I don’t even recognise myself

[Bookaholic73]

In the past year (since getting married) I’ve gained about 3 stone.
I know exactly why, we went from being quite active to sitting in front of the TV most evenings and weekends, eating shit (chocolate etc).

We went out to a friends post wedding garden party this weekend (Social distanced) and when I looked at photos on Facebook I was MORTIFIED.

I know I’ve gained weight, but how did I not know I looked like that??
I didn’t even recognise myself!

So, today is Day 1 of ‘Bookaholic Gets Buff’ and I’m looking for support, advice, fellow ‘Buffers’ who would like to join in etc

I am quite active, although you wouldn’t believe it by looking at me. So it’s mainly diet I need to improve.

I’m 13st and a size 18
I’m aiming for 10st.

I'll join you. I need to lose 3 stones.

@SummerDayWinterEvenings thanks, glad to have someone else on board!
And you have the same amount to lose as me too.

I spent yesterday almost in tears, so ashamed of myself for getting like this!
But today I’ve done good, not eaten anything unhealthy.
It’s the evenings that’s the worst

I need to lost at least 2 but preferably 3... I lost 1.5 at the end of last year but then put 2 on... I've signed up to do the virtual great north runs "40 runs for 40 years"... giving up the wine and crisps too...

I'm in!

Also need to lose about 2.5 stone. 3 would be lovely!

I've started with buying a soup maker. I got a cheap one for £30 in sale and it makes 1lt so that's 2 soups.

Make it fresh or what I do is make it at weekend and bulk freeze. Take out freezer night before and heat in microwave and out in thermos for work.

Then take yoghurt and fruit. If you want something with carbs to keep you going crackers to dip are lovely. Or rice cakes for snack time.

You can also make smoothies in 2 minutes! Takes about 2 minutes to prepare so very quick.

I make a large pot of natural yoghurt, 100ml milk and 500g of fruit. I use raspberry, banana and strawberry. This is great for breakfast, sweet snack if not. I store in fridge and lasts 2 days.

Then dinner is whatever with veg or salad.

I didn't want to cut out sweet stuff etc. I wanted to eat a cake if I fancied it or a chocolate bar. So I am trying to eat low carb and high protein and plenty of fruit/veg to allow this.

Week 1 I lost 3lb

Oh god I’ve just sat down and cried about my weight 2 stone in three years and I can’t get it off I’ve been trying but can’t balance eating enough with enough energy to work and being trapped wfh at my desk all day

Seriously I eat less now than I ever have but cannot lose it. No sweet stuff, no processed food, v little alcohol, (I need some!) and now I’m cutting oUt carbs from tomorrow 😢
Still 12st n should be 10. I’m Older tho 😞 at 48

Please may I join too ?

How are you buffing?! 😃

Intermittent fasting and cardio daily. Lost 2 stone in 4 months and fast effects so motivating. Keeping off and maintaining as reached target in Feb

Was 11st 9 Size 14 now 9 at 9 size 10 (5 ft 6)

I’ve been doing strict 16/8 every day - do you think 5/2 is better?!

What cardio Swift? And how long do you fast for?

Maybe I’m just not moving enough

I prefer 16 8 fast from dinner at 7 ish to lunch at 12ish and cut out bad snacks. Food on smaller plates to limit potion size. 1 hour turbo each morning. That did it

I’ll join but need to lose 4-5 at least 😭 size 20-22? Normally a curvy 12-14.
Going for a walk now and ordered a fit watch aiming for 10k steps per day and my friend wants me to do couch to 5k with her.
I’m thinking of joining slimming world online too.

Impressive swift, well done!

Can I join, I’ve put on 2/3 stone too over the years and at 41 I feel horrible and look awful
Boyfriend about a year and a half ago so we sit and eat too used to go for lunch/dinner/takeaways he’s put on too. I just feel lazy and unmotivated.
Am a nurse, my uniform is too tight I also have no thyroid which isn’t really helping.
So I’m in if you’ll have me

Great to have you all joining in, thanks for not leaving me alone!

@Mammyloveswine I’d love to start running, but I’m so big that it really hurts at the moment. Well done for doing the runs virtually!
I need to quit the wine too, or at least reduce it to twice a week.

@itsgettingweird well done on week 1!
I love the idea of home made soups. So easy and quick. I make them for my husband a lot, for his work lunches, but rarely eat them myself. I do love leek and potato though!

@Murrfect yes, please join in! I definitely think it gets harder to lose weight as we get older. In my 20s and 30s I could lose half a stone in a week! Now I’m in my 40s it’s a struggle to lose a pound a week!

@MsTSwift well done on your loss! I have hypoglycaemia so can’t do IF or Low Carb, I become poorly.
But I’m trying to eat less bread as it boosts me so much!!

@LittlePeepoToy which watch did you get? I’m thinking of getting a Fitbit but don’t really know much about them.
Good luck with your loss!

@Kaykay066 yes please do join in! My husband has gained weight too, and we both need to lose.

Can I join in please? I knew I had put on weight but it was recording a birthday message this weekend that I realised just how much. Calorie counting and starting running again... I have always been a size 10 but seem since getting married have ballooned to a 16! I'm horrified with myself.

@SparklesandSunshine I blame it on my husband
In all reality, marriage has been the worst thing ever for my waistline!

I want to join. Am so low about my weight but don't know where or how to start.

@Makemedoit I am just starting by cutting out the junk that I know isn’t good for me (chocolate, alcohol and ice cream).
I don’t think anyone needs to go on any specific diet to lose weight, just eat less of the unhealthy stuff.

I’m the same - I’ve put on a stone and am tiny (5 ft 2) so it looks more like two stone and none of my clothes fit. I’m in!

I’m 16 stone and size 16/18, I’ve never been under 13 stone (first weighed myself aged 13) so would kill to be back at 13 stone now!! I have an exercise bike arriving this week sometime, I’ve just completed Couch 2 5k but want to shift some weight because my feet hurt for ages after each run and I don’t want to ruin my joints.

I have this week re-started a microbiome diet with a friend. She is VERY slim and tall, must be a size 6, 8 maximum, so it’s nice to have her along as we are focussing on health, not size. I already do 16:8.

I am healthy - don’t drink, smoke, do drugs, had 2 perfect pregnancies, I eat super healthy meal I just must be eating too much 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ If this is my only struggle in life I’ll take it to be honest!! But by definition it can’t be healthy to be this weight. I can’t horse ride (12.5 stone limit at the place I looked at recently), and we’re buying kayaks soon and should probably shift some weight for that.

@bookaholic73 it's definitely the husbands fault Haha!

@makemedoit like bookaholic said just making healthier choices is the best way forward :)

I'm in! I'm about 2 stone heavier than I'd like but I'd be happy with 1.5 off.

My problem is I hate exercise.... it just doesn't happen

I just end up craving the feeling that sweet things give me.
Can anyone suggest better things to snack on rather than chocolate and biscuits which still give that full feeling

Can I join please? I'm a hefty size though! At the start 5 weeks ago I was 20st2, now 18st9. I'm sticking to 1200 cals a day, gave up alcohol and am now on wk 9 of c25k. I use the my fitness pal app, which is brilliant!