10st plus to lose - part 3

[ShinyPikachu]

A big welcome to anyone who wants to join us on bigger weight loss journeys.

We are all following our own methods, whatever works for each of us and no judgment for anyone who falls off the wagon for a bit either. We've all been there and know we're on a marathon and not a sprint.

Part three, let's go!

This thread is so supportive and motivating! Well done everyone. I'm reading and getting lots of ideas!

Well I fell of the wagon and back up to the same weight as I was a couple months ago and holiday is imminent.... So much for the pre holiday weight loss plan
Was half heartedly looking as weight loss jabs the other day, debating whether it's worth a try, about £200 a month and I'd have to check if they interact with my medication ... It is tempting though

I have not had a great week either. I feel a bit rubbish about how controlled by food I am still. I love the feeling of being a few stone down but it's not enough to keep me away from the carbs and sugar :( and I know how easily it can go back on.

I don't get enough protein so thinking of adding a protein shake.

Hello all,
I've had a week or 2 being very lazy, I broke my foot, and although I don't exercise as such, not being able to walk very far at all has been quite frustrating. So I made better food choices because I really didn't want to go back up on the scales.
SW 17st
CW 14st11.3oz
MG 14st by November

@Izzydogmum you'll be under 300 soon! Well done on your loss so far

@Sammysees I find forward planning is a good way to help stay on track. Because if I get really busy or stressed then it's easier to go off track. So for your 7 hour drive can you take food or plan food along the way? Otherwise I know I'd just end up in McDonald's as it's easiest! M and S, Pret and Waitrose tend to be good for tasty salad type things, or sometimes I will go to McDonald's but will just have a Happy Meal (that way I get to play with the toy).

@Echoes89 even with the recent slip up you've still done really well!

@Sunshineandrainbow I buy the clear whey protein from My Protein and it tastes just like squash. My favourite is the Vimto one. I have it for breakfast and it helps me not snack all morning.

@Seven7seven ouch hope your foot gets better soon!

This morning I went to Pilates. I really love my Saturday morning class - I hate getting up early, but I love that I did it when everyone else probably had a lie in! I'm usually really hungry afterwards so I tried adding an extra protein shake. It was a ready made one so was easy and was only 50 calories. It seems to have helped as I'm not as hungry as usual.

It seems a few of us are falling off the wagon. I ordered a Chinese this evening - my first one this year. I’m not going to beat myself up though. I have a shopping list and a meal plan and will get straight back on it tomorrow.

I have never had a protein shake. Does anyone recommend them? Are they all similar or is there something specific I need to look out for? They may be worth a try.

@Sammysees there are two main types of protein shakes. There's Clear Whey, which makes a thin drink that's very much like squash and then there's other forms of whey that are thicker and creamier and much more like a milkshake. You can get vegan versions of these too.

To make it even more complicated, the standard whey version can have different names as it can be more refined so that it has fewer carbs (and therefore fewer calories). You can also get powder with things like added electrolytes or BCAAs but they're more for athletes so I'd just ignore those for now and just look at calories, flavour and amount of protein.

Don't be caught out by anything called diet whey. It's not actually lower in calories or better at fitting into a diet plan. It just has added extras that are supposed to be better for weight loss - like maybe green tea extract or other supplements.

If you just want to get started then I recommend going to Boots because they sell the My Protein range and they're recommended by Legend (he's a Gladiator). I find they mix nicely and have a great range of flavours. Just pick a tub of a random flavour and see how you get on. I also recommend a brand called Isovibe but I've only found it in B and M. These are both ones you'll need to make up yourself with a shaker.
There are loads of ready made options but these don't tend to be as low calorie, might not have as much protein, and also have more carbs. The Grenade brand are nice, but they're about 170 calories for 20g protein whereas the powder I get from My Protein is around 90 calories.

I realise that was already a long message but I need to warn you about protein bars. There are lots available, but if they advertise themselves as low sugar they are probably full of something called polyols which are evil. I don't fully understand it, but they ferment after eating or something. You will end up with a loudly gurgling tummy that feels like it is full of snakes having a boxing match. Luckily they do seem to label polyols in the nutritional information so it's easy to avoid.

Thank you for all of that info @DuckWithOneWing. Do you have a protein shake instead of breakfast? Do they keep you full until lunch?

@Sammysees I've never really eaten breakfast. My problem is that I'm never hungry first thing in a morning, and then I'm absolutely starving mid morning and eat loads of snacks - and if I'm at work, that's things like cake, chocolate and biscuits as they're always around. I find if I have the protein shake I'm not tempted to snack on all the usual things. I'll then have an apple and a Babybel light and that's it till lunchtime now.

I had an amazing day today. I went to Pilates, and afterwards the instructor commented how much better I'm getting. Then I went shopping, and I found a DKNY dress in a charity shop. It's a size 14 so I thought there's no way it would fit but I tried in on anyway and OMG it's amazing. It's my graduation in a few weeks and it's perfect. I can't believe how amazing I look.

This evening I went for a run and ran 11km which is the furthest I've ever done. I felt like I could've gone further except it was getting dark and I was scared of tripping on the uneven pavement. I'm still very slow but I'm gradually increasing my distance. Half marathon is at the end of the month so not long left now.

@DuckWithOneWing congrats on the dress find! Really fits you well.

Week 8 weigh in:
SW: 311.2lbs
CW: 297.8
Total loss: 13.4lbs

Bring on the 1st loss next week!

The salad season looks like it's over, soup season starting!

Good luck for the next week all. X

It's such a lovely feeling when you go to try something on and think it won't fit in a million years and then it does 😊 it looks great

What an inspiration @DuckWithOneWing ! You look amazing!

Still not really on form here. Chicken soup for lunch today, with cabbage and meatballs for tea. Going out for a lunch time walk to get some steps in but not really doing any additional exercise at the moment. Ben Nevis next May though - so I really need to get back into it. Hugely impressed with 11k. Can't even do 5 at the moment. Need to up my game.

Wow you look fab in the dress @DuckWithOneWing
Enjoy your graduation! Special times 😍

~waves gently from the corner~

Hi everyone I'm back again. My health has been a nightmare recently so I took a step back from it all and focused on doing what I could do for myself and decided to forget about the scales for a bit.

And well I don't know exactly what I've done but I hit 1.5 stones off this week after a lot time avoiding them as I didn't think it would be good news, so I'm hoping to get properly back on the wagon so I don't gain it all back again.

SW: 19st 11.6lb
CW: 18st 4.2lb

Total loss: 1st 7.4lb

Hopefully I'll be back regularly and won't turn into a stranger again. Hope everyone is doing ok.

Fab to see you back @ShinyPikachu

1.5 stone is amazing, use it to spur you on.

It's so cold, making me think of what yummy soups I can make :)

You are all amazing 🤩

Size 14 is epic @DuckWithOneWing. What an inspiration you are!

I have been a little terrified of getting on the scales. Bit the bullet this morning and I have stayed the same for the last 4 weeks. Disappointing, but at least I haven’t gained. I think I need to weigh weekly so I can hold myself to account. Ideally I want to lose another 100lbs.

Thank you all for the inspiration.

@Izzydogmum - I am moving across to soups too from salad. Have you got any recipes or do you buy tinned?

Nice to see you back @PreesHeath and @ShinyPikachu 👋

Thanks @Sammysees I only have one foot back in it unfortunately. I haven’t weighed myself for a couple of months and am expecting a gain. Staying the same after 4 weeks without weighing is the second best thing after a loss! It means you haven’t lost the plot, and you can pick up where you left off. Good result!

This week has been ok food wise. But I’m struggling with motivation to exercise. At least I’ve done my steps every day, but no swimming, cycling, home workouts or gym. I’m middle aged, average height and don’t burn much energy naturally so I really need the exercise to see results. I know I’ll feel better when I do, but at the moment it’s hard. Tentatively considering a sea swim this afternoon - the sea temperature is at its warmest at this time of year. Brr!

sweet potato, kale and goats cheese frittata for lunch, and steak, celeriac chips, mushrooms, tomatoes and green beans for tea today. I enjoy my food when I stick to the programme so why do I fall off the wagon? (Suspect the answer is wine in my case - changes my palate and makes me crave carbs and salt for days afterwards - going to try to stay clear of booze until Christmas now. Not confident that I have enough will power though).

@Sammysees well done on staying the same. We all know it's not easy.

I found this soup recipe last year it only serves two so I double or treble up.
We all really like it. BBC good food have loads of soup recipes too. My fav to buy are the Sainsbury's tubs, lentil and tomato is scummy.

realfood.tesco.com/recipes/super-lentil-and-vegetable-soup.html

Yum! That looks lovely. I live alone now so perfect for me. Thank you ☺️

My half marathon is now in 2 weeks which is far too close. I ran 15k today which took 2 hours 20 minutes so I'm not very fast. I'm aiming for under 3 hours but I'm not sure that will happen!

@Izzydogmum don't keep us in suspense! Did you hit the 1 stone loss?

@ShinyPikachu welcome back! Congrats on the 1.5 stone loss.

@Sammysees staying the same is better than gaining, and it's good practice for the future when you're at your goal. So don't be too sad but just keep moving forward.

@DuckWithOneWing it was touch and go! But....

SW: 311.2
CW: 297
Total Loss: 14.2!!!

So pleased I finally saw that 1st! But it's going slowly off which is frustrating.
This week will decrease cals to 1400 a day, I'm drinking more water, up to 1.5l a day, still struggling to get more in me. And will increase the length of dog walks to see if that helps.

Let's keep going everyone!
Well done to everyone for staying with it and downwards we go!

@Sammysees I just tend to find whatever veg I have in the fridge that looks like it won't last much longer and blitz that.
But if buying from the shops I tend to try the more exotic ones! Like a Thai green curry or Keralan chicken soup.

Thanks for the welcome back! I've been plodding along here again this week and almost 1lb off this time.

SW: 19st 11.6lb

Last week: 18st 4.2lb
This week: 18st 3.4lb

Week's loss: 0.8lb
Total loss: 1st 8.2lb