new around here - have another 2 stone to lose

[CoatOfArms]

So I went to see the GP at the end of September about menopausal symptoms, hair loss, just feeling a bit crap. I'm 51. First time i'd actually seen a GP face to face in over 3 years and she immediately picked up on xanthelasma marks under my eyes. These are little yellow pockets of fat, and in her words "if you're developing pockets of cholesterol under your eyes, we worry about where else you might be developing them".

Had lots of blood tests. Blood pressure normal, not diabetic. Slight issue with one liver enzyme. But cholesterol was 7.9 which is very high. She wanted to start me on a statin immediately, I asked whether I could have 3 months to try lifestyle changes to see what difference that could make. Mid October when I had the bloods back, my weight was 85.9kg. It's been as high as 91kg during the peak of covid rubbish.

So since then I have been trying to make huge lifestyle changes. No booze. No butter, no cheese, no red meat. No full fat yoghurt, no croissants/pastries. Have had to cut out all the good stuff like chocolate, cake and biscuits as much as possible - I do still have a biscuit with a coffee after my dinner most nights but trying so hard to limit. Have had a proper "pudding" once in three months. Because of cholesterol being an issue I am trying to eat more of the good cholesterol stuff like oily fish, avocado and eggs - not necessarily the most diet friendly but heart-friendly. I'm trying to limit meals to twice a day as I'm never hungry in the morning anyway - so eat overnight oats at lunch (made with fat free natural yoghurt, semi skimmed milk, blueberries, teaspoon honey, couple of crushed walnuts) and then something like chicken/salmon and rice and veg for dinner. I have also discovered rice crackers which I actually prefer to cakes.

Today I am 79.9 kg so 6kg or 13 and a bit pounds down. I don't feel much different tbh but my jeans feel looser. If I want to be in the "normal" BMI range I have another 11kg or 24 pounds to go. I am so so grateful to the GP for literally scaring me into this but it's not easy, especially when the weather is too crap/wet to get out for a walk and who wants to eat salad in December anyway.

Anyone else in the same boat? Just booked another blood test for 5th January. If my numbers are not any better I'm going to be gutted.

Oh to add - I have an underactive thyroid and have for years and there's a strong link between thyroid issues and cholesterol but that's only part of the explanation. The other part is my previously rubbish diet.

I need to lose a couple of stone by April

Need to work on my fitness to apply for a new role but I'm doubting it now. Will just continue the Weightloss anyway, no matter what I decide

I'm 55 and too old for new role including a fitness test! Beep test at my age. Funny thing is I know I have/can get back my fitness level

Oh my goodness @WhatsInStoreFor2024 there’s no way I’d pass a beep test!

Hello - I started to diet in October when I was getting very close to 13 stone and was deeply unhappy with my weight.

I need to lose over three stone - target weight is 9st 9.

so far I have lost a stone and a half and weighted in this morning at 11st 5.

i was overjoyed to get out of the obese range!

I have given myself to 1 May to reach my target. I think it should be achievable!

I have dropped a dress size already from 16 to 14 - so while I am still very overweight I am starting to feel more positive.

You’re doing a brilliant job, it’s not easy even with health motivators. I still have four stone to lose, but have lost 1.5 stone already. I found that I was absolutely ravenous with onset of menopause and definitely lost control, gaining a huge amount in a short length of time so I’m just happy I’m back in charge - however long it takes.
Really hope you see an improvement in your next bloods.

Thank you, still a long way to go. My fucked up attitude about food and eating is definitely inherited from my mother who for as long as I remember obsessed with her weight, talked about who had lost weight, who had gained weight, made a huge thing of how she couldn't possibly eat all THAT, and basically turned every meal into a pantomime. I have tried very hard to not pass her attitudes onto my own children.

Trying not to put our food/weight/body issues on to our children even accidentally can be SO hard! I never want my children to ever feel as ugly and unloved/unloveable as I have felt, or as sad whilst futilely trying to gain comfort from comfort-eating. I had a difficult relationship with my mother, I’m blessed to have good relationships with my adult children so cycles can change.

I agree. I spent my teens feeling fat and ugly because of my mum. I still remember some of the awful things she said. She would highly praise my slim friends and get angry that my sister wore baggy clothes. Then she would tell me to stop wallowing in my fat and so on a diet. I now think she might have an eating disorder - like the one she gave me!

she actually believes overweight women have character flaws and always comments how surprised she is to meet A ‘big girl’ who is actually quite nice.

I call her out if the kids are in the room.

Hi. Can I join. I'm 53 in March and I've never been so heavy. The last 12 months have been an utter shit show for my health and consequently being unable to work has not helped . But I'm feeling ready to tackle my fitness and hopefully some weight will fall off. I'm 5 foot 7 so I'm about a size 14/16 but I have a wardrobe full of trousers and jeans that just don't fit!! I've started couch to 5k and subscribe to Joe wickes it's the food side that I struggle with.

Fitness is a whole other battle... I am just looking at the not-raining weather and thinking I really should go out for a walk.

Just bumping my thread as I am just back from the doctor to discuss my repeat bloods which I had done last week.

My cholesterol has dropped from 7.9 to 5 which she described as "remarkable". I thanked her for scaring the shit out of me and giving me the wake up call I clearly needed. As 5 is a normal cholesterol level, I no longer need to think about going on statins. I do still have more weight to lose though, I'm now 77kg and need to be more like 70 kg. Going to stick with my no cheese, no pastries, no red meat diet and keep eating the overnight oats, salmon and avocado, which I enjoy anyway. So pleased with myself.

Tbh I think you’re doing quite well. I think of weight loss is a marathon not a sprint. Keep it slow and steady and stick to it as closely as you can because it’s obviously working.