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!

Hi everyone, how’s everyone doing, after my plateau things are still going well - weighed in at my lowest yet this morning. Really grateful to this group which helped keep me slightly accountable! It’s so easy to give up during a plateau! Going to try and have a good weekend - done 8000 steps already this morning!

Well done, to everyone who is seeing progress and keep going if you are not seeing progress.

After seeing 8st9 on the scales a couple of weeks ago, I’ve now been bouncing between 8st10 and 8st11 again.

I listened to this podcast earlier (while doing a Caroline Girvan weights workout) and found most of it quite helpful. I just thought I’d share it in case anyone else finds it helpful. If you do listen, I’d love to know your thoughts. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/zoe-science-nutrition/id1611216298?i=1000717696219

My 2 week check-in and things are going well, thank you for this thread to keep me accountable!
10/07/25: 10st 1
17/07/25: 9st 13 and 3/4
24//07/25: 9st 12 and 1/2 (I love that my scales do 1/4 pounds!)

Things I’ve learned this week: track your bad days. I had another day off (family lunch out) on Saturday and I thought my calories would be near 3000, I loosely tracked them and they were under 2000. Couple that with weighing back at 10st and 1/4 only two days ago and old me would have given up. Still learning at 45!

Hi, I’ve been following this thread for a bit, but have such a history of joining threads then sidling off shame-faced after putting on weight that I didn’t like to join in… but I’m feeling positive at the moment so here I am!

I’m just over a stone above what used to be my target weight of 10stone, but I haven’t seen that in about 8 years and think maybe I’d look a bit gaunt at that now I’m older (I am 5’8” and have a narrow face). Looking to lose half a stone to start with then reassess.

My main issues are:
I love food. Not snacking so much, I’m losing my sweet tooth, but just really like eating and being full of delicious food!
i have a teen daughter so my ‘diet’ has to be secret so I don’t pass on my food issues. I’ve had a lifetime of worrying about my weight since being a v overweight child/teen and would hate her to get on that merry-go-round…
I have very sporty teen sons who eat enormous amounts and so the house is full of food at all times. Eek
I don’t drink anyway so can’t kid myself that cutting out alcohol will magically make me thin!!

Anyway, currently 11.05 stone having already painstakingly dragged myself down from 11.6 a couple of months ago. Want to see a 10 on the scales soon!!

Loving all the support, tips and encouragement here 😁

Good luck @Azaleahead! You can do it! I have a BBQ on Saturday but I’m just going to avoid carbs and stick to meat and salad and log on MFP even if I’m over, it’s only a day.

Hello everyone I'm 11.2 today started at 11.9 so slowly getting there. I'm excited to see 10 on the scales although with the 6 weeks and holidays it may not be for a while 🙈

Well done everyone and hello to anyone that's joined 👋🏽

Well done everyone! My week is going well although I have very stuck plateau on scales - I think PMT related. The good news is that my clothes are starting to feel so much better so I’m focussing on the NSV side of things until my period actually kicks in.

Totally agree that it’s better to track the one ‘splurge’ day and see it’s not so bad than give up.

Hi All. Well done to all of you for still plugging away. Have been MIA but I'm still here and still chubby! The last two/three weeks have been a write off for me with parties, BBQ's, trips out, plus a really horrible virus for the last week and a half. A few days ago I was still stuck at 8st 11, but had quite a food heavy weekend and feel about 13 stone and bloated today so won't get on the scales for a day or two yet. Am back on it from today with a renewed determination. It will help that my husband is away from Wednesday until Sunday this week so I'll naturally eat and drink less without my partner in crime.

I have also had a bunch of family birthdays - and it would be rude not to join in with cake!!

Not good news for the scales though. I’ve put on just over 1lb since Friday and am desperately trying to resist carbs at the moment (period incoming.. maybe… I’m perimenopausal so who knows really)

Hope everyone was happy with their weekends, whatever the scales said!

Oh, and I saw a few people mention the Happy Scale app. I’ve been tracking my weight on it for nearly 10 years and i find it helps enormously to keep the fluctuations in perspective and not lose heart after a sudden gain x

Hullo!

5'1 here, also 8 stone 11, really much more comfortable at 7 stone 12 but since hitting 40 it's been hard to lose so much as a gram but oh so easy to gain.

I'm not fat at all, just feeling a too soft and clothes are a little too tight.

Keeping myself accountable!

Welcome @OpenThatWindow It sounds like you are very similar to a few of us here.

Sorry to hear you’ve not been well @Chubbybetty

I was 8st9 this morning. Still aiming for 8st.

Can I ask those of you who use Happy Scale - have you got the free or paid for version? I’ve only got the free version and find it helpful. But would any of you recommend me upgrading to the paid for version? I think it’s only £11 for a year, so willing to pay if any of you think it’s worth it?

I’ve been doing OMAD and it’s working - I’ve dropped below the weight I could never get under before - don’t want to say my weight as I am very petite.

The One Meal A Day is easy for me - do it 5 days a week and then more relaxed on weekend. But it just cuts out all the “food noise”. I just eat a protein/veg heavy lunch and that’s it for the day. I do drink milk in my tea and coffee throughout the day though so not being really strict. Aiming to carry on for 2 more weeks before my holiday (and then I’ll prob put it all back on!!).

I just use the free version of Happy Scale. I’m not even sure what the paid version adds…

3 weeks in and not so good this week.
10/07/25: 10st 1
17/07/25: 9st 13 and 3/4
24//07/25: 9st 12 and 1/2
31/07/25: 9st 12 and 1/4
Only a quarter of a pound this week and I didn’t think I’d been too bad at the weekend. It’s been my period though and I have been feeling more hungry than usual all week. I’ve pushed my calories over by about 100/day since Monday so that seems to have made a difference. Nevermind, I’m still at 3 pounds loss for 3 weeks so that’s good.

I’d definitely take 1lb/week, Daisy, well done!

I feared a couple of family parties and lots of birthday cake had caused a 3lb gain over the last week - PMT so no willpower to resist 🙁 But it magically all disappeared this morning!
Admittedly I weighed myself after a longish sweaty run and was generally quite dehydrated but the number on the scales is now 11stone 0.2lbs. I’m desperate to see a 10 so will have to stay strong for a couple of days. Eek…

How is everyone else doing??

Hi everyone room for one more ☺
I have only just discovered this thread and enjoying reading your stories and tips .
My story
I joined SW a week last Saturday
First weigh in 10 St. 12 pounds
Went last Saturday I have lost 4 pounds ☺ .
My aim for this week is to weigh in at 10 St 6 pounds
Then a pound a week will be more realistic for my goal.
I have a party (well a gathering) to celebrate my daughters 40th the end of October to attend so I'm hoping to wear my size 10 jeans for that weekend
I will report Back here Saturday so can hold myself accountable.
Good luck everyone on this great thread .

Hope everyone’s doing well? I haven’t been weighing myself regularly the last couple of weeks but my last update here I was 10st 5 down from 10st 7.

Today I am 10st 2 which I’m very surprised and pleased about.

If I lose a few more pounds I’ll be in the 9s which I haven’t been since about 2016. And my body fat is showing as 30% which is a new record low for me and I think that’s within the healthy recommended range for women.

I’m on day 3 of my 21 refined sugar free challenge. I am not being super strict about it. I don’t mind adding a teaspoon of sugar to a savoury dish or a splash of honey in plain yoghurt , but I’m not eating cakes, cookies, chocolate or even fruit juice. I’ve never been in the habit of adding sugar to my hot drinks so no change there. I don’t know if it’s down to me eating less sugar, or sleeping more or both but my appetite has been far more under control the last few days. Intermittent fasting is easier and I’m snacking less.

Exercise wise I’m still only doing walking, I get on average about 6K steps a day.

My period is due in less than a week, I’d like to at least maintain my weight through that so I’m really going to have to fight the usual cravings then! I’ll stock up on fruits, and maybe allow myself a little dark chocolate to get me through.

Welcome @Emmadaily and any other new joiners!

Good luck with SW. I did SW for a few months at the very start of my weight loss journey and although it wasn’t really for me I did lose about 10 pounds over a few months and it helped kickstart things.

I also had a friend who lost way more than me on SW each week but she was taller, and also I noticed she often put the weight back on way quicker than I did if she went on holiday or didn’t stick to the SW plan one week.

So I definitely favour the slow but steady approach of losing 1-2 pounds a week as I find it more sustainable, but everyone’s different!

@Pinkiesheetie
Thanks for your message ☺ you seem to doing really well and not long to see that 9 on your scales good luck.
Yes going give SW a real good try and see where it leads me .
Just needed a good kick start then think it will slow down and yes that's the best way to keep it off and then maintain .
Treating this as a healthy eating future for myself and im enjoying the speed foods as so healthy with the healthy option .
Stir fry on the menu here and I can smell the goodness in it from here .
My fella in the kitchen doing the tea as he's on it to but not going the classes .
Much better when you can do this together

Support is crucial I think
Hope everyone is having a good good week .

4 week check in:
10/07/25: 10st 1
17/07/25: 9st 13 and 3/4
24//07/25: 9st 12 and 1/2
31/07/25: 9st 12 and 1/4
7/08/25: 9st 11 and 1/2
Still going well if a bit slowly but I’ve definitely had one or two cheat days each weekend. There always seems to be something on at the moment, but also I’d probably have given up by now if I didn’t have the odd treat.

Good luck and keep going everyone!

Welcome @Emmadaily

Well done @DaisyYellowGold

How’s everyone else doing?

I saw 8st8.5 on the scales earlier in the week, but back up to 8st9 the last few days. So I’ve lost around 3 pounds since Easter! I’m still aiming for around 8st (just because that is where I felt and looked ‘ok’ for me) but my main target is trying to lose the belly fat. It’s frustratingly slow, but I guess it’s better than gaining. I think a few of us are early 40s? It really does seem like it’s harder to stay a happy shape/weight since I turned 40 (I’m 42 now).

Hope everyone’s doing ok. The thread has seemed a bit quieter recently (I know I haven’t checked in as much). Is everyone finding it easier or harder over the summer?

I'm hovering around 11/11.2 which I'm OK just trying to maintain at the moment with the kids off and going on days out and plus holidays. I'll get back to losing in September.

I've also measured my height and I'm 5.5 not 5.3 that I thought 🙈

Hi ladies hope everyone is doing ok
I'm not long back from my SW meeting and I'm happy to report in a loss of one pound and a half .
Just wrote in my Sw book for my mini goal next Saturday to lose one pound.
I was half a pound off this weeks target but I'm still quite pleased
Going make beetroot chips later to go with my chicken salad a kind lady gave the beetroot out of her slimmer of the week prize .
Enjoying the meetings with so many tips and ideas
Glad I chose SW already looking forward to next Saturday
Have a lovely weekend my fella slimmers
X

Checking in to hold myself accountable but not a good week
10/07/25: 10st 1
17/07/25: 9st 13 and 3/4
24//07/25: 9st 12 and 1/2
31/07/25: 9st 12 and 1/4
7/08/25: 9st 11 and 1/2
14/8/25: 9st 12
I’m not really sure what went wrong this week, I had one meal out and one cheat evening but not as bad as previous weeks. I really wanted to see 9st 10 on the scale because that’s the weight I have in my head as my ‘max’ weight that I feel ok at. I’ll keep plodding on though, I’ll get there eventually.