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.

Gastric sleeve, not for everyone but I had exhausted all of the options and was sick of hating myself more and more after every failed diet.

IF works for me, I do it 3/4 times a week. I’ve never been a big breakfast eater and find it easy, compared to counting/tracking calories & weighing food. I didn’t want to go down that route.

I got myself a Fitbit, walk everyday, weights 3/4 times a week at home.

I didn’t have loads of weight to shift, but I was finding it difficult to stay consistent, so nothing was really happening previously.

I don’t snack and eat as clean as possible (very little UPF) I cook from scratch and have switched to full fat milk/yogurt/proper butter as it’s more satisfying and fills me up.

I’ve lost just over 2 stone since last June - slow & steady wins the race.

I hope you dumped DH too.

After many many failed attempts to lose weight over a number of years, I found that soup is the answer!

There's plenty of recipes on YouTube for low calorie soups if you make them with plenty of vegetables they are very filling and always slice a cooked chicken breast or some ham into every mug of soup you have.

also have it with a big mug of tea or coffee or a pint of water or something like that. Your belly is so full, it keeps you feeling full for a long time. If your soup is low calorie and low carb you can have as much as you want .

I totally understand that the mental part while dieting is challenging. I tried to lose weight many times and, regretfully, I was following people who were telling me that superfoods and expensive, magic products are the way. I'd never think that normal, everyday products could also be a part of a healthy diet!

I put aside the money issue which was holding me down and started dieting on a budget. And it worked! I was eating as I'd normally do, but with a careful calorie deficit. It's amazing how much my view on diets shifted. There are a few diets to follow, for example https://listonic.com/meal-plans/en/budget-meal-plan-for-dieting, where you can find a lot of valuable info plus a meal plan suggestion, which really helped me take off!

I hope you've dumped the man too. He didn't do it because you're overweight, he did it because he's an arse.

Cut out all alcohol, UPF and added sugar
Eating window 1pm-8pm
1200 cals max

Even so, I am only losing about 1lb a week. I think the key is making sure you can sustain the diet as it’s a marathon not a sprint (especially if like me you’re pushing 50 and peri menopausal).

I just became so uncomfortable in clothes and embarrassed if I saw people I hadn't seen for a while.
Lost three stone this year calorie counting and have another stone to gos
My mind set just shifted and has luckily stayed that way

I had a health scare, or rather was told I have a condition, and realised I was eating myself into the grave and there were many things I could do to slow down progression. So I started eating less and making better choices. I have lost 5.5 stone in 15 months.

I realised that I will have to do this everyday for the rest of my life if I want a chance to live a bit longer and that's fine with me. I had to really come to terms that it wasn't a case of go on a diet and get to 'goal', there was no goal weight just to eat for my health.

I don't feel like I am missing out eating high fat high calorie foods because I spent many many years doing that I'm, it's not like I don't know what a Big Mac tastes like.

I started off just eating less and cutting out junk food, then I started loosely counting calories and the weight did come off. I also didn't weight myself very often as my aim wasn't a particular weight.
Over the last few months I have used the nutracheck app to maintain my weight and make sure I hit protein etc.

That is an amazing weight loss in such a short time!!

I'm a massive emotional eater!

The thing with food, especially comfort food, is that it never lets you down - it never disappoints you. Tired, fed up, angry, sad? Your mind will tell you to reach for the thing that made life feel (or be) better when you were a child; that bar of chocolate or that cake or that biscuit.

Problem is that that strategy, which worked so well for the first ten years of life, is no longer appropriate for you as an adult - all it does is give you a few moments of pleasure but the problem that caused you to reach for the comfort hasn't been resolved and you've just added another one - berating yourself for being weak. Thus the cycle continues.

I've helped several people with 'addictions' to sweet stuff (including myself - since 12th March I've had 4 biscuits and less than half a bar of milk chocolate) by talking to that part of the subconscious mind that believed that eating was a good way of making life better. Once it knows that's no longer the case it simply stops. No more emotional eating.