Defeated by fatness no more

[BreathingDeep]

Happy Monday!

Following my thread last week about how I, and so many of us, are feeling like we're defeated by our weight, here's a support thread for those of us who don't want stop ourselves from living the lives we want any more.

There were some amazing stories shared and so much honesty about how this is a struggle for so many of us. Here's the thread for anyone wanting to read:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4225173-Defeated-by-my-fatness-am-I-alone

I know that I am sick of feeling ashamed of myself. Sick of hiding away. Sick of feeling that I'm judged for my weight. Sick of feeling that I'm letting myself and my family down. Sick of feeling that my inside doesn't match the outside. Sick of living in the same few outfits because everything else is too tight or looks terrible. Sick of seeking solace in food that doesn't nourish me. Sick of treating myself badly.

If you feel the same, come and join us! Everyone will have their own journey, their own approach and that's fine - please, no criticism or judgement of anyone's plan. The main aim is that we all take steps, every single day, to make ourselves feel better about ourselves.

For me, that means today will include drinking water, taking a long lunch and having a dog walk with a friend (this NEVER happens because work always comes first) and sticking with my Cambridge plan.

How about you?

Does anyone on here get huge hunger pains or is it just habit. Because I don't at all. I would've thought that reducing my carbs by so much would make me v hungry but it hasn't. I love love love bread and potatoes and I've had no bread for 3 weeks and just two small new potatoes in the occasional meal (instead of half a bag) . I'm not going to pretend I haven't missed them, I have. A lot!

Onesmallstep67 Well done, every lb counts!

Fantastic loss @Roussette and @Onesmallstep67. Do you put your results in an app? I love looking at the trends in the monthly graph setting - all those downward lines.

Oh, had there been a trifle here I would have shovelled it in. I can’t have things like that in the house. Dark chocolate is unpleasant to binge, I’m not fooling myself that had we had a bar of milk chocolate I would have been so restrained. The tuna melt was not restrained, though not as bad as crisps / wine / cream crackers / white bread.

Yes, I'm on MyFitnessPal. I used to write all this down in a notebook, but I found some old notebooks when I was 2 stone less and plotting my weight so that's too depressing to do again!

Lead I agree on the dark chocolate. I think I've got some chilli 85% dark somewhere.
Even I can't binge on that, it's 'orrible!

Well done for your self-control @TheLeadbetterLife! And well done on the losses @Roussette and @Onesmallstep67! I've stayed the same so far this week (official weigh day is Monday) but not feeling too defeated as my period started today which always stalls things a bit.

I actually don't get particularly hungry following a low carb approach. I think it is worse when I'm doing something like SW and using my syns to snack on nonsense like sugar free jelly or those bloody mikado chocolate sticks rather than proper, filling food!

Good morning all - I haven't been on MN much for a week or so, it's taken a while to catch up on your posts. I'm now 17 weeks in, since I took myself in hand, and I am hovering at the 3 stone loss. It has slowed down a bit, but I have noticed it does that every so often, so I just have to get through the slump.

I had a BMI of 37.2 in January, and I need to lose (and keep off) 2lbs to get a BMI of 29.9. I started at 16st 8lbs, I am 13st 6lbs now.

@Roussette - once I got over the first week of coming down from my junk food high, I haven't felt snacky/peckish. I sometimes have a bit of fruit in the afternoon, but apart from that it is breakfast (sometimes skipped), lunch and dinner. No after dinner grazing.

@BreathingDeep - I am sorry to hear about your bereavement. A major upsetting life event like that would really test me. Be kind to yourself. I am very conscious that it has been... I won't say "easy" exactly... to keep on track, because there have been literally no outside influences to put me off. I haven't seen friends in months (we're just about to come out of very long lockdown here in Ireland).

I am sorry I haven't responded more, and I forget PPs names as I write my own posts - but I find all your messages really give me a boost. I am 40 now too, and definitely more conscious of how weight impacts health, even though the slimmer clothes are definitely a bonus!

I have just acquired my first iphone as my daughter upgraded. It has a huge amount of memory so I am going to be downloading apps left, right and centre ! I think it will be good for me to see those downward trends- as long as they continue.
Roussette I have a slight gnawing hunger at times but not to the point of pain. I have been amazed at how little I have craved or missed. I am finding that I need to keep busy in the mornings as I am slightly clock watching but having an 8 hour eating window that takes me into the evening is perfect for me as that was my most challenging time when I was likely to snack. I'm definitely not obsessing about what carbs in are what but so far not missing potatoes or pasta. Only missing bread because of always enjoying a carby breakfast.
leadbetter was it you who confessed to the cream cracker habit ? I developed a real guilty pleasure for scooping butter straight out of a tub with them

@AnnieJ1985
Wow Wow, that loss is inspirational, fantastic to hear! 17 weeks in and that much consistent loss is great. I am 4 weeks today so just working out when that will be for me

@Onesmallstep67
So agree on the keeping busy, I just have to work at distracting myself from thinking about snacks and food I miss.

@AnnieJ1985, 3 stones + in 17 weeks is an amazing achievement. I would love to think I could in the same position by September. Well done. And I completely agree about not having other things diverting your focus. I have to be able to give it my full attention.
Fingers crossed for lockdown lifting in Ireland. I have family in Co.Clare. Can't wait to be able to get over to them as soon as is possible.

Congratulations @AnnieJ1985, that is truly inspirational success.

No, I don't get hunger pangs anymore. I do sometimes snack, but only out of boredom / procrastination. I only have things like nuts, cheese or celery and peanut butter though.

@Onesmallstep67 I would love to lose at least 2 more stone over the summer - in fact if I get to 12 stone I think I'll be the lightest since I left school.

The best advice I've had, and can give, is to prep - if I don't prioritise my shopping and meal planning, I won't have a decent loss (at this stage 2lbs a week would be fantastic). If I don't set up the week on say, Monday, I seem to drift through until the following Monday - even though there is nothing stopping me (apart from myself!) doing it on the Tuesday etc. I still eat ok, but I am at risk of going haywire if I don't know what I am having for dinner each day.

Also, one blip in the week (I had a Chinese on Wed night) is not a reason or an excuse to blow off the rest of it. My slim sister has her regular treats and take aways, she just doesn't overdo it the rest of the time! If we were to meet for dinner, she'd factor that into her week's food/treats (maybe not even consciously) but she'd say I am going for dinner with Anne on Friday, so I won't have takeaway on Sat. In the good old days, I'd have had the dinner, and drinks with her on Friday, then a big hungover Saturday breakfast, then a takeaway....and prob same on the Sunday. 🙈

That really is inspirational Annie. I’m starting just a bit below where you were so feel like it’s a huge task. But I’m breaking it down, just want to get back into my (usual amount of fat) work trousers first! I’d be thrilled to lose 3 stone in 17 weeks! I’m not strictly calorie counting but generally eating low carb (and defo low processed carb) so feel much better just for that. And as other PPs have said: I’ve burned the wagon! No more all-or-nothing!

Like some others, I am also surprised how not-hungry I am most of the time. I think carbs trigger hunger for me. It’s surprising how little food we actually need, compared to what I’m capable of eating!

Off to bake for the kids now, they have a cookie or similar every day after school, we don’t really do sweets or much snacking one rule for me, another for them . I love to bake, don’t really mind too much that I’m not eating it. Long May the motivation last!

@Roussette I am waiting to break the 13 st barrier too- am currently exactly 13st 1, so maybe after the weekend? It's an incentive to not bugger it up.

@AnnieJ1985 that's very motivating- thanks for posting. I've lost 7 pounds so far so need to keep going! It's so true that if you don't go anywhere you don't get derailed.

Another weekend looming which is where I make all my bad food choices. Last weekend I managed to stick to 1800 cals both days for the first time. I'm determined to do it again as I have seen much better losses this week. Must be strong!!!

Wow @AnnieJ1985 that's amazing! I love hearing about other people's successes, it makes me think I might actually be able to do it too!

@Peachypips78 weekends are the worst for me but I'm feeling ok about this one. I'm going to stick to 2 glasses of wine a night so that I don't completely deny myself and end up bingeing. I've agreed to go for a run with a friend early on Sunday as an incentive to keep the alcohol levels low and really want to start next week feeling like I have achieved something rather than just thrown it all away. We'll see if I can stick to it, but right now I am feeling motivated.

I think something has finally clicked for me over the past couple of months, that dieting to fit into a dress or to look good on holiday just isn't enough. It is about health now, and I need to make a sustainable lifestyle change. I'm hoping that that will keep me on the straight and narrow!!

@Peachypips78
Well ... I did my weekly weigh this morning and I was bang on 13st. I then went for the C25K torture, got back, showered, and weighed again and I was 12st 13 1/2 !! But I've logged 13st because I am weighing at the same time every week.

@sylv165

Wow *@AnnieJ1985* that's amazing! I love hearing about other people's successes, it makes me think I might actually be able to do it too!

@Peachypips78 weekends are the worst for me but I'm feeling ok about this one. I'm going to stick to 2 glasses of wine a night so that I don't completely deny myself and end up bingeing. I've agreed to go for a run with a friend early on Sunday as an incentive to keep the alcohol levels low and really want to start next week feeling like I have achieved something rather than just thrown it all away. We'll see if I can stick to it, but right now I am feeling motivated.

I think something has finally clicked for me over the past couple of months, that dieting to fit into a dress or to look good on holiday just isn't enough. It is about health now, and I need to make a sustainable lifestyle change. I'm hoping that that will keep me on the straight and narrow!!

If I can do this, anyone can. Honestly. I am naturally very lazy and love(d) my junk food. I get my "junk buzz" these days from seeing my clothes get too big. For the first stone or so I was just getting back into fitting into my biggest clothes properly 😳 They were struggling to contain me! Now I am working down through the stuff I had saved to "slim in to". Nearly into 14 jeans. I was pushing a 22 in Jan. I would be content at a 12-14, I was never a size 10 in my life.

@AnnieJ1985

I'm the same with the clothes buzz. When I feel a bit of a snacking urge coming on, I quite often go to my wardrobe instead, and try on dresses I last wore at university. They fit me better now, too.

Hope you are all doing well, my period had turned up nearly 8 weeks late due to the covid jab and my god its worse than ever. So I know I'm carrying loads of bloat. I'm postponing the weigh in as it will really demoralise me

Thanks @AnnieJ1985! I've started the weekend as I mean to go in with W3R3 if c25k, plus I managed to tag on a full lap of the park run without stopping! Quite surprised I could do that!

Sorry so many typos! Full lap of the park running that should say - not quite ready for a park run yet!!

Same @Roussette and @Peachypips78 I'm 13.1. Was 16 stone last Jan, down to 12 stone by June, back up to 13.9 a couple of weeks ago.

Onwards and downwards!

Fuckingfreezer That sounds great. I did w3run3 this morn, but think I might need to repeat a wk3 because I did lumber round a bit huffing and puffing.

Good idea replacing food buzz with clothes buzz.

We'll get there this time!

Pouring with rain here so can't run or walk early like I normally do, and last night was really not good. Gin, wine and a Thai curry.

Cross with myself but I've learnt that dwelling on it makes it worse, and the best thing to do is to make today a better day.

Morning Roussette. The weather is grim here too. Is there anything that you could do indoors as a substitute to the run or walk this morning? Hopefully it’ll clear up later
I’m someone who can have one blip and let it derail the whole process- well certainly in the last 12 months. It’s great that you are not dwelling on it.
I’m another lb down this morning. That’s about 4+ down since Tuesday when I started -again ! and - 6lbs from my recent highest weight. I’m very aware though that in order to maintain a lower weight I have to find something that is workable every day. How I wish I was someone who can seemingly eat and drink what they want without consciously being aware of everything that passes their lips !
Have a great weekend everyone. Let’s hope that the rain stops soon 🤞🏼

Thanks Onesmall yes, I have a 'not sure what to call it' Ab Cruncher? And I'm going to do some sit ups on that because I can't see my walk happening today.

Well done on another of those pesky pounds down!