Success after years of failure? Positive stories please

[AWavyLine]

I need to lose 3 stone and am feeling very down-hearted about it after years of failing to lose or cycling through losing/gaining 7lb. I feel as if I have been on a diet for a decade and yet not managed to actually lose weight at all.

I wondered if anyone had done similar and then successfully lost weight? What made the difference?

Early days but Weight Watchers actually seems to be working for me for once. I usually do ok first week of a diet then it slows down or stops and I think sod this and pack it in. But with the new Weight Watchers you can spend your points how you want. So I dont feel anything is off limits. You want that cake fine have it but then just have zero point foods the rest of the day. Also I finally tipped into obese rather than just overweight which I think gave me the kick up the backside I needed

Speaking from experience:

• health based motivation will encourage people to take things seriously (my PT says the same)

• accepting that you need to make permanent changes to lose weight, not a quick fix diet

• changing your environment/stressors to make time and energy for a healthier way of life

3 stone really isn’t that much to lose so I’m sure you can get there

Also, have a look at some of the comments on this thread. Permanent weight loss is definitely possible, it does take commitment though

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4491879-AIBU-to-know-diets-don-t-work-but-also-need-to-lose-3-4-stone

I had been over weight my entire childhood, mainly looking back, due to my parents lack of nutritional understanding and education.

At my peak aged 27 I was 16 stone. I joined slimming world and now I'm happily maintaining at 11 stone.

It's hard but it's all about your head space.

Annoying but for me it's a total lifestyle change abs sticking to it. I.e signing up to a gym class early on a morning before work and getting into the habit.
Waking to work instead of the bus so getting used to setting alarm a bit earlier so not in a rush.
Sharing a nice supermarket pizza with salad instead of ordering a dominoes each.
Etc etc.

Do you have anything to aim for @AWavyLine - a holiday/ event/ nice outfit in a smaller size? That can help to focus you.

I think for me it was more finally having a bit of time to start exercising properly/ eating healthily that made the difference, after years of looking after small DC. Although now I'm working I need to find the time again to lose some extra pounds

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl

Do you have anything to aim for *@AWavyLine* - a holiday/ event/ nice outfit in a smaller size? That can help to focus you.

I think for me it was more finally having a bit of time to start exercising properly/ eating healthily that made the difference, after years of looking after small DC. Although now I'm working I need to find the time again to lose some extra pounds

Short term goals events are what cause yo yo dieting. I’ll just lose weight for that wedding or our holiday then it all goes back on and more. A short term goal like: ill eat five a day for a week, go to the gym once a week or walk at least ten minutes every day for a month may help.

I agree with the previous posters that say you need to want to do it for a lifestyle change really rather than just to lose weight and not a quick fix. How have you got to this point, what didn’t work and why? Mindset is so important and not at all easy for us. Especially with busy lives, kids, family and wirk. Life is hard.

Lifestyle changes to include exercise and movement: it doesn’t have to be the gym, walking is underrated. But getting into a consistent routine of moving your body in what ways you enjoy. It improves your mood and in turn I always find if I’m moving and exercising well I eat better to fuel my body

Understanding nutrition and balance: it doesn’t mean you have to count everything but being aware of what you are eating and what calories you consume because people don’t realise. For example meals higher in protein keep you full, volume eating veggies etc. Not denying whole food groups but eating in moderation. Drinking lots of water and less alcohol. What foods do you over eat? Can you eat in smaller portions? Do you have triggers to eating?

It didn’t take a few weeks to put extra weight on so give it time to come off.

I was overweight on and off (mostly on) since my teens. Lost, regained plus extra. Rinse, repeat. I started weight training in my mid 40s as I heard it was good for staving off osteoporosis. Expected to hate it. Loved it. I have lost 6 stone (lost 4 stone, took my eye off the ball, regained two, lost those two plus another two and have kept it all off for the last 3 years). The motivation to lose was enjoying the exercise and wanting to be healthier and able to do more. The method was weighing myself daily, skipping breakfast (I have never much enjoyed breakfast so that was easy), rigorous food logging and cutting right down on refined carbs. I did not "diet", I just ate (and continue to eat) mainly healthy food in appropriate quantities for my current aim. The food logging helps me to keep my eating within bounds and if the weight starts to creep on I can immediately see why, which makes it easier to take steps to deal with the problem before it gets out of hand. I don't forbid myself anything but it has to be worth the calories, so you won't any more find me mindlessly finishing a sub-standard pudding I ordered in a restaurant just because it is in front of me.

I agree with @DespairingHomeowner, apart from the last comment...I think 3 stones is a lot.

@AWavyLine: 3 stone is ‘a lot’ in that it’s several sizes and will make a big difference to how you look, feel & health

But it’s not a ‘lot’ vs people who need to lose eg 10 stone (and still do it). Even losing 1-2 pounds a week you’d be done in a few months so it’s very manageable

Do you have a specific plan in mind?