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?

Hi everyone.
I don't know about the weight being affected or not StanleyOscar as I don't weigh in daily. I'm weighing Monday and am expecting a gain. Hopefully not too much! Congratulations on getting the weight moving again. It's been very hot here today too.

@StanleyOscar if there's one thing I've learned over the past month it's that it'll come off at some point and is unlikely to be a real gain - the overall trend per week/month is what matters and although I'm finding my own daily fluctuations fascinating, they don't matter in isolation so long as the overall trend is working for me.

Speaking of that...somewhat miraculously after pigging out yesterday (and I did. Hugely.) I haven't gained. I've still got the pound I put back on so I'm still sat at even stone off, but considering how hot it is, and how bloated I feel I thought I'd have put 2-3 on so I'm really happy with that.

While it's so hot I'm going to concentrate on keeping hydrated and eating light meals and hopefully I'll see the benefit when the weather turns.

I did a belated (Saturday) weigh in this morning and am pleased to have (possibly) lost a kg. Wednesdays are the official one.

It's definitely not a reliable indicator on a day to day basis. Slimming world slimmer of the week is based on a two week loss, which I think is very sensible.

It's so hot.... I'm not cooking!

Currently got my eldest child doing Richmond's meat free sausages on the outdoor grill for our brunch (113 cals for 2, 5% fat) - no sweating in the kitchen today!

Well done for not gaining WheresMyTweezers. I pigged out again last night. We'll see what the scales say tomorrow.
Well done on the KG picklemewalnuts!

BBQs and any form of picnic are my bête noir - so great job in keeping the food in line there @WheresMyTweezers!

@picklemewalnuts that SW policy sounds very sensible. I am (officially) weighing myself weekly, but fortnightly sounds really sensible - more sustainable.

BBQ doesn't have to be disastrous, @ThroughThinkandThing. Lidl low fat sausages are only a syn (or even half a syn?) each, slimm8ng world burgers are free, and I decided the morrisons low fat burgers (less than 5%) were free too. I had one of each, a burger roll (which should have been wholemeal but wasn't) and loads of salad, baked mushrooms aubergine and peppers.
Chicken is ok too, obviously. Potentially gammon and steak as well.

Just need to avoid cheaper burgers and sausage!

Cold meats and rainbow salad for us tonight. Maybe some air fried halloumi, too. Hard Boiled egg. Kitchen picnic, basically!

Another stay the same from me - not at all surprised even though it was a light day
yesterday. This heat makes me feel so bloated and even though I'm drinking loads I think I've water retention. Looking forward to a loss showing up soon though.

Everyone else bearing up?

Your salad sounded gorgeous @picklemewalnuts

'In the summer, body weight can go up by several pounds due to increased body water. This is accomplished through fluid-conserving hormones such as aldosterone, which allows the kidney to retain more fluid and reduces the amount of salt in sweat, a measure that also aids in water retention. The increase and stabilization of total body water can only be accomplished by continuing to exercise in hot weather and will not occur in people who spend most of their time indoors in air-conditioned environments.'

Can't link but article came up when I googled "effect of heat on weight".

Well, that was a very busy weekend, and the scales rewarded me this morning. Another 1lb loss taking me to a total of 26lbs in just over 8 weeks.

Yesterday, my wife and I got up really early and went to the beach. We live very close to a lot of beaches but this time of year we normally avoid them like the plague as it gets too busy. However, we decided not to let all the tourists deter us, and so we were on the beach by 9:30am. During the day we walked 11k steps, resisted the temptations to have fish & chips, icecream, fudge etc, just had a nice relaxing pot of tea whilst sat outside a quiet cafe watching the world go by. On the way home we went shopping, and again, resisted all temptations to buy any snacks, crisps, cakes, junk food etc. Arrived home just in time to watch the F1GP, and then a healthy salad for dinner.

So, fingers crossed, looking likely I might get a 3lb loss at this weeks SW weigh in on Wednesday. There really is no logic behind dieting and the actual weight loss, however, it is going in the right direction which is the main thing. My aim is to be 12st 7lbs by my 50th birthday in February, but if I can achieve that target by Christmas in 22 weeks time, then great. So, 55lbs to go, which means I need to lose 2.5lbs a week. As weight loss will slow, and become more challenging, I doubt I will achieve that goal, but I will have a bloody good go!

Now I have lost 10% of my starting weight, I feel so much different. I will add a separate post later with more detail.

How's everyone today?

@picklemewalnuts - Sounds like the BBQ diet works well, proves you can join in the fun without damaging the diet. How are you today?

@ThroughThinkandThing - How are you doing?

@73kittycat73 - How are the scales today after your weekend blast?

@WheresMyTweezers - Well done getting your eldest to do the cooking, time you put your feet up! How are you today?

SW - 18st 4lbs
CW - 16st 6lbs
TW - 12st 7lbs
Loss - 26lbs

@WheresMyTweezers - Yes, the heat doesn't help at all with the water retention etc. Then, in the winter we don't have the water retention to woryy about, but we do eat more to stay warm and retain fat for survival. We can't win

Well done on the maintain, I suspect if your weight loss pattern is anything like mine, you will drop a few pounds over the next week after maintaining.

That sounds like an absolutely lovely day StanleyOscar, and well done for avoiding all the snacks! I was in the garden yesterday and despite sitting in the shade all afternoon, got really sunburnt on my shoulders. Not going to yoga tonight, too hot.
Well, after my week of pigging out, I've gained...5lb! All the chocolate is going out the flat today and I'm getting back on it. I'm now 11st 8.2lb.

Good job on the loss @StanleyOscar & the motivation.

@73kittycat73 oooof! But at least you know, and have the motivation to get back on it.

I certainly do atm WheresMyTweezers. Have gathered up all the last remaining chocolate and that's out the flat today.

@73kittycat73 - 5lbs, oh no!

Yes, throw the choclate out, I am sure 2-3lbs will drop off quickly though, you should be back on track very soon.

I've learned that on balance, I get more happiness from losing each pound than what I get from eating snacks. A bag of crisps makes me feel good whilst eating them, so 5-10mins. Losing 1lbs keeps me on a high all day, and into the next.

Thanks StanleyOscar. I like what you've written there about rather losing a pound than snacking. I must remember this! It's very good advice.
Off out in the garden in a mo to enjoy the good weather. Hope you have a lovely day too.

Something I've realised this time around- I'm not as bothered about other people having nice things I can't have.

In the past I'd have eaten 'my share' of the nice thing because that would be fair. Now I'm as happy (well, almost!) to just taste the nice thing, and watch other people eat it.
I do discourage people eating the things I can have though- casually snacking on the ham, for example.

That's a phenomenal loss, Stanley and you should be proud.
Never mind, Kittycat! Get back on it!

@StanleyOscar your beach day sounds wonderful! Hoping to head to the sea this weekend 🤞

Weighed in at 14.11 this morning, so very definitely in the 14s, not a fraction away from 15, so hurrah! I measured my waist last night and I had gone up half an inch, so decided to ignore it and measure again this morning, and it is down half an inch to 32, so I think that must have been water retention last night.

We went out for Italian tonight, and I had a light lunch to prepare, then a half portion of risotto from the children's menu, with a ticket and Parmesan salad to go with it, and it was delicious and exactly the right amount. I did finish off a friends calamari, but only a few pieces, so counting it as a success. I find it hard to gauge calories when out, but given lunch was a prawn salad with lettuce and carrot, am fairly sure I am within the boundaries!

@73kittycat73 sunburn is horrid, isn't it? I often seem to manage to get caught out, especially when it is cloudy so I don't think, or when I am doing break duty for 15 minutes so think I can't possibly burn!

Sorry about the gain, but good steps to fix it.

@picklemewalnuts that is such a good point - I used to be very much "I want my share" and that has really changed for me recently.

@StanleyOscar also a really good point - I like crisps, chocolate etc, but they are definitely a fleeting pleasure!

Morning Team!

Well, I had an unexpected loss this morning, another 1lbs! I am very pleased and it does fit in with all the walking, cycling, dieting I did over the weekend. Total loss now stands at 27lbs in 9 weeks, one more pound and I hit the 2stone. Fingers crossed I will get a weekly total 3-4lbs loss at tomorrow's Slimming World weigh in, which will add up to a total 8.5lbs loss for July with just one more weigh in to go this month. I am gunning for the Slimmer of the Month award for the second month in a row.

I really need to be sensible today, plenty of fluids, protein etc, I really don't want to screw this up before tomorrow.

SW = 18st 4lbs
CW = 16st 5lbs
TW = 12st 7lbs
Loss = 1st 13lbs

@picklemewalnuts - Good point about fair share, I am the same and hadn't thought about that until you mentioned it, in fact, it's good to see other people gorge on their mountain of junk food etc, which is entirely up to them, but I feel proud of myself for not following suit. How are you today?

@73kittycat73 - How are you? Did you get to enjoy the sun yesterday?

@ThroughThinkandThing - Normally I get a tan after just 10mins in the sun, I don't go red, however, if I do then my sunburn is really bad and I get very sore. How are you today?

@WheresMyTweezers - How are you? Did you get the loss today?

Lets' go Team!!!

No I didn't! 1lb on. I'm doing all the right things though so I'm confident it will come off when I don't expect it! I'm not surprised though as I feel swollen. I'm not built for this heat!

You must feel amazing about to smash 2 stone off!

@ThroughThinkandThing that must feel great, being securely in the 14s!

@WheresMyTweezers - The heat doesn't help at all, no. It will come off, as you say. My weight loss flutuates massively week to week. It literally stalls for 7 days, then 3-5lbs drops off over a few days, then it stalls again. I haven't got used to the plateaus yet, and they do get me down, but there is nothing I can do each time other than plough on and remind myself that it start moving again and the weight will come off. The worse of it is standing on the scales at the Slimming World weekly weigh in and they say..."You've maintained this week, better luck next week", after losing 5lbs the week before. Makes me feel like a fraud, even though they don't take much notice.

And that's another thing. Losing so much weight in such little time, winning all the awards etc, sometimes feels as though I have to keep it up at every meeting. They always single me out to do a little speech on what I have done during the week to lose so much weight, and there isn't much I can say really other than follow the diet, drink lots of water, don't cheat and go out for plenty of walks. There is no secret, I don't do anything the others can't do. I don't mind at all passing on my advice, all good stuff but I am still a newbie at the club.

Well done on your NSV picklemewalnuts sitting back and not indulging is really strong willpower!
Well done on the loss, and picking a 'good' meal ThroughThinkandThing! Huge congrats on getting down into the next stone bracket. It feels great doesn't it? I stayed very much in the shade yesterday and wore a top that covered the burnt bits. Slavering a load of moisturizer on the said burnt bits though. They're still a bit sore but not as much as they were.#
Well done on smashing it yet again StanleyOscar! I hope you manage to get your rewards.
Sorry to hear you are struggling with the heat WheresMyTweezers. When not in the garden I'm found sat inside firmly in front of my fan!