Weight loss journey

[ViaRia01]

I wasn’t sure what to put as the title but welcome to my very self indulgent thread about my attempted weight loss journey.

I am week and a half in and feeling so great already and positive about achieving my goal. I have had low moments too though so I just thought I’d try this as a bit of a journal, and see where we end up.

More later with a few details on starting weight, what I’ve been doing and what I’m aiming for. For now, I’m just sitting down with the children for tea.

Feel free to say hello, join in if you wish with your own successes/ struggles. Or just scroll past and go about the rest of your day.

Starting weight 85.3kg on 4 June.
Current weight 83.6kg as of 8 June.

On 4th June I weight 85.3kg. I’m 157cm tall. Not huge but it has been slowly creeping up and up for a long while and so it felt that if I didn’t change something I might soon find myself very overweight and then it would likely be even harder to lose it again.

For a while, I had been feeling like I wanted to lose weight but it’s taken probably just over a year to take action. I really do believe that weight loss is 95% in one’s head (unless there are medical issues of course). For a long time I wanted to lose weight, but I wanted to eat cake more.

Around two weeks ago I decided I wanted to be healthier/ slimmer/ stronger MORE than I wanted the cake. So I started making healthier choices, I signed up to an online workout subscription, I dusted off the scales and signed into ‘my fitness pal’ for the first time in months, and for the first time ever I took some of those ‘warts and all’ ‘Before’ photos in the hope of seeing some changes to my physique in due course.

Well done for taking your first steps on your weight loss journey, they are the hardest. There will be ups and downs along the way but just keep chipping away and before you know it you’ll be at target.
I think you’ve got a point about weight loss being 95% in the head. Especially for those who eat & snack when they’re not even hungry.
It sounds like you’re really motivated and have a solid plan in place, wishing you happiness & success x

Thank you @Lotusberry

I’m not counting calories per se, I am aiming to follow guidance (nhs / bios websites) on healthy eating - portions or protein, carbs, dairy, fruit & veg per day. Paying closer attention to e.g. what a single portion of carbs should look like.

Just like a fussy toddler, I actually dislike lots of salad, fruit and vegetables so it’s not really coming to me naturally. I have to remind myself each time I prepare food, that I want to make healthy choices, find something I can manage and continue to push myself and broaden my palate. I’m trying to do this by viewing food as fuel and also as medicine to improve my health.

I keep getting clips pop up on Facebook from Macka B - catching raps that seem to stay in my head all day and keep this all at the front of my mind.

I am just like you, I am a fussy eater and previously struggled to find things to eat.
i stared at 89kg in January and am 75kg today. Need to lose another 10 still but slow and steady with a good attitude towards food has got me this far! Good luck once you get it into it is really easy

@ViaRia01 congratulations on starting your weight loss /health journey. My starting stats were similar to you. I am 157 cm too and was around 13 stone which I think is 81Kg. This put me into the obese zone so I did find it a motivator to get going.

I’m now hovering around 10st 7/65KG give or take a few pounds - so my BMI is nearly back down to the healthy zone. Although I do take BMI with a pinch of salt, I also lost 11 inches off my waist.

I wish I’d taken pictures too! Sometimes your body will be changing but you won’t see the results on your scale, so it’s a good idea to use pictures and other measurements (thigh, waists, arms etc) to keep you motivated .

I hated the fact I was struggling to walk for longer than half an hour and I was nearly passing out on the stairs to my flat. So weight loss aside, I’m definitely happy to be stronger and fitter too.

I have a sweet tooth and would happily bake and eat cakes and cookies every day - and did so at one point but thankfully I like healthy foods too. I try and get my sweet kick from homemade fruit smoothies, and Greek yoghurt sweetened with honey now.

Cut down on ordering takeaways or eating out massively so it’s something I just do around once a month unless I’m on holiday.

I did count calories to start with to give me an idea of how much I was consuming and what my portion sizes should look like. I kind of have a good idea of how many calories are in what I eat now without inputting into an app like MFP, so I take that into account when planning my daily meals.

I try and walk around 8,000 steps a day. Haven’t been to the gym in ages but may start going again. Exercise is obviously good for health reasons but I found I lost more weight when I focused on diet and kept my movement to moderate home workouts and walking rather than high intensity workouts at the gym.

I think it’s good that you’re making healthier choices by using NHS guidelines etc rather than following a fad diet or severely restricting what you eat.
In the long run you’re most likely to maintain your weight loss as you’ll have made it a lifestyle change. You’re mindful of which macro nutrients you need, you’re exercising, and you’re using a fitness app so you can monitor and see your progress.
Rather than being afraid of food (ie restricting food groups out of fear of weight gain) you see it as a medicine which is going to help your body to be healthier.
When I started on my weight loss journey I was in a similar mindset to you. Previously, I’d followed every diet out there with success only to gain it back after I’d reached target. This time it has stayed off for nearly 3 years and I believe it’s because I used the ‘healthy lifestyle’ approach where I made subtle but obvious changes. I cut out alcohol, reduced salt, eat when hungry & stop when I’m full. I avoid that over full feeling. Just because I still have food left on my plate doesn’t mean I have to eat it.
I love going to the gym because I have found classes that I genuinely enjoy and which I feel comfortable doing. Before, I would push myself to do stuff I hated hence it never lasted because it was only a means to end and not many will continue doing something they don’t like long term. But I do believe there is exercise out there for everyone to enjoy, you just have to find it and then make it a habit, part of your day. Even on busy days make time to exercise so you don’t break the habit, even if it’s just 3 cycles of 10 reps of squats in your bedroom.
I could still do with losing a bit more weight, about a stone, but for now I feel healthier and happier than I was before.
Keep telling yourself you can do this and believe in yourself x

@socks1107 Thanks for your support. And well done to you - a steady and ongoing approach seems to be working for you. I can definitely see how it can be easier once you get into the right rhythms and routines.

@Sprinclean Thank you! And congrats to you as well for a great achievement.

Ah, a typo yesterday - I’m actually 167cm so I was just in the obese zone at 85.3kg. I agree to take BMI with a pinch of salt but when it works I think it can be a good motivator/ good way of measuring yourself against ‘the average’ as looking at weight alone is really not going to help if you’re a woman over 6ft, for example.

I had a look yesterday evening at my starting BMI vs current BMI and it seems I’ve managed to get out the obese category so that’s given me a boost in confidence and motivation.

@Lotusberry Thank you, and yes this is exactly how I see it too - a lifestyle change. I don’t really like the phrase “I’m on a diet”, as to me it sort of sounds like a short term thing especially as it’s often paired with the ending “at the moment”. I’m looking for a sustainable change in my weight and to feel more healthy.

I’m trying to start my next at home work out with FiiT - can’t get the bloomin’ Apple Watch to connect to FiiT. I’ve only got half an hour til Thomas the Tank Engine ends and my children come looking for me!

One other thing I’d say is that I eat the same foods on repeat. I’ve found what I will eat and what works do I just rotate everything to fit my fussiness and weight loss!

My dinners at the moment are mostly ‘something and salad’ which I am enjoying. So I switch up the ‘something’ and have it with the same, acceptable, salad items each day. I am fine at the moment with that each day but I am planning to find a way to mix it up a little.

This evening it will be a little different- roasted sweet potato, parsnips, carrots, red onion, with pork. I don’t yet know if all those things ‘go together’ but we shall find out later on.

I am planning to stick with ‘something and salad’ most evenings and then ‘something and cooked veg’ maybe once or twice a week.

Alongside this weight loss / lifestyle change, I’m also trying to take care of myself and my body in other ways too.

I’ve started a new skincare regime with Skin + Me - so far so good. I’m looking forward to a spa break in a couple of months. Bought some new trainers to do my workouts. Aiming to somehow find time in the evenings dor relaxing baths, or to paint my nails, pluck eyebrows etc etc. I feel like doing those nice things will help spur me on as well.

Ah okay that makes sense! Yeah it’s a great boost to move out of the obese zone. Well done 🎉

Yeah I know people who are super fit, toned have a slim waist but are slightly overweight according to BMI. Then you get people with BMI 23 who may have a large waist and are unfit. And having a large waist size contributes significantly towards your risk of various illnesses.

I want to lose more weight because I can see and feel I need to, not necessarily solely because my BMI is 26.5. But I think once I’ve lost the weight I need to I’ll be back down to BMI 23 which is what I was for most of my adult life.

Hope all is going well. It’s difficult when you have young kids because you can’t be as spontaneous. Don’t let your exercise habit slip, even on your busiest days find a way to incorporate your movement so it becomes part of your daily routine. Whether it’s just matching on the spot or squatting whilst brushing your teeth, it all counts. Maybe you could involve the kids by doing star jumps, planks, touch your toes, dancing or stretching together.
And if you fall off plan with your eating (happens to us all) don’t dwell on it, just get straight back to making healthy choices. A day here and there won’t spoil anything.

I genuinely think that starting is the hardest part - it has taken me YEARS and loads of "I'll start on Mondays...." Finally feel ready though, I'm starting tomorrow (properly this time!!!!) I'm a bit heavier than you - will have to check the kgs as I usually measure in pounds, but think I'm about 95kg and I'm a bit shorter than you 😬5ft4...

Well done getting started and making healthier choices. Looking forward to following - and hopefully losing weight right along with you! We can do this! 🤗

Oh, I meant to add, it's def more difficult with young kids - I have three under 10 with two that eat really well and one that is quite sensitive/picky. I'm going to try to make things we can all eat together but we will see how it goes. Might be easier to eat when they go to bed 💁

Thanks everyone. Still going strong here. fully agree with@Lotusberry

For me “going strong” means looking at it overall, over a longer period of time. I took my eldest to a party yesterday where adults were invited to help themselves to kids’ party food too and I was handed a slice or birthday cake! Before I’d left home I had decided to graciously turn down such offers but in the moment it just didn’t work out that way. I enjoyed the cake without guilt and just focussed on my next steps - so back to ‘something and salad’ for dinner, a short home work out this morning and a good breakfast with fresh fruit. And I enjoyed it all - the salad and work out just as much as the birthday cake.

@TheSillySausage83 Great to hear that you’re ready to achieve your goals. Would be great to hear how you’re getting on so feel free to pop back and keep in touch.

I sometimes eat with the children and sometimes separately, once they’re in bed. I guess in the last few weeks, while I’ve been working on my diet, it’s more often been when they’re in bed. But I have eaten with them sometimes (which I also feel is better for me as it’s 5pm rather than 7 or 8pm). Say one day we had hot dogs… not the healthiest choice admittedly! But they’d have the sausage in a bun with crudités, whereas I’ve have just the sausage with no bun and with salad leaves, peppers, cucumber, spring onion, radish. So just serving the same meal in a different variation.

I don't think there can be much wrong with a sausage with salad? Sounds like quite a balanced meal to me! I like the idea of eating with the kids sometimes and separately others so might try that approach rather than feeling guilty if we're not eating as a family every night. Sometimes I want something different to fishy dippers/sausages/lasagna, which is basically all my youngest will eat for dinner at the moment.... 😆

I've started The Britalian Diet today and have managed to eat with them as we had pizza (a good start!) - no cheese for the eldest, cheese and tomato for the other two and I had olives and mushroom with a big side salad. There might be some other nights that aren't as family friendly but we'll see how we go!

Been rubbish with movement today though, got to try harder but it's difficult finding the time to do everything....😩

@TheSillySausage83
I hadn’t heard of the Britalian diet before but I like the idea of it - the mindful approach to eating, enjoying quality food and moderation.

That’s an important part of it for me - to be able to enjoy what I usually would but in moderation. And making tweaks to a meal (eg last week’s hotdog) so that I can still enjoy what others around me are enjoying.

i haven’t posted for a little while as I just haven’t really had much to say but thought I’d just check-in again today in the hope it will give me a little more focus for the week ahead.

Thing are going fine although not finding it all quite as easy as I did in weeks 1 and 2. Having a had a few extra snacks/ treats here and there, and sometimes being at a bit of a loss as to what to eat for lunch that I’d actually enjoy. I have, in the most part, managed to steer clear of anything clearly unhealthy (take asays, etc.) but I have not been getting the balance right in terms of protein, dairy, carbs, fruit & veg.

The scales are confusing me as well - I put on a bit (still not sure how as my eating is definitely better than before I started monitoring weight) and I’ve just been spending all week trying to get back down to where I was last weekend. I still feel OK aboit that but I can see how it can feel a bit demoralising as well.