To feel cross

[atthebeach]

I am capable , competent and efficient in all areas of life.

Why then am I unable to lose weight?

I am around 7 () stone overweight. Nothing fits and I am conscious I am bursting out of summer clothes.

I'm certainly not concerned for the sake of vanity but I do hope to be healthier.

I use food as a reward at the end of the day as a rule (I am a head of department in a secondary school) and I often find myself eating as I drive home.

I've been off sick for two days but now I am finding myself feeling better and wanting to eat!

Can anyone give me the motivation to make this much-needed change?

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

I really, really feel for you. You've started a change already...right here by asking for advice.

Can I ask if you have seen your GP about it? 7 stone is quite a substantial amount and you will benefit from medical help I think.

If you're eating on the way home, are you not having any really breakfast and lunch? That's one of the most common problems in people who are struggling with food.

[Wolfiefan]

I do that. Good when I'm tired, bored, been working hard, had to tackle a hard task oh and when I'm hungry!
I looked for other ways to reward myself. Music, reading a book, puzzles, knitting. Found exercise I love.
For every half a stone I bought clothes or spa time etc.
Also don't make the mistake of cutting every food out you love. Eat nothing but cottage cheese and you'll soon binge on chocolate! Focus on eating yummy food with good nutritional value. Don't have junk too easily available and always be mindful when eating. Why are you eating this?
I've lost 4 stone. Was more but l've had depression.

[atthebeach]

That is me to a T!

I generally do eat breakfast but often skip lunch due to being busy and then end up eating on the way home - awful habit I know.

I snack throughout the evening and drink wine too.

I could see my GP I suppose but I am quite embarrassed.

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

Wolfie is right...you can't say "Right! I am NEVER having crisps again!"

Instead you say "On Friday I will have one small bag..." and do just that...not a large pack of Sensations....

I am currently working on a stone which I have to lose...I know it seems like a little nothing compared to yours but I have also had to rethink my eating...I'd sit and eat a whole, large bag of Sensations AND a large galaxy bar....in the past I'd tried to stop them altogether...now I make myself have one small bag per week and that's it.

I've stopped buying biscuits completely.

[atthebeach]

I have to admit that sensible as that sounds in theory I do feel it would be difficult to limit myself. I was the same when giving up smoking - had to cut it all out at once.

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

Beach you at least know where you're going wrong...don't be embarrased...being overweight is so common nowadays...maybe see how you go this week and if it's completely impossible alone, then try to see the doctor...

For this week why don't you start by eating breakfast AND lunch and then your evening meal.

The snacking thing is hard I know but I have started drinking water...if I am really hungry or craving then I have an apple...it isn't easy but it does get easier as you go.

[atthebeach]

My vices are Pepsi (I don't like diet or max unfortunately!), wine, Pringles, cheese and pizza.

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

What's your larder and fridge like at the moment? Is there a lot of junk in it? Mine was full of crap and I had to have a clear out and do another shop. Are you ok with working out healthy meals for the week? What are your fave meals?

[Birdsgottafly]

I was five stone overweight, I've lost two.

I decided enough was enough in February. I joined a gym, booked a personal trainer and as well as losing weight, I'm changing my body shape.

You can't do it without regular exercise.

Use this to get advice about motivation, but there are a lot of people on here who are anti exercise and clean eating, which you need to adopt.

I was fortunate in that a special family holiday has been booked in October, so that's helping towards my motivation.

I'm not letting other people be "time thieves" either (I'm a Carer for my Mum and a hands on Nan).

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

Birds well bloody done! That's impressive.

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

I can't do the gym as I can't afford it so I've been cycling....if OP feels self conscious about gym, maybe she could cycle or even walk every evening?

[Jessica2point0]

My golden rule when losing weight is to NEVER allow myself to get hungry. That means always eating lunch (during revision sessions for sixth formers if necessary) and always having a healthy snack on hand.

I also have one day off each week. So if I really feel like takeaway pizza then I don't have to wait three months until the diet is over, just a couple of days.

[atthebeach]

I struggle to walk up the stairs exercise at the moment. It's something I will do when I've lost some weight.

I live opposite a 24 hour tesco, a kfc, Pizza Hut and other shops.

Doomed!

[Birdsgottafly]

X post my vices were the same as you.

You have to keep a food diary now, so you can see how much you are eating.

I still have a couple of glasses of Black Tower low cal wine and the occasional veg pizza.

The rest I've decided isn't worth it. I use My Fitness Pal.

I'm nearly 50 and want good " Older" health.

[CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease]

Oh I feel for you so much here.

I used to be a size 8, now I'm a size 16 and 4ft11. I manage to do anything else I want, but lose weight? nope! :(

I think it's because it takes sooooo long and is such a slow process it's so easy to think it will never happen.

My problem is my other half who would be the equivalent of a femal size 6 easily eats half a pack of chocolate biscuits, double size helpings of curry, a shitload of cheese, bread, crisps, biscuits and fizzy pop every single day. And never gains and ounce, and we both do the exact same exercise. The bastard... haha

[Fudgeface123]

I've been a yo-yo dieter in the past, at my heaviest I was 16'8. I joined WW and I've lost 11 lbs in two weeks.

Could you join a slimming club?

[Fatmomma99]

Marking thread. 2 stone overweight, lost a stone, but put half of it back on. Exercising regularly, but drinking and new secret vice - Sainsbury's cheese twists.

Well done to all who've done better than me, and good luck and will power to the rest of us!

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

Beach I can guess it's hard to walk up stairs and things right now but in order to really galvanise the weight loss, you will need to do something...even a walk daily...after work...not far...just up the road and back will make some difference.

If you do that and reorganise your meals you WILL start to lose weight quite quickly.

Coffee My Mum was like your DH and now she's just been diagnosed with Diabetes. :( She's a size 10...lives on crap. She's changed things now though but her DX has made me change my ways. Your DH won't be healthy eating like that even if he is slim.

[Momagain1]

eat breakfast but often skip lunch due to being busy and then end up eating on the way home - awful habit

It is several habits, actually:
Not planning/packing a lunch
Eating in the car
Choosing junk for the purpose
Thinking less of yourself and punishing yourelf by treating yourself badly again the next day.

So,
you can declare the car a no eating zone.
Or stop choosing junk, if something else is available.
--> which may mean changing WHERE you get the snack
Or plan ahead and pack lunch, or a better snack. Or both. Just in case.

Or some combination of all of those.

[19lottie82]

Without meaning to sound harsh / patronising, but if you eat less than your required calorie intake and exercise more you will lose weight, unless you're in the very tiny minority that have a medical condition. I'm about three stone overweight, but I recognise this is because I love food and I'm not too keen on exercise!

One of the most important thing IMO is to try and cut out all processed food totally and white carbs as much as possible (i.e eat brown pasta / rice / bread). Don't diet or calorie count, just make everything from scratch and be mindful in terms of portion control.

Sugar is a bigger danger than fat IMO, you really need to ditch your Pepsi addiction, I'm afraid. How much do you drink a day?

Exercise wise, no one is expecting you to join a gym or start running.
Could you park your car half a mile away from work and walk there and back each day?

[Monty27]

My desk is beside the 'treats' table at work. To make myself stop gorging I brush my teeth. It works for me.

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

Monty where do you work and why on earth is there a "treats table" there?

[Momagain1]

I sympathise, I am about that much overweight. i know HOW to lose weight. How much exercise and attention to food it takes. But I cant keep it up more than a few months at most.

I always used to joke about celebrities, especially movie stars, who have months at a time to schedule to suit themselves, of course they can stay fit! They dont have to devote theimselves to a 9-5 job, etc. timeneeded for staying dit and slim is basically part of their job.

Last year, I told my self, right, you are a SAHM, most of the day IS your own, so go do that. like Birds i joined a gym, got a personal trainer, started tracking my food: with personal trainer able to log in and see My Fitness Pal account and look over my electronic shoulder. gym 3 days a week, walking 3 days a week (one a family walk rather than fitness walk) and was begining the NHS Couch 25K program. i was spending most of the school hours training, working out, and planning ahead for my food intake. From February through May, I was serious business about my health. i was visibly buildimg muscle, so my weight didnt shift much, but my shape was very noticeably changing. And my stamina.

Then I went overseas for a week. i did manage to run twice, but I also indulged in treats I cant get here, I was exhausted upon return, then sick, then couldnt be bothered to renew the private trainer for the next 3 months and then...

[RandomFriend]

I feel for you too. I also love food and hate exercise.

Can you make up a little lunchbox for yourself of tasty but simple and healthy, easy-to-eat things that will help prevent you reaching for a packet of biscuits or crisps in the car on the way home?

For example, put cut pieces of avocado, tomato, cheese, cucumber, cold chicken if you have some left and maybe some fruit in a box that can be eaten either at lunch time or as you get in the car.

Then "treat" yourself by doing something that keeps you away from food - swim, browse in a bookshop, walk a bit, or phone a friend.

[Joolsy]

Sorry haven't had time to read whole thread but try finding an exercise you like - I used to hate exercise but now it fits in with my life and I have to do something, even if it's a quick 15 min workout, every day. And I feel amazing afterwards. Yesterday it was walking my DD to rainbows, 15 mins walk away, walking home, then walking back to collect her, then walking home again. Today I'll walk to shops & carry shopping home - approx 1 hour total.

Regarding food - I expect you tell yourself "no I mustn't have that" then have it anyway, & feel awful after. Give yourself permission to have whatever you want, whenever you want. I bet you won't want it as much! Worth a try, anyway. It works for me (when I remember to tell myself that is!).