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.

Reasonably low carb.
Hugely reduced sugar - this includes sweet fruit and honey, sadly - wheat and veg oil ( I cook in butter and olive oil)
Lots of full fat dairy, high quality protein and vast quantities of vegetables
No UPF, ever. Cook everything from scratch.
Intermittent fasting ( 18/6) - eliminates evening snacking.

Four and a half stones gone , four to five pounds to go.

Exercise too, but not to a ridiculous level.

Feel great

I was under 8st7lb until I was about 30. Combination of an eating disorder and graves disease.

I maintained 9st - 10st from about 30 to 42. Then it started slithering on up to about 13st.

I feel dreadful at present and very unhappy with myself. Covid didn't help. I.got off 2 stone for ds's wedding last year using Jane Plan. Previously have done similar with WW.

Two weeks ago I ditched alcohol and have lost 3lb. I am eating twice a day. At about 11.45 and 8pm (can't eat earlier, long hours). If I have breakfast, I swear it makes me eat more. At 11.45 I am having either a sandwich, an apple and a satsuma or a salad with protein: hard boiled eggs, tuna, ham, etc., at 8ish I am having something like lamb chops, cous and salad and a mini magnum. I am trying to ensure I have no more than two slices of bread a day and if we have pasta in the evening, no potatoes. No snacks, except fruit cheese cubes.

We like our food greatly. An occasional meal for one provides a good reset re portion size. I am trying to get back closer to the meat and two veg meals of my youth, with a few twists and move away from rice and pasta dishes.

I've been calorie counting and have lost over 4.5 stone, 1.5-2 to go. I've done it slowly this time, and I seem to be keeping it off.

I bought a really beautiful jumpsuit that would have been prefect for an event I was going to and I couldn't wear it because of my peri/wine belly and it really was a wake up call for me, because I've always been able to wear what I want and look decent and now I can't. Total vanity but it's kicked me into stopping eating junk and boozing whenever I like.

Around 9 years ago l logged on to MFP and ate low-carb, lost nearly 3 stone and have kept it off. I go up and down by no more than 6lbs. Weigh daily.

I still do MFP and low-carb - if you're prone to weight gain it's a life-long thing!

Keto. I lost 8 stone 5 years ago and kept it off.

It’s a prescription for me now. I would end up at 18 stone in a year if I started eating high carb again.

Sorry forget to add that I combine low-carb with calorie counting

Slimpod https://thinkingslimmer.com/

I had a (not weight related) health scare. This inspired me to make a change and I've lost 4.5 stone since January, using intermittent fasting (OMAD) and huge amounts of low intensity exercise. I'm in my 50s.

it CAN be done. It's bloody hard but don't give up - you CAN do this!

Same but saxenda instead of ozempic

Have lost nearly 2 stone with SW and one to go.
What made me go: bumping into door jambs; nightdress wedged itself between my buttocks when I leaned over; very unhappy with photos esp when they were added to Instagram by club I do hobby with; sore knees when running; embarrassment at seeing people post pandemic; concerned about health effects and so on.
Anytime I was tempted to fall off it, I gave myself a strict talking to. I’ve also kept eating chocolate so don’t feel deprived.
Best part is being able to fit into my clothes again and buy new ones in smaller sizes. It’s such a great feeling.

Wow that’s brilliant! How much exercise?

Joining for inspiration. I know what to do, I’ve done it before but go back to my old ways. I’m prone to binge eating, and need to change for good. I’ve got a big holiday towards the end of next year and I want to feel at my best. I’m delaying starting the diet which is not really a good sign. I’m after slow, steady and sustainable.

I just decided that tomorrow never comes and no excuses, don't wait for that magic switch, just start. So I did. IF 14:10 or 16:8 if I can manage it, and calorie counting using MFP. Only three weeks in but I've lost 4kg, which includes going away for three days and eating two good sized meals a day. I've also gone down to one bottle (or half) a week of wine. No snacks.
Next year you'll be a year older - do you want to look like you do now? Feeling the same way?

I quit drinking alcohol and used MFP to log calories.

Realising that it won't be quick. I see people all the time who lose .5lbs in a week and then binge because it wasn't good enough. I've lost 4stone in the past year. Some weeks I gained 2lbs. Some weeks I lost 3. Most weeks I lost .5lbs. But I'm in a healthy bmi and I feel amazing.
What helped me was exercising- I run a lot and joined the gym. This has given me so much more energy which is one reason I wanted to lose weight to begin with.
Second thing is calorie counting on mfp but I try to eat volume food. And build in treats and snacks. So I eat lots of salads and soups because you can have a big portion which fills you up for fewer calories. I also know that I will probably want some chocolate or similar after dinner so plan that in too.
I'm so proud of myself. I love being able to chase my kids around the park and not get tired.

Not me but my sister battled weight from her twenties onwards, she had been really slim till then. She lost 5 stone when her husband died. He was not abusive as such but she was miserable as he was so bloody boring and never wanted to do anything. I have never voiced this. She was married for 40 years. She is in her sixties and remarried a man she met through a hobby group. She is happy because they actually do stuff.

I try to do 1000 active calories a day (on top of the ones I burn just being alive). I go for long walks, walk on a treadmill with an incline, do Peloton bike classes and/ or Pilates/ core/ barre classes. I try to keep to zone 2 heart rate though as if I go too hard, I'm more likely to want to eat extra meals. It's long and often a bit boring but it works. 🙂

I'm 54kg so thought might be helpful to share the type of food I eat in a day:
breakfast:
small bowl Cheerios and milk
OR
small bowl porridge and milk
OR
2 x slice of toast with marmite

lunch:
1 x pitta filled with sliced Turkey, cheddar, tomatoes and Mayo
OR
1 x salmon fillet with broccoli, avocado and tomatoes (I love as Asian dressing eg mix rice vinegar with soy sauce, lime, small teaspoon of peanut butter and small teaspoon honey

• 1 cup herbal tea and 1 sq Lindt salted dark chocolate

snack (only if very hungry don't usually snack)
1 x Apple with 1 x teaspoon peanut butter

Dinner:
80g uncooked spaghetti (obvs then cook it, ideally wholegrain), bolognaise, peas, cheddar

• 1 cup herbal tea and 1 sq Lindt salted dark chocolate

That's it! No snacks etc. But then if out to dinner at weekends will happily drink, have puddings etc. and don't gain weight as most days eating moderate quantities.

Ozempic

16:8 intermittent fasting, and stick to it. I already ate healthily, it was all the snacks on top + high calorie breakfast that were causing problems.

Signed up to Les Mills at home, do 3x cardio workouts a week and a pilates video. Walk 10k steps a day. Took a year but made a really noticeable difference and got me halfway to where I want to be.

Was obese as a teenager then yoyo dieted and have only ever lost weight through (genuine) disordered eating before. I found intermittent fasting much better for retaining a healthy relationship with food as the mindset is "eat whatever within that window" and by the time I've eaten my fruit, veg, protein etc I usually only want one mid afternoon snack, if that, often not hungry for pudding etc. I was skeptical at first (people rave about IF on here) but now I'd recommend it to anyone.

This is great advice

I’ve Tried many “diets” and yo-yo for years. Used the Noom app and it finally taught me that only a fundamental life change to health, exercise, food, work life balance and stress management was going to give me a sustainable outcome.

I am not on Noom now as the food logging eventually (after 2yrs) got me down but I leant enough to make the change. I have just bought atomic habits on audible so will give this a listen too so thank you for your recommendation

Putting this on here to see if it will give me more incentive.

In my 40s, started a new job but had to walk fast to get to the office, or get a bus there, took about 10-15 minutes fast walking. I did this and over the course of 4 months but in about 2 months, I lost almost a stone. I also ate soup and bread (1 slice) for lunch and halved carbs in the evenings.

Then last year I joined Weightwatchers in January, by about April I'd lost almost a stone but this was a combo of walking, exercise and halving carbs but also being strict (but not too strict) with my diet. I ate Galaxy Enchanted Eggs and other chocolate at Easter and Pop Chips, I do think it's important to have something to look forward to.

@zaa that's what helps me too, reducing portion sizes and reducing processed food. I sometimes do eat prepared potato salad and fresh soup (Tescos) and Quorn Picnic Eggs.

The worst things for me were eating Muller Chocolate Pots, Baby Bel Lights, the sort that you eat one of and think it's only 89 calories for the first and 42 calories for the latter but I was finding I'd eat them all the time and then buy more. I now snack on fruit, protein and things like that.

Being diagnosed with a non alcoholic fatty liver and cholesterol that was through the roof.

I gave up: saturated fat, wheat, red meat, anything processed, and alcohol. Now eat more chicken, fish, salad, veg and fruit.

33lb down and have changed eating habits rather than dieting. Within about a fortnight all aches and pains lifted as did all little bits of swollen ankles. I no longer get hunger pangs or the munchies.

Cutting out alcohol and now Saxenda injections