Overwhelmed with the task of losing 6 stone

[PurpleBerryDancer]

I am so upset with myself. The realisation of how much weight I need to lose and how long it will take is sinking in. I can't believe I've let myself get into this state. I need to lose 6 stone. I'm unrecognisable from who I feel I really am. I'm energetic, I love outdoors, I love being active. But I'm not, I'm a fat potato couch who is too heavy to join in properly.
I'm worried that I'll have loose skin. But unless wearing skimpy clothes I'm hopeful I'll be able to cover that up.
I have bulging discs in my lower back. I know that exercise will help strengthen me but I have chronic pain and I'm so uncomfortable.
Also, my partner and I want to try for another child. Being so overweight it's probably sensible to lose some weight first but the timings for a 2nd child are as right as they can be now. Also I'm worried about how I'll feel about losing weight and then getting larger again due to pregnancy.
Sorry, this is a big post but I'm just feeling so so upset 😭

I lost six stone in a year with a Mini Gastric Bypass. It's the best thing I've EVER done. Also had counselling to address the issues and thought patterns that caused the weight gain in the first place. I'm living my best life and couldn't be happier. Hope you find what works for you!

Thanks for the spreadsheet love guys, I do love a good spreadsheet and playing with formulas.

If anyone wants it I have a blank copy here you should be able to access

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mjaVTijjOxYjXruqLq14A113BVyhDBph/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=115203243050422472278&rtpof=true&sd=true

OP I'm roughly the same height and weight as you so know how you feel. I have just been eating easter eggs over the holiday mindlessly as well thinking I need to do something.

I also have chronic pain, and am on pain meds as well as ones for depression which can cause weight gain, so I'm partly blaming it on that.

I went for a health check at the GP in the last few weeks and they said my BMI was 37. It's never been that high before. The nurse said 'can you manage any exercise?' and I said about swimming. Cholesterol and bp a bit high but surprisingly blood sugars good.

I have got myself a new Fitbit in the aim of doing more walking in the park and also like you aiming to do some aqua classes and swimming.

I've always exercised quite a bit and think that has kept me a bit in check in the past, but in the last couple of years, on top of the lockdown weight I have been really sedentary due to pain and shingles on top, which has not helped.

Best wishes with it

I'm in your shoes OP

It's so scary but we can do it

I think I am going for 1 lb a week and hoping to get to goal weight in two years

Slow and steady

might not inherently help with the weight loss but it's an easy way to get out of your own head. mindfulness tapes are another alternative but there's the whole do-goody reputation and it's important to remember that doing yourself this good short run won't do anything good long run

and cigarettes are great with that they replace your short term dissonance with long term regret. aka buying you time against your own head

No. The OP should not smoke
WTF?

Would you mind me asking how you've lost this much since mid March? I've just under a stone to lose but finding it impossible.

Very simply I've cut out sugar, white flour, white rice and potatoes from my diet, and I'm also off alcohol and fruit juice.
I usually have shredded wheat or porridge for breakfast, and a meat or fish or cheese salad at lunchtime. (No dressing other than oil/vinegar).
Tonight I'm cooking roast lamb, broccoli and celeriac chips for tea. But typically chicken, salmon, minced beef etc. with plenty of green veg for the evening meal, and berries (with cream or yoghurt) for pud.
Not counting calories or controlling portion sizes.
No snacks at all and I drink plenty of water.

So really just avoiding 'bad' carbs.

And like a previous poster I'm tracking my weight on a spreadsheet, but I weigh myself daily.

Make it sustainable. It's lifestyle changes - honestly moving more, eating more veg it'll shift. My sister started walking, she's fairly obsessional, but started doing 5k a day - she lost 8 stone over 2 years. She looks great, she's kept it off for the last 5 years. She's walking more than that now as she's got fit and enjoys it.

It was food too - She also cut out a lot of the ready meals, chips, beige food, that they were eating. There's salad or vegetables with every meal, carbs are brown rice or skin on potatoes, she was tracking her calories but now she just kind of knows.

But it was sustainable - it's just habit to her now and she misses it if she doesn't get out for a walk and her food choices are transformed.