Lost more than half my body weight, have a ton of loose skin and not sure what to do from here

As the title states, my current weight is less than half my high weight. My BMI has been teetering a bit above and a few times accidentally below 18.5, after not weighing myself for awhile. (When it drops below 18.5 I have 2,500ish calorie days until I hit about a BMI of around 19.5.) I want to look better and I do not want to be underweight.

I'm at a really weird-to-me part of my weight loss/fitness journey. Life has changed a lot in all aspects. I never thought I'd reach this weight and never really considered what I'd do. It's weird as someone who had troubles with binge eating and compulsive overeating to consider that I need to eat more. And no, I'm not afraid to. I'm sincerely puzzled as to how to live maintenance. I understand the CICO part, but not the lifestyle part.

I look great in clothes, but nude I look awful from the hips down. I was able to get my chest done but it will probably be several years until I can afford to get anything else. And thankfully, while standing up my stomach looks relatively normal. I know I should lift weights and try to fill some of it out, but I can't see how that will make a difference considering how extreme the loose skin is. I can pull it several inches off my stomach (but at least it springs back there), butt, and thighs. I can grab my lower hips and pull up my lower body like a pair of loose jeans.

I was also extremely fortunate enough to move to a place that's a sort of outdoor paradise. I moved from an urban area where I'd have to take a couple days off work, drive several hours, camp or rent a hotel just to go on a hike. Currently hiking trails are about a four minute walk from my house. Rivers about a 15 minute drive, lakes 20 minute drive, mountains and beaches about an hour drive. This is how I accidentally became underweight, exploring the new areas, being active, and forgetting to eat - didn't even occur to me I'd have to eat more. I realize these are very privileged problems to have, but they're problems nonetheless.

I don't know how 'normal healthy fit people' eat. I have all sorts of specialty foods that I genuinely enjoy and can continue to afford, but it's definitely not normal to live off various protein supplements.

I don't know how to get myself motivated to intentionally work out again (exploring not included in this) as I know there's not much that can be done for my appearance short of surgery.

For a few months now I've been feeling absolutely stuck.

I've been enjoying reading books on health, nutrition, and fitness. The most recent book I finished was Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, which I highly recommend. It absolutely helped with my understanding of what I should be eating, but I really need additional guidance.

Not sure what I'm looking for from posting this. Any advice is appreciated.

submitted by /u/YuleWitch
[link] [comments]

from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/FibNKGu

30 Day Accountability Challenge - Day 17

Hello everyone!

Thursday. Day 17 of November. I hope yours was a fabulous day.

Onto goals!

2000 calories a day (lose two pounds this month): On it today! I’m going to roast asparagus & chicken drumsticks this evening.

Weigh in & log weight once a week, Thursday mornings: Weigh in logged this morning. NSV – When I was at my heaviest, this is the time of year that the cold weather would mean I randomly threw my back out. I haven’t done that since I started this journey, not just because of the weight loss, but because of the strength work & higher activity level. Love that for me.

Exercise 5 days a week (strength work/tbar swings 3 days a week): 30 minute stationary bike. 11/17 days.

Sober November: Yup. I'm considering allowing myself some festive imbibing for Turkey Day so long as my streak stays until then. 17/17 day(s).

Nanowrimo: I'm hoping to get after more of this tonight. I think if I play my cards right this weekend, I can sneak in two write ins. 17,764/28,333 words & 2/4 write ins.

Today's gratitude list: Today, I'm grateful for how beautiful the snow was as it fell today. Straight up snow globe snow, so picturesque.

Random to do list item I want to conquer today: Get good rest, my digestive system is being weird & shark week has taken it out of me. Early to bed with me.

Done with the boring stuff, onto your day! Tell us all about it!

submitted by /u/Mountainlioness404d
[link] [comments]

from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/TLS3DeY

Italian restaurant date on a diet

Hey everyone! 25F here, 5’9” SW: 250 CW: 242 GW: TBD

I’ve been working for the past few weeks on my weight and what I eat, with a focus this time on slow, sustainable weight loss and emphasizing a holistic approach to bettering my life - focusing on weight, food, calorie counting, and movement but also on mental health, social connections, fun life experiences, and so on. I’ve had really unhealthy and dangerous weight loss and weight gain situations in the past, and this current approach is working well for me. I have been limiting my personal restaurant eating by pretty much cutting out takeout (used to order several times a week) except for one Taco Bell run which I made another post about. However, I have been to restaurants a few times for work and social events and have focused on enjoying smaller portions of things I love, loading up on veggies, and tracking an estimated calorie count even if I knew it wasn’t perfect. This has been working well as I’ve continued to lose weight and haven’t been isolating myself away from meals with family, friends, and dates, and from important work events, like I have in previous weight loss attempts.

However, I’m not quite sure how to handle a nice Italian restaurant. A guy I’ve seen a few times wants to go to one tomorrow night. I feel pretty hesitant because Italian food seems to be a difficult cuisine to work into a calorie deficit. This restaurant doesn’t have a lot of salads or lighter options. I don’t want to be difficult and hurt his feelings by refusing to go, and I’m also not really interested in discussing with him that I am working on losing weight - I’ve only seen him a couple times. Anyone have thoughts on how to handle this??? We’re planning to hang out after to watch a movie so its also not like I can just not eat much and box up my food, because I don’t want my stomach grumbling all evening while I’m with him either. Thoughts on what you would order?

I’m not against eating somewhat above my deficit limit for one night but I want to avoid having a 2000 calorie dinner, you know?

submitted by /u/username304211
[link] [comments]

from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/cfwIt2u

How to shut down conversations about weight/diet

For many reasons (which I started to write out but then thought I'd bore everyone) I don't like talking to friends, acquaintances, colleagues etc about weight, diets, food. It's incredibly triggering for me - the judgment, the (incorrect) assumptions about me/my lifestyle, the unsolicited and often unhelpful advice.

I see my weight loss journey as an entirely personal journey (with support from my nearest and dearest). It's no one else's business.

I am looking for advice on how to shut down two types of conversations. I'm an inherent people pleaser and I always fail, breach my own boundaries and then get upset with myself later.

1. I'm at that stage where my weight loss is getting noticeable. Cue the comments asking "Have you lost weight?" Etc.

I know these types of comments are meant to be well-meaning and complimentary most of the time. I know some people would love to have people notice their loss. For me, I would rather not have these conversations. How do I shut them down without being rude?

1. The interfering comments/questions/"advice"

   I still have weight to lose. I went to get acupuncture for a leg injury this week. The lady kept asking me about my diet. And whilst I was laying face down on the bed having the needles go in, all vulnerable and half naked, she was like "so what do you eat for breakfast then? Hmm. How about lunch?" Like, I'm sorry but I came here for acupuncture not diet advice, stay in your lane. I get that it can be all "holistic" and all that, but I am not interested in unsolicited diet advice. I got all flustered and didn't really know how to shut it down politely.

Any advice please?

submitted by /u/OkGlass2188
[link] [comments]

from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/CqBI5Q6

I think building muscle has made me more confident after weight loss

I didn’t take care of my skin on my body properly when I was overweight. I had a bunch of stretch marks and my skin wasn’t the best due to being overweight. I had a lot of acne and dark spots. Losing weight made me really insecure about it because it was obvious. I just hated all of the stretch marks and acne scars and ingrown hairs.

I built a lot of muscle and my skin has tightened nicely. I was very insecure about my skin before. I didn’t want to look at my skin. But after becoming more muscular and having a nice physique I think it outweighs everything that I am insecure about my skin. I feel more confident without my shirt. I think it’s because being muscular makes me look more attractive and it’s a focal point of my body.

submitted by /u/zanderwoolly
[link] [comments]

from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/KOrdADR

Weight loss tips

I am 25yr old female 5’5 and weigh about 191 lbs. In the last year, I have gained about 33 lbs. I work mostly from home and try to get some steps in. I am trying to build a healthier lifestyle and loose weight in a sustainable way.

I have recently joined f45 and it seems to put me in a better mood(endorphins 😊) but I feel like I am not loosing weight at all.

Any help/tips would be greatly appreciated.

submitted by /u/Monkey_bebe_1083
[link] [comments]

from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/S7ZjOQK

Do I need the scale?

I'm 21, 5'3", and last I checked (so this is around three months ago) I was around 180 pounds. I've struggled all my life to lose weight, but have also struggled with obsessive and borderline disordered habits with counting calories and weighing myself, which have been exacerbated by anxiety and body dysmorphia. (Three years ago I was 150 pounds, obsessed with my diet and just all around dysfunctional.) About three months ago I threw out my scale as I just couldn't ever seem to use it without triggering some overwhelmingly negative emotions.

I want to try losing weight again, I walk around 7K steps every day, I go to the gym at least once per week (it's not much, but it's a start), and have recently begun keeping a food diary, but I feel like I should be doing more to keep track of things. From what I can tell, measurements are a huge part of the process, but I'm really afraid of relapsing into some bad habits if I start paying attention to the numbers. That is to say, how essential are scales in weight loss?

submitted by /u/saltedchinesefood
[link] [comments]

from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/w2Pecua