27 with 7 stone to lose. Advice needed- please

[Emma3334]

Hello,

Short version being I piled on weight while at uni, then did Cambridge and lost roughly 3 stone, kept it off for a long time but slowly put back on, then did slimming world and lost 2 st 7lbs ish, kept it off but slowly put back on. Ive sat around the 16 stone mark when at my heaviest but was mortified to see the other day that im now 17st 2lbs... I literally cried.

I keep aiming to be 12 st 7lbs and then to get down to 12st, yet when ive actually thought about it and looked at BMI etc I should be about 10st I cannot believe I need to lose 7 stone. I feel so daunted sad and overwhelmed. Even just thinking of the 4st 7lbs to lose for the first target.

Im going on holiday in 49 days (not that im counting) and sheer panic has set in. I need to lose as much as possible quickly and I need some help. Should I consider Cambridge, LL or diet chef for a month to hopefully lose a stone or two?? Then go onto SW. Or should I pick one and just do it until holiday then SW when I come back? I like SW but the results aren't quick enough.

Im really feeling so low. All of my friends are v slim and although are kind just don't understand they always say I look nice but I feel so huge and out of place. They are the lucky ones that eat n eat n eat SH*T food all day long and just don't put on weight. we all know the vicsious circle of be fat, be sad, eat, feel sadder, eat more, be fatter.... repeat.

Please please any advice, thoughts, opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Karaestra]

In my opinion, you should sign up for SW. If you stick to SW and follow it, you should be able to lose 1 stone before you go away. Then when you get back from your holiday, you can pick up and carry on what you started I know how frustrating it is when people around you are able to eat whatever they want and not gain 1lb. My husband is like that, all I have to do is look at food and gain half a stone. xx

 

[catmac]

Firstly stop panicking! It's going to be okay, I'm in a similar situation and it's taken me ages to realise that I just have to calm down and take each day as it comes. Okay so you're not going to be a size 10 for your holiday, but look on the bright side you could be a stone lighter and feeling proud for what you've achieved. I'm doing sw at home, I find I resent other people and there huge losses at group so I gave it up, I am only accountable to me. We can do this, we just have to take each day one at a time and it will sort itself. My mantra is, one year from now you will be glad you started today. I look forward to transforming mentally and physically with you. X

 

[Emma3334]

Thank you to you both for taking the time to reply to me and share your thoughts I really appreciate it.
Its my own fault as I said id start back on SW in Jan yet didn't and have put on at least a stone if not more since then but the panic is there and I just cant help it. Its when you start looking at all this crazy stuff online, I feel like Peter Kay... lose 14 stone IN A DAAAAAAAAAAAAY... I know its madness but I cant help but think I wonder if that pill/tea/corset works.... I just feel so sad.

I need to make a decision as I cant limit/count calories AND do SW lol so far today ive had an omelette sandwich (wholemeal big bread so I think 6syns) and maybe 2 syns for tomato sauce im hungry but don't know what to eat cos don't know what to do lol. Should I cut out carbs after breakfast???

im sorry for the rambles I JUST want a magic wand as does everyone lol xx

 

[Karaestra]

Lol I wish there was a magic pill that we took before we slept, then woke up at our dream weight!! I personally avoid bread as it bloats me, I have porridge and fruit for my breakfast.

 

[catmac]

I'm possibly the worlds pickiest eater, I had a pear and a yoghurt neither of which I really like! Lol. I'm doing sw green and trying to limit my carbs, because I eat loads. I think trying to fill up on veg is the best way to go and then keeping yourself busy. I try not to take my purse when I go out as it helps stop temptation, I'm not quite at the singing for chocolate on street corners phase yet! I think if you just stick to slimming world you'll do best, the water weight alone will make you feel better, and you can keep doing the principals on hol so you don't have to start all over again when you get back. I'm such a rambler!

 

[catmac]

Oh and as for the miracle pill, I kinda don't want one! I have so many slim friends who constantly whinge that they want my boobs or wish they had a bum and totally don't appreciate what they have. I'd rather struggle and then strut into a room thinking I worked damned hard for this, tell me how ace I am! Lol x

 

[Emma3334]

Kara - I love carbs that's the issue. Then Sw confuses me cos I could have toast, JP then pasta and theyre all for it....

cat - Im impressed with your mindset, Id take the pill and easy option anyday! Sorry but I feel like my life for the past 10 years and im only 27 has beena constant diet yoyo and its so upsetting,
x

 

[Emma3334]

do you ever just feel like no one understands? people that haven't had weight issues just seem to be like well if youre not happy lose weight... I just want to scream WHY DIDNT I THINK OF THAT?!

I don't eat biscuits, sweets, crisps, or chocolate.
I don't drink fruit juice, pop or diet pop, I hardly ever drink alcohol.
Generally 98% of my food is home made, never ever have microwave food

We do have takeaways but cut down a lot, maybe 2 a month but the one meal eg chicken in black bean sauce with boiled rice would be split so like tea then the other half for lunch.

I just don't think I eat badly enough to warrant all of my weight. Obviously im doing something wrong though!
I feel like I don't want to go out or see anyone. gosh this has just started to all pour out!

 

[Grumpy Space Princess]

Hey, I've definitely been there! I'm now 7 stone slimmer, and I tried just about every diet there is along the way. My advice would be to try not to focus on the whole 7 stone. That'll drive you mad. Focus on your first mini-goal. Then on the next one. Then the next.

The food you eat doesn't have to be junk food in order to gain weight; there just needs to be too much of it. I always weigh things like cheese, pasta--basically anything that isn't fresh fruit and veg--to make sure I am really getting a single serving. Back when I was 7 stone heavier, it was more like 3 servings! And I'm going to keep on weighing once I hit my goal weight, so the pounds don't creep back on. If you are eating reasonable portions and your weight doesn't budge, it might be time to talk to your GP to make sure there's no hormonal imbalances or anything like that causing your weight gain.

I know how frustrating it is to be surrounded by people who can eat whatever they want and not gain a lb. It's so infuriating! But you can definitely do this. Trust me, if I can, anyone can. Good luck! xx

 

[snowbryneich]

Hello I think if you pick a v low calorie diet then you will probably likely put more of what you lose back on when you are on holiday as it's much easier to go mad after you've been deprived and also it's a bigger difference in what you are intaking. With slimming world you'll lose slower but be eating more calories so holiday eating won't be such a shock to your system.

I think we all wish there was a magic pill. There is an episode of dr who where this a diet pill someone is selling that is actually turning people's excess fat into little alien babies and they detache each night which dr who had to stop I'd sign up in for that in a heart beat - the aliens are welcome to the fat I don't want it! (But I don't think any of the actually sold ones work unfortunately!)

 

[catmac]

Wtf the Dr who thing lol!

I'm 31 and have spent more than half my life yoyoing so I get it, I think I've just gone to my happy place, I think I've finally figured out carbs are my problem so measuring them and also i think fruit is a lie. I hate most fruit so maybe I'm biased but I keep reading how it's too high in sugar and the nutrients are insignificant in comparison.
If you truly are eating as well as you say ( not saying your lying btw, but I often kid myself) then I think docs is a good move, although you've lost weight before.
Think positive, it helps weirdly, and we'll succeed one little goal at a time x

 

[Emma3334]

Thanks everyone - I know what youre saying I could spend a fortune on a quick fix LCD for 7 weeks but then probably put most of it back on in a week! I hadn't thought of that one!

Im not saying Im an angel with food but my point is I don't stuff myself with everything naughty so I struggle to understand why it just keeps piling on.

Grumpy SP what did you do to lose 7 stone and how long did it take you?
I am planning on breaking it down, so ive broken it down to the stone brackets and then the stone losses to try to make it a bit easier - fingers crossed

Snow - howling at the Dr comment, id be all over that but my fat would repopulate the alien world!

Cat - being positive feels very difficult at the moment, just feeling very low.


Ive had my omelette sandwich, and a pasta n sauce packet today with 4 pints of water, going to have a look to see what to make for tea.
Ive been lazy all day which is no good but have no want to do anything or go anywhere

x

 

[Grumpy Space Princess]

Grumpy SP what did you do to lose 7 stone and how long did it take you?

Calorie counting, for the most part. I have done SW off and on, but I find that I tend to go too carb heavy with that, which slows my weight loss, so I end up going back to calorie counting and MFP. I try to keep all of my carbs, sugars, fats, etc under the recommended levels for the calories I'm currently consuming. And I try to eat low GI foods whenever possible, so I stay fuller for longer. And, of course, lots and lots of using my kitchen scales to weigh everything.

As for how long it took... I'm not really sure. It's hard to guess at a start date, since I've been trying to lose weight basically every day since I was 9. This time around, I just started eating healthier, which led to me shrinking a bit. Then I actively tried to make shrinking happen by joining SW. Maybe a year and a half, maybe two years since the weight first started coming off? I know I've been a member here for nearly a year.

Bear in mind, I had no real plan at first. I just ate what I thought was healthy and started walking a lot.

 

[Emma3334]

For tea I had chicken with peppers and onions cooked in passata with lots of paprika, with piles of broccoli and some mash potato (small amount of butter in whole pan load)

 

[Karaestra]

I agree with Snow, which is why I said you should just do Slimming World or whatever eating plan fits you best. Over this last year I have tried various VLCDs, lost weight, spent a fortune then gained it back in a week which then made me feel even worse about myself. Carbs are my biggest weakness as well, even when I did SW I weighed them. I decided to start doing a low GI diet which my doctor recommended for me. You should go and see your GP if you're having trouble with your weight and feel like nothing is working for you x

 

[Bigbear]

Hi Emma - welcome and first of all well done for coming here and seeking advice and for making the decision to lose weight!! Sometimes it's starting off that's the hardest bit.
I think the most important thing is to pick a plan that you think you can stick to - so if you've done well with SW in the past, maybe that is the right plan for you?

My Fitness Pal is a really great app for logging your food - if you're not sure why you are gaining weight despite eating well, I think logging your food for a few days might be a good idea. perhaps you're eating more calories than you realise? For me portion control has been a big battle (hence why slim fast with fixed portions works for me).

wish you luck xxxxx

 

[Emma3334]

Thanks everyone- I just feel like its so hard to shift any. I know its easier to put on than get off and nothing easy is worth doing blah blah but it doesn't make it easy. Ive spoken to my dr a few months ago and they just said to keep trying - very motivational and helpful x

 

[Karaestra]

It is hard to get yourself on the right track to losing weight, especially when you feel like your weight is standing still no matter what you do to get rid of it. Keep trying, and eventually you will find something that does work for you. Are you still going to follow SW?

 

[Letzes]

If you think about how long it's going to take, you'll get mad. Just do one day at time and enjoy it by changing your eating habits.
I try to adopt the idea that I'm not going to it if I don't like it. It's a diet, but it's also my life and I'm a food lover - so I want to conciliate both words.
I learnt how to eat many things that I didn't before, like fruits and veggies. I do find them awesome. Sometimes I even want to go over the calories for an extra pear

Having said that, I don't believe that people pile up on weight if they eat properly (unless they are sick, in that case, you must consult your GP). If you are not sick, then you get weight because of a simple equation, you eat more than you consume. Maybe you are too sedentary, maybe it's like Grumpy said and you have to learn how to control your portions. In my case, I'm fat because I like eating, it's pretty easy to admit that for me. Every once in a while I even question myself if diets are worth or if it's better to be fat and happy (yeah, I'm not sad because I'm fat, I'm just trying to be better). You have to discover what happens in your case and then you will be able to deal with that.

Now, I know I can see only your profile picture, but I do agree with your friends, you look pretty
And yes, I'm being honest, I could just go without any compliment if it wasn't true.

I hope you succeed with SW as I find their plan awesome, but stop thinking in terms of time. You lost weight before, you gained it again, you now know that it's a forever change or weight is going to come back. So, find a plan that fits your life-style, allow yourself to be indulgent every once in a while and, mainly, stop hating yourself. I do believe, based on my own experience, that things get a lot easier when we start to accept ourselves the way we are, because then you start to care ABOUT YOU and not about what other people think.