What Benefits Has Weight loss Had |For You?

[73kittycat73]

Hi. I am currently losing weight by calorie counting and 16:8. I am also trying to think more positively and instead of focusing on what (Food.) I'm missing out on, I wanted to celebrate the positives of losing weight. So far I have come up with:
My back no longer hurts after a while when I am standing
I am consuming more protein
I am physically slimmer
I am exercising daily
I feel mentally better.
What benefits have you found from losing weight? I'd love to hear!

My legs no longer swell up like inflatable balloons in hot weather.

I love exercise. It's my happy drug.

When I glance at my reflection my first thought isn't always 'Oh God, no. How did I ever let that happen?' Or 'Who is that stooping fat elderly?...oh!'

Sad but true: I am no longer invisible. Bar staff serve me. Cars stop to let me cross the road. Transport staff smile and greet me. This didn't happen a year ago when I was more than a stone heavier.

I'm starting to find clothes that I like and have dropped down from kidding myself - squeezing into 14s should really be 16 to 10s and 12s. The other day I bought a dress and I feel amazing in it. DH adores it. I've not felt actively confident in new clothes for years.

When I put on clothes they glide on instead of having to wrestle and wrangle with them.

I look 5 years younger.

I'm no longer always the fattest person in the room. Not even at exercise class.

Thank you Cowbells It's great that you've found you love exercise. Thank you for your reasons, I hope other reader as well as me take inspiration from your post.

I’ve found my prolapse based incontinence much better since losing weight and exercising. Also I stand up straighter.

Love threads like this.

I’ve lost 5 stone and I can’t even begin to describe how it’s changed my life but I’ll try.

I used to wear black leggings and t shirts in whatever I could find to fit, generally something unflattering in XXL from primark or Asda. I always looked scruffy as a result. Now I wear clothes I love in beautiful colours.

Underwear! Pretty bras and pants!

This ones a bit minging but in previous summers I’ve had to shower at least twice a day because otherwise I got a sort of cheesy buildup under my belly which itched like crazy. Now if I skipped a shower it wouldn’t matter (I don’t but I could!)

I’m in photographs.

I don’t have a fat back

I’m more confident in all sorts of ways. I have a job, tbh it’s simply that I have a life.

I’ve still got about 2 and a half stone to lose.

I lost 5 stone a couple of years ago, so my list is -

I love clothes shopping now, trying on more so than buying
I have more energy
I have more confidence
I fit things, like seats, cars, those stupid small cafes etc
My aching knees have recovered
My back pain got worse, I needed surgery but my recovery was so so so much easier and faster because I'm a healthy weight

Good luck to you, keep going, you can do this!

I've lost nearly 11 stone.

I can exercise!

I can bend over.

I don't get out of breath tying my shoe laces.

I like a pp am not invisible - cars let me out, people let me cross the road, people are friendlier, men look (this isn't all good and actually quite depressing tbh but it is different).

Summer isn't uncomfortable anymore

. I'm not scared of theme park rides,

Im not physically restricted with anything really.

I fit in a plane seat comfortably!

I'm not scared of those little bucket seats you get in dentist waiting rooms.

I look pretty good in clothes and can carry off more interesting stuff.

I no longer feel paranoid getting a massage.

I'm sure I'll think of more.

Oh yes and of course my joints don't hurt.

???? 11 stone @Tuckedinbelly? Wow! That's seriously impressive. Well done you!

I’ve only lost 2 out of the 4 I want but so far:
Not snoring much
Tights were fitting properly again (before this hot weather)
Rings fit again
Less pain in knee
Had a random pain in thigh that I think was weight related that has gone
Sleeping better
Blood pressure gone down

Thank you all for your inspirational replies. Well done on losses so far (Special mention to Tuckedinbelly. That's a big achievement!) and good luck if you have more to lose.

No more spots! I never realised that was diet related for me, but it definitely seems to be!

I got faster than ever before (running and cycling) despite not training more. Now that I'm faster, I'm more motivated to train - very positive cycle!

No longer so angry mid-afternoon.

Feel happier with my body, despite still being overweight. No longer embarrassed by my weight.

I’ve lost 12 stone, and have 2 stone left before my goal weight.
I can wear/buy cute clothes from wherever I like
I am less tired and more energetic in general
Sex is better
I can wrap a towel completely around me,
I can go down the slide at the park with my toddler, I can run after him and play football without feeling like I’m dying
I’m a more hands on and fun parent in general,
I haven’t been yet but I know I can go on theme park rides/water slides, airplane seats, trampolines etc with no issue or worrying,
Last week I went to the beach, sat around in my swimming costume all day (not covered head to toe) and I didn’t feel completely ashamed or embarrassed - I got sun on my legs and shoulders/arms which haven’t seen the sun in years- and I ran into the sea with my toddler and felt so free!
It’s the best feeling in the entire world!

Yes to most of above PPs. Plus BP is much lower as is resting and sleeping heart rates etc. High cardio fitness as measured by VO 2 max. Not afraid of hills anymore 😂

Oh gosh yes getting a towel around you! And the one size dressing gown at the spa!

Well done all of you on your weight loss, and thanks for posting.
StevieNix, 12 stone?! Wow, congratulations. How long did it take you? What method did you use? I hope you don't mind me asking?

When people make plans to meet up, my first thought is how nice it will be rather than ‘if only I’d started the diet sooner’

Feeling a little bit giddy if I try something on and it is too big!

Going to bed happy with my body rather than chastising myself for eating too much again

And of course all the health benefits of being a healthy weight and fitter

No more heartburn yey!! Clothes fit which is nice. Surprisingly when people comment on weight loss it always makes me feel a bit uncomfortable but I feel so much happier in and of myself and the motivation comes easier after a while.

How did you all do it?

I've lost 4 stone since January by calorie counting. One more stone to go.

• people are so much friendlier. It's a cliche, but it's true.
• clothes! clothes! clothes! It's so nice to be able to order something you actually like rather than something that fits. I agree with pp that I look less scruffy now. More choice, can shop anywhere, rather than speciality shops.
• I feel more like the real me and my confidence has returned.
• more energy, there's a literal spring in my step.
• aches and pains (there were a lot!) have mostly vanished.
• sleeping better.
• exercise and movement is something I look forward to now, rather than dread. I can also do a bigger variety of movements.
• same with cooking. I enjoy taking my time with food now, finding new ways to cook healthy.

I know you didn't ask, but there are a few negatives:

• my overweight friends are clearly upset and feel that they are being left behind. This REALLY upsets me, because I completely get it (been there, got the XXL t-shirt) and I hate that my success is making them feel this way.
• most people have lost sight of what a healthy weight is and I get CONSTANT comments about not losing too much weight, how I'll make myself ill. I'm still well above a healthy BMI. I actually didn't tell anyone I was dieting until I was a few stone in, to avoid these comments. Lockdown obviously helped with that.
• gross men are reappearing in droves.
• stuffing myself with food until I was numb was my coping mechanism for a long time. I don't have one now. I actually really miss it in a way, even though it was terrible for me. I need to figure this one out so I don't relapse.

Overall, I'm much happier and prefer this way of life. Best of luck with your journey, OP.

This is a great thread. I've lost just over 2 stone, with 1 more to go:

I met up with friends last night and dressed up for the first time in ages. It was a real pleasure. One friend said I looked like an 18 year old from behind (I'm 59)!
My blood pressure has now fallen to a lovely normal level.
I had a pre-diabetes blood test and it's fallen from 37 to 34 (they dont' want it going over 42).
I've found clothes in the wardrobe that I haven't worn for 5 years, and I love them (I don't care if they're not trendy)
When I see something on the floor (like a weed that needs pulling or a random paper clip) I bend down and pick it up. Willingly.
I painted my toenails yesterday, with no great effort.

In essense, I feel much more in control of my life. I like it. I also feel that I've taken better control of my destiny - dangerous I know as none of us know what the future holds, but I'm giving it the best shot.

Appearance. I wasn't massively overweight but I seemed to hold most of it on my face, I haven't had a decent photo without a double chin for years, I hated it. Now no double chin and I don't hate photos of myself. I feel like I look more like I did pre-DC which is great.

And clothes are comfortable.

Thank you MattDamon, and thank you all. Well done on your success. Congratulations all on you newly found positives!
BirdsandBeesmakinghay I'm also calorie counting and 16:8 (Fasting for sixteen hours and eating in a window of eight hours only.)

I just thought of another one. I remember years ago looking at the pretty knickers in a shop and feeling really down because they didn't have my large size, so I couldn't have the pretty ones. Losing weight, you have so much more choice in clothes and can shop in more shops!

@73kittycat73 - Absolutely. Yesterday whilst out shopping I bought two new t-shirts from Saltrock. Previously I had to buy size XXXL, and although they looked nice on the hangers, they looked utterly stupid on me because I am only 5ft 8in and these are designed for men well over 6ft. Since losing weight, I was able to buy XL t-shirts yesterday and they look so much better on me. I think ideally I will eventually be down to a size Medium and then all will look in proportion.