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

Forgot these insights: it occurred to me yesterday that being hungry before a meal isn't a disaster situation! I don't need to immediately eat the moment I am hungry!

Also, toddler DS was given a muffin shaped Victoria sponge with some sugary drizzle icing in a party bag on Saturday. He had a quarter of it but the rest was still in the fridge. I decided to put it in the bin because neither of us needs it (he has inherited my appetite and tendency to put on weight). I took a small bite and it was so deliciously sweet. I then told myself "of course that tastes good, you knew it would as it's full of sugar. Doesn't mean you have to eat all of it" and put the rest in the bin. Didn't think about it at all again until I put something else in the bin and saw it there, and I was almost sad that something so yummy was in the bin. Just made me realise how much of my eating happens when I see something that I like, just because it's there and I've noticed it, not because I was looking for something to eat!

My plan not to eat standing up failed five minutes after I posted about it as I genuinely forgot!!!

Hi everyone, hope you're all well

I've also learned that I can go a while without eating, but I work in a pub. Worked in that environment for over 12 years, so I'm used to going long stretches without eating with no issue. Sometimes 6/7 hours. If I was really, really hungry, I'd just pour myself a quick coffee and I was fine and dandy. But I agree hunger pangs do go away after about 15 mins I've noticed, unless you're severely under eating and getting accompanying symptoms, such as light head, shaky, headache etc, then obviously you need to eat something!

Just been at the gp for blood tests. Weighed me again. I am now 17 stone 2lbs. In January I was 19 stone 5lbs but it's coming off that's the main thing! Blood pressure was spot on too. 108/70. So pleased with that

Thank you @UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme and @alphaechokiwi that was really helpful. I didn't have breakfast yesterday morning and I really enjoyed my lunch! I am going to continue, on relaxed days, not to have breakfast, as I think it'll help me lose weight. But a friend of mine who also has long covid had an appointment with a dietitian yesterday, who suggested losing weight shouldn't be a priority. So I think for the time being I'll continue to have breakfast on days when I'm working. I'll also try not to beat myself up if the weight loss is slow!

@Notthissticky everything you've said sounds really good. Well done for not eating the muffin! The not eating standing up sounds like a very sensible plan! But so easy to make these plans and then forget!

@BippityBoppity87 that's fantastic weightloss - well done! Good news on your blood pressure as well.

@ScottishBeth thanks. Definitely easier said than done. I constantly forget until I've eaten something already🤦🏼‍♀️ I've decided fruit and veg are exempt from the rule though, as you can't go too far wrong with those.

That's interesting that your friend was told not to prioritise losing weight. You definitely shouldn't put too much pressure on yourself but I suppose it's a balancing act between physical health and mental well-being.

@BippityBoppity87 That's fantastic weight loss since January!! Roughly a pound a week right? That's really good! So pleased your BP isn't high, I find high BP scarier than diabetes (wrongly possibly, but still).

Weighed myself today. 96.8kg, so 0.7kg lost since Monday. 2200kcal and 30 minutes brisk walking each day. I must've been eating soooooo much before! I'm already finding myself thinking of the thread and thinking I mustn't let you lovely people down when I have a wobble about the task I'm facing

Well done @Notthissticky - that's a brilliant loss!

I think the dietitian was saying that because fatigue is such a key thing in long covid, we need to make sure we're getting enough energy, so thinking about losing weight can take away from that. In fairness my friend is nowhere near as overweight as I am, and also I think the dietitian was focussing on a balanced diet , so I think some weight loss would just happen with that. I just need to remember not too get too worried if I have a few weeks where I stay the same.

Beth, that would make sense. I think people who have never struggled with overweight or obesity often think of VLCD and shakes and healthy weight women wanting to go down a dress size etc when you mention weightloss. That would seem very ill advised if you're ill with long COVID. The same people don't always appreciate that weightloss isn't always because of looks, especially not when we're talking BMI 35+ or so. That said, you are absolutely right not to panic. Staying the same from time to time is no big deal.

@Notthissticky I calculated since, I think it was the 5th of April I started, I've been losing on average about 2lb.3 a week. Although I did plateau for about 3 weeks a wee while ago. Still stumped at that! Was so bizarre

My next blood test is in roughly 13 weeks and I'll get weighed again. I'm hoping I can lose 3 stone by then and be at 14 stone. A bit ambitious. It would mean losing about 3lbs a week. Not totally unachievable, but I'll give it my best shot!

Just for the statistics:

Ive been doing this exactly a year to the day (anniversary ), and have list 47kg, which is 7 stone 5 or 103 lb.

That's 0.9 kg per week
1.9 lb per week.

For reference I've been pretty "driven" and not had any binges at all but have had planned relaxed days such as birthdays and sometimes slipped up on portion control. I haven't been dieting but doing 18:6 minimum refined carbs, with lots of flexibility to do 16:8 instead if I need to, but generally two meals (one small and healthy, one "normal" whatever the family are having) no snacks except for apples and sparing amounts of almonds and walnuts (usually maximum 7 nuts) and sometimes a greek yogurt with banana.

So I'd say, for me, this is the fastest I could have kept up sustainable long term weight loss - average just under 2lb per week.

However I was losing a lot faster at the beginning and a lot slower for the last few months, which is unsurprising. I lost 37 kg in the first 8 months then ten in the next four months, roughly. So more like 0.5 kg/ 1 lb a week later on.

I think betting on too a rate of loss can lead to disappointment and frustration, which leads to giving up or yoyoing, so I always worry when people say they want to lose a huge amount in a very short time

[quote BippityBoppity87]@Notthissticky I calculated since, I think it was the 5th of April I started, I've been losing on average about 2lb.3 a week. Although I did plateau for about 3 weeks a wee while ago. Still stumped at that! Was so bizarre

My next blood test is in roughly 13 weeks and I'll get weighed again. I'm hoping I can lose 3 stone by then and be at 14 stone. A bit ambitious. It would mean losing about 3lbs a week. Not totally unachievable, but I'll give it my best shot! [/quote]
Wow, it's dropping off!!! That's amazing!! Are you following any particular method? I'm not sure 3lbs/week for three months is sustainable though? Would it be an idea to aim for 15st? Tortoise and the hare and all that If you don't mind me asking, are the blood tests in any way to do with your weight? I really hope you get some praise from the doctors for it! Would be nice, as they often bring up being obese...

I'm on about 2200 kcal today again but didn't get my walk in and it's pouring down now and the football is about to start. I was actually less hungry today than yesterday and I had two slices of bread with cheese for lunch, rather than 3 with chicken on 2 and houmous on the other. Not sure how that makes sense but works for me. 100gr to go until I've lost 5% of my starting weight. Don't think I'll be weighing myself tomorrow though.

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme That is absolutely amazing! Well done. You must be so happy, such an achievement

I've been doing similar to you. Low carb, not strict Keto as it just wasn't sustainable for me (or realistic) plus I like to have the odd carb day. Sometimes do one meal a day, but I make sure my plate is full of dark green vegetables, protein, calcium and fats. Definitely don't skimp! But obviously don't go overboard with it and it's worked. Other days, have a high protein breakfast like scrambled egg and bacon or Eggs Benedict. Or skip breakfast and have chicken soup, or like today, smoked salmon on a bed of gem lettuce and cream cheese/cucumbers for lunch for example, then dinner. Things like that

I know it's probably a bit ambitious. I haven't been doing anything drastic so far, just making more sensible food choices. To be honest, even just seeing the number 14 on the scale by then would be enough for me, even if it's at the upper end

@Notthissticky Oddly enough, they've never brought up my weight. Ever. In the whole 3 years I've been seeing them regularly. I decided to do it for myself as the weight just kept creeping up and I thought this is getting ridiculous now, and was making me quite upset

No, the blood tests aren't to do with my weight. I take lithium as I also have bipolar, so it's just to check my lithium levels, liver, thyroid, kidney function. But they do weigh me as well. But even when the weight was creeping up and being in total denial it was just never mentioned. I suppose they cared more that I was mentally stable at the time

It hasn't been too bad for me either in terms of my weight being mentioned actually, it's just something that you often hear people complain about. My current GP (size 8 max) actually specifically said she didn't want me to feel like they're always going to comment on my weight (we'd been discussing contraception, so it was relevant). When I was pregnant I decided to just mention it myself as I wanted to get it out of the way!

That's so good that you're doing this for yourself! That's the only way that it has ever worked for me apart from once when I lost a stone to spite an ex BF haha I have mental health problems as well and have been on ADs for 15 years. I'm hoping I'll be able to at least reduce my dose when I've lost some weight, as I do think there's a link between obesity and MH issues (or at least during and after pregnancy I think. Can't remember exactly).

Hello everyone. I’m back. The wedding was lovely. I also had a birthday while we were away and had a tasting menu dinner in a very fancy restaurant, but it had very few carbs and tiny portions so that was ok. I have gained 2 kilos, so Now at 96.9 kilos, but that seems reasonable. Looking back at my graph, its clear that holiday gains often become an upward spiral for weight, so I’m thinking hard about that. Booked in 4 swims for the week and intending to meal plan and absolutely avoid snacks, took me weeks to lose that 2 kilos before, this time I want it gone quicker. So pleased that others are making good progress, and I do feel we are all learning together here @ScottishBeth , pleased that you are seeing how important good nutrition is to your recovery.

Hello @Zebracat, I hope you had a lovely weekend! We weigh almost exactly the same now I think it's important to remember that weight fluctuates naturally anyway but also that healthy weight people will also have occasions where they eat a bit more than usual and gain some weight. I guess the key is to just keep going

@Zebracat - a 2kg gain isn't that bad considering. You can have that gone quickly, and a I recall, you aren't that far from dropping under a BMI of 30. Good luck with your meal planning and swimming.
I've got holidays coming up. I'm trying to work out how I can maintain or mitigate any gain over the 2 weeks....

So today went a bit pear shaped. I had broccoli with feta instead of little gem with feta and cherry tomatoes with my lunchtime sandwiches. Turns out that's nowhere near as filling and I therefore ended up having two portions a tin of soup later, and more (healthy) snacks than usual. DH is also cooking a very high calorie meal tonight, which I hadn't realised. I'm on 1600kcal already and we haven't eaten yet... I'm going to try and see today as an opportunity to learn more about making sensible choices. I will keep having my little gem salads and will try having half a tin of soup next time (the thought of that is alien to me, as a whole tin fills a bowl perfectly. I'll be using a smaller bowl next time I suppose) Gosh, typing this is making me realise that an awful lot of the choices I was making that I thought made no difference (whole tin of soup etc) are precisely what has caused my weight to balloon... I always thought my mother was daft with her leftovers in the fridge and carrying her own healthy snacks around. Maybe she wasn't after all... She's not obese either...

@alphaechokiwi Would it help to decide on a strategy beforehand? Maybe deciding between wine and pudding, pre-dinner snacks or continental breakfast etc? That way you're still limiting your intake but not missing out completely. I don't know about you, but "old" me would have had all the things Also maybe accept that you might gain a little, and that is normal, it happens to many people when they're on holiday.

Thanks @alphaechokiwi, and hello to @Notthissticky. I think they are good suggestions. For me, the real learning came with this wonderful birthday meal we had on the last day. It was so perfect in every way , and I loved every mouthful, that it did make stuffing ones face even less appealing than normal. At the wedding, there was a lot of sweet stuff and it gave me a headache and some inflammation issues. The contrast was fairly stark. So I’m going to try to only eat things that I really like or need. Mind, I really like Mars bars, gonna just ban them!

Zebra glad to hear that the wedding was lovely - did you enjoy wearing your dress? Eas it the toast one in the end? With the kimono? The changing feeling about food (and specific foods/ food groups especially sugar) isso important isn't it? So useful and constructive long term and short term to notice and act on what specific foods do to our bodies. Hope your weekend away was lovely too and a chance to recharge - 2kg gained quickly under special circumstances can be lost equally quickly by returning to normal IMO.

Notthissticky it's a learning curve isn't it? So glad you're doing so well at recognising what works and what doesn't for you, and making such positive decisions about realistic tweaks to make!

alphaechokiwi have a great holiday - I think Notthissticky made some good suggestions

Hello, can I join you? Last week I weighed my self for the first time in a year, I’ve always been very big but I was horrified to see I was 19st 7lbs!!!

I’ve started calorie counting, it’s the only method of loosing weight that has ever worked for me and this week I’ve lost 7lbs. It’s going to be a long old journey and I know I’ll mess up along the way.
My daughter can home and said some boys in her class were talk about how fat I was and it upset her, so that’s my motivation. I’ll do it for her as much as for me.

@PinotAndPlaydough welcome! Your username sounds like my life pre second DC

I only joined earlier this week and I'm also calorie counting. I really like the attitudes of people on this thread, it's all about making sensible choices and learning from mistakes, no crash diets etc.

I'm sorry your daughter had to deal with those comments, that's horrid!!!

And well done on that first loss!!!

Just wrote a long post and lost it grr.
Massive congrats to @UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme for an amazing year of health.

96.4kg this morning!!! 1.1kg off since Monday but, more importantly, lost 5% of my starting weight💪 I've now lost 5.4kg/ 12lbs. Next goal is 1st off = 95.5kg

Well done @Notthissticky... fantastic result. And thanks everyone for the holiday advice. I'm not going for another few weeks so I have some time to work out a strategy.

I've lost 0.6kg this week. My DH had a big birthday so there was a 'day off' in there. More importantly, my BMI is now 29.8.