1st SW class, staggering 18 stone 2lbs OMG! There, posted it!

Firstly good on you for joining a class. It takes a lot to pluck up the courage to go. Ok, you may be shocked by your weight but just think, you'll never be that weight again.

Every time you feel yourself go off track, just remember why you joined. Remember the feeling you had when you discovered your start weight. Losing the weight is a fantastic feeling, much better than feeling like you've 'cheated'.

The weight will take some time to come off, but please don't give in to temptation. It takes a long time gain a lot of weight, so it wont come off over night. And as much as it would be great to wake up and be x stone lighter, it's just not going to happen. Unfortunately. ?

You may lose quite a bit in the first couple of weeks while your body adjusts to your new eating habbits. After this it will slow down. 1 - 2lb a week is a healthy weight loss. Remember you want to lose fat, not muscle.

Exercise is also a good idea. Not only will it help with the weight loss, you will tone as you lose the weight. A huge bonus in itself. This will also help with your stomach.

Set yourself small targets. Don't keep thinking about your goal weight, think half a stone at a time. I found by doing this I was much more determined as I was hitting my own mini goals a lot sooner than I'd ever get to goal.

I've done ww so can't help with SW, but there are a few here who follow that diet and I'm sure they'll be more than willing to give you any advice you need.

Good luck for your first wi.

Well done for admitting it - it's a difficult but necessary step (I started at 23 stone 5 lb so I can fully appreciate what you're going through). Motivation is going to be so important for you and whatever it is you can draw on, make sure you remind yourself of it daily. With 2 kids I would have thought being fit and well for them is an excellent start. Don't worry about your tummy for the time being, you've got a long road ahead of you and that will go in time. Finally, patience is going to be the other key thing. The weight is not going to drop off overnight - even a fast weight loss will only average around 3lb per week at the very most.

Best of luck to you and make sure you make good use of this forum - encouragement and words of wisdom are in plentiful supply here.

Oh, and exercise is absolutely essential. I cannot emphasise that enough. You must build it into your daily routine. No excuses.

WSS

I've really found small targets the way to go. Its kept me really motivated. Mine big targts are/were, loose 10%, no longer obese, normal bmi. But I also set targets of stones & 1/2 stones to keep me going.

I started at the end of may weighing 14st 3 and wearing 16/18, After not seeing people during the summer holidays they've really noticed my loss and I'm now 11st 10 and am wearing 14/16. People's comments are really helping.

Try to do some exercise too. My loss slowed down during the holidays when having the girls home got in the way of exercising.

Feel free to join the monthly loss challenge, and good luck for your first WI

Weight creeps on so easily, it really is a shock when you get on those scales, however, think positively and put yourself in control. I;ve found slimming world really good so far I've lost just over a stone in about 8 weeks. Its really rewarding getting that satisfied feeling when you make good choices about food so stick with it. Stay to classes as they really help you stay on it all week. and come on here and ask any questions you have.

I can only echo whats been said already. I weighed 19 stone at the start of this year and like you I was startled, horrified and embarrassed. Unlike you, I wasn't brave enough to post it here then, but a lot has changed in the last 8 months.

Small targets are definitely important. Make sure you have treats, but not edible ones. (Shoes and handbags do it fo me, or a new lippy if I'm feeling less extravagent.) As your body changes shape, don't wait too long before you buy some nice clothes in a smaller size. It's HORRIBLE looking in the mirror and seeing that your baggy clothes are making you look bigger than you are.

Accept people's compliments graciously. Be proud of your losses. And when they say 'oh, one chocolate won't hurt' be firm with them and don't let them sabotage your efforts.

Keep talking to us, we'll help support you. Sometimes you'll feel like things aren't going well and that's when you'll need the board the most.

And finally, good luck xx

Well done you for going to class!

You didn't put on the weight overnight, so it's not going to come off overnight either, but then SW is a way of changing eating habits so it's not a diet that's going to deprive you of anything - just limit some things. Slow and steady will work, but you'll soon notice the difference

And, of course, you have us for support ?

Well done for joining, I did the same two weeks ago and weighed in at 18 stone, its horrible isnt it??

I had my second weigh in yesterday and i've lost 6.5 lbs so far and i feel better for it already!

You'll be just fine! If you want a SW weigh in buddy just send me a message,the more support we get the better!!

Good for you for joining. I was heavier than you when I started SW and I lost 5 stones in my first year and then another stone and a half in my second year. I've since messed around a bit, but the plan really will deliver results if you stick to it.

Go for it! Just imagine the difference by Christmas.

Thank you all for your encouraging words! Well, here I am, 1 week on - weigh in day! and I've stuck to it 100% all week, so here's hoping! I'll have to come back on here sooner this time! Hope you didn't all think that I was being rude, just hadn't got round to logging back to to reply!

Feeling positive about it all still - although had ALL green days this week, a lot of potatoes have been eaten in the form of roast potatoes and syn free chips, so hope I've lost at least SOMETHING tonight!!! 7.30pm weigh in!

Mrs SC

I'd been wondering how you've been getting on. Good luck for tonights WI, hope you manage to pop back and update us.

Oh, thank you!

I'll make sure I'll post my new weight later (here's hoping it's LOWER!!!)

If you've stuck to it I'm sure it will be?

Would yo like to join us on the september challenge?

Hey, sending you weight off vibes for tonight. I have just weighed myself, and I am the same as you was last week (18 stone 2lbs), what is your target weight?

Well I'll have to take a look at the September thread! To be honest, I'm really not sure what my target weight is! my club 10 slimming world (i.e loose 10% of my weight) takes me to 16st 5 - I don't really know my overall target at the moment! I'm 5' 8, and haven't been slim in a VERY long time so I'm not sure what would suit me! I'd love to at least get back to a size 14/16 which I was at at about 13 stone, so that would be great! would love to be less still - but it would be a fantastic start!

I think I'm just aiming for my 1st stone at the moment, would LOVE to loose 3 stone by Christmas, not sure if this is rather over ambitious - slow and steady and all that!

On the monthly challenge we just keep track of the loss for the month, the total loss and what we would like to loose that month.

Although slow and steady is the way to go you often find the more you need to loose the easier it is to loose to start so it is possible to loose what you want. I started ELMM on 25 May and so far have lost 39 lb. So just 3lb short of 3 stone in about 3.5 months.

Good luck

Well done, Mrs SC, for taking that first step and joining a class. I know you'll get lots of support and encouragement, and I've no doubt you'll see the weight dropping off. You'll find that inspiring in itself! My recommendations would be take things a step at a time. Set small goals that aren't too far ahead, and celebrate your successes when you hit those goals. Depending on your budget, reward yourself along the way - a new item of clothing, piece of jewellery, make up etc - or whatever it is that makes you feel good. Have the syns you're allowed along the way and enjoy them, and if you do sometimes fall off the wagon, don't beat yourself up about it ! And always, always have loads of free food in the cupboard, fridge, fruit owl, desk drawer etc for those snack attack moments.

Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress. You'll be so glad you've done this (says the woman who has lost almost a stone and a half since May).

Well at my 1st weigh in tonight, I have lost......6lbs! hurrah!

6 lbs, that's excellent! I'm trying a new approach this week - making sure I have a snack mid morning and mid afternoon. Normally I don't have anything between meals (down to lack of organisation usually), so this week I've stocked up in the office with fruit and a few Alpen Light bars Hope you're enjoying SW

Fantastic.

What a great start! Well done .... I love the Alpen Light summer fruit flavour - can't believe I'm allowed TWO as a healthy extra B!