I have been trying to lose weight for 20 years and yet today I am the biggest I have ever been. Anyone want to join me in a last ditch attempt to make this elusive lifestyle change?

[Believeinyou]

I'm really really trying not to be self critical and get into self hatred as I do believe the latest science e.g. the obesity code etc

i also know how to do it and what works for me (in the short term). But yet i take an age to get started....false starts and then get into a flow and lose a significant amount of weight....3-5 stones usually. Then slip, slip abit more, fall entirely off the wagon. Put even more weight on and then take a year to get back into the right frame of mind to start again.

I'm approaching the right mindset again but I really think I'm going to have to consider surgery if I can't do it this time. I know it's a lifestyle choice etc etc but as of yet I haven't had the mental fortitude to do it and keep
doing it. I have some barriers (excuses) to overcome but I am so sick of this weight - more mentally to be honest than physically.

For once I am starting right now - weighed myself in prep for starting after my birthday but I'm so scared by the current number that I have started right now. Skipped dinner and having a black coffee. Normally I spend a few weeks eating like shit because so know I am starting a diet (which is soooo messed up and disordered).

so have a goal to lose 5lbs (5 stone feels too much right now) which will bring me below my highest weight ever and will take it from there.

Anyone else want to join?

Queenofdestruction
I actually like planning my food for the day as I am geeky and like playing with numbers.

Intermittent fasting as you are doing makes this process a lot easier as you are effectively accounting for two meals rather than three. I also account for snacks too. I opt for snack size crisps and chocolate. I completely avoid eating from family sized snacks as I would go over. I have also stopped eating nuts as I struggle to have only a small handful.

I am off out later and choosing to lay off eating until 5pm rather than the usual 1pm. I find IF easier at the weekend whereas when working I am much more conscious of time.

A trick of mine is to nap for a few hours when I am struggling to fast until 1pm or perhaps later if going out to eat. I enjoy the sleep and wake knowing I am now free to eat. May sound weird but it works for me.

I have an allowance of 1400 calories per day and am aiming to lose one lb a week. I am within my ideal weight range but at the top end. I wish to maintain in the middle.

Over eaters anonymous can be very helpful if traditional dieting doesn’t work. They’re very friendly and a ton of online meetings

Hi everyone, how are you all doing today?
I managed to stick to my plan and had another pound off this week.
I have about 5 stone still to go but trying to think in terms of small goals as the thought of 5st is overwhelming and counterproductive.
I'm heading to the gym just now, I know it won't make a dent in my weight but it does help with my energy levels and motivation.
Please keep going with this chat and all the help and advice .
I for one really need and appreciate it.

Great job on getting to the gym, particularly on a Sunday morning! I had a blip a couple
of days ago (a glass of wine at lunch led a second and then to major munching!) but back on track yesterday and hopefully today.
Hope everyone has a good day and is staying on track whichever approach you’re doing. I’m enjoying the variety of different ways of eating people on the thread are doing actually, gives me ideas to try out too.

Morning lizzie and cotton

I have been busy so no issues except a bit of extra hunger last night. Looks like my pattern of half a pound loss per week is back, though I will try to increase that.

I am hoping for a cool summer. I find dressing as a fat person hard enough but in summer it's so much harder!

I’ve resorted to cycling shorts under dresses to reduce the dreaded summer chub rub. Has greatly increased my summer options. But I still dread the arms out situation. Fortunately the weather isn’t proving too challenging currently, cold and grey here!

Morning all!

2lb off this week & I have managed to drink at least a litre of water every day - not a drop of wine has passed my lips all week mainly because I have none in & need to do a food shop but I'm taking it as a win.

Pilates is ok I'm just doing beginner videos on YouTube for now but may attempt a class at some point.

The walking didn't go as planned due to working late most nights so will need to force myself to get out next week!

I'm about to start my June meal plan & shopping list so any ideas for healthy meals welcome - I can't eat fish though so this limits my options. I've also got a plate which shows the division of food so will try to use this, it's a smaller one to limit portion size.

@EmmaH2022 & @CottonBallsUp I have a vast array of chub rub shorts & took them on holiday in April but definitely don't want to be taking them next June!

The gym was tough but I'm glad I went.
Keep going everyone.
Emma I'm decluttering as well, I don't know why it helps but it does.
Loving this thread.

hi all - well done on sticking with it everyone. Ive had some difficulties with one of my teens this week, combined with youngest DD deciding to start waking up in the night again - so i've been tempted to file this away as something to difficult to do right now. But have stuck with it and lost 4lbs. still doing lower carb and 16/8 - exercise could be better and still need to do something about that. Went for a long walk though yesterday but my feet and ankles were then killing me which i know is because of my weight and it makes me sad.

i need to press through now and focus - so this week i will be 100% 16:8, no snacking , 30 min walk minimum. The early weeks are a danger zone- still in a horrible stone bracket so even 4lbs feel ....meh cos i've been a stone lighter and still needed to lose a load so i'm not to feel too depressed about it. Did go out for a meal and managed to order steak salad and no pudding without feeling too deprived which was progress I suppose.

got a bit of time off work this week so plan is to finish the why we eat too much book, catch up with sleep (thanks to DD), sort out the monster washing pile and a load of admin stuff which i've been putting off

i really don't know how people manage to go through life thin and organised without it being a massive focus of energy and forcing yourself to do things .....

oh and on the subject of chub rub- I have some shorts from snag tights which I wear under dresses. They're abit thinner than cycling shorts (like made out of tight material) and have been really helpful - i wore them on holiday when 6 month pg and i think was actually cooler than having sweaty legs rubbing together

I actually wasn't thinking of chub rub with summer dressing as I don't wear skirtscor dresses

I was thinking partly that layering is less of an option. Also I have separate issues with my skin.

It also annoys me when people say "why are you so covered up, it's hot". Can't they guess?!

• skirts or dresses

Actually I think it's a myth that 'we all know how to lose weight'

Diets make you fatter

Another vote here for the book Why We Eat Too Much

I still get chub rub when I have a bmi of 22. Funny shaped thighs I guess,

Body glide is a savior.

Believe "i really don't know how people manage to go through life thin and organised without it being a massive focus of energy and forcing yourself to do things ....."

yes. That said, I've been doing some deep cleaning and realised it doesn't take that long, it's just boring.

Hi Everyone. How are you all getting on?
I'm booked in at a gym class at 4.
I'm feeling tired today so I hope I can do it .
Still decluttering but only very slowly, I'm starting to realise how neglected and cluttered my house is.

Hi Sunshine . I'm just reading through your other thread and will join you on there too.

I had a mini gastric bypass in February and I've lost 4 stone with another 3 to go. Have you considered surgery?

Hi, No surgery is not something I would be prepared to do. It does work well for a lot of people, lots of evidence that it works.

I thought about it but as you need to lose weight to get it....!

i don't yo yo, just got bigger over the years. So losing is the issue.

@EmmaH2022 I had to go on a liver reduction diet before the op but the purpose isn't weight loss, it's to reduce the size of your liver so your surgeon can access your stomach.

But if I could stick to that eating plan for two weeks, I wouldn't be on this thread?

it's okay, I think I'd rather stay fat than endure surgery anyway.

but there is very slow progress being made.

I had a work lunch today. Calories on the menu were genuinely helpful.

Lizzie hope you made your exercise class. I skipped my workout last night after working late, but it's rare for me to skip it.

@EmmaH2022 2 weeks is a lot easier than sticking to an eating plan for 52 weeks of the year on willpower alone.