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

chocpott and Dobbyafreeelf welcome! This thread is really supportive with lots of grounded people posting sensible but varied approaches - I really hope you will bpth feel at home here and start to turn your health around slowly. Dobbyafreeelf well done on the great start!

Zebracat I'm glad you got your filling! I really hope you feel better soon - of course you need to go easy on yourself and norish yourself (as healthily as you can face) when you're sick.

Sleep deprivation is a big part what caused my weight gain to start to really spiral, but its dc3's fault not tech in my case - years of only ever getting 60-90 minute stretches of sleep at a time and trying to stay awake for three young children and regulate my mood by replacing sleep with sugar - good job he's completely adorable and sleeps through now that he's very nearly ten . I definitely agree with leaving all tech well away from where you sleep, and putting it away before bedtime. Sleep deprivation long term raises cortisol levels which hinders weight loss and also causes different patterns of fat storage.

Mind you I have swapped non sleeping child and then late night studying for a night shift tonight... That may not have been clever but nowadays I can catch up on sleep later in the day I'm lucky never to have had insomnia, just external things stopping me sleeping!

Welcome @chocpott and @Dobbyafreeelf. Warning pity party coming up:
Been having a bad week health wise and eating for comfort. Feeling like I’m suffering the consequences of being overweight for so long and wondering if it’s too late. So tomorrow back to writing down everything I eat and how it makes me feel physically and emotionally. Lots of water and a bit of self care. I can’t exercise at the moment but try some gentle stretches.

Stuckanddesperate get well soon! Its so hard when you feel unwell, but of course it isn't too late - I worked in a nursing home a few years ago and one lady in her early 80s improved her health significantly by losing 30kg and was able to stop using a wheelchair inside the building and needing to be hoisted and get around with just a walking frame! She also reduced the odema in her legs beyond belief. I don't know how old you are but I'm pretty sure you're a very long way from your 80s!

This is a long term thing not a quick fix, and not ever all or nothing. You can always start making healthier choices and be philosophical - what's done is done, its ok, but there's no logical reason to write off a day, or a week, rather than just getting back to owning your choices and being conscious about what you're deciding to eat and drink.

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme thanks you are talking sense as usual. I just feel rough (and about 80 😃) and annoyed with myself because some of it could have been avoided if I had started earlier. Off to bed and tomorrow is a new day

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone.

This week has been awful as I have been hoovering up easter chocolate :(

Also sleeping badly - probably a consequence of the sugar in the chocolate!

Weight hasn't gone up yet and I am walking a lot so I will keep ploughing on.

We can do this.

I’ve gained 3lbs since Monday! ☹️ Going to do a longer fast today and really try to up the water and hope it disappears as quickly as it came. We did have a Chinese last night, but I ate a moderate amount (far less than old me would have!) and I did have one slice of birthday cake, but I also had a long bike ride and got my steps in. Oh well....I feel a bit gutted, but determined to take action rather than use it as an excuse to declare it hopeless! Although I’m not having the same scale success that many of you are, I do feel I am having a slow mindset shift.
Thanks for the support from everyone, it is so helpful to come back to the thread when I’m feeling wobbly!
Happy Friday all!

@Backtobackagain, well done for eating in moderation. It’s fine to celebrate special days. Also, Chinese food is usually very high in salt which leads to water retention. Snarf a few dandelions and youll be right!

Backtobackagain as Zebracat says 3lb could be water retention, and will go again quickly if you stick to non processed food and plenty of waterfor a while.

78.0 today. Drop partly cycle related but pleasing as I only seem to lose about 2 weeks each month now.

78kg that is obviously! That's 12 stone 4. We're working in both metric and imperial on the thread aren't we!

I started at 119kg which is 18 stone 10, in July 2020.

www.thecalculatorsite.com/conversions/charts/kg-to-stones-pounds-table.php

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme
That is a fantastic overall loss in quite a short time! So inspiring! Well done. How much further have you to go? How are you with clothes now? Are you buying new or still waiting for goal weight? Can you remind me how much you lost before others really started to notice?

I’ve enjoyed a lie in this morning and am just about to go and weigh. Definitely going to up my water today and reduce carbs to try and shift this gain. Need to be back on track by Monday when I’m back to work, more stressed, and things get harder again. Really hoping I can maintain some balance and keep my steps up and my focus on healthy choices even on my working days. I have to give this weight loss and health journey the same priority I give my job and my family.

@Rebuildingconfidence hope you have managed to sleep- definitely has such an impact on everything else. We also have a house full of Easter chocolate, the sooner my boys have eaten it and the temptation is gone, the better!

Brilliant @UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme that’s an amazing weight loss. Just trying to avoid snacking here and upping my water. I won’t until next week as I know it will be bad and think it may lead to a spiral of bad choices

Backtobackagain Thanks, sometimes it helps to remember how far I've come as the loss is very slow now. I've never set an exact target weight and if i was doing it for looks and how I feel I'd stop now just because I'm comfortable at this weight, and am not sure I'll look "better" slimmer because my skin is just now starting to be a bit loose on my upper arms and I can see the beginning of loose skin around my neck/ jaw - I think due to skin I might actually look worse if I lose any more weight and I feel great, I have as much energy as any nearly 46 year old shift working mother of 3 school age children has a right to I think Also yes i have spent money on clothes which I love and fit perfectly I find feeling good is essential to a positive mindset and being in control of choices about everything - food, activity, sleep - and rediscovering pleasure in clothes has been a big part of that for me since I decided to buy new clothes about 6 months ago. There's a brilliant "plus size what are you wearing today" thread on style and beauty if you're interested - its really helped me feel good as I am, which ironically I find essential in order to become even better if that makes sense!

However there's a history of heart disease all over my mother's side of the family and happy as I currently am with my size and wardrobe I have always intended to get my waist below 80cm and get to approximately a healthy BMI to minimise heart disease risk as I approach my 50s (both my mother's parents died of heart attacks in their early 60s, her brother in his late 60s and my mother has heart disease and type 2 diabetes too, though well managed).

A healthy BMI for me is 52-70.4kg according to the NHS website, so I guess I'm aiming for the top end of that. My waist is 79cm if I pull the tape measure tight but 82cm loose and that's before I've eaten, so I guess losing another 9kg will get me where I want to be - then the new challenges of maintaining!

Tbh nobody really noticed until I'd lost about 15kg, but then it was like an avalanche and everyone noticed.

Welcome @chocpott I hope you find some support here! Things sound really difficult for you. It's really easy to fall into self loathing, and I'm sorry you feel that way. I have at times as well

@Dobbyafreeelf welcome to you too! And sounds like you're off to a fantastic start!

@Zebracat that was probably me that recommended that book. And you have described it perfectly - a bit insta! It is a bit annoying with all the pictures. I feel like the marketing team might be a bit clueless! But I'm really enjoying reading it. I have stopped taking my tablet up to bed with me as well. I am enjoying some of the me rituals I've picked up from reading it. And I hope you start to feel better soon!

@Stuckanddesperate sorry you're health hasn't been great and hugs (MN needs a hug emoji). It makes it really difficult to make healthy choices. I hope you enjoy the self care, and the stretches. I can't exercise either but I'm going to do a super gentle Yoga with Adrienne video, one that mostly involves hugging yourself!

@Backtobackagain I hope you enjoyed the Chinese! And well done for thinking about the amount - that is the most important thing wth a treat like this. Also I'm sure you'll pee that extra bit of weight out! Chinese will do that to you!

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme you are doing so well! Honestly I'm finding you quite inspiring! And you're so lovely and encouraging on here! I think the waist measurement is probably more important, and you're really close! I completely agree about wearing clothes you look good in at the size you are now. Feeling bad about yourself is not the way to develop a healthier lifestyle.

Hi all, I'm just checking in, been well off the wagon these last 2 weeks as I'm off work & just drinking & eating a lot in 'holiday mode'. Still done my 10k steps though.

I've allowed myself the time & have made lots of nice new recipes that aren't as healthy as normal without guilt! Back on it on Monday & if I've 5lb on I'll be happy! 😆. Hope everyone's weekends are good!

Good Morning. 97.6 this morning. It’s a loss, but in between a broken tooth and feeling ill, I’ve barely eaten. I expected more!

Actually I just checked and that is over a kilo. Not too bad!

Morning @Zebracat - that's brilliant! Well done! I'm +1kg this morning. Not unexpected, I've been sick and unable to exercise and eating more. Feeling a bit better today, hopefully back to my losing ways next week.... Happy Sunday everyone

Hello everyone. I am new to the read and slightly terrified of the journey to come.

I am 45, 116kg and desperately want to get into the healthy BMI range. My BP is very high and I need to get it down to safe levels.

Initially I am aiming to lose 5kg as I find bite size chunks much easier to manage (excuse the pun).

@ScottishBeth
Thanks for the recommendation. The book got me thinking, and that’s always good. Feel a bit sorry for his daughter though, plate of kale before dinner!

@alphaechokiwi. I hope we both feel better this week.
@GoodbyeToCare, welcome. Change is terrifying, but it’s really only the fear of failure that makes it so. I hope we can all help you get to where you need to be. Bite sized chunks seems a good way to go.
It also has helped me to think of cementing little changes into my life. So even if I’ve overeaten one day, I haven’t then rampaged thru the magic cupboard looking for forgotten treats, or reverted to biscuits with every cup of tea( and lots of cups of tea).And I certainly don’t spend time beating myself up for being fat and useless and destined to fail at everything, because that did not help one bit, I’m more likely to Hoover the stairs, which, weirdly, does help.
What are your plans? I’m doing no S and My Fitness Pal logging. Others are doing Intermittent Fasting, and other stuff. I think we all want to make sustainable lifestyle changes rather than lose weight by feeling deprived and then pile it on again, cos, of course we’ve tried that already.

@GoodbyeToCare - welcome. Lots success stories on this thread from similar starting point to yours. The hardest part is the beginning. I think the key is to get into a rhythm that suits you and learn to move on from setbacks.... Bite sized chunks are a great idea....good luck with your first 5kg

Tomorrow I will be starting my omad diet. I'm making it easy by getting ready meals in the freezer so I'm not tempted to grab something random and junk foody. I do tend to cope well with this diet as I don't eat in the mornings or lunch time anyway. It's evenings when I have a huge snack attack and I am going to be exercising in the evenings instead! (And not buying junk food - out of sight is out of mind)

I see a lot of posters feeling a bit crappy and negative so I'd like to try and kick start some positivity. If you'd like we could all list something (or a few things) that have helped our health this year. I'll start

• I quit smoking
• I cut down on drinking (haven't had a drink since Mother's Day, and before that it was new year)
• I have stopped drinking sugary fizzy drinks and replaced with squash and water.

@Zebracat I have a trial of Noom but have signed up to the NHS 12 week app. I'm also doing a beginners cardio workout on YouTube (well, today will be my second workout 😁).

Seem to be spending most of today needing a wee!!