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?

Do any of you doing the 800 cals a day do any exercise? I'm tempted to start it, but don't know if I'd have enough fuel to run; which makes me a bit nervous.

@Runningonempty84 no not yet. Just feel too lumbering at the moment. I think if you're used to exercise though it'll be absolutely fine

@Alwaysthesun do join! Welcome and good luck

I sometimes have one slice of low gi bread toasted. But I guess if you’re a bread addict it could be hard to just have one slice. I used to just love eating sweeties and chocolate, I was never drawn to toast with butter etc

Hi, please can I join? I can’t lose weight right now as I’m actually pregnant and due in a month, but I’m really keen to start the healthy eating now and continue with it once baby has arrived. I have read the full thread and lots of your stories really resonate with me!

I have a lot to lose: overall I would like to lose about 4 stone (based on an end of pregnancy weight of approx 14 stone) but would be happy if I could lose 3 stone over the course of 2020. I know from previous experience that the weight really clings to me and I don’t lose it easily despite breast feeding, exercising etc, so I’m hoping chatting on a thread like this will keep me motivated and focussed !

I haven’t had a “light bulb moment” in terms of something that has made me actually get my arse into gear, but by going from a slim person to a fat person in only a few years I have learned that:

1. everything is so much harder, physically. My back hurts, I have little energy, when I run I am so heavy and sluggish. I don’t want that for my life;

2. I struggle to play with my kids as I can’t run around and mess around with them in the way that I want to;

3. people treat me very differently. People seem to be much ruder to larger people and show me a lot less respect, kindness etc both at work and generally;

4. nothing makes me feel good about myself. I can’t buy a new outfit or get my hair done as it doesn’t look nice (or how I would want to look/how I feel inside);

5. there are hardly any photos of me and my children, because I hate the way I look. Which is ridiculous because they don’t care right now and in years to come we would all be grateful to have some photos together!

Above all, I just really want to set a good example to my kids and to do my best to avoid diabetes, heart disease etc. I miss being someone who is fit and active and healthy!

So far today has been ok (it’s just gone 13:00 here). I’ve had a bowl of sultana bran (I’m trying to eat more fibre) and a large salad (lettuce, tomato, pepper, sweetcorn and avocado). DH has bought me a piece of cake which I’m going to enjoy later! I will either go for a swim or head out for a walk around the park with the kids then tonight we’re having a spicy chickpea, spinach and eggs meal which will be good for getting some protein .

Oh - I’ve also started having Spatone again with orange juice, as vitamin c helps this kind of iron absorption, as some recent blood tests showed I’m iron deficient.

Oh T1gereye, I hear you, am donating £45 a month to my gym for fuck all and hating myself. OP, am going to join you, have 3 stone to lose and it’s now or never

Currently swinging between light bulb and denial. I'm 24 never smoked or taken drugs and I might have lung cancer or a life limiting lung issue thanks to an autoimmune disorder.

I need to lose weight and get my shit together because I don't plan on going anywhere any time soon.

I'm 4ft9 and about 15st and unable to exercise at all at the moment thanks to the lung issues.

Hi @T1gerEye can I ask - where did you get your bloods done privately/how did you go about it?

I had my bloods done at the GP a while back as they suspected I’m iron deficient again but they never ever show you the itemised breakdown of results and I know they didn’t test for B12 deficiency which I’m convinced I have and is the lynchpin to me feeling so lousy even though Spatone is amazing for getting my iron levels up.

Of course I’m a mum of three under 4 so that may explain it but I’m carrying an extra 10kg and I can really “feel” it.

I’m counting down to dinner time! I had an apple for a snack an hour ago and it’s made me feel hungry!

I’m going to have broccoli and cauliflower and steak. Yum.

@PaulHollywoodsSexGut I used a company called Thriva and - apart from the results - they were super good. All so clear and explained. They use the same labs as the NHS do all above board. They send you a little kit, it's a finger prick test, I sent it back to them on Wednesday afternoon and had the results the next day - it's that quick. I've probably got a half price (for you) code if you want it so drop me a line if you decide to go for it. You can pick and choose your tests.

@user764329056 we can do this!!

@TheGruffalosLoveChild wow you're already winning if you're planning out healthy eating whilst pregnant. Good for you though. Hopefully you'll drop 4 stone immediately after the birth?!!

Well it's day 8 here and I've weighed in. I have lost .....

It's actually not that impressive so don't know why I'm doing a big announcement type thing

Anyway - 7 lbs and 1 oz. I suppose that's ok for a first week. Of course I wanted 12 lbs but I'll have to take 7

7lbs down! Well done! That’s fab.

7lb in one week?!! That's bloody amazing! Well done!

Wow! Well done! I've lost 2lb and I want more but if I keep this up, I could be 2stone down by Christmas. I'm just not good at playing the long game.

@Steala me neither re a long game. I want to know why I'm not thin yet?

Yeah I'm relatively pleased with 7lbs. I've done the best I can do anyway. Week 2 is always tricky for me because I start to feel bored. But I'd love to wear something nice over Christmas and I'd love to be able to wear all my lovely clothes, oh and there's also the small matter of me actually giving myself cholesterol issues too.. so I need to keep going with this. I think I'll aim for 3lbs off this week. I'll weigh in on Saturdays I think as that's easier for me.

Thanks guys ☺️

So day 8 started with a small skinny cappuccino from costa and Greek yogurt, protein powder and strawberries. Lunch may be the 'almost instant noodle pot' out of the Fast 800 recipe book

@T1gerEye that's amazing!! I would LOVE to be 7lbs down.

I have been quite good really though haven't weighed myself. I had a takeaway meal last night which was clearly off plan and a couple of glasses of wine, but am back to eating well again today.

I haven't weighed myself but do feel much better and less bloated.

7lb is a great result @T1gerEye ! Just think of that 7lb x another 4 weeks or 6 weeks. That will be some seriously impressive weight loss :) I know what you mean about the long game @Steala but that’s a really good way of looking at it - I’d love to be 2 stone down by Christmas!

@F33lguilty how much would you like to lose?

@Samosaurus ha that would be nice. To just nicely and easily drop half a stone a week. If only it was that simple eh?

I have a tendency to eat the same foods over and over hence I get bored and before I know it, I'm eating chocolate bars. So I'm going to work on introducing some new foods this week. Err maybe

Ugh - feel like I've not stopped eating today. Had a bad night sleep so my usual go to would chocolate. I've managed to resist though

Greek yogurt
Strawberries
Protein powder

Instant noodle pot - made with miso paste, mushrooms, noodles, ginger, spring onions, spinach, a few cashews and soy - had this for lunch AND dinner as had made a recipe for 2 and I just couldn't be bothered to cook anything

Large bowl of raspberries
Pear
Piece of cheese
Half a protein bar

Loads basically

T1gerEye - 7lbs is amazing! I would feel very proud with that. TBH I’d be happy to lose 7lbs in a month, let alone a week . How have you got on today?

It’s 5am here and once again I’ve been up most of the night. I find it soooooo hard to make healthy choices when I’m exhausted.