Cartwheels and fireworks!

[CrimsonMama]

Whoop!!! I've only gone and reached my goal today!! 9 stone 6lbs - down from 15stone 6lbs.

Six stone loss!!! In about eleven months! Which sounds long but really it doesn't feel long and this year has flown!

The changes in my physical shape, strength and fitness has been incredible. My mental health too has been boosted by all the outdoor exercises I've done, by feeling happier in the clothes I wear and the sense of accomplishment that leads me to believe if I can do this I can do anything.

My eating habits have changed but gradually and in a way that hasn't felt forced. One thing that always made me fail diets before was the feeling of "having" to do something. Being told I "have" to give up things or eat things I dislike.

I've - probably most importantly and thanks to starting off with the 5:2 diet - learned what feeling hungry is REALLY like. I can now recognise boredom hunger and thirst signals and have learned that a little food (portion sizes!) goes a LONG way.

And I also eat fruit now! Really weird! Lol. I used to be of the mindset that if I had to choose between a chocolate bar or an apple I would choose the chocolate because it gives me satisfaction whereas the apple wouldn't so I would still want the chocolate and having both is more calories than just having the chocolate. However I have changed! Now I can see the value in the fruit. Being lower in calories you can have quite a bit to be of equal calories to a chocolate bar and it does fill me up and usually takes longer to eat too so lasts longer if I am watching TV whilst having one of my planned snack times.

So the plan from here?

Well 9.6 puts me on the fence of a healthy bmi! 9.7 is overweight again lol. So I still need to come down a bit more. I want to have a maintain range between 9stone and 9.6. That should cover birthdays, Xmas and treat days as I usually put on about 5lbs after a pig out day lol.

[Brightfeather Maintainer Healthy BMI]

Excellent . Very well done. You should be so proud of yourself. It's a great feeling to reclaim our health and fitness and to enjoy how we look.

[babss 2 stone]

Big congratulations CrimsonMama, that’s incredible and such an inspiring story. Thanks for sharing and have a great day 😊

[Hidden]

Well done! Congratulations 🙂

[IndigoBlue61]

Yippee 😊👍👏🎉 very well done CrimsonMama! I’m so pleased for you and very proud, you’re a star ⭐️ What an achievement 😊😊😊

[2718281]

✨✨🍾🥂🎉🎊🎉🎊 Congratulations!!! Well done! It's a great story of how to change our behaviour and I'm very happy for you. Best of luck with the next steps!!

[Oink]

Absolutely stonking result, hun!!! Such a great weight loss in such a short space of time. Lots of respect and admiration for you. Enjoy your new self - so impressive! 🤗

[Hidden]

That's amazing - congratulations and well done! What a fantastic achievement, you're an inspiration

[Carowood]

What a fantastic success - really well done 👏👏👏

[Stalk Restart Jan 2024]

So wonderful to read your news, Crimson Mama, it's really brought a big smile to my face!

And you sound so well organised and content with it, you are a real inspiration!

[Jints1]

Brilliant Crimsonmama. You must be delighted. 😀👏 x

[Hidden]

Amazing results and no wonder you are feeling good in body and spirit. Well done!

[Barcud 48kg]

Whoop whoop go you! That is fantastic news, such an inspiration. My cowbells are clanging in overdrive. Good luck with reaching your maintenance target and managing that.

[wa2un7 Maintainer]

Congratulations on reaching your goal 💐

[Hidden]

Woohoo! That’s a truly amazing result, CrimsonMama. Well done you! 👏🍾

[Cosmo501 Restart May 2024]

Congratulations!! Doing cartwheels for you!! That's a great achievement! Wonderful

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Many Congratulations on reaching your goal, that's brilliant!

Zest

[Fatgirlslim19]

You have done so amazingly well CrimsonMama! 11months isn't long at all to have lost your weight! Super congratulations to you and a massive hug, well done!

[lucigret]

🎉🎉🎉well done 😁

[Missionwoman]

Congratulations and well done. You can feel justifiably proud of yourself. What a lovely feeling losing all that weight. I hope that the support here will help with maintenance as I realise that can be the hardest part after the weight loss. They say that after a certain length of time we can stick to our lifestyle change. I know many slip back. Please stay on for support because you have done so well.

[CrimsonMama in reply to Missionwoman]

I definitely intend to stick around here! I think the hardest part is when you start to allow yourself to say yes to things - to treats - it can quickly become more than just a little here and there. My calorie counting has shown me that I can not only survive just fine without hunger but be satisfied and enjoy my food in smaller quantities! Being allowed more calories (to maintain instead of lose weight) is going to feel like such a luxury! But can be a slippery slope for sure! My journey to this point has taught me many tools for managing my weight so I hope to continue successfully! And of course pass on what I have learned too!

[Missionwoman in reply to CrimsonMama]

I am calorie counting and it is so helpful to know that you will pass on what you have learned. Thank you.

[Alideer 1 stone in reply to CrimsonMama]

What an inspiration you are CrimsonMama . I’m really struggling at the moment....after reaching 10st 10lbs I’m now back up to 12st. Two years ago I weighed 14st 4lbs. At 5’1” and 61 years old I feel out of control! I’m going to try your way of calorie counting as I treat chocolate and fruit the way you used to! Thanks for such a great post 🌼

[CrimsonMama in reply to Alideer]

Thank you Alideer! I am 5ft 1 as well!!! I strongly recommend using the NHS bmi calculator to work out your daily calories. I stuck to the lowest amount they give as I wanted to lose 2lb a week. But I had much more to lose than you!

Calorie counting is not that hard! I keep a notebook of meals so once I calculate the calories for it I don't have to do it again. And once you see what calories foods contain you can cut portion sizes to still enjoy the foods you love, but for less. For chocolate I buy the snack size bars as they are smaller than regular sizes and therefore less calories! Or you can cut one in half! It saves money too as regular portions are now two portions!

I buy the big share packet of crisps but measure out 16g as a portion (which is about 79 calories).

[Alideer 1 stone in reply to CrimsonMama]

Great ideas there CrimsonMama . I think planning my meals will really help so I have a notebook ready now....starting tomorrow! It’s a real eye opener just how many calories are in some foods.

At 5’1” every extra pound definitely shows! Have a great week ahead 🌼

[CrimsonMama in reply to Alideer]

Ooh I'm excited for you! I love making lists and things! Sometimes if I'm a little bored I will just browse foods to add to my notebook and come up with new recipes! Then its exciting to look forward to trying it out! That is why it becomes easy to "diet" as you actually love your meals and look forward to them!

[leharrow]

Well done ! Thanks for sharing, you have given me the incentive to keep focused.

[candoo]

absolutely fantastic, what a great achievement. sounds like you've got a great plan. well done

[san_ray70 Maintainer]

Congratulations, I thought I did well losing nearly 2stone in 24weeks, but as I am 70 I do not want to lose more than another stone.

[Crafty65]

Crimsonmamma congrats