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.

May I join too? Probably won’t be around much, but nice to have a place to drop into. I need to lose 2stone (3would probably be better) but also am shocked how unfit I’ve become.

I seem to have the same pound going on and off. On days I work 16:8 will probably work quite well & I want to start cycling to work too.
Evening munchies are my downfall along with afternoon biscuits.

Might do some low carb too, and I’m going to start soups for lunch.

I would like.to join aswell please, I dont know how much i wear but am a size 20!
Really want to start losing weight, I wanted to try paddle boarding this summer but if I got on one at the moment I'd probably sink it !!

I feel like I just ricochet off and on these threads but OP you have no idea I’m feeling you right now.

Again and again it “just” comes down to calorie deficit, fewer in and more out but it’s hard at the best of times, never mind when you’re stripped of about 6,000 steps a day by WFH all the fucking time.

Sorry to be such a Debbie downer, I’m in Scotland and I miss my PT, I miss the gym, I miss the swimming pool and I miss actually going to work, I have a ridiculous commute 2 days a week and I clock up 12,000 steps on those two days and I love it.

I’ve even started smoking again after 3 years’ quit

Anyway, OP remember we live in the weirdest of times, have a plan, keep it simple and be realistic. Good luck x

I was in your place a month and a half ago.

I phoned my mum (and I’m 38!) in tears. I am tall - 5ft 10 - and I think that made it easier to deny what was going on. I was 13 stone, which probably crept on over about ten years.

Things that have helped:

• I downloaded MFP, which has been absolutely invaluable. I have been brutally honest and weighed everything if required. It’s a faff but 100% worth it.

• I hate exercise so bought an Apple Watch and have been doing 10,000 steps a day. This is a combo of normal stuff like housework and a concerted effort to move - walking to the corner shop for a paper, for example.

• Ruling out medical reasons for weight gain. In the beginning I was shocked at how slow the process was. I was convinced it was my thyroid or connected to the fact I’m type one diabetic. But the truth is, for me, losing weight is a slow and hard process - sometimes with slight gains. I think in my younger days I perhaps had less to lose so somehow losing five pounds in a week was job done.

• Picking up on the previous point - if you weigh yourself every day I understand. I do this. BUT is can add to your frustration. I follow everything to the letter, feel I’m making huge sacrifices as husband scoffs and drinks on the sofa. And then find out I’ve somehow put on a quarter of a pound! I’ve looked into reasons why, but have just accepted it happens.

I started on May 4 and I’m just over a stone down. I am so much happier but there’s still work to do.

Good luck everyone!

Good morning everyone, thanks for joining in!
I’ve been thinking, and I’ve realised that my ‘problem time’ is about 7pm.

At that time every evening, I start craving the sweet stuff and wine.

I think I’m going to start walking the dogs at that time, just to try and change my routine a bit.

My meals are mainly healthy (with the weekly pizza chucked in) so it’s the snacking I need to combat more than anything.

@Evileyecherry well done on your loss, and thanks for the tips. I’m guilty of weighing daily, but I know that’s silly. So I’ll do it weekly from now on, on a Monday morning.

@InfiniteGerbils sorry to hear you feel it too. We (hubby and I) joined the gym a week before they bloody closed. So I’m pissed off that I can’t do that. But I do surf twice a week, do daily dog walks, play tennis twice a week. So I don’t think exercise is the issue for me.

@Albern we are having a few SUP lessons this summer (if they reopen) and I’m so nervous! I want to have lost some weight by then!

@Coldhandscoldheart evening munchies are my downfall too.

@duddle I’m mortified at myself too. It packs in so easily doesn’t it. Not so easy coming off though unfortunately!

@unstableunicorn I’ve got an awful sweet tooth too, makes losing weight more difficult. But we can do it!

I am going to really try and lessen the alc intake. Had no wine last night! So am pleased! Plan for breakfast today is avacado on sourdough, maybe with an egg. In hot weather that should keep me full for a good few hours. Not sure what dinner plan is but fancy spicy chicken thighs with roasted veg. My belly was so bloated yesterday, it was spilling out sides of my shorts, I'm happy with my body and love that its generally healthy but it's not fair for it to be carrying the extra round my middle. Need to try and do a dog walk when the weather is cooler today, and also want to fit in a yoga. It's where I've stopped making it a priority that I'm just getting bigger and bigger, so its time to change!

Joining if there's room for my squishy arse please

I drink too much wine, comfort eat, eat when I'm bored. No wonder I've put on 3 stone over the past 4 years. I feel like a disgusting pig.

So today is day one for me. Looked into all sorts of diets etc and decided to go with the fasting. Only eating between 12-7. No alcohol. More water. Early nights. 20 miles a day on exercise bike and 10k steps min

I just need some motivation! 😂

@BeKindOrBeQuiet we can do this! P.S: please be kind to yourself xxx

@Evileyecherry god it's soo frustrating! DH & I have been alcohol free for a month (no mean feat when I consider how much we usually put away of a week!!) - he's lost 10lbs & I've put on 3!!
I have to be honest & say that I had been replacing alcohol with chocolate. So have stopped that this week!

Stoping drinking has been so positive for me:
Better sleep
Calmer house
Happier kids
Happier husband
No hangovers
No waking up at 3 in the morning thinking "why did I drink all the wine?!"
More energy
Clearer skin
Shinier hair
More patience
Less anxiety

The list goes on. And I do feel in a place where I can tackle the weight now. The sun is shining. We don't have to jog! We can walk or cycle...

Let's do this!

@SmiledWithTheRisingSun - yep!

Before starting my diet I too had ditched the alcohol - a big thing for me!

I also replaced with food and simply must have put on weight as a result.

But once you’ve got to grips with that you can definitely move on! Well done!

One of my biggest problems is I can't do moderation, one spoon of ice cream will lead to half the tub! Thinking I might need to go cold turkey on sweet stuff, anyone got experience with that?

I can’t do moderation either. Have accepted that now. Have had to cut alcohol and sweet stuff out completely.

How’s the first morning gone?!

I’m trying to distract myself til the magical moment I can have lunch - egg avocado salmon no bread . Managed yoga n 10 minutes HIIT

And MFP you And Mumsnet (And Duolingo n Swedish language apps) are going to be My only reason to sit on my arse!

I’m the same @unstableunicorn

I am happy without but as soon as it comes into view or I go shopping hungry I have to eat all of it And I justify it myself like it’s normal

Sweet stuff pastries cake crisps - aaargh

Hmm alcohol - what’s best? Non or maybe just a G&T

Silly isn't it? I could happily never eat a chocolate bar again but put Chinese take away in front of me I could eat 2-3 plates! So greedy! I think we must all have something that we find irresistible.

Alcohol is a big one for me. Awful habit of drinking most nights. I'm fine when I don't drink it's just a bad habit I've gotten into, so need to change my routine

And I'm now absolutely starving. Another 11 minutes then I can eat 😂 Greek salad for lunch. Had 1.5 litres of water already so I'm feeling positive

Good luck today ladies!!

Great to see so many people joining in!

I haven’t eaten yet. Not intentionally, I just don’t eat unless I’m hungry.

I’m starting to get hungry now, so I think I’ll have 2 slices of toast with a poached egg on each slice.

I’ve prepped dinner, which will be like and coriander chicken with broccoli in a dill sauce, and some potatoes.

I’m taking the pups out for an hours walk this afternoon, plus 45 mins this evening. So that’s my exercise for the day.

@unstableunicorn I can’t do moderation either. That’s why I’m going to cut out all sweet stuff. I just can’t stop eating it once I’ve started.

@BeKindOrBeQuiet alcohol is my downfall too. I spent 3 years teetotal for heath reasons, but started drinking again last year. Worst decision I ever made!

Well last night had a bottle of wine as had a shitty day.., no dinner..not a good start! Just finished my work for the day (I'm part time mornings and trying not to do extra) so going to blitz the downstairs then go for a long walk before getting the kids from school.

Having a hello fresh salad for dinner tonight (although I want the pasta but will have that tomorrow).

Been loosely following the 16:8/5:2 and managed 3 pounds off in two weeks but that was lots of bingeing on a weekend!

I’m a carby. I don’t drink but it’s food and it’s never good food. I also have issues with moderation. I do drink at least 3 litres of water a day though. But I am so sick of constantly stopping and starting. I just need to get a grip. My mum says I’m lucky to have quite big breasts but they weigh an absolute ton and resemble cow udders at the moment. I can’t face the scales so am avoiding that particular horror.

Hi guys,
New to mumsnet and would love to join this if you'll have me!
I lost 25lb last year doing Dukan, frankly couldn't believe it worked (never managed to lose significant weight on a diet previously and had pretty much resigned myself to gradually getting a bit fatter every year before deciding to give it a go). Was seeing numbers on the scales I'd not seen since my early 20s and fitting into clothes I'd not worn for years and had kept in the back of the wardrobe as "one day I'll get into them again" - unbelievably, that day came!
However - for various reasons I didn't do the Consolidation part of the diet - that's the part that gradually reintroduces previously restricted foods in a controlled way to avoid just putting all the weight back on. And - guess what - I put all the weight back on!!
So I'm back at square one weighing pretty much the same as I did 18 months ago when I first started out.
Feeling mainly massively depressed and annoyed at myself but also hopeful as I know the diet works so if I did it once I can do it again. Also feeling slightly fearful as I started the diet last time in January when no one is going out, whereas with everything opening up again I'm worried the social pressure to go out and eat/drink again will make it very hard in about a month or so.
So hoping that doing it with a few others will help, if you'll have me as I realise I'm probably the only one on Dukan here.
Well done everyone who's cracking on and already dropping the pounds!

Hi everyone, I'm going to join you all too. I've just turned 40 and am currently at my heaviest ever. I started calorie counting on 1st June and have lost about 10 pounds (I didn't sort our scales out until the 11th June so am having to guess my initial weight loss). I currently weigh 13st 8lb and want to get down to 11st but am working towards mini half stone goals along the way otherwise I think I'll get disheartened. Am I the only one who diets for a couple of days and hopes I'll have lost 2 stone in the process?!
Things I'm currently doing are:

Using MFP, it's given me a target of 1240 calories a day
No alcohol - I've realised it really doesn't agree with me and gives me terrible night sweats
Attempting to do Emi Wong's 15 minute beginner workout every other day.
Occasionally do 16:8

Like many I'm suffering from not walking anywhere near as much as previously due to WFH. I tried C25K but it made my knees ache. I bought a LOT of treats to see us through lockdown which just exacerbated my hefter status.
I do already feel much better and committed to changing how and what I eat forever.

So far today:

Breakfast: 2tbsp DH’s divine buttery scrambled eggs , 1 bacon medallion, 1 slice toast (no butter)

Lunch: Small tub (100g) of leftover takeaway, cherry tomatoes, Soreen snack bar, frozen yogurt ice lolly (these are DIVINE and under 90 cal each!)

Dinner will probably be grilled sardines and broccoli with lemon and garlic.

Had 3 big glasses of water so far today but need to drink more. Work has also prevented me going for a bike ride so far :( and I’m really feeling it, so restless!

Weighed myself this morning and I’m 99kg. I started this 6 weeks ago at 102kg so it is VERY slow but I’m noticing real changes in my attitude to food and in my body shape. I’m developing muscular legs rather than just wobbly ones!

Well I've had my salad. Good job I'm single coz it was heavy on the red onion 😂, I'm sure I smell delightful.

@WannabeJolie I can def feel your pain with the carbs. I'm exactly the same. I've noticed if I'm stressed I head for the bread, butter and cheese 😬 I'm like a bloody child

@Cavagirl that weight loss is amazing! At least you know you can achieve it now