I turned 50 in Nov...and had always seen myself as young minded, fit and healthy but a change of job from being a highly active Community Farm Manager to that of a completely sedantry Social Care worker, then the birth of my now 12 year old son and the trauma of the break up of my marriage, have all gradually contrubuted to my gaining more and more weight over the last ten years. Now frighteningly ( or so it feels now) I find myself as a 5ft 1inch woman topping the scales at an obese weight of 13 stone and 5Ibs. I am ready for change and to get back my old energy and flexibility levels and with it hopefully a new lease of life. Right now it feels overwhelmingly daunting...as many before me, I have stopped and started many previous diets of all hues but I recognise now it's a simple formulae of calories in not exceeding calories used ie cut back on the booze and down on the portion size!! Others in my extended family are exceptionally fit and slim( several running regular marathons) and whilst their well intentioned in their encouragement and concern about my weight gain, having never been dangerously overweight themselves, they have difficulty in really understanding how it feels. That is hating seeing the shape you've become, feeling exhausted after the smallest exertion, the guilt, self loathing etc.
So today I put it all on the line and say no more! This is the start of a new beginning. Any encouragement and support you can offer would be so welcome...as a single Mum, it feels a bit like a lonely battle at the mo! I will of course reciprocate with as much support and help for others as I can possibly give. Good luck to all!
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Rachpeach
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Welcome to the forum. You will find us friendly bunch. Have you posted your weight on the Sunday weighin today hosted by isou7000? It's great to be able to share your successes and not so good weeks with likeminded people - all for free!
Good luck
Hi Rachpeach and welcome to the forum.
Check out the Welcome Newbies post in the pinned posts section (to the right of your screen on a pc, bottom on a mobile) - this contains some great info for starting out and navigating your way around the site.
hi Rachpeach and welcome to the forum... like most people on here we've tried every diet going and started and stopped diets all our life so reckon most of us know how you feel... I was also a single mum for a while too so understand that feeling of being on your own too... this is a great forum and the people here are friendly and all they want to do is support you and not judge you... you can post here anytime and more than likely get a response from someone at anytime of the day.
exercise wise maybe just start walking a bit more to get you moving.... diet wise.. I swear by using my small dinner plate for my meals.. my plate looks full but I've actually got less than I used to eat but when I look at my plate I don't see it.. tricks the brain !
Good luck with starting your diet and hope to see more posts from you x
Just to give you some words of encouragement, you have found a great place, it's your time now, love and look after your body. It will repay you 10 fold.
There are loads of healthily diet plans it's all about finding the right one for you. One they becomes a lifestyle, then you're more likely to be successful with not just loss but maintaining your new lower weight.
My top tip is keep posting, replying, liking and visiting this forum daily.
My 49th year was the year I started my weight loss journey... I'm a little old 4ft 9" and weighed 14 stone!!!
My daughter was 15 then - and I had been through a marriage break up about 2 years previously (which actually turned out to be a really positive thing for me). Now married to hubbie no. 2 who is my complete world! He totally supports me on my weight loss (he's not over-weight). We both love eating, but we also both enjoy cooking. He is happy to try new food stuffs and recipes.
I have a physical disability which limits my mobility (I use a wheelchair outside of the house), so had to rely totally on counting calories, reducing portion sizes, cutting out treats and snacks, eating out less, etc.
It took 2.5 years for me to get to my goal weight of 9st 7lbs. Regained about a stone and a half the year before last coming out of a very traumatic period in our lives (hubbie's Mum came to live with us - she had terminal cancer and dementia). Whilst she was with us, I found it easy to stick to healthy eating as we were tied to the house and had no holidays... I used to take a couple of hours a day in my "home gym" (aka garage!) to exercise - it was my "me" time.
Look forward to hearing how you do - lots of encouragement and support available here!
Hi Rachpeach , I'm 52, still feel like a single parent though sons are in their 20s now, work for the nhs which is long busy days but quite a lot of sitting/driving I'm sure this is familiar to you! I'm 4 ft 10 and just under 11 stone need to lose 2.5 stone to be at top of healthy bmi range. This is a friendly supportive place and this year I'm determined to keep off what I lose not lose half a stone by the summer then gain it back by Christmas which is my normal routine! I've decided it doesn't matter how long it takes as long as I keep going in the right direction.
Hi Rachpeach, I have experienced a similar journey to this forum, 50 last year, sedentary job and gradual change in lifestyle. I actually went swimming for first time in ages yesterday with my 14 year old, thought about how it used to be a regular thing but as kids grow they want to do more on their own, and I have got less active. I've never really dieted or calorie counted before, just tried to ignore the fact that none of my clothes fitted or I feel exhausted just walking upstairs. I bought some scales, weighed myself and was shocked into action. I find keeping a record of daily food/calories is a revelation, it made me realise how much I snack ,and when! Like many people on this forum I use Myfitness pal, an app you can get on your phone, to keep track of calories.
Try to keep hold of the idea that this is a long term commitment to change of lifestyle, it takes 90 days, at least, to form habits, and we have years of bad habits to combat! You can do it, set yourself small goals , I found thinking of losing 7lbs easier than 42 (which is the amount I was recommended to put me in middle of healthy BMI) I have found a picture of someone holding a 42lb cat! I look at this and imagine carrying that about with me everywhere !! No wonder I'm tired walking upstairs.
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Hello
Getting desperate now
55lb lost since June 25th
