Could someone give me some encouragement (a kick?)

[EmilyWeather]

Weighed myself a week ago and was very unhappy with how much weight I've gained, I'm at a new high of 12.5 stone at 5 foot 6. It was a bit of a shock, decided it needed sorting pronto.

Overhauled what I'm eating. 16:8 fasting, reduced carbs, removed all processed sugar, upped water. Trying to eat sensibly for the two meals I do have and much reduced snacking. Very little booze (one medicinal whisky one evening).

Previously, this diet would be sufficient to have me steadily losing weight. I don't get loads of exercise but I'm not completely sedentary, I probably walk on average 8000 steps a day just in normal living.

I know it's only been a week, but I haven't lost a thing. I am HUNGRY! And pissed off. I know, I know, I'm probably still eating too many calories, or it's to do with my cycle, or something. But I'm not sure how I can reduce my intake much more without being constantly hangry and miserable.

Can someone give me some encouragement to keep going? Success stories of slow loss? Right now I want to open the fridge and inhale everything in it.

Look into blood glucose control. Try the Zoe podcasts and the Glucose Goddess. If you get your blood sugar under control your hunger will be more easily managed. Work towards eliminating ultra processed foods which mess with our bodies equilibrium. Dr Chris Van Tulleken wrote a good book explaining this called Ultra Processed People. Take a ten minute walk after eating or do some other activity like housework, this helps your body to use the glucose in your food and not store it as fat. Do regular body weight exercises and up your protein intake if it’s not at 0.8g per your ideal body weight in KG (this should be 1.2g per ideal KG if you are 65+).
Learn to manage your expectations and track progress over at least a month, do not expect consistent weight loss, most people’s bodies don’t work like that.
You could try Berberine, some people report good results with it.
Good luck.

Weigh yourself again in a week - as you say, your monthly cycle can affect your weight, but also how hydrated you are and what you've eaten for your last couple of meals. Weigh at the same time of day - first thing in the morning works well for consistency. If there's no movement in the right direction after a fortnight, it's probably time to be more exact about calories versus your TDEE.

It comes down to how much you eat in the 8 hours . The point of 16:8 is to reduce calorie intake by how long in the day you are allowed to eat. On its own, without calories reduction , there is no impact.
What do you eat in those 8 hours? And do you walk those 8000 steps as in you lace up your shoes, get out and walk 50 min or is it the detected movement?

How's it going @EmilyWeather ? I'm a similar sort of weight and want to lose 1.5st.