Mumsnet Talk

My baby boy is 6 months old and I am quite overweight. Ok, I'm alot overweight (takes deep breath) I'm 15 stone. At 5 ft 7 this is waaay to much. I am sitting here in the one pair of trousers that fit me and my DP's tee shirt because none of my tops fit properly. Basically my stomach looks like a deflated paddling pool and my thighs are so big that I'm fairly sure that if I sit down too much longer they will burst open.

After I had the baby I took the very grown up approach to weight loss and I hoped that if I ignored the problem it would go away and somehow I would have a body like posh spice-because all new mothers lose all the weight instantly don't they? Turns out they don't, and surviving on mini aero's didn't help. I weigh more now than when I gave birth.

I have a serious lack of motivation but I decided to see if I could lose some pounds before Christmas, as I'll be seeing people I haven't seen since I was pregnant and want to look casually fabulous. So are any of you interested in holding my hand, kicking my arse and generally helping each other to stay on track? I really want to do this but I know if I'm not answerable to others my resolve will slip.

I have my first weight watchers meeting tomorrow, which I'm dreading as it will mean that the leader will weigh me and know what a tubby fecker I am. So, if any of you weight watcher followers or followers of other plans would like to come and join me and share stories of jogging up and down while eating maltesers so the points are being eaten and burned off simultaneously or just have a rant about how unfair the world is when you're hungry, you are welcome.

Right, I'm off to remove all the biscuits, chocolate and sweets from my house before tomorrow. That's right, when I say "remove" I do of course mean "eat them".

Hiya, Ill join you. DS is 13 weeks old and im trying to lose some weight by xmas (2 stone to be exact)

How much are you trying to lose?

Hiya Winter,

I have a goal of three stone but I would be happy with two. It just seems like such hard work at the start when you realise how far you have to go. I tend to lose focus if my weight plateau's or I put any back on. Overall I would like to get down to 10 stone, that's my ultimate goal but that's not going to happen before Christmas.

Are you going to follow an eating plan or have you a will of steel and you're just doing the healthy eating thing?

Can I join you too? My DD is almost 6 months and i'd like to lose 2 stone but realistically 1stone by christmas.

Hi MamaGeekChic,

Glad to have you're going to join. What method are you going to use? I was wondering should we all do a starting weight thing or is that a bit too scary? I'm going to be weighed every Tuesday at WW so I think that's the date I'll post that on.

I downloaded a WW app to help me figure out points and I went through my presses and have decided to eat the really tasty yet points heavy stuff. So, it's pesto for me tonight.

Is it really bad that the first thing I checked the points on was a bottle of wine? Looks like it's vodkas for me from now on.

do you have to be a new mum to join ?

waves my DS is 10 weeks old now and I'm back at work soon so need to fit back into my work clothes! I'm using myfitnesspal app to track calories and have lost a few lbs so far but not really seeing any difference in how my clothes fit

Not at all Pirate. That's just the situation I'm in at the moment. Anyone who wants to can join in.

All I wanted was a thread where we could have a laugh, moan about being hungry and rant about the unfairness of the fact that you can be hungry for an entire week and still gain 2 pounds.

Hi Natasha, I'm convinced my clothes will never fit the same again. At the end of the pregnancy all I could think was "I can't wait to get my body back". I'm still waiting. There was some sort of mix up because I got a flubbery body that clearly I don't want.

Oooh, can I join? I am trying very unsuccessfully to lose weight - maybe some arse-kicking from other people is what I need. And in return, I will be more than happy to listen to any amount of moaning about the hunger.

I am soooooo hungry right now. I usually have a first dinner with the DC and a second one with DH. I cut out the dinner with DC as of today... all I can think of is food, food, food and DH isn't due home for another 30 min yet. I'm on MN trying to distract myself .

Hi Aimster,

I have that problem too, I pick at the kids dinner then scoff my own. And my DP is a huge fan of snacking so that doesn't help. I need the motivation of fear, coming on here and admitting I put on loads of weight because I mainlined m&m's is not what I want to do.

I'm having trouble trying to figure out the exercise side to weight loss. I hate exercise, I like sitting on my arse watching Criminal Minds, do you think being scared burns calories?

Still havent shifted the baby weight...and my 'baby' turns 3 next week!

I want to lose about a stone, but cannot seem to shift it. Something to do with inhaling chocolate, maybe?

Anyway, I'm in! Gonna do my Shred DVD this week and stop eating my own body weight in treats in front of the telly every night...

I read that as "Shrek DVD" and thought you'd found some new weird workout. I'm not brave enough to Shred just yet.

I'm not joining in but this was me a year ago, am now at (actually below) target weight. My biggest tip is to weigh and write down EVERYTHING you eat. Forced you to focus!

re: first dinner issue best not to get too hungry, I have 2 ryvita and some fat free cottage cheese while I am preparing the DCs dinner, worth it so I'm not starving.

Everyone does it their own way but for me low fat low carb with protein at each meal is what worked. Along with exercise and calorie counting.

Good luck everyone!

DH got home early so I dived off Mumsnet just after I posted last night to scoff down the quickest dinner ever. That's a good tip about the Ryvita. I tried to stave off the hunger during DCs dinner today by having a cup of tea. It didn't work because all I could think of was how I wanted a pack of few biscuits to go with it.

On the exercise - I actually started out trying to exercise rather than dieting because I hate limiting food. It didn't work. I'm too tired in the evening, and yes, sitting on the sofa watching TV is what I want to do too.

I think I'd need something stronger than Criminal Minds to generate calorie-burning fear... maybe I could stick a mirror in front of the TV while I eat. That would be a scary sight!

Oh, I also have the Shred DVD. Have never used it but it's about time I did. Cora - do you have it?

I think we should all start reporting on what we're eating and how much exercise (Shred DVD / other) we're doing.

Watching Shrek won't count .

I had never been on any kind of diet, and am v weak-willed, but in Sept I decided it was time to take action (with no intention of doing any boring exercise). In 5 weeks I lost a stone, and heaved a less hefty sigh of relief. I refused to follow some ridiculous and unrealistic diet book. This is what I did...
No carbs (bread, potatoes, pasta, rice) after breakfast.
Big breakfast of cereal and yoghurt and fruit
No snacks, and no more polishing off the children's leftovers.
Soup for lunch, and fruit if v hungry
Normal dinner, except no carbs.
No more sweets or choc. Couldn't eat them - didn't buy them!
Wine allowed - I'm not pregnant for goodness sake!
Diet coke also essential.
Drinking loads of fluid helped too.

It worked brilliantly for me, and wasn't too painful after day 3. I was thrilled.
Still got a few pounds to go, but way ahead of my target of stone and a half by Xmas!

Hi everyone,

Thanks for posting Forever, it's great to see that results are achievable.

Superene- I couldn't low carb, I don't eat alot of them but I just love toast and rice and couldn't be without.

Aimster- I don't have the Shred dvd, I have a gymball exercise dvd that I didn't really use because it wasn't very hardcore but did it at the weekend and it slayed me. My poor thighs didn't know what had hit them. So until I get up to a level where I find that manageable I'll skip Shredding.

I went to my meeting WW tonight to find that I'm the glorious weight of 15st 2lbs. I've skimmed through all the books and I'm fairly sure I need some sort of degree in Maths to work it out, but give me two days and I'll be the Points whizz I used to be.

I'm starting off this diet in a a foul mood to be honest. My DP said he didn't think I'd stick to it. I'm so annoyed at him. I have supported his many crazy plans over the years and never waivered my support and all I wanted was him to listen to me being enthusiastic about WW and I didn't get it. In some ways I know that him not believing in me will spur me on, in other ways I think I might be going out with a moron!

The day started off full of good intentions at 4am when my son decided to wake up. Even though I am falling over with tiredness I've managed not to run for the chocolate. I've had lots of time to read through all the books I was given-having been up for 8 hours already-and I think I have it sussed. I'm liking all the extra points and the large amount of food I'll be able to eat. I think I'll stock up on quorn products they seem relatively low in points.

So far today I've had:
2 slices of toast with measured out tblspoon of peanut butter.
2 coffees.
1 scrambled egg with mushrooms and onion.

That's 12 points of my allotted 34.
No exercise done yet-unless strolling up and down with a squawky baby counts.

How is everybody else getting on?

Please can I join? DS now 7mo, I have posted on here before, tried to start ww when he was 10wo but gave up.....
I am bf and although trying to cut down feeds, so I get 36 ww points.
My problems are:
I'm greedy
I'm starving
I love chocolate & cakes
DS still waking 2-3 hourly (every hour last night!) and won't sleep in cot so I am vv tired.
Diets are boring - life is for eating, drinking and general fun times.

Despite all the above excuses, I am day 3 of ww
Bfast: choc chip weetabix and ss milk
Lunch: 2 babybel lights, 2 slices ham, mixed salad. Yoghurt
Snack: no points veg soup
Dinner: chicken stir fry and rice

I am 5f4 and currently 11.8 - oh the misery. I would like to say I am big boned but I am small framed. Would like to get to 10 stone and then reassess, 91/2 would be good but I think I like chocolate too much and I very much would like a few glasses of wine soon when DS stops bf the whole time

Good luck everyone

Corabear I had to ask my DH to stop saying 'you're fine as you are' because I need his help to be disciplined. Could this be yours OH way of saying he doesn't mind what weight you are? could you have a firm chat with him about how important this is to you and that you need his support.
Full sympathy re the tiredness - I am desperate for chocolate.

I am a big fan of the no points soup for snacking, this could be good for the mums serving up tea as well?

Can I join you all? DS is 10 weeks old. Thought breastfeeding would magically give me my figure back, but not am still putting on weight as I'm up all bloody night bored and starving!

my main issue is carbs. I'm veggie and eat no protein and just end up eating stodge!

Am a bit depressed at the moment as DP has joined the gym, and goes at lunchtimes at work. He's very sporty anyway and he looks amazing at the moment! Now I feel even worse Not that I want to be fat slobs together but it's feeling like the ugly one!

I'm only 21 and still have a year left at uni and am now taking a year out.(reluctantly but I just can't leave DS!) I hate having a wrinkly front bum at this age!!!

Hi NewChoos and hiss,

you are so welcome to join. I too breastfed and hoped my body would be sucked free of fat. I was disappointed when this didn't happen, I also had a c-section so I couldn't really do much for six weeks and by that stage I couldn't just be arsed.

I had a chat with DP and I think he might think that I have alot of stuff going on at the moment and if this is just another thing for me to worry about. So he is forgiven.

Hiss-I'm vegetarian too and have fallen in to the habit of just eating ready meals and snack food, it adds up so quickly. Alot of the veggie quorn stuff is low points and they're dead handy.

Newchoos- That's great that you're on day three, I think that the tiredness is horrendous. My baby takes a bottle in the night but he's getting his top teeth and he can't settle and I can't sleep when he spends the night mooching and whimpering in his cot.

So here's the run down of what I ate today:

2 slices of brown bread.
1 tblsp peanut butter
Black coffee
2x sugars.

1 scrambled egg with onion and mushroom.

1 minestrone cuppa soup
2 slices of brown bread

Black coffee
2x sugars

Mixed zero point veg
Tomato and tabasco sauce
3x tortilla wraps
60g white rice

Jesus, that's alot of food. And I still have 5 points left. Not going to eat them though because I'm stuffed. But there's a bloody packet of crisps in the kitchen that is calling to me...I won't eat them though.

Oh can I please join too? I'm very much in the same boat - DD is 6 months old and for ages I told myself I was at least not gaining weight due to bf'ing but actually I was just not getting on the scales... I'm 5'4" and I think about 12st10lb. Would like to lose at least stone by Christmas and carry on from there, not least as I can't afford new work clothes so need to fit into my way too small ones by February.
I might not be too good the next few days as DH, DD and I are on holiday visiting family, but will try to be semi good then starting in earnest when I'm home on tuesday. My plan is general healthy eating (in particular batch cooking so there is always something in) and some form of exercise every day, whether it's a walk, workout DVD, wii fit etc.
Could really do with shared motivation and kicks up the bum!

Also, Tuesday weigh in would suit me too...

Hi Ginger,
I'm sticking to the healthy eating (mind you it's only day two!) but I'm having serious issue with the exercise. I feel like I never sit down and when I get a minute to myself the last thing I want to do is exercise. Is the wii fit any good? I was offered a lend of one but wasn't sure if it was worth it.

My weigh ins are Tuesday, it's far enough from the weekend to undo any damage.

I wouldn't buy a wii fit for exercise, it's really not that much of a workout, but I figure it's better than nothing and more like a game so might be more inclined to do it. If you can borrow one I'd say might be worth a try as a starting step to even just get in the habit of doing something when/if you get a bit of time to yourself. DVDs are probably better though.

Hello everyone and good luck for today.

DS was up hourly (at least) again last night, will try to avoid the biscuits... very rainy here so not sure we'll get out for a walk.
I already have a confession - a slice of flapjack yesterday, so I went into some of my weeklies.
My plan for today is:
Bf: weetabix and ss milk
Lunch: chicken salad & yoghurt
Dinner: lemon sole, salad and a couple of wedges.
snacks: grapes and hot chocolate options

CoraBear are you underpointing? I get 36 as part bf'ing.

Tuesdays weigh ins also work for me.

Also been pondering incentives, well more than looking fabulous for Christmas, need more to keep me on the <hopefully> straight and narrow!

What's underpointing?
I stopped breast feeding a while ago so I'm on just regular points.

I had a fairly testing day and it's not even over yet. I took the kids to this indoor play thing for kids and it was like the inner circle of hell. Little brat children crying because the big brat children were tearing around and being rough- I have the worst headache (can you tell I'm grumpy?). But I also scarfed 3 custard creams and half a bag of crisps. I'm busily totting up my points-it ain't looking good.

God New, that sounds tough- the exhaustion is the worst. I don't blame you for the flapjack, sometimes you need the sugar. Just try to keep within your weeklies and you should be fine.

I spent 9 points on crap food, that's some depressing maths I tell you. That was pretty much how much my dinner was last night. MUST TRY HARDER!!!!

Oh and also, my darling niece who I took to hell-on-earth-kiddie-zone told me I had a "big belly like Daddy Pig." I replied"Why thank you" through some seriously gritted teeth. I couldn't get mad at her because I do have a big belly.

Cora Sorry my mistake - thought you were still bf'ing so wondered why you were on less points than me. Your day does sound testing, are you within your points still? 3 custard creams is not bad really <just had an after eight>

We are trying a bit of sleep training tonight - so we wish me luck

HAS ANYONE READ OUR PAUL MCKENNA THREAD?? PLEASE JUST READ IT BECAUSE I HAVE LOST 2AND A HALF STONE ON IT AND I'M NEVER HUNGRY!!!!!

It's true see you there ??

Good morning,

Oh what an evening I had. I was going to have an excuse primed as to why I had wine and crisps, but the reality is that I was weak. So I scarfed the bag of crisps that my brother bought me the day before and had a large glass of chilled Rose wine (I can't figure out how to do the accent over the e). It was delicious but I woke up with a serious case of the guiltiness. Feel free to shout at me.

So here's my list of bad food from yesterday:

1 slice brown bread
1/2 tblspoon of peanut butter
Black coffee with two sugars

Mixed 0 point veg
O point spicy sauce
2x tortilla wraps
1/4 portion white rice

1/2 bag of cheese and onion crisps
3x custard creams
1/2 a potato waffle (picked at nieces tea)

Black coffee with two sugars

Mixed 0 point veg
0 point curry sauce
1/2 portion of white rice

Packet of crisps
Large glass of white wine.

40 BLOODY POINTS!!!!

It was only day 2. How am I so lacking in self control?

Cora 40 points really isn't too bad, don't be to hard on yourself and just aim to stick to your points today.
Self control - well it's so flippin hard, loads of people have emotional triggers to food. I think they key is not not write the diet off as you had 1 bad ish day but carry on. Think how pleased you are going to be on Tuesday if you have lost a 1lb. Small steps.......

Today my plan is:
Bfast: weetabix & ss milk 6 points
Lunch: chicken salad roll - 6 points
Dinner: well we are going out this afternoon, so will probably eat out, either that or have a snack late pm. If it's the latter will have a skinny hot choc and muffin (about 10 points). I will have fish if we have dinner out, with salad <hopeful> - I will have 24 points to play with, so hopefully will stick to them although I want chocolate!!!!

Started the sleep training, took 50 mins (and 1 breast feed!!) of PUPD and shush pat to settle, but then settled after 5 mins after the second wake up at 0030. Then woke at 0330 and 0630 for bf then went back to sleep! On the other hand DH and myself were awake most of the night - think we missed him!

Good luck today everyone
ppeatfruit will take a look at your thread this weekend.

Newchoos that's great with the sleep training-it's a hard slog. We had to do it because the baby woke up out of habit for a comfort feed every few hours during the night. I have to say, no matter how tired you get try to stick to it. I started to waiver on Day 4 due to the extreme tiredness.

I made point free soup and just turned down an offer of a chipper for lunch, today is looking a bit better. I'm going to keep some points today for my glass of wine this evening. I'm quite the light weight so one or two glasses ia enough for me.

I'm really interested in emotional triggers for eating, I had never really thought of it like that. I think I'll see what mine are over the next few days.

I was wondering if anyone knew of any decent low point hot chocolate? Its my winter time evening comfort.

How is everyone else getting on?

So today went well considering I was feeling hungry for most of it. In fact if I hadn't been so busy I think I would have been really tempted, I had serious rumbling stomach noises at one point.

Breakfast:
2 potato waffles (I need to go shopping!!!)
coffee with two sugars.

Lunch:
Points free soup
2x petit pains

2x cups of black coffee with 2 sugars

Low point chickpea curry
1/2 portion of spiced quinoa

1 1/2 glasses of Rose wine (still can't do the accents)

I managed to fit this all into my daily points. No need to raid the weekly points. Yay!!!!

Just you and me at the moment then Cora

Well done on yesterday. Could you fill up a bit more on fruit and veg? I have some mid morning and afternoon to stop the starving feeling.

I went into my weeklies again, 8 points on a skinny lemon and poppy seed muffin. Still have 32 left but not going to use them in case I have got my portion control wrong.
Not sure about todays eating as we are out again later. May aim for:
Bfas: weetabix as usual
Lunch: Babybel light (1 point each!) x2, ham and salad
Dinner:????
Snacks, banana, grapes, glass of prosecco

Baby doing well with sleep training, asleep by 2200 last night with a wake up at 0030 and 0345, then 0600 but now back asleep. I am going to get on with some chores

Yeah, I noticed that too. Never mind, we can support each other.

Your sleep training is going brilliantly, it sounds like your baby was ready for it too. Is he in good form during the day with him sleeping better in the night time? Did you manage to be restrained when you went out for dinner? I think that this will be my major downfall.

I think I'm going to try and add a big salad to lunch and have one made up in the fridge, I make a really tasty one that is feck all points. I found a pair jeans that I can't get up over my bum so they are my "goal trousers". I was tempted to take "before photo's" in just my underwear but I was too frightened in case anyone found them. So my jeans are the less embarrassing goal.

Definitely, I think this thread will really help me. Having said that I feel unmotivated and hungry today. Stupidly I ordered a lemon sponge and it's sat in the fridge calling out to me. DH said I should have some as I have a cold and need the Vit C
I might have some tonight - I think it's good to go over your points at least once a week to fool your body. I have always had better results with weight loss if I don't point 1 day a week (honest!!). Before my wedding, I desperately needed to lose half a stone for my dress and I had no carbs, fruit, veg and protein and didn't lose a pound in 2 weeks!! I then thought sod it, had 2 weeks of no pointing and lost 4lbs!

DS is doing well, we're going to keep going, I was getting so tired so hopefully I'll start to feel more like my normal self soon.

Going out, well, I try to avoid carbs and have protein and salad. Chicken caesar salad/Fishcakes and salad/Salmon with veg and noodles etc I just approximate the points and don't have pudding.

I have just ordered a couple of dresses from french connection, when they arrive it will either spur me on to keep going or I'll be so depressed I'll put the lemon sponge down

I had the same problem with a bag of crisps my brother bought me-I could actually hear them singing to me. So to shut them up I ate them. They were 7 points of deliciousness but I can't hear them anymore and I won't have them in the house again. My OH made popcorn last night and it really had me drooling- all that salty carby goodness-but I didn't dive into it like I normally would, I had half a handful, about 7 pieces and that was it. I can't even point how much that is.

As for getting through the hell that is sleep deprivation I recommend my old friend caffeine, it's never let me down. I'm not sure if it has a knock on effect with your breast milk but I find it an essential.

I've had more points free soup, maybe if you made a bit of that and had it before you go out it would leave you feeling less tempted by the point heavy food? Also, Tesco do light chocolate mousses which are very nice and are only 1 1/2 points each. Everyone in the ww class was raving about them. People were chopping up loads of fruit and dipping it in, like a chocolate fondue and saying it tastes lovely. Gonna get some tomorrow.

I'm starving today so I'm cleaning the house and organising laundry to stop me eating the Hallowe'en sweets in the press.

Oh I love salty popcorn (salivating). Life s firmly divided into eaters and those that eat to survive isn't it?

Having soup before going out is an excellent idea, I sometimes have some about 5 ish before DH gets home as we don't eat until late. I'm going back to work PT in a few weeks though, think this may also help in a way as I'll be super busy <although I have been known to eat chocolate buttons on the train home while reading my book - bliss>
Thanks for the choc mousse tip, will look out for it. I fear that lemon cake is going to go the same way as your crisps and we have custard too.....

We are having some mad ramblings aren't we?
I blame the hunger.

I too blame the hunger. As for the custard-bleurgh! It's the consistency, it reminds me of phlegm (that might put you off eating it!).

I definitely love to eat. I get on-line and research restaurants to go to ages in advance of a night out. I love food and recipes and cooking. I have a recipe for stuffed aubergines that will make your ass grow in seconds, they are amazing. But I've been refining the recipe and I've got it down to about 8 points. Even doing that makes the whole weight loss process a little easier.

I am starving!!!! It's shopping day tomorrow so there's feck all food in the house. My clean and sparkly, organised house is a testament to my hunger.

Ok, Here's my food list for yesterday:
Breakfast: 2 slices of brown bread with peanut butter. Coffee with 2 sugars
Lunch: Points free soup and petit pain
Dinner: Quinoa with spicy veg
Snack: 2 slices of brown bread with peanut butter.

Then I drank an entire bottle of wine.

So I went into my extra weekly points but I don't mind, I had a great night. I found yesterday very difficult, I was starving for most of it. I am about to head off on a power walk up the mountains with my ultra healthy friend so if I'm not curled up in agony somewhere later, I shall report back.

Hello,
I know i am a few days late but can i join in? I have a 10 week old ds and am two stone overweight? Really would like to do something about it before christmas. Need to fit in some (by some i mean any) of my dresses.
So had a large bowl of crunchy nut.cornflakes this morning.
Please let me join in!

Hi Alex,
of course you can join. Really pleased to have you. The basic plan is to support each other and slap each others hands away from the biscuit tin. Are you planning to do weight watchers or have you another plan in mind?

I've just returned from my walk up the mountains and my body hurts in places I had forgotten existed. I'm currently scoffing a salad- I'm trying to keep the momentum going-and resting my aching legs.

I'm supposed to be going to the cinema tonight, I'm dreading it. I always have popcorn and sweets, when I get there I'm dreading the smell of it. Think I might be a super nerd and bring my own bag of popcorn.

Hello CoraBear and Alex,

Well I am thoroughly fed up, I weighed myself this morning as I started ww last Monday and I am exactly the same!! Grrrrr. I will hold out that on official weigh in day I may have lost a pound or something rubbish. I haven't gone over my points but I have had more carbs than normal as I have been so tired.
I will plod on....
Today's eating plan:
Bfast: weetabix and ss milk
Lunch: Ham salad roll, banana and yoghurt
Dinner: Chicken, veggies, 1 york pud and I have pointed up the lemon drizzle cake and going to have some as I feel so fed up about lack of weight loss (which completely defeats the purpose I know but still!).

Cora - I'm starving too. Just going to have to fill up on more veg too I think. Glad you enjoyed your wine and well done on the walk today. Hope you have fun tonight and I think taking your own popcorn is fine. I have taken grapes and strawberries to the cinema, doesn't take away the thrill of the pick and mix though!
We went out for the afternoon but cut our walk short as it started to rain.
Hope everyone had a good day.

Hi Choos, don't get too down about the non-weightloss, I haven't been able to weigh myself due to the recent demise of my weighing scales (I kicked it up and down the hall in rage after doing a liquid detox for a week that was my usual 10 lb wieghtloss tool, I lost 1 lb) but I'm fairly sure that there hasn't been much loss. My clothes sit the same as they did before and it's so dis heartening.

I think that pre-baby when you have to lose weight, that weight is like water and that's why it's easier to lose. Post-baby I think your excess weight is like rubber, it clings and you have to really struggle to get it off.

I didn't eat anything at the cinema (the movie was appalling), I had a glass of wine when I got home and a funsize chomp-which is only 1 point. My legs are killing me from walking, I am seriously unfit.
So here's my list from yesterday:
- 2 slices of toast with 2 tblsp peanut butter
-coffee with 2 sugars

-o point salad and veg, 2x quorn sausages,1 tblsp hummous

-0 point veg, 1/2 potion of rice, few drops of dark soy sauce.

-2x vodkas with diet coke, 1 glass of Rose, 1 funsize chomp.

Choos I feel your pain about the tiredness, my monkeychild was up for nearly three hours during the night and then got up at 7. Carbs are keeping me going at the moment. I feel sick I am so tired. At some delirious point during the night I was wondering how many points I was burning by pacing carrying a heavy child.

Morning Cora! Well done on your restraint at the cinema, what film did you got to see? I especially naffed off, as I even resisted cake yesterday afternoon whilst out and ice cream. I put the lemon drizzle cake back in the fridge last night and I am going to freeze it so it's out of temptations way. I am planning on being really strict Mon-Fri this week. We are out for fireworks & dinner at friends on Saturday and DH folks are here Sunday and so we'll be having a roast but otherwise I can be very frugal this week and see if that makes a difference. It must be the carbs and the couple of sweet treats I had even though I was within my points!

Sorry to hear your baby was up, you must have burnt off loads of calories though. I really hope you have lost some weight. I agree post baby, weight is distributed so differently. I have just foolishly measured my waist and really wish I hadn't.
Baby sleeping better in cot - have to admit have fed to sleep a couple of times. He was up at 0200, 0500, and 0700. Although he went back to sleep until 0800 so I got up and sorted out the laundry. Oh the glamour.
Are you going back to work?

I am going to make some no points soup shortly. This is my master plan:
Bfast: yogurt & Banana
Lunch: no points soup, 2x babybel and ham
Dinner: Chicken stirfry
Snacks: Options hot choc and grapes

I had a big bowl of dinner before I went to the cinema so I had a full belly. We went to see "We need to talk about Kevin", one of my favourite books, it is a dreadful movie. I was so disappointed, I wanted to leave after 20 minutes.

I've been trying to make sure I don't go over on points, but I have just had another chomp so tiredness is the key. I'm scoffing clementines so that I can keep a reign on my points. I haven't the bravery to measure my waist, I have grown a side ass so I won't even put a tape measure near me. I think putting the cake in the freezer is the best plan, out of sight out of mind

The baby's gone back to sleep now but I'm a bit too wired to go back to bed. I think I shall clean the kitchen. Feeding to sleep is sometimes the easiest way to get baby's back to bed, my son still sinks an 8 oz bottle in the middle of the night, it's hard to tell what's hunger and what's habit.

How many points is an options hot chocolate?

Hi, please can I join in? My ds is 7.5 months and I REALLY need to lose the rest of this baby weight! I'm 5' 6" and currently 11st 4lb, exactly a stone heavier than pre pregnancy. Although I'd put some weight on before getting pregnant, so more like 1.5 - 2 stone to get back into my fave jeans! I lost some weight at slimming world but have had to give up (decided I'm not going back to work - yay! But means I've got to try to cut back non essential spending).

No idea on ww points for options, but can recommend the chocolate brownie flavour, it's amazing! I'm just rubbish at this whole dieting malarkey, all the food I like is really bad for me, there's hardly any veg I actually like!

Hello Rockchick Well done on your weight loss so far. Also on the not going back to work - I currently have very mixed feelings about my return to work in a few weeks time.

Options hot choc is 1 point.

Not read that book yet Cora although it's been sat in my 'to read' pile for a while. I sometimes avoid films if I have really loved the book.
Right baby snoozing - off to make my soup.

hello all,
ok decided to start today as had friends around yesterday and ate a lot of lemon cheesecake.
So got upthis morning and weighed in at 12stone 5lb. want to get to 10 stone, not necesarily before christmas.
I havent ever dne ww but goig to see if I can work out points for things i eat. how many points am i allowed a day?
i havent read that book either Cora...what is it about? Hw is the sleep training going?
hey rockchick...god work what is your secret?
newchoos, what is the soup recipe? i am having carrot and coriander for lunch?
where is everyone from? I live in a village called Oakley which is near Basingstoke.

Hi Rockchick- welcome. Congratulations on your weight loss so far, it's such a struggle to keep motivated isn't it?!

Options hot choc is only 1 point, I'm gonna head to Tesco and get some. After I've finished watching Batman Begins-I mean, doing my tidying up. My soup's bubbling on the hob. My recipe is just to throw a whole load of point free veg into a pot with herbs and garlic and water and let it cook. Today's one has 3 carrots, 1/4 of a turnip, mushrooms, broccoli and onion. Smells lovely.

I'm having trouble getting a job, I'm a trained nanny and no one wants a nanny that has her own child (and absolutely no one wanted a pregnant nanny!). I can't become a child minder because my house is small- hoping to move soon though. I know what you mean when you say you have to cut back on non-essential spending Rockchick, every penny in my house is accounted for.

Alex, if you google propoints calculator one will come up and you enter in your info and they tell you how many you can have. All the propoint info is really available on line, I plan on stopping going to the weigh ins in a few weeks but I need to go for the first while to keep me in line. I'm just going to weigh myself at home after I replace my scales.

Hi Alex My soup was a variation of Cora's. I just boiled up some green beans, broccoli, tinned tomatoes, carrots, red onion, cauliflowers and seasoning with a veg stock cube. It was tasty but I'm a bit hungry now so going to have some melon. Going to low point and low carb all week to see if I can kick start some weight loss!
I am regretting making flapjack for DH yesterday as I can hear it in the kitchen! I will be strong

No secret to it alex just stuck to slimming world for a month and weight dropped off, but just don't have the motivation to resist all the sweet treats that I went off while pregnant. All I wanted then was savoury but making up for lost time now with choccy bars and all things sugary!!

Good luck with the job hunt cory I'm sure this is a daft question but what will you do with your LO if you get a nannying position, would you take him to work with you or put him in nursery? I'll probably never be in a position financially to need or afford a nanny but I'm nosy!

I mainly grazed today- having been up for so many hours with the baby I am in a weird state whereby if I eat a biggish meal I want to go asleep. Only made it to 24 points today due to said screaming child and reduced appetite and I can't bear to eat anything else. Hopefully this reflects at the weigh in tomorrow!

Rockchick, I'm not too sure what I will do regarding work. Creches are so expensive that I don't think it would pay for me to go back to work and put him in one (and I really don't want to!) so when we move I might go down the becoming a childminder route. I have had my niece for the odd weekend since he was born and I am so not ready to have another baby!!!

Oh bugger, there's the baby waking up again. I hope everyone got on well today and we'll do the weigh in tomorrow, mine's not 'til 6.45pm so no chocolate for me tomorrow.

Cora - Hope you had a better night with the baby. Have been thinking about your career (when the baby woke at 0645!) and I really wouldn't mind a nanny with a baby as I would see the benefits of having a nanny over going to nursery. Maybe it's worth asking around?

I have just weighed myself and I have had immense weight loss: 1 whole lb!!!
6 weeks til xmas and if I can going I would hopefully get at least half a stone off, so on I plod.

Good luck for the weigh int's today. Not sure of my meal plan yet but no doubt it will involve no points soup and yogurt.

Yay Choos!!!!!!! Well done!!!!!!
That's brilliant that you lost a pound. That's my goal for this week. You should be really happy with it. At least it's a pound off and you know it's heading in the right direction.

I am dreading the weigh in, I don't want to be disappointed. My OH was asking was I going to stop off at the chipper on the way home from my weigh in because I don't have to be weighed for another week, but I think I will stay strong.

My son was awake every 2 hours last night, I am exhausted. The poor little thing was in agony with his teeth so the majority of my daily points will be spent on coffee.

On the work front, I was on to my agency and they have had "little positive response" to my desire to bring my baby to work. In my head I think that it might be easier to mind children in my house because I could put on a wash, hang out washing during the day. My laundry is mountainous at this stage, it's all I can think of.

Oh thanks for the encouragement Cora. Good luck for your weigh in. I think it's a good idea to have a treat after weigh ins, so you could have your chips but personally I would opt for chocolate (and easier to point!).

Sorry to hear you had such a disturbed night, Little Choos has been resisting sleep all day, lets hope we both get some zzz'z soon. Could you consider personal ads rather than going through an agency? Sorry if you've already considered this, but I just wonder if it's the agency being negative rather than potential clients? Absolutely see your point re washing - it is my personal quest to get the stains out of little Choos clothes!

Have to leave for my weigh in in about 20 minutes, I feel like I should be running up and down the stairs or taking part in some sort of 1980's movie training montage with lots of synthesizer music in the background.

Think I'll have crisps but only if I lose weight, I LOVE crisps.

Oh by the way I love that your baby's nickname is Little Choo's. Cutest name ever.

I'll post back later.

Back from my weigh in. I lost the grand total of 1 1/2 pounds.

I am midway between being happy enough with a loss to annoyed that it wasn't more. Super healthy friend texted and reminded me of the size of a pound of butter. Which is heavy. And now I weigh 1 1/2 less of them.I'm fairly sure that last sentence makes no sense to anyone but me. In the interest of full disclosure I am typing this while eating cheese and onion hula hoops- a loss is a loss.

My mission this week is to do a little exercise every day.

Well done Cora! Just think, if you lose 1.5lbs each week, you'll have lost almost a stone by Christmas. I completely agree, butter is heavy, lets aim for another pat by next week.

Perhaps we should adopt a flashdance/rocky soundtrack for weigh ins?

I need to exercise too, will speed our weight loss up, will get out with the buggy more.

Thats amazing well done guys! I have been doing less well and had some chocolste both dayd to try and keep mr going as trying to get dc to sleep in moses basket...we are aleeping for about ten minutes at a time.
Like the plan to do a little exercise everyday am going to try that too.
Well done again.

Thanks Choos, thanks Alex.

I'm going to try and exercise for 20 mins minimum per day-even if that's only doing basic work with my weights while watching the telly (my weights are currently being used to prop open several doors in my house-not good). I'll dig out the legwarmers for the 80's themed weigh ins.

Alex don't worry about the chocolate (did you weigh yourself?), I had some most days and when you have a non-sleeping baby you need something tasty and full of sugar to get you through. None of our babies seem to be sleeping well at the moment, do you think they have joined some sort of kidsnet forum to discuss ways to stay up all night?

I was going to post that I feel Little Choos and Little CBear must be talking to each other and now it appears that Alex's Lo has joined in. Little Choos must have been awake every hour from 0200 (and he only settled at 2300!). I can feel the coffee calling.....

It was my DP's night to get up with the baby so I at least got a bit of sleep. Little Bear (I'm hijacking your nickname style) was up every 2 hours for 20-30 mins at a time and no amount of food or playing to tire him out is working. I wish I lived near a decent coffee shop so I could get some weapons grade coffee, but instant will have to do. I have a feeling if I do any exercises that require me to lie down I'll be asleep in no time.

I'm off for a brisk walk into town shortly.
Cora - have you got one of those Bodum coffee jugs? The M&S/Waitrose ground coffee's are good and cost approx £3-4 per pouch and these last for a couple of weeks at least.
Little Choos is currently bouncing in his Jumperoo apparently none the worse for wear after his disturbed night.

So yesterday I had Meatballs and veg for dinner (was very restrained DH had rice and I am sure he is scoffing choc biscuits in the kitchen of an evening).

Today the grand plan is: 90 min walk
Bfast: weetabix & ss milk
Lunch: veg soup, grapes, yogurt
Dinner: Chicken curry with veg. have got a friend coming over as DH is away with work tonight. Will try to resist opening Prosecco.

Alex - you asked where we all are, I'm in Bucks.

I have a coffee plunger thing- I heard that the Starbucks Christmas Blend was gorgeous so I'm going to get some of that. I'm so jealous that you're getting out for a walk, it's been raining here all day. But it is Ireland so I suppose I shouldn't be that surprised.

My food plan today is:
No breakfast-baby was too tired and upset so...
Brunch- 2x quorn sausages, spicy cous cous and zero point veg.
Dinner- leftover cannelloni (17 points!!!!!) with a huge no point salad.

I bought options hot chocolate for a change from coffee and I have no point soup ready to go if I need it. The cannelloni is fairly hefty in points so I don't want to go over my daily allowance. They reduced my points to 33 yesterday so I have to be sure to keep an eye on them and not go over.

Morning all - Cora

Hope it's stopped raining and you manage to get out today. Also hope the babies slept. Little Choos was asleep by 2100, up at 0030, then 0300 at which point I brought him into bed for a snuggle until 0600. Don't feel too bad today!
Watched a DVD last night, not my choice and I wasn't keen but in fact it was very funny 'get over it" with Jennifer Aniston. If you watch it, check out Nicole Kidmans face - very bizarre - touch too much botox me thinks.

I managed to stick to my points yesterday - in fact had 6 to spare.
Plan for today:
Bfast: Yogurt & fruit
Lunch: Out at a Christmas gift fair and so will try and choose the healthiest option
Dinner: will be frugal, depending on the lunch, so probably something like Chicken and Veg. Mr Choos is not back until late tonight.

Good luck for today everyone.

Hi Choos,

My day is crappy von crap crap today. It's pissing rain (flooding expected), my car is broken down, I have cabin fever and I have no decent food in the house. Oh and the Amazing Non-Sleeping Baby Bear was up every hour last night. I am wrecked. I am homicidally tired. And I want a Burger King. Oh I love a good rant.My niece is here today because she is on mid-terms from school so we're watching Team Umizoomi to keep her quiet and I can get a rest. I feel like a bad Aunt but I just need half an hour of peace.

That's great that you had 6 points to spare-but you also must have worked up loads of activity points with your walk yesterday. What sort of Christmas Fair are you going to? Are you already shopping for pressies? You are very organised. I haven't seen "Get over it", Nicole Kidman leaves me cold, she seems very detached- love Jennifer Anniston though, I would kill for her figure.

Going to try an experiment: to see if you mix a sachet of options hot chocolate with a spoonful of coffee do you get a propoints friendly mocha.

I will post my findings.

Definitely not like a mocha!!!!!!

It's an awful hybrid and has a weird synthetic/chemical aftertaste. Back to the drawing board on that one I'm afraid.

I think cabin fever has turned me into the Nutty Professor (I do have a Klump-like figure!).

Morning!

Hope Little bear had a better night Cora. We seem to have got the rain now, so will be staying in today which suits DH as apparently he is getting some rugby tickets delivered that need to be signed for! Little Choos slept from 2300-0400! Then went back from 0430 -0720. Think this is his best sleep so far - long may it continue- please god

I was interested in your scientific experiment. Shame it wasn't such a hit. Will have to research this further for us!

The Christmas fair was food and gifts and I had a lovely time with my best friend and DS who was being extra cute. DH and I are supposed to be trying to budget, I especially want to do this, as I am going back to work I don't want us frittering money away BUT I purchased quite a few things: a lovely wooden puzzle for DS, 2 scarves for me (in fairness, my favourite pashmina was ruined earlier this year), a Christmas pudding, a necklace for best friend for christmas, a steak and guinness pie and some peppermint foot cream - random hey?
I stuck to my points but again had a bit of a random day: jacket pot with tuna and sweetcorn for lunch (can't believe a jacket is now 8 points!!), A couple of teaspoons of xmas pud (I had to sample - obviously, I teaspoon of steak pie), 2 chocolate biscuits and a fruit salad. Believe it or now, I actually was under points.

Hope everyone doing well on diet!

Hi Choos,

Baby Bear and Little Choos must have been in contact again because my son slept brilliantly. He went to bed at 8, woke at 4.15 for a bottle and slept again 'til 7.30. I feel like a new person. I have hoovered, hung out the laundry, done a wash and cleaned the whole kitchen (and looked after the baby obvs). I hope the babies keep up the good sleeping behaviour.

That Christmas Fair sounds cool, you were very restrained with all of your tasting. There's something so comforting about the food that's around at Christmas. You seem to have gotten a lot of food for your points, which is why I like the new points system. We bought DS's Santa present at the weekend, the shopping seems to be starting early this year, I think everyone's spreading out the cost.

My food intake was pretty good yesterday:
Breakfast: Toast with peanut butter
Lunch: Point free soup
Dinner: Stuffed aubergines (re-jigged the recipe so instead of them being nearly 22 points, they were only 16. So delicious.)

I snacked on clementine oranges and had a few options hot chocolates and an ill-advised option/coffee mocha. I was way under points, I only got to about 24 but I wasn't very hungry. Having said that I did just eat a bag of crisps for breakfast. Yum!

Well done on the points and the sleep Cora, long may it continue!

I think I was within points really as I only had a fruit salad for dinner, but I really didn't mind as I had nice things in the day and wasn't feeling too hungry.

Think am going to have difficulty planning for today as we don't have much food in, well we've got the steak pie, various cheese, a bad of salad and things in the freezer I'm not going to even attempt to point. Drat - don't want to go out in the rain really and having shopping delivered tomorrow anyway.
So far, I've had fruit and yogurt & coffee (3 points).

What did you get LBear for Christmas?

I hope we've not scared people off with our ramblings, where have all you new mums gone? Hope you've not been eaten by a giant flake imagine the bliss

We seem to be the most prolific posters, but are ramblings do get fairly spectacular. Come on other new Mums-we're all in this together. I know I'm glad of the support.

I have been having a fairly carb-tastic day.
Breakfast: Bag of crisps (day not really started on the right foot.)
Lunch: Noodles with veg, spices and soy sauce.
Lunch No.2: Point free soup.
Dinner: Pasta with tomato sauce.

Oh btw have you seen how much pasta 40g is? It's ridiculous, like a kids portion. So I'm having an extra large portion- 120g which is 12 points. I don't have alot in the house so I'm trying to make do. It's shopping day tomorrow so I don't want to buy stuff just for me out of the shopping budget.

We bought Baby Bear a garage, it's 2 foot tall and is designed to encourage children to stand. My son is very active so I figured there was no point in getting him a very baby-ish garage that he would wreck in a few weeks. He's really tall-the size of an average one year old-so the taller the toys the better!

I've been trying to do random acts of exercise throughout the day, it's really difficult to get a full un-interrupted 20 mins to exercise. I was doing lunges up and down the hall while the baby was settling himself and while I was having lunch with my niece I was doing back lifts with my hand weights. I think this is the only way I can do fit it in.

Oh, just to point out- I was at home when I was having lunch with my niece at home. I'm not some sort of weirdo that brings weights to a restaurant.

Cora - help!! DH suggesting Indian takeaway tonight. Am starving so losing my mind. Have 25 points left. Could have plain Naan 12 points and Tandoori Prawn 6 points and 2 glasses of Prosecco (6 points). Need the Prosecco, having family pressure at mo re christening issues.....!!!

Should I be strong?? Not used any weeklies so far...

I might be a bit late with this. I think you should get the naan, prawns and booze in to you. If you're worried it mightn't be enough and you might pick at the popadoms can you cook a half portion of boiled rice for yourself to add to it?

The weeklies are there to be dipped in to and if you use 10 in a controlled fashion that's better than waking up tomorrow and realise you have blown the budget of your points.

Plus you have activity points that you accumulated when you were out walking earlier in the week.

Enjoy every bite of it. You may be watching what you're eating but you also have to live.

Thanks Cora, I actually changed my mind as I din't want to risk going over my points and think the gorgeous fluffy and enormous naans we get would be well over the estimated 12 points.
So I had smoked salmon pasta - 12 points
2 glasses of Prosecco - 6 points and came in under 5 points for the day.

I am going to find today harder to point as we are going to a friends tonight.
Bfast: weetabix & ss milk - 6 points
Lunch: Ham Salad & yogurt - 6 points
Dinner: Steak pie & veg - will approximate at 20 points, won't have any potato, not sure what she has for pudding but maybe 10 points? This will take me into my weeklies, but feel fine about it as didn't dip into them last night!

The garage sounds great. Little Choos is very long as well. How is Little Bear getting on with solids? Not such a great sleep night here but don't feel too bad.

Well done on the lunges! and all the exercise attempts. My 90 min walk was 7 points. Will go again on Monday weather permitting.

Good luck today! We're off to fireworks tonight, and I think we are going to clean the carpets today - my life is full of glamour.

Hi Choos,

you have some resolve. I bow down to your steely determination. I dipped in to my weekly points and had some wine last night but that is my one and only dip and the rest of the week I have been coming in under points.

Little Bear was up pretty much the entire night, he was luring me into a false sense of security the previous night. He is out for a walk with his Dad at the moment to give me a break. He loves his solids, I haven't found anything he doesn't like yet. He is mostly on vegetables at the moment, I use cous cous and quinoa as the carbyness, you don't need to blend it as it's small and kind of mushy. He's had some meat but I'm taking it slow on that front.

I'm dreading today, we're out all day shopping so it could be a disaster points wise. I'll be doing more random acts of exercise if I go over.

Fireworks sound great, I love them. As for the carpet cleaning-doing jobs like that reminds me that now I am a Mother. That's the sort of the job a Mum does.

Cora - I am hanging my head in shame. I think I used about 30 of my weeklies on wine, Baileys, Ameretto, Crisps and ice cream......

I am going to be very frugal today to try and make up for it. It was fun while the calories lasted though

Hope you had a good day shopping and that Little Bear slept better. Little Choos has not been in his cot much the past 2 nights but he is full of beans this morning.
My plan today:
Bfast: fruit!!
Lunch: Roast chicken, Lots of veg, gravy, 1 yorky. Will try and avoid pudding.... although we have GP's over and so have lots of tasty treats in.
Dinner: chicken or ham salad.

Choos, thank God you used some of your weeklies.

I was beginning to think you were some sort of diet cyborg who would not break the rules. I think cutting back for the next few days is the way to go. Did you have a good night last night? I have been sticking to about 29 points a day, filling up on fruit and vegetables, that way my dips in to the weeklies aren't as damaging. I know it's not the proper way to do it but it works for me. Actually, I'll find out on Tuesday if it works.

I foolishly went shopping on an empty stomach yesterday, I was panicking in the supermarket because I was so hungry and didn't want to snack. So I ended up buying tons of ready made fresh stir-fry veg and making quite possibly the worlds biggest stir fry.

I am in a state of exhaustion today. Not only did my son not sleep, he woke up my niece who was staying with me last night, I was up nearly every 30 minutes last night with Little Bear,then had to get up at 6.30am with my wide awake niece as my DP and son snoozed happily in bed. Do you sleep in the same bed as Little Choos? I was seriously considering that to help my son settle. If you do sleep with him-where does he sleep? In the middle?

Cora, you made me laugh, I have been on and off a diet for about 20 years so I wouldn't be a very good cyborg. I had loads of fun at the fireworks, although we had to stand quite away with Little Choos, he loved the lights but not the noise.

I am hope Little Bear slept better? Yes, little Choos sleeps in the middle of us frequently sometimes. I did have the cot next to the bed with the side down but this isn't safe now he's rolling and so we just put him in the middle and he loves it! He sticks his little hands out to check we are both there. We are going to try and get him to self settle more starting this week. Once asleep, sometimes he's not too bad in his cot, last night he slept 2130-1200, had a feed, then went back in his cot form 0100-0600. Does Little Bear self settle? Think we are going to have a tough time with LC, he feeds to sleep or in DH's arms normally. Any tips?

I kept to my points yesterday although it was tough going. My plan today is:
Bfast: yogurt and fruit
Lunch: Prawn stir fry
Dinner: Meatballs and Veg.

I'm still starving though. I want cake. I hope to lose at least a pound for tomorrow and as I am losing the will. The only thing that's keep me going is I do think I look a little thinner - bizarrely as not much movement on the scales!

Hi Choos,

Little Bear slept better, but it was his Dads night to get up with him so I pretty much slept through. We do a 2 night on, 2 night off system of looking after the baby at night.That's so cute that Little Choos put his hands out to check you're both there. LB self settles most of the time but he is a baby so just when you think you have it sussed he won't settle himself at all.

My tips are to put him in to bed awake and leave the room. Go back in and talk to him calmly if he's upset (but give him a minute when he starts to cry. My son will give out for a minute, roll over and nod off)and pat his back if he's crying but if he gets hysterical pick him up, soothe him until he's ok and then put him back in bed preferably awake. If it looks like he's getting too upset, leave it for that night, settle him in your arms then try again the next night. LB threw up one night because he got over tired and hysterical, it was dreadful. Never again. Don't make bedtime a battle, it's supposed to be a calm time, some babies need to feed to sleep, it's just their way.

My diet went to shit yesterday, my lovely DP bought me a gorgeous bottle of wine and I didn't think I'd had alot but the entire bottle was gone by the end of the night. That means I had 2 bottles this week!!! That's 40 bloody points. Stupid over sized wine glasses. My goal for tomorrow is one pound- I had been hoping for two but I have resigned myself to the fact that that's not going to happen. I'm so annoyed at myself so I plan to have gallons of point free soup today and try and do a bit of exercise. Next week I will be extremely strict.

Today's plan is:
Breakfast:2 quorn sausages, mushrooms and 3 quorn nuggets (7 points)
Coffee with 2 sugars (2 points)

Lunch:Point free soup.

Dinner:Roasted vegetables with spicy cous cous. (6 points)

That's 15 points, so I'll have a few for snacks like a cup of coffee or some options hot chocolate. I REALLY don't want to have put on weight this week. I am so hungry today, thankfully Quorn has really low points so I can eat quite alot of it. Step away from the cake Choos, you will be so mad at yourself if you eat it. Give it to your DP and then it will be gone.

Thanks for the tips - we have been sort of doing that - we'll try and persevere!

Lets hope we have both lost tomorrow. Hope some of the other mums join us for the weigh in!
Dieting is so boring isn't it - I want to drink wine and eat cake.... I fear I am starting to lose momentum. What can we do? Before/After pics?

Do you find being at home hard? I get a bit bored sometimes and then won't to eat nice things? Really I should be cherishing these weeks as I'll be back at work soon!

I am definitely losing momentum, that's why I miss the old weight watchers system, because I used to lose loads in the first week and that kept me going. I get quite bored at home, I was saying that to my friend about how housework has become my responsibility and how bloody depressing it is to do. I love spending time with my son but the conversations a bit one sided!

I've just dragged myself to the shop to get a few foodie bits, I fear that may be the most interesting part of my day.

I was going to do before and after pics but what if someone saw? I would be mortified. I think they would be a great motivational tool-sort of a reminder of how truly chubby I am, but that might lead me into the loving arms of a packet of crisps as I'll wonder what the point is as I've got such a long road ahead. My target is Christmas, I keep saying to myself that I only have to go without 'til Christmas and then I can have a week off and eat and drink what I like. This is actually quite an embarrassing thing to admit, but I've started to stockpile goodies just for myself for Christmas. I don't feel like I'm depriving myself because I'm buying the nice things, but I hide them out of sight on the top shelf of my sons wardrobe. I'm like an addict hiding my little fixes all around the house.

Cora going to PM you.

If I can work out how to!

Last night before weigh in. I'm deliberately not watching Masterchef so I don't get the munchies. Good luck tomorrow.

Todays weight in: 1lb loss. I am a bit disappointed, I wonder if dipping into my weeklies on Saturday meant I didn't lose more, also going to check my portions sizes (although hardly having any carbs), also wonder if I am holding on the blasting fat as I am still part breast feeding. Going to have a long hard think about what I am eating. If I continue just losing a lb a week (or worse), I feel the temptation will be to give up!

Good luck everyone for the weigh in today.

Todays plan: Banana and yoghurt
Lunch: Ham salad, Grapes
Dinner: Chicken fajita (1 wrap only).

Hi Choos,

Sorry that you're disappointed with you weight loss. I put on weight when I was breast feeding so I think there could be something to your theory. Try not to be too hard on yourself. Portion sizes can be a big factor, I felt hungry in the beginning because I was still eating my huge portions from when I was breast feeding.

My weigh in is tonight, just had a massive brekky to stop me picking in the afternoon. I'll post the results later.

Hello hello!
I'm sorry I posted then disappeared - had planned to start the healthy-ness on return from holiday a week ago but literally 2 hours after we returned ginger junior spiked a temperature then was horrible with a cold and fever for a week. She's just starting to come out of it now. So sleep deprivation hell (maximum 3 hours broken sleep a night for 6 nights) meant I was not in a place to start. But I now am!
Am determined to lose a stone between now and Xmas. Weight today was 12st 7.5lb.
Well done on the losses so far!

Hi Gingerbubs, sorry to hear about ginger junior, that must have been scary. I hope she's feeling better. It's awful when babies get sick. Welcome back!!!

I went along to my meeting last night and came home to a computer doing some sort of update, hence the lateness of my post. The weigh in went great. I am 4lbs down (does a little victory dance). So here's my stats:

Start weight: 15 st 2 lbs
Week 1: lost 1 1/2 lbs
Week 2: lost 4 lbs.

Still such a long way to go but I feel motivated. This week I'm trying not to eat after 7/8pm.

Good luck this week everyone.

Hi Ginger and Cora.

Ginger Glad to hear your little one is better and hope you are getting some sleep now. Good luck on your first week.
Cora I feel like doing a victory dance for you! Well done, that's just so fabulous, it's almost 1/2 stone in 2 weeks!!

I have to say I lost some motivation yesterday and had 2 chocolate biscuits but I didn't go over my points. I was thinking about having a couple of days off as I am so fed up about the rubbish weight loss, my ww friend also wonders if I am not eating enough. I am going to try and be good though as I know I will only feel worse if I go over my points.
I was having 2 pieces of fruit a day but going to cut this down to 1 and I am going back to Weetabix in the morning to see if any of this makes a difference.

So the plan is:
Bfast: Weetabix, ss milk 6 points
Lunch: Veg stir fry- 2 points
Dinner: Beef with mushrooms and veg in tomato sauce. 10 points
Snack: grapes and hot choc 1 point

Good luck everyone!

Oh my God, just did a lot of googling and found koka noodles are 11 points per pack. I can't believe it, they used to be a snack for me. Explains why I have so much weight to lose.

Has anyone else any other everyday snack items that are shockingly high in points?

Hi everyone,

Have to say found today a bit tough. After discovering that Koka noodles were 11 points per pack I threw the rest away and found it hard to recover control of my points as I had a plan in my head of what I would eat. Let's just say that no more noodles will be coming in to my house.

So today I had:
Brunch:2 Quorn sausages, 1 quorn fillet, mushrooms, 4 quorn nuggets and a coffee with 2 sugars. (11 points)

Snack: 1/3 of a packet of noodles (I rounded it up to 4 points)

Dinner: Cous cous, tofu, veggies and herbs and spices. (16 points)

Half a cup of coffee, an Options hot chocolate (2 points)

And that's my 33 points for the day. I hope you all had a good day!

Hi newchoos and cora,
Cora - well done on the weight loss, that's fantastic! Rubbish about the noodles. I hate it when you find out something like that is worse than you thought.
Choos - 2 chocolate biscuits doesnt sound bad to me if you stayed within your points.
I have done slimming world before but never WW so no idea about the whole points thing.
Well my first day was a total disaster as last night was the worst yet with bubs and her temp was right back up today so, with no sleep (again) and poorly baby I ate far too much badness. She's now on antibiotics for an ear infection so hopefully will be better quickly and I'm starting afresh tomorrow. God, I sound like such a whinger! Promise I'm not normally - it will stop very soon.
My plan for tomorrow:
Breakfast - porridge with ss milk and a cuppa
Snack - banana
Lunch - soup (probably shop bought veg, may make lentil)
Snack - satsumas
Dinner - not sure yet but healthyish and no dessert
Snack - options hot choc
Exercise - hour long walk with pram

Good luck to you guys - keep it up!

God Ginger you poor thing, that sounds so worrying. Tbh any good eating plans of mine would go out the window in that situation too. I hope Little Bubs is ok. I hope you get some sleep too. You don't sound like a whinger at all. Are you following slimming world now or are you just doing the healthy eating thing?

I have a day full of running around so I'm hoping to be able to stay on track, my resolve goes when I'm starving. Hope everyone else gets on well today.

Oh no poor Little Ginger, hoping she is much better very soon. Well done on trying to start again today - very hard eat well when tired and stressed. You don't sound like you are whinging at all.
Bad luck on the noodles Cora. Fresh egg noodles are 5 points for 1/2 pack in case you like those.
Well I had a rubbish day yesterday, think I am not going to even attempt to point as it will just depress me and make me want to reach for the biscuits - so I too will start afresh today.

I am off out Christmas shopping again, I'm not normally so organised but I am back to work soon and also have DS christening and have not made any arrangements so far. I have a busy next 3 days and so bit worried about food choices available, I find it much easier sticking to my points if I am not going anywhere.
Anyway the plan is:
Bfast: weetabix and ss milk 6 points
Lunch: Will plan to have something like chicken salad approx 10 points??
Dinner: Beef stirfy and noodles 12 points
Snack: Latte 4 points and grapes
Total= 30 points out of 36 point allowence

Good luck today!

Today was a difficult day, I was absolutely starving for all of it. I have convinced myself that it has something to do with the weather getting colder.

Today I had:
Breakfast: 2 slices of toast with peanut butter.
Lunch/Dinner: Huge bowl of chinese noodles with no point veg and tofu.
Snacks: 1 coffee with 2 sugars and an options hot chocolate, a curly wurly.

I am hungry now but I'm trying not to snack in the evening, I never knew I had will power, where's it been hiding all this time?

I hope everyone had a good day. And Ginger I hope that Little Bubs is better.

Hi Cora & Ginger,

Had a busy few days, suspect not been doing that well points wise, difficult to assess as have eaten out 3 times. Think I will have STS at the weigh in, will try harder next week!

Hope babies are all doing well.

Hi Choos and Ginger,

had a bit of a weird few days with the diet. I have lunged from being absolutely starving to not remotely hungry at all.

So yesterday I had 31 points, this included a chinese takeaway. A little tip: I ordered a side order of veg and made sure I ate this with my tofu and I barely touched the rice. So saved a whopper amount of points.

I have reeled myself in somewhat today:

Brunch: Pack of quorn rashers, 2 quorn sausages, 4 quorn nuggets and mushrooms, cup of coffee with 2 sugars. (14 points)

So tasty.

Dinner: Plan to have stirfry for dinner with no carbs, and hummous with chopped up veg for x factor watching.

Hope everyone is getting on well and babies are healthy and happy.

Fingers crossed for weight loss for you next week, I don't think I have a hope in hell. Just had Tandoori chicken, naan bread and 2 (large) glasses of Prosecco.
Will make no points soup tomorrow..........

Hi everyone,

Two days 'til the weigh in and I'm getting nervous. Sank an entire bottle of wine watching x factor. Today I will be better (repeat until I believe it).

I might change my weigh in day this week to give me a chance to recover some points and so I don't get too disheartened!
Maybe Thursday instead.
I have started doing 30mins exercise a day on the wii fit.

Hope everyone is doing well and had a lovely weekend!

Has anyone seen my self control, I think I may have left it here because I definitely don't have it. Drank loads of wine again yesterday, why is the bad stuff so tasty?

Well done on the 30 mins of exercise Choos, Thursday is probably a good idea to give you some time. My weigh in is tomorrow so I'll post my results then.

Hope everyone's well.

Cora - I found your self control with mine. It should now be winging it's way back to you and I have given mine a firm talking to as well.

So now I am going to be strict, I even resisted a nice lunch out.
So, today
Bfast: Yogurt and coffee 3 points
Lunch: Latte & fruit salad ? 4 points
Dinner: Chicken stir fry 8 points
SnackL low fat hot choc 2 points

Also plan to do 30 mins on wii fit as soon as DH home and can entertain Little Choos. Although I would have though watching me exercising would be entertainment enough - but apparently not!

Thanks Choos, I've been fairly restrained today, but I'm having some serious chocolate cravings. Well done on resisting lunch and good luck with the exercise.

So far today I've had:
Breakfast: 2xQuorn sausages, 3/4 pack of quorn rashers, 2xQuorn nuggets. Coffee with 2 sugars. (14 points)

Dinner: Chinese noodles,0 point veg and 4 quorn fillets. (9 points)

3xOptions hot chocolates. (3 points)
Coffee with 2 sugars (2 points).

I eat a lot of quorn, next week I will try and cut back. That can not be good for me.

The chocolate cravings are awful aren't they? Well done on being restrained. Lots of luck for your weigh in today.

Plan today:
Bf: Weetabix and ss milk 6 points
Lunch: Veg and bean soup - approx 2 points. ww yoghurt 1 point
Dinner: Chicken goujons and salad 8 points
Snack: Highlights x2, banana, melon 2 points

By the way, I think the highlights hot choc is nicer than the options one.

Hi everyone (Choos),

The weigh in went well considering my over indulgence in vino over the weekend. I lost 1 1/2 lbs so that's good enough for me. I have lost 7 lbs in total. I WILL lose a stone by Christmas.

Oh well done Cora! Delighted for you. You can do this! I think I will have STS despite delaying my weigh in but I am now feel a bit more motivated again. Planning on a long walk later and using the wii fit daily. I want to lose 1/2 stone by Christmas at least.

I had a disaster with some no points soup yesterday and spilt a big bowl on my cream carpet - still trying to get the stain out!

Plan for today:
BF: Weetabix and ss milk, banana (shared with Little Choos) 6 points
Lunch: Veg soup 2 points, 2x babybel 2 points
Dinner: Prawn stirfry 8 points
Snacks: Grapes and 2 x highlights hot choc - 2 points

Good luck!
Oh and big news, Little Choos has his first tooth!

That's brill that Little Choos got his first tooth. Have you named it? We have a tradition of giving our kids teeth ridiculous names. Shame about your carpet, can you just get one of those cheapy carpet shampoos, they're usually handy. Glad to hear that your motivation has returned.

Speaking of no point soup disasters, I was on a weight watchers forum looking at the recipes and they had one for turnip soup which was apparently delicious and filling. It was vile. It had to be chucked out because it smelled so bad. Bleurgh.

I'm feeling very motivated. I have been having brunch instead of breakfast as I find I pick less as the day goes on. Here is my diet for the day:

Brunch: 3 quorn sausages, 5 quorn meatballs, 2 quorn nuggets, cup of coffee with 2 sugars (12 points)

2 options hot choc (2 points)

Dinner: Spicy cous cous with veg and tofu. (8 points)

Morning!

No name for the tooth yet - although maybe we could call it sleepless as Little Choos very unsettled and waking lots.

I ended up having a different dinner chicken fajitas and some chocolate last night and have paid for it this morning, as I weigh the same. I simply am not sticking to the diet well enough. Will try harder (again). My problem area is from late afternoon onwards. Feel bit uninspired but tired and bored of trying to diet for the past 20 years! on and off of course

Turnip soup doesn't sound the best! Stir fry is our friend I think, so filling.
Grand plan:
BF: Weetabix and milk 6 points
Lunch: Veg soup, yogurt 4 points
Dinner: beef stir fry 8 points
snacks: 2x highlights and grapes 2 points

Hi Corabear! I know I'm a bit late but can I join? I also am 5, 7 and go to WW which weighs on a Tuesday and had a c-section! Too many coincidences for me to ignore this thread!

I had DS nearly 7 weeks ago went to my weigh in this week im 13st 11lbs my dream weight is 10st but am at this point aiming for pre preg weight of 11st 7lbs

Before I got pregnant I was lucky enough tonot have a sweet tooth at all so never really ate cakes chocolate etc all my previous weight gain was due to wine&chips (yes sometimes together ;-) however now....I can leave the cakes alone?? I've used 26 points in 1 day on bakewell slices??!! I need support and motivation and u guys seem to be doing great so hope u won't mind me joining in?!

Hi impatient,

you sound like you could be me and Choos. This thread is open to all. We are trying to keep each other motivated because it's bloody hard work dieting. And having to retrain your brain after having a baby while struggling with tiredness and coping with being a parent is hard. I've definitely needed this thread to keep me going.

Having said that, I have a confession-I fell off the WW wagon spectacularly on Thursday and Friday. I have had a very stressful week and I sought solace in the loving arms of junk food. I tried to add up the points but it was so depressing I stopped (I was up to three days points before I got up to dinner!). But this will not be the undoing of me. So I am back on the wagon and being very careful for the next few days until weigh in. I am praying that I stay the same.

I hope that everybody is doing better than me.

Morning Cora and hello and welcome impatient!

I hope your weekend is better Cora, I am completely shattered, Little Choos is like a little wriggly bundle in bed next to me all night, but still gets cross! I beginning to think we'll never get him back in his cot.....Think I fed hourly last night and then was wide awake at 0700, Little Choos is currently still snoozing with his Dad. I think I have effectively been ousted out of the bed really by the 2 of them! So I have done my 30 mins on the wii fit and now cleaning the kitchen.
Cora - get a wii!! It really does help with the exercise.
I had a point heavy day yesterday - 50!!! mostly on chocolate mini rolls and only have 17 weeklies left but have got about 24 exercise points banked and won't dip into anymore.

I do ww online and they have reduced the points!! I now get 33 (as art BF) instead of 36. I wonder if they had to tweak it as weight loss is slower on the new points system?

Hold on to your hats ladies. I weighed myself to see how much damage I had done with my points-fest. And...I've lost three pounds. I am as confused as can be. It's not the official weigh in so the weight loss doesn't count but I'm happy that I hadn't gained loads.

I had my points reduced to 32 but I still think it's so slow coming off. But that could be because I am trying to shift baby weight that appears to be made of glue (and chocolate. And crisps. And wine...) I stuck to the plan like a very good student for three weeks and it does work but I wish it went quicker.

Morning everyone,

I was very rigid about sticking to my points yesterday so I am trying to repair any damage. I'm also off on a walk up the mountains this morning so I'm up early to have a decent brekky,

I hope everyone got on well yesterday. Only 2 days 'til weigh in.

Just finished a 5 and a bit mile walk up through the mountains. I feel amazing but tired. Off to work out how many points I earned and I'm determined not to spend them. Every bit of me aches.

How is everybody else doing?

Well done Cora on both the weight loss an the exercise as well as sticking with it! Hope your diet is going well impatient and Ginger where are you?!

I have been strict the past 2 days, I am hoping this reflects on the scales, also been jogging on the wii fit!! and even more - enjoying it! Am only up to 15mins at the mo at a slow snails pace but I will persevere.

I came in under points yesterday and will do so today as well, have cut out carbs apart from 3 tiny potato wedges that I could not resist I am pretty hungry but drastic measures were called for. I even resisted a hot chocolate & cake when we were Christmas shopping yesterday.

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

Choos, you sound like you're doing brilliantly. It sounds like you've found something that really suits your lifestyle. I think that your diet and exercise should defiantly reflect on the scales, but then again weight watcher weigh ins are never quite what you expect. My delightful friend is lending me her wii fit so I can kick start my exercise. Are you going to weigh in on Tues?

I'm not going to count my 3lbs from the other day, my weight on Tues will be the decider. I'm so focused on losing weight for Christmas, I don't want to fool myself.

Hi everyone, how are you all getting on?

It's weigh in day tomorrow so good luck to everyone. I am aiming to stay the same due to my over indulgence, but if I lost 6 lbs I wouldn't be too sad about it.

Absolutely stressful day here, I wanted to cave in and crack open my Christmas stash of celebrations-but I didn't. I made three tons of roasted veg and ate the whole lot while pootling around on the internet. I am definitely an emotional eater. It's cool when you identify your triggers but they are still hard to overcome.

Good luck tomorrow everyone and be sure to post your results!

Well done Cora for sticking to your diet despite your stressful day, big pat on back. Wishing you a better day tomorrow.
I have stuck to my low carbing and have 10 points to spare today. Had a 18 min jog this am and 15 mins of step. As well as a 80 min walk! I really hope hope this reflects on the scales tomorrow.

Good luck everyone for the weigh ins.

Drumroll - todays weigh in: 2lbs lost. I'm happy with that as I wasn't strict for the whole week. I'm now going for it!!! Want at least 5lbs off in the next 3 weeks.
So my stats are:
week 1: 1lb
week 2: 1lb
week 3: STS
week 4: 2lb (have reduced carbs).
Have at least 14ib to go. ideally another 18.

Good luck today ladies!

YAY!!!!

Congratulations Choos, that's brilliant, are you delighted? I think all that exercise is making a difference. It's such a boost when you do the work and see the results.

I weighed myself this morning and I now weigh 14 stone 4 lbs, so that's a loss of 5 lbs. I am so happy. I really wanted to give up yesterday and I am so glad I stuck with it.

So my Fat Stats are:
Week 1-1 1/2lbs
Week 2-4 lbs
Week 3-1 1/2 lbs
Week 4-5lbs.

That's a grand total of 12lbs so far.

This is going to be my first week of not going to a weigh in at a weight watchers meeting so I am determined to stick to it. Plus, I have all you lovely ladies to answer to if I mess up, that should keep me on the straight and narrow.

How did you get on Impatient?

Made Christmas cookies and they are 5 points each per tiny cookie. Who knew home baking would be so points-tastic?!

Hi I know its not long till Christmas but I really need to lose at least half a stone by then before the serious weight loss starts in January. My little one is 9 months and I am at least 2 stone over weight. Joined WW today (for about the 4th time) bit confused about the new points but all good.
Do you mind if I join you to ramble and get cross about how many points are in a bottle of wine?

Hi Cora and welcome mrsnbjunior. I do completely agree that there are too many points in wine!

I have just made our Christmas cake, I'm not even going to attempt to point it but will feed with brandy weekly and enjoy several slices while I have my 2 weeks off ww at Christmas

Hope everyone is doing well. Still low carbing and using the wii fit daily. Well done on your weight loss cora.

Hi mrsbjunior, feel free to rant away. I hate that some of the tastiest stuff is so high in points. I have found the new points system fairly easy to get a handle on, just use the internet to check how many points are in things as I've found that the food lists aren't as comprehensive because they want you to buy other books.

Hi Choos, have you seen the Christmas Pudding vodka recipe on the Christmas thread? I'm making that this weekend. I have a feeling I may do some serious food eating at Christmas to make up for all of this abstinence. How are you finding the low carbing?

Hi Cora & all,

I will take a look at the Christmas pudding vodka, but I suspect I would be floored by it, my drinking ability is not what it was pre baby! I had some carbs today and came in over 4 points, but I will be back to no carbs tomorrow. I have found it ok although I did salivate when I saw a packet of crackers in the drawer yesterday.
I am looking forward to Christmas treats, in particular:
Cheesecake
Baileys
Amaretto
Chocolate yule log
Chocolates (posh + cadbury's)

God I am sad. But I will be getting back onto ww after the 2 weeks, hopefully only a lb or 2 heavier!!

I love the thought of Posh Chocolates. All superior in their boxes and making snide comments about the tin of celebrations.

I have a secret Christmas stash, full of chocolate, dry roasted peanuts and doritos. Oh, and the bottle of wine I added today. It's nice to buy things to set aside so I don't feel like I'm missing out.

I had all of my super bonus points and a few extra yesterday, due to an unforseen delay in delivering my points conscious takeaway. This caused me to eat 3 bags of crisps and drink half a bottle of wine. I would like to blame the delivery driver but I fear my lack of self control is the only one to blame. So I hope to stay the same after all of the overindulgence.

Cora- I love celebrations and we have a tub stashed away! Good luck for your weigh in today.

I have lost 3lbs!! Delighted and hope it's not a fluke and I'll get on the scales tomorrow and they'll be back up...... It is enough to spur me on so, maybe I'll avoid weighing myself for the week.
So I have lost 7lbs in 5 weeks. Will keep going with reducing carbs and increasing exercise apart form I am shattered today, Little Choos was feeding hourly overnight!!

YAY Choos!!!!

That's brilliant! Are you thrilled? You are doing so well. There goes the half a stone you wanted to lose before you go back to work. I wouldn't step on the scales again tomorrow, it's only going to wind you up.

I stayed the same this week and I am so grateful that I did. I really splurged this week, but I have the incentive that I need to see it through to Christmas. No more point splurging 'til then.

Thanks Cora - yes I am pleased and it's enough to keep my motivations going.
You are doing so well and we'll have some treats at Christmas

Where has everyone else gone?!

I don't know where everyone else is, I hope they come back!

Hi Cora,
Hope you have had a good few days? Hello to anyone else thinking of re joining/joining!
I STS this week as I had 2 nights out last week and a carb heavy day on Saturday as I felt the worse for wear. I am going to try hard the next 2 weeks before the Christmas break
Am walking most days and doing the wii 3-4 times a week.

Hi Choos,

I had my weigh in yesterday and I have lost another 4 lbs this week. I'm 14 stone now so I've lost 16 lbs. I am determined to be 13 stone 10 lbs by Christmas as that means that I will have lost 10% of my starting body weight. I never thought I could do this well, especially as I found the pro points difficult in the beginning.

I haven't been the exercise bunny like you Choos but I will try!

I have stayed the same this week, probably due to my over indulgence over the weekend. I decided not to even bother trying to add up all of the points as that would have made for depressing reading.

Back on track today though!

Hi, I know I'm far too late to lose much before christmas but can I join anyway? I have a 2 year old and a 12 week old and I still have some baby weight to shift (I don't have scales in my house but I think at least half a stone)

I don't have much of a plan but I'm just trying to stay away from chocolate / crisps and just basically eat healthier food and do more exercise. I have a few exercises dvds but I'm struggling to find time at the moment to do them

Hi MumtoSophie,

Christmas is really only my first goal. I have a weight in mind-13 stone 10 lb- for Christmas Day, and then another weight-10 stone-by my son's first birthday. I know what you mean about finding time to exercise, I find the day is over and my good intentions are gone because it's so late. Choos is the exercise guru!

I think having a scales is handy, if I've been eating junk and I see the scales start to creep up it really makes me get back on track.

Hi Cora and MumtoSophie,

I have STS, but have been out a lot and not pointed for about a week, also not had time to exercise as much. I am trying to have good days inbetween going out but there seems to be a lot of chocolate/cakes around, everywhere!!!!
Also super busy as now back at work and so I am finding it harder to stay on track.

I am happy to STS over Christmas and then my aim is to lose 10lbs before Feb 11th as we are going away for the weekend!

Feb 11th is actually a good date for me aswell as I'm going to Manchester for the weekend, if I lose a bit of weight for then I'll treat myself to a new outfit for going away

I'll def get myself some scales, although I'm not really looking forward to seeing how much I weigh!

I was 2lbs heavier than I thought I was when I was weighed for the first time, even though it was such a small amount I found it to be a slap in the face. I seriously doubt that I will stay the same over Christmas, I plan on doing some serious eating.

It's great to have goals though.

By that I mean weight loss goals, not my current goal to eat my own body weight over Christmas.

Well my thoughts are if I'm being good in the lead up to christmas then I can really enjoy myself and eat whatever I want over the holidays without any guilt haha:D then the diet will be back on in January. I'm not sure of a diet that will get rid of my love handles though!

I think you have the right idea with giving yourself free reign over Christmas and then back to the diet in Jan. I always crave healthy food after Christmas time indulgences so my motivation will hopefully still be there.

I don't think dieting helps with love handles. I have lost a good bit of weight but I'm still flabby, I think exercise is the only way to tone them up. I have no time for exercise though. I've only just finished my dinner, there's no way I'm hopping on the cross trainer now.

Oh God, I had the worst day today. My lovely DP gave me money to go and buy myself clothes as my Christmas present, so off I trotted to the shops to refill my wardrobe. One small snag though-none of the bloody clothes fit me properly. I was in size 14 but my stomach was so paunchy in them all yet when I tried on a size16 they were all too big and sloppy on me.

I am a completely weird shape and I don't know how to dress to suit it. And these clothes were just the basics, not dressy clothes. I'm talking shirts and long fitted jumpers and jeans. I cried on the way home out of sheer frustration. I am so sick of not eating the things I want and then still looking like I have melted.

So sick of looking like the blob!!!!

Sorry for the rant but I am so disheartened.

Hope you're feeling a bit happier today CoraBear. I know what you mean about not knowing how to dress for your shape. I actually posted on the style and beauty forum before asking for advice, maybe you could have a look there? I feel a bit of a funny shape just now too, if I could have a flatter tummy / get rid of those love handles I'd be happy!

I was doing really good last week, I stayed away from junk food / had no bread (I LOVE toast) for almost two weeks and although I couldn't really see a difference I tried on a pair of jeans that had been too small and they now fit BUT last night I had dominos pizza and today went to KFC. Oh well, back to homemade soup next week!

Well feck that!

I had a message all typed up and it disappeared. How annoying.

Hi MumtoSophie, I feel kinda crappy still. I have a belly like a melty marshmallow and I detest it. Although I heard of a condition where your stomach muscles become separated and I wonder if that is perhaps the case with me. 'Tis the season to be well dressed and I'm finding that is not the case with me.

Congratulations on fitting in to your jeans, I bet that felt amazing. Toast with butter is delicious, I tend not to buy bread as toast is such a handy snack but sooo carby and bad for me. As for the dominos-yum!!!!

Is everyone ready for the last weigh in before Christmas? I am hoping to stay at the same weight. I was wondering should we do another weigh in on Christmas Eve or something? Mostly because it's still a few days to go and hopefully some more pounds can be shed in that time.

Hi,
Sorry not been around much, I am ridiculously busy. I have not been pointing and have put on a lb, I really can't see myself sticking to the diet for the next week, I will try but we have so much socialising planned. I am planning to start again before New Year though, so thinking of starting again on Dec 29th.

I hope you feel better Cora - clothes shopping can be so demoralising. You are doing so well though. Could you try loads of different styles, maybe what you used to wear won't suit you as much now? I am living in dresses at the mo, have a couple of tunic styles ones and a cosy woolly ones, am wearing with opaques and flat boots, very flattering (I think!) could you try this?

Hi Choos,
It's hard to stick to a plan when life gets hectic. I think come the new year I will be a ww devotee again.

I tried a few tunic tops and I looked pregnant. That led to some epic cursing as it seemed to highlight the problem. I'm not really a dress type of girl-even though I truly wish I was-so I tend to stick to trousers and tops. I love the look of boots and dresses, it's so casually chic. You can't fail to look put together.

I went to my beloved a-wear and they had some really pretty pieces so I intend on spending an hour or so in there in the next few weeks and putting together a few looks. They do smart casual which is exactly the style I'm aiming for-as opposed to the slobby, student chic I'm rocking at the moment.

I shall post my weigh in results tomorrow!!!

Hi Cora and all,

Good luck with the weigh in.
I saw a friend for lunch today and have another lunch and dinner planned for the next 2 days which takes us up to Christmas. I am going to have to start my diet before New Year as I can't risk undoing my progress. I am hoping for a maximum 2lb gain.

Hi,
I did my weigh in and I have stayed the same. I wonder if I had really put my mind to it and watched my points would I have reached my goal, but I suppose I will never know.

However I do know that I don't want my work to be undone and I plan on having soup on the go next week to try and fill myself up with. I haven't put a limit on how much weight I can gain but I do know that if I see the scales starting to creep up I will be fairly annoyed. In my head I'm planning a big pig out next week but in reality I just don't want to have to start losing weight and have it be a form of torture again in January.

Choos you sound like quite the social butterfly, I love going out for meals this time of year. It always feels so festive.

I'm going to wait until the new year to buy myself some scales and then I'm in for some serious healthy eating and weekly weigh ins. I'm trying my best just now but the temptation is too much, from now til New year all my plans involve eating and drinking. I'm deternined to lose the weight though so I'll be back

Hi everyone,

I hope you're having a great time and merrily scarfing all the tasty food surrounding you. I just thought I'd do a little update, things have been going well. After eating pretty much what I've wanted I have stepped on the scales and haven't put on a pound-thank God.

I've been trying to eat one ww low points meal per day to keep on track but other than that I have only been eating when I'm hungry.

I hope you are all well and I'll try and post again soon.

Morning!
That's great Cora, I have just stepped on the sales and have somehow gained 4lbs!!!! I say somehow but I have pretty much been eating what I want for 2 weeks and not doing as much exercise. I need to start pointing again but theres so much temptation around me, should I start now or on New Years day? I don't want to do anymore damage.... although it will be hard to start this week.....

Grrr so annoying - didn't think 2 weeks would cause so much gain.

Hi Choos,

For the love of God don't start pointing until you have used up all of the booze, junk food and party nibbles that you have in the house. Have you attended all the social events/parties that you need to? You need to take all of that in to account, otherwise you're going to be miserable. You could also be retaining quite a lot of water due to all of the alcohol, sugar and salt.

Any chance you can get out for a walk or something in the coming days? I think you should enjoy yourself. I am. I'm having a Terry Chocolate Orange while watching Indiana Jones because my son is asleep.

Don't worry we'll be in pointing hell in January! Plenty of time for that.

I'm so flippin annoyed, am convinced it's weight and not water and it will take me 2 weeks to get back to where I was. Oh well! I could be good from now on, we have loads of chocolates, unopened and so they won't tempt me too much. Mince pies/christmas cake I am not too bothered by and could easily donate them. My danger is a tub of opened celebrations..... might have to throw them out.
I have one more social thing, on NYE, but DH is working away for a few weeks and I am concerned about not getting back on track due to general stress of working and DS in nursery etc. I am going to have to get into the right frame of mind otherwise I might not at all.
So during my post of waffle, I have decided to point for the next 2 days, have NYE off then start pointing again. I will delay weight in to Thurs/Fri next week.

Hope you enjoyed your chocolate orange!

Could you bring all of your unopened choccies to a friends house when you go visiting? I've done that, so far I've ditched chocolates, mince pies and a bottle of baileys. Share the calories!!!

Fair play to you for trying to point, I'm busily munching my way through the Christmas goodies, but I forsee a VERY depressing weigh in on Tuesday. You sound like you have a very busy few weeks ahead, try and take it easy and don't put too much pressure on yourself. It's hard to stay on track when you have a lot on your plate.

Hi Cora,
Haven't pointed and so this is my last day of freedom! I am determined to get back to being strict and will make soup tomorrow. I think I will have gained about 5 pounds!!!! But I am hoping to lose 3 of them this week. Then I set a new target of 7lbs for Jan and then another 7lbs in Feb I think. I am going to weigh in on either Wed/Thurs this week.

Loving your idea of gifting calories. The unopened boxes won't tempt me at all, But I am going to gift the christmas cake and throw out some other stuff.

Happy New Year and heres to a svelte 2012. Cheers!!

Hi Choos,

I'm with you on the last day of freedom thing. It's like trying to decide what my last meal will be. I've just scarfed the rest of a bag of Dorito's and there's a terrys chocolate orange that is going to be gone soon. I just want it gone so I can concentrate on losing all of the weight again. I weighed myself and I'm 4 lbs heavier.

I'm going to weigh myself tomorrow so that I have a new starting weight and then I'll weigh in again next Tuesday to see how much I've lost. I'm secretly hoping that all the extra will be gone in a week. I like you're plan to lose 7 lbs in a month, it's achievable.

I hope you have a great New Year and we'll have a trimmer 2012!!!

Hello Ladies. My LO is 19 weeks tomorrow and I have about 1 stone of baby-weight to lose, hopefully half of it by 18 Feb when I have a family do to attend. I'm starting on 2nd Jan as have NYD party to go to tomorrow. Good luck to everyone for 2012.

Hi rosalux, hi everyone,

so I had my weigh in today and I had put on 4. something lbs, so I'm going to call it 5lbs for the sake of easiness. I was a touch annoyed at myself for regaining so much and it was definitely a lesson about how easy it is to put on a few pounds when I'm not paying attention to what I'm eating. I was even trying to convince myself that I shouldn't start weight watchers again today because it'd be better to start on a Monday!!! What the hell is that about????

So, here is my plan of action:
-Absolutely NO dipping in to my weeklies this week.
-Try to avoids carbs.
-Exercise every day (even if it's something small like lunges or weights.)
-No alcohol.

It looks a bit scary seeing it all written out like that but I need to kick start my weight loss again. I hope everyone is well and had a good new year.

Oh my God, I'm so hungry. Actually, I'm not hungry but I'm craving junk food. I was down in my parent's house and there was piles of biscuits brought out my coffee and there was tubes of pringles out on the table, but I had none. Ha! I do have will power, I've just been ignoring it. If I start dreaming of boxes of celebrations and platters of party food I'm going to have to go in to some sort of Christmas food rehab.

Day one of weight watchers over and done with. Phew!

Well done Cora on getting day once over with! Like your plan as well and super well done on resisting all the goodies (which I didn't manage!).
Hello rosalux.

Well day 1 for me and I have weighed myself, a total gain of 6lbs!!!! but that was in about 4 weeks, so no hand wringing anymore from me and I have made my soup. Similar plan to Cora, no carbs, walking and sticking well within points.
Good luck everyone!

Don't beat yourself up Choos, we knew that putting the diet on hold would mean that a few pounds would creep on. All we need to do is be careful and we can have that weight gone in a few weeks. That's my plan anyway.

I bought a ton of veggies for a stir fry to eat for the next few days. I'm also eating it with tofu to avoid the dreaded carbiness. Also being off the alcohol means that I've cut right down on the amount of sugar I have been consuming in the last few days.

I hope everybody is getting on well and not finding it too difficult to stick to the ww plan.

I have been away with LO and also have a cold, so will be starting on Thursday when I will go to Boots for a weigh in. I weighed in at 9st 13lb at Boots on Saturday but have since eaten my bodyweight in home-made vanilla fudge. I do have scales at home, but my weight varies by up to 7lb depending on where in the house I put them, so they are essentially useless. I'm going to focus on healthy eating and trying to avoid munching after dinner as I'm still bfing at the moment and thus frequently ravenous. Well done to everyone who's already started. I intend to post what I eat which will hopefully keep me on track/shame me into not snacking.

You are a more honest woman than I am rosalux, I would have that scales in the part of the house where I weighed the least and be delighted with myself. I remember the hunger pangs of breastfeeding so you need to eat alot. I used to eat gallons of soup because I figured it was like eating and taking in fluids at the same time.

It's day three for me and I'm feeling a bit more back in my stride and I feel less sluggish. I have a wedding to go to at the end of March so I have a goal for it. I want to lose 2 stone for it. So I'm very focused. I will not be the chubby girl all dressed up at this wedding as I was at the last one I was at!!!

Quick check in from me- having a busy week. Day 2 of restarting and I am starving! Will weigh in on Thursday to check progress, then will probably go back to Tuesday weigh ins.

I am still bf at night rosalux (well I am trying to wean him but he is somewhat reluctant!). Loving your goal Cora. Will look forward to internet hunting an outfit for you.

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year. My partner is back to work tomorrow (I'm off on maternity) so my healthy eating is starting again. He's no help, he loves junk food and can eat what he wants without putting on weight.

I weighed myself today at my mums house and I was right on 10 stone, I still need to get my own scales. I've made a big pot of veg soup and am going to make sure I snack on fruit instead of the many boxes of chocolates in my cupboard!! I like your idea of sharing the calories, I really need to do that as these chocs are far too tempting

Hi All,

Day three is all done for me, I spent the majority of the day putting away Christmas decorations and cleaning my house so that was my exercise as far as I was concerned.

Share the calories MTS, that way you are generous while also doing yourself a favour.

Choos, I've never bought clothes over the internet as I am a weird shape so I'm always having to try stuff on. I'm kind of the shape of a guitar. A fat guitar. Oh Christ, that's a double bass!

So Day 1 has arrived for me. Off to get weighed at Boots shortly. Will post weight and other stats later but for the moment wanted to put down a marker/statement of intent to stop me procrastinating further. I have my DP's brother's engagement party in 6 weeks and DS will also be 6 months by then (can hardly believe it). I would like to look more yummy and less slummy mummy at the do.

Good luck rosalux,

I remember the dread of my first weigh in. I came out of my first ww meeting muttering "I will never weigh this much again". It's always good to have a goal in sight to keep you in line.

My day went well yesterday as I weighed myself and I was 14 stone. Woo-hoo. I realise that I weigh so much more than the rest of you, but I am so happy. It wasn't a proper weigh in as I do that on a Tuesday but it's keeping me on track.

Good luck for today everyone.

Okay, so here are my stats (such as they are):

Weight - 9st 10lb
Height - 5' 6.5"
Goal - 8st 10lb (broken down into 3 goals of 9st 5lb, 9st and 8st 10lb over the next 12 weeks is the aim).

Day 1:
B - 55g dorset cereal, skim milk, 6 almonds
L - tuna & spring onion mayonnaise in brown pita with carrot sticks, cucumber and little gem lettuce
D - pumpkin dahl with rice and fried onions (and nothing else!!!)
S - blueberries
E - 45min exercise DVD

I appear to have lost 3lb in 5 days despite eating tons of chocolate , although I haven't been drinking. I'm also an inch taller according to the Boots scales I used this morning (think I was holding my head down last time). Ho hum. I will make an effort to go to the same scales to obtain some consistency, though they surely ought to be the same everywhere? I had on almost exactly the same clothes and it was the same time of day roughly.

So far I have kept to the above food plan (but it is only just after lunch!) and have also done the exercise DVD:http://www.amazon.com/Strong-Body-Fit-Erin-OBrien/dp/B003B8NV1S. Somehow I have been really good at keeping up the exercise 3-4 times a week since DS was 12 weeks (he's now 19.5) and this is my second DVD (I did another Erin O'Brien one for 6 weeks). I just need to apply this to what I eat, or rather not eat, if that makes sense, and get into the habit of not having something sweet (or indeed anything) after dinner. I weaned myself off post lunch sweets/chocolate so it's obviously possible - just so hard!

Well done Cora! and good luck rosalux. I haven't done any exercise for about 4 weeks, must get back into it, am walking a lot with DS in his sling though.

I weighed in this morning at 11st 4, I am finding it really hard to stick to dieting this week due to various issues (time/stress/work etc). So I have just brought some M&S count on us meals which are ww pointed. Will be starting afresh again tomorrow and will make soup again at the weekend.
My goal is to lose lose 2lbs by Tuesday (official weigh in day for me). Then another 7lbs in Jan and 7lbs in Feb, then reassess.

Cora - double bass indeed! What colours suit you? Could post possible outfit links for you...

mumtosophie - hope it's going well too!

Oh dear. Don't think I ate enough at lunch as I am so hungry. I had a handful of almonds at lunch to add more protein and a pack of blueberries about 1.5hrs ago but I just also had a teaspoon of no sugar peanut butter as dinner won't be until 7.30 and I'm ravenous. Maybe a whole tin of tuna for lunch next time.

I'm so annoyed with myself I just had two big chunks of toblerone, I didn't even need it and now I feel a bit sick! I think I've got in to the habit of having something sweet to eat at night time, really need to stop that.

I'm actually feeling a bit rubbish today, I looked in the mirror and thought I looked a bit pregnant. I should take a photo and stick it on the cupboard where all the chocs are, might keep me away!!

Hope everyone else is doing good.

mumtosophie: I know what you mean about habitually finishing evening meals with something sweet. I just had to brush my teeth and gargle with mouthwash to try and prevent a raid on the cooking chocolate (g&b 70% rather than actual cooking chocolate which is quite grim IME). On the plus side, it seems to have worked and the only addition to my meal plan (other than peanut butter) were carrots and mushrooms. Just need to make it to 10.30 and LO's dream feed without eating....

Hi everyone,

Had points free soup for the first time in ages today-I forgot how boring it was, I felt full but I am hungry now. Don't think it fills the post-Christmas appetite just yet. I haven't exercised in any sort of organised fitness way but I cannot find the time (I am aware that I have time to type this, but I don't think 3 mins on the cross trainer will do much good), I have the offer of a lend of a wii so I might try the wii fit.

MTS don't feel to bad about the toblerone, it is delicious. But is there any way you can get rid of all of the sweets out of the house? I can't have anything like that in the house, the first line of defence is the trolley and I just don't bother buying it.

rosalux I think you need to eat a bit more. And don't forget that fruit is points free so if you're starving you could have some of that.

Choos- good luck with this week. I think you have the right idea to get the m&s meals in. Anything that takes the pressure off you if you are up to your ears.

Just had a call from my Dad reminding me that I have a family dinner tomorrow night so I'm off to google the restaurant and look up the menu, so I can pick what I'm going to eat now and I won't have to look at the menu tomorrow when I'm starving and choose something really high in points. I am a ww nerd!

Hurrah! Day 1 over and only a minor deviation. Think I may include a teaspoon of peanut butter with afternoon fruit as it really seems to help stave off hunger. Today's meal plan looks like this:

B: porridge with organic dried apricots, skim milk and almonds
L: left over pumpkin dahl made into soup with a chopped tomato thrown in and wholemeal pita bread
D: steak and home made chips with kale fried in garlic
S: fruit of some description and peanut butter

As it's Friday I get to have a glass of wine, but this is normally when I start roaming the kitchen for sweet food, so I'll have to have it with dinner and then brush my teeth like last night and hopefully I can resist the lure of the cooking chocolate.

No DVD today but will be going for a walk with LO strapped to my chest and I live in a very hilly part of a quite hilly city so it's definitely cardio!

corabear good idea to investigate menu options before going out. Some places (chains) even tell you nutritional information on their website, though this can be a mixed blessing as I discovered when I learnt (ex post facto) how many calories were in a pizza express chicken salad!

MTS I had to give my hairdresser a box of mini-toblerones that I had bought before xmas after I munched my way through the other box I had bought so I think two triangles isn't really too bad. What's important is not to let it derail you completely, but I agree that removing temptation from the house is definitely the way forward. DP is diabetic so we have to have some sweet stuff around, so I bought some (fairly disgusting) glucose tablets to replace the box of mini-carmels/chocolate biscuits that he had been using and I had been scoffing.

The day of the dinner is today. I looked up the restaurant and the menu seems alright, goats cheese and beetroot salad for starters and mushroom gnocchi for main. Not too points heavy but I'll be watching what I eat today. It's a restaurant devoted to clean, organic and biodynamic food so it can't be all bad. I think I'm trying to convince myself that it'll all be fine if I overindulge. I don't eat dessert at all, I'd rather have two starters, so I won't go too over my points.

Good luck with today everyone.

Well done checking ahead on the menu Cora, I actually wouldn't have thought to do that but will do from now on. I've got rid of some of our chocolates and cakes, it's just the opened ones that get me. I'll just have to force feed them to guests

I'm feeling a lot better today, I had a bowl of fruit and fibre for breakfast and am going to have my soup soon. The last few days I've just been having a banana for breakfast then need my lunch early so I'm starving by the time my partner gets home from work.

I've ordered the 30 day shred dvd (saw some good reviews for it on here) and I've also been googling healthy recipes, I really want a healthy curry one so if anyone has one please let me know.

This message has taken me so long to type, my 2 year old has been trying to put her stickers on her baby sisters cheeks and chin, apparently it makes her look so pretty

Need to post to stop me foraging in the kitchen! Have managed to restrict my post red wine munching to 5 dried apricots and some licorice and cinnamon tea which is something of a result. Watching the Anna Friel drama on bbc1 and thinking how horrid the protagonist is and trying to spot where on Bristol they filmed it

Managed to avoid further snacking last night and don't feel too bad after my large glass of red wine. Must try to avoid apricots after dinner tonight though as I'm trying to reset my habits. How is everyone else doing? I always find weekends hardest, probably because of the lack of routine and the feeling of 'I deserve a treat', usually a highly calorific one.

Today's meal plan:

B: Dorset cereal, skim milk, almonds
L: BLT on baguette with beetroot juice and celeriac remoulade (I got obsessed by this last November when I did pig2twig and unbeknownst to me at the time, conceived DS)
D: takeaway, probably Thai but only a main course and extra steamed veggies cooked at home
E: DVD (done! Hurrah!)

Hi everyone,

dinner was amazing last night,I could have eaten massive portions of it. But I didn't. I have to admit to some post dinner cocktails though. I feel like it was such a waste of points and I'm so annoyed at myself right now. I never get to go out and was having such a great time but I am so disappointed to have done it. But onwards and upwards and all that so I won't let it slow me down. To be honest I doubt I made too much of a dent in my weeklies but I will have to do some exercise soon.

rosalux, that beetroot and celeriac remoulade sounds gorgeous. Is it points free? I agree with weekends being harder due to lack of routine, either I eat right up to my points limit or I hardly eat a thing because I'm so busy.

MTS let me know how you get on with that 30 day shred, I've heard it's brill. Do you want recipes for meat or vegetable curries? I have a few veggie ones, I'm sure you can just chuck meat in though. I eat alot of chickpea ones because they are so low in points.

Choos, how are you getting on?

Right, I'm off to try and undo some of yesterdays damage. Good luck today everyone.

corabear: not sure how many points in the remoulade, as I'm not doing WW, just trying to eat well and not have kitchen raids after dinner! It's got mayo, creme fraiche, mustard, lemon juice and salt and pepper as well as grated celeriac, but I'm sure it could be made more low fat and still taste delicious. Plain yogurt maybe?

I feel quite full from lunch and have just had grapes and lychees for a snack. I must confess to a slice of wholemeal walnut bread earlier which was delicious, but I froze the rest for lunches with the soup I need to start making. Am having a long soak once DS is in bed later as he refused to nap properly today and as a result has been fractious. Roll on wine o'clock!

Had an indian last night for dinner, it was delicious. But how unfair is it that when I was off ww I wasn't invited anywhere for dinner and the week I started I get asked out for 2 dinners?

So I'm going to have to reign in the points today and the rest of the week. I weighed myself this morning and no extra weight on so far. But I am off to do laps of the park with the baby in the buggy. I have even rooted out my ankle weights to wear.

How's everybody getting on? I hope you were a bit more controlled than me.

Well I did have dried apricots again after dinner but nothing else. Am really hungry today and already had a bit of blue chesese and pastry as I made a quiche to put in the freezer. DS is still refusing to nap for more than 30mins at a time, not helped by moving him into the nursery which doesn't have proper black out blinds. His night time sleeps are so far unaffected, though he keeps waking at 2.30am and I shush pat and replace dummy and he drifts off again, really wish he could do this without me. Hopefully he will learn to now we won't be in the same room, though I fear I may just have a longer commute!

So, today's meals:

B: porridge, skim milk, dried apricots, almonds
L: blt on baguette, celeriac and apple remoulded, beetroot juice
D: roast pork. Roast potatoes (but only 3-4 not 7-8 as before), cabbage and carrots
S: fruit, pastry, blue cheese - no wine!

I am so hungry today, but I've only had 8 points. Oh that's right, it's the return of the no-points soup. I am trying to claw back some of the points I fritted away on booze and indian food.

Did anyone see the photo's of Myleene Klass on her holiday in the papers today? She looks amazing. I'm so jealous. We had our babies in and around the same time and she looks fantastic. I may print off the pictures and look at her very flat stomach for inspiration. I'm even planning to get my arse out of bed at an early hour and do my exercise dvd (rosalux you are my inspiration here as you manage to exercise, why can't I?)

Rosalux you have my sympathies with the non-sleeping child. I am on day 8 of sleep training and we have gone from being up 11 times a night with him to being up with him 5 times a night. Coffee is my friend.

Hi all,

I having even attempting to point the past few days -just having a bit of a stressful week with no time to even make the marvellous no points soup.

Myleen Klass does look amazing - am very envious of mums who look so fantastic - fear it's out of my reach even if I do lose 2 stone (I hasten to add, 2 stone is not my goal as soooo unrealistic!!, would be happy to lose a stone and a half).

Good luck everyone for the week ahead. Will be posting my daily intake from tomorrow.

Hi everyone,

I got up very early and did my pilates abs dvd. It hurt like I thought it would and it was an eye opener as to how unfit I am, as I used to do that dvd but gave up as it was too easy (I used to do an intense pilates class twice a week for two years). This morning I couldn't even get my feet up over my head holding a gym ball (as you do first thing in the morning) so I'm going to be getting up early to work out every day in the future.

Hi Choos- I'd need a trip to the surgeon to get a stomach like Myleene- maybe after I've had all my kids I'll do that. Good luck with your pointing today.

Off to make several litres of points free soup to sustain me. Good luck today everyone.

Hello all. Very impressed with your Pilates experience corabear. I'm sure the muscle memory you have will mean you get back to how you were much quicker than you think. I did my DVD this morning, but fell off the wagon last night with cider, pork crackling (so yummy), and post dinner apricots, buttered toast and chocolate drops. How is it I can stick to my workouts (dragging myselfnout of bed post early morning feed every other day) but not curb my after dinner snacking? Will try again today.

Hi all,

Hardly ate a thing today, just so busy. Have had a chocolate bar and a bag of crisps and still only up to 20 points. My workout this morning only earned me one point but it is better than nothing. I plan to do another tomorrow morning. It's weigh in day tomorrow though so I'm dreading it.

I know what you mean about post-dinner snacking, I try not to eat past 8pm but I've just finished my crisps and it just after 9pm-whoops! I hope everyone had a good day today.

Good luck with the weigh in tomorrow and I'll post my results.

I just typed a huge message and mumsnet went offline and I lost it!

Anyway, good luck everyone today with the weigh in. Sounds like you're all doing well.

I'm now on day 2 of my shred dvd and I found it so hard today, my body is aching but I'm going to stick at it. I'm only on level 1 and this morning I felt like laying down on my mat and not getting up again how unfit.

Meant to say Cora, just any curry recipe you have please. We normally have chicken but would be nice to try something new anyway.

Hi everyone,

weigh in day for me today and I lost 4lbs so I was happy enough with that. That last pesky Christmas pound is hanging on for dear life but next week it will all be gone.

MTS I feel your pain on the exercise dvd front. I am in agony every time I sit down or stand up. The pilates dvd blasts your abs and it's so sore. I will PM you some recipes, but it'll take me a bit as my son is being a monkey about going to bed at night.

Right, off to play cars with my son (that translates to him handing me cars so I can roll them down the ramp of his garage to him).

Well done corabear! I'll be lucky if I haven't gained as I've just munched seven squares of home made fudge, a mini mars bar and a handful of chocolate drops, I feel like a broken record. Will be moving to a formula dream feed from this weekend, so no more expressing (which I hate) and hopefully no more comfort eating

So so so hungry today. I think it's because it's so cold here (grasping at straws emoticon). I was up bright and early and did my exercise dvd and then had a toddle around the park and playground with my son and niece. Btw a buggy board with a 3 year old standing on it will give your arms quite the workout.

Rosalux I find it so hard to curb my cravings for junk food. I blame some of it on being so tired that I need the energy. I can't have junk in the house because it sings to me and I have to eat it. Have you weighed yourself to see how your diet is going?

MTS how goes the shredding? Are you in bits?

Choos- how are you getting on?

Well done Cora, I would love to lose 4lbs I weighed myself on my mums scales again yesterday and I'm just the same. Really must remember to get my own scales this week though.

Don't feel too bad rosalux, home made fudge would tempt us all haha.

I haven't done my shred yet today, my legs have been so sore I've been struggling to walk up and down my stairs. Once my girls are in bed though I'll do it. Had to take my baby for her injections today, poor thing so I've been quite lazy and having lots of cuddles with her.

I have a lot of weight to lose so the weight is coming off quite well. I am going to do a different workout tomorrow with weights and a gymball. I find exercise gives me energy for the day but come the evening time I'm fit to drop. We've had very little healthy food in the house the last two days so I'm finding it hard to eat things low in points. I had some full fat coke and it was 3 points-such a waste.

How is your little girl after her injections MTS? That shred dvd sounds hardcore if you're finding it difficult to walk up and down stairs. I love Jillian Michaels on the Biggest Loser but she is an ass kicker. I haven't forgotten about those recipes, can I put an attachment on a PM or do I have to type it out?

Doing sleep training again tonight with the baby so hoping that wandering around the house in the middle of the night with a screaming child will burn off some points.

Went to the gym today. I used the treadmill, eliptical (sp?), exercise bike and weights. I felt so much better after it, full of energy and not as sore as I thought I would be. I can't believe the difference in my levels of fitness since before the baby and now. I'm going to try and go at least once or twice a week and still keep up my dvd exercise in the morning.

How is everyone else getting on?

Hi everyone, I've been doing alright (eating a bit too much at the wrong times though) and doing a lot better with my dvd. This thread has just reminded me I still don't have scales!!

My baby was ok after her injections Cora, just a little bit grumpy. I think I find them worse then her. I've been a bit stressed though as I've just found out I may be being made redundant will find out for sure in 2 - 3 weeks but I'm already feeling worried about it. So I'm going to go watch a dvd and have a few drinks and maybe soemthing yummy to cheer me up then get up early in the morning and do my shred to make up for it

Sorry to hear about your job situation MTS, I don't blame you for being worried. You're right to chill out for a bit, it's stressful though. Also, glad to hear your baby is well after her injections.

I'm feeling the aches of my work out, my bum cheeks are flippin killing me. That's what I get for using the elliptical. So I'm having wine to ease the pain, I have to go on a hike with a friend tomorrow though so I won't be having too much.

Rubbish, frankly. Am still doing exercise but eating is hopeless and I've now discovered almond magnums!!! I'm starting 30 day shred on Monday (though will be 35 days for me as having weekly day of rest) and will just have to go cold turkey on after dinner eating. I sense a lot of time spent brushing my teeth...

Almond magnums-they are so delicious. When I was pregnant I loved them. Haven't gone near one since, due to fear of reawakening my love for them. Can you just eat them to get rid of them and then don't buy them again?

I went on a semi-hike today, it was so cold we went for coffee, it was so half arsed. Was fairly good points wise but I have had a few weeklies which I used for vodka, dreading my weigh in already though.

Well my weekend was a disaster diet wise, went out for a meal and had a really yummy (but fattening) curry and THEN a cake. Where is my willpower!!! Even worse I haven't looked at my shred dvd all weekend. I will actually need to starve myself all week to lose any weight.

Amazingly after all my AM indulgence (goodness but they are divine), the curry on saturday and the wine thur-sun, I weigh the same as last week. I appear to be half an inch shorter though . Imagine if I actually didn't gorge myself how much I could lose. DP informs me that the two AM I ate last night were the last two in the local shop and they're not expecting a new delivery soon (it being winter I guess). I've got in lots of grapes, kiwi fruit and lychees for post-dinner sweetness, having decided that cold turkey on afters isn't going to cut it and leads to mega dried apricot binges (never a good idea in so many ways).

On the plus side, I started 30-Day Shred this morning (or 35 day shred as I will be taking a day of rest on Sundays) and it wasn't too bad. Followed advice to double the warm up and cool down sections and got it all done in 30mins, which should be do-able on a regular basis. May be forced to revise this view in the morning if parts of me refuse to move as they should though!

Good luck everyone. As Scarlett says, "Tomorrow is another day"...

Hi,

I am just dashing in to say sorry I have not been around, had a bit of a stressful time last week and so dieting wasn't a priority. Starting again (again!) and will be weighing in next Tuesday.

Good luck all!

Hi all,

rosalux your post just made me laugh, I love the thought of your DP asking the shop keeper when his next AM delivery was, like he was buying them for an addict.

MTS, cake and curry sounds like a good weekend to me!

I have been working out and pointing and doing everything I should and I weighed myself today and I hadn't lost a pound. Tomorrow is official weigh in day so by some grace I might lose something but I will be so pissed off if I haven't lost anything. In fact my scales will be kicked up and down the hall like its predecessor was if nothing has changed. I want to be in the 13 stone bit, it's such a barrier for me. My DP was being supportive and said he would do ww with me this week so he kept a food diary so I could show him how much he usually eats. He never made it to his daily limit, so he's not doing ww with me now.

How annoying he didn't make his daily limit!
I now want to see what the fuss is about with the AM's..............

OH MY GOD!!!!!!

I haven't lost a bloody pound. I am so annoyed. So this week instead of being really points conscious and exercising, I'm going back to being half arsed and using my weeklies for wine. I AM SO CHEESED OFF. I'm taking today off to enjoy some points heavy food.

Right, I'm off to see if I can find Almond Magnums and I'm going to eat them 'til I pass out. (Grumpy cow emoticon).

And Choos, it is annoying he didn't make his limit, but he gets 45 points per day so that's fairly high. He came in no where near it. If he loses weight I will scream!

Well I bought scales last night and I am actually 4 pounds MORE than I thought I was. Fantastic

I'm so hungry and I really want to have a little snack but I'm not going to. I'm using your tip rosalux and brushing my teeth whenever I want something sweet and it is helping a bit.

Hello, I'm back with a slightly less homicidal attitude.

I was so annoyed yesterday that I had a delicious day of eating and I'm back on track now. A friend who is doing ww texted me to say Belvita breakfast biscuits are 6 points per pack of 4 and they're filling. So just a suggestion for anyone who needs a points friendly, on the move brekky. My goal for this week is 2 lbs, should be enough to get me in to the 13 stone arena.

MTS-that's so annoying about the 4 lbs, I truly know how you feel. Try not to get too down about it, it's straight after Christmas and everyone put on weight then.

corabear glad to hear you didn't let the disappointment derail you completely - that's really positive. Also, perhaps the day of joyful eating will shock your body into losing more weight? I've not been dieting as such, but just replacing after dinner mindless snacking with a bowl of fruit. Has been okay the past two days, although last night I had a couple of vodka & soda waters as DS had been a complete nightmare all day, resisting his lunchtime nap after 30mins and screaming for the best part of an hour and a half. I was totally shattered by the time he went to bed, whereupon I cracked open the vodka I have had in the fridge since before Christmas. Less calorific than AM is how I'm justifying it. Mustn't do it again today though, as friend visiting tomorrow who I haven't seen in 18 months and will be quaffing cava in celebration. Will go out and buy lots of lychees in preparation for inevitable carb crisis following said celebration.

I have, by complete chance, started a new diet. It is the "Pick up a stomach bug at soft play and spend 24 hours vomiting diet." It has worked a treat, but unfortunately my little boy has picked it up too, although it has given him dreadful nappies instead of throwing up. As successful as it is I really want to just do weight watchers instead.

rosalux, you have my sympathies with the non sleeping baby. I have one of those. He has no solid sleep routine during the day as he needs very little sleep and just nods off when he's tired-it's very frustrating. I'm hoping he might be a little more organised with his sleep when he starts to walk. He's ok at sleeping at night so it's a pay off I'm willing to make. As for the vodka-some days it's an essential parenting tool!

Completed L1D5 of 30 day shred this morning, and despite having a cupcake making morning yesterday and drinking half a bottle of cava last night, I only ate one glace iced cupcake after (a rather healthy) dinner of pearl barley mushroom risotto with salad, so that is something of a result. Also nicked a few oven chips from DP's plate when he got home, but still. Can now squeeze into black skirt from Coast that I couldn't do up a couple of months ago. Still a bit tight, but hoping I can actually wear it out of the house in a couple of/few weeks.

Cora - hope you and your DS are feeling better. There are lots of bugs going around at the mo.
Rosalux - non sleeping baby here too. Think we may resort t0 PUPD soon.... How are you finding the shred? Is it worth trying?
MTS - hope you are not too disappointed about the 4lbs.
Well I still haven't started ww properly, I am the queen of procrastination! Anyway, I am starting Monday - really!!! Obviously can't start at the weekend.... and we are off out for dinner tonight.
Hope everyone is doing better than me! I am aiming for for 3lbs off by the end of Jan. Then 7lbs in Feb.

Back to my shred dvd today after a week away from it. I am seriously struggling to get time for it just now. If I put it on when my toddlers about she wants to "help" and by the time my baby goes to sleep I'm too tired for it. I think I'm going to have to get up a bit earlier to do it from now on. That's it completed this morning though as my toddler is visiting her great granny so I've had peace.

Hope you and your little one are feeling better Cora.
Well done completing day 5 rosalux. I'm back to counting today as day 1 as I took such a big break from it. Today was much easier but I'm not looking forward to level 2.
NewChoos I will join you on losing 3lbs by end of Jan

Hello all,

I am back from the disgustingness that is a stomach bug. It only lasted for 24 hours but just as I was over it the baby got it so it's been insane. I have never felt so sorry for the poor thing as he was having stomach cramps and was in agony, at least I knew what was wrong with me, he was just in bits. It's really put me off soft play.

Choos you have stolen my Queen of Procrastination crown, I'll fight you for it later-ha ha. But that is nickname in my family because I can be de-motivated at the slightest thing.

I haven't worked out but I have pointed and used up all of my weeklies because I was starving when I started to feel better. Dreading my weigh in but I can't motivate myself.

Today is weigh in day for me and I have lost another pound. So at least it's something. I now weigh in at 14 stone. I have to really start taking responsibility for my eating. I have a bad habit of being cautious for 4 days, crap for 2 days and then I stick to my points for the day before weigh in. It's obviously impacting on my ability to lose weight and just leads to me being frustrated.

I can't bear being this big and cumbersome any more. My son is nearly one and I look worse than the day I had him.

Sorry for the depressing post, just sick of myself.

Don't be too down on yourself Cora, you're doing so well to be losing all this weight. I know how you feel though, I'm good all day then night time comes and I'm a little pig. I get so annoyed at myself because in one night I can undo all my hard work!!

Well I've lost a pound and I would love to lose another 2 this week, just really have to stop eating junk. I've had no time for exercise today, I was at out of hours last night with my toddler who has croup so me and my girls will be cuddled up watchin cbeebies no doubt. Hopefully get my dvd done tonight.

Hi MTS, thanks for your kind words, I just seem to be my own worst enemy at the moment and it's getting on my nerves.

Congrats on losing a pound, I'll join you in trying to lose 2 lbs next week. How is your little girl? Croup is dreadful, it sounds awful. Is there anything you can do to ease it? My son had a dodgy tummy for the last few days so it's been fairly hectic here. I hope your little one is ok. Cbeebies sounds like the best way to spend the day.

I second the post dinner self sabotaging drama. I'm trying to work on this by allowing myself a big bowl of fruit but nothing else and graduating to teeth brushing and sugar free mints post dinner. I think it's just a habit and habits can be broken...

We're all in the same boat so. It's so annoying to have such a lack of control. I have been having a few cups of options hot chocolate after dinner but there's some times of the month when hot chocolate is a poor substitute for a bar of fruit and nut that's been in the freezer all day.

If I went down the road of brushing my teeth every time I fancied a chocolate-y snack I would have them brushed down to the gum in a week (big pig emoticon).

Anyway, on I go, I have to be strict this week because I want to be down into the 13 stones so I can be a bit more motivated.

My little girls much better today thanks cora. She got a steroid shot at the doctors as she seemed to be struggling to breathe now I just have to give her calpol and it should hopefully clear up.

I think this is the hardest time to diet anyway, maybe it's just me but I always eat better in the summer anyway. When it's cold I just want big stodgy dinners and cake, well that's my excuse anyway

I'm glad to hear your little girl is getting better, it's dreadful when they are sick.

I had my first sort of compliment today regarding my weight loss. I was down in Mums with the kids and she asked how ww was going so I said I'd nearly lost a stone and a half.
She looked me up and down and said "really?" in a high pitched voice and then said "how much do you weigh?" slight pause"Oh my God, how much DID you weigh?" in a shocked tone. It was all I could do to not hit her with a cushion.

I know she meant well, but for fucks sake!

Hope everyone is getting on well.

Well it's the weekend and this is when my diet goes out the window. Will have to try my best to stay on track although I'm cheating a bit and have decided to give myself a "treat night" once a week. Also, my dp has started baking cakes just to tempt me even more!! In 8 years he has never baked a cake once, last week was his first so of course I had to eat some and he's doing another tomorrow. His cake was amazing, I swear he's sabotaging my diet.

Hope everytone else is getting on ok

Treat day is the way to go. Mine's on a Tuesday because that the day I do my weigh in and the day furthest away from my next weigh in. That's sweet that your husband has gone baking mad, what has inspired him? Can you steer him towards recipes for cakes that you don't like?

My day yesterday was ridiculous. We had to go to MIL's for brunch-first time ever-and she forgot that I don't eat meat, so I got handed a plate of biscuits because there was nothing I could eat. I only had 2. Then I had to do the weekly shop on an empty stomach, never a good idea. It was 3.30 pm before I got to sit down and I have to say I scarfed down 2 bags of crisps (hangs head in shame), but I was starving. I just trawled the internet and pointed everything and turns out I only ate 27 points yesterday, so not too bad.

Hope everyone else is getting on well.

Confession time - despite my pledge to lose 7lbs in Jan, I have actually put on a lb. So, I am officially back and will be posting and weighing in on Tuesdays.
Plan today:
Bfast: mini croissant and latte (6 points). Banana
Lunch: no points soup. Pear.
Dinner: chicken stirfry (8 points)
Snacks: options hot choc x 2

Cora - I think 27 points is pretty good when faced with biscuits for brunch!

Hi Choos,
Glad to see you're back. It's hard to stay motivated isn't it. I think posting regularly will help you stay on track. It always makes me wonder if I want to eat something bad, knowing that I'll have to post it here. Are you keeping a diary of what you are eating and pointing it all up? I am really nerdy about it. I bought a Madonna notebook in the pound shop to log everything, I wish I'd bought a plain one because it's so un-subtle. So, my tip to you is to get a plain one unless you want people to comment every time they see it.

My scales is wobbling just underneath 14 stone, if I get into the 13's I would be thrilled. Dread to think how grumpy I'll be if I don't lose weight. Weigh in is tomorrow, eek!

Hello everyone,

I did lose weight this week, a whole half a pound. How sodding depressing is that? Half a pound!!??? I am so unimpressed. But this not the time for wallowing in my fatness, I am lowering my allowance down to 26 points per day which is the minimum. I haven't had the time to exercise because my son isn't sleeping at all during the night and I'm exhausted. So less points is the way to go.

So my weight this week is 13 stone 13 and a half pounds.

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Haha Cora, I lost half a pound too!! Ah well, least we never gained any I suppose. If I'm honest I wasn't really surprised, I was eating really well during the week but my treat day at the weekend ended up as a treat weekend so it's my own fault.

Must do better this week. Just wondering, what do you all eat for lunch? I normally make soup but I'm fed up of it now so I've mostly been having things like tuna / chicken mayo wraps but that's not really the healthiest so need some more ideas.

MTS-my lunches are usually very thrown together affairs. I buy veg for making soup, but soup can be a depressing thought so I sometimes make a stirfry or chop up the veg and add it to cous cous. Herbs and spices stop everything becoming very boring so I try to make things spicy. The odd time I have a brunch thing, with rashers, sausages, mushrooms, scrambled tofu with wilted spinach and nutmeg (oh my God I'm starving) and that fills me up. I like to try and get as much food as possible for as little points as possible, so I always try and have a ton of veg.

I'm not a big fruit eater but I'm going to buy a few pre cut fruit salads this week to try and keep the points below 26 per day.

Are you doing ww? Stuff like kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils are all low points and filling. I put them in my meals to bulk them out too. I don't buy the ww stuff,it's way too expensive and the portions are tiny, but I have a huge appetite.

Congrats on the half pound!

Thanks, I'm going to try some of your ideas as I'm getting a bit bored having the same thing all the time. I'm not doing ww, is it easy to follow? Do you have to go to a lot of the meetings?

I really need to watch my portion sizes, I eat the same amount as dp and probably don't need it. I do love fruit though, I was in the mood of chocolate earlier and instead had some strawberries, very proud of myself haha.

I just weighed myself again and I'm a pound lighter!! Hope it's right and I don't just have dodgy scales.

Well, day one at 26 points wasn't too bad until my DP made popcorn last night. It smelled delicious but I didn't even have one piece. It took a lot of self control and apparently I was giving him evil looks while he was eating it but I got through it. Day 2, I'm not even hungry yet because I ate my dinner so late so optimism is high.

Well done on not eating chocolate (and losing a pound). I have to say ww has been great for getting my portion sizes under control. I was eating way too much pasta and rice at a meal, so weighing it all out now really helped me. I went to 4 meetings, the first two to get all the books and then 2 more to start me off. After a month I was in my stride so I felt I didn't need the classes, and childcare was an issue for me as the class was at the same time as my sons dinner so it was a bit of hassle.

I wouldn't be a huge fan of slimming groups as they are such money spinners for the company but I like ww because you can eat ordinary food. The internet is also brilliant for looking up points so you don't need to buy any of the eating out or food shopping books.

Oh.My.God. I am so hungry. I don't know if it's psychological or the fact that we have naff all food in the house so I can't fill up on veg, but I am so hungry. I'm only on 3 less points per day, but it actually making me obsessive and starving. I hate being hungry. Roll on Tuesday!

Have been asked to go to a zumba class on Weds. Has anyone been to one? Are they any good?

Looked up a video of a zumba class online, they look terrifying, I'm in 2 minds whether to go now. I'm not a great dancer and everyone seems to know what they're doing and I think I might be a bit Monica from Friends when the music starts.

Still hungry but I seem to have lost a pound and a half so far. Roll on weigh in.

I have a confession to make, I have done my weigh in today. My son is due at the paediatric cardiologist tomorrow to check on his heart condition and if any day has called for chocolate it's today. I am such an emotional eater and I'm getting very anxious about tomorrow. Most of today's points were gone by about noon. I'll go back on ww tomorrow, depending on how things go, I'll definitely be back on it by Thursday.

So now I weigh 13 stone 12lbs, I lost one and a half pounds. It took alot but I think it was worth it, I'm just glad to be firmly in the 13's.

I met with a friend of mine who is also doing ww and had to listen to her regale me with exploits of her over-indulgences and how she had eaten way beyond her daily points. She reckoned she had eaten/drank an extra 10-15 points per day and still lost 7 lbs in a week! I think she was bullshitting to make me feel bad. Cow!

I hope everyone else is getting on well.

Hi, it's MTS with a new name. My computer is broken so I'm using my laptop, couldn't remember my password so I've just made a new account. I needed a new name anyway since I'm not mum to just the one anymore

Really hope everything goes ok tomorrow Cora, I don't blame you for the chocolate. Anything that will make you feel a little better has to be a good thing! And pay no attention to your friend either, I doubt she lost 7 lbs by eating and drinking loads so don't let her make you feel bad, well done on the weight loss this week. I sneakily weighed myself today too and I'm still the same.

HI SayHello- love the new name. Staying the same is good. It's when the scales creep up there's a problem!

All went good yesterday, my little boy's heart is on the mend, so one less thing to worry about. However, we all now have the flu and I was up for 2 and a half hours last night with the baby. I am exhausted. Going to get back on track with ww today and I'm back up to 29 points per day because a week at 26 was more than enough.

Hope everyone's getting on well!

Glad you got some good news yesterday, not so good about the flu though. Hope you both feel a bit better soon.

When do you weigh yourself? If I weigh myself in the morning I'm at least one pound lighter than before I go to bed. I just go with my night time weight but now I'm thinking I'll use my morning one haha.

Sheepishly signing in to report no weight loss, life very hectic at mo, but will be back!
Cora - such good news for your little one - am delighted. Also congrats on the 13's and ignore your friend.

SayHello - Morning weight is definitely the one to go for!

Always weigh myself in the morning. In my pj's so my clothes don't weigh too much. I am a fan of the early morning, empty stomach weigh in.

Hey Choos- glad to have you back.

Facing a bit of a challenge this week, and the answer is to hope to stay the same on the weight front. I am going out for dinner tomorrow night on a date with my DP, it's been about 3 months since we went out. Then Saturday I'm baking all day for a children's birthday, then Sunday is the party. I forsee a weekend of chocolate and tasty party food.

Hope everyone is doing well but I have to confess that I'm not!! Went away for a long weekend and had so much to eat and drink I dread to think how many pounds I've gained. I had a brilliant time though and it's not often we get a child free weekend so have to make the most of it.

Another one here who spent the weekend stuffing her face. I had a fantastic weekend, filled with food and booze and more food. But never mind. I don't care, it was delish. All I did was stuff my chubby little face.

Where did you go SayHello?

Ah well, at least we enjoyed ourselves then so it's worth a pound or two I was in Manchester (I live in scotland) and haven't been before so was a nice weekend and I bought myself some new clothes too.

I weighed myself this morning and I'm still the same weight but I don't think that's right, my tummy feels bigger!!

Me too! I had an excess of pasta and prosecco and it was bloomin gorgeous.
Low carbing from tomorrow.
Well done on having fabulous weekends

Quick post before my Valentine's dinner of indian takeaway arrives. We all had the same plan it seems for the weekend. I think time off from a diet is good, I'm kind of looking at this as the way I'm going to eat from now on (following ww I mean). My weight loss has slowed alot, but I'll be able to stick to it even if there's just a pound a week, I'm looking at every loss as a good thing from now on.

I hope you have a nice evening and you're all getting on well.

Ah weight loss, it's a funny old thing. I have completely lost my motivation for weight loss, I am considering becoming one of those chubby people who resigns themselves to only wearing black, shapeless attire and eats whatever they please. And then I remember that I am only 31 years old and it's coming in to summer. I love summer clothes. Nothing is nicer in summer then a dazzling white cotton fitted tee-shirt, when I put that on I immediately feel summer-y. Or a long length vest top with 3/4 length trousers... Pretty sun dresses...(Stares off wistfully thinking about my once toned summer body)

But here's the thing, summer is still far enough away for me to realise my goals. I dread the thought of the weather warming and having to dress myself in the clothes I am wearing at the moment because I am too embarrassed to show any skin. I have an image in my head of how I want to look. It's realistic, all I want to be is a small size 14. And by that I mean that I can pull on a pair of 14 jeans and there is no muffin top, or slip on a summer dress without worrying about lumps and bumps.

So, here's my plan: it is lent a few days time and although I couldn't be less in to it, I am going to use it as a way to focus on ww. I will follow the plan to the letter for the length of lent (try saying that 10 times fast). I need a motivational tool, something to keep me on track. I cannot fail if I want to look good for the summer. I'm also picking up my friends wii fit today so hopefully I can fit in some exercise.

So in the coming weeks I will be a ww guru, devout follower and general points calculating wizard. And in the summer I will be a fitted white tee-shirt wearing, size 14, 31 year old who has not resigned herself to being chubby.

I hope everyone else is getting on ok.

Love your post Cora, it's made me feel very motivated haha. I am def on board to be skinny for summer. I've been pretty bad this weekend with fatty food and drink again so that has to stop!!

Your post has made me think of all the pretty summer clothes I can buy if I lose some weight. With a 2 year old and 5 month old (cannot believe my baby girl is 5 months already) I feel like I've been pregnant forever. It will be nice to have a summer where I can buy what I want.

So it's back to the home made soup for lunches, no treats during the week at all, drink a tonne of water and as much walking / shredding as my body can handle

Good post Cora - finding it hard t get my motivation back too.

By coincidence, I had a discussion with DH and my best friend (whilst tucking into a pub lunch!) about giving up chocolate for lent. I have never managed more than a couple of days but I am going to go for it. With the view that I may turn to over naughty food, I am going to give up crisps too (not normally bothered by crisps but worried may turn to them in my hours of need!). I will also be following ww strictly for the 30 days. It will be a really good opportunity to see how much I can lose when focused.

Anyways needs must - I am still carrying the 5lbs from Christmas..... my baby will be one soon and I a party in May and so I'd really like to be in a 12. It would be so nice to have a slim summer before we try for baby no 2.

That's me spurred on - going to walk into town this morning as I am not in work today and will dust off the wii fit later!

Hi SayHello,

I ate so much crap over the weekend, we had a huge family night out on Saturday and then there was a ton of hangover food yesterday. But lent isn't 'til tomorrow-ha ha ha. I will really sick to ww this time. I think you're eating plan sounds manageable. It's not too hardcore. How goes the shredding?

I think you should definitely buy some gorgeous summer clothes, you deserve them. It can be so hard to find your style again after pregnancy. I was telling my friend that I had size 14 plans for summer and I was saying how I love white vest tops and 3/4 length jeans and she was saying there's no where to hide any bulges in a white vest top. And she's right. And that's what's going to keep me focused.

Right, I'm off to set up the wii I got yesterday. There are 4 million cables but no book telling me how to put it all together. If you hear some expletive filled ranting-that's me!

Hope everyone has a good day.

I mean 40 days of course and apologies for typo's - not much sleep last night!

Hi Choos,

we posted at the same time so I didn't see your post earlier. That's exiting that you're going to try for baby number 2. I have a child minding job for the summer so I think that we'll try for another baby in 2013. I can't believe my once tiny baby is now walking and talking (sort of) and I still look five months pregnant. It's not a good look.

I know what you mean about turning to food that you might not usually eat when you are denying yourself your usual treats. I would pick crisps over chocolate any day, but I have accepted that I have to give them up. My rapidly expanding arse is a testament to the fact that I need to stop eating so much.

Hi Cora,

Exciting but bit scary as finding having a baby, DH and work a bit of a juggle so no idea how we will find (hopefully) 2 babies. But we both know we don't want an only child. A big stress is work but I guess I will work things out one way or another.

You have lost so much weight, I am sure you are a shadow

I think I am going to start to tell people I am giving up chocolate etc for lent and then I will be forced into it:
I am wondering if this would be too ambitious:
Chocolate (any form of)
Crisps
Pastry (step away from the croissants)
Cake
Biscuits

But is's only got 40 days and maybe that would be a stone and a half gone...forever......

Well I have lost one and a half pounds (this is over more than a week though so not great) however I'm hopeful that by this time next week I'll be 9 stone something. I have a work night out in a month and I would love to be a bit slimmer by then, even if I could lose a pund a week it's still something.

Good luck in giving up chocolate, cakes etc Newchoos. Just think how proud of yourself you'll be if you do it, not to mention how slim

I don't know how to break this to you Choos, for I fear you will freak out, but here goes...Lent is 40 days but not including Sundays. Sundays don't count as they are "holy days" and you shouldn't be indulging on those days. So it's 40 days plus however many Sundays fall within this time. (listens to hear if Choos has fainted...No, all seems fine).

I have decided to say that I have given up junk food because I don't want to explain that I am sticking to ww as I find this leads to people looking me up and down and internally critiquing my figure, whereas they mightn't if I just say I've given up junk. Crisps are my downfall, I love them so very much. I love their cheese and onion-y goodness, they are so delicious. But they are so heavy in points that to have one packet means I can't have dinner and when you look at it that way it's not really worth it. I will give up all that stuff with you Choos.

Congrats on losing one and a half pounds SayHello, that's brilliant. Especially as you hadn't been watching what you had been eating. Nine stone something is amazing, you have to be very proud of yourself considering your baby is only 5 months old.

Congrats on the weight loss SayHello.

Cora - it's ok, my friend had already broken that news to me - I had a slight waver but I am now standing firm ish. Thanks for offering to give up crisps - I am also including bread. Yep, I am that hardcore. But to be honest, I'm am doing it to save myself as I fear I would lose control (what with the lack of chocolate and cake).
So. for 46 days I will be eating mostly water ie fruit and veg. I have decided not to give up cheese as I might not be able to force myself out of bed in the morning and of course fish and lean meats.

I'm starving already.
I've already had lunch.
Can do this!

That is one extreme lent giving up resolution Choos. I bow to your self control. Do you think you'll be able to do it and stick to it? Can you make it 46 days? 46 DAYS! I have had the crappiest first diet day in the history of the world. (Oh that's right, I'm being hungrily dramatic).

My darling son has decided to be the brattiest, monkey child in the history of brat monkey children. He has fallen over a million times, knocked over the kitchen chairs on his head, picked up the record player and fired it across the room and the best one, he chewed the fake coal in the gas fire. Between minding him and cleaning up his extensive mess I stuck to ww but it was so difficult. I want a bag of crisps. And wine.

Glad the first day is over.Only 45 left!

Oh, I forgot to say that I weighed myself after having 10 days off ww and eating like a fat kid freshly released from fat camp. I only put on 2 lbs and I'm not sure if that's actual weight or the fact I'm retaining alot of water. So not too much damage done!

Oh and I'm starving too Choos!

Day 2 of ww based lent was ok. I bought a goats cheese pizza and had half of it (half of it was 14 points) it was delish but half a feckin pizza does not fill a hungry belly. I always rolled my eyes at couples who split a normal sized pizza and claimed that it filled them- I now know of course that they are lying.

This morning, because I am an impatient idiot, I weighed myself and I have lost the 2 lbs I had put on so I am back at my 13 stone 10 weight. Yay! Unfortunately my foray into exercise world has been less than successful because the stupid wii won't work. It's failing to recognise the wii balance board thingy so I can't use it. I don't have the instruction book so the DP is going to look up how to fix it on the internet, I just don't have the patience to fix it myself.

How is everyone else getting on?

Day 4 checking in.
I have been surrounded by chocolate cake and cookies, it's almost like there's a little chocolate magnet around me. It's so unfair, I have resisted so far (even carrot cake yesterday).
DH has friends round for Rugby today and we have an enormous supply of chocolate cake, profiteroles and crisps. I have washed some grapes and strawberries.... but have a bottle of prosecco chilling.

Well done on your 2lbs Cora! weigh in Tuesday for myself.
Hope everyone is having good weekends.

You have some serious will power Choos. I would have been homicidal with all of that tasty food around. I refused to drive DP to the chipper yesterday, I'm such a cow! But if I wasn't having chips, he wasn't having chips. Did you enjoy your prosecco and grapes?

I have to say I won't mind if I don't have a big weight loss this week, I'm in it for the long haul now. And I had a bit of a good day yesterday when I fitted in to a top I haven't worn since waaaay before I got pregnant. I had forgotten I had it.

Off to lunch for MIL's birthday later, we're going to some snooty restaurant. I rang to check the menu and for vegetarian option they only have creamy risotto or a cheese tartlet. I feel my weeklies are going to take a battering today.

Good luck everyone!

Oh my God, just back from the lunch from hell. It was a complete disaster.

We arrived at the restaurant which turned out to be a pub and then it all kicked off. We arrived prior to DP's family so found a suitable table and got sorted with a high chair for the baby and settled my niece (she's 3). I ask to see the children's menu, they don't have a children's menu, so I had to order from the regular menu and there was sod all to feed the baby. He was already milling through the banana and crackers I had brought for him, so I ended up going to the local shop and spending a fortune on food for him.

There was also nothing nice for me to eat- I'm vegetarian, all they could offer was a salad (the tartlet and risotto are on the evening menu, not the lunch one). The salad was so expensive, I couldn't bear to pay that amount for lettuce leaves. So I spent the afternoon feeding my son over priced food, feeding my niece chips (all they had that she could eat) and I had nothing for myself. I am STARVING!

I spent the drive home in the car dreaming about what I would have to eat. So I bolt in the door, put the kettle on to boil and put the cooker on to heat. Then- ring ring ring- it's the doorbell. My DP's family have decided to come to ours for coffee and now I can't make anything to eat. They're all a bit pissed after spending the afternoon in the pub and I'm just pissed off. My stomach is growling.

Thank you for listening to my rant. I needed to have one or else I am in danger of barging in to the kitchen and telling them all to go home. You know how angry us hungry girls can get.

I hope you're all going having a better weekend than me!

Oh that sounds awful - tbh I think I would have told them to go home, I'm not good when hungry!

Well I weighed myself this morning and I have managed to put on a lb. Unbelievable! I have had no cake, biscuits, chocolate or crisps. I have had 2x cereal bars and some rice cakes and 2 glasses of prosecco but still can't help but feel there is a huge injustice! I must admit to not keeping track of my points because I felt I simply couldn't be over.
Anyway, I have decided to cut out down on carbs now which always seem to work for me.
My official weigh in day is Wednesday, which I will do this week but thinking of moving to Friday maybe.
On a brighter note, DS spent several hours in his cot last night.
Have a good day!

Yay Choos! Congratulations on the sleeping baby, not so yay about the pound gain though. Maybe it's just fluid. It does seem very unfair, if you had caved and had a massive box of biscuits I could understand, but you haven't really gone mental.

Nothing counts 'til weigh in day is my motto. My weigh in day is tomorrow, I'm in the habit of a Tuesday weigh in. I have my zero point soup on the hob for lunch, I'm trying to save my points for aubergine pasta pesto for my dinner. It's the weigh in tomorrow so fingers crossed for some sort of loss. I would even be happy with a pound.

I was fit to slaughter my DP's family yesterday. I am so narky when I'm hungry but I had to keep a lid on it because it was MIL's birthday. I stuffed my face with noodle stir fry when they had left though.

Poor you Cora, that sounds like a nightmare lunch I'd be the same as you wishing they'd go home, I think I would've just tucked in to my dinner with them sat there anyway!!

Well done on the sleeping baby NewChoos, I'm moving my little one out of her moses basket today (not sure yet if she'll go in to her cot or crib though) as for the one pound, I agree with Cora I bet it's just fluid

Hi SayHello- how goes your weightloss? It's such a sign that babies aren't so tiny any more when they're out of the moses basket. It was a little milestone to me.

It's weigh in day for me and I am 14 stone, so I've gained weight. I'm not too fussed, I'll just continue on my ww way. I have the wii up and running at last so I'll be exercising everyday if I can. I think I need to move a bit more to shift the weight. I'll let you all know how that goes!!!

I've just weighed myself and I'm 9,12 and a half which I wasn't expecting tbh. However, I haven't yet eaten today and have just been on a mad clean / clear out in my house so I will probably have lunch and be back to 10 stone again.

It's a little milestone for me too Cora. Dp thought I was mad for feeling a bit sad she'd be moving in to her "big" bed.

Enjoy the wii, I have a exercise game for the ps3 I'll have to use again. Meant to ask, did you try zumba? If not, you can get zumba games. I'm sure you could get one for the wii.

That's brill SayHello, I think that counts as your official weigh in weight. In the style of a quiz show host- you have to take the scales first answer!

I never got to go to zumba, the teacher is pregnant so we're waiting for a stand in teacher. The class starts up next week so I plan to go then. I did wii boxing last night and my arms are killing me (unfit cow emoticon), I'm going to set up the wii fit but I need time alone to do that, my DP set up his mii last night and it told him he was overweight, I do not want DP seeing how much I weigh.

I was sad to see my son out of his moses basket, he went straight in to a big cot/bed and he looked so tiny.

Morning!

How are all the babies? Little choos managed 6 hours in his cot again. I am wondering how we will get over bringing him in our bed to get a bit more sleep in the early hours - I just don't have the energy at the moment to consider anything else. I have another virus and so fed up of being ill. Luckily am on a day off today anyway so planning on staying in and catching up on housework.
vv stressed with work at the moment for a variety of reasons and really considering my career options especially as we are hoping for baby no 2 soon ish. I am having a real dilemma in my head about work/family life balance (tied in with whether we want to move and if I gave up work we would need to change our lifestyle quite a bit). I"m in a muddle!

I haven't been counting as so stressed etc but am day 8 of no chocolate/cake/crisps. I have to confess to bread (sandwich yesterday) and 2 oat cookies eaten in crisis.
I wish I had picked carbs to give up and not chocolate..... However, feel a bit more motivated again and once feeling better will be low carbing again. Think will stick to Tuesday weigh in.

Cora - I felt the same about my weight on the wii and DH promised faithfully not to look, in the end I told him as I felt it was a silly thing for me to stress about. Well done on all your exercise! I haven't used the wii since December - I will dust it off as soon as I shake off all my bugs! Feeling happier that Spring seems near.

Sayhello - well done - your weight is around what I am aiming for!

I am thinking of doing some internet shopping to cheer myself up a little.

Sorry for enormous post!

Hi Choos,

You sound like you are having a hard time of it. I wouldn't worry about counting your points, you sound like you have an awful lot going on. And I think a bit of lent breaking is allowed if you are sick and stressed. I am watching Masterchef re-runs (Does anyone else get a major case of the munchies when watching Masterchef?) and then I plan to set up the wii fit for me (DP is at the football).

My darling boy is teething, his back teeth are coming through and he is in agony. We've had some late nights (4am last night), my heart breaks for him. He cries a bit but mostly just wants to be cuddled. I find it very hard to stick to ww when I am exhausted, I never feel like cooking when I am tired, I want an immediate meal or something I can just chuck in the oven and take out 30 mins later.

I have a lent related question-are you allowed break lent for Patrick's Day? In Ireland we're allowed break lent for Patrick's Day because all the men used to give up alcohol but would be allowed indulge on Patrick's Day. It's a really old rule but I always stick to it!!!

Oh I forgot to say, I tricked my son into sleeping in his cot last night. When he is looking for a snuggle in the middle of the night and wants to sleep in our bed I am usually quite accommodating if it means I'll get a nights sleep. But last night I put my pillow in his cot and swaddled him up in his blanket and he felt like he was in our bed, and he slept like a log until 8am (from 4am).

Disclaimer-my son sleeps on his back all the time. Will not suit all babies! I take no responsibility for other children.

You can def break the rule for Patricks Day, if it's an old tradition it would be rude to break it haha.

Hope everythings ok with you today Choos, it's so hard to stick to a diet when your stressed or tired so you're doing well.

Well I have now officially been made redundant! I'm not sure what to do now tbh. I only worked part time and the hours / days suited me for childcare. I'm still entitled to my maternity pay though so I have a few months to get sorted at least.

Hope you're all doing well today!

SayHello- that's awful. Had you any idea it was coming? I know it's not much comfort, but at least you will have your maternity pay to see you through the next little while. Your head must be all over the place.

I have dipped in to the weeklies again this week, even though I hoped that I wouldn't. But it was that or go hungry. I did the wii fit this morning, my little mii figure pudged out and told me I was obese- judgemental shit that it was. It was good fun, it wasn't exactly burning the calories but it meant that I was moving more than I usually do. I was crap at all the balancing and found it frustrating, but that goes for most forms of exercise.

Hope everyone's doing well, we all seem to be going through alot at the moment.

I knew it was coming Cora, I've been going in for meetings about it for the past month and have just been waiting on it being confirmed. I'm actually quite glad it's over now, it was worse not knowing if I'd have a job or not.

A few of my friends used wii fit and were also told they were obese and they were far from it so don't take much notice of her!! I've still to get my game up and running, hope you enjoy it

I can imagine having it constantly in the back of your mind must have been a worry. I suppose at least now you know-although I'm sure that is hardly comforting.

I made the ultimate error today and went into Mc Donalds with my Mum and niece. I had a veggie wrap and medium fries and shall I enlighten you with how many points they used up?...22! 22 feckin points on shite food. I just ordered it and then realised it was going to cost me. I hang my head in shame. My weekly allowance is nearly down in single figures. But I have pointed everything and will be held accountable, this will not derail me! I have another go on the wii fit penciled in for tomorrow.

I will look good this summer, I will look good this summer...(repeat until thin).

Well I have also sinned as I've just had a chinese takeaway, it was yummy though! Tomorrow I'm going to a soft play place so will no doubt burn up loads of calories chasing my daughter about, haha well that's my thinking anyway.

Hi All,

I'm busily working out a low points vegetarian lasage. My son loves it and it's really hard to make him some without having some too. So, it's my mission for today. I will post a recipe if I manage to get a decent one.

SayHello- what did you get in the takeaway? My DP is going to be working late on Monday night and I have that penciled in as takeaway night.

Hi Choos- how are you getting on?

I've been doing the wii fit every day for half an hour and while there are calories being burned off, I don't think there's alot of change happening on the scale. But it is a laugh so I'll keep it up.

Hope everyone's getting on well.

You wont like my curry I'm afraid Cora, it's called special curry and has chicken, beef and prawns in it with fried rice yum yum. I'm so boring and get the same every time we go.

Well done doing the wii every day, you put me to shame as I haven't been doing anything.

Hope you've all had a nice weekend

Morning!

Hope all is well. I have been within points so far, am changing my weigh in day to Friday. btw I did weigh myself this week and had put on another lb!!! water or not it has to stop!

Well done on the wii fit Cora - I think I am going to have to increase my exercise (if only I had some time). and SayHello - I want your curry now!!

God I'm starving.

NC

ps Cora - I had a KFC on Thursday
<ponders re lb weight gain>

Evening!

No wii for me today, I scrubbed my house from top to bottom though so I can't be arsed. I'm finding this week particularly difficult, having that Mc Donalds gobbled up most of my weeklies so I have been a hunger munger and really narky this evening. If I eat one more carrot I think I'm going to lose the will to live.

I don't think I will have lost much weight this week, but my shape is slowly changing. I took some photo's of my son and I and when I got to see them I was surprised to see how much weight is gone off my face. I only have one and a half chins instead of the three I had been sporting. My clavicle is starting to show through, I love a sticky out clavicle, it's so feminine.

I have to go to a wedding in 3 weeks and I need to try on an old dress to see if it fits, I am dreading it. I can't afford to buy a new one but I don't want to look like an over stuffed sausage. So everyone think trim thoughts for tomorrow morning which is when I plan to try it on.

SayHello- My DP gets special curry every time too! I'm more of a tofu girl (what a crap super hero name that would be). I'm not getting my take away tomorrow night as I'm meeting a friend for dinner on Friday and don't want to go too mad.

Choos- I've never had a KFC are they nice? I know what you mean about finding the time to exercise, some days there's just not the time. My weight loss has slowed but my shape has begun to change. I do different bits on the wii, but I can't get myself in order to go to the gym, which is literally across the road!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend!

That's great you can see a difference in yourself Cora, and I hope your dress looks nice. I'm searching online at the moment for a new dress for my works leaving do but I can't see anything. I really don't want to spend a lot so it's hard to find something.

Have any of you used dressipi? I read about it on another thread and am trying it now. You put in your height, weight etc and it brings up loads of suggestions of things that will suit your shape. I love it and it has shown me loads of items I like, just a shame I've no money at the moment to buy it all!!

Hi SayHello

I tried that Dressipi site and found the whole thing a bit frustrating. I haven't owned designer-y clothes in ages-I work as a child minder so my look is very casual. I also don't have many clothes that were bought in shops that there site recognises. Grrrrr!

I want to see the pretty dresses, even though I can't afford them.

Ok, just realised that I can lie about the brand I own. So I did, and now I am looking at the pretty pretty clothes. I need money!

When it asked how you spend your day I ticked the box with the woman and child so it brought up some casual things too. But I've saw lots of nice dresses I want, it also showed me a few things from mango and I don't normally go there but think I'll have to have a look. Maybe I can spend my redundancy pay on new clothes, I'll not be able to afford to eat but I'll be thin and have a new wardrobe, result haha.

I ticked that box too. I saw some lovely stuff in Wallis and Dorothy Perkins, two shops I never go in to. I might have to take a little trip in to them as their stuff was so nice. I bought a top the other day that was definitely "Mumsy" so I need some help in finding my post-baby style.

I'm starving today. I will never fritter away points again. I had my dinner for an early lunch and I'll have points free soup for dinner. Bleurgh! What a boring sounding menu.

I order a lot from Dorothy Perkins online, I've bought some coloured jeans and I'm on the look out for some dresses.

I'm fed up today and just wish I was slim. I'm craving some chocolate and think I'll just go to bed so I stop thinking about it. I was a little pig again this weekend and I'll never lose my tummy if I carry on like this. On a plus note though, my dp is buying me a voucher for beauty treatments "from" my dds for mothers day and I'm gettin my hair done this week. Should make me feel a bit better about myself

I know what you mean about being fed up SayHello. It can take such a long time to see any results, I want ultra thinness now (and with very little effort on my part!) I always lose my way over the weekend, I either end up eating tons or eating nothing. This weekend I hardly ate a thing, I ended up having one huge meal per day and then being crippled with heartburn because I ate so much so quickly. That sounds like a lovely Mother's Day present, there's nothing better than a bit of pampering.

I weighed myself this morning and I have lost 2lbs, I'm really happy. It was definitely using the wii that helped, I think the extra movement was what I needed. Having said that I spent all last night walking and bouncing my son up and down so he would sleep as he was in agony.

I had a terrible afternoon yesterday, my son was on his little ride-on truck that he pushes with his feet and he managed to throw himself over the steering wheel and landed smack on his head on to the pavement. Thankfully he is ok, his face is covered in cuts, bruises and scrapes but other than that he is fine. But he was hysterical and I had to wrap him in a towel so he'd allow me to put an ice pack on his head, it was dreadful. Now he can't lie on his left side as his face is too sore, hence me being up with him all last night.

I had a huge glass of wine last night, I was so wound up after it happened. I hadn't the points to spend on wine, but I really needed one. I hate to see my baby upset, but I have never seen him so hysterical before and it scared the crap out of me. Having to hold him down was particularly unpleasant. He has been spoilt rotten ever since it happened.

Anyway, how are you all doing?

Oh yeah, here's my veggie lasagne recipe, surprisingly healthy-ish and low points:

-Tons of chopped veg (mushrooms, onions, courgettes, peppers, skinned aubergine, carrots, spinach etc.) 0 points.

-Tomato sauce made from 3 tins of tomatoes, reduced in a pot for an hour with a bay leaf, garlic and basil. 0 points.

- 9 lasagne sheets. 18 points.

- 80g finely grated low fat chedder cheese. 6 points

- Optional 3 heaped teaspoons of parmesan cheese. 3 points.

- Optional 500g of quorn mince. 5 points.

-Jar of white lasagne sauce (because I can't be arsed to make my own) 5 points.

If you make it without the quorn and parmesan it's only 29 points for the whole thing. If you add optional extras it takes it up to 37 points, so even at that it's not too bad. Then just divide up the lasagne into portion sizes that you like and divide the total by the amount of portions. It is so frickin tasty and if, like me, you find yourself standing over the freshly made lasagne eating it off a spoon, you won't feel too bad.

You need to have lots of veggies, but it's really nice. As a vegetarian I get so bored of vegetables, but this is a lovely recipe. Perfect for the cold weather. Chuck a salad together to have with it and a large glass of wine and happy days.

Your poor son Cora, and poor you. You must have got such a fright, seeing your baby hurt is horrible. Hope he's ok. I think you were well entitled to the glass of wine after that.

Big well done on the weight loss, that's brilliant. I'm still the same weight so will have to try harder this week.

That recipe sounds yummy btw, wish I had some now my dp is so fussy though and doesn't like lasagne so might just make some for me and dd.

We're all still recovering from DS's faceplant onto concrete, he really looks bashed up. The spoiling continues.

You should try the lasagne, it's so easy to make. Chopping the veggies takes the longest, but if you have the cash you can always just buy the pre-washed pre-chopped ones and save yourself a bit of time. My DP isn't fussy but is a smartarse when it comes to vegetarian food (saying it's a poor substitute for "real" food etc.!) so I don't let him have any, even when he begs. My DS loves it and it really is quite healthy, I'm sure making the white sauce for the top would up the healthiness points but my sauces always split. I can make a white sauce using tofu but it's alot of work and I'm not fussed. Is it hard living with someone who is very fussy about their food? I always think it must be a nightmare.

I had a few sneaky treats yesterday because my brother called up to see my injured son and brought me loads of choccies and biscuits. But I am back on the ww wagon today. My aim for next week is 1lb.

Poor wee thing my dd did something similar a few days before she started nursery and had a really sore looking / scabby face for her first day. They had a photographer coming in (who only comes once a year) to take photos of them that we could buy, but she refused to get hers taken anyway. I was quite glad as I would've wanted to buy her first photo but didn't want a reminder of her sore face.

It does sound really yummy, I'd actually make it tonight if I had the ingredients!! My dp can be a bit annoying with his eating, he would quite happily live off of takeaways I think and probably never put on any weight.

One of the dresses I ordered came today and when I tried it on I'm worried I look a bit pregnant in it, I'll have to starve myself before I can wear it!!

Cora - you poor thing. Hope baby and you are feeling better today.
Afraid I am having a total rubbish week too, LittleChoos and DH not well (had 2x visits to A&E so far...) I have broken lent but surely god would understand?! Weighed myself and managed to lose 2 lbs, official weigh in Friday, 5lbs to go before achieve pre christmas weigh and then another stone.

Will have a look at the dress site when Choos house not in crisis!

Oh no Choos- is everything ok? Was it your DP or LittleChoos that ended up in A&E the second time? I think lent is the least of your worries, you sound like you have so much going on at the moment. Well done on losing 2lbs, I'm sure it'll be no time before you're slim again.

SayHello- I am a takeaway fiend, in fact if I had lots of money I would spend it on M&S ready meals and decent takeaway food. Then possibly liposuction! Could magic knickers help you to have a better silhouette in your dress? I love them, I have been known to wear 2 pairs at a time to achieve the look I want.

I've gone a little bit into my weeklies today as I really fancied some garlic bread. I made a whole baguette of it but only ended up having 2 pieces because my DP, niece and brother all swooped on it and ate it. They used the excuse that it was very high in points and they were doing me a favour!

I hope everyone has a better day tomorrow.

Hope your dp and baby are ok now Choos, and well done on losing 2lbs.

Cora I think I'll buy some magic knickers anyway but I don't think they'll help with this dress as it kind of flares out from under my boobs so I think I'd look pregnant anyway. I'm going to send it back as I doubt I'll wear it.

Well my household now have some sort of bug. My toddler has had a cold and this has somehow developed in a red, sore looking ear we took her to the doctor and it's a viral infection, she's been given medicine and will hopefully be on the mend. My dp has the cold and has been vomiting since yesterday morning and my smallest is teething and not sleeping at all during the night. I am so tired that I'm hoping my dp wakes up feeling better so he can watch the children and I can nap!

Sorry for my moany post, hope everyone else is better today.

Hi All,

SayHello, you sound like you are going through the wars too. I hope you're all feeling a bit better today. Moan away, there are some really nasty bugs going around. I was at baby play yesterday and everyone had runny noses, headaches and rashes, I didn't stay long! I founf Provin really good when my son is teething and has sore ears. It's stronger than baby nurofen.

I had a points fest yesterday. I met up with my two best friends and had curry and wine and put the world to rights. It was great. I can't believe I am not more hungover, we drank so much. But it was a great laugh and it was so nice to have a conversation without our kids interrupting us.

I hope everyone has a good today and the plagues that have landed in the houses of SayHello and NewChoos have lifted.

Morning!
Hope good weekends were had.
Sayhello - Hope your bugs are gone
Cora - Sounds like your points were well spent.

Baby now has a dreadful cold and is very grumpy and clingy, hence I am shattered and have had 3 chocolate digestives! Will get back on track and hoping for another 2lbs off by Friday <although feel motivation is not what it should be>

Hi everyone,

the dreaded baby plague of snot and whinging has spread to my house. It's horrendous. You all have even more sympathy than you had before because I never realised it was this bad.

My diet has been shite over the weekend, everything we did ended up being around food, so I am not weighing in tomorrow! It will be too depressing. I have also decided to give dairy a miss for a week, I've always been allergic to it, but when I was pregnant I was able to tolerate it, but now the rashes, blinding headaches and wind that would kill a donkey have re-emerged so goodbye my cow juice friend, I will be dairy free for as long as I can stick it out.

I hope everyone's families are feeling better, it's hard to be careful of what you eat when children are being demanding. I hope you reach -2lbs for Friday Choos. I'm going to be realistic and hope to lose 4 stone. Sounds doable right?

Hi all!

It's day two of my dairy free ways and I have noticed no real difference except for the fact that my heartburn has decreased. I ended up getting a take away yesterday because my son was in such bad form that the thought of trying to cook was too much. It was nothing too bad but it won't be happening again. How are the babies in everyone else's house?

Right, I'm off to the playground with the kids to tire them out.

We're all feeling a lot better now, just left with a bit of a cold but nothing too bad. I weighed myself yesterday and I've stayed the same, I haven't been the best the past week so I wasn't expecting a weight loss anyway to be honest.

It's my pamper day today. I'm getting my eyebrows done, eyelashes tinted and nails done. I was going to get a fake tan but I felt a bit self conscious at the thought of standing almost naked, maybe pluck up the courage for next time.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Hi.

How was your day of pampering SayHello? It sounds like heaven. Are you all relaxed and looking beautiful?

I'm still off dairy and the change has been incredible. My energy levels are through the roof and I haven't been as hungry as usual. It's tough to remember that I'm not eating dairy, I had some of DS's toasted cheese sandwich and was so ill, so that was a lesson learned.

How is everybody getting on?

It's St Patrick's Day today ,

I was hoping to spend the day with my family but my MIL summoned DP and DS to her house first thing this morning. I'm all alone. It sucks.

Off to bang my head against a brick wall.

Happy St Patrick's Day Cora!

Hope your DP is back now. Had a mad week, STS which was no surprise. Going to low carb for next 2 weeks.
Little choos is awake almost hourly overnight at the moment which is not helping my motivation!! Hope the other babies are doing well and the bugs stay away.

Thanks Choos,

DP is back with DS, I'm having a hard time with MIL at the moment and her demanding ways are not going down too well. DP, DS and I spent a wholesome family day of feeding the ducks and playing in the playground, it was so lovely.

Is Little Choos ok? DS has been suffering from restless legs during the night (I got these quite badly when I was pregnant) so we take it in turns to sit and rub his legs and massage his feet until he goes back to sleep. It took 2 and a half hours last night. Tonic water helped me, can I give that to a baby? Genuine question.

I have stayed the same this week, even though I am off dairy. I am so bloated, I look 6 months pregnant, but it always happens when I am going through a bad dairy reaction. I hope to lose inches rather than weight this week.

I'm off to bed now, quarter to ten on Patrick's night and heading to bed- go me!

Just a quick post to wish you all Happy Mothers Day! I hope you have a great day.

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend and Mothers Day. My pamper day was fab and me and my mum went away together for the weekend to see a show (Dirty Dancing - it was AMAZING)

Poor you Choos, it is so hard when your little one isn't sleeping. Hope you get a better night soon.

Cora I don't mean to sound rude but your MIL sounds a bit of a nightmare, why did she make your dp and ds come over but you were left in on your own? That's not very nice, glad you had a nice day with them on saturday though.

I have heard the most amazing reviews of Dirty Dancing, my cousin went and loved it. You sound like you had a lovely weekend, did you go far or did you stay quite local?

As for my MIL, she is a nightmare, she seems to have this NEED to be the centre of DP's world, it has spilled over in to needing to be the centre of DS's world, which can be very trying. She rang DP at 7am on Saturday to bring DS over and annoyed him until he ended up agreeing. She also doesn't like that I get to lie in one of the days on the weekend (DP lies in on the other day) so she asks DP over on that day so she can make him breakfast and put his feet up.

She's done loads of stuff tbh, she told lies about me being unable to cope when I was pregnant, tries to undermine DP and I as parents (she doesn't get away with that) and is rude about my Mum. SIL is also a trouble maker, she was awful to me when I was pregnant, she is very demanding and is just plain weird (she insisted she would make me dinner for the family party they had over Christmas, when I got there she ate it all so I had no food to eat.)

These days I keep my distance! I think I might ask for therapy sessions for my birthday.

Yeh, it was so good. If it's on anywhere near you soon you should go I love the film though and have wanted to see the show for years, it was only an hour away from where I live.

She sounds pretty awful that must be so hard for you. I don't understand why some people want to cause so much trouble for others.

I have to confess, I had a healthy breakfast and lunch and then took a pack of my daughters chocolate buttons and ate them all (just a little pack, but still I really shouldn't have) Never mind, still plenty time to get thin before summer

Oooohh chocolate buttons, they are so delicious. They have always tasted so nice. I'm sure they won't undo all of your hard work, it's only one packet.

I'm in to my second week of dairy free life and although it hasn't made an impact on the scales, I feel much better. So this week I'm going to bring back the exercise and do the wii fit every day. I stopped last week as I didn't want to do too much. The warmer weather is bringing out the more active and outdoor-sy side of me so I've been out at the park every day with the baby so there has been some sort of exercise.

It's 2 weeks until I have to go to a very formal wedding, I was out checking out the range of magic-hold-you-in-knickers in my local shop, I have a feeling I might need two pairs!

I hope everyone else is doing well and that all the babies are over their various ailments. Have a good day!

Oh I think you are going to chuck me off this thread - I have been so rubbish - not stepping on the scales but the amazing none sleeping baby is not helping my will power (any excuse motivation is not great either). Trying to get back on track though - I need a push! I;m feeling really lardy especially around the tummy and I was starting to notice a difference there pre Christmas....

Cora - you poor thing, MIL AND SIL from hell. We can be your therapy! There are some very strange people in the world (have contact with quite few through work) and I think it;s generally attention seekinf/low self esteem behaviour and really says more about them. I am sure you are being graceful and rising above it (but grrr to both).

SayHello - dirty dancing is one of all my all time favourite films.Glad you had a brilliant time.
Chocolate buttone especially the giant ones (thye do taste different) are one of my all time great chocolate treats....

<ponders again weight gain and lack of motivation>

You'll have to do a lot to get chucked off this thread Choos! Has Little Choos been burning the midnight oil again? Is he still sick?

Shall I tell you my motivation? I have a wedding next week so I have to go shopping this weekend for reinforced underwear so I look decent in my dress. I am dreading it. I always get too hot and flustered and make sounds like a rhino giving birth while trying to put the heavily elasticated garments on. I'm all bloated but I'm hoping it will have died down by the weekend.

I haven't eaten much in the last few days, I can't bear the thought of eating more stirfries or soup. I had a bowl of brown rice with soy sauce last night, it was all I could face. Not wanting vegetables can be quite restrictive for a vegetarian!

I have done no exercise at all. I'm all bloated. I have put on 4 lbs of water. My appetite is zero due to cramps, what I wouldn't give to go to bed. Stupid having to work! That's right, I'm grumpy today!

Poor yoou Cora, hope you feel better soon. Well I've put on one pound and it's not water, it's chocolate!! I need to do something, I've lost my motivation. I thought since I'm always out walking with the children that this would be good exercise but clearly walking at a toddlers pace is doing nothing for me. I think I'll have to start my shred dvd again and actually stick to it this time.

Hi All,

I'm back and I'm not a grumpy cowbag any more so it's safe for me to post.

SayHello, I too was shocked that ambling along at a toddler pace is not a fat burner. I was disgusted! Can you imagine how thin we would be if it worked like that?! Is the weather nice where you are? Fresh air and being out and about always puts me in a good mood.

I was sorting through my wardrobe with my 3 year old niece yesterday and that does nothing for the self esteem I tell you. I put on a tee shirt I haven't worn in years and she said "Why are you wearing my top?" It was a little (very) tight. And this was followed up with "You look so lumpy in it". It was funny.

I've been fairly ok with my diet. There have been a few little snickity snacks that were high in points but I felt dreadful so it's not too bad. I just want to stop looking so bloated. I saw a fab top that I want to wear to my sons birthday party and if I'm all puffed up I'll look pregnant. I'll try and find it to link it so you can see what you think.

Hope everyone's getting on well today!

Woo-hoo! I weighed myself today and the water weight is receding. Lost all 4lbs. It's mad how retaining water can make that much of a difference, what a head fuck. It made me doubt myself so much. My stomach is way less bloated so I can fit into my jeans again.

Hope everyone's having a good weekend!

Oh, forgot to say,I tried to link the top I want for my sons birthday but the shop doesn't have it on line.

Well done on the 4lbs Cora, that must feel great. When is your sons birthday? I'm sure you'll look great in the top you've picked

I am going to try my best to be healthy this week, even if I lose one pound I'll be happy. My dp has also started saying he wants to eat healthier as he thinks he is getting a belly (he's really not but it will be easier for me to lose weight without him wanting takeaways all the time)

Hope you're all doing well

Hi all.

Sorry I haven't posted in ages, my son broke the laptop so I'm stuck without the internet. Weight wise I'm doing ok, I wish I was trimmer but I'm trying to make healthy choices. The sunny weather means I've been out alot but as I said above, toddler pace is not really exercise.

That's great that your DP wants to be healthier SayHello. I am a takeaway monster, well, I was, the first two weeks are hard because you get MSG cravings but after that it gets easier. He'll need to be strict with himself.

Do you drink alot of fizzy drinks? I'm going to try and give them up during the week to aid the weight loss and was wondering what I could use as substitutes. I can't drink plain water. I had horrendous morning sickness when I was pregnant and used to throw up water and can't drink it on it's own since. Any suggestions?

Woohoo I've lost the extra pound I gained last week so I'm back on track and hoping to lose another pound by next Tuesday. I'm finding it so hard to resist unhealthy food though.

I don't really drink fizzy drinks though Cora. I love cranberry juice and used to drink it all the time but now I'm trying to drink more water I just have diluting juice. What about just flavoured water?

That's great news SayHello- you must be absolutely delighted. Fingers crossed for next week.

I'm just back from the wedding, it was great. And I fitted in to my size 14 dress with no hassles and I didn't even need the Spanx that I bought, so they were dispensed with fairly rapidly! I am still the same weight but I am totally different shape,I can't believe I fitted in that dress and looked good,it has given me a bit of confidence.

Right, I'm off to pick up baking supplies to make my son's birthday cake for next week (I'm doing a trial run today) I don't eat cake but we have visitors coming later so I plan to make them eat it.

Hope everyone's having a good weekend!

Morning!

Great news on the dress Cora and also on the 4lbs. Hope you had a great time at the wedding.
Also good news re the lb say hello.

Sorry not posted for a while, work and home very busy.
I have been sticking to the diet and have gained a lb!! So I feel quite dejected. Have decided to start afresh, on this mornings weight I would like to lose 23lbs (gulp) although 14lbs would be enough for me to feel a comfortable size 10 but I may as well go for it (if only).
Am thinking of switching from ww but not sure what yet.
Have a lovely day everyone - it's chilly here.

ps still have the amazing non sleeping baby who still has a cold!!!!

That's great news about your dress Cora, bet that felt great to see all the hard work is paying off, well done Hope your sons trial birthday cake went well too.

NewChoos that's annoying about the one pound but i'm sure it'll be away next week.

I'm feeling so ill today, must be coming down with something as I feel so sick and have no energy at all. Wish I could hop back in to bed but I have my two little ones on my home til 7pm when dp gets home, I can tell it's goning to be a bad day. I guess on the plus side, I may lose some weight if I feel too sick to eat!

Oh there's nothing worse than feeling ill when you just have to keep going. This may be a day for cbeebies.....
I hope you feel better soon (and lose weight in the process although it's not a nice way to lose it).

I'm regretting my lose weight joke already, I feel so ill I want to cry cbeebies is on for my eldest, the baby is napping and I'm sitting feeling very sorry for myself.

Hope you're both having a nicer day!

Hi All,

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I have some sort of 'flu/virus thing that has knocked me for six. I think I may be on my last legs, every day I expect to feel better but I just feel worse. DP is away most of this week with work so it's just me and the baby (who also has a touch of it).

I think we have the same bug SayHello, I hope you feel better soon. Have you anyone that can help you out?

Hi Choos, I feel the same re ww. I think I might do a juice or soup thing to kick start myself when I feel better.

Right, I'm off to lie on the floor and attempt to play with the baby.

Hope everyone else is feeling better.

I really feel for you Cora, I don't know what this bug is but I've been feeling awful. I was sick pretty much the whole day on Monday and am now gradually feeling better, hope you are too. It's so difficult looking after children when you're ill.

I'd thought about doing a juice diet but I'm not sure I'd be able to stick to it (although I'm guessing you wouldn't do it for long?)

Well I'm off to bed now, hope everyone is better tomorrow.

Hi all,

still in absolute bits with this 'flu. I am on every over the counter drug I can get my little hands on but to no avail. I think a trip to the doctors is in my future.

I have formulated the diet for when I feel better, it's "The 2 S Diet". I have of course made this name up as it's just soup and smoothies for 4 days. I think it will kick start me but it's not too long.

Phase One: Smoothies and soups only for the first four days. This should give me loads of nutrients and be easily digestible and, ahem, clear out my system!

Phase Two: "The 3 S System". This is when I have a smoothie for breakfast, soup for lunch and then a salad for dinner- with a bit of protein like tofu or a quorn fillet alongside it.

Phase Three: I am a shadow of my former self and thin as a rail.

All I need to do is return to my former human self and then I will start. Anyone else want to join me?

Hi,
How are you both feeling? Hope loads better - you poor things.

Cora - would love to join you but not sure I have the willpower.
Have lost 1lb.... at this rate I am going to be on and off a diet for the next 20 years!
My DS has 7 Easter eggs..... God would want me to have chocolate to celebrate wouldn't he?

Well that's me all better now, hope you both had a lovely easter and you're feeling better too Cora.

I've weighed myself early and have lost 3.5lbs (although that will just be because I was ill so can't take any credit for it) hoping to keep ot off though.

I like the sound of your new diet Cora but tbh I don't think I'd be able to stick to it. My plan for this week is to try do more exercise, I want to get toned!!

Hi all,

sorry again for being absent, I am still feeling under the weather but a little bit better. My diet has gone to pot completely as it was Easter and my sons first birthday and my anniversary so there was lots of food consumed over the weekend. I am going to start my 4 day plan next Monday and see how I manage. I have done liquid diets previously so I should be ok.

That's great that you have both lost weight, I am a little jealous as I am staying away from the scales at the moment. Glad to feel you are feeling better SayHello.

My son got a load of Easter eggs so I have been handing them out to visitors instead of biscuits because I want them out of my house. They sing to me...

So I woke up today and realised I am actually looking forward to starting my plan next week. I feel so stodgy and mushy that a little detox might do me the world of good. There are some tasty bits and pieces in my cupboards that will have to go before I start though. So I'm trying to resist the urge to pig out on it all.

My plan today is to do at least 30 mins on the wii this evening.

Hope everyone else is getting on well.

Well I spoke too soon with the "I'm all better now" comment as I've spent the past 24 hours being sick again After being ill last week a lot of my family members were ill too so I think it's worked its way back to me again, didn't even think that was possible!! I think I need to take some vitamins or something, I clearly have a low immune system.

I will be no good on this thread for the next few days because I am dying to eat and can't even keep down water so no doubt when I'm better I'll pig out just because I can.

That sounds like a nice weekend Cora, hope your son had a lovely 1st birthday and good luck with the new diet.

Lots of celebrations there Cora Hope you had a fantastic time.
Hope you feel better soon SayHello.
Well my DS has had a virus since Saturday and has been up every hour so I have not been that good (anything that has kept me going, don't think the calories have been too bad but the type of food wasn't great...)
Good luck with the liquid diet (Prosecco?) Cora.

3 weeks until my birthday and so doubt I'm going to lose that stone now... but will try and do all I can!

Oh God SayHello, I hope you're ok, you must be feeling dreadful.

Hi Choos, I hope your DS is feeling better. It's awful when babies are sick.

My son has his back teeth coming through so he's exhausted and in bad form, he's been very pukey. All of our babies seem to be sick at the moment.

I was wondering if alcohol would fall into the liquid diet category Choos, some days I HAVE to unwind with a voddie before bed. It must be your little boys birthday soon Choos, I hope he's better for it.

Well I don't want to jinx myself again but I am feeling lots better now and I'm really hoping this horrible bug stays away.

Hope your babies are both doing well. I hate teething my little one has just got her two bottom teeth and it was a nightmare when they were coming through.

Well I have to admit I'm having a night off tonight from diets / thoughts of a diet. I've been looking forward to eating all week so I'm thinking I'll have an Indian and some wine tonight, yum. Next week I'm back eating healthy and doing exercise, I really want a more toned tummy!

Hope you're both doing well

I hope the wellness continues SayHello. It's not nice to be sick for such a long time. Did you enjoy your takeaway and wine last night?

I have been eating shite for the last few days, I have serious PMT and anyone who comments on my atrocious snacking has been snarled at. But I will proceed with my liquid plan starting Monday and I have some serious motivation. I'm off to the shops to get loads of veggies and fruit and then salady stuff for later in the week.

I need to start exercising more too. I hate my stomach, it's like a marshmallow it's so soft.

Morning!
Think I picked up that virus but the consequences are that I have lost a lb- so 2lb off pre christmas weight now - it's enough to spur me on. So only 17lbs to go....

I love Indian takeaways (lovely pillowy naans)...
Hope your PMT has gone & good luck with the liquid diet. I should get back into using the wii, will take DS out on his trike later. He was 1 a couple of weeks ago Cora, he had a lovely time. His tooth is finally through and he seems virus free (touch wood) for a few hours !!!

Yay on the pound weight loss Choos, the virus is a nasty bugger though isn't it! I hope everyone stays virus free for the forseeable future.

Day one of the liquid diet is off to a shaky start, the glands in my throat are so swollen I'm having trouble swallowing-I'm off to the doctors tomorrow. In one way it means that I have to stick to the diet because I can't swallow anything else, but I feel like utter death.

Also, my DP broke our blender yesterday (he thought it was a food processor and tried to make pastry in it! Feckin idiot) so I had to haul ass to Tesco to buy soup because I can't blend up the 3 tonnes of vegetables that are sitting in my kitchen. I'll buy a cheapie blender when I feel I can make it to the electrical shop without passing out.

So I have another option, I may have to have a semi liquid diet because I can eat the fruit I bought and then just stick to soup. I feel so sick I want to cry.

Hope you're both feeling better soon, what a horrible bug it got us all!!

Well done on the 1lb loss NewChoos.

Poor you Cora, hope the doctor can give you something for your swollen glands.

Hopefully this week will see us all feeling well and losing the pounds

The diet has been abandoned, I am on tablets for my throat and I need to eat to take them, otherwise they make me sick. Oh the fun and games. I reckon my head weighs three stone so I am dreading weighing myself.

I hope everyone feels better.

Oh no Cora - you poor thing. Get well soon.

I seem to have lost another pound, I''m not pointing but been so busy not had time to eat!

Choos that's brilliant, you must be delighted! You may reach that birthday goal yet.

I am staying away from the scales 'til my big fat moon face subsides. I genuinely look like someone has drawn a face on a football. Ugh, I hate being sick.

Poor you cora, hope you feel a bit better today. It's horrible being ill but hopefully the tablets from the doctor will kick in soon.

I've kept off the weight that I lost when I was ill and when I weighed myself this morning I'd lost another pound (although I then went out for lunch with my dad and stuffed my little face but I'm going by this mornings weight). This means that I have 4 pounds to lose til I've lost a stone which I'm very excited about!

Hope everyone else is doing well.

SayHello, that's brilliant. You must be thrilled! Who knew there could be such a good side effect to being ill. You and Choos seem to be doing really well.

I'm still sick, I had to go back to the doc's as I became unable to swallow so I'm on even stronger meds now and scheduled to go for blood tests to see if I have glandular fever. Bleurgh!

Oh no Cora, that sounds awful such a long time to be ill, hope you're better soon.

I do feel happy (even though I can't take credit for most of it as I only lost it because I physically couldn't eat) but I think I'm starting to see a difference in myself now too. I'd love to see that I'd lost a stone, I didn't think I'd be able to do it so I'm going to try really hard next week.

Afternoon all,

I'm still living in the land of the ill so I have no weightloss news to report. In fact I have gained about 5lbs because I am unable to move. I literally spent all weekend in bed, but now I have to be up to mind my son so I have taken to lying on his bean bag for large portions of the day. He is living on easy to cook food and Organics rice cakes. I am being checked for glandular fever next week if I still feel rotten so other than putting myself on a massive dose of vitamins I have no news.

That would be brill if you lost a stone SayHello, it's great that you can see a difference. That will spur you on.

What a nightmare Cora, that must be hard trying to look after your little one when you're feeling so rough can anyone take him some morning / afternoon for you so you can rest?

I have to admit that I've not done too well this week, for some reason I'm just always in the mood for cheese (esp cheese on toast yum) so I've been eating a cheese and ham toastie most days, not too good when I'm meant to be keeping away from bread!

I'm looking online just now for a gift for my friends 30th and I've no idea what to get, I have earrings as her proper gift but want another little thing to put in with them. I was looking at personalised gifts like sweets and things but I'm not sure so if anyone has any ideas let me know

Oh Cora you poor thing, glandular fever is dreadful, I had it when I was about 16 and can remember the lethargy and awfulness of it. I really hope someone will be able to look after our DS so you can rest.
I have STS but had a bit of a chocolate fest at the weekend and pizza and a BBQ (in the rain!).

What's your price range Sayhello? How about a nice handcream?

Hope you're starting to feel a bit better Cora, I've never had glandular fever, it sounds awful

I've stayed the same too Choos, not only have I been eating cheese and ham toasties but the past few nights I've been eating chocolate too. I couldn't help myself. I have no willpower

Hi All,

I'm back and still in bits. I weigh 5 lbs heavier but I have been eating some serious comfort food because I feel so dreadful (but I have been taking mutivits to balance it all out).

When I turned 30 my friend made me a card of a photo of us when we were kids and wrote "Here's to another 30 years". It was just glued on to a piece of card but it was really thoughtful and I have it hanging up in my bedroom. Sometimes you don't need to spend a lot to give a good present. That was the only suggestion I could think of for a birthday present.

Cheese toasties are amazing. Have you tried making ones with red pesto and goats cheese on nutty bread. Just put them under the grill until the cheese browns. They are delish. It's no wonder I have trouble with my weight really is it?!

Choos I applaud your bbq dedication by having one in the rain. BBQ's signal the start of the summer, if only the damn weather would pay attention to that fact! Congrats on everyone staying the same. I am jealous!

Hi all,

I'm back. And with a relatively normal sized face. So that's good.

How's everyone else getting on?

I've been eating healthily for the last three days by eating protein during the day and having a meal with carbs in the evening. It's manageable so I'm going to keep it up.

Hope everyone's well.

Well after stuffing my face over the weekend I gained 1lb I've been good since Sunday though so hopefully by Tuesday it'll be gone (although I'm away for the weekend so I have a feeling I'll be adding another few pounds to my weight!!)

How's everyone else doing?

Hi all,

Where are you off to on your weekend away SayHello, anywhere nice? I think a weekend away is a good excuse to indulge. And putting on a pound after stuffing your face for a weekend is pretty good going.

I haven't been too bad, but my weighing scales is being a bit weird, yesterday I weighed three stone and then a bit later I weighed 18 stone. So I'll weigh myself at my Mums during the week, it's just safer that way.

Hope everyone's getting on well amd enjoy your weekend away SayHello.

Didn't realise it had been so long since I last posted, hope everyone is still about!!

Well I have gained another 1.5lb I was expecting it though with dp being off work (yes, I'm blaming him) Anyway, the diet is back on tomorrow and I am going to be so good and lose 2lbs by next Tuesday. I also have to dig out my shred dvd and start doing that again.

How's everyone else getting on?

Hi,

it's with a heavy heart that I type this (and arms, legs etc.), I am so ashamed, I have put on 8 lbs. I am so upset. I think it was a mixture of being sick and eating erratically and eating the wrong things. But I have to start all over again and I don't know if I have it in me. I can't bear the thought of it. It's all gone so wrong. I think I will try 1500 cals per day and exercise. I try to be active but the weather is hardly inspiring, but from next week I have aqua aerobics so at least that's something.

SayHello- I think you should find it easy to lose that 1.5 lb if your husband isn't around, is he a bit of a foodie? As you can tell I'm not getting on too well.

Don't be too hard on yourself Cora. You haven't been well and I honestly don't think anyone can stick to a diet when they are so ill. I know it's disheartening but you lost all that weight before and you can do it again. Aqua aerobics sounds like a fun way to lose the weight too

I gained 2.5lbs and I don't even have an excuse for it. I was eating chocolate for the sake of it, I wasn't even hungry. So I'm back on it and you have to join me haha.

Hi,
Sorry I've not been around, we have all been ill (Again!). Little choos had 3 lots of anti biotics.... please let the bugs go away!!!
Don't worry about the weight gains, we'll get there in the end (next Christmas/ new goal date maybe??). I had to cancel all my birthday plans so being slinky would have been wasted anyway.
Not weighed self - am probably enormous, eating chocolate +++

Cora - I do wonder if the 8lbs is accurate? Sometimes even a couple of days of healthy eating can make quite a difference after illness - it's probably water!
Take care all. Will be back and svelte (dreams) for summer!

Thanks for your kind words, I felt so embarrassed admitting it. My plan is to log everything I eat and add up the calories as I go. I was on the my fitness pal website and they have everything so it should be easy to manage. The first thing I looked up was how many calories are in a glass of pinot grigio!

Do you think we should change the name of this thread to "New Mum seeking new body when she bloody well feels like it"? Why is it so easy to put on weight and so bloody hard to lose it.

SayHello we can do this, eat all the chocolate in your house and let's start again. The gym has named the aqua aerobics class "aqua fit", that has become "aqua fat" in my head.

Choos that's awful that you have all been sick again. How is Little Choos doing now? Have you manged to reschedule your birthday plans? I hope you all feel better, it's awful when illnesses drag on.

I hope everyone's feeling better and the scales become our friends again!

Hi all,

I had day one of counting calories yesterday and it seemed to go well, I only went over by 9. I was hungry by the end of the day but I think that was more a reflection of how I have been snacking in the evening. My daily count is 1700 calories per day, I plan to drop that to 1500 in a week or so as I get more used to eating less. I know I should probably start low to see instant results but I don't want to be starving.

It was so easy to count calories, the information is right on the back of the packet so I could make a decision then and there instead of trying to calculate points. I definitely have some enthusiasm about dieting again. Maybe it's good to chop and change diets to keep it interesting. I suppose that's what the whole diet industry is based on.

I hope everybody's well.

I think that's a good idea to start something different and I think I'll join you on the calorie counting. I've done ok this week but not as good as I wanted (I had salad for lunch yesterday then a few hours later I was starving and ended up with a bag of crisps) but i'm getting a little better I suppose.

Well done on sticking to the calories though, I actually dread to think the amount I go through some days. Although in the next few weeks my money will all be stopping (still getting maternity pay after being made redundant) so we'll have to cut down on the amount of junk food / takaways we buy anyway, guess that'll be good for my diet

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

Hi,

Calorie counting is the name of the game again today. I had a wobble yesterday as the dream home we are supposed to be moving in to looks like it's fallen through so I had quite a lot of wine and chocolate. It was a little pity party just for me.

But now I'm back and determined and back to watching the cals and back to house hunting.Have you seen the meals M&S do that are really healthy and low calorie (and so so tasty)? M&S food for us is a bit of an indulgence but it isn't as fattening as a takeaway and they usually have a 3 for 2 offer on them.

I was having a little think when I was up with the baby in the night and it occured to me that if maths questions in exams were asked in the way of calculating points, percentage of carbs and ratios of fat to protein, I think every single teenage girl would ace it. My 17 year old cousin knows the starbucks menu inside out and can tell you the carbs:protein:fat in a third of a Mc Donalds hamburger. Yet she is in maths grinds. She could be a feckin nuclear physicist if the questions on her exams were posed in a way she clearly understood. I mean obviously this brings to light the self image of teens and whatnot but think of her exam results!

Ok, enough of my wittering on, I must go and find somewhere to live while watching what I eat, aahhh multi-tasking.

Just wanted go say Corabear, not to be disheartened by your weight gain, you've managed to lose a lot of weight in a slow and healthy way over a period of time. Which is a lot more than most of us can say!!8 lbs will come off soon enough, being ill I'm sure had a lot to do with it. Onwards and skinnierwards! Keep up the fab work!

Thanks Cake,

are you trying to lose weight too? Have you any tips?

I think it's the thought of starting again that freaks me out but I'm trying to be more active and make better food choices. Went for a stroll with Dp and my son this morning and had lebanese salad for lunch so not doing too bad today. I had half a small crepe as we were out for breakfast but DS ate the other one and a half, he is quite the little hover so it saved me some calories.

Hope everyone else is getting on well.

Oh my goodness,

just back from an aqua fat workout in my local pool. God those classes are full on. I thought it would be gentle but it kicked my unfit ass. They have weights that you can use under the water so you really get a work out. The 45 minutes flew by. Woo-hoo. A form of exercise that doesn't leave me clock watching after 20 mins.

How's everyone getting on?

I'm going to have to look in to that Cora and see if they do classes here, it sounds fun. I need to join a group as otherwise I don't seem to shift my asse!!

I haven't done well this week despite all my "I will lose 2 lbs by Tuesday" talk. I've felt ill with the cold and my poor little girl has had a sickness bug. I haven't been eating too badly but def haven't had enought exercise. My little ones all better now though and went back to nursery today so once the baby gets up we're going for a power walk

I hope you're feeling better SayHello, there seems to be alot of nasty colds and bugs going around. I'm sure if we ever get good weather it should kill some of them off. Power walking sounds lovely, I've gotten out of the habit of it. If my 3 year old niece is on the buggy board she freaks out if we go too fast, she says it feels like she's going to fall, so I'm always going at a snails pace.

It was hard work using the weights under water but I feel great today and it was nice to get out of the house for a bit and do something by myself. You should definitely look for a class.

I'm feeling fine Cora, it was just a cold but I felt worse having no sleep because dd wasn't well.

Well I did power walk, but up to my friends house then we went out for lunch and sat out in the sun. She's trying to diet too but we had an afternoon off. So I'm keeping away from the scales til next Tuesday as I dread to think what the scales are gonna say!!

I've looked online and there are a few classes near me, I quite fancy the aqua fit and body combat. I want to rope a friend in too

me again - I am doing terribly. Little choos now has an ear infection, waiting to hear from gp to see if needs anti biotics again.
Diet has gone out the window, need to get back on track. Well done on all the exercise, I need stern words to get motivated again. I like the new proposed thread title Cora

Hi all,

Your poor son Choos, he seems to be really going through it at the moment, I hope he feels better soon. Shall I give you stern words of motivation:

Ok, here goes- I tried on the white summer vest top I had been dreaming of a few months ago. I look like an anaemic, raw, over stuffed sausage in it! If you're not going to diet for the love of God don't try one on!

That was less a motivational speech, more a warning to heed. But still, it was not a good look!

Is the weather nice in England? I'm assuming that's where you are both from, sorry if I have that wrong. It's fab here, I bought the kids an enormous paddling pool. Trying to pump it up was like a work out.

SayHello what's a body combat class? It sounds like ninja's come out and beat you with sticks or something.

Soooo today was weigh in day, and I'm down 4lbs! Woo-hoo! I weighed myself about 15 times to make sure the results were right and they were. Don't get me wrong, I've been hungry alot of the time, it hasn't been easy. But I am so happy.This week I hope to lose 2 lbs.

Hi everyone ,I am indeed trying to lose weight! I'm doing the Cambridge Diet at the moment, very challenging but very effective, i usually wouldn't take such drastic measures but I'm on an extremely short time frame before I'm in front of a very very very large number of people so you bet I'm trying to shift it! I don't have any tips unfortunately, I've struggled with my weight all my life, but there are 2 things that are certainly worth searching out. 1- Zoe Harcombe, stop counting calories and start losing weight, Best book ever!! You might see yourself in it, Most people do. 2- An American documentary called " Hungry for Change" absolutely bloody brilliant, it might be hard to find, but if you can, get it, life changing stuff. I too have a DS(7.5 months) and ended at 15 stone, at the heaviest a couple months ago... horrendous. So, I'm in it with ya!!! Siggghhhhh...

By the way Cora, well done on the 4 lbs!

Well done on the 4lbs Cora, that's brilliant!! If you carry on like that you'll be looking fab in your top in no time I weighed myself this morning and I've lost 1 lb, better than nothing I suppose.

I'm in Scotland and its been lovely here too, wish we got more weather like this. As for Body Combat, it's an exercise class that uses moves from Karate, Kick Boxing, Tae Kwondo etc. The ninja thing is a good idea though, that would get me moving!!

Hope your ittle one is feeling better soon Choos, it's awful when your babies ill. Has he recently started nursery? My dd was ill all the time when she first started hers, she got every bug going.

Good luck to you too Cake, hoping we all lose some pounds next week.

I am so delighted about the 4 lbs, it has spurred me on. I'm going to another aqua fat class tonight to rev up my metabolism again. I have a bbq on Sunday and I'm out for dinner tomorrow night so there lies a weekend of eating ahead of me so I'm trying to do a bit of damage limitation by hitting the pool tonight.

Body combat sounds really good SayHello, you'll be so fit after a few classes. And 1 lb lost is great, you should be proud of that. The nice weather is amazing, everyone is in such a good mood and it's great to get the kids out in the fresh air. I think Scotland and Ireland get similar weather so it's lovely to feel the heat of the sun every now and again.

Cake what's the Cambridge Diet? I've never heard of it. I think you are among friends when it comes to long term weight struggles. It is very hard to shift baby weight when you find it hard to lose weight under normal circumstances. I maintain that baby weight is made of glue and it sticks to you so it's harder to lose.

Hope everyone is well!

OOOOOhhhhhh,
wonder what was in the deleted post. I missed it. Did anyone see?

It was for my wraps i put too many posts up so they removed it as spam i wasnt aware of the guidelines

Oh I've heard of those wraps before, I wasn't sure if they would really work though. I may have to try them if I can't lose any weight myself!

Again, I've been a little pig this weekend. I don't know what's wrong with me, come Friday I want to eat everything in sight. I only want to lose maybe 9lbs in total, it shouldn't be that hard. I'm going to book a weekend away for dp birthday in July so I want to have lost something by then.

How's everyone else getting on?

I think it's the change in routine at the weekend that leads to a change in eating habits, that's definitely the case for me. I either graze all day or hardly eat a thing. Where are you planning to book for the weekend SayHello? I think you'll easily lose weight by then, maybe having it as a goal will keep you on track.

I've picked up a little tummy bug, I think it might have been from the bbq at the weekend. There was feta cheese in one of the salads and I think it may have been sitting in the sun too long. The only thing is now the baby seems to have it. I have tomorrow and Friday off work so I plan to take it easy, DP's away with work for the next 5 days so I think DS and I will just chill out.

Is it wrong that I kind of hope that a tummy bug might kick start some weight loss?

I hope everyone's getting on well.

I'm not sure where we're going yet Cora, I've looked at everywhere from Barcellona (for a long weekend) to Alton Towers. My dp is no help and wants me to surprise him. I actually think he'd love Alton Towers, not so sure I would though haha.

Poor you and your son having a tummy bug, hope it passes soon (and leaves you a few pounds lighter!!)

I've been doing much better this week, my only downfall is I've had a magnum a night for the past 3 nights.......but they were only mini magnums so surely they can't do too much harm. Anyway, I've none left now so I'll be better tonight

My DP loved Alton Towers, I didn't go as it's not really my thing and I would become the official coat holder while he went on everything. Can you pick somewhere that has a theme park near by that you could spend one of the days in? And I don't mean Blackpool! You should try and at least get somewhere a bit sunny.

I have lost no weight, but that's ok. I'm just glad to be feeling better and I will get back in to my exercise today. I have a plan to work out for 30 mins to an hour every day for the whole of June. It's like a little challenge. Tonight I will be on the exercise bike and on the cross trainer.

Did anyone see Hilary Duff on Ellen? She is clearly really struggling with her post baby body and life style but wouldn't give an inch and kept saying how easy she found it all and how "it is possible ladies" to have an easy labour and a baby that sleeps the whole night through. She was very patronising but I felt so sorry for her, she looks so overwhelmed and sad. She wore the fakest maniacal grin I have ever seen. I would've had so much respect for her if she'd just been honest.

Oh dear, I went on a bit of a rant there. Sorry. But I just saw her and it made me so annoyed.

I've booked a hotel and spa in manchester and I'm going to use my clubcard vouchers for a day in alton towers, I'm so romantic I got fed up looking in the end, everything was so expensive. It's his 30th next year so we will hopefully get someplace sunny then.

I've lost one pound this week so I'm quite happy. I also like the June challenge so I'll join you on that!!

I didn't see it, I'll have to see if I can find any clips of it. That does sound annoying though. Surely if you have an "easy" labour and a baby that sleeps through the night it's just down to luck?? She'll probably write a book next telling us all how it's done.

Hi,

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. Sorry I've not been around, we're still bug ridden here, it's been a bit stressful in the Choos house and so I have been eating +++. I stepped on the scales and had the biggest shock, I have put on the 8lbs I lost last year. So I am starting again (again!). New goal to lose 14lbs and try for another 7lbs after that optimistic
On Day 2 and pretty starving but feeling a bit more motivated again.

How's things Cora? I will try the June challenge (if I can include walking!) Your break sounds good SayHello. Hello to Cake (poster not actual cake of course).

Weigh in on Friday but will do a mid week post too.

" Hello to Cake (poster not actual cake)"

that made me burst out laughing. It sounds like your new diet had made you hallucinate Choos. I feel your pain about having to start again, it's very disheartening. I feel like I'm starting again but I know I can't carry on like this. Is every one in your house a bit better this week Choos?

SayHello, congrats on losing a pound, that's brilliant!A break in Manchester sounds lovely. Especially at a spa, are you going to book a few treatments> A day in Alton Towers sounds like a good compromise especially as you're not mad keen to go. I re-watched the episode of the Inbetweeners when they were there, 'twas hilarious.

I'm glad you're both on for working out everyday in June, walking definitely counts. It's just about doing that little bit extra every day to burn a few cals and rev up our metabolism. I used my exercise bike, did weight stuff and went on the cross trainer today. It was just over half an hour but it felt good afterwards. I'm going to aquafat on Weds aswell. I try to eat healthily but my self control isn't too strong at the moment.

I have set myself a goal, DP's family have a bbq at the start of July so I want to look really good for it. They can be very snide with their comments so I don't want tot give them any ammo.

I hope everyone has a good week this week.

(The theme from Rocky plays in the background as Choos, SayHello and C.Bear embark on a fitness regime.)

Aww I love The Inbetweeners, will have to watch that one again to get me in the mood of Alton Towers. I'm really looking forward to it, and it's the start of July too Cora so we are aiming for around about the same time to lose our weight.

That's really rude of them to make snide comments though, hope you turn up looking fab and they have no choice but to say so the cheeky sods!!

I've been doing lots of walking and sit ups, really hoping to tone down this tummy and get rid of my love handles

Hope everyone is doing well and hopefully you and your little one feel better Choos.

So, I have news. I ate like the biggest pig this weekend. For example I ate a large bag of peanut m&m's for a snack...But I worked out every day and guess what? I lost 2 lbs. It really works. Half an hour of burning a few calories and speeding up my metabolism has truly worked. Yay!

I don't know why DP's family feel it's appropriate to comment on peoples weight, they do it about everyone. But I shall bitch slap them with a bingo wing should they dare say anything nasty.

How are the sit ups going SayHello? Have they made any difference? I wanted to try some but I have quite the mushy stomach, will they help? I'm desperate to tone up.

Morning!
Super congrats on the 2lbs Cora - great news. How much more do you want to lose? Am further motivated to exercise! I did my 30 mins of brisk walking yesterday. Had a sneaky mid week weigh and also lost 2lbs (No surprise as was eating liking a little piggy before). Official weight day is going to be Friday.

Your DP's family are so rude - I'll virtually slap them with a bingo wing too.

Well done on the sit ups SayHello. I don't think there's any hope for my tummy area though.

Little choos is ok, not 100%. He's resisting sleep (and his cot) a lot but has such a lot going on (almost walking/teething). We have never managed to get him used to the cot and are still co sleeping, he gets hysterical if we put him in his cot..... So we now have the side down and trying to slide him over when he's asleep, hoping to get him a bit more used to the cot this way. Hopeful... and we really won't to get him in his own room soon. We just don't have the mindset for CC.
How are the other babies sleeping?

Hey how are ya all doing? It's all fine here, my little DS is learning how to crawl so I'm dividing my time between investigating his Terridactal like screeches coming from the living room and the kitchen baking. I'm a baker(yes, constantly up close and personal with yummy cakes, brownies, ect...you name it...siggghhhh maybe that's how I got here in the first place)so busy days! I should really be in bed, but had an espresso a little too late in the day so enjoying a candlelit bath with...myself. The Cambridge diet is a meal replacement diet plus a small meal( should you wish)everyday. So basically 3 shakes/soups a day. Like slim fast but nutritionally complete so you can stay on it without food. It's bloody blinking tough going some of the time but super super effective. Your body is forced to live of of its fat as there is nothing else for it to do. No carbs or glucose left in the cells to burn instead so it switches to the fat cells and they shrink away... I'm down from 15 stone to 13.5 in 4.5 weeks. It's not a diet for everyone as it's so restrictive, but I personally love it. Because it's so low cal, it's got a bad reputation,lots of people immediately assume it's bad for you, but if you look into it, it's not really. Lots of people say you gain loads of weight immediately after it but after spending a lot of time on these boards and in my own life, it's not the diet that makes you gain weight when you stop, it's you not changing. Sad but true. And I'd rather be 10 st struggling to maintain my weight then 15 stone struggling to lose weight. It's super hard though sometimes, makes a strict day on WW look like a bloody royal feast! Especially when I cook nice dinners for my friends and family, I just sit and stare at them eating and talking and laughing and drinking(my vice, LOVE wine, especially cold White wine in the summer...)I stare at them like Im a hungry dog...I can't help it, I'm sure it would taste so nice! Never mind....Hope you're doing well lovlies, and having a nice time with the babies. As for babies sleeping the book called "The sleep lady's gentle guide to sleep" ( or something like that) is fab. Had a horrific 4 months when DS was born, slept through in 3 days using her technique, so IMO might be worth a go?? Keep strong!!

Hi I'm not a new mum my dd is nearly 13 lol ! And I've tried for about 10 of these years to loose weight I'm about 3 stone more than what I was before I had her and I've got my 40th birthday next year so would really love to join this group of ladies and hope it will help me thanks xx

Confession time, I've been eating like a pig again I can't help myself, I don't think I'm cut out for dieting.

I actually know what my problem is. I don't eat during the day because I'm busy with the kids and just forget because I don't feel hungry. But once they go to bed I feel starving and eat a big meal and then dessert, every night this week I've been the same!! It can't be good for me so that has to change.

I'm not sure if my sit ups will make a difference Cora, I'm hoping so and will let you know if I see any difference.

Well done on the 2 pounds Cora and Choos, you both must be so chuffed.

Wow cakehappy, I wish I had that willpower, no way could I bake cake / make big yummy meals for others without eating them too.

Hi early80sgirl I'm sure you will lose the weight for your 40th, it's goof to have something in mind to help spur you on to lose it.

Thanks say hello here's hoping so ! I also don't eat a lot of a day due to being busy with work , school runs etc and as you say end up eating late when totally starving ! I done slimming world a few years ago and used to make sw quiche which was lovely cold and easy to take and eat in slices on the go may get my old sw books out !

Hi all,

Cake I bow down to your incredible will power. I just couldn't do it. I am thunderously, homicidally angry if I am hungry so I couldn't do it. But I completely get your idea that it's better to be 10 stone and struggling to maintain than 15 stone and trying to lose. Is it an expensive diet to follow? Where do you get the soups and shakes?

That's amazing on the 2 lbs Choos, are you delighted? My son has been a demon child to get to sleep, he has a virus so he has been up with a cough and sore ears. But the antibiotic has given him a bad tummy so he has had dreadful nappies. If you don't think cc is for you then just leave it. I couldn't do it either.

SayHello I do exactly the same in as you some days. It's either a feast or a famine. Unfortunately these days it's more of a feast. It's also hard to burn off the calories when you're eating so late in the day. Don't beat yourself up about eating too much, you've done so well so far.

Hi early 80's, you are welcome to join this group and have a moan about how difficult it can be to stay on track and how amazing it is to see the pounds drop off. Having a goal is so helpful, although I keep changing mine as dieting is bloody hard. I've found this thread really helpful, it's so good to come on here and have people in the same boat.

Hope everyone's getting on well.

Me and smallest baby have a tummy bug today, we always seem to be unwell right in time for the weekend. I have also had to go to the doctors as I've developed an odd looking rash so I'm waiting to hear back for results on my blood tests. Feeling a bit nervous

Weighed myself again today and I've stayed the same, really want at least one pound off next week.

Hope everyone else / and babies are feeling a bit better!

Say hello, don't be nervous, I'm sure you'll be fine Cora, I'm sure there is a consultant near you, just check on the Cambridge diet website, you can get the shakes and soups from them. Id love to say I'm not hungry because I am today but am not usually, thats the truth! First couple of days are crazy crazy hard and I think it's one of the most difficult things I've ever done but worth it. You will be very bad-tempered for the first couple of days(till you weigh yourself;)my husband gets hangry too if he doesn't eat enough! Nightmare. I actually carry snacks for him, he's just unbearable at times!!!hope everyone is well, early80's girl, welcome! Good luck on your journey!

Cora, it's £41 a week.

Oh SayHello, that's dreadful. I hope you and your baby are ok. Tummy bugs are horrendous. Try not to freak yourself out about the test results, although I can imagine that it's playing on your mind. Sometimes rashes can be caused by a simple change in diet or even a reaction to washing powder.

Cake, I think I may be the same as your husband and I can't bear being hungry. I know it's a blood sugar thing and I should just be rational but I get so annoyed. I have been thinking alot about what you said about trying to maintain a low weight than struggling to lose weight. It really struck a chord with me and has made me realise that if I want to get the perfect figure I'm going to have to make some huge sacrifices. I can't keep going on like this, I'm making myself miserable.

I hope everyone has a good weekend and that you're feeling better soon SayHello. I'm off to try and motivate myself to take drastic action.

Cake - I think you and Cora may have a point, this losing 4lbs then putting 2lb on cycle is driving me mad. Maybe I need to be super strict too, with no little treats, think could lose a stone in a month if I really stuck to no chocolate etc.
SayHello hope you are the baby are better.
Hello to 80's girl!

Thanks for all being so welcoming , as the kids are back to school on mon , going to really start the journey to hopefully get the scales going in the right direction ! Hope you all have a great week ahead happy slimming ! X

Good morning,

Right, see this ________, this is the line I am drawing and from now on I am sticking to a diet. I am not capable of having one bar of chocolate or a few crisps so I'm not having them any more. I am sick to death about the fact that how I look in a mirror defines my mood for the whole day. I went out for brunch yesterday and changed outfit three times before we left as I was convinced that everyone in the restaurant would be staring at how fat I am. It's ridiculous.

So I sat down last night and had a really hard look at how I eat. It's cyclical. "OOOhh I lost three pounds so I can have a bag of m&m's", "I've put on two pounds I can't eat anything but salad for the next week 'til I lose those two pounds" and then I hit the m&m's again.

So it has to stop.

From now on I am allowed fruit or soup until dinner time and then I can have a normal, portion controlled dinner that has to be eaten within an hour and then that is it for the rest of the night. I'm going to attempt to not eat past 8 o clock at night. The hour eating time is to ensure that I don't graze. From the moment I put a bit of food in to my mouth that is not fruit or soup, that is when the dinner clock begins ticking. I am dreadful for picking at stuff while I'm cooking and I am sure it adds alot of extra calories that I don't really see. I'm still going to have coffee and diet coke but I plan to cut right down on them.

Yes it's restrictive, yes it's going to be hard but being fat is restrictive and it's hard. I'm also going to keep up with my exercise, in fact I have aqua fat tonight. And I'm using the football thing that's on as an excuse to leave my DP to watch it while the baby's in bed and I'm going to go to the gym or do a workout in another room.

I have a feeling I'm really going to stick with this, I truly can't go on as I am. I am turning in to a person who nearly didn't spend time with my family because I couldn't find anything to wear. That's not right, I don't want to be this person anymore. Neurotic and skinny is fine but neurotic and fat is just ridiculous.

I hope I didn't bore you all silly with my epic post. Good luck today everyone. Hope you're all well.

Hi all,

just a quick post to say that Day One went well yesterday. I was hungry but nothing I couldn't handle. I'm heading in to Day Two filled with optimism.

Hope everyone's getting on well.

Hi,

So day 2 of my new plan is over and I was alright with it again today. The memory of feeling so ashamed of my size is still fresh in my head so it's easy to stay on track.

I had melon and grapes for breakfast (ice cold from the fridge, they were gorgeous), minestrone soup for lunch and 30 grams of pasta with a ton of veg in tomato sauce, an enormous salad and some garlic bread for dinner. I am so full now. I think an enormous salad is the way to pad out a meal without resorting to huge portions of pasta or rice.

I was a bit hungry today when the kids were having their biccies when we were out in park but I didn't bring any for me so I couldn't be tempted. I think resorting to stealing a biscuit off a child would be a new low.

How's everyone else getting on?

Sounds like a good plan cora, and what you had to eat yesterday actually sounds yummy too.

I've been doing a bit better with not eating so much junk this week. But I'm still eating my main meal too late at night (I like to wait for dp coming home from work so we can eat together) Last night we didn't sit down to eat til almost 8pm though.

I'm back doing the sit ups - I stopped them when I had the tummy bug so I'm thinking if I keep up with doing them twice a day, plus a 30 minute exercise once a day I'll be fit in no time

Hope everyone is doing well.

It's hard to eat earlier in the day when there are kids pottering around isn't it? I've taken to having a cup of coffee or tea while my DP is having his dinner. I'm being a bit selfish at the moment. You will be as fit as a fiddle in no time SayHello, how many sit ups do you do per day?

I've found my plan really easy to stick to. I've been hungry here and there but nothing too scary. And I've weighed myself on and off and the weight seems to be coming off, but my official weigh in will be in Monday. Due to the fact that my diet during the day can only consist of fruit and soup it takes any hard work out of it. I'm not trying to figure out how I can stretch my points to have chocolate, because I'm not allowed it-end of story.

How's everyone else getting on?

OH MY GOD!! After thinking I've done better this week with my eating, I step on the scales and have gained 2 and a half pounds how the hell did I manage that!!!

I just do 2 sets of 60 sit ups Cora and I've now added some squats and other little exercises in to my regime haha. It's so funny because my little girl always joins in and copies and counts for me. Clearly isn't working though since I have gained so much!

Hi,
I've just about had the week from hell at work, super busy, long hours and an earful about something that wasn't done that a- wasn't my responsibility and b- wasn't possible anyway. Not sure how much longer I can juggle my very stressful job with family life I am fed up of thinking about work when I am not there! Rant over (for now!)

Anyway, I stayed the same. Cora I am so impressed with you, so impressed I am going to try and join you. I think we have similar eating patterns.
SayHello - how can that be possible? Weigh yourself again tomorrow, could be water?
I think I am going to treat myself to a mulberry purse in the sales to cheer myself up....

Well after being so fed up about putting on weight I have now made it even worse. Over the weekend I just gave up and ate whatever I wanted seriously feeling like stopping trying now because I'm just annoying myself!!

I'm going to give it another go this week though as I know how happy I'd feel, I was so close to having lost a stone and I want to get back to it.

Poor you NewChoos, that sounds like an awful week. It's bad enough getting in trouble at work but even worse when it's not your fault. Hope you can get something sorted.

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Hi all,

Are you ok Choos? You sound like you're having a tough time of it. Did everything get resolved in the end? I think we have similar patterns when it comes to eating, I reckon you should give it a go. It's not too difficult, because there's only soup or fruit options before dinner it means that I don't look at anything else on the menu or in the press.

SayHello, just look at it like a blip, you had a weekend of going crazy and now you have to start it all over again. Don't let it de-rail you completely. You were doing so well!

I weighed myself today and have lost 2 lbs, which isn't a massive amount but the physical changes are insane. My stomach is really flat now (well, compared to what it was) and I easily slipped in to a pair of jeans that I couldn't put on last week. I'm not sure why I only lost 2 lbs and look so much better but I'm pleased enough.

Today didn't go so well, I snacked a bit during the day so I'll start again tomorrow.

I hope everyone else is well and that this week goes a little better for us all!

Yay that's fantastic Cora, I am so thrilled for you. What's your total loss now?
I think having a not as good day every now and then is good for fooling the metabolism...
SayHello you can easily get back in 'the zone', you are doing so well.

LittleChoos has another infection so I haven't been at work, Friday made me realise that nothing is good enough, I really put in long hours and I can honestly say work very hard, never have lunch breaks, always running through the door at the last minute to pick up LittleChoos from nursery and this just can't continue. Think my boss has probably cooked his goose by being an idiot on Friday and I am starting to seriously consider my future there.

I am going to start Cora's plan (patent it Cora?!) as soon as I can do a food shop, maybe later today as LittleChoos currently eating an oak cookie and watching cbeebies so must be feeling better!

I ordered my purse and going to book a few days in August for us to look forward to. Thinking nice hotel with a spa attached, somewhere we can do lots of nice walks and not rush around...
Have a lovely day in the (fingers crossed) sunshine

A holiday away sounds like it might do you the world of good Choos. I think you should seriously consider leaving your job if it's making you that miserable, nothing is worth it. But then again I have a terrible habit of quitting jobs when they get annoying, my tolerance for annoying things is very low. But re-evaluating things is always good. nothing is forever so a change might do you good. Could you possibly take a career break to give yourself some time?

I'm glad Little Choos is on the mend, I hope he gets better soon.

I have no idea how much weight I've lost as I went through a phase of losing some weight, then putting it back on plus an extra pound. It was very depressing. I've lost 2 lbs on this plan but I'm really starting from the beginning all over again. So I'm 14 stone 6 lbs. Ugh that's so depressing. BUT I am happily settled in to my plan today and I feel great, I have so much energy. I should patent it. I'd have to think of a snazzy name for it.

Ohhh, I thought of a snazzy name.

"Stop being a whiney fat cow and eat some grapes."

Or maybe:

"The Put the cake down chubby Diet."

Or:

"Stop blaming your baby for your waistline, he's 14 months old Diet!"

Though the last one is very specific to me, I think they're all quite catchy.

Cora I think we should keep the thread title - I think we could manage a new body by this christmas maybe?!

But seriously- isn't our weight just a side issue. No 1 we're trying our hardest to be good mums.

I had ongoing debates re my job and it's worth (for about the past 10 years!) as we will be TTC later this year - sensibly I should stick at it for now, 80% of the time I think it's a great job, the other 20 it's stressful and demanding and more of a PITA than dieting!

ps think I am actually 2lbs heavier than when started, so on my terms you are achieving a lot!

Oh no, I wasn't thinking of changing the thread name. I think it makes us look like we're getting ready for Christmas 2012. I was trying to think of new names for my diet plan. You know the way they all have snappy names now. I'm forever hearing women in the softplay saying "I'm following Run Fat Bitch Run" or "I'm on Carbohydrates Addicts Diet" etc. If I have come up with an eating plan I need a name for it.

Weight is definitely low on the list of my day to day worries, my current fear is that if they need to take blood from my son at his next doctors appointment all that will come out is calpol. He has a teething temperature so he seems to be constantly having a spoon of the magic pink stuff.

That's exciting that you are going to ttc. We're hoping to try next year at some stage. But with every stage that passes life with our son gets easier so I'm kind of scared of going back to baby stuff again-even though I am seriously broody. We need SayHello here to tell us having two kids is great.

I hope everyone had a good day today!

Oh I see! Sorry- well I think they are all equally snazzy, the 'Stop blaming your baby' is particularly apt for me!

TTC - well it scares me too, but we feel we need to try sooner rather than later (I'm older than you!).

Calpol - tis a wonder drug

Well done on the weight loss Cora, that must feel great to see all your hard work paying off. I'm very jealous of your willpower just now, I seem to have lost mine.

It does sound like a holiday is what you need choos, maybe a break away from work will do you good. That's exciting that you want to start trying for another baby too I know it can be scary but I've honestly found my second easier than my first. I guess because I was more laid back and knew what I was doing this time. My girls are 2 years apart and it's so lovely to see them try to play together now and they get so excited when they see each other.

Btw is there really a diet called "run fat bitch run??" I have to try that one haha.

My willpower is borne out of a great sense of shame. Believe me I would not want anyone to feel the way I feel about myself at the moment.

Everywhere I look at the moment a woman has their nose stuck in a copy of "Run fat bitch run". Apparently it's a how to guide to get you motivated to take up running as a form of exercise. I have a feeling I would read the book and leave it on the shelf. Unless I have hounds of hell on my heels I don't think I will be running any time soon.

I have bought huge fruit platters off the shelf of shame in the supermarket, shelf of shame shopping is my new addiction- I stand there marvelling at the bargains. And I keep them in the fridge and they stop me hitting the biscuits. Ice cold fruit is so refreshing and the fact I don't have to do all the chopping and peeling is an added bonus. It really has helped out a lot and the fact the stuff is discounted means I can afford it!

Hope everyone has a good day today!

May I join you all? My DH also says things like "skinny women don't do it for me" and "well I think you're wonderful as you are" and as lovely as that is it's not helping willpower-wise.

Realistically I need to lose a good 3 stone as I am starting to look increasingly like that marshmallow bloke from Ghostbusters and I am aware that I have been avoiding social situations that weren't absolutely necessary this last week or three.

Just knowing that there are others out there like me..who like TV, a glass of vino in the evening and aren't particularly keen to start jogging has cheered me up already.

I can't lie, the diets not going too well and I really doubt I'll lose any weight at all before my weekend away. I'd been hoping to be 6lbs lighter but at this rate I'd be happy if I lose the 2.5 lbs I gained last week

That's what I need to do Cora, get snacking on fruit instead of grabbing a bag of crisps or a biscuit. I actually love fruit and always have it in the house for dds anyway.

Hello anklebitersmum, yep you are on the right thread here. I love tv, wine, takeaways and chocolate I can't see me taking up jogging any time soon...

Hi anklebitersmum, you have found the right thread, I have literally just stepped away from the tv and wine to potter around on the internet. It's not like I'm cheating on my diet, grapes make wine, henceforth therefore wine is fruit. Oh yes, that's my logic for today. I need to lose around 4 stone but it is far too scary to think of it in those terms, I'm going at it one pound at a time. Your DH sounds lovely, but I know what you mean, sometimes it would be easier if you knew they didn't like it so it would spur you on.

SayHello, I love fruit too, but I love love love crisps so I keep fruit to hand at all times. I think you shouldn't be too hard on yourself, you have done so well so far. Everyone has a week or so when they eat what they like and then get the junk food guilts, but you wouldn't be human if you didn't (or on this thread). Try to use your weekend away to focus yourself to eat healthily, if it helps imagine what foods you'll indulge in on your weekend and then you might find it easier to avoid snacking.

I was invited to lunch by a friend who is on weight watchers today so it was great. We had salad and that was it. The kids ate fairy cakes at one stage but we spurred each other on to resist temptation. I have another fruit platter chilling in the fridge so that is my snack for tonight.

Well done to you Corabear for resisting fairy cakes. Happily they're not a vice of mine, however like you I too like like like like liiiiiike crisps. I have banned them from the house. Luckily the kids love love love fruit so the lack of crisps is not a drama but if I am hungover a little under the weather I think about them in a Homer Simpson & donuts type manner.

Hangovers and crisps are a match made in heaven.

I'm searching for motivation today, maybe one of you could kindly kick me in the arse to get myself organised. My DP keeps pestering me to go to aqua fat classes and while I do enjoy them, they start at 7.30pm which is usually the end of a very long day and I'm finding it a struggle to summon the energy to go. I am knackered by then and the thoughts of getting in to swimming gear, going to the pool, exercising and then all the palaver of getting re-dressed is just not what I want to face at the end of a working day.

He thinks I should be skipping off to them but I am so tired. I think he doesn't get how hard it is to run a home, mind my son and then take care of my niece. He also thinks because I work from home that I can somehow take it easy. Now I know I am mn'ing now but that's because I need to vent and my son is on my knee. It's as if DP thinks we have house work fairies and they have the house looking nice after he leaves it in shite and heads for work. The reason I'm tired is because I'm doing everything by myself. GAH!

So, please tell me to go to my class. Give me words of motivation.

Go to your aqua fat classes cora, you will enjoy it once you're there and will feel so much better after it. Also, it will shut your dp up from pestering you to do it haha. I need to take some of own advice and start going to a class too.

I get what you mean though, after a busy day you just want to chill out. It sounds bad but I love once my kids are in bed and I can just relax on the couch however, that is why I cannot lose any weight so don't listen to me too much!!

As for the housework I think that if you're working from home then the housework should be split equally. How are you supposed to keep on top of everything while working, just because you are in the house you still have a job to do.

Sorry, changing the subject a bit but how long did it take you to qualify as a child minder? I'm thinking of a career change and have always wanted to work with children. I'm thinking that if I start studying now, by the time my eldest is at school I'll at least have a plan of what I can be doing.

Sorry, hope my post didn't come across arsey about the housework, I just meant it in more of a "I know what you mean and I agree" way not as a rant about housework

Don't worry I understood exactly what you meant, it's true, I suddenly feel as if I have this enormous amount of housework to do before I can sit down in the evening and DP just doesn't see it. To be honest it's the only thing we ever argue about.

I'm not going to aqua fat, I had a long day out and now I have a ton of cleaning to do.

It took me 2 years on a full time course to become a child minder but there are far better courses out there that you can do in half as much time. But there are essentials you have to have, such as police clearance (which can take months to get as there's usually a back log of people looking for it) and first aid courses which you could do independently of the course and get the ball rolling. I had to do alot of work experience and it really is the best way to learn. There's nothing that text books can prepare you for when it comes to kids. It's a very fulfilling job, I'd recommend it.

Hi all,

just a quick post to let you know that to celebrate the fact that my cheekbones are returning I have decided to get my haircut. But this is no normal haircut, I'm am going to give myself the Mumsnet Haircut. I'm doing it myself and attempting to style my hair which is now reaching past my shoulder blades and is a bit unruly. I never wear it down coz I'm afraid I'll look like that twat with the long hair off Made in Chelsea. I don't know his name. But wish me luck!

well, it's done. It didn't get cut short enough the Mumsnet way so I had to take more off the end the normal way but I'm happy enough with it. I always wear my hair up so it's not like I will be parading it around too much. Glad I did it though. I feel much better. Gonna straighten it this afternoon to see how even it is.

Wow, well done I would end up with a hair disaster if I tried it (I can't even cut my daughter's fringe) but have heard a lot on here about how good it looks!

I'm getting a bit fed up with my hair too, I always wear it straight but would prefer waves. Not sure what to buy to give me nice waves though.

Me again - not weighed myself as I just can't seem to get in the right frame of mind to actually stick to my flipping diet..... Less said the better about my eating this week but I will get on track soon, I really will...

Anyway hair, Cora - you are so brave, glad it went well. I've got those annoying baby hairs post partum hair loss and toying with getting a long graduated bob, a bit like the gwyneth paltrow one but it means cutting a lot off so I'm not sure!

Looking forward to Proscecco hour

Hello to Ankebitersmum and what happended to cake (the poster).

Oh and could you get a cleaner once a month even just to give you a break?

It was dead easy, I watched the clip that Mumsnet posted and followed the instructions and then I had a half decent haircut. My hair was really really long, it's wavy/curly so when I brushed it out it was more than half way down my back (about 4 inches past my bra strap). I think you can only have hair that long if it's in good condition and mine wasn't. I ended up just putting my hair in a ponytail and immediately hacked a third of it off and then did the Mumsnet cut. I'd say in total I cut off a good 5/6 inches.

Choos do mean the haircut Gwyneth Paltrow has now? Her hair is gorgeous. Maybe just bite the bullet and get it done? Have a few prosecco's before you go in for courage! I'

SayHello would you get a treatment to get your hair wavy, my Aunt used to get waves put in to her hair that were similar to the way they did perms. It was in the early 90's though so it could look really dated now.

Alas, no cleaner for me Choos, we just don't have the extra cash. If we want to have a baby next year we have to start saving for it now. I went semi private in a private hospital for my son and it was expensive so I have to watch the pennies. I'm toying with the idea of putting all the shit my DP leaves around the house on the desk in his office which would drive him insane, so that might work.

Oh look, it's wine o clock, yay!

Sounds like your hair is a bit like mine Cora, mine is wavy too but I straighten it.
SayHello - have you tried curling with GHD's (or similar), you can get a loose wave with these by pulling through the hair at a sort of 90 degree angle.
Desk idea very good idea.2nd baby very exciting - will be worth saving
Just about to pour the 2nd prosecco....

This is the style I like:
www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dailymakeover.com/appImages/galleryImages/all_womens_looks/Gwyneth_Paltrow%2BMar_17_2009.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dailymakeover.com/hairstyles/all_womens_looks/gwyneth_paltrow_mar_17_2009?tid_ref%3D246&h=400&w=300&sz=27&tbnid=Je0ME7VVGQGEqM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=68&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dgwyneth%2Bpaltrow%2Bhair%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=gwyneth+paltrow+hair&usg=__8affK1dAS0LuX2-N6Z70H-9GU4k=&docid=7ARGH0Wnl2Z52M&sa=X&ei=AxXmT5P5HoiZ0QXJyNSPCQ&ved=0CGwQ9QEwBQ&dur=1481

Oh that's a really nice cut. Go for it. I would never have thought I would have the balls to cut my own hair but it turned out well. So cut your hair and take a risk.

I have just poured myself a drink. End of a long day.

I think I will - I need to be perked up.

End of long week?

I like your link Choos, go for it as for the waves with ghds, I haven't tried it before. Think I'll youtube it tomorrow and try it out. I can't do links but I want hair like Kate Hudsons (when hers is wavy)

I have done nothing but eat today. And I don't mean soup and fruit. I mean burgers and bickies and croissants. I am dreading my weigh in. And worst of all...I really want a takeaway.

Weigh in a bit later this week Cora to give yourself a chance to recover fom the weekend?
SayHello - I googles Kate Hudsons hair and it's really lovely. I think would be easy yo achieve using straightners.

ok so I have weighed myself and I have put on 2lbs. It has to stop (although it's my own fault as I have been eating so much rubbish).
I am going to have a really optimistic aim of losing a stone by the end of July.
My total to lose is really 28lbs but as we will be TTC soon ish) I'll see how far I get but needs to be at least a stone.

Weekends are the worst for dieting Cora. You've been doing great though and you'll be back on track this week again.

I was the same the past few weeks choos, I just couldn't stop myself from eating rubbish. It's not too bad though, I think I have it all out my system now and am ready to start again. I have salad for lunch and a fridge full of fruit for snacks today.

Does anyone know a healthy alternative to crisps (does this even exist??) I love to watch tv at night and have a munch so I need to find something I can snack on.

Hope you're all doing well today.

Good thinking Choos, I think Thursday will be my weigh in day this week. We spent the weekend scoffing so I have a bit of work to undo. Mind you, I regret nothing, the burger was amazing!

Choos, it's so hard to get motivated. I think your new goal seems very reasonable. Do you think the stress you've been under may have contributed to your gain? I mean from a biological point of view- you release cortisol when you're stressed (response to the fight or flight feeling) and your body stores weight around the middle so it can burn for it for urgent energy needs. I always pile on the pounds when I am stressed, how I'd love to be the person who loses their appetite when they're stressed.

I don't know about a healthy alternative to crisps, what about a low fat option like the Light ones Tesco do? Or a plate of chopped up fruit and raw veg. Your still munching but it's slightly healthier. What if you get a slightly salty dip for the veggies- tapenade or baba ganoush? God I'm starving.

Cora - thats so kind of you to say that but I think the reason was probable chocolate, chocolate cake, chocolate biscuits (you get the picture).
Although totally agree with you re stress. You are so knowledgable!

Healthy alternative to crisps? Boring old rice cakes??

Choos you are going to piss yourself laughing and shake your head in disbelief- But I've actually studied nutrition (hangs head in shame). Clearly I disregarded all of my knowledge when it comes to me, but I make sure my child has a really balanced diet. How come I can't be arsed to watch my diet when I'm really vigilant about DS's?

As for the chocolate, chocolate, chocolate- that sounds like the best diet ever. I made chocolate cake the other week for DP's birthday cake. It was frickin delicious. I made a huge cake but polished off most of it before he came home so I had to lie. I am the chocolate cake thief!

That actually doesn't surprise me Cora as you do give good advice here As for not using the advice on yourself I think we're all guilty of that. No way would I feed my kids some of the things I eat. Maybe that should be my new diet, if my toddler can't eat it then neither can I haha.

I think I'll join you for Thursday weigh in so if you don't hear from me you'll know it's bad news!!

Ok, I don't want to freak anyone out, but there's this big round yellow/orange thing in the sky over Dublin. It's really really bright and seems to emitting heat. Some people say it's called "the sun" but I thought that was just a myth, what with never actually having seen it.

I'm off to play in the park with the kids and enjoy this alleged "sun".

Keep an eye out for it where you live. It's kinda deadly to have it back.

Oh my, I'm having a terrible diet week this week. I am scarfing anything and everything and the exercise has dwindled as I spend most evenings plonked in front of the computer looking for a job.

I have honestly eaten so much crap today. And now I'm craving more! Someone come and stop me!

I would if I could Cora but I'd probably just join you in eating. I honestly don't know what's wrong with me, I could eat everything in sight. Dp made a big, yummy curry for us last night. I ate it all and while he was moaning he was stuffed, I was rummaging in the fridge to see if we had anything else (luckily we didn't have anything I fancied or I would have eaten it all.)

Through some miracle though, I have lost 2 pounds so I'm very happy. I'm going away next weekend so would be great if I could lose another pound before I go.

Also, I'm going back to Manchester and I was thinking that when I went in February I must have been about 10lbs heavier than I am now. That's crazy to think that!! So glad I found this thread to keep my diet going

Hi all,

I think I need a little sit down. I just weighed myself and I've lost 8 lbs this week. In fact I've weighed myself several times and I've lost 8 lbs this week. I'm in shock. I feel like Blimpy Von SuperFatty today because I ate so much yesterday. I wonder if that's how much my old hair weighed? I can't believe it.

Congratulations on the 2 lbs SayHello, that's brilliant. That's amazing that you weighed 10 lbs more in Feb, I think that's a huge achievement. You must feel so much better about yourself. I love curry, but I have quite the capacity for it so I always try to eat less rice, then I don't feel full, vicious circle. www.simplyrecipes.com and www.allrecipes.com have some really quick curry recipes. Always handy in a rush.

Right, I'm off to weigh myself again.

I hope everyone else has a good day!

WOW that is amazing!! Seriously, well done Cora because that is a HUGE achievement. I'm all happy about my 2lbs so can't imagine how you're feeling I'd be standing on the scales all day haha.

My baby is having a nap so I'm off to lie in the bath then I'll have a look at those recipes thanks

Yay!! Can't believe I missed all the excitement because I was at work. Fantastic news both of you.You definitely need to patent your diet Cora.

My weigh should be Monday but think I am going to do Tuesdays so I can make up for any weekend prosecco on Monday. Having said that I have still not been good enough. The truth will out on Tuesday....

I have no idea where I have lost the weight from, I look the same, but then I never really look at my self in the mirror, I cast a very critical eye, perhaps I have lost weight in areas I don't focus on. I thought my scales might be broken so I weighed DS and he weighed the same as normal so it is right.

My weigh in is Tuesday too but I'm out for dinner tomorrow night so I don't expect miracles.

Has everyone got exiting weekend plans? I don't, I just want to live vicariously through you all.

If you see someone you haven't saw in a few weeks then I think they'll notice a difference Cora. It's hard to tell by looking at yourself but I bet you look fab

I have no exciting plans for this weekend, got to save my pennies for my weekend away next week. So dvd night for me and dp tonight I think, what a wild life I lead.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

My Mum commented today that I'd lost weight, yay! She would never normally comment on things like that so I was happy.

What plans have you for your weekend away SayHello? I was offered a free holiday in Spain but I turned it down because I couldn't face the journey with DS (2 hour flight then 90 min train journey to outside Barcelona). I had a major guilt attack over turning it down but I know it was for the best.

Have been eating like a savage today but barely ate yesterday so I seem to be compensating. Going out for a swim with DS now so it should be good.

Hope everyone's having a good weekend.

Yay, told you other people would notice

I'm going to Manchester for the weekend, so we're justgoing to do some shopping, have a night out and one of the days we're going to Alton Towers. The hotel has a spa so we'll hopefully chill out there and have some treatments My mum and dad are taking the kids to their caravan so my eldest is very excited too haha.

This weekend has been rubbish tbh, it's constantly rained so we haven't done much. It's meant to be rainy all week too so we're going to be doing a lot of swimming and going to soft plays I think. Hate this weather, I will happily take your free holiday in Spain I know what you mean about the travelling though, and also the amount of stuff you have to pack when you go away with little ones. I'd like to book a holiday for next year but I think it'll be a nightmare getting anywhere.

Good news that your mum noticed Cora.
Sorry your weekend was a bit rubbish SayHello. LittleChoos is teething and feeling very miserable. We spend today clearing out the spare room so he can have a play room, I have bags of clothes and shoes for the charity shop. Trying not to spend money, but I made a raging PMT purchase ( a bag I don't need and that I don't love) and I can't return it as it was in he sale. Very cross with self. I must stop wasting money.

We travelled to Italy with LittleChoos and he coped well with it. Having said that, it was harder work than being at home.
Diet wise, been ok ish, will be hard to tell if lost weight get bloated with pmt but will weigh on Tuesday and then maybe again later in the week.

SayHello, that sounds like a lovely weekend away. I really hope you enjoy it. I bet the kids will have a great time at the caravan.

Choos can you put the bag away as a gift for someone? I have had buyers remorse before, it's not good. The playroom sounds great, I bet Little Choos will love it. And then you can close the door on all of the mess at the end of the day!

I can't bear the thought of bringing DS on a long plane journey and then on a train. We won't be able to bring him out for most of the day because it'll be boiling so I'm sort of set against it. And I don't think it'll be a holiday if I'm doing loads of extra work in a very hot climate.

Lets hope this week gives us some weight loss!

The bag was more expensive than I would normally spend on a gift (well the only person I would is my bf and it's not to her taste). I am just going to use the bloomin thing and try and learn the lesson. I seem to have developed a habit of spending my birthday money on bags I then regret buying (still have 1 from last year, totally unused and tried to return but wouldn't accept as after 14 days at the time- so cross, could have got clothes). Maybe I'll try and ebay to try and recoup some of the costs.

SayHello- am a big fan of a spa. Nice for you all to have a break! Especially nice for you to have an adult break - I'm looking forward to that one day!
I think you made the right decision Cora, the heat and extra effort wouldn't have made it much of a holiday for you. Can you do days out locally? I think that's what we are going to do in August and then maybe go away in September.

Hi all,

had my weigh in. I seem to have stayed the same but I'm not really surprised at that. Initially when I stood on the scale it said I had lost a stone but it turns out the scales was caught in the bath mat. Damn bath mat.

I think you should ebay your stuff Choos, and then spend the money earned on clothes! Or on an adult break away.

Hope everyones weigh in went well.

Oh God, just typed a confession then mumsnet went offline so I have to write it again, I have gained 3 pounds

I'm gutted but it's my own fault because I've been a complete pig. Dp is off work and we've been eating loads and I've been having a few drinks at night too so it's obviously all caught up on me.

I think I have PMT (sorry, too much info there) and I just want to eat chocolate all the time. So disappointed in myself, I wanted to be slim for my trip, now I'm just going to be a little bloater!!

3ibs from me! Finally a loss...

Cora well done on STS and SayHello onwards and upwards and it's a medical fact that woman need chocolate when we have pmt.

Hi,

Just wondered whether you have space for a newbie? I know this thread was started with thoughts of last Christmas, but I am indeed a new mum looking for a new body by this christmas.

I need done watchful eyes to keep me on the straight and narrow and to hold my hand? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease

Of course Biscuits, we've always got room for a newbie how old is your little one?

Me and the scales have fallen out so I won't be back on them again til next Thursday when hopefully I'll have dropped a few lb's.

I suppose technically I'm a new-again mum as I've got 2 DSs - 3.9 years and 17 weeks. I never lost the weight from ds1 though....

Hi all,

Congratulations on the three pounds Choos, that's brilliant. You must be delighted.

SayHello- I have to agree with Choos, chocolate is a medical necessity when you have PMT. The three pounds could also be water retention.

Hi Biscuitsandtea- welcome to the thread. Always room for new people here.

DS has had a stomach bug this week so I've been kept very busy with that, is it wrong that I won't mind if I catch it because I'll lose some weight? Mumsnet keeps logging me out when I go to post a message, hence my not posting in a while. It's infuriating, is anyone else having problems?

Right, I'm going to see if this works.

Yay, it's working again.

I am a junk food savage today. PMS me thinks. So I'm giving myself today to indulge (have just had a bag of Dorito's) and then back on the diet band wagon tomorrow. I'm putting a time limit on it or I will eat shite for days.

I bought hot chocolate today because the weather is so awful and my body clearly thinks it is November. I went to a gig last night and drove, so I didn't drink or eat the tasty tasty fried food on offer (which only taste good after a few vino's). And while I was happy with myself for abstaining, I think I may have given SIL the impression that I'm pregnant. She gave me a funny look when I said I wasn't drinking. We have DP's family bbq on Saturday so I think I may be fending off a few rumours.

How is everyone else getting on?

Well done for avoiding the bad stuff Cora - that takes some will power indeed

I've not been doing too badly the last few days. Only a handful of snacks instead of a mountain of them .

Weigh in in the morning....

Hmmmm, weighed in and I've lost half a lb . Again. So in 2 weeks my efforts have amounted to 1 lb . In 3 weeks, 3 lbs. I feel quite despondent about it all to be honest. DH has lost 6 lbs this week. Pleased for him but too (which makes me a bad person ).

I've tried pretty hard this week too

Hi Biscuits,

try not to be too discouraged, I really know what it's like to eat healthily and be active and drop half a pound, it's very frustrating. But don't give up. Weight loss after a baby is very difficult but three pounds in three weeks is great. If you continue to lose weight at that rate, imagine how amazing you will look in 6 weeks when you will be nine pounds down. Try to look at the long term because in the end we're all looking for long term weight loss.

And your husband losing 6 lbs, how dare he! From now on any weight loss over 2 lbs he's to keep to himself. I hate diet over achievers! My DP was the same, gave up chocolate and dropped 8 lbs in 4 weeks, I was starving away on weight watchers and lost no where near that much. Don't feel about about being envious, at least you weren't rage filled like I was.

I have a theory that a woman's metabolism slows down during pregnancy to cope with trying to absorb all the nutrients for her and the baby. And then post-baby the metabolism remains sluggish because it has gotten used to working at a very slow speed. Exercise speeds it up a bit but who the hell has time for that when you've just had a baby.

Keep your spirits up Biscuits, you are doing really well. Try to focus on the long term and one pound gone is closer to your goal weight.

Hope everyone's having a good weekend!

That's supposed to say "Don't worry about feeling envious". Don't know what happened there.

Awww thanks Cora . I like your theory about the metabolism.

<Looks sternly at metabolism and tells it to pull its socks up or else there will be no tv>

Pah! DH just came to tell me that his jeans are too big and he's had to take his belt in another notch.

Like. I. Care.

Hi,

Hello to Biscuit. And I have an annoying DH too who loses weight really easily. In fact he find it hard to maintain grrrr!
Hope your DS is better Cora. How are things SayHello?
I have gone off the rails a bit the past few days and so trying to get back on track- it's just so boring isn't it? I just can't seem to get my motivation back.
We might have a olympic party though and so it would be nice to lose at least half a stone for that (to get be back to where I was before Christmas).
I purchased this yesterday, it was on sale in JL and I have been admiring it for ages. Anyway, it's a bit tight and so I have something to aim for:
www.whistles.co.uk/fcp/categorylist/dept/shop?resetFilters=true#ID=id_903000057970_dresses_GBP&category=dresses
Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

I'm back now from my weekend away and it was fab We even got a bit of sun. I'm just waiting on my babies coming home, have missed them lots. I think they'll both fall asleep in the car though so may have to wait til the morning for a proper cuddle from them.

I'm staying away from the scales, I can actually feel I've put on weight so from tomorrow I'm being so healthy and I'll weigh in again on Thursday.

I like your dress Choos and that will give you motivation too if it's a bit tight just now.

That theory sounds good actually Cora, I think you're right. Before babies, I never gained weight. I would eat whatever I wanted and stayed a size 8. I actually eat better now but I doubt I'll ever be as thin.

Biscuits I too have an annoying dp who can eat what he wants and doesn't gain weight. He's driving me mad just now though because he thinks he's getting a tummy and he's not.

Hope everyone's had a nice weekend.

Glad to hear you had a good weekend SayHello, you deserved it. I'd stay away from the scales, you don't want to ruin the holiday high.

Choos that dress is gorgeous. You have very good taste. I went shopping on Saturday morning for jeans and tried on my first ever pair of skinny jeans and my lovely DS said "Oh no" and shook his head. A mini fashionista I think. They looked truly awful-like 2 very dark blue over stuffed sausages-I didn't buy them.

All our DP's sound very annoying on the weight front, perhaps we should lace their food with cream for the next few weeks and see how they like it. Can you tell I'm a bit evil today?

Onwards and upwards for the next week, after all it is Monday tomorrow, or National "From today I'm going to eat so much healthier" Day. If any of you are suffering from a diet related psychotic breakdown I strongly suggest Modern Family season 3, episode 2 "Phil on a wire". Cam goes on a juice diet and I swear I could see so much of myself in him. I laughed my head off.

I hope everyone has had a good weekend!

You're weekend sounds lovely SayHello. Hope you feel refreshed and treated well!
Cora- have you tried M&S Jeggings? I know the thought of jeggings can be off putting but they were recommended to me by a curvy friend and they are really flattering. Lots of colours and £22.50. Really worth trying on. I have got a few pairs and they can be dressed up or down. Will try and link.
I am going back to a Friday weigh in I think. Which gives me 4 days to try and be good (prosecco Friday and fries on way home (classy), lots of choc and Pasta on Saturday.

Glad you like my dress but it's quite tight and so we'll see (only 1 left!).
I'll join you in the national diet day.
Did you join pinterest?
I brought my DH chocolate eclairs ( I don't like them so not tempted) but he can just eat and eat and eat....

Well I was away for two nights and my baby can now stand on her own and climb out of her walker, she's growing up way too quickly

NewChoos I agree with you on the jeggings, I also have some from Dorothy Perkins that fit me well and again, come in lots of different colours. Don't be put off by the name (I was at first) they just look like jeans.

Hope everyone is doing well

Hi all,

sorry for the lack of posting, my computer (or Mumsnet) has been driving me insane. I keep getting logged off, or every time I go to post Mumsnet is off line.

I have eaten like crazy this week, down to PMT hormones I think. I had a little party here yesterday and I have scarfed all the left overs- biscuits, buns, crisps and chocolate bars. If the weighing scales comes near me I know it will end badly. I haven't even been that active due to the crappy weather. Ugh!

How did every one else get on?

I know what you mean about babies growing up so fast SayHello, my son has started to talk (it's taken ages due to his heart issues) and it's so sweet to hear his little raspy voice. We took him to the beach on Saturday and he ran in to the sea with all of his clothes on, this time last year he was a little lump who didn't really move. I have a feeling I'll be sobbing in to a glass of wine watching home movies tonight.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Aww Cora, that's so sweet. I have to confess that I had a little cry a few months ago as I was looking through baby photos of my eldest and I realised she's not "that" baby anymore, if that makes sense. But at the same time, the more she grows the more she just amazes me with the things she says and does

I had my weigh in yesterday and I lost 2lbs so I was very happy. However, I'm having a takeaway and a few drinks tonight so I'll probably put it back on.
I'm feeling quite positive though because I've just purchased a double buggy (I bought one before dd was born, used it once and hated it but I love this one) so I had a great walk today and hopefully if the rain stays off I can carry on speedwalking.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend!

What buggy did you get SayHello? My friend is looking to buy one as she is planning another baby and wants to start looking around for one. That's brilliant weight loss, I hope you enjoy your takeaway and drinks tonight.

I have eaten and eaten and eaten today. Hello my name is CoraBear Fontelroy-Montague Deveraux III and I am a hormonal eater. Alright so that may not be my real name but I am a hormonal eater. And it HAS to be carbs. Sugary, delicious carbs. I have an indian mix pack from Tesco filled with onion bhaji's, samosa's and pakora's in the fridge waiting for my dinner. I had to restrain myself from eating them for breakfast. Hopefully this will pass in a day or two and I can become a normal person again.

Have a great weekend everyone!

I got the babyjogger metro cora. I really like it because both seats recline but you can have one up one down and the same with the hoods (a few of them I looked at you have to put both hoods down, recline both chairs at the same time.)

It's so easy to fold down and fits easily in to our car. My old double was a tandem, I couldn't fold it down and was a struggle to fit in to our car. The only bad thing about the babyjogger is that it is quite wide (I can't fit it through my front door so it has to be folded down first) My friend has the babyjogger mini and they both look the same but she can fit hers through her door so would recommend the mini I haven't tried to get on a bus with mines but my friend has and it fit.

Yum, that indian mix sounds sooooo good!! Damn, guess what I'm in the mood for now??

That buggy sounds fab, I'll let my friend know. Thanks for that.

The indian dinner was delish, I could have eaten it all night. I had to share it with DP as he suddenly got the munchies when he smelled it. Junk food is not being brought in to this house anymore. I ended up having m&m's and skittles last night. I'm so annoyed at myself.