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!

Hey all - well I need to hang my head in utter shame! 🙃

I've been under horrible stress (excuses excuses!) so wine and snacks have been abundant...

I don't want to weigh myself but I know I've probably breached 9 stone.

Back on it from today though...

I braved the scales after being 'good' for two days - 8 stone 12.5

I was expecting worse! Goal for now is 8 stone 5 by April. Very doable....in theory...

Please can I join?? I’ve been a solid size 6-8 for years, then in the last 12 months I’ve piled on a stone and I’m now 9st7lbs. I feel hideous, it’s upsetting me every day. I can’t say anything to anyone really as I’m not technically overweight but I am so unhappy I’ve let this happen.

My problem has been just pure overeating/binge eating. I think after many years of dieting.

I just can’t get started. If I get a week in and start seeing results I feel like I’ll keep going. I’m 40 this year and I’m worried that if I don’t lose it now I never will.

I’ve calorie counted in the past but I find it makes me too fixated on food. And eat too much sugar. So I’m going to try eating just one meal a day in the evening, which I think will be more doable, and more effective at dulling the food noise.

Please wish me luck!

Hi all, I’m just checking in for the week. I got back from my trip on Thursday and weighed on Friday only to find that the scales had gone up by 3lbs! Eeek! However, I’ve just weighed now and I am down to 8.0 so think it may have been water weight. @Autumnleaves82 my goal weight is 7st 7lbs as this was my pre-pregnancy weight. Feels like a long way away though! How are u getting on?

@OpenThatWindow u can absolutely do this! I wish u all the best.

@WellErrr welcome! I think that intermittent fasting has been instrumental in my weight loss. It has eliminated my night snacking as it’s outside my eating window and I remind myself that I can eat it the next day (usually by then I longer want it!). Getting started is incredibly difficult but if u can just persevere the first few days, it does get easier.

I really hope that we can keep this thread going! Hearing about everyone’s journey has been so inspirational and helpful.

@Goodvibesonly
Well you certainly have a great name and living up to it as I read your post with the vibrancy of your name.
Seems you have a good goal and you are sure to reach it.
Slowly is better as you know so enjoy the pounds melting away
Good luck
I have never tried the IF but seems like it's popular here and works for alot
I am keeping up the slimming world way as i find it fantastic .
However if I do get stuck in the future I would try this but as for now Slimming world working and I'm at maintenance
Like you I love to read everyone's journey
Good luck with yours xx ♥

Hello all. It’s been a busy couple of weeks - I’m just catching up on the thread now.

Welcome @WellErrr How are you getting on?

@GoodvibesonlyThat’s great that you lost the holiday weight so quickly. Well done! Yes, I feel similar to you that my goal weight seems a long way away. (Every fraction of a pound seems to take such a long time to come off when we don’t have much to lose.) For some reason I’ve been back up to 8st7 this week. I’m not sure why. I think I’m still aiming for 8st but I’ll review if/when I ever get there! How’s this week been for you?

How’s everyone else doing?

I had gone down to 8.10 (yay!) But back to 8. 12 this morning (boo) after a delicious Indian meal with beer last night. I did not hold back!

Back on the wagon today, again 🤣

@OpenThatWindow Well done for getting down to 8.10. How’s this week been for you?

I’ve crept up again this week and been bouncing around 8st8. It’s all very confusing and frustrating but on a positive note, I’ve been able to lift slightly heavier (still not particularly heavy!) dumbbells in my home workouts this week. Although my goal is 8st, my main focus is body re-composition and losing the tummy fat. I’m not under any illusion that I’ve gained a pound of muscle, but also think there must be some slight positive change happening if I’m managing to lift slightly heavier.

I’m going to keep going with what I’m doing for the next couple of weeks, but then if I’m still not losing any weight, I might have to re-assess. I’m not quite sure how/why I managed to get down to 8st4 before Christmas and I didn’t really gain any weight over Christmas. It’s crept back on over the last few weeks, but there’s no obvious reason why.

How’s everyone else getting on?

How’s everyone doing? Is anyone still here?!

My update for this week is pretty much a copy and paste from last week (see above!). But I thought I’d check-in anyway, with the hope that my next update might be a bit more positive.

I hope everyone is doing ok. It would be lovely to hear any updates - positive, frustrations or anything else.

I’m still here @Autumnleaves82! I do manage to keep up with the thread but then forget to post my own results! I always think that I’ll do it when I get the chance but then get busy with life and before u know it another week has passed 🤦🏽‍♀️ (I’m very much the same with text messages!).

Glad that your staying positive on this weird and wonderful weight loss journey and focusing on other aspects such as strength training. Years ago (before kids), I was an avid gym-goer (5am spin classes!) and I remember at the time never seeing a difference on the scale the entire year that I went. My body did change though, my clothes fit a lot better and I had a much flatter stomach so something was working! I could never work out why the scales never moved but was happy with the results nonetheless!

I’ve been hovering over 8.0 and 8.1. Was hoping to be a bit lower by the end of Feb but I seem to have fallen out of the routine of logging calories, weighing and posting on here (which has been imperative to my weight loss - I need u guys!!). I promise I will do better going forward!

Thank you so much for your kind words @Emmadaily! I do try my best keep good vibes going! I’m glad Slimming World is working for u, I think the most important thing is to find what works for you and remain consistent in your journey. I hope u are keeping well xx

I'm still here. Mainly frustration here than any losses although I am maintaining at 11 stone so I'm at least thankful for that.

I had a two week break of illness and half term with the kids being off I struggle to focus on much else than surviving.

I'm finding the last stone hard to loose. I'm still fasting and eating keto. It's just a lot slower to come off than before. I lose motivation rather quickly if I can't see clear results. Which I know I'm going to have to just find some willpower from somewhere especially when it comes to the point of toning and gaining muscle which I definitely won't see for a good while.

I'm thinking I am going to have to add in more exercise but I'm very nervous I'm then going to be ravenously hungry. Its also knowing the best kind of exercise to add in. I'm not someone who gets a high from exercise so unfortunately it's just not something I enjoy.The ways I'd enjoy more are long walks or swimming which is hard to fit in (at a pace that would actually burn any fat off) with young children.

I know resistance training would be really good for me but I find it so boring. Maybe just dancing to music might help me for now. Anyone else have ways of making exercise more interesting?

I am just so keen to get to a point where clothes feel nicer to wear and I don't feel like a sausage squeezed into its casing.

Can I rejoin? I was on the thread at the start but lost track of it and never caught back up. I have periods where I do well and periods where I fall into bad habits again. At the moment, consumption is up and exercise is down.

My company introduced new hybrid working rules last year which meant fewer opportunities to exercise and eating more rubbish- boredom and the freezing air con have me snacking too much.

I keep fluctuating up and down around the 10 stone mark, which is too heavy for me at 5’2.5”. I want to get under 9 stone 10 first, then 9.5, then eventually as close to 9 as possible. I’m feeling very down about my lack of progress and lack of any kind of self control.

@MightyGoldBearif you find resistance training boring what about yoga? It’s body weight resistance and might be more enjoyable?

I find yoga super boring too 🙈 I'm one of those people that I need my exercise to be not exercise focused if that makes sense. I'd love to know anyone tips on how they got the motivation to exercise more. I really want to feel comfortable in my body but I really struggle with dedicating the time to it. I try to add on movements when I'm going about daily life and I do cycle daily for the nursery run. But realistically I need more I just wished I enjoyed it 🙈

Hi all, just checking in to see how everyone is getting on. I’m still on 8 stone, seem to have plateaued here! Hopefully it’s because it my TOM this week because I have definitely been more diligent with food choices the past couple of weeks. Looks like a lot of us are feeling a bit stuck at the moment, hopefully we all start to see results soon!

Hi all, doing a quick Saturday check in as it’s treat night tonight. I’m back down to 7st 13lbs so finally seeing some movement! I have noticed that when I am mindful for several days and then have a treat night, I start losing again. Being diligent all the time causes my weight loss to stall, which is wild! Happy to keep up this routine for now because it seems to be working for me!

How is everyone else doing?

Hi all. Just catching up. I’ve tried to post a couple of times but each time I’ve just read your posts and then ran out of time to reply or give my updates!

@MightyGoldBear I saw your comments about finding resistance training boring. I do dumbbell workouts at home and watch something on TV or listen to a podcast at the same time. I don’t really watch TV at any other time in the day, so use this as an opportunity to watch something. If it’s a workout that involves being on the floor more and harder to see the TV, then I listen to a podcast. Would that work for you?

Welcome back @Swearwolf

@Goodvibesonly You’re doing so well! Your progress really inspires and motivates me.

I’m still bouncing around 8st8 (5ft2, but very small frame). I’m not really sure why I’m not seeing any movement. It’s so hard to find the right balance of eating enough to fuel workouts/build a bit of muscle, especially as my focus is body recomposition, but being in a slight deficit to try to lose the tummy fat. I think I will keep going with my current approach until Easter and if I’ve still not lost any weight (or at least a change in tummy fat, even if no weight loss) I might need to reduce my calories.

Well done @Goodvibesonly that must be great to see 7 something!

@Autumnleaves82 maybe just a few small tweaks with calories are needed?

I'm at 8 st 11 but I'm glad it's not crept up over 9 at least, I feel on a positive path now - it's been a tough few months leading to comfort snacking but things are calmer now, so I have hope!

I'd love to get to 8 st 5lbs soonish.

I’m at a much higher weight than the rest of you - 5’2.5” and around 10 stone (although I hovered around 10.5 for a good long while). Last year I got down to 9 stone 12, I was doing well, then our new office days rule kicked in (3 days a week!) and ruined my routines.

I am finally feeling more in control. Weekends are still not great and I need to curb the alcohol on Saturday, but I’m exercising regularly and eating better on my work days. I’m not sleeping great though, which is thwarting me.

I’m down to 64kg flat (I always measure in kg because there is no emotional reaction, unlike seeing a large stone figure on the scale), down from 64.6 a couple of weeks ago. I’ve got my running stuff on and plan for a quick session of hill reps in the park after I drop my kid at school. Feeling positive for now! I do have a long way to go, though - like the rest of you my height, I should be under 9 stone ideally, although at the moment I’d settle for under 9 and a half.

If it helps - my heaviest was 14 stone. So I completely understand what a mountain it can feel - but with just a few lifestyle and diet tweaks, it really is doable.

1 pound at a time!

Thanks @OpenThatWindow, it’s very slow going and my biggest challenge is always keeping momentum! If I can lose 1kg that will put me back under 10 stone, and it’ll feel like progress. Hopefully I can manage that this month!

Half a kg down this morning! I know I fluctuate a lot, I know that, but it has perked me up and is very motivating to carry on being sensible!

Many congratulations @Swearwolf! I agree, seeing even the tiniest loss is motivating and gives you that determination to carry on! Keep it going!

I’m doing a quick check in as it’s most likely going to be takeaway night tonight (I am most definitely not cooking!!). I’ve lost another pound and am now 7st 12lbs. This means I am 5 more pounds away from reaching target…that sounds so surreal to say. It’s been a very long and, at times, difficult journey. I’ve had my fair share of plateaus and days when I felt like completely giving up but this group has kept me motivated!

I have an event to go to on Friday and also we have the upcoming Easter hols so I really hope I don’t derail my own progress!

How is everyone else doing?

Well done @OpenThatWindow for feeling you’re on a positive path.

@Swearwolf Great that you’re feeling more in control and well done on your loss.

@Goodvibesonly Wow - well done! You’re doing so well. Are you still doing 5:2? Did you have a takeaway last night? Hope you enjoyed it.

I could just copy and paste my update from last Sunday! Still averaging 8st8. Still not sure why/ whether I need to make any changes or keep ‘trusting the process’ that some body recomposition is happening. Aware I’m a ‘healthy’ weight/BMI but my tummy fat is definitely too much for my small frame.

Hey all, how are u all doing? Today’s weigh in was a surprise, I’ve lost another pound and now down to 7st 11.4! I attended an event on Friday and was so busy yesterday that I threw caution to the wind and ate a bit mindlessly hence why I am so surprised!

@Autumnleaves82 I haven’t done 5:2 in a while. I still do intermittent fasting which I swear has been instrumental to my weight loss. I think it’s because I’m a snacker and having time restricted eating means that I can’t snack as much as before. How are u getting along?