Another newbie!

[ArtfulZebra]

Hi everyone,

I joined a few days ago, have been having a look about and think it's time I introduced myself! A friend of mine, who has lost over 8st, recommended Health Unlocked as a great place to find advice, support and encouragement.

A little about me; I'm 50 years old, newly (since January) mostly vegan and determined to get fit and healthy. My current weight is 18st 6lb (my starting weight last week was 18st 7lb), my BMI is 38.2 (obese). The NHS site tells me my healthy weight range is 8st 13lb - 12st 2lb, I'm 5ft 9" and not in the "destined to be petite" category so I currently think I will be aiming for the upper end of that weight range. The site recommends a daily calorie intake between 1908 and 2453, I currently aim for 1900 ish, a bit more if I exercise.

I have something of a journey ahead of me but I am committed to getting fit and healthy and doing it in a positive way, making lifestyle changes I can sustain.

[Tiggerr]

Welcome ArtfulZebra. I like the name. Well done for posting. You seem to have seen enough here to have got yourself pretty organised, so I'm guessing that you've read some of the introductory newbie replies.

You've announced what your long term goal is, which will be fantastic to reach, just don't forget to provide yourself with mini achievable goals.

All the best to you and a congrats to your friend, what an inspiration for you

[ArtfulZebra in reply to Tiggerr]

Thanks Tiggerr! I have set myself a short term goal - to lose half a stone by my birthday which is 31st March so that might be a little ambitious but I like a target to aim for!

[Tiggerr in reply to ArtfulZebra]

Good for you, I hope you achieve it.

[JiminyCricket 7lbs]

Well done for getting started! Great to have the inspiration of a friend too. Have you joined a weekly weigh-in group? There's one every week day so you can choose which day suits you best. We compete with each other for the most lost each week ! (It was the Saturday gang this week!). It's really good for motivation and accountability.

Good luck for your first week!

[ArtfulZebra in reply to JiminyCricket]

Thanks, JiminyCricket, I'll have a look for a weekly weigh in group, I try to weigh on Mondays.

[JiminyCricket 7lbs in reply to ArtfulZebra]

just look out for the post on monday morning, and reply to it to log your weight and introduce yourself. Good luck for your birthday goal!

[EllaMidlands]

Hi, welcome! You are a similar weight to me. I was 23 stone in September and I am now about 18 stone 2, we can do this together!!

[ArtfulZebra in reply to EllaMidlands]

Well done, EllaMidlands, that's a brilliant achievement already! How much more do you plan to lose? At my top most weight, I estimate I was in the region of 22 - 23st but I never weighed myself back then so will never know! My highest recorded weight in recent years was 20st. I absolutely believe that we can do this!

[EllaMidlands in reply to ArtfulZebra]

I think I would like to get down to a size 14, currently size 18. How much do you weigh now?

[ArtfulZebra in reply to EllaMidlands]

I'm 18st 6lb at the moment, size 20 ish, would like to be a size 16, I've never been less than an 18 so not sure whether I could be less than a 16!

[EllaMidlands in reply to ArtfulZebra]

I know what you mean, last time I was this size I was about 18 years old, now 40 odd

[IndigoBlue61]

Hello and welcome ArtfulZebra 😊

[ArtfulZebra in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Thanks Anna61! It's great to be here!

[benwl]

Welcome to the site.

It's great to see another vegan here

Thinking about sustainable changes is definitely the right approach. You've probably spent loads of time already on the Internet, but I find this a great site for vegan friendly advice and inspiration nutritionfacts.org

Best of luck with your journey

[ArtfulZebra in reply to benwl]

Thanks, benwl. I've not looked at that site so I'll check it out. How long have you been vegan? I pledged to Veganuary and have carried on from there. I still have occasional vegetarian days but I feel SO much healthier on a vegan diet and it has helped in other ways too, so glad I took the plunge!

[benwl in reply to ArtfulZebra]

I've been vegan for about 2 years now, having been veggie for most of my life. My only regret is not doing it sooner

.... and eating out is much harder but maybe that's not a bad thing as it forces me to cook more

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi and welcome Zebra

I can only think of one of our followers who's vegan and lost over 8 stone and if she's a friend and mentor to you, you've got this in the bag! She's amazing and a beacon of inspiration for all of us, so follow her lead, very closely

I hope you'll consider joining a daily weigh-in and some of our challenges, as they're really motivational and a lot of fun

Wishing you all the very best, as you set out on your journey of discovery

[ArtfulZebra in reply to moreless]

Thanks moreless, I'm sure my friend is well known to a lot of folk, and she's such an inspiration! I think I user name now is LesstoLose. I'm looking forward to joining some challenges, particularly exercise focused ones.

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to ArtfulZebra]

I guessed right! She's a great friend of mine too! We started our journeys at the same time and she's been a huge inspiration to me

If you look in the pinned posts, to the right of your screen, you'll find the Mad March exercise challenge

[ArtfulZebra in reply to moreless]

She is a massive inspiration! How much have you lost?

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to ArtfulZebra]

7stone

[ArtfulZebra in reply to moreless]

Wow, fantastic, well done!

[LessToLose 4lbs in reply to moreless]

And you have been a huge inspiration to me, Moreless - and if it wasn't for your support, certainly at the beginning when I was floundering, I don't think I would have lost 8.5stone at all.

[YellowRose55]

Morning ArtfulZebra

Welcome to the weight loss forum.

Take a look at the Welcome Newbie post in the Pinned post section on the right hand side or at the bottom if your on a mobile. Have a look at the nhs 12 week plan, many members have had success following this plan. Use the BMI checker to work out your daily calorie allowance.

Below the Pinned posts are the Topics where members share a range of weight related subjects.

Take your measurements at the start along with a photo so you can see the changes on the days when the scales don't move.

We have daily weigh-ins so why not come along and join us. You can find them on the Home page in Events on the right hand side. Just click on the weigh-in and state your starting weight and any loss/gain or maintain for the week.

To get the best out of the forum be active, share experience, tips and ideas. Read through some of the posts, they are very motivating.

Have a good first week.

Rose

[ArtfulZebra in reply to YellowRose55]

Thanks YellowRose55, I hadn't thought to take my measurements, doh! Lol I'll do that today, I can't imagine a pound down from my start weight will have affected them too much! Thanks all your advice, it's so great to feel so welcomed and know there's so much support, encouragement and motivation out there.

[YellowRose55 in reply to ArtfulZebra]

Hi ArtfulZebra

You will be so motivated over time with your measurements when you see the difference. I do mine each time I finish a 12 week plan and the changes are amazing.

Glad to hear you feel supported here we have such a friendly bunch on the forum.

Have a good week.

Rose

[ArtfulZebra]

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to welcome me, this is a fab community and I rest safe in the knowledge that together we can do it!

[LessToLose 4lbs]

Welcome AZ, it is good to have you here and I am sure you will enjoy the site. Everyone is very supportive and you will get the most out of it if you join in with the weigh-ins and the challenges.

All the best for a successful weight-loss journey!

[MoragDH]

I have about the same amount to loss so I know how you feel I have posts from people saying take small goals, so I would say the same to you take little steps less like to fail. good luck.

[ArtfulZebra in reply to MoragDH]

Thanks MoragDH! Good luck to you too, we can do it!

[Hidden]

Good luck on the journey- Reframing exercise from 'being good' to 'fun' feels like a good way to making my own sustainable change

[Hidden]

welcome and congratulations on your first steps here. I myself only started a week ago and have found nothing but honest caring and thoughtful people willing to help anyone wanting to better themselves.

Good luck in gaining your goals.