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Help! I have so much weight to lose

I know what you mean about feeling hungry - before I was diagnosed I did the 5:2 diet and once into it, I enjoyed listening to my body and would see hunger pangs as my body eating it's fat! Anyway doc told me to stop that with prediabetes so now I'm low carbing.

I wish my leg would get better (think trapped nerve from gym) so I can ramp up exercise but I'm stuck with walking everywhere as much as pos and resistance training on my upper body.

Today I hit 10% loss. It's taken forever! But at least it's a milestone and the most I've lost consistently for a v long time so I'm proud if that! Clothes feel bigger but will not buy anything for summer and just use what I have. I've had to charity bag a lot of stuff that just hung on me.

Loose skin - I'm 38 so I think I'll be having rather a lot of flappy skin but it keeps the kids amused when they wobble it! I could well need a tummy tuck wtc but doubt that's an option for me!

It is important to do some toning exercise while losing the flab. I really like seeing my muscles growing and feeling firmer!

I use mfp sometimes when I'm trying new stuff to see ratios but I don't really need it these days as I have a fairly good food list now. I love it when it tells me off for not eating enough! Although it's not done it since I've been low carbing...

X




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Diagnosed prediabetic Easter 2014. Just left to get on with it, no guidance or help from GP. Every day I'm learning something new.
 
Yay! 10% loss, I may be there with you this week or perhaps I'll have to wait for another week. Well done.
 
I think I'm on about 11% at the moment, but @Bluetit1802 and @Andrew Colvin suggest that fasting BGs take a tumble when you get to around 17% so that's my next goal.
 
zand said:
I am 56 and am well aware that my skin has lost some of it's elasticity. I accept that I will probably be left with loose skin around my tummy and I may need surgery, but I am doing my best to avoid this. At the moment the only place where my skin looks loose is my left arm, and that's easy enough to exercise more to help the muscle fill it out more. However when I start to notice this happening anywhere else, I intend to increase my calorie intake (yes, pure hell for me) so that I lose weight more slowly so that my skin has a better chance of shrinking back naturally.
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I too am 56. I've averaged 2.5lbs loss p.w. In the beginning it dropped off at 3 or 4 pounds a week. Some of this was pre diagnosis and not done purposely. Then I discovered myfitnesspal here and keyed in a desired weight loss of 2lb then 1.5lb. Now I'm off metformin I've gone for 2lb but eat a lot more than the 1200 calories it says I need. This is because I've added a little more exercise. But this week I had lost 3lb! It's a vicious circle. I've cut the cheese a little because my HbA1C was higher, the good and the bad elements. I didn't aim for 3lbs.
I upped the desired from 1.5 to 2 pounds partly because I've read that metformin is an appetite suppressant and also aides weight loss. My thinking was I needed to aim for a 2lb loss to achieve a 1lb loss.
Until I was 30 I was a fitness fanatic and I also was fixated with keeping weight down. At 171cm tall I now realise I was never overweight. Anyway, they say the body has a memory and I wonder if all the exercise I've been doing has woken up my body and kick started my metabolism. I don't know.
About loose skin ... The muscles in my legs have returned and they are back to the basic good shape I always used to have, but I have loose skin appearing on inner and outer thighs. Actually though, I'm wondering if the outer thigh state of affairs might just have happened anyway, as I aged. I have bing wings developing. I need to do some arm exercises because so far I've only done leg work. The Zumba helps because there's a lot of arm waving, but I need to make it a focus.

The tummy - not too bad at the moment although I have a funny story. I decided to try jogging on my walk about a month back. I thought someone was clapping my efforts but alas it was my tummy hitting whatever was underneath it!!

I will have loose skin on my tummy but I will never go down the surgery route. But I do understand it is a must for some because of the enormous weight loss they achieve.

About stretch marks!! The irony! I went through my pregnancy and only had a 2cm mark across the lower part of my tummy. Then I proceeded to completely wreck my body. Anyway, we have a briefing meeting in school before the start of each day. Any other business? Said the head. "I've found a stretch mark!" Said I. ;-)

My poor daughter began to get stretch marks the minute she became pregnant. Even 5 years later, the marks on her tummy resemble a tiger stripe pattern, very wide. Poor girl, also on arms, legs, boobs and bottom , although they aren't as noticeable. May be hormonal? I've digressed ... Sorry


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No, that wasn't digressing at all peacetrain, it was progression. I did the same as you...no stretch marks in pregnancy then I wrecked my body completely afterwards.
 
Well I had stretch marks before pregnancy, didn't add to them while preg do I guess I had prepared my skin to stretch already!!!


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Diagnosed prediabetic Easter 2014. Just left to get on with it, no guidance or help from GP. Every day I'm learning something new.
 
I'm 66 and frightened myself to death the other day. We have a very large wall mirror in our bathroom (big mistake) and as I was weighing myself I caught sight of my loose and wrinkly skin on my trunk area. I looked just like my mum when she was in her 80's and needed help getting in and out of the bath. Jeez, it was enough to make me want to put all my weight back on again!! :eek: I am more or less at goal weight now having dropped my BMI from 31 to 25. I upped my calories on My Fitness Pal yesterday to maintenance weight and solved the problem of what to eat extra by having 2 glasses of red wine instead of 1. ;)
 
zand said:
Yes I do get hungry sometimes. What I say next is personal to me and might sound crazy to most people. Hunger is a problem but not in the same way as for most people.
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I think your posts are always very insightful and often very wise, zand.
I agree, hunger should not be a problem, but perhaps in a slightly different way. Hunger is a natural state. Our ancient ancestors sometimes went days without eating. I am not suggesting that we eat that way, starvation is not good. What is important is mindful eating. I know many people, (most of them overweight) who seem to think you need to eat until you feel full. So full that it feels uncomfortable. Much better to be aware of the taste and texture of what you are eating, take time, and stop eating as soon as you have had enough, regardless of what is left on the plate. Also, sometimes hunger is confused with thirst, so a drink of water will suffice, instead of more food.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
I'm 66 and frightened myself to death the other day. We have a very large wall mirror in our bathroom (big mistake) and as I was weighing myself I caught sight of my loose and wrinkly skin on my trunk area. I looked just like my mum when she was in her 80's and needed help getting in and out of the bath. Jeez, it was enough to make me want to put all my weight back on again!! :eek: I am more or less at goal weight now having dropped my BMI from 31 to 25. I upped my calories on My Fitness Pal yesterday to maintenance weight and solved the problem of what to eat extra by having 2 glasses of red wine instead of 1. ;)
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The only thing worse than one long mirror is two long mirrors, in the changing rooms of clothes shops.

Well done on reaching your goal! :-)
My BMI is 30.5 so I still have a way to go. I've never been a drinker so wine won't be an option for me.



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Pipp said:
I think your posts are always very insightful and often very wise, zand.
I agree, hunger should not be a problem, but perhaps in a slightly different way. Hunger is a natural state. Our ancient ancestors sometimes went days without eating. I am not suggesting that we eat that way, starvation is not good. What is important is mindful eating. I know many people, (most of them overweight) who seem to think you need to eat until you feel full. So full that it feels uncomfortable. Much better to be aware of the taste and texture of what you are eating, take time, and stop eating as soon as you have had enough, regardless of what is left on the plate. Also, sometimes hunger is confused with thirst, so a drink of water will suffice, instead of more food.
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I agree with most of this but if would add that I finished what I are because I liked the sensation of biting in to some foods and I also craved the taste and sensation. I should also add the words "carb addiction" and " compulsive eating" . I remember zand's early posts. I remember crying as I read them. I identified with so much of it. We all knew what we should and shouldn't be doing but that vicious circle created by carb addiction is hard to break. I'll say it again... t2 diagnosis was a blessing in disguise for me.






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peacetrain said:
I agree with most of this but if would add that I finished what I are because I liked the sensation of biting in to some foods and I also craved the taste and sensation. I should also add the words "carb addiction" and " compulsive eating" . I remember zand's early posts. I remember crying as I read them. I identified with so much of it. We all knew what we should and shouldn't be doing but that vicious circle created by carb addiction is hard to break. I'll say it again... t2 diagnosis was a blessing in disguise for me.






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And me!!


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Diagnosed prediabetic Easter 2014. Just left to get on with it, no guidance or help from GP. Every day I'm learning something new.
 
zand said:
@spirits thanks for your posts. I found them interesting, and will keep them in mind for when I next 'get stuck'. Things seem to be going OK for me at the moment so for now I will be keeping on with what I have been doing so far, however I often look back at the advice given to me on this thread when I need help. So thank you for yours, I have no doubt I will refer back to it at a later stage.
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thank you zand, sorry for late reply, i wish you all the success in all you do,glad you found many posts on the forum helpful big hugs x
 
spirits said:
thank jamrox,i think the more help everyone gets and gives can be very useful,you always get some one some where to make it difficult to give out the help you try to give and block it, and how are you doing jamrox how is your health
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I feel better than I have in years.
My blood sugars are ok , ive lost nearly 2stone , have been active ( notice I don't use the exercise word) for at least 30 minutes for past 78 days so am fitter.
I like the fact that people on here and new you in 42 tell people how they spend 30 minutes doing different activities , some very unusual that make me laugh and are fun

How are you spirits?

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food is the most hardest thing to have to give up/quit as when you enjoy the food and like the taste of it when you got to give up that favorite it can be difficult letting it go, however it is not about giving up that food, it is how you make it and eat it, if you know what is in the food reacting with your body make some changes, change the sugar to the Stevie sugar,or the oil to linseed,olive oil or sunflower oil, any flour used change it to almond flour or something like almond,you can still have things you enjoy and do not have to give them up people who like Indian food and Chinese, high salt sugar go in to them and few other things if you alter the ingredients to less salt or no salt that cuts out the high level of salt already, do same with anything sweet reduce it or change the sugar to stervia and put less in, use fresh ingredients like herbs,just cook the food yourself and get products not high in fat etc, once you get the balance right and it is not affecting your glucose sugars then you will know it is working for you, buying from take always some restaurant etc do not cook for healthy eating most add to much high levels of fat sugar salt and not always fresh food either.avoid some frozen foods if they contain high levels of these ingredients to, sorry if my words are messed up i feel a bit messed up today my focus not as good today so i apologies hope you understand what i am trying to say, cook your own fresh food your better off.
 
We have a mirror in a toilet where I work , its in a perfect place to see my flabby stretch marked belly ....I turn the other way when Im zipping up my trousers now ...haha

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Jamrox said:
I feel better than I have in years.
My blood sugars are ok , ive lost nearly 2stone , have been active ( notice I don't use the exercise word) for at least 30 minutes for past 78 days so am fitter.
I like the fact that people on here and new you in 42 tell people how they spend 30 minutes doing different activities , some very unusual that make me laugh and are fun

How are you spirits?

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Hi jamrox i am glad your doing great and your routine works for you and yes the word exercise can scare some people off,and it is nice people including your self do different activities the more it is fun it helps a lot, glad you lost 2 stone and progressing well done, i am so glad i have found so many people on here that communicate and share in similar health issues not sure if that was right word to use, I find i get more out of talking here than i do at home, sometimes there is not enough support or understanding at home and it can make a person feel sometimes alone,yet when you can talk to people going through the same things and can relate to it to it helps talking to them, glad i am talking with you to because you have a lot on your mind to i can tell that maybe you sometimes want to find that opening to get things out the system sorry if i do not make sense me mind not fully with it today. just want to say i am glad the internet has a door we can all go to and find answers, years ago before internet there was nothing easy to access to get info,at least we got more opportunities to do more now, thank you for the time you share talking it is nice. hugsx
 
Jamrox said:
We have a mirror in a toilet where I work , its in a perfect place to see my flabby stretch marked belly ....I turn the other way when Im zipping up my trousers now ...haha

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I can relate to what your saying there, when we look at our bodies and see what we see we sometimes never accept our bodies fully, and that is true, we should love our selves more not hate ourselves in how we look, i looked at me felt so sad how i am looking and i knew it was wrong of me to do it,i do know the goals we take to achieve losing weight for health to keep healthy, to accept we can do it, will take time yet we can achieve it, I think women bodies go through a lot and as mothers to our bodies took a lot from birthing, stretch marks and other things,just a sad time all complications that go in to pregnancies you would think we would have it easy yet it is not always like that for every woman. hope all works out with you and the weight you want to achieve.hugx
 
The scars ( there are many) and stretch marks on my body are a reminder of a life lived to the full. The stretch marks are the price I paid for being a mother to the wonderful people that my children have become. The scars from surgery and accidents are a reminder that I have been through some terrible times, and survived. Show I am tougher than I look.

I won't deny, the scars and stretch marks do pee me off sometimes though.
 
I have 1lb to loose to.my target 2stone

I will be 11 stone and have a bmi of 24..I am doing it slowly but have stepped it up this weekend to see if I can move it.
I didn't start to loose weight on purpose to begin with it just happened when I reduced my carb intake. Then I did the 5x50 challenge and felt great, lost more weight slowly during it.
I was afraid that I would go back to couch potato so joking suggested to people to do something with me and the new you in 42 challenge was born
. That along with zands wisdom and the support from everyone should be marketed. No fancy diet plan ( lower carb but not fancy) no joining fee ..just good old fashioned help advice and laughter
Long may it continue.


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