I wanna know - how you lost weight and kept it off??

Hi ladies!

I am in serious need of some weight loss - I went shopping for a dress today for my engagement party and have come home completely and utterly depressed!! I have gone up 4 dress sizes since I had DD and probably 2 of those sizes in the last 6 months - :( gosh it's sad!!!

I am about to start doing something serious about it but have never tried to lose weight before and have really no idea where to start.

I would love to hear some stories of what has worked for you in losing weight and then keeping it off - I need some motivation!!!

There isn't a magic fix.
For me the reality is that if I want a body I'm happy with I have to watch what I eat (I very seldom eat cake or crisps and I never touch juice or soft drink) and exercise 5 or 6 days every week.

The magical switch flipped in my head. I got a personal trainer and lost 50kgs or more.I keep it off my being active and eating ok :)

BIGGEST advice: Walk away from the guilt, walk away from your past. Embrace today and only look forward. Baggage will only hold you back!

Like Onyx said - there is no quick fix, so think of it as a lifestyle change - not just a weight loss venture IYKWIM?

I lost 36kgs in 5 mths after baby number 2, then 16kgs in 3.5mths after baby number 3. Though I am a personal trainer, I just did one hour of vigorous exercise daily - no rest days, and limited and counted my calories - no more than 1200 daily (and I didn't eat back the calories burn't during exercise either as I just couldn't fit them in).

Now I just maintain my weight by eating sensibly and exercising um, when I feel like it ;).

Find my group Fat Chic Slim on FB :) (if you're on FB that is!).

xxx

P.S - You CAN do it!

There is no magic fix and trying to fit in exercise around kids would be hard.

I've lost 3 1/2 kgs in the last 3 weeks, I've slightly modified my diet (higher protein, minimal carbs but still having treats - just smaller ones) and I do yoga. The gym was boring me and after a week on a retreat with our own personal yoga instructor (twice daily yoga if we wished, more if we wanted to go to the classes at the yoga sala at the place we were staying), I've gotten into yoga, I prefer the way it makes my body feel.

I'm not expecting to drop drastic amounts of weight, don't want to, just want to get my body toned and the weight loss is a side-effect of that.

I really like Weight Watchers. It taught me a lot about food, which I still use everyday, even when pregnant.

I have been looking at Michelle Bridges website and she has some great ideas and I have a recipe book of hers coming in the mail. With me personally I have, cut out all biscuits/chocolate/butter - counting the calories, smaller portion sizes and doing lunges and weights every day. It really does need a focus on changing your eating habits, but this needs to be sustainable as you will just put it all on again.

I lost 26kg and kept it off for about 2 years. Some of it has crept back on as my situation changed. But my biggest advice is to find an exercise that you really like. Exercise is the key to looking and feeling great and will keep you up on top when you have a naughty eating day. Think outside the exercise box and try some things that you may like e.g. belly dancing, boxing, soccer, rock climbing, surfing. So many options :) Hope this helps.

I lost 20kg about 6 years ago now and have pretty much maintained it without dieting or maintaining an exercise regime. My biggest thing was constanly snacking on crap (through boredom) and soft drink. I have a huge sweet tooth and find that denying it makes me want it more so I still eat alot of sweet food, I just make sure that everything else I eat is good. I also walk alot, it is my thing. I hate running, I hate gyms, I don't like organised things. I like just walking.

The problem is what works for me wont work for everyone. Do what you find comfortable and try and see it more as a lifestyle change then a diet.

Wow!! You guys are amazing - you should all be so proud of yourself!!

I was sad yesterday about my shopping experience :( and ate crap last night a long with a few glasses of wine - and it really didn't help me feel any better about it all - who woulda thought? LOL!

I am starting today to focus on making lifestyle changes - I love the tip to keep looking forward - I really need to do that!!

Thanks so much for your stories! They really have motivated me so much!

Come join us in the diet and weight loss thread hun :)

I'm another who struggles. I love food and wine too much! So will be watching this thread!

I have been on Weight Watchers and Michelle Bridges and they are fantastic! They really get the weight off you, I struggle with keeping the motivation going though. So my weight is always fluctuating. Last night I started Boot Camp! It's tough but man I feel great about it all. We have been given meal diaries to keep track of everything we eat and we have to improve each week or we are made to run a lap of the promenade :o

So anyway.... I know I didn't really tell you how to keep it off but I know for me that if I have someone that holds me accountable each week, I am less likely to eat junk! So I think Boot Camp will be the way to go for me for quite a while!

I lost 15kg with WW after DD2 and although some crept back on when I went back to work, it is all gone again now. I found cutting out sugar and ensuring at least 4 alcohol-free days a week helped kick start me. Also incidental exercise like walking to the shops/school or riding my bike to work made a big difference to maintaining my weight. Set some small goals and use them to keep motivated.

Oh and join the Fat Chic Slim on FB - they help keep me honest :D

I highly recommend the 12wbt (Michelle Bridges). The program is fantastic and it's not just about the food and exercise... it's mind set lessons and live chat sessions aswell.

I'm pleased to say that in 8 weeks since I've started, I've lost 16.5kgs. I've got ALOT more to go, but just knowing that I'm nearly at that 20kg mark in 2 months is AWESOME.
It's all about eating really really good foods, exercising 6 days a week and being accountable to yourself.

Losing weight is 80% what you eat and 20% how you exercise.

I've tried everything from shake diets to WW to a few other diets before and never had this success or will to continue. I think finding the right program and just me being ready is why I've done well.

For me, dieting has never worked. I didn't want to admit I needed to exercise but thats what made me finally lose the weight. I didn't even change my diet. I still hate to exercise but like the results!!

I am really struggling to lose weight too, though I have a good idea of how to do it! Things which have worked for me in the past are

Drinking lots of water
Exercising most days of the week
Having 2-3 serves of fruit and 5-6 serves of veg a day, every day
No havign junk food in the house
Being prepared when I go out with food/snacks instead of buying food when out, or having a plan of what to eat if I do buy something
Indulging a little (go out with friends once a fortnight and have a big meal or a few drinks, or have a mars bar occaisionally!)
Being more active with life in general (eg, mow the lawn, hand wash the car, scrub windows/bathrooms/showers....)

Thanks so much for the tips and suggestions ladies - I've got myself a notebook to keep me honest with exercise and food - and am going to get a heart rate monitor I have seen on sale at amart allsports.

I'm feeling really good about it - I've just gotta start making the right decisions now instead of planning to do it later lol

Thinking about maybe starting a weightloss blog for myself too - and writing up a few weekly menus to follow that are low cal but family friendly.

Thanks again :huh: you've all really inspired me!

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I highly recommend the 12wbt (Michelle Bridges). The program is fantastic and it's not just about the food and exercise... it's mind set lessons and live chat sessions aswell.

I'm pleased to say that in 8 weeks since I've started, I've lost 16.5kgs. I've got ALOT more to go, but just knowing that I'm nearly at that 20kg mark in 2 months is AWESOME.
It's all about eating really really good foods, exercising 6 days a week and being accountable to yourself.

Losing weight is 80% what you eat and 20% how you exercise.

I've tried everything from shake diets to WW to a few other diets before and never had this success or will to continue. I think finding the right program and just me being ready is why I've done well.

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I have heard awesome things about Michelle Bridges - that is an amazing weightloss - way to go!