Good morning!

My name is Isa, I’m 59, female andabout 80lbs over-weight. Shudder.

I started my first slimming class at 17, and have struggled ever since.

In my late 20s, I lost about 4 stone and was ‘normal’ weight. I thought my slightly dull and grey life would miraculously improve, and when it didn’t, I let the weight slip back on again.

In my late 40s, I lost 107lbs by just (“just”!!!) eating less and walking more. I did feel pretty darn good but again, let it slip.

Last year I had chemo and radio therapies for Lymphoma. AFAIK I’m OK at the moment, 15 months in remission; but mentally the diagnosis knocked me totally for six. I suffered with anxiety, depression and insomnia – three very sneaky bullies. Most days, they’re beaten into existence, although it sometimes feels as though they’re still lying in wait….. 🙂

Some people found it hard to believe I’d had cancer: I didn’t have it long, and the treatment was relatively short, tho grim, so I didn’t look like the “typical” cancer sufferer you see on tv. For a long time after the treatment, though, eating was quite a struggle. Not just because I was too tired, too depressed to think of food much but everything tasted of cardboard for months. Once I began to enjoy food again, I really did begin to ENJOY it!!

So here I am now with 80lbs to lose. Again. Idiot. Again. in 7 months, I’ll be 60, and I want to have made some serious efforts to losing that weight by then. Yes, I do know that I won’t lose 80lbs in 7 months, and I do know how many calories make a pound…. but I want to give it my best shot. The more so because my employers have given me early retirement on health grounds, and I have to retire in 5 months’ time.

I know a couple of colleagues who’ve lost a lot of weight on 5:2 – both men, it seems to be a WOE that appeals to men in particular – so here I am, giving it a go. I started on Tuesday, and made it and Wednesday Sensible Eating Days. Today, Thursday, is my first fast day. I know from past experience that if I can just get hooked on this plan, and get into all the logging and projections that I like to do, then I’ll be fine. Feeling hungry has almost never in almost 60 years been a trigger for me to eat or over eat, usually it’s other emotional trigers, so hunger pangs won’t be an issue. I hope to wear them like a Badge!!

Thank you for reading this witter. I look forward to getting to know people – good luck to us all!

Isa
Started 30/09/2014 at 226.0lbs, aiming for 199.0 as a first target.

Thank you for the welcome!

First port of call – check out what TDEE means!!