Right!! Enough is enough!!!

[Hippychickster]

OK, I know this isn't massive in the big scheme of things but all my adult life I have weighed about 8 1/2 stone. I'm 5' 6" and have always been a size 8.

I'm 49 now and in the last year I've put on over a stone. I am now 9st 10 and I feel shit! I don't think my eating habits have changed, I think I'm just getting older. I feel really lethargic and like I can't even be bothered to go to the gym. My last swim cost me about £200 it's so long since I went before that.

I am going back to work tomorrow when I will obviously have loads more time than in the holiday as routine will be restored so I am hoping to stop eating crap snacks.

I don't want to go on a diet as I eat pretty healthily anyway. I don't have a sweet tooth which is good. My absolute achilles heel is savoury stuff like crisps and wine. I have had them every night this holiday (I'm a teacher so it's not just a week or so).

I don't want to look drawn and older, but I would like to be 9 stone again by Christmas. I think sensible eating, cutting out wine and crisps (apart from Friday nights) should do the trick.

Anyone out there who feel like me? I know there are people who will think 9.10 is not a lot but for me it feels uncomfortable.

I'm not going to weigh for at least 2 weeks. I rarely weigh anyway, I only did it because my clothes and bra feel tight. I just want to feel better and more like me again.

I may need some encouragement to stay off the wine

[SenatusPopulusqueRomanorum]

Your metabolism slows down as you age . It is so unfair!

I don't have the same profile as you (at all!) but I think in your case, exercise rather than diet might be the key. It would give you more energy and probably burn enough calories to lose that bit of weight without really changing your eating habits.

If you don't like the gym, is there anything else you can do?

[Hippychickster]

It IS so unfair!! I do like the gym though. I love swimming and pilates, I just haven't been for ages. I need to get my arse in gear and start going again. When I go I love it, it's just that I've got out of the habit.

Now I've put this on I am going to have to do something about it. I will use this to keep track! Thanks for replying.

[Hippychickster]

OK keeping track here to make myself be more sensible and keep off the wine.
Day 1, no snacks, no wine, went swimming.

[MillyDots]

Well done, you've started. The weight gain is probably because you just havnt been moving as much.

[Hippychickster]

Thanks for replying MillyDots. I'm going to use this as a way to keep myself in check. If I have to report in, I'm less likely to binge!

I did it on another forum when I gave up smoking and that was 10 years ago. It's amazing how telling other people can make me rein it in!

Even if it's just me on here, I'm still going to do it. I have my book club tonight so I know there will be wine and food. I've just got to try and moderate!!

[Eastpoint]

I think it's probably age related. Can you put yourself on a push to be good until ½ term? Then the new better habits will be ingrained. I manage to lose weight successfully if I really put my mind to it but don't manage to keep it off as I slip back into my old ways. I'm the same height as you but must have a heavier frame as I have never weighed 8 ½ stone and had my periods (mine stop being regular at 9 stone) but am trying to get back to 9 ¼. My vice is chocolate but we went away for 3 weeks and I avoided it & that has really helped. Good luck today.

[MegBusset]

Hi Hippychickster, I'm in a similar situation to you. Am 5ft 3.5in and have always been around 9st but have crept up to 9st 10lb over the last year, I'm 37 so it's partly down to age and also since I've returned to work pt I have less time to exercise and there always seems to be cake at work!

I would like to get back to running a couple of times a week, plus I need to cut back on the cake, but my biggest vice is wine (which then leads to eating chocolate)!

[Hippychickster]

Hi Eastpoint and MegBusset. Sounds like we all want to lost about 10lbs. Wine is my biggest vice too! I'm really going to try and stop/cut down.

Not had a brilliant day today. We had another school in for inset so had a shared lunch. Lots of bread, cheese, pasta etc which isn't really my thing anyway, but didn't want to be rude and not eat it. Book club as always had snacks and wine but think I did OK. Not too many crisps and only 2 glasses of wine. No exercise today though.

My daughter told me to download the Blogilates App which I have done and am going to give that a go.

I think my problem is that I don't actually eat that much so it's difficult to cut much out. I think everyone who has said exercise is the key is right. I've got to up it. Once term is underway, I'll cycle to work again. Eastpoint I'm aiming for half term!

[Eastpoint]

Ooh seeing the extra post on the threads I'm on has made me close the chocolate cupboard's door & go to bed.

Thank you hippychickster

[Hippychickster]

Good!! I'm off to bed too. Better day tomorrow.

[Eastpoint]

Just did 70 mins walking with the dogs. Hippy can you fit some exercise in today?

[chickydoo]

I'd like to loose 7lbs ish by half term. I'm 46, what I've noticed is I don't loose much weight over night anymore. If I stood on the scales before bed, I could pretty much always guarantee a 2-3lb weight loss by the morning. My metabolism has slowed down and I am usually only a 1lb lighter in the mornings now. I have to be really careful not to eat much late in the evening otherwise I'm stuck with it....literally....
Wine is my downfall, and crisps.
Is there a food that kick starts the metabolism....she dreams...

[Eastpoint]

Chicky I'm 46 too. I can run as fast now as I could at 31 so it's age with me too.

[Hippychickster]

I refuse to accept my metabolism is slowing down!! No one in my entire family is overweight whatever their age. I haven't done any exercise today as I've been at work and now my friend is here. I have eaten really really well today and feeling good about that. 70 mins walking is great East!

Chicky welcome to the 'only want to lose a bit of weight but will feel so much better when we have done so' thread!

I have downloaded an App called Blogilates and it has motivational quotes on like 'Sweat is fat crying', and 'Yesterday you said tomorrow'. I'm loving them!

[Hippychickster]

Another good one!

[Eastpoint]

Good luck today everyone (I'm taking this one day at a time).

[Hippychickster]

Me too! Good luck you too

[Hippychickster]

A really good day today! Delicious food, no snacks, no wine even though it's Friday and I started the Pilates App. Blimey that was hard!

Feeling good

Hope everyone has had a good day.

[MegBusset]

Well done Hippychickster :) I officially start tomorrow as today is the last day of my holiday, but I have at least managed not to drink wine tonight. Tomorrow morning is my official post holiday weigh-in, it's not going to be pretty...

[Hippychickster]

Fingers crossed it's not as bad as you think!

[Hippychickster]

It's amazing how much better I feel already! Woke up this morning with no hangover, flat stomach and feeling a normal amount of hunger, instead of a headache and feeling stuffed.

Loving this feeling.

[woodlands01]

I am shorter than you but happy at 8.5 stones. I was so miserable last year that I stopped exercising, ate crap and actually tipped over 10 stones making me officially over weight for the first time ever!! I am a teacher and 49 too. I was so fed up I didn't even care what I weighed. I spent the winter walking the dog in 2 denim skirts that stretched over my expanding waistline and arse! A fellow dog walker used to say - your knees look cold - yeah I can't fit in any bloody jeans at the moment.
Yes your metabolism definitely slows down as you are older and I find weight hard to shift - no quick fixes work. But during the summer I have been disciplined and done a few things. I have started running with a vengeance again and feel great. I have started the 5.2 fasting thing. It works for me as I find it quite easy not to eat breakfast/lunch and just have healthy dinner. I can't give up wine but am trying to keep it to weekends. Haven't weighed myself for a while as, similar to others, I don't want to become diet obsessed just healthy but I am certainly under 9 stone and can fit into all my clothes again. I even bought new skinny jeans yesterday.
I do now feel really good and am going to try and carry that forward into going back to work next week. I will NOT be so miserable again and will try to focus on the positives of the job!

Good luck everyone - persevere.

[MegBusset]

Well done Woodland and Hippy :)

Weighed in this morning at 9st 11lb, which is not too awful considering how much I ate and drank on holiday! Anyway it's onwards and downwards from here. Am starting with a week of no alcohol, sugar (including fruit) or bread as this has been very effective before.

[Eastpoint]

Well done all of you. I have walked and watched what I eat again, when I get back home & weigh myself on Monday morning I hope things are looking better...

[Hippychickster]

Well done all!! Woodlands that's fab! Meg, that wasn't as bad as you thought was it? And East, are you still on holiday? Your resolve is brilliant!

I've also had a good day, cycled to Sainsburys instead of driving (but then had to carry everything back in my back pack), eaten lovely food again and NO WINE!

I am going to have a couple tomorrow though. Once a week is OK I think. I might not weigh for a few weeks. I don't want to see a 1lb loss. If I wait a while there should be a difference in my clothes and on the scales.