The 2024 Weight Loss Thread
Discussion
I've decided I'm going to remove myself from this thread now. I actually have no idea what I weigh now, I have definitely lost about a stone overall since the start of the year, but I've decided I'm not going to weigh myself anymore.
To cut a long story short I've had a traumatic period, and I'm in a period of depression right now, and I've realised I need to change something in my life.
One thing I've realised is that I beat myself up if I set goals and then don't stick to them, or don't achieve them, for whatever reason. However for me as soon as I start focusing on goals and bettering myself, life just kicks me down again.
Well, no more.
That doesn't mean I'm giving up with everything. I'll still continue to eat a healthy diet. I'll still do the exercise. I'll still try my best in life. However, I've come to realise two things. First that I cannot control what happens to me in life. Secondly, I'm the sort who gets mentally low if I set myself targets and don't hit them (and in all honesty I never do).
Ultimately being honest I always find myself getting obsessed with the numbers and it really hits me hard when I don't get what I want. It's just the way I'm wired up and I can't see it changing. I've tried, I really bloody have, to relax about it, but nah, it's not happening.
So that's it. I'll continue to try but I'm no longer tracking things or setting any specific goals. I wish you all the best in your journeys, but I'm out.
To cut a long story short I've had a traumatic period, and I'm in a period of depression right now, and I've realised I need to change something in my life.
One thing I've realised is that I beat myself up if I set goals and then don't stick to them, or don't achieve them, for whatever reason. However for me as soon as I start focusing on goals and bettering myself, life just kicks me down again.
Well, no more.
That doesn't mean I'm giving up with everything. I'll still continue to eat a healthy diet. I'll still do the exercise. I'll still try my best in life. However, I've come to realise two things. First that I cannot control what happens to me in life. Secondly, I'm the sort who gets mentally low if I set myself targets and don't hit them (and in all honesty I never do).
Ultimately being honest I always find myself getting obsessed with the numbers and it really hits me hard when I don't get what I want. It's just the way I'm wired up and I can't see it changing. I've tried, I really bloody have, to relax about it, but nah, it's not happening.
So that's it. I'll continue to try but I'm no longer tracking things or setting any specific goals. I wish you all the best in your journeys, but I'm out.
Got to just under 95 late Feb then plateaued for a few weeks. Easter hols in Spain included pasta, pizza, a big burger and plentiful beer. Minimal exercise too so I'm back up to 98. My target is 90 so back to full focus from this week.
Starting weight was 106 so I don't want to throw away the progress, especially as by blood sugar had gone from diabetic to low in the pre-diabetic range and my hope is at 90kg I will not even be pre-diabetic.
I must remember that it won't happen with lots of sweets and alcohol in my diet.
TRD - chin up, don't binge too often when you're feeling crap and keep doing some exercise even if it's minimal - it will help with your mental wellbeing.
Starting weight was 106 so I don't want to throw away the progress, especially as by blood sugar had gone from diabetic to low in the pre-diabetic range and my hope is at 90kg I will not even be pre-diabetic.
I must remember that it won't happen with lots of sweets and alcohol in my diet.
TRD - chin up, don't binge too often when you're feeling crap and keep doing some exercise even if it's minimal - it will help with your mental wellbeing.
Target weight achieved today. A couple of weeks late but my ski touring trip was a lot easier than the year before when I was lugging 7kg more on 1000-1600m climbing days. I managed to gain a kilo that week with the dumplings, schnitzels and strudel.
Suspect it will be a week or two before I'm reliably below 80kg but will keep going. I'm going to chase fat reduction now as a priority. I've been at peak fitness around 76kg and under 14% fat.
I've tracked everything on Myfitnesspal to keep myself honest. I've probably had a greater awareness of avoiding processed stuff.
Found it reasonably easy. Plan all meals so remove hunger induced bad choices. Cook almost everything myself including bread so makes the process easier. Porridge and berries for preakfast. Home made soup for lunch. Subbing out starchy carbs for extra veg with evening meal. Who knew 50g of rice with a curry was enough. Handful of nuts and peanut butter for snacks. My big downfall has always been finishing or opening another bottle of red and smashing baguette and brie to add a quick 1500 calories in an hour post dinner.
I also get walk the dogs for an hour and get out running or cycling most days so often have 1000cal in the bank from exercise
Suspect it will be a week or two before I'm reliably below 80kg but will keep going. I'm going to chase fat reduction now as a priority. I've been at peak fitness around 76kg and under 14% fat.
I've tracked everything on Myfitnesspal to keep myself honest. I've probably had a greater awareness of avoiding processed stuff.
Found it reasonably easy. Plan all meals so remove hunger induced bad choices. Cook almost everything myself including bread so makes the process easier. Porridge and berries for preakfast. Home made soup for lunch. Subbing out starchy carbs for extra veg with evening meal. Who knew 50g of rice with a curry was enough. Handful of nuts and peanut butter for snacks. My big downfall has always been finishing or opening another bottle of red and smashing baguette and brie to add a quick 1500 calories in an hour post dinner.
I also get walk the dogs for an hour and get out running or cycling most days so often have 1000cal in the bank from exercise
A gain for me, no one said I was any good at this! Back to the public weighbridge at FatClub today (slimming world). I think I'm day nine or ten straight of being good which shows just how damaging my Easter break was (and I knew it, but at the time that was where my head was).
I'm really struggling this year without my trusty steed rowing machine. The ups and downs are the same as last year, but the (almost) daily 10k rowing made a significant contribution to my mental health, activity, calorie use and general getting my act together. I'm still 12kg lighter than the start of 2023, but the glass is half full of cake mix recently!
I'm really struggling this year without my trusty steed rowing machine. The ups and downs are the same as last year, but the (almost) daily 10k rowing made a significant contribution to my mental health, activity, calorie use and general getting my act together. I'm still 12kg lighter than the start of 2023, but the glass is half full of cake mix recently!
First update for two weeks. A bit disappointed as my weight hasn't changed. In some ways not surprised as last weekend was definitely pushing the boundaries 
. Oddly though I've hit the last hole on my belt which I know I couldn't have done last week. Anyway, just keep on going as I'm sure I can get over this plateau.
. Oddly though I've hit the last hole on my belt which I know I couldn't have done last week. Anyway, just keep on going as I'm sure I can get over this plateau.Just back from a week of training in Mallorca. Loads of cycling and running and loads of good healthy food. Weight stayed stable throughout, despite the massive training overload, so now I'm back I'm cutting the portion sizes back to normal but trying to stay on the healthy food train for as long as possible.
Aim over the next month is 1kg a week through very healthy eating and use of MFP, as I have a mountain race in May and I can probably improve my performance more now through losing four kg than I can through training!
Aim over the next month is 1kg a week through very healthy eating and use of MFP, as I have a mountain race in May and I can probably improve my performance more now through losing four kg than I can through training!
Still at 79.6 one month later so a solid plateau. Currently under Dr's orders for no exercise until my HR calms down from the thyroid issues so this is a slightly dangerous time for weight gain but at least I now have a diagnosis and drugs to treat it and will be feeling better and willing to get into the gym. Have to watch it like a hawk though to ensure it doesn't creep up
22 said:
A week at the same. Friday treat day rolled into treat weekend. I'm wired badly and don't really feel hunger or full-up, I just eat - but I've had unhealthy relationships with most things over the years.
I'm exactly the same. I don't feel hungry until I start eating, and then I can't stop!Steve91 said:
I'm exactly the same. I don't feel hungry until I start eating, and then I can't stop!
Insulin. We like to pretend we have free will, but the reality is we are all confined by millions of years chemical addiction that's triumphed in game of evolution 
.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3894001/
Echo some of above, steady loss since Boxing Day then plateau since Easter for 3 weeks now, down from 105 to 90 (needed it in all honesty) but the graph now rises and falls with not much real progress.
TameRacingDriver, sad to hear of your struggles.
You are certainly correct in not wishing to add stress to your life at a difficult time like this.
You might use this process as a distraction from those other stresses, I was in a similar position and realised lots of things were out of my wider control so this was where I could focus efforts and at least be knowing the results that might come.
Healthy also to take a break if it’s not adding to your overall positive experience in terms of mental health etc, as long as you are making healthy choices where you can, don’t beat yourself up.
This isn’t a sprint but a long marathon that should form the basis of your lifestyle so finding your rhythm with it is as important as the progress…
If the numbers are stressing you out, suggest you shift your focus elsewhere to something else and the numbers generally follow anyway. Don’t force a bad hand if it’s adding to your stress though, counter productive.
Maybe measure how many walks you go on in a day (target 1, achieve 1). It’s your deck and you have the right to load it in your favour….
TameRacingDriver, sad to hear of your struggles.
You are certainly correct in not wishing to add stress to your life at a difficult time like this.
You might use this process as a distraction from those other stresses, I was in a similar position and realised lots of things were out of my wider control so this was where I could focus efforts and at least be knowing the results that might come.
Healthy also to take a break if it’s not adding to your overall positive experience in terms of mental health etc, as long as you are making healthy choices where you can, don’t beat yourself up.
This isn’t a sprint but a long marathon that should form the basis of your lifestyle so finding your rhythm with it is as important as the progress…
If the numbers are stressing you out, suggest you shift your focus elsewhere to something else and the numbers generally follow anyway. Don’t force a bad hand if it’s adding to your stress though, counter productive.
Maybe measure how many walks you go on in a day (target 1, achieve 1). It’s your deck and you have the right to load it in your favour….
Edited by 996Type on Saturday 20th April 07:59
^^^
Although this was written for TRD (thinking of you during this difficult time and sorry to hijack) a lot of the message from 996Type resonates with me. Currently going through a very stressful period at work with quite a few away trips adding to work pressures. I'm holding steady at 67 kg but trying to lose that last 2 kg is adding to the stress. I'm removing the focus on weight loss until the last few big meetings/deadlines are out of the way and will resume once it's quieter again. I'm not going to stop choosing the healthier options or exercising, I'm just not going to beat myself up if the scales don't show a lower number at the end of the week.
Although this was written for TRD (thinking of you during this difficult time and sorry to hijack) a lot of the message from 996Type resonates with me. Currently going through a very stressful period at work with quite a few away trips adding to work pressures. I'm holding steady at 67 kg but trying to lose that last 2 kg is adding to the stress. I'm removing the focus on weight loss until the last few big meetings/deadlines are out of the way and will resume once it's quieter again. I'm not going to stop choosing the healthier options or exercising, I'm just not going to beat myself up if the scales don't show a lower number at the end of the week.
ASA569 said:
^^^
Although this was written for TRD (thinking of you during this difficult time and sorry to hijack) a lot of the message from 996Type resonates with me. Currently going through a very stressful period at work with quite a few away trips adding to work pressures. I'm holding steady at 67 kg but trying to lose that last 2 kg is adding to the stress. I'm removing the focus on weight loss until the last few big meetings/deadlines are out of the way and will resume once it's quieter again. I'm not going to stop choosing the healthier options or exercising, I'm just not going to beat myself up if the scales don't show a lower number at the end of the week.
Good work and good approach.Although this was written for TRD (thinking of you during this difficult time and sorry to hijack) a lot of the message from 996Type resonates with me. Currently going through a very stressful period at work with quite a few away trips adding to work pressures. I'm holding steady at 67 kg but trying to lose that last 2 kg is adding to the stress. I'm removing the focus on weight loss until the last few big meetings/deadlines are out of the way and will resume once it's quieter again. I'm not going to stop choosing the healthier options or exercising, I'm just not going to beat myself up if the scales don't show a lower number at the end of the week.
Everyone must have had the experience of dropping a belt notch over summer without paying too much attention to habits etc. so keep a watching eye on what’s going on but don’t add to an already stressful time via self criticism. It’s a long journey not a sprint, keep an eye on the longer game and spend more time on the horse than off it and you’ll be fine.
Also for perspective, many would love to be that weight and just 2Kg away from the goal, are you being overly critical of yourself there?
If the number is creating stress for anyone, give the target a rest for a while as this ought to be part of a wider health and well being plan. Turn attention to healthier foods and more movement, let the plateaus come and go on the spiky graph but know you are doing long term good to yourself by at least understanding that it all counts!
Was just talking to a friend of mine yesterday about my number, and whether I’m more focused on THAT than the overall lifestyle and well being improvements.
For example if I think I’m doing well and looking well / back at the gym / feeling good and GENERALLY in the zone I think is alright for me etc (eventually) I’m going to be much less critical of reaching and holding a set number that might have shaped the original goal to get there….
996Type said:
Been good as gold myself for a week and rewarded with a nice 2kg increase!
It’s around 3 pints of water if that makes you feel any better and you are at least monitoring it, which will drive better choices. Stick with it!
I've noticed this pattern seems to happen, you'll lose some weight, be steady, lose a bit again, then go up for no apparent reason and then drop the weight again. It's just a bit annoying when you think you've gotten past a certain weight barrier, and then randomly shoot up past it again and now have to drop it all.It’s around 3 pints of water if that makes you feel any better and you are at least monitoring it, which will drive better choices. Stick with it!
Yay! Had a small op in Feb that has kept me away from my rowing machine - but Saturday was my first shift back on it. Never thought I'd miss a piece of exercise equipment, but I genuinely have.
Did 7k metres Saturday and again today (each in 3 chunks) - baby steps to start. Not sure I've gelled with the Zwift bike so that might go on eBay (Bucks if a PHer after one). I find something to stream (currently Fallout) and row to an intermediate standard once I get my fitness back up (for a fifty-plus heavyweight).
My diet has proved to not be quite enough to lose weight alone, the exercise buys me a bit of freedom. I row 10k metres ~6 times a week and love what it does to my frame. I'm properly flawed so the effort/time is the price I am happy to pay. Of course I could lose weight if i was more strict in the kitchen - but I'm not! Have no excuses now
.
Obviously find your own thing that works.
Did 7k metres Saturday and again today (each in 3 chunks) - baby steps to start. Not sure I've gelled with the Zwift bike so that might go on eBay (Bucks if a PHer after one). I find something to stream (currently Fallout) and row to an intermediate standard once I get my fitness back up (for a fifty-plus heavyweight).
My diet has proved to not be quite enough to lose weight alone, the exercise buys me a bit of freedom. I row 10k metres ~6 times a week and love what it does to my frame. I'm properly flawed so the effort/time is the price I am happy to pay. Of course I could lose weight if i was more strict in the kitchen - but I'm not! Have no excuses now
. Obviously find your own thing that works.
After nearly 4 months of trying to maintain weight while looking after my wife I got out on Sunday for a few hours ebiking for the second time in 2 weeks.
I had hoped that the tumble drier was shrinking my clothes but eventually braving the scales hit that I’d put on over a stone. 2 weeks back on low carb I’m down 10lbs but still a way to get back to NYE weight and then beyond.
I had hoped that the tumble drier was shrinking my clothes but eventually braving the scales hit that I’d put on over a stone. 2 weeks back on low carb I’m down 10lbs but still a way to get back to NYE weight and then beyond.
Edited by indigostr on Monday 22 April 22:35
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