What was your straw that broke the camera back?

[Hallomi]

At what point, or what circumstance, triggered the start of your weight loss?

I'm 32, I've been slim since I was 18 (although I am an emotional eater), had 2 children, enjoy the gym, but just now...I'm a size 14/16, it physically hurts when I get out of breath, I'm achy and tired and I eat far too much. I KNOW I have to lose weight. But, I'm worried because I keep thinking ill start tomorrow, it's like I need a big moment, something to happen to make me realise.

I was listening to a podcast about this yesterday- for a lot of people it’s a photo or being bigger than they would like to be for an occasion

For me, it was having to buy bigger clothes and not wanting to look like that when I return to work after piling it on being at home in the pandemic

Rather than wait for a big moment, why not target something happening in 2-3 months and focus on how much better it would be to be slimmer! Don’t know your body shape/size but I imagine 5-8 pounds off a month could be realistic so you could easily be down 1-2 dress sizes for Easter, and have finished by time summer rolls around.

One way I’ve kept myself motivated in the past is to make a list of reasons I want to be slimmer, & keep that plus a photo of me at my trim healthy best to look at often on my phone

If you are struggling for motivation to start, you could try just removing one bad eating habit and stick to it for a month. Once you have done that remove another one. Eventually you sort of crack and start losing weight or totally overhauling your diet. It is also a gentle way to get going.

Either that or having an event at some distant point in time that you want to look good for such as a holiday or wedding.

Alternatively start weighing yourself regularly and trying on your nicest clothes in front of a mirror. It weirdly helps motivate you.

2 things for me. First one was my BMI slipping into obesity. I was always slim as a teenager and early to mid twenties and piled on weight after children. I got used to being a bit overweight but being obese scared me.

2nd one is my health. In the last year I’ve had appendicitis, flu which was so bad I was hospitalised, a slipped disc and surgery for the slipped disc. I know none of these are weight related (although I suspect my back problems were not helped by the weight) but it gave me a glimpse of the sort of future I’m setting myself up for if I don’t do something. Type 2 diabetes runs in my family and I don’t want to set myself up for ill health later on.

So at the beginning of Jan I took action, started walking as much as possible although I’m still recovering from surgery so not going too crazy. I’m logging all my food on Fitbit and sticking to 1200 Cals a day. I’m finding it surprisingly easy and I’ve lost nearly 1 stone so far.

It's early days for me as it's only week 2 but I've got further than I have in ages. For me the switch moment happened when I saw a news clip with images of younger people in ICU with covid, most of whom looked very overweight. I have no idea if that's reflective of reality but it's triggered a change in me. I'm not following any diet regimes, just making healthier choices and upping the exercise. In the past I've followed many diets and parted with cash (WW, Slimming World, Noom) but I've always put the weight back on.

Mine was postnatal hypertension last year after the birth of my third child. Its triggered massive health anxiety and im approaching 30 now and just realised I'm not invincible. Still on BP meds 6 months on and im determined to sort my body out now.

Thanks for your replies. My BMI is 28.3, so not far from being classed as obese.

It's as though its happened fast but slow, I don't want to accept it and I'm worried that's what I'm doing. I get palpitations, heart racing when I stand up, I can't belive I've let myself get like this.

1200 seems very small !!

Even in my skinny days I've always been heavy ish, but I was measuring my waist for a new pair of jeans in lockdown and realised I was dangerously close to the NHS recommendation 😳

This is a really good thread, OP. When I’ve been overweight once or twice in my life before, a photo or an occasion has always been enough to kick me into action.

Now...nothing. I don’t know what it’s going to take. I hate how I look.

Seeing photos of myself after gaining weight during a pregnancy. I show the weight on my face and in pictures, especially when captured from the side, I would have a massive double chin. I was a bit overweight but not obese. I'm close to a healthy weight now and much happier.

@Hallomi

Thanks for your replies. My BMI is 28.3, so not far from being classed as obese.

It's as though its happened fast but slow, I don't want to accept it and I'm worried that's what I'm doing. I get palpitations, heart racing when I stand up, I can't belive I've let myself get like this.

1200 seems very small !!

@Hallomi - my BMI has gone up and down between about 25 & 30/32 many times for the last 20 years. I'm not diminishing your desire to tackle your weight, but a BMI of 28 is arguably NOT a particular health risk for women (the issue is more waist size/wear you carry it).

Your palpitations etc are NOT a normal thing at a moderate level of overweight - its sounds like you may have something else e.g. blood pressure/blood sugar issues. I suggest you check it out

Also, 1200 isn;t a lot of calories (but some women, especially more petite or over 40/50 do need to cut that far).

I do 1400/1500 cals a day and its manageable: and the pounds are dropping off. I'm 10 years older than you.

I think if you did even 1800 cals a day AND some exercise (eg 30-60 min walk daily and a few workouts) it would make a big difference, and seeing a loss might spur you on

@rainallnight exactly, what will it take! That's what I mean by something happening, almost like I need to be told I've got diabetes, which is horrific, immature and irresponsible if me. I think the current circumstances do not help at all. What else is there to do?

Photos yes definitely, I hate having my pictures taken, I've never been a big selfie fan, but I didn't mind. It's an unpleasant experience opening your camera on selfie mode accidentally and seeing this disgruntled chubby face.

@10kaDay you're right about BMI, I know there is controversy around it. I don't want to measure myself. The weight goes all over, but especially tummy and legs and face, even hands.

@Hallomi I had lots of blood tests recently and the GP decided she’d throw in diabetes for good measure. It came back fine and I have NO idea how

@10kaDay I’m very petite - 1200 is the absolute most I can eat if I want to lose weight. It’s a bloody nightmare.

For me it was the thought of potentially going back the office this summer and being heavier than when I left. I've a lot to loose, I'm still carrying my baby weight, but I just knew it was time. Plus I really over indulged over Christmas and felt really horrible. January 1st, something clicked and I've been hitting 1400/1500 calories per day since. It's slow going, I'm 8lb down, but it's going in the right direction.

I totally know you mean though, weight loss is totally reliant on state of mind. Someone close to me recently went to therapy, just 6 sessions, for weight loss. Looked deeply into their relationship with food, why it is as it is.. they were even asked if they we hugged as a child! But since then, they've shed the guilt and the pounds and it's complete transformation. If this doesn't work for me this time round, I'm going to follow suit.

Realising that I could lose 100lbs and still not be classed as underweight. Also that the majority of my health issues, constant heartburn, palpitations, joint pain to name a few were weight related.
Well on my way to a healthy weight and feeling so much better for it😁

When I realised I couldn't get up from the settee without my knees badly hurting.
When I found out I was at a weught that I would be considered for bariatric surgery and that my weight was holding me back from being the mum I wanted to be.
8 and a half stone lost in 2 years and 1 month, with another half a stone to go to hit my second target.