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!

Welcome new joiners. It’s lovely to have a few of us with similar target weights.

It’s also lovely to have people here who are different heights/weights (I definitely don’t want to sound like I’m excluding anyone), but it’s particularly unusual to feel I can be part of a MN weight loss thread with people who understand and not be told “you don’t need to lose weight”!

I was 8st12 again this morning. Target 8stone.

Do any of the new joiners have any strategies/plans to share? I’m trying to prioritise protein and fibre. I’m aware calories need to not be too high due to height/weight but I also want to be eating enough to fuel workouts and generally be healthy.

@Autumnleaves82 me too! Starting to feel like we could build a supportive little group here. I agree that it's refreshing to be able to discuss without being told that you should be grateful that you're 'only' 9 stone etc! I'm also prioritising protein, fibre and staying low carb, as well as staying off alcohol. On the way to the coast for a long walk with my husband today so hoping for a good calorie burn. Have a great day of burning fat all 😊.

I wish I had found this a couple of months ago. I’m 5’2 and went up to 131.5lbs. I’m now 117lbs from doing OMAD a few times a week and intermittent fasting the rest of the week.
I still have another 5lbs until my ‘happy weight’. I was previously under weight which I don’t want to go back to.
The only downside is I’ve lost my boobs!

@Tulipsontoast well done! I seriously hope to lose mine (well about half of them anyway!).

Hey ladies, following along with interest! I have recently lost quite a bit of weight. I'm 5'5.5 and I've gone from 11 to 9 stone (8stone13 today). As a fellow, small framed person, how do you guys know your comfortable weight? You seem quite sure of what weight sits best on you so I'm just interested if that's a feeling or anything visual? As soon as I start losing weight I get very bony on my top half. I'm lucky I've always had slim toned arms, even when heavier, and the skin around my upper torso seems to lose fat very quickly, leaving me looking skin and bone. Whereas my thigh area holds on to fat much longer

@wandatotherescue welcome! Well done on your recent loss, that's amazing! For me I know that 8 stone is about right as I don't mind looking at myself in the mirror, and the majority of my clothes would fit me again. For mosy of my 30's I was around 7st 7 to 7st 12 and that's where I truly feel happy, but being realistic these days I will be grateful to get back to 8 stone.

Morning all. The scales have stayed the same today so still only a 1lb loss from Monday, but I'll take that given that I drank a margarita, port and wine last night and ate cheese. Walked 23k steps yesterday though and had very low calorie picnic. What a glorious day it was, beautiful long walks by the sea and in the countryside. Can't beat it. My husband is out tonight so I will have another low calorie day as won't cook anything too major. Off out for a stroll with my friend now.

@wandatotherescue, @Tulipsontoast, @Autumnleaves82, @Hyperiaistheworst, @TurquoiseDreamCatcher, @GrazeConcern, @WellErrr, @rereturner how are you all getting on?

Hi 👋 i would like to join you please! I don’t post on here much at all but I have been following the weight loss boards recently and not sure where I fit.

im
5ft and 0.5inches (it all counts 😂), 44, perimenopausal and currently 61.3kgs so about 9st 6. My happiest weight was 7 10 which I know given my age and current lifestyle is no longer sensible or acheivable but I would like to get back to about 8st 7. I’m not allowed to run anymore due to inflammatory arthritis but I think that definitely helped. I’m not particularly active but I walk around 10,000 steps a day. I’ve been 16:8 fasting for weeks with no change. I’ve stopped drinking alcohol in the week and I’m low carb low calorie. Starting a proper effort to get the weight off for a wedding in July. Ideally I’d like to drop a dress size somewhere in mid June before I buy my outfit!

Morning everyone, welcome everyone new :) I think my stomach seemed marginally flatter this morning, and I held back on the Friday night drinks last night - I did have a couple but not my usual. Up to 8500 steps already today, so hoping to get to near 15000 by the end of the day which would be good. Not feeling too hungry either so hoping for another low calorie day overall - did quite well yesterday.

Sounds like a very positive day for you yesterday @Chubbybetty hope you get some more scale progress soon!

I'd love to join in if that's okay!

I'm 44 and 5'6", and currently weigh 11 stone 7 which is the heaviest I've been since giving birth many years ago! I usually weigh about 11 stone and my happy weight is between 9 stone 7 and 10 stone.

Went out in the sunshine this week covered up in a big teeshirt and jeans to hide my ever-increasing belly, and felt quite jealous of everyone who could dress nicely for the hot weather!

Welcome @Fattybottom! Do you have a strategy for what approach you'll take? I do sympathise re hiding in baggy clothes. I've been thinking that I was the only person who probably dreads a hot day.

Welcome @tooearlyortoolate! Do you have a plan for what you will change up now to aim for the dress size drop? I'm also using a wedding in July as a target date.

Morning all. Disappointed to see that the scales haven't moved again today given I've been so low calorie for a few days now, but stomach definitely flatter/less bloated. Hey ho, will keep going and not throw in the towel. Am thinking of switching to OMAD for a few days and see how that goes.

@Chubbybetty absolutely keep going! I think this is what’s harder in midlife, it takes longer to get obvious results so it’s harder to stick to. Focus on the flatter stomach. In case it’s water retention, I would try upping water a bit - sometimes actually more water helps flush it out a bit.

Gah hit post too soon, I was pleased with how yesterday went in the end, I managed to not over snack, and 13500 steps, and I only had one alcoholic drink in the evening instead of my usual 3. I’m going to cut down further but I find it easier to wind down in it than stop immediately. Not quite sure what today’s plan is yet but it will involve a decent walk at some point.

I’ve decided to start with low carb at first, as it has worked for me in the past.

Am 8st 13.5lb today, so 2lbs lost. My goal is to maintain under 9at for at least a week before looking at next goal of 8st 10.5lb

Im also trying to increase my steps each day like a lot of you.

Good morning all. Sorry, I’ve not been on here since Friday morning, so just catching up.

@Tulipsontoast Your weight loss over the last few months is really inspiring.

@wandatotherescue I know you’ve had a couple of replies. For me, my target weight is based on the weight that I felt ‘happy in myself’. But I also think I will go on more how I feel/look (not just numbers) as I’m keen to also build a small amount of muscle (or at least not lose muscle!). I think I’m aiming for 8 stone, but will reassess when I get close to there.

Welcome @tooearlyortoolate and @Fattybottom

@Chubbybetty Your walk by the sea sounds lovely. I understand the frustration of the scales not moving, but you must be making some progress if your stomach feels flatter? Well done. Keep going.

@GrazeConcern and @rereturner It sounds like you’ve both had positive last few days.

Sorry if I’ve missed anyone or anything. I don’t usually spend lots of time on Mumsnet, but the discovery of this thread last week was so encouraging for me. My aim is to try to check-in here every day.

I was also still 8st12 this morning.

Great to hear form you @Autumnleaves82, lovely message! Please do keep checking in everyone, I think it's a great way to support and motivate each other. Happy Sunday!

Do keep going. I reckon you’ll be due a nice surprise when you weigh soon

Yes exactly @Chubbybetty might be worth continuing for a little while longer to see if you get results?

My main focuses are upping the protein and fruit/veg, reducing alcohol, and replacing heavy carbs like bread with more pulses and salad for volume! Also no snacking after dinner.

I've been doing it, albeit very halfheartedly, for a few weeks with no results, so I'm trying to do it properly now. Am using MFP as well, which I'm not a fan of, but interesting to know how many calories I'm eating overall. First day on MFP yesterday with a calorie target of 1600 and I met it without much trouble!

@Fattybottom oh I absolutely will continue! Well done yesterday! Your plans sound solid. I have eaten low carb for years, you quickly get used to it 😊. Reducing alcohol is my main focus going forward. Given that I'm already low carb most of the time, work out regularly and eat generally fairly low calorie/Mediterranean style meals, I can only conclude that it's mainly alcohol holding back my fat loss. I plan for no booze Monday to Friday this week and am going to try one meal a day also.

@@Hyperiaistheworstas an aside the holes on your clothes are being caused by your seat belt, not your tummy.@

Hi everyone, hope you’re having a lovely weekend! I’ve been looking at OMAD this weekend too. I’m not sure I could do it as I need to eat something in the morning to stop my meds making feel nauseous. That doesn’t need to be much though so I might try very low calorie a few days a week, my usually 10am breakfast of yogurt and raspberries and then dinner. I think calorie intake is my biggest issue because I’m so short I need so few calories to lose weight!