Mutual support thread for those currently losing or working towards losing a lot of weight

[UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme]

This is a mutual support thread for anyone who wants (and needs) to lose a lot of weight, is mid way through losing a lot of weight, or is nearing the end of a big weight loss and wants to continue to support and be supported as maintenance approaches.

The previous thread has been massively helpful to regular posters, as we share both our losses and our plateau or gains, congratulate or console, and talk about what works for us while understanding that different things work for different people, and we are all different ages, all have different families/ households/ people to plan around, different commitments, different working lives and different health conditions which partly determine our approaches.

We are all on this journey together - this thread is for us to encourage one another, post updates, chat about what we're doing, how we're doing, share stories and thoughts and sometimes wander slightly off topic if we want, but everyone posting should be somewhere along the journey towards escaping high BMI obesity.

The previous thread was started by someone who no longer posts and initially asked how to lose 9 stone - it developed into a support thread for people with varying amounts left to lose but all of whom started out with at least 5 or 6 stone + / 30 or 35 kg + to lose, very roughly...

No links to selling sites or unsolicited "helpful" lectures please - mutual support from existing and new posters all actually living this big weight loss now, or just starting out, welcome!

Previous thread here:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/3894410-i-need-to-lose-9st-help

@cowcat – welcome to the thread, you have come to the right place. As zebracat mentioned a few of us have issues with evening snacking – you might need to try a few things but you’ll find something that works for you. For me it is a combo of not having much snacky stuff in the house, brushing my teeth when my DD gets ready at 19:00 (I know I could technically still eat and re-brush my teeth but it seems to be a bit of a signal to my brain that there’s not gonna be any more food) and if it is really bad I do something upstairs or have an early night.

@Stellaris22 – sounds like you are doing really well with your exercise, could it be that you are turning fat to muscle and doesn’t muscle weight more?

@Scottishbeth – I know what you mean, in the past a bad result would mean an excuse for me to facepalm into a massive bar of chocolate and eat my way out! Well done on perservering, I think a lot of us are seeing it’s a marathon not a sprint and we are going to have bad weeks and good weeks, but the important thing is to keep going. You can do it!

@rebuildingconfidence – great work on the loss and reducing the caffeine – I gave it up a few years ago as I have anxiety and it really helps doesn’t it.

@fatcatthincat – well done on the loss, every little helps and it is a step in the right direction! Really interesting what you are saying about the sleep connection I’d never heard that before. I think I may have some sleep / breathing issues (trying to interpret from my fitbit data) so might bring up with the Dr.

@triceratopsmama – that’s really impressive and I’m sure will translate into a loss, if not this week then into next week. I have just started logging my food with my fitbit and it has definitely opening my eyes – I’m struggling most days to hit my target but as long as I am eating better and moving more I’m not gonna stress about it too much.

@backtobackagain – you are totally right the key thing is you haven’t quit, that is the toughest thing when you feel you’ve had a bad week so a massive well done. It’s funny you say that about your thyroid as I have been borderline for the past few years and am due another test but it is on hold from COVID, it is worth checking out for sure. I remember a friend’s Mum had lost tons of weight when I saw her recently, I remember her dieting constantly and never getting anywhere and turns out it was her thyroid.

@alphaechokiwi – well done on your loss and for keeping going! We are all on a journey and there will be ups and downs and I think apart from getting started keeping going after a bad patch is the hardest thing. I like the idea of the future self check-in and might try that myself.

@zebracat – well done on your loss especially having been away I’m impressed. Honestly the last holiday I went on I was having 3 puddings a day – 4 if you count the custardy thing I was having for breakfast!

I just wanted to say thanks to all of you for coming on here and sharing your tips, struggles and triumphs it is helping me so much. The support and cameraderie really keep me going when it’s tough, carrying on when I have had a bad day and I love having people to share the triumphs (which maybe seem small to those who have never struggled with their weight) with who truly get it.

I think I am going to change my weigh-in day to Sunday as I’d like DH to take a pic each week so I can see visual progress (eventually).

On the exercise front I am keeping up with the C25K runs and have started doing them first thing in the morning so I know that they are done and it is less likely that something will come up to make it more difficult – plus it is cooler which helps me.

Yesterday was a run day and we also met my Mum, sis and niece (for the first time in months) at a National Trust site with lots of walking and climbing involved so I was really pleased with the exercise levels.

Food-wise it is a bit of a mixed bag. Breakfasts are great, homemade smoothie (banana, spinach, fruit, almond butter, protein powder and no sugar oat milk) which keeps me going all morning. Lunch is either an omelette or home-made soup and snacking is just fruit, or the occasional date. It’s tea where I fall down as we are still getting too many take-aways. Although they tend not to be too unhealthy it’s still something I need to cut down. Yesterday I was pretty good as we had a picnic and I had my first bag of crisps for ages (went for pom bears only 68 cals) and had an apple when everyone was tucking into cakes. I did get an ice-cream but only had two licks and found it was too sweet so am still considering myself to be sugar free for 13 days. Then we got home and were exhausted so got a pizza delivered. I must admit I was horrified by the calories so might think again next time.

I was feeling pretty good yesterday with all the exercise and eating well (until tea time) but then I saw the pics from out day out and I look MASSIVE. I know I’ve only been doing this for a few weeks and aren’t miraculously going to be thin it was just hard to see when I have been trying so hard. Anyway I am trying to use it as motivation rather than being fed up and eating badly. I managed to resist the McDonald’s breakfast DH and DD got and as it is a no-run day I will go for a walk later.

Just went to weight myself as I am going to change my weigh-in day to Sunday and have lost 1.6 lbs / 0.7 kg since Thursday so that has given me a bit of a boost. Overall I have lost 5.4lbs / 2.4kgs and my BMI is down from 42.8 to 41.8. Just got to keep on truckin’.

@MamaNewtNewt. So many wins! You are really doing well, and pacing the changes is fine, because this is not a diet, this is healthy living for ever. You will find , as your energy levels increase, and your self awareness continues to grow, that food planning won’t be a chore, it will be a pleasure, and that less frequent takeaways are more delicious and practically( change is hard!) guilt free?
Interested in the discussion re thyroid issues. I have an underactive thyroid, diagnosed last year, and take Levothyroxine. It’s not a magic bullet, and my experience mirrors many other sufferers in that GPs tend to under prescribe. So I am on a dose that does nothing, and I know because at one point the pharmacy gave me a much higher dose by accident, and I felt great that month, and lost weight!
There is a clear and important link between poor sleep and weight gain. I think this may be why so many mother’s gain weight after giving birth, the sleepless nights further disrupt hormones. I am working hard to hav3 good sleep hygiene.

I completely agree sleep helps so much when it comes to healthy eating! I suffer from insomnia and have really tried to make an effort these past few months to practice good sleep hygiene. The best thing I have done is to wake up as soon as the alarm goes off and stand outside in the daylight, even on the handful of mornings when I went to sleep 15 minutes beforehand

In my last post I mentioned the Chloe Ting workout I did (on YouTube), and I was really happy with myself until I went on her website and saw that I should be doing 3-5 videos per day. It really did knock my confidence because I found that one video so hard and I felt really accomplished until I realised I had basically done not even half of the workout. A few months ago this would have really knocked me off the wagon but I've given myself quite a talking to and come to the conclusion that she does this for a living so if A LOT fitter than most people, and I can work up to that level of exercising at my own pace.

Tomorrow will be the start of my OMAD/keto diet and I am actually quite excited. Some of the benefits I have read online look promising. And I will be making my own video queue on YouTube of workout videos that I will be able to manage a few times a week

Well done on all the losses. Loosing a small amount is better than gaining a small amount. As long as it's off and not on it's okay to count it as a major win in my book

@MamaNewtNewt well done on your loss and for sticking with your plan. Photos can be very hard. Especially when others take them and post all the unflattering angles, lighting and facial expressions. I hate most photos I see of myself, regardless of what weight I am. It brings out my harsh inner critic. But I have learned over the years that if I look at them a few months afterwards, the emotion regarding my appearance has melted away and I can look at them and feel fine. So now I remind myself that I will feel differently in a few months time ....it seems to take the sting out of things.
Interesting discussion re Thyroxine @Backtobackagain. I take quite a high dose (150mcg) daily. As others have also noted, it has no impact on my weight loss at all. I need my TSH to be

Finding the IF is working really well for me even in non weight loss benefits. I used to get bad indigestion at night and pains in my side and these have all gone.

The downside is I am low energy so haven't been exercising but hoping to get a walk out at lunchtime today.

I've hesitated to recommend any approach on this thread because I recognise that everyone is different. However Gillian Riley is currently offering a free trial and I thought I'd post the link in case anyone is interested gillianriley.com/
I've done her seminar and found it very helpful. It's not a diet plan or anything of the sort, it's about reframing your mental approach to food and eating.

@MamaNewtNewt sounds like you are doing brilliantly with exercise! That's fantastic. I know they say that exercise doesn't make a difference in weight loss, and they're probably right, but I think it's so worthwhile for other reasons. And it doesn't sound like you're doing too badly with food either, especially with that weight loss. It'll take time to find a balance. Please don't worry about the photograph. It's so easy to be super self-critical , when there are so many other things to look for - it sounds like you were having a really nice day out with people you love, and when you look at the picture again in a few months as @alphaechokiwi says, that's what you'll see.

@Ammorey Over the last few months I have taken to having my morning tea in the garden - it is such a nice way to start the day! I love it. I'm not actually sure that it helps !e sleep (though it can't hurt), but sitting out there makes me feel good. I'll usually convince my wife to sit with me, so have a nice time talking to her. Or just sit and have some me time! It's interesting what you say about workouts - a lot of fitness people want everyone to dedicate their lives (it seems) to getting fit, and it's crazy! Fit for what? I was in this online group whose recommended exercise programme took 2 hours, 3 times a week! And this was for normal people (not athletes or anything). Anyhow if anyone said they didn't have time to do all that every response would just say you have to make time. Completely absurd! As if there's nothing in between a totally sedentary life, and working out for 2 hours at a time. Anyhow, this is a long way of saying that if it makes you feel good and you've worked up a sweat that sounds good to me!

@Rebuildingconfidence glad you have found IF working for you, but I hope your energy picks up soon. Did you make it for that walk?

@alphaechokiwi thank you so much - that's so nice! Sometimes I worry I'm a bit too negative here, since I started this right as my health stuff began, and it's totally new to me. I'm trying to be balanced, bit also people here are really supportive, and it is good to ask for help, even from internet strangers!

Anyhow, I weighed myself this morning, and am down to 86.7kg. That's a loss of 0.7kg this week, which I'm pleased with. What I'm doing is working well enough for me, so I'm going to stick to it!

Ooh @Zebracat - how could I miss you! A loss is a loss, so that's something. And July is ages away, I'm sure you'll have that dress zipped up by then!

But most importantly, where did you find the dress? Are you going to show us (a link - you don't have to send us a picture unless you want to!). You should let us see it, otherwise I'll imagine it looks like this 👗

(The dress came up more hideous than that before I posted!)

@ScottishBeth well done on your weight loss and, more importantly on keeping on thru your health issues.. I have tried to pu5 up a picture or link to my dress, but it’s not happening

There you go! Thought I would try once more.. it calls itself khaki but it’s quite bronze. I want to get a kimono jacket to go with it, I’ve always wanted one and know I will use it, but they are all online and it’s hard to see which would go best with this colour, tempted by the Kew rose bush kimono.. I’ve got a proper straw hat and bag, I loathe fascinators. I think I will be comfortable and stylishish. So far I’ve bought 4 pairs of sandals to go with it and none are right. I have big wide feet. Might just clean up last years brown Keens.
Sorry for the S&B diversion.

I just don’t want to be the fat mother in law in stiff florals and sweat patches with my trotters squeezed into hideous high heels.,

Which is pretty close to what happened at my sons very stylish wedding 10 years ago.

@Zebracat It looks lovely! I'm sure you'll look amazing on the day. And sounds you've got a good plan for the whole outfit!

Zebracat. that's a nice dress, definitely avoids all the things that you are trying to avoid!

76.8 kg which is essentially sts. Had dc3's birthday this week - cake obviously but more of a problem bread/ bakery goods (birthday breakfast, picnic lunch, birthday tea in the garden). Only on the one day though.

I put on 3 kg this week :( I'm trying not to be too down about it. I've been full of cold all week and have eaten tons of chocolate and biscuits. I'm hoping this is just a blip due to the cold interferring with the effectiveness of my CPAP machine.

@Zebracat - I love that dress. It will be perfect for a summer wedding.
@ScottishBeth well done on your loss.
@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme a STS is good going when there's a birthday party in the week...
@FatCatThinCat I'm sorry you had a setback. Sometimes when you're sick there's no point trying to lose weight. You just need to look after yourself. When you're feeling better it will feel easier to get back on track again.

I was at a neighbours birthday party this week and I wasn't expecting much of a loss (bubbly & sausage rolls....) But I'm down to 85.0kg this morning. Surprised, but will happily take it! Wishing everyone well if you are weighing in today x

Oh well done@alphaechokiwi.
I am 97 today, so that is a loss of.8 kilo, and not too bad. But April was a seesaw month and overall in the whole month, I only lost a kilo. I need to have a tighter month here. I really don’t want to fall into the being very strict, feeling deprived, pig out cycle, but nor do I want to make no progress. Got to be able to zip up my dress!
My target is to be comfortably below 95 kilos by the end of the month.

@zebracat – well done on the loss, I think you are right about getting that balance between not been so strict that you are just miserable but needing to do enough to see sustained loss – I need a week like that myself. Also your dress is gorgeous – you are going to look totally fab for the wedding!

@alphaechokiwi – that’s really great, I guess it shows we can have a little treat as long as we are healthy the rest of the time and it is not the end of the world.

@FatCatThinCat – sorry to hear you have been poorly, hope you are on the mend. You just need to take care of yourself when you are ill and if you need a bit of comfort food then that makes sense. You can pick up again when you are feeling better and this week is just a bit of a blip on your overall journey – you can do it!

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme – well done on staying the same with all that temptation around. I think no gain on a birthday week is as good as a loss in a normal week.

@ScottishBeth – well done on the loss, it sounds like you have a great approach and it is really working for you.

Thanks for talking sense to me re the photos you guys. I’m choosing to see them as a record of a lovely day and not focus on how I look, other than the fact I am happy and with people I love.

I have been keeping up my C25K runs and trying to go for a walk on my non-run days. I am also starting yoga on Wednesday which I am really looking forward to. Unfortunately when I did my run this morning I pulled a muscle in my calf, really hoping it is just a cramp type thing and not an actual injury, really, really don’t want to stop running now I have got myself going.

Food-wise it is the same old story, being really good with breakfast, lunch and snacking but way too many takeaways for tea. Going to really focus on making sure we cook nice healthy teas this week.

I weighed myself today and have lost 0.8kg so am good with that. I’m getting my hair done on Friday and have new glasses ordered so am looking forward to my new look 

Weigh in day and I am another kg down - 101 today. Under 16 stone for the first time in a year.

I am delighted.

Hopefully next Sunday can see me under 100.

Well done @Zebracat @MamaNewtNewt and @Rebuildingconfidence - it's a good Sunday all round! Wishing everyone well for next week x

Thank you and well done to @UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme(Definitely very good to STs in a special week!@Rebuildingconfidence,@MamaNewtNewt.
@FatCatThinCat.Tough week, but never mind, start again tomorrow, we are all cheering you on.

FatCatThinCat argh that's annoying - important that you haven't let it get you too down, keeping going is the main thing. Refined sugar causes inflammation even without the weight gain so that could actually be making your sleep worse and hampering your immune system, but we all know and empathise completely with wanting to eat biscuits and chocolate when tired and feeling rough! I really hope youre feeling better nowcold and sleep wise! If not maybe try taking care of yourself with nice soups and stews as comfort food rather than the refined sugar, but above all keep up the positive mindset and long term view you have.

MamaNewtNewt glad you've made your peace with the photos - very impressed with your ongoing couch to 5k!

alphaechokiwi , Zebracat , Rebuildingconfidence well done!
zebracat good luck with your May goal - sounds like a very sensible balance.

DD and I did a good 15km / 9 mile hike today, I'm aiming to build up to doing about 20km or so once a week as well as 5 or so on most other days.