Nervous to see family and friends because I've gained 1.5stone...

[jumperweather]

Hi everyone,

At the beginning of the year I went on the Keto diet and I lost a stone. I'm 5ft 2, pear shape.
I lost it because I was meant to get married in June, but once we cancelled the wedding I just lost some ( a lot ) of motivation and started eating carbs and all of the chocolate and now I'm out of control!

I can't blame anyone but myself, and now I'm just miserable, I'm dreading seeing family at Christmas because I'm bigger now and everyday I promise myself it will be a 'good day' but it's not. I know that they will judge me.

I have also been avoiding my friends because of my weight gain too. The pandemic has made this easier!

HELP me! What can I do to lose some weight before Christmas? I know even if I lost something it would be better than gaining!

Shit. I totally get where you're coming from. I did the same thing for an emotional reason. I was scarfing packets of mr kipling cakes and before I knew it - at least a stone or two. And same height as you.

What I say is - forget diet. Forget about losing the weight and targets and all that.

You accidentally got fat, don't beat yourself up. Chuck out all the junk food in your kitchen, sugar, shite, anything like that. Just chuck it all in the bin and re-stock with healthy options. Back away from the butter. Say yes to munching a crunchy carrot instead of crisps.

You've got this.

Remember, eating is wonderful but overeating and undereating are not enjoyable. Eating when you are hungry, nice fresh foods mostly and then a little bit of what you fancy helps regulate your appetite.

Read Marisa Peer’s You Can Be Thin (or similar) and listen to the audiobook. You can download it online. Maybe if you start tonight you can take half a stone off by Xmas... it works!! I need to do the same (but more weight to lose)... starting tonight?!

@AmandaHoldensLips Thank you. I know you're right, it's just especially hard this time of year as I usually eat all the junk food I want! This year I just feel so massive. Everyone will see me and I hate it :(

@ScrapThatThen I wish I could do that, I'm an all or nothing type. I need to learn how to control my portions and what I eat.

I'm addicted to Pepsi Max and dairy milk and it shows!!

@whattodo235 Thank you. I'll check it out right now! X

Whatever you do, don't get stuck in a diet/binge cycle, which sounds like what has happened to you this year. The risk is that you lose weight, gain it all back plus a little more and gradually put more and more weight on.

I would focus on improving diet, exercising for pleasure and just maintaining current weight for now. Maybe read up on intuitive eating - I recommend Laura Thomas's books.

How desperately sad that those who say they love you,judge you on a change in body shape. I suffered this for many years and its vile. You are still you.Maybe in the New Year, your shape will change,maybe it wont.

I find that the only way I can control things like chocolate and sugar is to cut it out altogether. One biscuit leads to a whole packet, and so on.

It takes a while for the cravings to go, but they do go eventually.

Fizzy diet drinks are awful and really bad for you.

I use the extra light Laughing Cow cheese spread triangles instead of butter on toast.

Getting the weight off is really hard, but it's worth it. Personally, I have to go completely draconian to shift it. Menopause has a lot to answer for. If I'm not careful I look like a King Edward potato with arms and legs.

No advice... I was glad we went back into lockdown so didn’t have to meet an old friend who last saw me when I was 4 stone lighter. 2 of those stones were gained in lockdown.

Sad isn’t it, how we berate ourselves... not sure what the answer is to breaking these sorts of negative attitudes to ourselves.