Those that finally lost weight after many failed attempts, what finally did it?

[Workworld]

Hi all, I am currently on my umpteenth attempt to 'finally' lose weight and slim down. I'm 33 and have never been slim as an adult. Lost a stone and a half last year, which I have maintained (purely because I changed from a desk job to a job on my feet), but have not lost any more since then and have about 4 stone to lose to a healthy BMI.

So I'd like to hear from those that finally shed weight for good after many failed attempts. What made you finally crack it?

I know how to eat well, and exercise. I really do know what I need to do. But it's the mental side of things I struggle with - having discipline, patience, keeping motivation and not thinking about food 24/7 (I'm a massive emotional eater!)

Also, I remember a thread on here a few years ago where people shared the little positives about losing weight (e.g being able to wear certain clothes they wouldnt have previously felt comfortable wearing). It was really inspiring and motivating but I can't seem to find it. So I'd really like to hear those things too.

For me, it was having something to really motivate me...and that was needing to fit into my wedding dress! I've since put the weight back on and struggling to find the motivation to lose it again! It's a constant battle!

I was in middle of losing weight almost five stone and had lost two and half and in middle of this oh went out with someone else and when confronted dumped me then decided wanted to stay with me. I went on to lose more weight and motivated by other person they took out as so thin.
Now put nearly all weight back on and my self esteem gone. Self esteem Left me back then and never returned.
Back trying to lose weight but never got back that feeling of been special after that time.
I will lose weight again as look so big at present and not attractive.
Was told not attractive when I had lost two and half stone when I was beginning to feel better about myself.
Very cruel and not the person I used to know. So shocked. Person they seemed to be making a play for was so slim just not what they had said was attractive to them when we met. As thin as you could be possibly.
Not thin shaming but no shape almost like iron board!

Sorry to hear that.
Read my thread I was badly hurt too and so unexpected😰

They surprise us

Getting lots of sleep - when my kids were little I would eat to get the energy to get through the day because I had broken sleep for years. Also, cutting right back on alcohol - no booze at home anymore. These two things meant that I didn't need to diet, or be hungry at all.

Low Carb boot camp on Mumsnet really works for me - 2 stone since January. Cutting out carbs and having a lot more fat is really filling and gets rid of 90% of cravings. It sounds tough giving up sugar, bread, rice, pasta etc but after the first 2 or 3 days it really isn't. Mainly because the plan includes lots of foods that calorie counting just can't. Cheese, cream, mayonnaise, olive oil, full fat greek yoghurt, no more fry light, no more low cal yoghurts or artificially sweetners. Even some booze!

I stopped making excuses and stopped blaming everything & anyone but myself for the fact that I was obese.
I realised that obesity is a lifestyle choice and that I, and I alone, was responsible for what I chose to put in my mouth. Not the government. Not the media. Not ‘society’. Not supermarkets. Not the processed food industry. Not the people who bring cakes into the office. Me.
I realised that I was also solely responsible for the amount of time I spent exercising vs the amount of time I spent sitting on my fat arse.

9 months later, and 30kg lighter, I hit my target weight. And I stayed that weight.

Well done.
Fantastic weight loss
Good attitude.
I need to get that attitude.

@appleroot can you share a link to your thread. Ty.
OP - everytime I reach for junk I think of the dancer. That stops Me right in my track. Think if your motivation everytime you reach for crap & junk

A gastric bypass and regular lisdexamfetamine for ADHD

i'm trying a slow and steady approach at the moment. First I am focussing on getting in 8k minimum steps per day. And given up drinking. Doing that until I have it down to an art. Then i will be adding in drink 1.5l water, then yoga 2 - 3 times a week before even thinking about looking at food too much. The 8k steps is achievable and low enough but also enough to make a difference. It's about lifestyle changes, these have to be slow and steady to work.

Once I get onto food more seriously I will be doing intermittent fasting 5 days a week (eating window 3pm - 8pm) and then I will be looking more closely at exactly what I eat. With a view to it being permanent.

Add small changes slowly and do them every day! That way it is sustainable.

I was going to say this. Going cold turkey on sugar and anything containing wheat is what does it for me. Feels rubbish for about 4 days then weight drops off and I stop craving things that are unhealthy.
Also I avoid processed food as much as possible (except a weakness for chocolate, which is a gateway drug for me)
Taking my own advice as of today as I fell off the wagon and started putting a bit back on!

My thoughts too.

Low carb worked for me. I still eat some carbs, but have binned bread, pasta & potatoes. Weight has stayed off, because I’ve completely changed my way of eating.

Have a listen to esg podcasts. I joined her on line group, not really for weight loss but to help with mindset. I'd been really struggling to get my head in a good place and out of the all or nothing mentality.

I agree with this

Prior to my surgery I gave up bread/pasta etc wheaty products for about 18 months anyway and felt much better and although I cant eat those (and dont want to) I really need to keep getting good amounts of fibre in me, which is very difficult when I can eat very little

I normally have porridge for breakfast as its the easiest way to get that in.

For some reason the other day I had my lunch at breakfast and took my porridge to work to have it for lunch. After lunch, my god I felt absolutely awful, really slumped at the desk, tired, lethargic. I swear it was the carbs in the oats (I eat very low levels of carbs generally)

Not sure why it has that effect in the middle of the day raather than at the start but its interesting that for some of us it has that effect.

Surgery was the only thing that worked for me.

Now, almost every month someone I know jets off to Turkey for weight loss surgery.

My daughter has inflammatory bowel disease, she has had it probably since she was about 7. It is becoming more and more common in "Western" societies and the increase seems linked to ultra processed foods and the increased use of emulsifiers and gums. All her life I have been on diet after diet, buying fat free and lightest spreads, trying plant milks. When she became ill I tried gluten free foods, dairy free foods. Now I understand I was accidentally making it worse - these are UPF foods (obv if you are coeliac, gluten free alternatives are vital!). I think everyone has got fatter since we were told to eat low fat!

I have just got back from a holiday in Croatia. The food was excellent and simple.

My new mindset as of today is, 90 percent + of food the family eats, should fit the criteria of "could a Roman have eaten this?" I don't mean would a Roman...but could? For example, a Roman could have eaten a potato, if they had been transported to Italy earlier. A Roman could not have eaten a findus crispy pancake. No food "alternatives". Real food, cooked simply, and mostly at home. Nothing low fat. No avoidance of food groups or artificial gorging on fats. I am going to pretend I am in the 1950s or 1850s or even the 50s!!

Larks tongue and fish sauce. Eata like a Roman!!!

That’s a good plan.

I gave up alcohol and refined sugar. I was also mindful of portion size. I lost 3 stone over a year.

When I heard obesity was one of the biggest causes of cancer.
When I felt life going too fast and didn't want to be fat forever
When I realised I couldn't do everything my kids wanted to
When I missed feeling good, dressing up properly
When people kept having to say "excuse me" in shop aisles and I didn't realise I was taking up that much space.
So many more!
I was 20 stone for a short while after my second child and lost 9 stone in 9 months and have kept it off for years. Meal replacement was the only thing that kept my focus

I read your thread.. Please get rid. It will haunt you forever.

Sleep - if you’re exhausted you’ll crave crap food. If you’re sleeping you’re also not eating. I’d go bed early and read before going to sleep.

Eating whatever I want but counting calories - you don’t need to eat avocado and quinoa if you’d prefer a pizza but you need to count the calories still.

Having 1 ‘cheat’ meal and not feeling bad about it. I’ll also work out the calories and reduce my every day calories by 100 or 200 so I’m still within a calories deficit.

I’d spend all week practically starving myself and then go stupid on the weekends and eat all of the calories.
So I plan what I eat in advance and look forward to my cheat meal.

I used to eat something bad and then think I’ve ruined all my hard work and then overeat for days afterwards and then go back to being overly strict as punishment and the cycle would just keep happening.

I never feel bad about eating crap.
I just get back on to it the next day.

I live by the 80:20 rule.
80% of the time I will eat whole, non processed food (if I can’t tell you all of the ingredients then it’s processed).
20% of the time I’ll eat pizza, ice cream and chocolate.

I also prioritise walking/exercise.
If I meet family/friends I’ll ask them if they want to meet for a walk. - if I’m walking I’m not eating and exercise makes you feel better about yourself and you’re burning calories at the same time.

Why not start from Monday.
Weigh yourself and then work out your calorie limit.
Perhaps start at a high amount such as 2000 and make sure you count every single calorie including drinks.
Walk as much as you can and then re-weigh yourself in 2 weeks.
If you’ve lost weight (even just 1lb) then carry on.

The best diet is one you’re going to stick to and isn’t restrictive.

Home truths from RH Fitness and seeing it as a lifestyle rather than a diet. I'm really enjoying it, feel full and losing weight. Calories deficit and 10,000 steps a day are non negotiable. Also considering the health issues associated with carrying weight on our body as we age are motivators. Knees not designed for excess weight etc.