The stone starts shifting, today!

[Chubbybetty]

I am 45 and 5ft 2". I have been a size 6/8 for most of my adult life. I put on about a stone in lockdown. Managed to lose it (largely through stress) for my wedding a couple of years ago, and have since piled it back on, mainly through too much cheese and wine and a love of cooking/feeding other people. I eat mostly low carb and Mediterranean style but have become a bit more lax, I don't really snack and do a fair amount of exercise (including strength training) I'm now more a size 10 with a small spare tyre and a large chest. I detest my body like this. On a short, small frame, 1 stone is a lot and really shows. Yesterday I didn't even want to leave the house with my husband to go for a drink in the sun as I thought I looked hideous. Today it all changes. I have started working with an online wellness/fitness coach recently and she said something this morning that made me stop and think - how sad it is that people literally don't want to be in photo's with their families because of their weight. This is me. I hate that I am so hard on myself because of my size and speak to myself in a way I'd never speak to anyone else. I hate that for the last few years every nice thing we've done, has always had the niggling thought that I'd enjoy it more if I were a stone lighter. I know I have lots of 'mind work' to do aorund my relationship with my weight (hence the coach) but on the physical front today is re-set. Binning the alcohol, more strict with the carbs and cheese. I aim to lose 7lbs in the next 4/5 weeks. Posting here for accountability really. Anyone else having a 're-set' today? Good luck!

Good morning. How’s everyone doing? Sorry, I got around a week behind on the thread, so just been catching up on posts from the last week.

@Chubbybetty How was your meal on Sunday? Hope you enjoyed it.

I was 8st11 yesterday and again this morning, which means I’ve lost one whole pound in a month!!

Hi, I’ve been away for the weekend. Now back on it.

i want to lose 4kgs/9 lbs in a month (target is 59kg/130 lbs) . Am going to do this! Plan is (noting I have never done intermittent fasting, but was reading up yesterday):

1. 16:8. My eating window will be 11am to 7pm. I do usually have breakfast and white coffee, so have had 2 black coffees this morning . Hoping it will get easier.
2. 5:2. Aiming for lower Cals (600-800?) on Monday and Thursday. Then for the rest of the week, eating as healthy as possible between 11am-7pm.
3. exercise 6 times a week. I’m doing quite heavy weights and want strength and definition (clearly wanting it all!). Walk lots.

i’d like to do 75 hard. But I have a few events coming up (so know I would break the rules) and less that 75 days until my holiday, so not going to do that now!

I like the look of fast 800, but I think I would struggle with family cooking and meals together (eg eating a tiny portion along with family - on the 2 days I plan to fast, it will not be very visible to kids). Also I can’t figure out exercising on such low calories. Guess I could buy the book (and add it to the pile on my nightstand!)

Hi all. I am currently scale avoiding after some serious wagon falling at the weekend - we had an improptu invite to our local with our good friends on Saturday, ended up being given a free pizza which are irresistable (best pizza ever) although it was shared between 4 adults. Had a couple of wines, then got home and had a couple more wines. Sunday we went for an incredible 6 course tasting menu meal at a fabulous 2 Michelin starred place (very much a rare treat, we are not millionaires!) - much wonderful food and wine was consumed. Then after all that I was in 'sod it' mode yesterday and we had crappy (but tasty) beige food and cheese. Back to it today, and will probably wait a few days before braving the scale. Well done to everyone who didn't lose it over the long weekend, you are heroes!

A tricky week last week; Ate out Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Monday. Different people and different reasons but the only pounds that are gone are the financial ones 🤣
I have just been eating one meal a day so hopefully not too much damage. I feel ok and not bloated so here’s hoping I can get back on it.
Have a good week everyone.

Hi, I just stumbled across this thread while looking for a bit of weight loss advice and see that I'm in a similar situation as a few of you! I'm 41, 5ft 1 and now weigh approx. 9 stone, I've put on about 1 stone over the last year, and feel so uncomfortable now. It's mostly on my belly and really noticable with me being so short.
I'm going to go back through the thread to catch up, but if anyone has any advice about small changes I can make to get started or which type of exercise is best to start with, I would appreciate it. Thanks

@Mummy321 That sounds like a great plan.

@Chubbybetty and @DurhamDurham It sounds like you have both had a lovely week/weekend. It’s important to make sure we’re still able to live our life/make memories alongside losing weight.

Welcome @firstimer01 Yes, there are a few of us in a similar situation to you. I’m a similar weight to you, aged 42 and I’m hoping to get back to around 8 stone (but not sure if that’s ever going to be possible). It’s taken me a month to go from 8st12 to 8st11. I’m sorry I don’t really have any advice for you (currently feeling quite frustrated and sad about my shape/belly fat) but I’m definitely finding this thread helpful. It’s helped me to know that there are other people in a similar position to me. Hopefully we can all keep encouraging each other and then share with each other anything that seems to be working.

@Autumnleaves82 thanks for the wise words; time to properly knuckle down now though before my next event in July, 6 weeks away - given my recent track record of very little success, I'm going to aim for a (hopefully) realistic 6lb loss by then. Welcome @firstimer01 , there are lots of us around the same height/weight as you and aiming for the holy grail of 8stone-ish so you've found your tribe!

Thank you @Autumnleaves82 I know it sounds silly but I don't know where to start with diet/losing weight as I've never had to before! I've always naturally been a size 6/8, but the weight has slowly crept up on me! I know I'll never be as slim as I was before because of age/having had a baby etc, but it's hard to get my head around this new body!

@firstimer01 perhaps start with a TDEE calculator (total daily energy expenditure) which will tell you what calorie defecit you would need to be in to lose fat? Although calorie counting is not for everyone. I prefer to just stick with low-carb, and ocasionally try OMAD (just having one meal a day) or the Fast 800 method.

Hi, I have been reading this thread and thought I would join as I seem to be in a similar situation. Im petite and mid 40s. My weight went out of control after xmas and I was 9 stone 10. I managed to get this down to 8.13 and keep just fluctuating between 8. 11 and 9 stone. I was tracking calories, carbs and protein and trying to avoid processed food. But I just hit a wall.
I need to get motivated again but I am struggling. I wanted to get to 8.5 but I just don't know if this even possible. I need to get in the right frame of mind again so going to follow this thread to see if it helps.

Welcome @Flipflop93

Looks like everyone is doing well! I was 65.8kg then went to 63kg but up to 64kg! It's still like a 4lbs loss? My friend said I look like I lost. It's horrible feeling sluggish all the time. I'm reducing food and most of the time not having breakfast unless I'm doing morning gym time ! Weight used to just fall off in my 20s!!!

I’m really pleased we’ve got this thread. I’m also annoyed that I’m doing 10K steps a day (but really can’t be bothered today!), doing 16:8, TMAD (two meals a day) - and have cut out cheese, chocolate, biscuits, cakes etc, don’t eat UPF and am still over 9st. I’ll post what I weigh on my weekly Friday weigh-in, but I suspect any loss won’t be much/anything. It’s so frustrating! Maybe I need to do some hiit workouts 😖. You’re all keeping me going, though.

I wrote a post this morning but something odd was going on with the formatting so I gave in!

The short version - I'm back down to my weight from last Wednesday before the lovely lunch and the carb-filled funeral. I'm aiming to maintain that this week as I was out today for lunch, and have a family party (with buffet) to attend on Saturday.

Lunch options today were very carby. I made the best choice I could, with fritatta instead of a sandwich or jacket potato. And then my friend decided she wanted an ice cream....one huge ice cream later, I returned home and ate a bowl of tortellini! The only saving grace is we were at a local visitor attraction and wandered for several hours.

I've got some nice salad and cottage cheese in the fridge for tomorrow's lunch so I'm hoping for a decent couple of days now before Saturday.

Hi everyone, just wanted to check in, I’m on holiday so not been on plan at all but I have done 16000 steps a day and loads of swimming! Going to get properly back on it once home on Sunday. Welcome all new joiners and well done on successes to those who have them!

Welcome @Flipflop93 (hope I’ve not missed any others who have recently joined).

@Valkyrie3 Yes, I relate to what you are saying. I feel like I am doing everything ‘right’ (tracking calories, prioritising protein & fibre, strength workouts, whole foods, walking, etc) but I’m not losing. We’re all here and trying though. That’s better than the alternative! Maybe we’ll all get a huge ‘whoosh’ in fat loss soon?!

It’s lovely to hear everyone’s updates. I don’t always respond to everyone individually but I think it’s so helpful for us all to be sharing our successes and challenges. Hopefully we can all learn from each other when we find things that are working.

Also, I’m just doing my online food shop for next week. Anyone fancy sharing any of your meals (lunch or dinner) from the last week or next week? I’m a bit out of inspiration.

I’ve mainly been eating salad for lunch (alternating chicken and tuna). For dinners I’ve been trying to have less (or none) of the carb part of the meal.

Get idea @Autumnleaves82
I’ve been quite into air-fried salmon with a sweet potato and salad as a go-to meal. Or a sweet potato with an egg and salad. Or tom yum broth without the noodles, just loads of delicious vegetables and prawns. Have given up my beloved noodles 😢. My daughter made a delicious spicy mango salad at lunchtime and I’m definitely going to make that again. Also fallen in love with avocados again. I know they’re high in fat but it’s the good fat, isn’t it? I don’t really mind eating the same stuff over again but I know some people get bored by same-y meals. I have a lot of mushrooms which I need to use up but all I can think of carby things like risotto or stroganoff. Any ideas, anyone?

A much better day for me today! Hopefully today's increase on the scales will be off again in the morning 🤞

Lunch today was a large salad - salad leaves, tomato, avocado, radish, pickled onion, pickled red cabbage, mixed seeds - with full fat cottage cheese. Tea was a lamb leg steak with a large portion of tenderstem broccoli, and an orange (eaten while the lamb was cooking, not with it!) I'll probably have exactly the same tomorrow.

@Valkyrie3 one of my favourite ways to use mushrooms is to slice them and fry in a little EVOO with sliced courgette, leek and cavolo nero, then serve with pesto or harissa paste or similar, sprinkled with pine nuts, flaked almonds or walnuts. For protein, some grilled or fried halloumi works well or it's also delicious with a little goats cheese or brie melting on top.

@Autumnleaves82 do you like aubergine? I make a lighter aubergine parmigiana style dish with aubergine, red onions and tinned chopped tomatoes. I air fry or roast the aubergine and onion first before covering with the tomatoes. Again, I stir in a little pesto or harissa paste to add some depth of flavour to the sauce, then top with some mozarella and grated parmesan. I often stir some spinach leaves (or other salad leaves) in to wilt just before adding the cheese.

Another very quick and easy light meal I "invented" recently was Thai green vegetable soup (I used Tideford Organics) with cooked king prawns.

Your meals all sound lovely - can I come for dinner?! We had a gousto delivery this week as a treat, I’ve picked tasty but healthy choices.

im 2 lbs down in 4 days, which includes my 2 days fasting (5:2). I feel motivated! I’m getting used to the 11am-7pm window, it makes sense and I’ve read has health benefit generally, so will persevere. I did have a kombucha when I got in late from work last night, it took the edge off and felt like a treat (6 kcals).

I'm on day 20 of Caroline Girvin’s Iron series, I'm wanting to finish the next 30 days before my summer hols.

have great weekends !

*Great, not get on previous post!
Ok I’ve lost 3/4 of a pound this week. It’s disappointingly small but it’s in the right direction. Still over 9 st though. I long to be even 8st 13. Still too much weight for my small, short frame but at least it’d be ‘in the 8s’.
Lovely meal ideas, thank you!

Hi all, I've just come across this thread and it seems like a great one for some support!

I'm about 6 weeks in to my weight loss journey. I'm 5ft 2 and my weight had gone up to 10st 2lbs. I was so uncomfortable nothing fit properly and I was miserable.

I've been calorie counting and exercising and I'm down to 9st 5lbs now. My next aim is to get to 9st and my overall goal is 8st 7lbs.

I have a weekend away at the end of June and then a holiday in July and I'm determined to be as close to my goal as possible before then.

I'm going to up the exercise for the next few weeks and also my water intake. Looking at your previous comments I might try one meal a day as well.

Hello I'd like to join please. I'm 36, 157cm (5ft 1.5in) and 9 stone 6. I'm sort-of OK with what I weigh - I'm a size 8-10 and I'm not a particularly small frame - I have a large head and thick wrists so will never be tiny. I was 8 stone 13 when I was 21 so I am unsure I'll be able to lose much. However, I want to eat better, move more and maybe get to about 9 stone 2. It's only a 4lb loss but I think it'll be a lot of work.

I'm using the Noom app to help me and will be mostly doing 16:8 I think. Noom says 1200 calories a day will put me in deficit.

Right, I’m back and ready to go. The good: I didn’t overeat really in holiday except for a couple of days, plus I averaged 15k steps a day and 30 mins swimming.

The bad: I didn’t undereat in holiday and I’m also a bit lost in my cycle so I’m currently blown up like a balloon!

Plan for June is:
’damp June’ - 2 drinks a weekend only
more protein wherever I can
start couch to 10k as I’m doing a race in about 16 weeks!

Welcome new joiners, the more the merrier, and well done on the loss @Valkyrie3 3/4 pound is still good, if you did that every week you’d make great progress over 2 months.

Morning all. Welcome @distinctpossibility, @Rachey28 and anyone else that's new here. Glad you found us. Sorry I've been MIA recently, life had been a bit crazy and my mind has been elsewhere. Not much to report on the fat loss front - have not been very 'good' at all, and as a result have avoided the scales and feel bloated. Yuk. Like you though @GrazeConcern , I am really giving a big push from today for June. My plan is similar to yours - a 'damp' June, being more consistent with steps and my workouts, back to 100 skips a day, and probably OMAD. Off to do my first weights workout of the week now.