be easier to make small changes rather than dive in and completely overhaul your diet, I used to do this and used to invariably fail within a few days; I would have a mini binge and then think ah I've ruined it now, may as well wait til Monday to start again. Getting out of the diet mindset is really hard, but if with time you can make better choices without feeling you are on a diet, it's very liberating. It's kind of like running a marathon, if you go all in and try the 26 miles it's not going to end well, if though you do more and more each day theres a better chance of success. I found on diets all I thought about was food which made it worse, sorry if this sounds cheesy haha just sharing my advice.

Thank you @Sandybval I know you're right. I'm just feeling utterly down about it right now. I have a really important job interview next week, which I'd love to get but am looking through my wardrobe thinking: no, no, no, and when I try stuff on I just look like a sack of spuds. And after the interview I am meeting up with a size six friend who I haven't seen in years who also looks about twenty years younger than she is and turns heads everywhere, she's so pretty. I just feel crap about how I've slid into fat, saggy , invisible middle-aged cliche.

I know it can feel all consuming when you feel like this (I've been there for sure), and it's easy for me to say and harder to feel; but your job interview is because you have been sifted and someone has looked through your skills and experiences and thought you are likely to be an asset to their business. Your friend wants to see you not to see if you've lost or gained weight, but no doubt to have a chat and spend some time together. Only since losing weight do I realise all of this so I know it's not easy and it's annoying when people say stuff like this but it's really hard to eat well when you feel down.

I've lost weight but still need to lose more. I constantly graze when I'm in pain - I become a food hoover. Stones just crept up and on. I started with pilates (2 .5 years - up to 2 classes weekly) to improve mobility and my core as I had become unsteady on my feet and was having falls. Weight is coming down still needing to lose stones! Fitter & down to a size 16 now. We began adding a handful of pulses / beans to meals and increased the vegetable ration. I do feel better but because of health problems I see it as a long slow process.

Like @NaomiFromMilkShake I had the illness diet and came out the other side 4.5 stone lighter than my heaviest ever last year. I'd tried everything to lose weight but it wouldn't happen. It's taken me a while to get used to the idea that I now look "normal" rather than fat. Ive not really lost a dress size weirdly enough but can now fit into my small size 16s and my big size 16s drop off me (I'd always refused point blank to buy anything bigger than a 16 as otherwise I'd be admitting I was fat). Ive found myself recently looking in shops I was too big for before - Reid's, Karen Millen, Hobbs etc but 10 years of being fat I've lost my fashion eye. I have found my feet have shrunk a teeny bit but the huge one is that my centre of gravity has changed so I can now wear my heels again.

This is so interesting. I love reading how other people have done it (though I wouldn't wish illness on anyone.)
Thank you @Sandybval for those kind words. I hope they are true. I managed to find an outfit for the interview today so am feeling a bit less about that, at least!
Second day of 'diet.' I honestly feel like after 1.5 days of hard labour not grazing I should be size 10 already! I really need to reset my attitude to this.

I gave myself permission to graze! I ate nuts and relabelled them as healthy as they were helping lower my cholesterol levels. Crackers and butter! Fruit. I also upped my water intake which was almost nonexistent.

• that's the weight I am now. 11.5. And I'm only 5ft4. I really need to get rid of 25-30lbs.

^

So this was basically me and I lost two stone.

Here's my list of perks :

I look ten years younger.
Clothes shopping is amazing, I can wear pretty much anything.
I'm positive, in a better mood more often.
I feel lighter, like a pp said.
I can feel my body more, I feel more supple, more feminine, rather than clunky.
Skin looks better.
Ill less.
I look taller
Eat less, so it's cheaper.
Hair seems healthier.
Massively interested in cooking, nutrition etc and how diet effects your mood, health etc.
Huge self esteem boost. I walk tall and now seem to get more respect.

How I did it:

Lower carb - I still eat lentils, potatoes, squash.
Cutting out rubbish food - I eat pretty clean. Loads of veg, meat, fish, dairy, fruit. All full fat. Drink a glass of wine per night. I'll very occasionally have a treat I. E. A piece of choc cake at weekend but I'll tweak my diet accordingly to accommodate it.

I used MFP loads at first - massive eye opener. I was eating IKEA sized bowls of cereal - 600 cals per shot! I thought it was healthy! Hell no!

Also, BIWI 's bootcamp on here really, really helped. Loads of good advice, support etc.

You can DO it, op. You won't look back.

@managedmis - that's an inspiring post. Thank you very much. I do want to feel all the things you list here. Improved health and self esteem, more positive reaction from others, able to try on clothes.

How long did it take you?

I don't need MFP to tell me where I fall down. It's grazing out of boredom and emotional eating. And eating portion sizes fit for my growing teens and 6'2" DH instead of for 5'4" me.

I feel better, I don't have a roll of flab on my ribs, I can walk into a shop and pick up a size 12 and it fits, my face is less bloated, I get lots of compliments, I don't feel like I have to cover up, I can wear nice clothes.

You can do it OP, but you need to find something that works - for me it was the blood sugar diet, using my fitness pal to track calories, and having a personal trainer once a week, then doing a couple of sessions of PT at home on my own.

I'm now 18 months down the line, and have kept the weight off so far.

I get lots of compliments

@ethelredonagoodday You know, I really miss this. Sounds shallow but I do. I used to get a lot of compliments when I was slim but I get about one or two a year these days from anyone outside the family and those are always from one particular close friend and a gallant husband of another friend.

Can I ask you all - how do you manage with other people in the house eating and drinking whatever they want all the time? I had to go away on my own for work for a week and ate really healthily and didn't drink at all. But at home, I cave in immediately to DH saying, 'fancy a glass of wine' or DC saying, 'Can we have ice-cream?' (DH buys all this stuff, incidentally. He buys weekly stashes of wine, ice cream, crisps, chocolates, biscuits, bombay mix, daily loaves of french bread and bagels etc. I never buy any of this stuff but he buys it anyway, whatever I say.