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?

Ha ha ha!

If I go from a size 22 to a 16 that's 3 dress sizes dropped and would be amazing for me but I doubt people would notice tbh as I'd probably still be "big" by most standards. If I dropped 3 sizes from a 16 to a 10 I reckon loads would notice as I'd have gone form big to slim.

Also, I know from Instagram that there's a move away from commenting on weight loss - in some circles at least - as the person might be unwell or it's saying thing good/fat bad which might be unhelpful to some people. If you've not been open about losing weight (and I haven't - I've kept it low key) then people might have noticed but are cautious about mentioning?

All true, tweezers!

Definitely my experience too. My mother has commented, but she knows I am trying to lose weight. No one else has, and I don't know if they haven't noticed, think it is rude, or a combination thereof.

I went from a 20 to a 14 in 6 month and there were a couple of points where people suddenly noticed. Mainly around the 16 I think. But people who see you everyday notice it less.

I have had comments, most of which were easy to negotiate. People I hadn't seen much of saying 'gosh, didn't think that was you, you look great'.

Others a bit more tricky, smacking of - what's your secret/bet you feel better (which hints at 'why didn't you do it years ago').

I'm coping ok at mum's again, so far.
A lovely lunch yesterday, but no other food at all rather than a yogurt or an apple.
Scrambled egg and salmon and salad for lunch today. Healthy pasta carbonara planned for tonight.
Only panic eaten two fibre bars!

Two days to go....

Hope your trip to your mother's is still going well @picklemewalnuts !

How is everyone else getting along?

Me? I seem to have lost the weight I gained (again this week). Super happy with that as I've had alcohol and eaten out about 4 times and out about 5lb on! I was pretty certain it'd come off quickly though as I had done LOADS of walking. I haven't got anything major on for next couple of weeks (well nothing too tricky to navigate) so I'm hoping for an overall loss. It'd be nice to lose 4lb in a fortnight I think. Let's see.

I was wondering if I should feel pissed off at sabotaging myself as I'm sure I'd have lost more if I'd been super strict but I know I won't stick to anything which rules out socialising so it's fair enough really.

Good stuff @WheresMyTweezers.

I'm home from holiday today so first weigh in for a fortnight tomorrow. A bit nervous as while I have tried to be fairly good, it has been a holiday with friends, and no kitchen scales, and I have drunk more than I have been recently, and eaten more. On the other hand, I have also done lots more exercise.

Back on the wagon properly today, and hoping that with some cycling this week and the aid of Spanx I can get into this dress!

@picklemewalnuts - Hang in there! My wife just spent two weeks at her mum's and expected to put on weight, however, she was very well behaved and when she weighed in this morning she was surprised to see she has lost 3lbs! Actually, she was over the moon.

@WheresMyTweezers - Well done on losing the weigh you gained, it's a lovely feeling to get back to where you left off. Don't think of it as 'Sabotage', it's life, we have little setbacks. The main thing is that you don't slip back into old habits and destroy everything you have worked for, and I highly doubt you would do that. Today is another day!

@ThroughThinkandThing - Good luck with the weigh in tomorrow, I am sure you will do fine!

For me, well that was a busy weekend. On Friday I tried to complete the 4hr trip to collect my wife from her mothers, but due to so many tourists in our area I had to abandon the trip after only getting 15miles in 2hrs. Tried again in the evening and after 6hrs I managed to do the trip. Drove back yesterday and the same 4hr trip took 7rs. Plus side is I always lose weight after driving so many hours, and manage to keep the weigh off, and so I don't think it is dehydration. I do tend to drink plenty on these trips, but avoid the fast food outlets and service station crisps etc, always a treat in the past but no longer.

Upshot is that I have lost another 1lb and hit the 2.5 stone loss!!

SW = 18st 4lbs
CW = 15st 11lbs
TW = 12st 7lbs
Loss = 35lbs

Thanks @StanleyOscar!

I have lost 1.5 lbs in the last fortnight, so a definite reduction in the pace of weight loss but I am just pleased that I managed to carry on losing weight on holiday! I thought I might have put some back on so really pleased this has not been the case.

It must be horrifically busy where you are - those trips sound gruelling. Fantastic job with the 2.5 stone - you're doing amazingly!

@ThroughThinkandThing - 1.5lbs is still good, but yes, we always want better. I suspect your weight might shift again soon, mine does after a plateau.

I had 5 days on the trot at 15st 13lbs, and as expected it has dropped again, 3lbs off in 5 days, no logic.

So, another 1lb off today which is great bringing me down to 15st 10lbs. My wife has been doing the same diet but with a few treats since the start of June and she has now lost 1stone

Slimming World weigh in on Wednesday and so I hope to have a 3-4lb loss for the week.

SW = 18st 4lbs
CW = 15st 10lbs
TW = 12st 7lbs
Loss = 36lbs

Urgh lost my reply!

Basically it was well done everyone especially @ThroughThinkandThing for losing in holiday!

@StanleyOscar someone on another thread posted a link to an article explaining why plateaus are actually good (so long as overall trend is downwards) and it's an indication of sustainable weight loss. I meant to post it here but forgot - sorry!

@WheresMyTweezers - That's interesting what you say about plateaus, I'd like to see that article. I can certainly say that after each plateau my weight drops, but I don't regain the pounds. So yes, plateauing for me seems to be a good thing, and a consistent downward trend.

My mind is always full of mixed thoughts. If my weight plateaus for 5 days to a week then I become a little dispondent, start to think the diet has reached its peak. However, when it drops rapidly over a few days, say 2-3lbs drop over 5 days, I start to worry a little that something is badly wrong with me...then I plateau again and get frustrated. As I get older I worry more and more about every ache and pain, sometimes convincing myself some days that I might actually be dying. Food was a great way of comforting myself, but I know that at 49years old, if I don't do something about my weight then it could turn out to be a self fulfilling prophecy.

In the end, it all pans out, an average of 2-3lbs a week, some weeks better than others. Certainly a steep curve in my dieting, but then I am being extremely tight with the rules, and had a large start weight.

Found it!
www.secondnature.io/guides/mind/motivation/weight-loss-plateaus-explained

@WheresMyTweezers - Brilliant! Thanks for that, I will have a read right now

This graph could not be closer to the truth!

How interesting! I'll read the article properly later.

I'm back safe and sound thank you, Stanley. I only ate badly/frustratedly on the way home, everything else was manageable within the plan. On the way home I accidentally inhaled a bag of chocolate mini eggs and some frazzles. I think I relief ate!

I seem to have escaped unscathed, weight wise at least. Wednesday is the day of truth of course! We're having a long planned Chinese tonight but I have a manageable strategy. Plain rice and just a taste of everything else seems to work ok.

That sounds like a horrendous journey, Stanley! Is it often like that? Sunday late afternoon was heavy in the midlands, but we avoided most of it.

Having a bit of a downer. Nothing fits and the wedding is this weekend, which I have been so looking forward to. And I have nothing to wear, as I really can't turn up wearing jeans, and the only cocktail dress that fits is black and my boobs practically fall out of it. Just tried on everything else and while a number will go on, they are all too tight, even with Spanx.

Why didn't I start this sooner, or buy a dress that would fit even if I wanted to be too thin for it‽

Aw we've all been there. After the 18 mths we've had, people are just glad to be able to celebrate together - you could turn up in a bin bag and no-one would bat an eyelid. You'll be the only one who cares what you wear.

That said, it's natural to want to look nice at a wedding. If truly nothing looks ok, ASOS do a great curve range and always have some occasion wear in their clearance/sale sections. If you're short on cash Vinted can be great (although delivery for the weekend might be pushing it). Or anyone you can borrow off?

If nothing else, wear the black dress with the boob spill and maybe just have a scarf/pashmina to drape over the spillage?

Yes, something to mask the overspill - shrug? Jacket?

Or a fast shopping trip. Supermarkets have a lot of inexpensive clothes. Perhaps dark trousers and a glam top? Better something that fits, even if it isn't your usual style or first choice of outfit.

You could post some photos on S&B and get advice on how to manage the overspill, or help choosing something new in a hurry!

Have you found anything @ThroughThinkandThing ? It's disappointing I know. I never do well with set targets like that, I find it too pressured and I sabotage myself.

It's weigh day today. Good luck @StanleyOscar !

I'm expecting a small loss.

@picklemewalnuts - Thank you! Good luck to you too!

I am expecting a loss of around 3lbs which I will be happy with. Will post my results this afternoon!

3lb off! That's last weeks too, I think. I'm almost at 90kg which is a nice number!

Oooh fantastic @picklemewalnuts !

Much as I said I events, I had to go for a work related meal last night, and I'm out again tonight. Fairly good choices, but not necessarily helpful right now! And I had sugary soft drinks last night too (I'm avoiding caffeine and diet coke would have been the only other option really, aside from water and that was never going to happen!). STS this morning which is fine, but I might do a couple of vey low cal days to compensate for today and yesterday.

Got my 5 stone award.