Hello, new and looking for inspiration

[MichPet77]

Hi, I have joined in the hope to lose weight and get fitter. I lost over 4 stone following slimming world, but gained it all and didn't work when I rejoined. So feeling quite disappointed with myself. Looking for some good tips and motivation! Any help most appreciated!

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

I've just replied to your other post so take your time reading the various links I have given you

I see you locked your other one but not this: we recommend locking your posts: some members value their privacy and prefer not to reply to unlocked posts.

[MichPet77 in reply to BridgeGirl]

Ahh, thank you. I will do, don't want people not talking to me, so will lock! Thank you

[Pineapple27]

Hi and welcome MichPet77

You will find this a great supportive environment to lose that weight.

When I started my weight loss over 7 years ago (aged 49), I had 4.5 stone to lose. I lost most of my weigh using a website: weightlossresources.co.uk (which I still use to this day!) but I enjoy the support and posts on here alongside using the other site.

I have a disability that I was born with (shortening of all four limbs as a result of the drug Thalidomide my mum took when pregnant with me). As a result my mobility is minimal - and was further reduced following a serious head on car crash in 2002 when I broke my ankle. I went on to have my ankle joint fused and am still in constant pain with it.

I started my weight loss journey at 14 stone - over 7 years ago. I am just 4ft 8” tall and so was classed clinically obese.

My disability makes exercise difficult (I am very sedentary and use a wheelchair outside of the house).I had been trying to lose weight all of my life since the age of 9.

I had tried Weight Watchers and Slimming World at various points, but I found that whilst I lost weight initially, I'd soon get fed up - hated going to the group weigh ins - I'd often regain any weight I'd lost and then some more.

The one thing that I realised very early on in my journey was that I was just eating FAR TOO MUCH! I was a short, middle aged, sedentary female and I was eating the same as 5ft 9" active man (my now husband!). No wonder I was piling on the weight!

I started my journey at the end of February 2012, and managed to lose 4.5 stone in 2 and a half years through calorie counting and logging/weighing all of my food. That works out at 130 weeks, so on average my weight loss was less than half a pound a week - of course some weeks I lost more, others I gained... but I am trying to impress upon you the importance of just keeping on going, even though the weight may not come off as quickly as you would like it to.

I cannot stress enough how important this part of the weight loss journey is - being able to recognise just how much we are eating and address that. It is not about cutting out any foods but about being able to make informed choices about the foods we eat Also about learning how to behave differently around food. Just because food is in front of us does not mean to say that we have to eat it! Being able to exercise control and moderate intake is paramount.

I re-gained some of the weight I lost, then lost it again and have now managed to more or less maintain for the past 6 months at around 10 stone. Still considered "over weight".

Ideally I would love to drop another stone to 9 stone and maintain there.

The other great news is that it is entirely possible to lose weight without moving! Of course though, there are lots of advantages to moving a bit more - but it doesn't have to be as formal as going to a gym or out for a five mile run. A good session of house work, mowing the lawn (when the weather permits!) or even a cooking session will all burn calories and have the advantage of making you feel much better emotionally too! It's good to find something that you LIKE doing, that is enjoyable and that you are likely to sustain on a regular basis.

My weight loss journey has been long, but I am still learning new tips and tricks to help me along the way and what's more, still enjoying the challenge! I would say that my behaviour around food has changed massively - I have learned to respect food, to "break" it's control over me, and to be able to modify how I behave with food. Just because food is within sight doesn't mean I have to eat it! I don't see eating the way I do as meaning that I am missing out any more - in fact I am now able to enjoy my life and have regained the ability to do things that I struggled to do or even found impossible to do!


Here are a few of my past posts which I hope you will find helpful and inspiring. I won't try and tell you that my journey was easy - and you'll see that there were many blips along the way, but 6 years down the line, I feel about 20 years younger than I did when I was lugging around 4 stone more.

Please do pop back to the forums and share your journey with us - we are here for you, day and night and happy to share your success or support you when you need it.

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[MichPet77 in reply to Pineapple27]

Thank you Pineapple 27 for sharing your story with me. You sound like you have come along way on your plan. Will take your advice on engaging with forum and exercise tips! Thank you

😊👍😊

[Familytree67 4 stone]

Hi MichPet77 and welcome to this forum. My first bit of advice would be to save yourself some money and ditch SW; been there too but not lost as much as you did but still put it back on. Have a look at the NHS 12 week plan it is free and easy to follow. I count calories, weigh all my food and write it all down, Am going on holiday for a long weekend at end of this week but will be taking my calorie record sheets with me but leaving kitchen scales at home. Will be making good choices whilst away and doing some extra walking round so hopefully it will pay off in a fortnight for my next weigh in. Join one of the weigh in groups here and you will get lots of support and encouragement from members. Take small steps don’t keep that 4 stone goal in mind but work on 7 lb chunks at a time. Treat yourself with a non food item when you reach your first half stone. Measure yourself at the start and you should see the inches go down. You can and will get there so have a good week and get organised food wise. Remember this is not a diet but a healthier lifestyle for the rest of your life so it has to be sustainable. Good luck Sue🥀🥀🥀

[MichPet77 in reply to Familytree67]

Thank youfamilytree67! Good idea to break it down into 7lb chunks, might even seem doable. Don't think I could go back to slimming world, costs a fortune and never really worked.

🤗😁

[Familytree67 4 stone in reply to MichPet77]

Hi thanks for your reply. It is doable if you take small steps. I actually did WW twice and SW twice with very little success. I was making meals for me and separate meals for my husband and daughter, that’s not sustainable for long. When I finally made up my mind to do something about my weight after a comment from my GP that when I was feeling better we needed to look at my weight, I went home and told my husband and he said I didn’t need to go to a slimming club as they hadn’t been a success. He went on his iPad and came up with the NHS 12week plan and helped me sort through it all. It was the best decision I made. The good thing about coming on here is all the support and encouragement from the members. Join one if the weigh in groups and you will get to know more members . Good luck in whatever you decide to do but you can do it.Sue 🥀🥀🥀

[MichPet77 in reply to Familytree67]

Thanks @familtree67, what a great supportive family you have! I am loving this group. Joined on of the weigh in groups too! Thanks for the advice, hope you have a great week 😁

[Familytree67 4 stone in reply to MichPet77]

Thanks for replying and yes my husband and daughter have been brilliant. My daughter is now 37 and never knew a thin me which did exist about 40 years ago when I git married. She says she only saw photos of me from that time but keeps saying she us really proud of me losing weight. I had to laugh last week when I was waiting for my husband in the garden centre, I saw him come along and wait further down the corridor so I walked nearer to him and at last he saw me..his comment was that as I was standing sideways he hadn’t seen me now I’m thinner...daft man needs his eyes testing me thinks !! Good news youve joined a weigh in group that should keep you motivated too. Have a lovely week enjoy the weather and I look forward to following your progress,.Sue 🥀🥀🥀