Mutual support thread for people with a lot of weight to lose. Part III

[alphaechokiwi]

This is a mutual support thread for people who have a lot of weight to lose. The original thread started with a poster who wanted to lose 9 stone and has evolved from diet advice to offering each other mutual long term support. Most of us have started in the morbid obese range or with a BMI in the high 30's (ish).
Everyone is welcome, regardless of where you are on your 'journey'. We have some inspiring stories. But also lots of us are muddling along, sometimes doing well and sometimes not so well.
We're all at different points. Some have lost lots of weight and are now maintaining. Others part way through a big weight loss and others starting out. We try to offer encouragement, congratulations or consolations where needed. We are respectful of different approaches and recognise that everyone has their own unique set of circumstances.

Thread 1 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/3894410-i-need-to-lose-9st-help
Thread 2 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/4192315-Mutual-support-thread-for-those-currently-losing-or-working-towards-losing-a-lot-of-weight

OP I am sorry, I hope you are okay

momto3 would something like a fidget spinner or yoyo help? Turn the reflex habit into a different one?

Right, I have to start again otherwise I run the risk of gaining even more

Also, I really struggled with my workout today.

So - today, biggest at 13st 9.5lb. Height 5ft 1.

onwards and downwards!

@DaisyNGO you can do it one day at a time. What is it you're struggling with in getting back on track do you think?

[quote WeightlossKin]@DaisyNGO you can do it one day at a time. What is it you're struggling with in getting back on track do you think?[/quote]
I haven't been on track for years. I've been an okay weight in periods of high stress and while working crazy hours, which I pretty much did through my 20s.

I think adrenalin burns a lot of calories, I ate a lot of junk while working long hours. I remember one project, my boss was looking gaunt. I would never comment, but someone did...he said "it's the samdwiches and beer diet....my dinners are replaced with sarnies and beer, or pizza".

I knew exactly what he meant. He was about 40 something while
I was 20 something. At those stress levels, you eat whatever and you stay slim.

So I don,'t really know what normal life, plus slim, looks like in terms of daily food intake.

My mum and sister think I don't eat enough! My weakness is definitely the DC choc, and toast when I can't sleep. But I gained weight when I had the cold and I was asleep all the time!

Plan remains same - 16:8. Also the idea is no choc and no late night toast.

I should maybe add

I can't bear counting things and writing them down so that isn't a way forward for me. I could eventually move towards 5:2 but that feels a bit much right now.

DaisyNGO I lost my weight doing 16:8 then 18:6. I'm the same as you - deeply resent the writing everything down, calorie counting, it makes me fixated on food and deeply irritable. Intermittent fasting is easy, clear, uncomplicated and clean and leaves you headspace - you simply don't think about it, you just don't eat during fasting hours, the end.

Good luck!

alphaechokiwi hope you're ok!

Waves at everyone else 👋

@DaisyNGO 16:8 interests me! I assume it works because you eat less naturally because you've less time to have as many calories in?

I actually quite enjoy counting in a weird way, as I feel more in control of the outcome that way and I guess also because I'm not convinced I can make healthy choices naturally without keeping 'score' of it. Although the dream I suppose is to be able to just live and eat and keep weight under control at the same time! I've never managed that.

Biscuits and chocolate have a lot to answer for in my world!

Thank you everyone, all is fine, just the usual dramas that sometimes arise with ageing parents complicated by not being in the same country to nip stuff in the bud...
@DaisyNGO - good luck with 16:8. I fast but I have also counted calories using MFP. I found that even when fasting I was still overeating, my portions were huge and I wasn't losing weight. Counting calories was a pain, but an eye opener.
Wishing you lots of success whatever you do.

Thanks everyone
How are you all?

Dieting is hard when it's bloody freezing. That said, I have done such a mega clean today, I actually had to open the balcony door.

I hope my shiny oven and spotless skirting boards have contributed to some calorie burning!

The idea with 16:8, once I start eating, I seem to graze. Better to limit those chances. Wait and see how it goes, I guess.

Morning all.

So, 29 October I was 104kg and today I am 103kg which is not where I had hoped to be but better than nothing. November has not been great for me as I came down with a stinking cold that had me out for two weeks.

On the bright side, I have been to the gym four times since joining, which is an achievement for me!

The mirrors in the gym are also a good reality check - I had convinced myself my excess weight was all on my belly, but it's more well distributed than that. I see that more clearly now and I see what a journey I have in front of me.

I feel motivated though. And happy to be checking in here with a loss no matter how small.

Hi all... is it OK if I join? I started my 'journey' beginning April.

I was on a thread at the beginning but it just died off.

I've lost 2st 10lbs and I've got 5lbs to go. I used MFP although I don't log food any more, I used it to educate myself on how many calories what I was shoving in my mouth was! I also do 16/8 which was been the key for me I think.

Although I am delighted with what I've lost, it is not easy maintaining or shifting the last few pounds, especially now it's Winter and I'm just hungry all the time.

However, I hope I can support others on this thread whilst trying to keep myself on track

Welcome @Roussette - well done on your great loss so far. I hope this thread will be helpful as you reach your goal.
Hi @Rebuildingconfidence- a loss is a loss, so well done on that. Sounds like you are in a good place mentally, which is key.
I'm +2kg since I last weighed a few weeks ago. Not unexpected. I've got a plan for the weeks up to Christmas, hopefully I can lose a few kgs in December and get to my goal in the New Year.

Hi all, well done on all of your losses. is it okay if I join?

I've dipped in and out of threads like these but from tomorrow I'll be taking saxenda and I want to take this seriously again. I'm hoping to lose 15lbs between now and Christmas, then at least a further 40lbs before returning to work in May (I'm currently on maternity leave) and then finally a further 40lbs before October 2022. My GP seems to think I should be able to do it if I remain disciplined. I'll be having weekly weigh ins every Monday at the GP surgery. For me this is my last chance before seriously considering weight loss surgery.

Starting weight (and current weight): 255lbs
Goal weight: 160lbs

Alongside the saxenda I'll be logging what I eat and once I'm 230lbs I'll be starting to do some form of regular exercise.

Welcome @NetflixAddict - good luck with your plan!

Thanks alphaechokiwi

When I started this, I was very strict and only weighed myself once a week, every Friday. That has gone by the board a bit, and I keep hopping on the scales and for me, I don't think that's good as it feeds worry and obsession!

So netflix your once a week weigh-in at the Doctors sounds like a good thing to me! Good luck

Hello everyone,

It's been a couple of weeks since I posted - and I'm afraid that's not for a good reason! I was in London for a few days during the first week, so I gained a lot of weight when I weighed myself last weekend! I can't even remember but it was quite a lot! I also had a terrible weekend as had my booster in the Friday. So I sort of buried my head in the sand last weekend.

Anyhow, I have lost most of the gain. Two weeks ago I was 85.7kg. This morning I was 86.0kg. So I feel back on track.

My problem is I think I do this a lot. Lose a bit of weight but then once I've lost a bit I sort of stall. And of course with Christmas and my birthday coming up the next month is going to be particularly tough.

Does anyone have any tips for dealing with plateaus?

Welcome to new joiners! It's nice to have lurkers joining! And lots of us know about emotional eating as well. That is definitely one of my bit issues.

As far as plateaus go, I try to keep going normally (i.e. calorie counting), and tell myself it will pass eventually. Easier said than done, I know.
Well done on losing most of the gain, @ScottishBeth!

I'm keeping fingers crossed for tomorrow's weigh in (mine).

@ScottishBeth - I've also been on a stall / plateau for the last few months. I've bounced up and down the same 3kg since September. So on the one hand it's good that I'm not putting weight on on the other I'm frustrated that I can't seem to crack on and lose the final 15kg to get me to that healthy BMI range. I don't have an answer unfortunately, I'm trying to plan my December so that I can lose a few kgs despite parties and Christmas food and then be in a good place mentally to blitz things in the new year. I'll update on how things go

I lost just 600g this week. Could have been less though I guess so yay.

I’m now 900g off the next weight bracket. Hopeful for next week.

Friday's a good day to weigh!

I have to do Friday which means I can have and other slightly fattening foods over the weekend then pull myself back during the week. Hopefully, anyway!

DaisyNGO my experience is that you can't graze and lose on 16:8 - you need some self defined rules you can stick to.
I did one small meal (early on I put effort in and this was usually steamed vegetables with either steamed fish or fried egg, or in summer a salad with boiled eggs - vegetables plus protein. Later I got lazy and now my small meal is almost always porridge with plain 0.2% fat quark for protein and because I like it, and plain stewed apple and a chopped banana - I know variety is better but I am odd and love this) and then whatever the family meal is in the evening. In between either no snacks or apples and if I'm genuinely hungry almonds, walnuts, plain Greek yogurt, dates if I need sweet.
Then if I trust myself there is some leeway to be more relaxed and have something like biscuits towards the end of the eating hour occasionally, but definitely not every day and I find a good rule is never, ever, ever eat alone between meals especially anything other than an apple - this helps avoid mindless over indulgence and stress/ emotional eating.
During my eating "window" I have tea with milk and in the morning before my eating window only black coffee.

You have to find what works for you and you can live with long term, but it has to be deliberate - grazing won't usually work for those of us who have been very overweight, as that's often part of hiw we got there!

eating hours not hour singular - obviously not each hour!

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme

DaisyNGO my experience is that you can't graze and lose on 16:8 - you need some self defined rules you can stick to. I did one small meal (early on I put effort in and this was usually steamed vegetables with either steamed fish or fried egg, or in summer a salad with boiled eggs - vegetables plus protein. Later I got lazy and now my small meal is almost always porridge with plain 0.2% fat quark for protein and because I like it, and plain stewed apple and a chopped banana - I know variety is better but I am odd and love this) and then whatever the family meal is in the evening. In between either no snacks or apples and if I'm genuinely hungry almonds, walnuts, plain Greek yogurt, dates if I need sweet. Then if I trust myself there is some leeway to be more relaxed and have something like biscuits towards the end of the eating hour occasionally, but definitely not every day and I find a good rule is never, ever, ever eat alone between meals especially anything other than an apple - this helps avoid mindless over indulgence and stress/ emotional eating. During my eating "window" I have tea with milk and in the morning before my eating window only black coffee.

You have to find what works for you and you can live with long term, but it has to be deliberate - grazing won't usually work for those of us who have been very overweight, as that's often part of hiw we got there!

Sorry, I wasn't clear enough

The 16:8 is to stop me grazing.

DaisyNGO ah sorry! Misunderstood! A lot of people say it doesn't work and its always because they're snacking lots during the eating window, seeing it as a time when they can eat (almost) whatever they want. That's not what you mean though!

I agree its a good way to cut out grazing during peak periods like evening in front of the TV if you just end your eating "wind ow" before your peak grazing time!

Sounds as though you're doing well!

Here's my weekly weigh in:

SW: 14 stone 4
CW: 13 stone 4.5 (week 14, 30 nov, 1.75 loss)
GW: 13 stone 0 (Christmas)