New scales…weigh more than I thought

[Badgercity]

So my home scales (really old analog) had me at just under 11st (I’m 5’8”) which was just tipping what I’m comfortable weighing. But at work (healthcare) I hopped on a scale and it showed me at 74kg (fully dressed and late at night). I wasn’t 100% sure the work scales were calibrated so I bought some new digital scales today.

It’s official, I am 11st 7.5lbs (fully dressed, so maybe 11st 5lb naked in the morning).

This is unacceptable to me, my waist is up to 30in from 28in last summer.

I started working nights and it’s all been down hill since. I can’t find a healthy snack that sees me through the early hours at work and I’m eating for energy when I’m not getting enough sleep.

Well that stops now. Today I’ve only had scrambled egg on a sandwich thin, and tonight I will have a half portion of pasta. I’ll be swapping the wine for gin and slim tonic and shunning the chocolate 😭

I can’t believe how quickly it’s piled on. I’ve just turned 40 which I’m sure doesn’t help.

Anyone else in a similar position to me?!

I was!
I tipped at 11 stone 13 then decided enough was enough.
I started weighing and logging every morsel I consumed on My Fitness Pal, and I mean every. I even spread my butter on my bread with it on the scales so I can log it, it keeps me in check.

I’m now 3 stone down and a size 10. I’m thinner than I’ve ever been in my life & I’m almost 50. I took it slowly, I wanted the weight loss to last. I think MFP recommended 1300 calories a day but my TDEE (maintenance calories) reduced by 20% for a weight loss target was 1400. tdeecalculator.net/
Some days I had 1500, others 1300, mostly 1400 and my end of the week totals evened out.

I didn’t have the complication of working nights though, not sure how you deal with that tbh, it must be so tough.
Good luck-you can do it

Thank you wim that link is very helpful.

I’ve logged every last thing today and am coming in at 1000 calories and change. I’m not particularly hungry which is promising. I’m going to miss a glass of wine and some snacks tonight. I might have to have some squash and carrot sticks instead!

I think today has been a proper kick up the arse for me.

Could you possibly take you own pre-made snacks to work?
Most of the crap we eat on the go is processed or calorific.
Depending upon what you like, I would prepare some cold cuts of chicken, but of pasta and some crispy veg, perhaps with a little bit of fruit (apple and a small portion of peanut butter).
Or some mild cheese cut into cubes to be eaten with a few nuts (or a slice or two of lean ham) and fruit, or a natural yoghurt with banana, berries..

It would be easier if your workplace had a cool place to store your snacks or a fridge, of course.

Try to avoid pre-made sandwiches or processed crap pretending to be healthy (all organic is not the same!).

Ive had the scales horror too on occasion. Going from analogue to digital gifted me with around 4lbs. And remember, scales can vary massively throughout the month, whether hormonal (can often add around 5lbs), water retention, etc. I would only ever weigh myself regularly on the same scales. Most will vary by a certain amount, no matter where you are.

Thank you confused, I tend to take in left overs from dinner time or a cuppa soup and sandwich. Sometimes cheese and pitta. But I do also have a chocolate bar most nights. I need to stop that, but I will miss it massively!

I’m going to try switching to lean protein, chicken or fish. See how that helps.

I’m about to hop on the scales for my true early morning naked weight, hopefully a pound or two lighter than mid afternoon fully clothed!

11st 4.5lb

Not as bad as initially thought but a good stone more than I would like. I know MN is full of sub 10st people, but the one time I got down to 9st 12lb I looked absolutely ghastly. My frame suits 10st 3lb. So that’s my goal. Hopefully by Xmas.

So, I’m going to log everything I eat on my Fitbit app and try and keep to 1000 (1200 on a night shift) calories a day. I might try c25k, all though I HATE cardio. Maybe weights, but I don’t know where to start with those.

Either way, I’m on a mission!

I think you are setting your calorie goal too low and it will be unsustainable.
Better to have it a little higher, and be consistent, than find yourself grabbing something and blowing all your hard work, but it will give you a good drop in weight if you are going that low just for the first week or two.

For high protein low cal I love these as a pudding instead of a bit of chocolate, I just feel I haven’t had an evening meal unless I follow it with a bit of sweetness -hence my needing to diet in the first place! Lemon cheesecake is my favourite.
groceries.asda.com/search/Kvarg

Thanks wim you are probably right, I tend to be impatient and want the weight off ASAP! But it would probably lead to me binging, especially at 3am when I need an energy hit! Maybe I’ll try for 1500?

Oh and thanks for the link, they look yummy!

We are all guilty of wanting the weight gone ASAP, in the past when the scales haven’t magically dropped to my goal weight within a couple of weeks I’ve thought “what’s the point?” & thrown in the towel. Slow and steady wins the race!

@Badgercity

Thanks wim you are probably right, I tend to be impatient and want the weight off ASAP! But it would probably lead to me binging, especially at 3am when I need an energy hit! Maybe I’ll try for 1500?

Hi OP I am on my way down from 10st 8 to the reverse currently at 9st 11. I started on 1200 plus any exercise but a more experienced MFP user advised me to do 1500 and not add the exercise and it's working so far. The days I run I burn about 2k and other days it's 1.6k so trying to have a small deficit at least.

Hi LaPufa thanks for sharing! Can I ask how long it took you to go from 10st 8 to 9st 11? And is running your main exercise?

Hello - can I join you all? Just weighed myself and I'm 11 stone at 5 ft 5 - which is unacceptable to me. I exercise most days, so this has to be a food thing.

Hello carrot of course you can join!

I’ve just weighed myself and I’m 11st 2, I suspect a bit of that is because I was on my period at the beginning of the week. But I’ll take any loss going!

So tonight is my first night back at work after annual leave. What shall I take in to keep me going? High protein? Fruit?

@Badgercity

Hi LaPufa thanks for sharing! Can I ask how long it took you to go from 10st 8 to 9st 11? And is running your main exercise?

No problem! Took about eight weeks. Running, horse riding and carrying a heavy toddler who doesn't like walking