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?

Fantastic news @StanleyOscar - that's a really impressive loss!

@picklemewalnuts that's good to hear about the dietician! Funnily enough, last year when I was laid up I overhauled a lot of my diet but I've let the nuts slide - will stock up. Great you're back at target too.

Me - I'm still hovering about the same which tbqh is an absolute win at this time of year. Saturday saw me down to my lowest weight but then I met friends for lunch and drinks so I have a severe case of alcohol bloat going on!

More NSV to report too - Saturday was first time I'd saw those friend sin person for months and they were amazed at how much weight I'd lost. Also, a dress I bought during first lockdown which was too small but I loved it so kept it just in case now fits! I think it would look better with slightly more weight off, but not much as it's very fitted.

My immediate plans are not to out anything on over Christmas then another 2st off early next year. Possibly more, but we'll see - I'm very conscious that I feel most comfortable when I look a certain way and I think I'll know when I get there.

On we go!

Well done, @WheresMyTweezers !

Did I ever mention an underlying concern I had that my medication may be contributing to my weight loss, and that when the dosage was reviewed I may be in trouble? Well it was checked recently and all is in order, so that was an unfounded worry! I was afraid they'd reduce my dosage and I'd put weight back on.

I've started HRT though, so it will be interesting to see what that brings.

Well, it's proving a bit shit, this maintenance business! I've put on about half a stone, and I don't feel like I deserve to have! I'm not sure if it's inflammation, constipation, or just greed! I'm going to have to be seriously disciplined again to get back on track.

What went wrong? i didn't follow the maintenance plan properly- I added in an extra healthy extra and an occasional treat. Essentially though, my weight loss at the end was so slow that actually I should have just stayed on plan.

I'm going to ramp up the healthy fruit and veg and cut out the treats. I'm pissed though. It's clearly not going to be easy.

Hi all.

Haven't been very good recently just can't seem to get into the right headspace!

Very encouraged by reading this thread again though!

Started again yesterday so 🤞 this time will be easier to stick to.

Well done to you @StanleyOscar, amazing loss!

Well done @whattowear21 ! You've done the hardest bit, deciding and getting started!!

Hi everyone,
Sorry for being missing in action - Christmas, work etc...
@picklemewalnuts this is an AWFUL time of year to be trying to maintain! The weather, the constant "oh have a mince pie!" etc. My boss bought me a box of posh chocolates which I intended to shared with the family only it seems as raining that day and I couldn't face the walk to the co-op for my lunch so I sat and ate the chocolates at my desk!

@whattowear21 again, don't be hard on yourself. Getting back on those scales is a big step. Be realistic about what you can achieve this time of year - for me, staying the same is going to be a massive win!

Me...well by some miracle I've managed to stay the same and it really is a miracle as I'm well and truly in the Christmas spirit. Actually I think I'm probably round about keeping a lid in calories but I'm not eating particularly "well"? As in I'll have a mince pie for breakfast instead of porridge. I was living in fear of the scales and have just weighed in for first time in a week and I've stayed the same (and considering it's that week as well, I'm delighted). At the risk of lowering the tone, I think upping the fat/sugar has helped me have, ahem, a "clear out" as I think I was holding in to some, erm, matter. Not sure of the science there tbh!

Anyway onwards and upwards for us all - I will try and be more present over next few weeks as I think we might have to do some virtual hand holding!

Thanks for all the support lovely people!

I bought myself an advent calendar alternative- two boxes of 13 nice chocolates to eat, one a day. Well the spare two got eaten around day 5. Then a couple of extras followed by a day or two where I skipped the chocolate to get back on track. Then on 13th and 14th I thought 'sod it' and finished them off! It's no good, I simply don't seem to be able to do it!

Anyway. New day and all that!

Wishing you all the best with your maintenance type activities as we potter through Christmas preparation! Hopefully the walking and running around shops keeps us all on track!

Hey Team!

I'm still here, alive and well, just about! I didn't realise it was so long since I last posted, but I am still continuing on my weight loss journey and am now down to 12st 13lbs, so a total loss of 75lbs in almost 7 months, and just 6lbs to go until I hit my target of 12st 7lbs.

My weight loss has slowed up as expected, but I am happy with that. Being under 13st with a 32inch waist and size Medium clothes has exceeded my expectations and I am happy with that!

As others have said, this time of the year is very difficult, but I don't see a problem with having a few festive treats, and if you go balls out and have a blast, add on a few lbs, don't worry about it. Just pick up where you left off in the new year. A good diet is for life, not just for losing weight, but don't beat yourself up and get down about it, or else you may hand yourself the perfect excuse for giving up.

Starting Weight: 18st 4lbs
Target Weight: 12st 7lbs
Current Weight: 12st 13lbs
Total loss so far: 75lbs of 81lbs

Well done, Stanley! I'm glad you are finding a sustainable pace now- it's right to slow down toward the end, I think. That is an amazing result!

Weigh in this morning, and I've lost .5lb which is a relief. I think I may have lost a little more but I've got some inflammation, possibly from my booster or from fainting the next day! I'm a bit bruised! We'll see what the weekend brings.

Wow that's fantastic @StanleyOscar! was it just slimming world you did?

@mclaw - Hello! Yes, I did slimming world for the first three months and then carried on by myself since then, but basically following the same diet. They were brilliant, can't thank them enough. My slimming world group are amazing, great bunch of friendly supportive people.

Well, Christmas is pretty much here and I am having a few treats, and as such the past few weeks I have just maintained my weight, which is absolutely fine. I was aiming to get down to 12st 7lbs, but to be honest at the moment I am very happy at 12st 13lbs. I will resume a strict diet again in the new year to achieve my goal, and in the meantime ensure I pretty much stay the same weight, but fine if I add a pound or two.

Whatever happens, I'm not going to resort to my old eating habits!

Starting Weight: 18st 4lbs
Target Weight: 12st 7lbs
Current Weight: 12st 13lbs
Total loss so far: 75lbs of 81lbs

Hello everyone
@StanleyOscar
@picklemewalnuts
@whattowear21
And everyone else

So I had a week or so off from the scales. Stepped back on them today and half a stone back on. Seems about right tbh so no complaints. Just about finished all of the Christmas goodies so looking forward to getting back on it. Got something big in just over a week's time so would like a few pound off but so long as it comes off at some point I'm not bothered.
Just had a lovely home made broccoli soup and been out for a nice walk this morning.

How are the rest of us feeling? I might join another couple of new threads to motivate me.

Glad you posted, Tweezers! I put on 4lb, but have been quite careful since so hope to have lost a couple by Wednesday!

I'm struggling slightly because I still have Christmas goodies left that I don't want to give up! However, I seem to have turned a corner today and will be better on track from here on in.

I've done really well with other things- cleaned out corners, got my sewing machine up and running and so on. So I feel quietly motivated and prepared for the New Year!

Ah yes @picklemewalnuts there's something to be said for that low key preparation work to put you in a good place.

Weighed in today. 5lb off. In a day . Think that's a message not to take the scales too seriously at this time of year!

That said - I am probably getting this completely wrong and misrepresenting everything - I'm sure in Why We Eat (Too Much) AJ uses the example of a "normal" person being able to overeat for a week on holiday, gain weight, then lose it fairly quickly when they return to eating as usual so I'm wondering if a bit of Christmas pigging is similar? As in, so long as you draw a line under it and get back to good habits the additional podge will move quickly rather than settle?

That would be nice! I'm not a normal eater, though, so need to take a firmer hand with myself! Even when I reached target I found it hard to reintroduce a sensible amount of extras! Though it's partly wanting to eat healthy but high calorie foods like avocado and nuts!

I had more 'nice things' than I ate at Christmas, but don't want to give them up. I put them in the freezer and shared some of them with family. It didn't stop me eating it, but it did act as a bit of a reminder! It sort of transitioned me across, so yesterday I had no extras at all. Also a bit lower carb. And I'm getting my calcium through fat free yogurt instead of cheese. Starting with fruit, yogurt and pepsi to stop other snacks!
Little changes that will move me in the right direction!
I'll do the same this week, then start SW proper again next week.

I want to lose 7lb to get me to the bottom of my target zone. Then stay there for at least a few months!

I'm glad your scales are behaving better again! There is definitely daily fluctuation, plus a natural tendency to dial down the treats after a few rich days! Which is where I finally arrived, with a bit of organisation!

I'm going back to meal planning- I've got chilli tonight.
Laksa tomorrow, with lower fat coconut cream.

Yes sounds sensible target and meal planning is definitely the way to go!

It's only really yesterday that I've been "on it" again, but one reason I think it's been ok is I didn't go mad on sugar (I mean, if you disregard alcohol and chocolate!) - I think I used to be borderline addicted to things like Haribo and Wine Gums. And I've still avoided white bread.

Let's see what 2022 brings eh?

Well a shocker this morning. I've lost 7lb! Admittedly I wore my lighter clothes and took my shoes off, but still!

The speed week I did made a difference and i'll make sure to do it again regularly to stay on track!

Well hello team!

@WheresMyTweezers
@picklemewalnuts
@whattowear21

I'm still alive...just! Had a bit of a setback just before xmas due to losing all this weight, I will explain more lower down, but I am only just getting back on track, hence not updating the thread.

The good news is that despite Christmas, food etc, I only put on 2lbs over the festive period...and have burned them off already.

Last year was nuts, started my diet in May weighing in at 18st 4lbs and size XXXL. By Christmas I acheived 12st 13lbs and a size SMALL. The next target was 11st 11lbs and I was going to call it a day...and then disaster!

Just before christmas I noticed a large bulge had developed in my groin which I hadn't noticed before, probably because I have been overweight for years and covering it up with fat. For 20+ years, on occasion I have had a burning pain in my groin especially after lifting heavy things, or walking long distances, but since losing all the weight and being very active, lifting etc...it has gotten worse. Turns out that I have a hernia, which isn't uncommon as I am approaching 50 years old and have been overweight for decades.

So, obviously I spent a good month worrying about it before it was diagnosed, and dieting really wasn't on my list of prioreties, but I hung in there and didn't resort to binge eating. Now I am having to make the decision of whether to get an operation to fix it, which may mean being on the waiting list for years, or just learn to live with it like many other people do. All this really knocked me for six, especially after working so hard last year to get the weight off, felt like a real kick in the teeth. But, I am still here, alive and very healthy. It's only a mild discomfort and doesn't stop me doing my day to day things.

Oh dear, Stanley, that must have been a worry! Glad it's at least identified now. Well done on managing your stress in a food less way!

I'm still struggling away- the healthy habits thing isn't really resolving the cravings. Having treats in the house for Christmas was a bit of a set back, but I'm back on track and still at target weight.

Blast! Just wrote an essay and hit the wrong button, so lost it.

@picklemewalnuts Thanks and I'm the same, especially over xmas. If the treats are in the house, I will gobble them, if they aren't, I won't. Over xmas I proved to myself that my eating habits haven't changed, I am still addicted to junk food and will eat it if presented to me.

New year, new start, same diet me thinks. Weighed in this morning, 13st 1lbs. I can live with that, a little heavier than a month ago, that's fine.

50th birthday on the 13th of next month, would be nice to get down to 12st 7lbs. I think that is realistic.

Starting Weight: 18st 4lbs
Target Weight: 12st 7lbs
Current Weight: 12st 13lbs
Total loss so far: 73lbs of 81lbs

I was listening to Radio 4 this afternoon, talking about ketones. I didn't hear it all, but it did inspire me to a rethink.

There's good evidence for intermittent fasting or a low carb high fat diet, both leading to ketosis. I couldn't do either on a long term basis, so wouldn't have lost 6 stone on those plans.

I could do it a day/week at a time though, so may do that as my maintenance plan. I think that may prove easier than slimming world "eating sensibly" every day forever!!

I'm going to think some more! The HFLC would allow me avocado, cream and nuts. The IF would allow me everything in return for occasional extreme discipline!

Hi,
Sorry missed your updates @StanleyOscar Sounds like you've had a stressful time. I'm no expert but my initial thoughts are if you'd be in the waiting list for years anyway, why not go on the waiting list and then as the time nears, if you have learned to live with it then fine but if not then you have options.

I know what you mean about eating stuff if it's there. I tried to eat what I wanted but not "waste" it if that makes sense? So i didn't nibble aimlessly but if I wanted some toasted panettone with lovely melting butter I had some. I do have a couple of residual pounds from Christmas but nowhere near as bad as I feared and I'm kind of relieved as I thought my body would want to soar back up to where it had been at the first opportunity.

I've had a huge month this month with a big family celebration and while I want to say "I made good choices" I just made choices and acknowledged I probably wouldn't see a loss. January is so miserable anyway - I'm finding it so difficult to get my steps in - that so long as I don't gain this month I'll be happy.

NSV - have had a charity bag under the stairs for ages and one of my dresses in it was peeking out and I'd always liked it but was getting rid as it didn't fit but on a whim I tried it on and hey presto it's now back in my wardrobe!

How are you doing @picklemewalnuts ?

That's great, @WheresMyTweezers ! A reclaimed dress, very satisfying!

That's a pain about your hernia, @StanleyOscar . I agree with Tweezers, though. Get on the list! Or go private.

Speaking as someone a tad older than you, get it done while you're young and heal well. As you get older, recovery is harder. Go into your 50s fully repaired if you can! Especially if you can afford the time off/go private.

I'm ok, thanks, tweezers. I am hovering in my target zone, rather than getting to the bottom of it, but I've had some treats so that's ok.

I enjoyed avocado and egg on toast this morning- it's used the day's syn allowance, but it kept me feeling full and felt very luxurious so I'm not quibbling!

@picklemewalnuts - Sound advice thanks, I will take note. I will go private for sure, and fortunately I have the time for recovery, just need a huge bucket of braveness as I hate hospitals.

Well, I am glad I dieted during summer/autumn. I don't know about you lot, but this cold winter and dark evenings are taking its toll. All I want to do is EAT!!!!!!!!!!

I was good all last week, stuck to a reasonable diet, and was fairly active, and I put on 1lb.

Oh well, not bad really, at least I'm not back to my old 18st 4lbs .