If you have lost a lot of weight

[Thomasina79]

What have you learned about yourself on your journey?

14 months and around five stone later I have learnt that being overweight is not the source of all my problems

Gaining a couple of Ibs overnight is almost certainly water not fat.

that exercise is vital to lose weight

my self esteem is better than when I was fat, but fundamental issues still remain, such as still thinking I am fat!

Actually something else I have noticed, I am as white as a sheet since losing weight. All the colour has gone out of my face. OH reckons its because theres less fat, less flesh, theres less circulation going round my face.

But I really do look wan

I’ve lost 3.5 stone

I have learnt that I enjoy life a lot more when I am smaller. I feel so much fitter and energetic. That is the feeling I was looking for and it’s better than junk/processed food/alcohol feelings.

i like exercising - never thought i did. I also do need it to lose weight even if it’s just walking. If I am sedentary I have no hope of losing weight at all. You don’t need to join a gym though

I am the same person I was. Being fat isn’t disgusting or a failure. It was a phase.

food doesn’t fix absolutely any of your emotional problems at all. In fact I was far more dysregulated emotionally when I was relying on food to make me feel better. My MH is more stable now I have improved my RS with food as I had to find other ways to manage feelings

I don’t miss McDonalds or fast food like I thought I might

Alcohol ruins my whole day the next day. I’m so tired and run down

Wearing tight clothes looks better than baggy clothes I agree

Ive lost nearly 6st (so far, another stone to go!).

Ive yo yo dieting throughout the years as well but what Ive really learned this time I think is to love myself. Sounds cheesy but you do need to be in the right mindset and I was fed up feeling fat and hating myself for it.

Im over 50 and peri and this time round losing weight was about improving my overall health and longevity. I think it really helped to think that I am actually 'future proofing' myself and this lifestyle is a permanent thing.

This means I dont stress if I put on weight one week, as long as Im still eating healthy and exercising I know things will even out.
But yeah.....self care and feeling like you are valuable enough and important enough to take care of yourself is a big lesson that its taken me decades to learn.

I lost just over 5 stone. My biggest takeaway (haha) was that diet is for weight loss and exercise is for feeling/looking good.

Exercise is very good for your health but isn't necessary for weight loss.