Community first timer looking to join a weekly weigh in

[toastless]

Hello all, I'm 53 and always been a little on the heavy side. Over the last 2-3 years I've been on a downward trajectory, increasingly losing my ability to control my weight. I love long distance walking, but an ongoing back/hip problem (also for 2-3 years) has nixed that, contributing to my weight gain in two ways - losing the exercise and also by notching up the comfort eating when I'm feeling a little sorry for myself.

I've noticed one thing in particular over time - most of my weight loss attempts end after 2-3 weeks despite seeing positive effects: it's weirdly self destructive - as if subliminally I don't actually want to lose weight. Pretty sure I do though!

I don't think ever been a part of an online community for anything and I'm hoping that joining here will help give me some focus and motivation.

I'm really interested to read that so many of you are into low carb and intermittent fasting. I'm also interested in joining a weekly weigh in rather than just making my own records to help me stay motivated -

fingers crossed!

[wa2un7 Maintainer]

Simply reply to today’s weigh in post Up to 9pm tonight or if you prefer, Monday’s after 9 pm. Good luck.😊I’ve attached the link for today. Monday’s has just been posted.

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[toastless in reply to wa2un7]

Thank you!

[N-o-r-d-i Maintainer 64kg]

Hi and welcome. Wishing you all the best on your journey. I believe a lot of us are here because we were searching for something sustainable. I know I am because of that reason. I had many attempts and came to the old good conclusion that losing weight, however difficult it is - is not the most difficult part. Maintaining is much more difficult. So I set out to search the way of life that suits me. Too restrictive doesn’t suit me, too rigid doesn’t suit me, too prescriptive doesn’t suit me. Unless I quit eating - that suited me very well when I was on meal replacement VLCD, but sadly not sustainable because eventually you have to go back to normal food 😊 I personally am counting calories for the last year and getting slowly better at food choices.

I keep saying that finding something that suits you for a long time in the greatest challenge. Wishing you to find what is yours - be it low carb, intermittent fasting or whatever else, as long as it’s suits you and is not harmful to your health. Best of luck!

[toastless in reply to N-o-r-d-i]

Thanks n-o-r-d-i! The only time I have had success is when I’ve been most restrictive but of course that doesn’t pan out well in the long term, (although I distinctly remember at the time that I would NEVER allow myself to get back to where I was). But here we are and then some!! 😬 I’m looking forward to joining the group effort- it will give me better reasons to keep going!

[Blind_side63 7lbs]

Hi toastless. I'm new here today - 56 and highest weight ever! I would blame lockdown, but realise I am too good at excuses previous ones have been menopause, medication, getting older when in reality it is because I enjoy chocolate, potatoes, cheese and pringles too much (though not necessarily all at the same time :))

I enjoy walking too, though it does get more difficult with the excess weight. Would really love to get this weight off this time - as I love my carbs and struggle with the fasting, I have decided to go for the "simple" option of eating less and moving more so calorie counting it is for me.

Good luck with your journey!!

[toastless in reply to Blind_side63]

Hello Blind_side63 , nice to meet you - a lot of those excuses sound familiar to me! Good luck with this...I'm feeling optimistic. I'm very quiet about dieting at home because of how predictably it will tail off after 2-3 weeks (sometimes 2-3 days), some kindred spirits are going to help change things for me, I'm hoping. Also I deliberately chose a Sunday weigh in to keep me on my toes: Saturday is definitely my crisp and drinking danger zone!

[Blind_side63 7lbs]

Hello again, and thanks for the reply. I'm the same about being quiet at home about it, partly because I usually fall at the 2-3 days hurdle (so well done you on getting to 2-3 weeks!!), but also because I have 3 children who can eat what they like and stay slim. To be fair I was the same when I was younger, and am pleased that they don't ever worry about their weight I think I just chose today due to weighing myself this morning!

[toastless in reply to Blind_side63]

Hi Blind_side63 , how did your week go? did you make it past the magical 2-3 day hurdle?

[Blind_side63 7lbs]

Aww thanks for thinking of me toastless 😊 I did indeed, this is the best I have done in a long time! I've just updated my 3.5lb loss in this weeks weigh in

Hope your week went well?

[toastless in reply to Blind_side63]

Ah great news! Glad to hear it! I managed 3lbs, pretty pleased with that!

[Blind_side63 7lbs in reply to toastless]

Brilliant!! Good luck for the next week.

[Blind_side63 7lbs in reply to toastless]

Hi toastless

I see you did well yesterday - I meant to post on your weight loss post yesterday to say well done but got distracted

I noticed we are very similar with our weight and losses - I lost 1lb this week - I fell off the wagon a little over the week so was happy with this

[toastless in reply to Blind_side63]

Nice to hear from you Blind_side63 ! I was thinking about you yesterday! Well done on the lb great to hear your progress. I stepped on the scales this morning and wasn't happy at all! got to double the efforts this week as my normal procedure at this stage is to throw in the towel...I've got 6 days before I have to show and tell

[Blind_side63 7lbs]

Thank you I assume you weigh yourself every day then? I do too, and sometimes wonder whether it's the right thing to do, as sometimes I can put on a lb or 2 in a day, but have figured it can be if I have had a mega carb day, and then it will come off again if I am good for the next couple of days. But I don't think I could only weigh in once a week!! Don't throw in the towel, stick at it. Love that you call it show and tell

[toastless]

I'm weighing myself at LEAST once a day at the moment - it's ridiculous ha ha!! Monday-Friday is downhill all the way, but I just can't help kicking back at the weekend with a few glasses of wine and hoping the damage isn't too bad. Thought the Sunday weigh in might help nip that in the bud, but still got some way to go before I kick that particular habit! Aside from the wine, the low carb thing is working for me though, primarily because I'm not obsessing about the next meal all the time. How are you going about it? Are you just cutting down in general?

[BridgeGirl Administrator SS Supercook 2 stone in reply to toastless]

Tagging Blind_side63

[toastless in reply to BridgeGirl]

thank you!

[Blind_side63 7lbs in reply to toastless]

Oh my gosh toastless we are so similar - I weigh myself more than once a day! I always feel guilty about it as can remember going to WW many moons ago, and being told only weigh yourself once a week, but I prefer daily to keep tabs on it! And I also have an affiliation for a few glasses of wine I'm counting calories - been put off it previously because I thought it would be such a faff, but realised after the first week that there is a lot of repetition so pretty easy really I put it all on a spreadsheet which automatically totals it up. It has been an eye opener as I really didn't realise I was eating so many calories!! Also helps me to choose treats, and measuring my wine helps, especially as our wine glasses are too large As I move on, I may start reducing my carbs, but just want to get a handle on portion sizes etc first.

[Blind_side63 7lbs]

Hi toastless

Hope it's all going well with you?

[toastless in reply to Blind_side63]

Hello Blind_side63 ! So nice to hear from you! I'm good thanks, hope things are progressing well with you? I was looking out for you at weigh in but then I noticed you are on the Monday weigh in I think? That will be why I didn't spot you!! (I'm doing Sunday). I seem to be doing pretty well, thanks to this community - it has really helped in a brilliantly non judgemental way. I haven't weighed in this weekend because we're up in Scotland on a week's holiday - gawd knows what the scales will look like when I'm back (especially after the walk of shame to the bottle bank - haha!) How about you?

[Blind_side63 7lbs in reply to toastless]

Hi toastless

Just checking in, to check you're okay?

I've gone off the rails a bit in the last 3 weeks, but trying to get back into it. It's not easy is it

[toastless in reply to Blind_side63]

Hello Blind_side63 ! I hope you are well?

Thank you for thinking of me, I'm fine thank you. Sorry to hear you've gone of the rails - I confess have a little bit too, or at least I have stagnated a little for no good reason. Down during the week, up at the weekend, rinse and repeat!

I'm glad you got in touch because I haven't weighed on the app for a quite a while (weeks in fact) but I'm still trying - I've not gained, but certainly not lost anything in the last month really. I successfully chalked up my first target (getting under 12st before a wedding), but I know my psychological shortcomings and I am now resting on my laurels despite setting myself a new target. The low carb thing definitely works for me, but the dreaded toast has been slipping back in now and again...not to mention all the wine! The low carb thing feels effortless some of the time, but I do need to remember there is actually effort involved. That said, I'm feeling quite upbeat for the long term though. I don't know about you, but this is the most weight I have lost in years and the longest I have stuck to any sort of lifestyle change (well, with the exception of a weekend excess or two).

One thing I have noticed is that if I temporarily lose the plot and put weight on, it's a fairly quick recovery time to get back to where you were. I really need to start weighing in though - I don't know why I stopped, because I find it all very positive and motivating - how about you?

[Blind_side63 7lbs in reply to toastless]

Lovely to hear from you, and pleased it's positive. Was worried you would have done my usual trick or putting on a bit, giving up and then putting it all back on, but great to hear you haven't.

The dreaded toast - so that's why you have the name you have Could you build some toast into your plan, after all it's low carb not no carb

Even though I have gone off the rails for 3 weeks, I keep going up and down the same 2lb, but overall I have only just gained 2lb so not too bad - I confessed all at weigh in this week and got lots of support, which is lovely, and has helped me stop the rot.

I have reservations about low carb, tried it and felt great and less sluggish, but seemed to get stronger sugar cravings, and I don't know if low carb is something I could sustain for life - not easy eating out

I guess it's a matter of trying different things, and seeing what works.

Good luck and get yourself back onto the weigh-ins

[toastless in reply to Blind_side63]

Toast is my gateway drug,

Mustn't. Go. There.

Not yet anyway!

It's such an interesting and ridiculous mind game isn't it ? You really have to know your own psychological pitfalls and find new and interesting ways to head your brain off at the pass.

Putting on a bit then just giving up sounds very familiar to me - maybe that's why I have been avoiding the weigh ins - if I have gained weight and people tell me it's ok in that loving supportive way that they do, I fear I'll believe them and decide not to make amends! It's a brilliant support network though - I'm glad you found some motivation out of it - hope you have a better time over this week - 2lbs is easy to recover from with the right kind of support. I'm drawing inspiration from a guy called SofaJockey, who is so far settled into his new lifestyle that he needs to make a decision when to STOP dieting!

I'm virtually reaching cult membership on the low carb thing and find myself banging on about it to anyone who will listen. The saving grace is allowing yourself to guzzle down enough fat to stop the hunger/cravings - after a few days you don't notice the cravings any more. it all feels very counter-intuitive though - Camembert on a diet for goodness sake...who knew? That said, I generally prefer savoury food to sweet, so I find I like the food anyway.

Good luck to you too and glad you have found some new resolve - fingers crossed for next week's weigh - I promise I'll show my face at mine - will give me a good reason to cut down on the recreational weekend wine and nuts!

[Blind_side63 7lbs in reply to toastless]

Oh dear I'll step away slowly ...

I do think that's half the battle.

I know what you mean, it's why I didn't weigh in last week, but then put on weight again this week. Strangely writing it down made it seem not as bad as it was in my mind.

It's brilliant that it works for you, I will have to read up some more on it, and I will check out SofaJockey

Nuts and wine sounds divine ...

[Blind_side63 7lbs]

Hi toastless , yes I'm a Monday weigh in

Sounds like you have having a fab week's holiday, hopefully not too much damage on the scales Even if there is, don't let it stop you continuing with the weight loss.

Lol at the walk of shame, a too regular past-time of mine, luckily it's just a 2 minute drive down the road

Enjoy the rest of your hols!

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to Blind_side63]

Hi, your friend toastless has just joined us on The Autumn Challenge, don't forget to weigh in this week! x

healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

[toastless in reply to Lytham]

hi Blind_side63 ! I'm back in with a vengeance! are you in??!

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to toastless]

Yayy ! That's my girl! x

[toastless in reply to Lytham]

Ha ha!! Let’s hope this enthusiasm lasts the week😂

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to toastless]

It better, I have my CCTV on you now ! Lol

The new week of the Autumn Challenge starts tomorrow, week 5, don't forget to come back next Sunday with your fab loss! x

[Blind_side63 7lbs in reply to toastless]

Hi @toastless - great to hear your positivity in your posts and a lot happening Very well done on your weight loss

I've lost my way a little (well a lot!), so need to get back on track!

[Blind_side63 7lbs in reply to Lytham]

Thanks for the reminder @Lytham - you are brilliant, don't know how you do it all

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to Blind_side63]

Ha ha ! Here's the link to this week x

healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

Oh when you tag someone you write what you've wrote then click on their name in the dropdown box that aopears so it turns blue x

[Blind_side63 7lbs in reply to Lytham]

Thanks Lytham

Argh, thought I'd got the knack of that, but keep forgetting

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to Blind_side63]

Ha ha ! You did it! Yayy! x