to say 'sod my diet?'

[HereLittleKitty]

Am 5ft 4.

Had quite a few kids in the last 8 years :D

Always struggled with my weight but never gone over a size 16.

Was about 14 stone after last baby and have lost about 2 stone in the 18 months since he was born.

But it was a struggle.

It was done going to weight watchers, slimming world, dinf a VLCD ... all mixed together, all with istances of gettng fed up and putting 5lbs back on here and there ...

So I am 12 stone now.

I have a big old saggy mummy tumy and a 2nd chin at certain angles.

But I don't think I can do anymore.

I'm getting depressed at my lack of progress,

I just ant seem to shift anymore and part of me just CBA to.

DH loves me as I am, my kids love me ... and I love cake

No that was a joke, but I do enjoy food and I just don't seem to have the will power at ALL.

I joined the gym and HATE it, not the excercise (i walk everywhere and enjoy running) but I just hate the atmosphere and the machines and the (self)pressure to feel I have to go, it uts me right off.

Bloody eck, I just don't know :(

[CrackerJackShack]

Its' so tough isn't it? No advice OP, and you probably shouldn't give up on it, but I totally understand how you feel!

[FloppyWire]

I could have written your OP. Sorry, no wise words but lots of understanding!

< hides Wispa wrapper from posters about to come on and say YABU >

[HereLittleKitty]

I don't realy 'want' to give up on it but I'm just finding it too hard and I feel like I've put too much pressure on myself and crumbled.

I start something and fail it then feel even shitter :(

[MsElisaDay]

You don't have to go to the gym to exercise, so don't. If you hate it, spend the money on something you enjoy instead - perhaps a new wardrobe of size 12 or 14 clothes if you lose the weight?
You say you enjoy running - how far are you running at the moment? Perhaps one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways for you to lose weight would be to up the amount of running you're doing. Depending on where you're at at the moment, sign up to a 10k or half marathon in a few months' time, to have something to aim towards.

I think it's fair to say sod the diet, if you're thinking of it as a diet rather than an everyday lifestyle choice. Why not give up the Weightwatchers and Slimming World but make sure you eat healthily every day, with cake only once or twice a week?
If you are expending more calories than you take in, you WILL lose weight. I think it's just about being honest with yourself about how much you're eating and how much you're exercising.

I think you do want to shift the weight, as you say you're down about your lack of progress. But maybe if you stop thinking of it as a diet, and instead a new running programme with a healthy eating regime to accompany it, you'll find it much easier to stay motivated.
From personal experience, it's difficult to eat crap and do any serious running. For example, when I've been in training for marathons, I know I can't drink a load of wine and eat fish and chips the night before a long run, as I'll feel sluggish and sick the following morning. Perhaps if you focus on your running - something you say you enjoy - the rest will start to follow more naturally?

Good luck!

[aldiwhore]

Sounds like you're not ready to commit to one way of eating (you've tried many at once, and that won't shift the weight)... I would give yourself a break, try simply thinking before you eat and watching your portion size. The only rules should be the obvious (no crap, lots of veg) and you shouldn't gain.

Then in a few months, if you're in a better head space, maybe join a group and really commit if you want to lose weight.

Sometimes you're just not ready, and it becomes pointless misery. Been there. Only when I am 100% committed and it takes over most of my waking thoughts will it work and sometimes, you're just not in the right place to do that.

[HereLittleKitty]

I'm not 16 at them moment, im a 14, i bought clothes in a 12 to motivate myself but they are just sat in my warbrobe laughing at me everytime I open the door

[WorraLiberty]

I think if I were you I'd keep up the running and ditch the gym.

I doubt it'll make you lose anymore weight if you're not going to watch your diet, but it will at least help you maintain it rather than putting on more.

[HereLittleKitty]

I paid for a years frigging contract too and just don't want to go :( grrr.

I enjoy running but am not doing it, suppose thats my main problem right there, I do walk everywhere, miles everyday but i suppose thats my normal level of movement so i need to 'up' it.

[Feminine]

I'd say "sod it" and try Pilates.

It will really change your shape and strength.

Then I'd combine it with walking...

[mumblechum1]

You need to go over to the 5:2 thread, we're fasting either 2,3,or 4 days in 7.

I'm doing alternative day fasting, was 11 stone 1lb 4 weeks ago, now 10 stone 5

It sounds hard, only having 400 calories on fast days, but you can eat what you want the other days, so today i've had 110 calories so far and am ok because I know that tomorrow I can eat what the hell I fancy and will still have lost another 2 lbs by the end of the week.

Try it!

[Feminine]

mumble do you think that will be sustainable?

How long will you do it for :)

[PurplePidjin]

Eat 95% healthy food (as in unprocessed meat, fresh veg and fruit)

Have one treat night per week where you have pudding, chocolate, glass of wine etc. Yoghurt and fruit on other nights.

Go to the gym to swim, maybe a few weights and stretches beforehand.

Join a running club!

[WorraLiberty]

I think it's too easy to reach for a diet instead of doing a proper sweaty workout to burn the fat off.

But that's probably because we're bombarded with diets being advertised everywhere, every day.

If you take enough fat burning exercise, you'll probably be able to eat what you like within reason...as long as your portion sizes aren't too large.

[WorraLiberty]

LOL there's a Weight Watchers ad on TV right this minute!

[MsElisaDay]

Worra, you're right. When I'm in marathon training, I can indeed eat what I like within reason - including cake. But this is only when I'm doing a lot of exercise and, in rest periods after big events, it's very easy to gain weight if I carry on eating the same things.

OP, if you're used to walking every day that's good, as it means it won't take much to shift your walks to jogs and runs. There's loads of walk/run programmes that can be downloaded from the internet, which will take you from a basic level of fitness to a 10k in a matter of weeks.
But you're right, you will need to up your exercise if you want to lose weight, as walking alone clearly isn't enough at the moment.

IMO, a healthy lifestyle which includes exercise and everyday healthy eating, with the odd treat, is much more easy to stick to than a regimented "diet" such as Slimming World or Weightwatchers. You've just got to be honest with yourself about how much you're actually eating and if you're doing the right level of activity to sustain that.

[HereLittleKitty]

I'm definatly over eating, emotional eating I would say.

I just don't know how to tackle it, I've done it my whole life :(

Does that 5:2 thing really work?

I dont want to start another fad, to fail.

[Inneedofbrandy]

Go have a look at the 5:2 thread and the links on it. I complained on here last week and got directed over there it's really really good!

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

I personally wouldnt do the 5:2 thing........500 cals a day is evil, even twice a week it would be hard to keep up long term.

You are better off following weight watchers/slimming world where you can eat a surprisingly large amount!!

Re exercise...ditch the gym and find something you love. I love love love exercise but HATE the gym, I find it so boring. I love spinning, badminton and pole fitness - none of them feel like a chore so I never try and bail out of going.

No, dont do a fad thing, it wont work. Healthy eating and exercise is the only way to lose weight (believe me, I know) - with weight loss 80% is diet ad 20% exercise!

Good luck and dont give up :)

[Inneedofbrandy]

It's not a fad it's a way of life without denying yourself cake all the frigging time!

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

You dont have to deny yourself cake all the friggin time anyway.......anything in moderating..have a slice of cake by all means, just dont eat the whole flippin thing!

[HereLittleKitty]

I've done 400 cals a day diets for a 2 weeks previously, no breaks, so i know i can do alternate days, i have a box ful of VLCD bars, milshakes I could do on the LC days,

but i don't know.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Everyone is different so you need to find something that works for you!! Personally if I did the 5:2 I would probably end up binging 5 days a week so the odd 2 days wouldnt make any difference. I just do low calories - no more than 1200 per day and shit loads of exercise...i have tried all the fads......slimfast, babyfood diet, atkins etc etc and long term none of them have worked.

I lost my weight when I decided to take the sensible option and join weight watchers.

Try the 5:2 though - maybe for you it will work, you won' t know till you try.

[gnushoes]

How about trusting yourself to eat sensibly for a bit not a faddy diet, no milkshake things and up the exercise you like? Pedometer to do 10 thousand steps at least every day, up the running gradually. Do 30 minutes each day where you are breathing heavily. Do it for a fortnight, see how you feel. And look at your size as well as weighing yourself -- if you gain a little muscle that's heavier than fat.

[deliciousdevilwoman]

You know what, Op, if I could "live with it" I bloody well would, so I feel your pain!

I am not so far removed from your weight/height. I have adult DTS's and a DD aged 22months. I was overweight before I conceived her, but only gained 16lbs all in. I lost most of that following the birth, and BF'ing helped shed an extra 10lbs or so, with no real changes to my diet.

Historically, I have tried lots of different eating plans. Lost as much as 30lbs at a time. Over the last 20 years' I have veered from a size 10 to an 18 at my biggest. No matter how pleased I was with my weightloss, I would always revert back to my old ways....(carb rich, too big portions). I am also an emotional eater. However, in essence, I just fucking love food, and losing myself in the sheer sensual sensation of eating delicious food!

So, fast forward. What has changed? Well, my cravings have stabilised. I have been following Pig2Twig (Low carbing)for the last 3 months...there have been a few instances of falling off the wagon, but in the main I am sticking to it. And the weight is coming off. In the past, I couldn't last beyond 10 days on Atkins-and I tried many times.

I have joined a gym with a creche and try to mix it up-spin classes and resistance work.

I have come to learn, that I could do hardcore work outs 5-6 days a week, but if I am gorging on carbs/too large portions, I am not going to lose, but at best, maintain. In the not so distant past, shelling out ££££'s on Personal Trainers and eating the same way has taught me that salutory lesson.

What has helped me also, OP, is to be realistic. I am not going to see a single digit on the weighing scales again. However, to be at the mid-upper end of an acceptable weight range for my height, and maintain it, would be good enough.

Best of luck