Help...

[knhedges]

18 st 9. And I just cant shift it. As I am sat here at work I feel like I could just cry. At one point, 3 years ago, I was less than 14 stone. At my height that was a great place for me. What happened? Life. And now I am just miserable. Ive tried them all... WW, Slimming World, Jenny Craig, and a few obsolete and insane fad diets. Now I find myself back here. Again. Please help me...

[eeek1110]

Oh dear knhedges! I felt just the same a couple of months ago. All you can do is pick yourself up and do it this time. You must not give in to those negative feelings. Look forward and tell yourself the weight you are now is the heaviest you are ever going to be. The only way is down now!

We've all got our reasons and excuses but at the end of the day it is our choice what we eat. Just ask yourself "Is it worth it?" when you are about to give in. Ask yourself why you are feeling tempted at the time and distract yourself until the feeling pasts. Keep in touch with us as the support is here. Hope you feel better soon.

[littlemoggy]

Hi, i am new here too. I'm a mum of two. I am not on the 12 week plan on here but i find the support great motivation. I only started on April 1st to try and lose weight for my health and my children. I was 17 st 4 1/2 pounds. 3 weeks on and just by cutting out huge bars of chocolate, massive bags of crisps, and endless amounts of biscuits.... the weight is starting to come off. I have lost 8 1/2 pounds in 3 weeks. I am hoping i stay motivated as i have tried to lose weight many times before but given up every time after about 6 weeks. I used to be 12 stone about 10 years ago. I would love to weigh that much again. So don't worry you are not alone. Its a struggle for a lot of people including me.

[Jenica in reply to littlemoggy]

Well done with weight loss, stay positive!

[alex7ra]

I think you need to view it as a lifestyle change rather than a diet. Start slowly and incorporate changes you know you can keep long term.

Keep a food diary and look at where you can make easy swaps, have smaller portions etc.

Cut out processed foods and make fresh meals yourself so your food is less calorific and you are burning more calories than when you are sitting in front of the tv - this is what I always tell myself when I can't be bothered to cook!

Good luck

[Stentatron]

Hi knhedges, well in the words of Coldplay’s Chris Martin ‘Everything’s not lost’… do not fear time is on your side, you sound like you have the motivation you just need to put these positive thoughts into practice. Your goal has to be getting back under 14 stone and trust me it is more than do-able. It’s all about keeping your eye on your goal, my advice would be to write down your weight on a ‘post it’ and stick it to the fridge door, the cupboard door, your bathroom mirror etc.

I would recommend the 12 week plan, it’s basic you eat fewer calories than you consume those unwanted pounds will slowly ebb away in the coming weeks. Now set yourself up to succeed, clear out that fridge and make sure the only options you have when you feel a little peckish are healthy options. Follow the basic principles, low GI carbs, lean protein and plenty of vegetables. Snack on fruit. Cut out the refined sugar and get drinking that water, want to go a little crazy get yourself some sparkling water. My top tip if you like a tipple cut out the booze, now this isn’t easy so maybe everything in moderation cut down maybe go for a skinny b**** (vodka, lime and soda) and work your way to sobriety.

Now changing your eating habits is one thing, changing your activity levels is another. You have to make sure you make time to exercise, now we’re not all natural athletes so if you don’t feel the urge to hit the tarmac and hit a PB in your running gear you’re not alone. Going for a walk in the evenings after your evening meal is a great way to get outside and burn some calories. If you want to be a little more adventurous sign up for an exercise class at your local leisure centre. Not quite there yet, what about a dip in the pool. Swimming is a great form of cardio and has no impact on your joints.

If you feel yourself straying from the healthy path remember ‘Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!’

Good luck

[fibronfedup]

Welcome to the forum. Let me first say i understand where you are coming from i started this at 18st 13lbs amd im now 15st 2lbs, its a horrible feeling when you feel trapped in your own body with no way out. You can do this!!! Start by downloading the nhs 12 week plan and an app like myfitnesspal. Make changes you can keep going long term like diet soda instead of full fat, semi skimmed milk instead of full fat etc. Go at your own pace with the exercise i started with 10 mins of step ups on the wiifit 4 nights a week as you start to feel better increase this, and add some new activities walking and swimming are great low impact exercises to start out with. Take it one day at a time and dont beat yourself up if you slip up, get back on track asap and keep going. It can be hard work but so very worth it and this forum is great for support and motivation. I wish you all the best and stay strong. You can do this. Message anytime if you want someone to chat too

[Salaisa]

If it's too much to do a whole new lifestyle at once, just change one thing and do that until it becomes a habit, like brushing your teeth and does not require any mental effort. And then change another thing. The NHS 12 week plan aims to do just that, but you could do it more slowly. Eg you could stop drinking sugary fizzy drinks, like fibronfedup says. Or have a little think about what you lunch looks like and see if you can make any changes to it. (For me, one habit that was a game changer was changing breakfast - it's in Week 3 of NHS. I changed from porridge to protein - eggs - and found out it fills me much better and I don't need morning snacks anymore.) Good luck and come back here for support!

[HRHGaby]

Welcome, I hope you find what you need in this community. You'll find many motivational posts here! Start by dowloading an app on your phone to keep track of calories (Fat Secret, My Fitness Pal...), it's a great aid! Good luck!

[Jenica]

I've been there done it with all the diets and clubs too!! Don't get disheartened! but at the end of the day you are the only one that keeps YOU in control. And thats what it is all about, control with your eating habits. They are so easy to "pick up" and so difficult to stop. I am doing that now. I am great during the day and night time for probably 1 hour or so from 7pm onwards I would just pig out, not enjoy what I ate and then look for something else to satisfy me, usually without success but I'm getting there. Our brains are very good at storing information and that includes all the bad eating habits, however you are in charge so start gradually and turn those brain habits into positive habits. You know your strong points and weaknesses, do it gradually, it takes a long time to break a habit. They say 6 weeks but I disagree cos it doesn't work for me, I can revert back into the bad habit quite easily, you really do have to work at it. I sat at comp last night, my eyes nearly hanging out of their sockets but by reading posts on this site it kept me occupied. Why did I do it? cos for some reason the night before I am due to weigh myself I pig out!! don't know why? I've had quite a good week and then just blow it so I was determined this week not to spoil the week. After I've finished writing this I'm going to weigh myself before breakfast and hopefully have lost weight, yes I had a few blips early last week and I felt down but its behind me now and I've moved on with the help of this site and the support, you can do the same. Don't think how much you have to lose but just the 9lb to then get into your next stone., break it down into 2 lbs. I woke up this morning thinking "oh you idiot over 6st to lose" but I'm positive at this moment in time, I know I'm going to have bads days, maybe even bad weeks but this time I'm going to do it. Good luck you can do it!! Sorry I have gone on a bit haven't I!

[irenc]

Have belief in yourself. I lost a stone over 3 months. Its not easy but can be done. And I don't do a lot of cooking. A whole chicken is lovely. It lasts for a few days and I have salads with it. Have 1 alcoholic drink most days. Lots of fruit . No nibbles. Was a crisp and peanut eater but cut them out. No cheese either. Tell yourself you will do it. And I feel like walking more.

[Brims126]

Hiya I am exactly the same weight as you 18st 9lb...

I feel the same as you described, and it's not good at all. Although it did cheer me up to know there was someone else like me, and we are not on our own.

I think my problem is, I lose 10lb, think wow, then go and celebrate by eating silly food, then get on the scales and find I've put more back on than I lost!

Today I've made a decision to not do that anymore, no nighttime snacks,

Good luck and take care