What was your light bulb moment? I've been a real idiot and I've had my wake up call

[T1gerEye]

I've put on a lot of weight this year. An impressive 3 stone and I was a little overweight before I did that so today sees me looking at 14 stone something

The death of both my parents this year meant that for some reason I felt I could literally stuff my face with cake, Doritos and pizza. Oh and chocolate. Was eating as if sometime had told me it was calorie free

Anyway, I've had my wake up call. I got a good deal on a private blood test subscription service and thought I'd try it as just a one off as I was idly wondering what my vitamin D levels were. The fact other tests were offered too was a bonus - I didn't think too much about those. Until I got the results ..

Vitamin D low. Iron low. I have tipped myself (just) into high cholesterol. Again with the CRP test - too high. Globulin is over what it should be. On top of this, I frequently have acid reflux - which I've never had before - some back pain and I'm a bit out of breath if I walk too fast. My stomach is terrible. Just an apron of fat. I can only wear loose clothes but I kid myself they're stylish as I buy them from Hush. Nothing looks nice on me.

Amazing! what a fool I've been. I spoke to my doctor who isn't too concerned from a clinical point of view as my results are just a bit off kilter but I know this has been caused by me basically eating for England these past months. Maybe not the vitamin D - I dunno!

Anyway that's my wake up call. I have children - one still young at 12 - and I'm in my 40s. I'm hoping I've had enough of a shock to actually stick to something now

I've started the 800 calorie blood sugar thingy. I need some fairly speedy results to feel better but don't want to do any diet not nutritionally sound so this ticks the boxes for me. I'll do the 8 weeks (please god I stay the course!) and is like to see 2 stone off for Christmas which I know is achievable with dedication.

Anyone fancy chipping in? Joining me? With any diet. Or I'll just ramble to myself and see how it goes

Oh and what was your lightbulb moment?

Ah thanks T1gerEye. Yeah I'm all go til xmas, it's gotta be done! I mean I am fucking bored of dieting now but wtf else can I do, I just have to keep going!
I was having a slimfast for breakfast, one for lunch and then a small dinner (or the other way round) like half a sandwich and some fruit. I'm starting to have a go at 500/1000cals alternate days now though, so yesterday I had a slimfast and 5 chicken nuggets, and today I had an apple with a slice of cheese, a salad with avocado and some pasta with tinned tomato and veg and some grated cheese.

Thanks OP. I meeeed to do this

@T1gerEye you have inspired me to join you! I'm on a couple of other threads too but am desperate to regain the motivation I had a couple of months ago. Fed up being fat and no clothes fitting - I need to lose around 3 stone

I did do Slimfast many years ago @ISmellBabies and it worked well for me at the time, was in a really busy job so actually it helped to keep a shake on my desk and slurp at it occasionally. Now however I'm trying low carbing as it works better with my lifestyle nowadays (or would if I stuck to it!)

My mum is 70, has severe osteoporosis and is virtually housebound. I am terrified of going down the same route and know that a healthy weight is a good starting place!

Hi,

You sound motivated and at the moment I’m feeling motivated too, so I’ll join in! I’m doing 16:8 intermittent fasting. The first two days were the hardest because I had a headache (I think from quitting Coca Cola). I’m on day four and each day has felt slightly easier than the last. The rice and mushroom soup sounds nice, I’ll google a recipe!

If I mentally plan my day and have everything to hand I’m finding things not too bad going.

I scared myself that I had diabetes and I went to the gp for a blood test and the fear crept in and it kicked me up my bum! I’d like to loose 2 st.

Good luck everyone today!

I’m in Australia so it’s not early morning for me it’s mid afternoon!

I'm in, have managed to lose around a stone of baby weight but I've been putting on and losing the same five pounds all summer, could do with dropping a couple of stone for Christmas.

No lightbulb moment as I've been overweight for years, but our sex life is awful and this predates the baby. Not sure whether my weight is a major factor but its something (in theory) which I can control.

Doing team RH. Breakfast will be yoghurt, berries, chia seeds and honey. Not sure about lunch as I have a medical which may be interesting!

Mine was a photo of me and some friends. I was wearing what I thought was a baggy top.. I looked more pregnant than my friend who’s six months!

Like ismellbabies I’m on SlimFast, although I’m following 3:2:1. So far so good, I find it easier as I don’t have to calorie count or think ‘what can I have?’ It allows for a 600 calorie meal a day which means that I can cook a fairly normal meal in the evening to have with my family so they aren’t having to adjust too much just because I’m a big fat fatty 😂

Can I join you please. I’m starting today, trying to stick to 1200 calories or less but might do the 800 blood sugar diet if I don’t see results. Plan is a lot more veg, a lot less crap. I’ve got three stone to shift and would love to see two of that gone by Christmas!

Good luck! I hope that it goes well for you and you stick with it.

For me it was the arrival of spring this year. I had no nice clothes to wear. My youngest was 15 months and I was still in maternity clothes and I was just suddenly desperate to have my body back. I felt like shit. I did some research, read a couple of books, formed a plan and cracked on. I've lost 3st and am maintaining now. I feel great :)

Well done!! I started Fast800 four weeks ago when I was 14st 11lbs. I've lost 11lbs so far but have needed longer fasting periods to see a difference.

I've read (Mosley) that if you're vegetarian/vegan you can have 100 more calories. Be wary of hidden carbs - using My Fitness Pal shows you the macros of what you're eating (Nutrition tab at the bottom of the Diary page).

Also, whilst I've always recommended Floradix, apparently a supplement called Blue Iron is slightly better. Every little helps!

Wow well done Oyster! What plan did you use??

Morning @T1gerEye just weighed in at 13st 10

I need to be 11st or under to be within a healthy BMI

5:2ing today so just had tea/ coffee for breakfast.
Will have salad for lunch & prawn pho for dinner.
Planning to swim 1k for exercise.

What's your plan for the day?

I read the Obesity Code and decided that intermittent fasting was the one for me. I liked the idea of OMAD but didn't think I'd be able to commit to it 7 days a week so I settled on OMAD Monday - Thursday and then eating what I please Friday - Sunday. It worked really well, I lost weight consistently every week. I find it much easier to be hungry sometimes rather than all the time, which is the case for me on a more traditional calorie counting plan.

My wake up call was also a routine blood test op.

My liver function test has come back abnormal (raised enzymes) which my GP thinks is due to the weight I’ve put on. It can lead to liver disease and cirrhosis if you don’t change things.
My dad died of liver cirrhosis and to be frank it was a bloody awful way to go so this has scared the shit out of me.

I’m doing 16:8. Starting weight was 15stone 10 and I have over 5 stone to loose

I’m 2 weeks in and lost 7lb so far though 16:8 is fab and so easy!

My light bulb moment was hitting 40 looking like this

My even better moment was hitting 50 like this

Wow @NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace well done! How did you loose it?

@SmiledWithTheRisingSun well you're doing a lot better than me already weight wise so that's something eh? God, I was 11 stone last year?! WTF?

Plan for today for me was driving 6 odd hours to return eldest to uni. So no chance to eat really! Food so far ..

Protein bar
Pot of fruit

Total of 400 cals

Dinner will be roasted red onions, baby carrots, peppers with black beans done in paprika and natural yogurt with lime wedges.

How have you done today?

@JadeDragon23 poor you. It's a bloody shock isn't it? I can't get my head round having borderline cholesterol issues but I know that eating cakes non stop tends to lead to issues

@DownUdderer well done on getting that motivation! And soup was very bide. Err I didn't make it - far too much effort for me! It's a fresh one from the chiller cabinet

nice not bide

@NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace you've done super well! Congrats!

Please may I join? I started today with no snacks, loads of exercise and portion control. I'm hoping that will be enough to see some difference, since I have been comfort-eating really badly and gained a lot very quickly. I can feel rolls of fat moving around me as I walk,and disrupting movements I could do easily 6 months ago. I'll start researching something more structured soon. In the meantime, if I'm not eating 6 packs of crisps and most of a loaf of bread, that, in itself, will be a shock to the system.

@Steala welcome. Yeah I hear ya. Just cutting out the rubbish can sometimes work wonders.

I need something structured though or I over indulge in a big way. Was gutted to learn today the Flake have brought out a mint version. God I love Flakes so much and a mint one actually makes my heart beat a little faster.

@SmiledWithTheRisingSun
@T1gerEye

Thank you I went to Weight Watchers. I know that groups are not popular with some people but I found the eating plan sensible and the group support very motivating. I still go and weigh in each week. I was 15 stones before my light bulb and I need to make sure that I don't go back there.

Wishing everyone well. I'll follow with interest and if I can be of help to anyone, please do shout up [smile[