I am 9 ish stone down today.

[bahhamburgers]

I am so proud of myself.

I don’t really have anyone to tell in RL and I’ve had a LOT of stick for my weight loss recently.

December 2018, I was pushing 23 stone (I gave up weighing myself at 22.7 as it was too depressing, but I got bigger after that, so I’m guessing 23 stone) I’m 5 foot 4 and was a size 22/24. I had gained 12 stone in 4 years because my life went to shit, basically, and I ate crap and drank lager to escape.

Initially, I lost 6 stone and I fell pregnant December 2019 at just over 16 stone. I suffer from HG in pregnancy, so I don’t gain an ounce in my pregnancies due to sickness for 9 long months. I stayed 16 stone until May this year when I decided to change my life.

I cut out all processed food and cook everything from scratch and do intermittent fasting - which isn’t as dramatic as it sounds as I was diagnosed with coeliac disease two years ago, and I don’t want/like (and can’t afford!) the gluten free alternatives, so it’s been easy because I just have to. The option of gorging on McDonalds, pizza and cake after a crap day has been medically removed from me 😆

Today, I weighed 13st 13lb and I am so happy. I know 2 stone since may isn't exactly setting the world alight, but like I said, I’ve changed my life and attitude to food, I don’t see myself as being on a diet. I enjoy food, and enjoy cooking as does my husband (who has lost 30lb since may and is now at his “goal” weight).

I can move so much more freely now. Even at 16 stone, the walk up the hill to school used to leave me sweating, unable to talk and panting. Now, I hardly notice I’ve got to the top and it’s so liberating.

But, I can’t seem to tell anyone in RL. Everyone seems to be so negative. I’ve had friends come out and accuse me of using weight loss jabs or accuse me of having WLS and lying to them about it. It’s so hurtful. I even got told I was too skinny and that I looked ill the other day. I’m a size 14/16. I am in no way skinny!

I just wanted to say to anyone struggling that it is possible. Something just clicked one day. I am 43 and I feel better than ever. I want to get back to a healthy weight of 10 stone, but I know I will now. I’m no longer fighting against myself.

Nice to see your update, well done on your further loss.

I'm not surprised at the negativity you and your husband experienced over the festive season. People really do struggle with change, it makes them reflect on themselves and sometimes that is really uncomfortable.

Your picture looks fab, wishing you all the best for the coming year.

Amazing @bahhamburgers you look great!! As of today I'm 7 stone down and have experienced a weird mix of what you did at Christmas (I'm 165cm and 11 st 9 currently) with some telling me I'd lost enough and couldn't I go back to normal now....and others who don't mention it at all and don't seem to have noticed!!

I've also done low carb, no gluten and basically focused on meat, fish and vegetables. I had my gallbladder out a few years ago and since then I've wondered about gluten intolerance - and my sister is coeliac. Anyway I feel much better without it.

Really inspiring post. Please keep us updated - I have 1.5 stone to go - what is your target?

@chalkyc2 that’s fantastic! Do you feel so much better too? I have so much more energy now, it’s unreal.

Until I gained weight, I was 9 stone, 7lb and a size 8.

I doubt I will get down to that again, my ultimate goal is 10 stone.

It’s funny because the last 3 stone seem more daunting than the ten I’ve lost for some odd reason.

Well done! 👏

Wow amazing! So inspiring 👏

well done

Well done you!
I am doing S/W and have cut out carbs - I found this made easier as for the last year or so if I eat bread it makes me v bloaty and uncomfortable - at the time this was a right pain but now it has helped shift 2 1/2 stone (1 1/2 to go!)
People will always be jealous- you enjoy it!

This is amazing OP! Huge congratulations you look amazing. People can be very weird when you lose weight I’ve found. Your thread has given me so much inspiration, I don’t want WLS, I don’t want injections. I have managed to lose a total of 3st 6lb so far, but want to ramp it up this year as I still need to lose at least 6-7 stone. Cutting right back (almost out) on UPF has been instrumental for me. Thanks for sharing and be proud of how amazing you are!

People love the status quo and they loved that you were bah the fat girl. You've turned your life around and that makes people a bit nervy as it leaves them questioning their own achievements and life choices.

Their problem

Well done you

Great achievement op

Amazing, well done. And yes you should be very proud of yourself.
It sounds like you may need new friends though, people that support you, encourage you and celebrate your wins with you.

Wow! A really big well done. Your before and after pics look amazing. Please don't think it's a me me me post, you will have inspired many to start their own journeys too, I'm sure. 🌹

On the subject of negative comments, it's interesting that when you were eating pizza and MacDonalds no-one seemed to comment on what you we eating or expressed concern?

I think it's a mix of things. Some people will genuinely be used to seeing your bigger size as "normal" for you so will genuinely be struggling to see your new weight as perfectly healthy and normal, but sadly, too many people feel challenged by other people's transformations as it shows up what they are not doing themselves. I once heard it described as two friends living next door to each other, and one does their house up, which shows the other house up. Hence the put downs. Just ignore them and don't let them take the shine off your amazing achievement.

I'm so sorry people are doing the same to your husband too - that's terrible.

You are both shining examples to us all and don't forget that! :)

That's a fantastic achievement! Well done!

People can be very small-minded and mean-spirited, but don't let the haters get to you.

Find positive friends who will uplift you.

Hey @bahhamburgers yes SO much better! I just hope I can maintain it/keep going. I was never a size 8 and have yo-yo-ed since having my DS 15 years ago.

Around 10 stone is also my goal. I'm hoping I'll see you there sometime this year!

Absolutely brilliant< a huge well done! Also to Chalky too..

i lost 7 stone a few years ago, most of which sadly went back on due to medication so having to do it all over again. Other people were incredibly annoying at times. For the ‘you don’t want to lose more’ thing I just said doctor’s orders which generally shut them up.

It’s been slow going on the weight loss, but not the size loss.

I have got a lot smaller, my shape is totally changing, my face is slimmer. So many people have said over the last couple of weeks that I have got much slimmer and that I look smaller every time they see me, despite only losing 2lb in about 6-8 weeks, so something is going on, just not showing on the scales.

I am now a consistent size 12 and a size 10/12 in supermarket joggers etc, which is a size I never thought I’d see again. I feel so much lighter and fitter.

Anyway, my initial goal was 12 stone, 7lbs and I hit that this week. still bloody obese though at a BMI of 30, which I know doesn’t mean much, it just annoys me 🤣

Two and a half stone to go.

Fantastic!

Well done op, you’ve done amazing and it does give me the inspiration to do it. I have ibs so am careful what I eat and I need to do something as I’m so unfit and just large, 14 stone 13 currently and 5’1 don’t even want to find out my bmi but it won’t be good. I have no thyroid so I find I pile weight on but it takes forever to start moving. I have lost a stone recently but didn’t really do anything to lose it.

it’s tough! But I’m going to do it, well done again and I hope you make that 10st goal. Mine is a small size 12 I was 9st 3 pre kids (eldest is 23) so here we go.

Same as me! I weigh exactly the same as a year ago but I actually look vastly different in photos and am at least one size smaller. It's 'taken' on me now somehow? Settled on me properly, or something.

I'm so impressed. I'm doing something similar - trying to lose 3 stone slowly and with making changes to my lifestyle. I've lost a stone and no one has noticed - but I know I feel better.

You've given me some more inspiration, thank you.

So well done!! I too am 5 ft 4 and 13 st 13lb- but down from 16sr 3- And believe me it doesn't sound that much but it's big difference- I too am GF as covid set me off with neuro issues which are helped if I stick to GF.

What a fantastic post OP! Well done 👍

It’s crazy, isn't it?

I bought a coat in the January sales, a long ish parka that I couldn’t do up around my bum. Now it fits perfectly and I’ve only lost 2lb on the scales. There was about an inch gap on the zip two months ago and now it fits comfortably.

My face, neck and shoulders all look far more slender. Like it’s all moving around or something!!

bahhamburgers I’m so happy for you, well done. I’ve got a similar amount to lose and I’m so frustrated and sad that I can’t do it. My life is so stressful and I have constant demands on my time night and day as a carer to disabled children. But I long for a day where I can speak after going upstairs instead of being so breathless. May I ask what does a daily food plan look like for you? Any guidance or pointers in the right direction would be helpful. Also, do you have a lot of loose skin? Sorry if that sounds too personal but it’s something that worries me as the NHS don’t operate routinely for this issue.
keep up the good work, you deserve it. 💜

This is amazing, and without being rude I am so pleased that you say you are over 40. 😁It is inspiring! I am 17 stone now, when I used to be 9 stone - right up to peri-menopause. I'm now 59 and really, really need to lose weight.

I've kept telling myself it's not really possible, that you can only manage this sort of weight loss in your 20s, but you've done so well that I hope it will convince me to actually do something about my own weight - rather than deciding it's easier to tell myself that it won't be possible at my age, so I might as well not bother trying.