What made your brain click so you started losing weight?

[Youaremysunshine14]

I hope the title isn't too baffling! What I'm trying to get across is that I know losing weight is as much a mental challenge as a physical one and if anyone has need tips on how to make my brain engage in the process, I'd love to know them.

Background: I've been a yo-yo dieter since my teens so I'm pretty confident I know everything there is to know about how to lose weight. I've read The Obesity Code, am savvy on low carbs, glucose intolerance etc etc. I know about the body's set point and why it rebels against LCD et etc. I know about the benefits of intermittent fasting etc etc. I know that commercial diets are designed to only work in the short term and that the diet industry's success is built on a failure rate of 98% that guarantees return customers etc etc. I know all this and more (I've even tried hypnotherapy!) and yet still I'm overweight by three stone (I've been in denial about it for ages, but today I realised I'm now proper fat and can't put my arms down by my sides properly).

I've just turned 50 and I don't want the final third of my life to be blighted by ill health caused by obesity. But how the heck do I flick the switch in my brain that makes me stick to a healthy eating plan and stop scoffing crisps by the multipack-load? What worked for you? I really don't want a health scare to trigger me finally taking action – I want to sort myself out before I get to that point. I'm hoping this post, and taking some accountability, might spark something, so do share if you have any tips!

I'm glad you're finding it helpful too, I'm so glad I started it!

I thought it was time I updated the thread seeing as, copying Cauliflowersqueeze's genius map idea, I've now got past London! Since starting the diabetes programme two weeks ago I've lost 1.5lb and more than an inch off my waist. That means I've made it to just outside Welwyn Garden City since leaving Brighton a few weeks ago. 😂

Again, thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread early on, because it was the spur I needed to sort myself out. The diabetes programme is absolutely brilliant and I'm finding it easy to adopt new, healthier habits. The most eye-opening moment has come from working out a true portion size – it's a lot less than you think! But by balancing my plate with the optimum amounts of protein, carbs and a lot of veg, I'm finding I'm not actually hungry on less food and I'm snacking a heck of a lot less too. I've also cut down on drinking, having spritzers with lots of ice rather than larger glasses of wine. Not only are they more refreshing but one spritzer will last me most of the evening now.

Anyhow, I hope everyone's doing well. If you're still looking for your trigger, I hope you find it soon.

Could someone link to the diabetes programme please? The only one I can find asks me for loads of personal information, including my NHS number, then effectively tells
me I don’t exist!

How weird! This is the link I used, from the NHS website.

preventing-diabetes.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwzqSWBhDPARIsAK38LY9_3imUdWxKZW8l4pguIJFuW6L3p9dJkHgEhr_JTX9M6ZQ9sx6ObVgaAvmQEALw_wcB

So I’ve lost weight successful twice before. The main trigger was walking into a doctors appointment and being told I was overweight before I had even stepped on a scale!!!

However following bad relationships, house moves etc, my current partner having alcohol issues and myself having chronic itching skin for the last year I’ve put it all back on and more 😞

Just over three weeks ago I decided I needed to get back in the habit of tracking, I use nutracheck. I didn’t change anything I ate just tracked for a week. At the end of the week I was going about 800-1000 over my calorie allowance everyday. Mainly because I was eating a share bag of giant buttons everyday!! I was also having biscuits and a really bad skin flare up.

I decided then I needed to stop the chocolate first. Today is day 16 of no chocolate. I also started making lunches 3/4 times a week instead of buying meal deals every day. I’ve lost 3lbs in 2 weeks and my skin is a bit better. Slow and steady changes and one thing at a time. I know I need to drink more water and eat more veg!!!

I’ve got at least 70lbs to loses. I love the map idea but I’d probably end somewhere abroad and I don’t really know how to map it out properly!

I do think something clicks when your GP tells you that you're overweight. When a medical professional gives it to you straight, it's hard to ignore!

I've now lost 4lb in three weeks since I started the diabetes prevention programme. I'm still allowing myself certain 'treat' foods, like crisps, but just a lot less of them and not every day as I did before, and I don't have carbs every day. I'm not missing them either. My portions have reduced significantly too. Really, it's nothing that I didn't already know, but I think the accountability of attending the programme has made it click for me.

Bexs2247 Sorry, meant to add, well done on going over two weeks without chocolate! That's great progress.

I would really appreciate some pointers from the diabetes online course. It is not available where I live and the doctor is useless.

You can self-refer yourself to the programme using the link I posted earlier in the thread and if you do I think you are given the option of choosing to participate online if there are no meet-up groups in your area.

It's a bit too involved for me condense into one post, sorry. It lasts nine months and each session is really involved.

Ah that’s a pity. I’m in Scotland and they wont let you join in Scotland. Stupid really.

There's this running in one part of Scotland.

weare.nhslothian.scot/awmt2d/type-2-diabetes-remission-through-counterweight-plus/

For me, it was as simple as I hated the way I looked more than I loved food. I calorie counted and lost almost 2 stone.