Obese? Wanting to join a friendly thread ?

[SeatbeltExtender]

Hi

As my user name says this summer the Ryan Air seatbelt did not fit.
Yesterday I had to sit on a wooden deck chair and I found myself trying to Google what the weight limit could be

So tomorrow I start a diet.
So many threads on Mumsnet are for people much smaller than me
I'm 18 stones and 5lbs.

Please feel free to join if you are seriously overweight, please don't join if you are just averagely fat.

@Froel1982 absolutely... it doesn't usually take a lot of digging to work out why... and it's hard to unpack all that and start again with new 'habits'. I won't go into my sad story but 100% some of my issues with food related to the choices available to me as a child. When obesity is such a health risk I'm surprised that more support isn't available on the mental side. Sure medical interventions like injections, sleeves etc might solve the physical issue initially but they won't solve the mental one... something I've been pondering on.

Sometimes I think my eating actually isn't so bad generally and I don't eat to excess. But it's the fact that I put it all on and it hasn't budged to now as I'm constantly maintaining. So a big motivator is thinking about getting to a much better level then maintaining. May be wishful thinking but we'll see. Definitely trying to keep going for the long term for my little person as much as anything.

@Haruka @Froel1982 @Minnie888

Thank you- food/lack of food/shame was the backdrop to my childhood, as was secret eating and, as I now realise, food association.
If I eat certain foods, I instinctively crave the same crap items I had to eat, (white bread, mash, margarine), and eat them together incredibly quickly, like a carb loading frenzy.

I like the alternative of taking a longer view, to avoid giving up after the smallest blip. I have decided to completely transform the way we eat at home-feeling panicky after my online order arrived with almost zero processed food, though!

The thread started by a chef who gives meal suggestions based on what you ask for is a breath of fresh air, and I'm following it with a sense of hope.
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/food_and_recipes/5264303-need-dinner-ideas-i-can-help?latest=1

I'm being very old-fashioned, but there is something about physically tracking my weight day to day that holds me accountable, more so than my Excel spreadsheet that does all the Maths for me at the same time. Who knew that being able to draw a graph would come in handy one day. "When will we ever need this in real life" and all that. This is my January tracker. Drawing a line of best fit at the end of the month is really satisfying. Loss is clealy slow, but there is a definite downward trend.

I have finally found myself in the right state of mind.
And I am on day 4
No particular plan
I'm trying to write down what I eat as much as possible
Day one was 2000 calories. All good food just too much.

I have ruled out weight loss injections
I have dabbled with the idea of meal replacements

But I'm just going to eat what I want. Less of it.
So if I want to eat Mars Bars I will. But then at least I won't be going crazy obsessing about food.

Let's see how long I can keep this up.

@Haruka whatever helps you go for it, and as you say look at that downward trend. Amazing! 

@SeatbeltExtender well done, writing it down should help too. There is so much noise in the weight loss space on what to do but I think you're right keep it simple.

Birthday here this week so cake has been eaten but otherwise pretty good my OH has had more "you've lost weight" comments but I suspect that's partly because I have more to loose and it doesn't show as easily on me

I'm 18 stones 11 pounds this morning.

Anyone else want a regular weigh in?

Happy to do a regular weigh in, I tend to weigh on a Saturday

My figures this week
Start weight 18.10
Current weight 14.11

Currently off work sick after surgery and struggling without the routine of work.
Going to make some carrot soup to have for lunches and not eating before midday.

I weigh in daily.

Lowest was 88.5kg over the last week, but with a stomach bug, now back to 89.1kg. I'm on my period, so weight loss is slower this week. Just happy to be below 90 again!

Edit: starting weight was 93.4kg.

@Sunshineandrainbow
Excellent loss. How long did it take? Any top tips? Do you feel better?

It's taken over a year and I think my gallbladder problems July 2024 gave me the extra kick start I needed after being obese all of my adult life. I find I can just eat and eat and a lot of secret eating went on in my car, at work, in my bedroom 😟 I just don't seem to have a stop button.
I started calorie counting on fat secret app.
I now don't eat until 1pm and tend to have homemade soup or cottage cheese and crackers and yogurt. Apple and peanut butter. I have a pack of crisps when I get in from work, I know not great but I love them.
My biggest problem was not having something in the evenings and just cooking for my 2 children then I would snack on toast and junk whatever I could grab. This has now stopped and I make sure I eat even if it's beans on toast. Vege sausages/fishcakes/rice with a pile of veg.
I also allow myself a day off of calorie counting one day a week, so if I fancy something in the week I tell myself I can have it on my relaxed day.

I weigh once a week as very aware how quickly it can go back on and still have at least 3 stone to go. I do feel better but I think as it's been slow I have adapted, I can see the pear of my shape has definitely reduced😀

Can I join.... I want to find a thread which isn't obsessed with weight loss injections.... I am pretty convinced they are a terrible idea and most people will regain all the weight when they stop having them.

Last Friday I was 17st 6.7lbs.
When I started on 30 August I was 19st 1.4lbs.

I am calorie counting... using the Nutracheck app and I see a PT instructor once a fortnight. I also do weights and a few fitness classes.

I try to eat a relatively high protein diet and I find calorie counting dull as fuck but it works as long as I am in a calorie deficit.

@FriendofDorothy Welcome !!

I don't think injections are for me. I worry about side effects and long term consequences

Most threads I find are by people who are starting at weights I can only dream of.

@FriendofDorothy I have 3 friends who are/were on injections. One was hospitalised due to side effects so didn't work. Second lost tons but now having to come off them so will see. Third has lost about 10kg but feels guilty she didn't do it without them. Where big pharma previously had covid to make money, these weight loss injections are making billions. I'm tempted but I also fear the long term implications

Checking in. Slow progress here just couple pounds since last weight in. Averaging a lb or so a week but also having occasional 'treats'. Figure it's for the long term! How's everyone else getting on?

Stagnated in the past 2 weeks where work had been awful. I'll get back into it from tomorrow, though.

I'm doing ok.
I can't say I'm seriously dieting but I have stopped overeating and I'm mainly eating ordinary meals. I suspect I'll weigh the same but I am more focussed,
I have a fridge full of of cottage cheese and protein yoghurt for tomorrow

Plodding along here. 20kg down and have lost something every week for the last 14 weeks. The last time I was this consistent, I lost 75kg. Hoping this is finally it cracked now.

What a good idea!

Stayed the same.

I'm ok with that.

@FriendofDorothy do you find your PT useful? I would love to be able to afford a few sessions but it's out of my budget at the moment

I too worry about the WLI - I know people on here really rate them but I don't know that I could put my faith in them, I'd be too concerned about side effects. Plus I feel like I SHOULD be leading by example, showing my DC how to achieve/ maintain a healthy weight - just haven't managed it yet!

Just ask you doctor for a prescription for Ozempic etc. It’s the only thing that works. Though one caveat: you’ll be on it for life. Seriously, everything else is a waste of time and money. I lost over 100 pounds over 1 year. It was prescribed because I’m diabetic. I had no idea it would be so life-changing.

No, thank you. I have avoided all unnecessary medication which affects my hormonal balance so far.

Stagnation is definitely over and the numbers are creeping down again. My metabolism is quite messed up from years of disordered eating, so maybe it needed a reminder that I'm not starving myself to death again (I've been as low as 43kg as an adult).

Medium-term goal is 83kg, then 75kg to get out of the obese zone, and then 62kg to get out of the overweight zone. My ideal set weight is between 52 and 56kg, though I used to hover around 57-58kg a lot when I was younger (and to think I used to be told I was fat then!).

Next week I'll go back to being alcohol-free, which makes a huge difference to how fast I am losing weight, alongside portion size (which has already naturally shrunk). Types of food have never been an issue; I enjoy healthy food and soup.

I really enjoy the PT sessions and find them helpful. I choose to go once a fortnight as it keeps me accountable and keeps it more affordable.

Thanks @FriendofDorothy, I really would love some PT sessions, glad you find them useful! I do go to a local aerobics class once a week which I enjoy and keeps me on track to actually turn up (I've paid for it in advance!), I'll keep an eye out for anyone locally offering affordable PT sessions too.

18 stones 9 lbs

Could have been better but I'm still trying.