6 stone to lose - my journey!

[StanleyOscar]

Hi everyone, long-time lurker here but decided to pop my head up and talk about my weight loss journey which I have just begun.

49 years old, yo-yo dieter for approx 20 years. Never have much problem loosing weight, just can't keep it off. So, I joined Slimming World on Wednesday and have around 6 stone to lose. So far I have lost 3lb, which is to be expected in week 1. Very much enjoyed the group meeting, and the meals/recipes are good too.

So far, so good. Anyone else on their journey too?

After work, I usually have more work to do at home (teacher) and I'm generally just shattered. I usually wake up early enough to fit in exercise, but find myself just lying in bed reading or thinking about the day ahead. So just general mehness when it comes to actually moving. Not ideal!

I have plans to use the summer holidays to develop a proper routine that I will be able to continue next year, as by then it will be just a normal part of my day. Crossed fingers.

That's a good plan!

@ThroughThinkandThing hello! Congratulations on your loss so far.
I can't do much exercise as I'm recovering from an accident so I'm pretty much limited to walking (although I'm hoping to get swimming when social distancing restrictions are removed - it's impossible to get in to the local leisure centres right now). I've found using a step counting app (first in my phone, now on my watch) and podcasts really help. The app is horribly addictive and I have met my target each day as I can't bear the thought of not completing my rings - it would ruin the look! The podcasts really help with boredom too.

@picklemewalnuts - I doubt I will ever see "healthy" BMI again! I was apparently overweight as a slim, fit teenager & I'd have to cut body parts off to get back to that weight. I'd just be happy to be in one of the less scary sounding categories.

Thanks for the tip - I have a podcast that I am addicted to (Revolutions, Mike Duncan - highly recommended if you like history) so will try to marry podcast to walking/running when I work up the nerve to do C25k.

Hi ThroughThinkandThing, well done on the weight loss so far! I use this YouTube channel for exercise. I'm not quite 50 yet, but I think that's ok. Don't let that put you off, there are easier and harder workouts, but none of them are too long. I do the 10 min standing abs, 10 min HIIT and 5 min balancing on the days I don't got to yoga (Twice a week.). Let me know if you do any, and if you like them?
Thank you picklemewalnuts, for the term 'healthy.'

Just tried the link and it doesn't work. I'll try posting one of the workouts instead:

Ooh, they look fun. I like the Lucy Lismore ones, but I struggle to even get started!

I'll have to look her up picklemewalnuts, though they sound like they might be hard?!

@ThroughThinkandThing - Hello there and welcome! Of course you can join, the more the merrier! Well done on your weight loss so far, you are doing great. Stick with us and the rest will fall off in no time

@73kittycat73 @picklemewalnuts @WheresMyTweezers - Keep going team, we can do this!!!!

Well, my weight stalled again since my SW weigh in on Wednesday, but I was expecting another plateau anyway. Yesterday it was my nephews 13th birthday and so we were invited to a family gathering BBQ to celebrate...with tonnes of yummy food! There were hotdogs, crisps, peanuts, burgers, cakes, chocolate, cheese...the list goes on. However, I was very good and just ate the salad, one roll & chicken. I had a little bit of birthday cake but I don't think I cracked 500 calories. I am so pleased with myself that I didn't give in and gorge on the party food.

So, this morning, 1lb off! Plateau has shifted after 4 days, and now I am the lightest I have been for almost 2 years.

Total of 24lbs loss in 6 weeks, 57lbs to go!

@73kittycat73 - CHRISTMAS! YAY!!!!

Hi StanleyOscar. You have amazing restraint! Shame you can't bottle it and sell it. I'd certainly buy a bottle! Congrats on your 1lb off. Congratulations on being at your lowest weight for two years! That total weight lost is awesome. Your doing so well.
My weigh in day is tomorrow. I haven't weighed for two weeks. I'm really, really hoping to be down to 10st something (Even 10st 10.9lbs) but even if I get down to 11st 1lb I'll be happy (Was 11st 5.2 last time I weighed.).

@73kittycat73 - Thanks! Good luck with the weigh in tomorrow, do you feel lighter since 2 weeks ago? I expect you will be in for a pleasent surprise!

Lol, I hope so! I should have put 10st 13.9 instead of 10.9 up there. I have actually noticed my stomach has gone down a bit, so am hoping some measurements have gone down too.
I've been very good today. I woke at 3am and couldn't get back to sleep since then. I've had nothing but cold water (Still on 16:8 fast until 11am.), even when my stomach was rumbling at 3am for an hour. I'm quite proud of myself. Still dying for 11am to come though, I want my breakfast!

@73kittycat73 - I know exactly how you feel, I'm on 16:8 as well following sugestions on here to do so. Like you say, early hours are difficult but fortunately I don't have any snacks in the house, and so I have to put up with it. At first, hunger was a problem, but as the days went by it faded away and now I don't really notice it. I don't think I am actually hungry, it's just re-educating myself that I have to shake the habit of nibbling all day, and it's okay to eat at set times. In between meals I sometimes have fruit, or eggs, or pickled onions, but generally I don't bother.

I have promised myself that I can, and will, have a blast at Christmas as a reward. [santa] Hopefully by then I will:

1. Have lost enough weight that a few pounds gain won't make a massive difference and I can recover with a few weeks of dieting and exercise.

2. I would have educated myself and adjusted my eating habits that I don't crave junk food.

Only 167 days to go until Xmas. Fingers crossed I make it!

I've started to enjoy being hungry. That good hungry feeling, not the sick hangry feeling!

@picklemewalnuts - Same here with hunger. Also, I now get a bigger kick out of turning down the opportunity to eat junk food than I get when I eat the food. Long may it last!

*I have promised myself that I can, and will, have a blast at Christmas as a reward. santa Hopefully by then I will:

1. Have lost enough weight that a few pounds gain won't make a massive difference and I can recover with a few weeks of dieting and exercise.*

Snap! Me and my mum were discussing this just the other day. She didn't have a very good Christmas health wise last year, she couldn't eat much. Her problem has been corrected by surgery and she is OK now so wants to go all out this Christmas. So much so she's planning to diet in November so she has a few pounds to play with!
Well, I've well and truly fallen off the wagon today, the day before weigh in! I felt really bad earlier, really bad hot flushes that left me drenched, then cold and shivers and was freezing. Felt weak and light headed and dizzy too. Thought it might be blood sugar so crammed in about 1000 calories of chocolate and sweet food. It made a bit of a difference but not much. Went for a lie down and feel a little better but still ill. Wondering whether or not to cancel tomorrows yoga. (You have to give at least 24 hours notice.)

@73kittycat73 Thank you! Will definitely try your recommendations.

@StanleyOscar thank you, and if I can be like you, that will certainly be the case - congratulations!

Let me know how it goes ThroughThinkandThing. Don't be fooled, some of those workouts are supprisingly tough!

@ThroughThinkandThing how are you doing?

@StanleyOscar & @picklemewalnuts I'm not sure I've got used to hunger as such but I'm definitely more used to ignoring the signal and telling myself my body is lying.

@73kittycat73 go to yoga! You'll feel better afterwards. Write the bad day off and forget about it, but try not to go into a sugar sprial.

And yes to having enough in the bank to enjoy Christmas! When you think about it, Christmas dinner is mainly meat and vegetables. It's the days leading up ...

2lb off for me meaning I'm just 1lb away from a stone! If I can do it by Wednesday that'll be a stone in a month, but obviously I have a lot to lose so it's not quite party poppers time.

Ah but it is party poppers, Tweezers! It's the first stone. That's a big deal, we'll done you!

Re hunger, it's more that I feel it as one of the body's many signals now. Like when you've worked out and your muscles are a bit stiff the next day, or being breathless after rushing up the stairs, and you know you'll recover quickly and feel fine is different from the exhaustion that comes when daily life is overwhelming.
It's just a sign I'll be ready to eat at the next meal.

It's back to normal life today, work etc. I think I need the routine, to be honest!

Hi everyone. Have canceled yoga anyway as felt really ill yesterday and after a nights sleep still feel a bit off.
Have weighed in today. I don't want to insult anyone as I know weight loss is so hard, but I usually lose quite quickly. These past two weeks hardly a slither of chocolate has passed my lips and I've exercised everyday. I lost 2lb. I can't help but feel really disappointed. I did however binge last night and because of that will weigh myself again tomorrow morning. I have lost 2.5 inches from my waste though bringing me down to 36" and within the recommended 37" NHS guidelines. I also lost an inch from my hips taking me to 42", bust stayed the same. BMI of 25.2, so close!
I hope everyone else is having a good day?

It sounds like you haven't that much to lose though @73kittycat73 and those last few pounds can be stubborn. I'm sure they'll move though - look at how disheartened I was a couple of weeks ago (one week ago even?).

@73kittycat73 - I know what you mean about the weight not budging even after being well behaved, but there really is no logic to how the body sheds the pounds. We don't weigh ourselves daily when we are putting on a couple of stone, but I suspect our weigh fluctuates in the same way. Eat a tonne of junk food for 5 days and we lose 1lb, it's nuts.

I was well behaved over the weekend, 1lb loss yesterday morning, ran 1k in 10mins last night...this morning 1lb GAIN! Gutted!

After a week of no treats, healthy eating, exercising etc, I am looking likely to just maintain at Wednesday's SW weigh in. Makes no sense at all, especially after losing 4.5lbs last week. I haven't done anything different this week, in fact I have been even more restrained.

Doesn't help my anxious thoughts of impending death which I have had to deal with for the last 2.5 years, brings me down somewhat and not having food to use as comfort, it can be a real struggle.

Hey-Ho! That's the world of dieting for you, but I am still not giving up.

Don't forget there is more to weight than fat! Could be inflammation, if you've had an injury, or water retention.

Never never get obsessed with the numbers on the scale. Count it a win that you've eaten healthily for a week. That's better vitamins/minerals/blood sugar levels/ cholesterol... numbers on the scale are just one way of keeping track of our health, not the goal itself.

Try feeling your body with your hands- are there bones or muscles you can feel now that weren't there before? Do your clothes feel more comfortable? Can you get your socks on more easily?

What matters is quality of life, not the number on the scale.

I'm off to cook a lamb curry, with chickpeas and veg. I cooked the meat yesterday and put it in the fridge, so I'll be able to skim any fat off before I start. I'll make a naan from wholemeal flour and yogurt, using my healthy B ration! Yum.

Thanks WheresMyTweezers I was just so disappointed as I'd done everything 'right.' When I feel better (Have been in bed all afternoon feeling like rubbish) I'm going to cut down on the exercise. I was really going for it and not listening to myself when I was tiered. I'm going to stick with my two yoga classes a week and exercise myself three other days, so I have the weekend off.
Hi StanleyOscar thank you for your kind words. Yeah, it's not fair is it? I'm sorry you suffer with anxious thoughts. (((hugs))) Well done for not giving up!!! Me neither.
Funny you should mention that picklemewalnuts. I was getting ready to get in the shower Sunday morning and felt something hard on my back. I had a moment of panic, then realised it was a bone! lol Not felt that in quite a while. Your food sounds delish, I hope you enjoy it.