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!

Hello to the new people joining 👋🏽

How Is everyone getting on?

I've lost 3lb not a great deal for my first week. But I'm pleased that I'm consistently going down each day. I've said no to take away and no to chocolate but I haven't overhauled my diet too much just keeping it simple. I very quickly loose motivation on strict diets and having to measure things out etc.

Does anyone else find they can't rely on clothes to guide them of their size? I have clothes that are size 8,10,12 and 14. All fit me nicely 🤷🏼‍♀️

Hi all. How's it going this week? I'm still stuck at 8st 10, the same as a few days ago, but am 36 hour fasting today so hoping to shift another lb this week. Just catching up on recent posts. @GrazeConcern how is the alcohol reduction going? Not so well with me at the weekends, I blame my husband and the recent good weather (although I know really I could just say, no thanks, just a tonic water for me!). @Pinkiesheetie your upcoming holiday sounds fabulous 😊. @Valkyrie3 How is it going with Rick? I've been focussing more on strength training recently but you've reminded me that I should stick Rick on and leap about a bit. Welcome to @Wildegeese and @JMAngel1 , glad you've found us. @JMAngel1 I agree that the tummy area can be a real problem. If you don't mind me asking, what is your weight now if you were 8 stone just a month ago? I also tend to do OMAD with water fasting once or twice a week, and then can loosen the reins a little at the weekend. I'm not much of a lunch person but agree that it's a bit depressing when you think 'is this it forever'! I'm hoping that if I reach my goal of 8 stone, I may be able to find a way of maintaining. @Autumnleaves82 8st 9 is great, well done! I can't believe your app thinks it will take that long to your goal, crazy! Although the glacial speed at which I lose means it may well take me that long (although I do still have my goal of 8stone by the end of Summer in mind.... let's see!). @DurhamDurham how did you get on with the food at the wedding and birthday? Hope you had a great time. I have a wedding and family party both coming up this next weekend but plan to (try) to be mindful. @MightyGoldBear 3lbs ina week is amazing! I can only dream of that in 1 week 😅. Keep going losers!

One of my size 8 dresses have arrived and it fits 🎉 but it’s a bit snug and would fit and look better if my stomach were flatter and my boobs smaller. So it’s good motivation to lose this stone before Spain . Even half a stone would make a big difference. My bust does naturally reduce as I lose weight.

How is the 36 hours fast going? @Chubbybetty I’m considering doing a 24 hour fast at some point this week. Then would like to build up to a slightly longer one. Are you doing these fasts every week?

Does anyone else find they can't rely on clothes to guide them of their size? I have clothes that are size 8,10,12 and 14. All fit me nicely 🤷🏼‍♀️

@MightyGoldBear when I stick to a certain brand or store I find this happens less but yes across my wardrobe - which is composed of clothes from various retailers, I wear sizes 8-12 and occasionally 14. Although some of my size 14 stuff now look too loose on me.

I always make sure I have at least one specific item I can try on to keep a track of my shape. I have a pair of size 10 trousers that are tight especially around my stomach/waist. They’re actually a bit too long for me so I don’t wear them out, but I’ve kept them for the sole purpose of checking if the fat around my waist/thighs has reduced. I used to have a clingy dress that had skinny arms that I’d wear to check how my upper body was looking.

Had a take away on sunday. Weighed myself monday and I was back to the start🙈 lesson learnt. No take aways till I can afford to have that wiggle room weight wise then monitor.

Back to it from Monday been doing a workout everyday and eating small three meals a day.

Well done everyone sounds like everyone is making great progress. Not sure I could do a 36hour fast 😬

Oh this is a good idea. I might have a think what item of clothing I can use as my bench mark. I have lots of stretchy clothes so they won't do😂

Can I join please? I’m a similar height 5’3”, 45 and over 10st. I’ve lost and gained weight between 8st 10 and 10st 1 since I’ve been an adult. I know I can do it, but it takes so much longer to lose than it does to gain! I’ve been trying all year and only ever hovering around 2 pounds difference up and down. I too self-sabotage and slack at the weekend or if I feel unwell or just in need of a treat! But I went out yesterday for a lunch and when I saw the photos I looked huge (to me) so I’m back on it.

Can anyone recommend a decent digital food scale that is quick and easy to use and doesn’t run out of battery every 5 minutes? Thank you all and let’s press on!

Welcome @DaisyYellowGold , you've found your people! Yes, it most definitely is much harder to drop fat in your40 's. @Pinkiesheetie , fast is going OK thanks, although been a non-strict fast this time as I did have half a tub of cottage cheese last night as I felt quite depleted after a long difficult work day. Haven't eaten since then but will have some grilled chicken skewers and salad tonight. I will probably fast again then until Friday when we're at a wedding as the dress I'm wearing looks nice when my stomach is flat-ish, but not so much when I bloat up! We then have a big family birthday BBQ on Saturday so I'm expecting my scales will fluctuate a bit, but I plan to try and show a modicum of restraint!

Welcome @DaisyYellowGold I've got a flat salter scale - just a cheap one, was about 7.99 on Amazon. I like it - it takes AAA batteries, but we have rechargable ones, I find they're worth the investment.
Sounds like you're doing pretty well @Chubbybetty , being patient with the fluctuations is the key I think. Hope you enjoy the wedding, I haven't been to one for ages!
I'm still doing really well on the cutting down alcohol, but seem to have hit a plateau on the scales which is annoying because I'm still sticking to the plan and also exercising. Any motivation to not give up welcome, especially because it's probably just this hot weather making me retain water.

Keep on going everyone!

Will catch up fully on the thread later. But, just to say, welcome @DaisyYellowGold and my digital food scales are from Amazon. For some reason, I can’t copy the link, but details below. According to Amazon, I bought these in March 2021 and I don’t think I’ve changed the batteries yet! I use them multiple times every day. They are very basic but do the job and all my plates, bowls, etc. sit fine directly on the scales.

Defurhome Digital Kitchen Food Scale, 11lb/5kg Electronic Cooking Food Scale with Back-Lit LCD Display and Detachable Bowl, Mode and Tare Features (2 AA Batteries Included)

Thank you for the welcome and the scale recommendations! @Autumnleaves82 they sound just what I’m after, I need to be able to add stuff to my plate and still see the reading! I weighed myself this morning so my starting weight is 10st 1. I’ve been too scared to weigh myself after a couple of weeks not being strict but that’s not as bad as I thought so a good starting point for me.

Sending up a distress beacon for needed motivational boosting for staying on track whilst I go through a plateau! So annoying! Think it’s partly water retention as have such bad DOMS from the gym yesterday/today and despite hydrating I’m not weeing that much. Really don’t want to hit the Friday fuck it button today!

Glad your weigh in wasn’t as bad as you feared @DaisyYellowGold

Good luck today and for the weekend @GrazeConcern! You’ll probably end up losing 2 pounds in one day as is the way. I’m feeling really motivated for the weekend although I am out for dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow. I’m tracking my calories on MFP but it’s hard to judge when eating out isn’t it. I’m thinking I’ll choose salads and track them as about 500cals to allow for dressing and being cautious, does that sound about right to everyone?

Sad to say that my hedonistic week has caught up with me - 9’3 on the scales this morning - that’s 2 lbs back on. Must try harder. Damn!

@Valkyrie3 never mind, hopefully some of it is just water retention with this extremely hot weather! I am still on my plateau but staying strong for now. Really could do with a motivational whoosh soon, I’ve upped my water intake today to see if I can get my body to let go of some of it!

Thank you, @GrazeConcern

Between this relentless heat and having my period I'm lacking motivation. The impending 6 weeks holiday with young children coming up and a family holiday I think I might be just fighting to stay the same weight throughout rather than be able to actually lose any 🙈

Any tips?

I'm not sure I can fit in exercise with my children off school by the evening Im wiped out and during the day I've got a three year old that will ride me like a horse if I get down on the floor to do exercises. I may just have to do lots of running games with them. Then force myself to do weights and more structured exercise during the evening.

Sorry everyone I'm a moan bag. It's very hard to stick with it !

No tips @MightyGoldBear but just some solidarity. Now I’ve started exercising the scales are not budging and it’s so hard to keep going! Even though I think I can tell on my body that I’m still losing! Apparently water retention from weight training can take 3-4 weeks to go! That is a long time to wait!

However I did have a good day yesterday, and I feel quite good in myself so I’m trying to focus on that.

I think for the holiday exercise just do what you can - I think just trying to be active with them is a really good idea, and remember 90% of weight loss is diet, exercise is for health. So my focus for the summer holiday would be keeping up/adding in good diet habits (aka not eating a magnum a day which is what I did to gain some of my weight in the first place!)

Good luck - and keep checking in! We’ve got this!

Thank you @GrazeConcernhopefully we can keep eachother going. I do find not having treats incredibly boring. I was having a hot chocolate and a twirl every day for a while to get through the hard days with young children. I don't drink or smoke so I guess food has become my thing to signal a break or just something to look forward to.

I've heard the saying you can't outrun a bad diet. So I will concentrate on that and just try to add in exercise when I can. Just wish I was at my ideal weight now and then I could manage trying to stay at it. Losing any feels such slow slow progress.

I echo what @GrazeConcern said about 90% of weight loss is diet, and a Twirl a day is doable if you track it! You need treats occasionally otherwise you’ll be miserable and lose motivation.

I’ve weighed at a 1 and 1/4 pound loss for the week bringing me under 10st for the first time all year. That was despite being a bit over my calories on Friday and Saturday. But I then did 2 days a bit under so perhaps that worked. I’ve just checked the calendar and that means I can get down to 9st 7 by my October holiday. I’d be overjoyed with that.

Well done @DaisyYellowGold and you’ve definitely got this @MightyGoldBear I find reminding myself how ill feel at bedtime if I’ve had too many treats and how good ill feel in a week if I’ve lost weight helps.

In good news I weighed in 1kg lighter this morning that yesterday so hopefully a sign my body is ditching the heatwave water!

I agree that diet is way more important. I’m happy if I can get 5K-8k steps in a day just for general health reasons and not wanting to become sedentary. But intensive exercise hasn’t played a big role in my weight loss this time round - it did in my early 20s though when I lost the weight I gained during uni.

I haven’t been weighing myself every day recently but today I am 10st 5 down from 10st 7 which I was stuck at for ages. I’m pleasantly surprised as I’m on my period this week and been eating at least one chocolate croissant every day 😆 but also been eating lean meats and reduced my carb intake this week.

Will be interested to see how much I weigh after my period, since I’m usually heavier on my period.

Well done everyone. Sounds like we are all moving in the right direction.
I'm 11.3 today so not a million miles off seeing 10 on the scales. Just focusing on that right now. 9.5 feels a million miles away 🙈

@DaisyYellowGold Oh I can't tell you how happy I will be if I can factor in some occasional twirls into my diet. Life would be far too miserable without some treats.

@MightyGoldBear well it depends how good you are at stopping at one! I myself cannot be trusted with a multi-pack, I’d have to go out each day and buy a single!

Same @DaisyYellowGold

I love Twix and used to buy the multi packs but would end up devouring them all in one or two sittings and then feeling crap. And if I get biscuits in for a guest I will buy them on the day they’re visiting and then ask them to take the rest away with them. Unfortunately can’t trust myself around them for too long 😆

Also I don’t drive and the Tesco is about 8 minutes walk each way so I figure at least I get some steps in if I walk up and get a bar of chocolate. Lol. Usually I then can’t be bothered which means I just don’t have it all which is even better 😂