Hello to anyone who comes across this post! Hope you're having a great day
So I have tried to lose weight for years and I've been like a trusty yo-yo, always going down but then popping right back up again. I've always struggled with my weight - especially when I'm comfortable and settled in a relationship and as I've been with my better half for 15 years, that goes some way to explaining why I've been a plus sized girl for so long.
My hubby and I struggled to conceive but after a few years and medications we welcomed our daughter six years ago right before being sent for IVF. We were wanting to try again a while later and after being told that it wouldn't happen without significant weight loss and IVF, I started to hit the gym with my mum. I didn't manage to lose much weight but I did tone up and felt better in myself for it but then we were hit with a huge surprise when we found out that I was pregnant with our son who will be turning one soon.
We have now decided that it's time to get back on this weight loss train as we want to get healthier both for our kids and ourselves. I also want to make sure that I don't make my mistakes for my children so here I am, looking for inspiration and hoping to meet like-minded people to help keep me on track.
My hubby will be giving the 5:2 diet a crack but I've fallen off that wagon in the past so I will be taking it back to basics and calorie counting. I've checked the NHS BMI calculator and that has said for me to look to take in 1665 - 2141 calories a day whereas MyFitnessPal has said to aim for 1240 in order to try and lose 2lbs a week. I think I'll aim for the 1240 but won't hold that as a rigid goal, I think if I land somewhere between that and the lower of the NHS recommendations then I'll be happy.
My overall goal is to lose 100lbs and I'm down six from my previous attempt so 94 to go!
So yeah, thats me in a post, hopefully there will be many more to come as I shed this weight
When I saw that lower number I did think that seemed on the lower side but then just wrote it off as me not knowing much of anything about this kind of thing! I'll definitely take your comments on board and look for a loss of around 1lb rather than the 2 as I'd really like this to just be my life now and not a quick fix.
With regards to avoiding exercises - you're spot on there unfortunately but I'm hoping to change that. My problem here is that I have a slipped disc in my lower spine which makes floor work incredibly painful and I also have a torn ligament in my knee so I'm a little limited as to what I can do - right now I'm planning on using walking as my main exercise and hopefully adding in some yoga but if you have any suggestions as to what else I could do then I'd be happy to hear them - I'm looking for as much information as possible so that I can hopefully get it right this time.
I would suggest that you take it very easy on the exercise. But if you go for it, there are so many ways to involve the children, too. You already said that you push the pram.
Focus on the weight loss. Don't worry about lapses. Just do it right, the result will surely come but not necessarily the time you want it to.
When weight is at bay, exercise should be more doable.
I'm afraid the calorie allowance that mfp offers is far too low and that will hinder your weight loss in two ways, by lowering your metabolic rate and leaving you hungry and more inclined to snack/binge. Have a look at this for a more in-depth explanation healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...
We always advice eating nearer the upper end of your calorie range, as indicated by the NHS BMI calculator, as you can always reduce, if necessary. I would suggest approximately 1950. However, if you've done a lot of yoyo dieting in the past, you may like to have a look at this healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... ignore the title, the contents will still apply.
Follow this link to our chat thread and a list of all the activities we run. We've found active participation to be key to success, especially with our weigh-ins and Daily Diary.
Hi and thank you for the reply and information - I've had a look at some of the links you've included already and am taking it all on board! I thought the MFP calorie count seemed low so looking at it fresh this morning I think I'll be aiming between the NHS numbers using your suggestion as a guide and hopefully I'll be able to lose weight properly this time around.
I'll definitely be joining in with the weigh-ins and hopefully the other activities too.
The lower end of the NHS calorie range is actually 1000 cals below what your body needs to maintain and feeling hungry is what leads many people to fail. Following MFP is only likely to increase that likelihood of cravings leading to overeating and then feelings of failure followed by the possibility of just giving up.
I hope your choice works for you but if you find yourself finding it difficult, don't think you've failed but try readjusting to the higher level of that range. The less we feel hungry, the more likely we are going to enjoy our journey and then of course, the more likely we are, to stick to the plan.
Good luck!
Hi and thanks for your reply
It totally makes sense that being hungry leads to failing - it's what I've done each time I've tried so I should know better. I'm reassessing the calorie situation for sure and going with a midpoint between the NHS recommendations. Hopefully this will help me get there in a realistic way.
I think that losing weight is like a marathon and not a sprint so why not try the NHS figures and give your body a chance to adjust gradually to lowering your calorie intake. it’s what I’ve done and it’s not been such a struggle, usually I’m in the middle of my allowance approx 1800, if I’d started with the 1200 I’d have set myself up to fail!! Just recheck the NHS calculator after each 7lb lost and you’ll see your calories allowed range drop but at a rate your body will find easier to accept - nobody wants hunger pangs!
Anyway there’s tons of ways and hopefully you’ll find one that works for you.
I slept on it and woke up to some sensible comments about the calorie count, I thought it seemed low when I was typing it up last night so I'm actually relieved that everyone is advising to go higher! I'm going to be aiming to get around the mid-point now too and I will definitely check in with the calculator after I've lost a bit.
I have been up and down all my life - This time I have been counting the calories but as well increased my exercise - and find I need to do both to lose.
I have really increased my walking and now feel much stronger and toned and even takes the edge off needing to snack.
I will definitely be looking into walking more, I get to push my son around in his pram too so hopefully that added extra bit of weight will do even more to help me with the loss
Hi Debbie, I'm new to this plan and have tried so many diets, could you tell me how I weigh in and where to check how many calories I need a, day etc thank you
Fill in the details it asks for and it will tell you your BMI and give you a calorie goal. After reading everyones suggestions I think I'll be aiming for the mid-point of the two numbers it gives.
Hi Deb - I list 100 pounds last year - went from 18 9 to 11 3 then husband abandoned me without a word and I’ve since gone back up to around 12 7.
I’m on holiday next week but aim to go back to Sunday weigh in and get to 10 7 target by September
Looking forward to following your journey xx
Wow! Congrats on your weight loss - it's so inspirational reading when someone else has met the target you set for yourself, it makes me feel like it's possible.
I'm so sorry to hear about your husband - that's just awful of him and I totally get why you'd have gone back up a little but good on you for not letting that stop you from reaching your target.
Where are you off to on holiday? I hope you have the most fantastic time.
I've started following you so look forward to your updates xx
How are you getting on with your plans? I have just seen that you are very close to me:-). If you need company with light (!!!) jogging, maybe walking, especially if you are interested in parkrun, we may be able to meet up and do the exercises together. I also like outdoor gym, mostly available next to playgrounds.
Wow that is a lovely offer and one I hope to take you up on at some point! I'm a very socially anxious person and it takes a lot for me to mingle with people away from a computer screen ... but I'm working on it. If, or should I say when, I get over it I will definitely be bugging you for an outdoor workout sesh
Thanks again for the offer, that was really kind of you x
Thanks for accepting the thought. That's very kind of you, and I hope to see you soon.
I know if I had not sent you the message right after I had seen the distance between our homes, I may have never initiated the walk/exercise. I am not a busy bee in social life, either. 🤨
Hello Deb. I’ve had a bit of a manic week (baby sitting and puppy sitting 😂) I’ve just come across your post and just wanted to say Hi and hope you’ve had a good first week. X
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weight loss
New here would love to meet others and help me stay on track and be accountable 
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