I'll add my tale here, if only to give one titbit of info.
I'm in the RAF so have to take a fitness test periodically. I was out running, which I've done and enjoyed for a decade or so - but up to 2017/18 where I lost motivation. I couldn't put my finger on why but I used to use any excuse not to go, or hoped my running mate would pull out for some reason - I was holding him back too. I think I narrowed the lack of motivation down to my mum passing in 2017, I just lost drive for anything.
In any case, fast forward to 2018, July, and I decided that the start of a new job (posting) should kick start really getting back into it. Three runs later and I felt a soreness in my right knee which escalated to a stiffness and major swelling/pain by the end of the day. Saw the doc, saw the doc again a few days later and was sent to the physio (who were and are brilliant) and was referred to the military rehab unit and a surgeon for their opinion. Result, torn 'inner' meniscus and degenerative damage of 'outer' meniscus. Fast forward again, past no phys at all and lots of rehab, acupuncture etc, to Jan 9 when I had my knee operated on.
So, a year of moping on a bad knee, followed by an operation and acceptance that I'd probably never run again (wrong), and enjoying life (beer and food) got me 1.5 stone at least over where I want to be weight wise. I am 5'9" and slimmish build and when I weighed myself two weeks ago was 13 st 1lb. This is too heavy for me naturally, and my knee probably doesn't like it too.
Now, AND HERE'S THE TITBIT, the wife wants to trim down a bit for our family holiday in August and fancied trying WW (Weight Watchers). I needed to lose weight (see above!) and she got an extra free month if she got me to sign up so for moral encouragement I signed up too, two weeks ago yesterday. We have been really stringent with how the points work out and what we eat; not starving ourselves but avoiding high tariff foods and for the first few weeks at least avoiding bad foods (apart from at Pub in the Park on Friday night - nom!). Two weeks in and my weight loss was:-
Week 1 - 13 st 1 lb to 12 st 7.8 lb (7.2 lb loss)
Week 2 - 12 st 7.8 lb to 12 st 3.2 lb (4.6lb loss)
So 11.8lb loss in two weeks - I'm really happy with this. Now I lack the willpower to diet without a structure, so something like WW is ideal for me. I don't even have to
stand on the scales in my pants like a boxer in front of all the other WW types; it is all done at home. Something for people to think about, but bear in mind that carbs seem to get hit big on WW whereas Slimming Woerld lets you eat as much potatoes, pasta, rice etc etc as you see fit. I've done both and lost weight on both; each has it's merits.
Back to the knee, I hit a bit of a brick wall in my recovery about a month ago. I started on strength and my knee didn't see to take to it well. It started to hurt after sessions and felt weak again. I was all set to go back to the surgeon as there is a little scar tissue under the knee cap which is still tender, but I thought 'sod it, what's the wors that can happen!?' so went out for a run with the wife - only a mile but there were no effects on the knee, in fact it felt better than it had done. So, I'm also back running too. Hard graft it is, and i don't think I'll get back to the frequency or speed i was at in 2015 but to be honest, I don't care at this time. Just to be back to something is something!
Sorry for the meandering tale but if you take one thing out, the WW might be good for burning off a few pounds.
