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?

@Veuvelily wow! Do you know I think there's something to be said for "shocking" your body and reminding it to burn shit off rather than you do all the work with "healthy choices" - there, that's my non-science opinion!

@picklemewalnuts no I didn't know you used that and I've often wondered about something like that myself but convinced myself it wouldn't be great for me (TMI but certain foods "go through me" anyway and as I get older I have to be more careful).

So the 2lb looks to have stayed off with another 1lb off today making 8lb since 14 June (so approx a pound off every two days) which sounds good and I should be delighted but the weighing daily played tricks on my mind I think - watching the same 2lbs go on or off for a week. Not much longer for the daily weighs but I think I'm learning towards a Saturday morning being my weigh day.

@Veuvelily

Thursday morning the scales said 16st 5 This morning 16st 11 Pimms and champagne at Wimbledon, which was the best day ever and then had birthday dinner out last night. I had 4 prawns and a tiny plate of ravioli. So no overeating but a lot of alcohol. Very active 18k day though. From experience it will settle back down in a couple of days, but it’s hard to watch!!

Ooh, well enjoy your holiday, I hope you have a really nice time.
No need to confess, it's what every helps right?! How do you find them, are they helping at all? Sorry to hear about your digestive problems. I suffer with constipation too. I hope you get some movement soon!
Oh, I hope you find what's causing the beeping, how annoying!

@Veuvelily wow! Do you know I think there's something to be said for "shocking" your body and reminding it to burn shit off rather than you do all the work with "healthy choices" - there, that's my non-science opinion!
I'm sure I've read something like that too. That if you hit a plateau to eat a carb heavy meal, then go back to dieting and it should fall off. Well done on another pound off though!

Congrats on losing 3lb already, and good luck!!! You've got this xx

That sounds like an amazing day, Veuve! Alcohol can be a bit of a shocker.

Otherwise, great losses all round, guys.

I've done 11k steps already, along the cliffs, looking for birds.

It's a struggle at the moment! There's crap around, and I'm eating it. I'll have to think about why. I'm out of my comfort zone, I suppose, not sure when or what we'll be eating etc. Hey ho.

@picklemewalnuts - You are on holiday, don't beat yourself up about eating bad foods, which aren't actually bad foods, they are just foods that don't help when dieting. With all the walking you are doing, it probably won't make a lot of difference to your weight and when you return home, and do that first weigh in, you might be in for a pleasant surprise

And anyway, as always said, tomorrow is another day. If you feel you have gone off the rails a bit, just put it behind you and start again. We are all behind you!

Cheers Stanley! I won't stress, it's just that I'm eating things I don't want and don't need- the biscuit when I walk past the cupboard syndrome!
I'm happy to indulge and enjoy, but would prefer not to mindlessly shove things in my mouth!

Anyway, feeling vaguely proud- went for a morning swim in the mist today!it was cold, I didn't really swim, but I did stay submerged and wave my arms and legs around! It was great when I got out 🤣! I'm a bit anxious about water so wasn't ready to actually swim- I hate the feeling that a hand might grab me, or seaweed, or worst case (unlikely) a shark. It's pure neurosis! Not rational at all, but it gives me the creeps. Like, anything could come at me from under the water where I can't see it!

Ah you've got to be able to live a bit @picklemewalnuts - else you'll give up. Just get back on it next week and move on.

Every message from me seems to have a TMI warning but I'm due my period in a day or so and the bloat is unreal! The daily weighs should be fun this week but at least I'll know how much it affects me and hopefully by Saturday (which is going to be my official weekly weigh in day) the worst should be over...

Hear, hear, StanleyOscar!
Well done on getting in the water picklemewalnuts! You should be really proud of yourself for facing a fear.
Good luck for next Saturday WheresMyTweezers. And if nothing more, than getting a good reading this week as to how your weight reacts.

Weighed in again today, after the usual Sunday fluctuation, I seem to be back to Saturday's weight which is great and if I stay the same overall this week it'll be fine as I never lose when I have my period.

Interestingly though (to me anyway) after measuring my waist and bust midway through the week, I seem to have lost 1 and 2 cm respectively which I absolutely want expecting - at least not so quickly. Kind of wish I'd taken my measurements 3 weeks ago now! Admittedly I'm measuring in cm rather than inches so i can see a reduction faster but I'm still surprised.

Starting weight: 18st 4lbs
Current weight: 16st 11lbs
Target weight: 12st 7lbs
Loss so far: 21lbs

I deserve a sticky star please!

My wife and I visited my parents for dinner yesterday. They cooked us a roast dinner, however, I didn't have any roast potatoes (my favourite), instead I had mash made with boiled potatoes and no butter. The skin was removed from the chicken, and I declined to have any gravy. Just meat and veg, and no desert either! I didn't feel deprived, they understood that I was on a diet and remarked how I looked thinner. I have lost almost 2 stone since they last saw me and so that was nice to hear as they didn't even know I was on a diet.

Well, this week my weight loss is slow, but steady. I am still chasing 16st 10lbs and I think tomorrow might be the day. Still, that would be a 4lb loss since last Wednesday which would be fine. I'm finding that I am not actually very hungry day to day, and instead of doing 16:8, it's turning more into 19:5, but I feel fine and am keeping hydrated. Also, to avoid picking or snacking, I have just ensured that there are no treats in the house at all, plus I can't be bothered to get in the car and drive 5 miles to our nearest shop.

Oh, and this week my new home gym is being build. To date my machines have been scattered around the house waiting for the redundant room to be fitted out with a proper floor, walls etc, it measures around 16ft x 10ft and so a reasonable size for me. It will house my treadmill, exercise bike, cross trainer & rowing machine. I have on order a new spin bike and dumbbells too. The gym will also have a tv, music station and cooling fans. It's been a long-time in the planning, but will be nice to finally have a dedicated gym all of my own!

So, roll on my SW weigh-in on Wednesday, fingers crossed I get to 16st 9lbs so I can celebrate loosing 23lbs in around 6 weeks!

@WheresMyTweezers - It's never TMI, periods are a natural thing and do impact on weight fluctuations and is an added hurdle for women when trying to lose weight, hence monthly total losses are probably more accurate. Interesting how it makes you feel bloated, I know the same was for my wife before she went through the menopause and it played havoc with her weight, and more so her mind/morale.

@73kittycat73 - How was your weekend?

@Veuvelily - How are you getting on, has your weigh dropped after your recent increase?

@picklemewalnuts - Are you still on holiday? Very brave of you to swim, I am the same, scared of what might be under the water!

I am a river cox and that's the one thing which I don't like...what lurks beneath the water. A few years ago a seal popped it's head above the water just two feet away from me when we were out in the middle of the water, scared the hell out of me.

Well done on the roast dinner! You did so well. Your gym sounds awesome too! I'm still waiting for one of my landlords handy men to come round. Phoned them Saturday morning as my toilet was backing up when flushed. They said someone would be out that day. Well, it went on to make a horrific noise when you flushed, the whole place shook! No one turned up. Tried to phone office, no one will answer. Get up Sunday morning and the whole bowl is full of dirty water and tissue. Luckily my mum live next door so I can use her loo, but hers is backing up now too! Phone landlords office again today and they said someone would be out, but I'm still waiting...I'm going to give them till 3pm, if no joy I'll get in touch with Environmental Health.

Possibly the water board, Kitty. If next door is backing up then it isn't just a landlord thing, it's outside.

I'm still here, hanging on in there, dodging showers! My step count is doing well, with coast walks and bumbling round town centres. We've seen some amazing coastal bird life. I can now spot a puffin in flight, in among all the guillemots! We've not spotted the shags or cormorants and we missed the albatross that had the rspb centre buzzing with excitement.

I've had a few treats, but no blowouts, so I'm content with that.

Do you know anything about seafood? We got a dressed crab and a lobster to share. Not sure we did it right, but we tried!

Toilet issue fixed at last. Of course it was all my fault (Too much tissue) not the cruddy plumbing.
Gah, anyway, enough of that bad day...
On my walk the other day I saw a Robbin. I was so Chuffed! I haven't seen one for over 10 years. It was really sweet, just bobbing around on the ground.
The birds you've spotted sound awesome. You've got o have a small treat at least on holiday. How did the crab and lobster taste? (To compare I've only ever eaten fish fingers, if they taste like that then I'll know what you are talking about. )

Quite different- the crab was sweet and juicy, while still being savoury. It's a tender, slightly fibrous meat, a little like jackfruit if you've ever had it. The lobster was a little more rubbery, and a more delicate flavour. Honestly I don't know why anyone would pay much for lobster. Like a giant prawn, I'd say.

Glad the bogs are sorted! No fun having dodgy plumbing!

How's everyone doing? I'm still making the 'not as bad as they could be' choices! So if I indulge, it's nothing like as indulgent as it would have been last year. I'm counting that as a win!

Doing ok thanks @picklemewalnuts
Weigh in this morning said 9lb off in total (since 14 June/22 days) so I'm pleased with that and extremely pleased that I seem to be losing in Period Week which is unheard of for me. Possibly balancing with last week when I seemed to be watching the same pound go up and down but I'll take it.

Funnily enough, I've also had a couple of ice cream magnums this week (250 calories each!) as I was accidentally very low on calories a couple of days and I don't want to reduce to a level where I've got nowhere else to go if that makes sense?

Glad you're taking a sensible approach - you're right, it's about choosing what to have rather than restricting what you have.

@WheresMyTweezers - Well done on the 9lbs loss, that is great! I know what you mean about the ice-creams, seems mad that you can lose weight after eating them, but I think the body needs to be kept happy whilst on a diet in order to maintain a steady loss. Any big calorie drop seems to send it into a real mess.

@picklemewalnuts - Hello there! I'm doing fine thanks. Lost another 1lbs this morning and so that's 4lbs since last wednesdays SW weigh in. Was hoping to get another pound off by tomorrow, but that isn't going to happen. Happy so far though, now 22lbs off in 6 weeks, may get the 1.5st loss certificate tomorrow, but when taking into account the clothes I am wearing, it may not make it, hence I wanted another pound loss to ensure I get to the goal.

I might try at getting naked for my Slimming World weigh in tomorrow, I mean, they can't really object can they?

Today I have been so busy I am doing the 23:1 diet.

Hmm, don't think that approach would be popular at my session, Stanley! That said, nothing wrong with skimpy shorts and a skinny T! I'll still be weighing in wearing a sundress and sandals mid December, I reckon!

You are both losing really fast, well done! And I agree, if your body thinks it's deprived it seems to get stubborn. A treat or occasional change of eating pattern really seems to help.

Going back to measuring, remember to measure all sorts of places! One of my favourite reductions has been in my calves- I can now fit in wellies for the first time in years. I've always had big calves, possibly from doing tap dancing in childhood/youth. A small change makes a big difference, in terms of how boots fit. I've not had boots that go past my ankles for years.

@picklemewalnuts - Mankini it is then!

Congratulations on the weight loss WheresMyTweezers and *StanleyOscar!
I might try at getting naked for my Slimming World weigh in tomorrow, I mean, they can't really object can they?
Lol!
Sounds like you are making really sensible choices there picklemewalnuts. How's the holiday going?
Does anybody else keep moving the goal posts? When I started I thought if I get down to 11st 7lbs I'll be happy. Got there and thought, nah, 10st 7lbs and I'll be happy. It's now 10st... I just carry all my weight round my middle (Tummy and hips) and want it gone! I am exercising too. I've never really done an exercise routine before, used to hate exercise. I try and tell myself now that it's making me strong and fitter, and hopefully doing some toning!

I may be moving the goal posts closer!
I'm now a size 16, and vaguely wondering if there is much benefit in getting smaller. Then I remind myself that my main interest is BMI/health. I should get into the overweight category before I consider my goal weight. That's another 10kg to go.
I also want to have bedded in better eating habits, and this week has shown I'm a way off that. I basically can't be trusted around certain types of food! That kind of means they are off the table unless I'm at restaurants where portion control is externally enforced!
I think sugary foods lead to me binging more of them. Sensible foods don't have the same effect.

I believe fat redistributes a while after you've lost the weight. I always used to lose on my bust first, so I got even more pear shaped. After a while though, my boobs would fill back up without me putting weight on, presumably from somewhere else! So if you reach your sensible weight, try staying there for a while to see if the weight on your middle shifts elsewhere. Alternatively, you may be a really slender person who still has more to lose. Only you would know! I know I'm a broad, sturdy person even at my thinnest. I'd look ridiculous if I tried to get to the 'perfect' weight for my height. My wrists are huge and my hands are wide. I'll never be dainty!

@73kittycat73 you have lost so much! Well done!

@StanleyOscar well, if needs must, mankini it is!

@picklemewalnuts completely agree on the sugar - and I'm pretty sure that's the reason white bread sends me spiralling so much, the combo of carbs and sugar. I'm even trying to stay away from things with a sugar replacement as I've read that is even worse for your appetite/cravings. But I am having plenty of fruit, so who knows.

And I hear ya on the how small do I want to be thing. I can't lie, I'm vain and I look best around a 14-16 and that's what is driving me. I have very little faith in BMI as i clearly remember it telling me as a fit, active - slim - teenager that I was a lard arse. I know there's supposedly health implications but (fingers crossed) I come from a fairly healthy family with longevity and I'm hoping genetics outweighs (lol) BMI.

There's an Instagrammer called ScouseBirdBlogs who sometimes pops up on my explore page. I don't follow her (I actually think she's really annoying) but she recently put a picture up of her in her underwear after some weight loss and there's nothing of her there but she says according to BMI she's still overweight.

Anyway, STS for me today which I'm honestly amazed at as I had a carb heavy meal last night (rice AND potatoes), and I'm on my period. Much as I've hated the weighing daily, this week has almost made it worth it as it's challenged my deeply held belief that I always gain one week in four regardless of what I do (although tbf last week was challenging so maybe I've got which week in four wrong!)