Will be a size 12 by next summer!!

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

I have just tried to pick up some new summer clothes. Aside from my work clothes I seem to live in jeans and jogging bottoms etc, but its too hot for them though.

Popped into town thinking I'd pick up a maxi dress or two, and some linen trousers/shorts. Tried on a pair of size 20 trousers in Primark and they came nowhere near me!! admittedly primark do come up soon (I am wearing size 18 trousers from George today and they are fine)

Would love to just be able to go into a normal shop, and buy something that fits, without having to walk to a special section. I had a look at the inspire range in New Look today, and its just full of really unflattering tops that all look the same!

Would also be nice to be a bit more comfortable next summer. Feel extra sticky and horrible!!

[Gabor7G]

Can I join you in this campaign Coldfeetwarmheart?

I'm in a similar position - I either wear black trousers or a black skirt with thick black tights to work (well I wear different tops as well!). I wear jogging bottoms or jeans at home. I've tried to buy some new stuff recently - shorts, dress etc but they don't look great on me! I'm a size 18 at the moment.

I am also completely fed up of yo-yo dieting. I've been doing something very strict since Saturday (and now down 5 lbs) but I realised that it wasn't really the solution for me.

I've decided to simply:

• stop being greedy - with everything, even the healthy stuff
  
• eat the all the lovely healthy food that I enjoy
  
• leave 2-4 hrs between eating mimimum (so no more graze eating)
  
• stop eating junk food of any description, apart from very occasionally
  
• No alcohol at all unless it is a special occasion - and then in moderation
  
  The good news is that the few strict days have made all that seem very easy and desirable!
  
  What is your plan?

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

hey Gabor of course you can join me!!

I don't have an in depth plan at the moment. Going to try and make small (but permanent!) changes. e.g.

• drink plenty of water - at least 2 litres a day
  
• I've stopped having hot chocolate from work vending machine, and am having tea / water instead. that saves me over 200 calories a day
  

Just going to start with that for the moment. Will formulate a more in depth plan after the weekend - will weigh and measure myself on Monday as well.

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

I shall report back tomorrow Gabor - let you know how well I have got on with drinking lots of water etc. Got a toddler picnic in the morning - best make sure I drink loads before then, otherwise I shall be picking at the party rings!!

[Gabor7G]

I'm trying to drink more water too - well I am at the moment, it is keeping it up that I am trying! I've found that keeping a water filter on my desk at work is helping a lot and at home I keep refilling those plastic sports bottles of water.

The main thing I am trying to train myself to do is stop when I've had enough. I nearly had a second helping of something last night and stopped myself. I really think a lot of this is habit...

Came across a new picture of myself on a colleagues FB last night - I look awful .

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

I know what you mean. That's why I am trying to focus on just the one thing (drinking water) mainly at the moment. I am quite bad at having enough to drink, especially the first half of the day. I am hoping that once I have religiously done this for 2 months, it should become ingrained in the brain!
Going to have to create a new chart somewhere, to keep a tally of what I am drinking each day!

Someone put a pic of me on FB from this mornings toddler group - absolutely hideous!!!

[Lioness82]

I'm in the same boat coldFeet!

I've to be a bridesmaid next August(2015) and can't face the thought of being a size 20, struggling to find a dress that fits nevermind flatters...

I started logging calories in myfitnesspal about a month ago, along with:
-avoiding cola (used to drink gallons it it a week. Now just water, with the odd cup of tea)
-being mindful of portions (that means weighing for me)
-not restricting foods, just portions (1 biscuit is fine -a pack of jaffa cakes is not. I have DP eat all but the last 2!)

• walking every night (this pleases the dog greatly - DP used to do walks)
  

I've lost 12lb so far. Still about 5.5 stones left to go, but it's a start - size 12 is my goal too! (I'm still a 20 though jeans are falling off 18s just don't sit right yet... I'm only 5'3)

I can't wait to be able to buy from nice shops again.

[Gabor7G]

That's an excellent start Lioness and I like the long-term habits that you are developing.

I had been trying to resist starting a 'plan' (like WW or SW) - mainly because I don't want the 'on diet/off diet' issue that has led to the gains before. However, I may need to re-think that as I'm not sure what I am doing will be enough to shift much weight. I probably need to do something like SW...

[Fourarmsv2]

I was a sz 20 this time last year. 10/12 now.

I started with SW, then moved onto a mainly low carb version of the Harcombe diet.

Feels fantastic :) Good luck with your endeavours.

[Ceadagam]

Hi there, well I started off a size 20/22 late last year I'm now between a 16/18. It's been slow going slower than I had hoped but that's because I've approached this as a lifestyle change as opposed to diet. I think this is the longest I've ever stuck to a diet and I credit that to a moderate calorie deficit.
I use myfitnesspal, have a great set of friends and have completely changed my attitude. I'm finding summer harder with having a different routine but unlike past years, I'm not giving up, I'm hanging in there and chipping away at it little by little.

All of you can do this, my best advice is to accept it'll take time, don't deprive yourselves and accept that this is a long term change.

Best of luck to you all:-)

[SuperDuperJezebel]

I was a size 22 last april, now a 12, occasionally a 10. I did mine through WW but I see you're not keen - it's not for everyone. Good luck with whichever approach you choose, you can do it!

[Lioness82]

Thanks Gabor - have you tried looking at the MyFitnessPal forums? Lots of advice/support etc on there - I grudge SW /WW the money tbh! I'm hoping that this will do for now, then I want to add in some strength training at the gym, maybe with some classes as winter draws in. Walks are great in the summer, but trudging through the cold rain, slipping on wet leaves, will undo me.

I wish I had the will power to turn down junk, but I don't. I can only tell myself it's not the best choice for so long, then I want it even more.... That's why I 've gone with trying for sensible portions, it's ridiculous, but I really do love chocolate that much!

Well done Jezebel!

caedagam I'm keeping, "this time next year, I'll be glad I started now." as my motto, trying to remember I didn't gain weight in a few weeks so can't lose it that quickly either.

[Gabor7G]

Thank you so much Fourarmsv2, Ceadagam and superDuperJexebel for sharing your successes - inspiration indeed! I hope I will have similar story this time next year. I'm so impressed with all of you and it is lovely to hear that this most definitely can be done!

I've looked at the MyFitnessPal forums many moons ago lioness82 but I could probably do with another look. I've also enjoyed using sparkpeople in the past too.

I've got nothing against SW/WW but I wouldn't pay to go to a meeting, as I've done that before and got all the information and a lot of cookery books etc. Well, I might pay for WW online as I think that is a really useful tool.

I just want this to truly be a 'forever' change. I think I will abandon the ideal of an official weekly weigh in (I weigh in every day and record it anyway - attached is the last 4.5 years of yo yo dieting) as that further emphasises the concept of 'being on' something.

I guess the bottom line is that I know how to lose weight - I just haven't grasped the concept of keeping it off. I do theoretically, of course! I guess I am truly to fuse 20+ years of dieting knowledge with the knowledge of my own triggers, preferences and weak points to come up with some lifelong habits that will get me slim and stay slim.

Yesterday I had some birthday cake - a small slice. The rest is in the fridge and I won't touch any of that. Last night I wanted more. I could have had more. What stopped me was the fact that I don't do that anymore. I'm now (well I am practising it) a person who can enjoy a small slice of birthday cake on their child's birthday and leave it there. We had a BBQ too - I had trout with new potatoes, a salad and some avocado oil dressing. Normally I would have had the burgers, sausages and white bread - I don't even like that as much! The scales moved downwards this morning.

Sorry - I am waffling on now!

[Gabor7G]

4th paragraph - Ideal = Idea
5th paragraph - truly = trying

[Gabor7G]

ColdFeetWarmHeart - how are you getting on?

[trikken]

Go for it. I was the same size as you last year and I did it. It was hard work but definitely worth it.

[Fourarmsv2]

Gabor - I'm just the same. I've lost 4/5 stone 3 times. It will be keeping it off that is trickier.

If have given away all of my clothes that are above a size 12. I'm hoping that will help with weight maintenance!

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

Hi everyone, thanks for the replies. Sorry I haven't got back here sooner - had a very busy weekend seeing about 25 members of family, then back to work today! Barely had a chance to sit down. I am actually about to run a bath as I feel really achy.

I'm having a little fight with myself right now. Part of me wants to do the sensible thing and make small permanent changes. Another part of me wants to do whatever it takes to lose the weight as quick as possible. I feel so rubbish right now - more physically than emotionally. Feel very bloated and uncomfortable! Only dressing gowns are comfy now

I would like to create my own plan as it were. Don't want to pay to go to sw/we meetings. Done that before and I really didn't feel like I got any support

[trikken]

Yes I made my own plan. I calorie count and do a bit of hula hooping. I like it and it works so it keeps me going. Got to find something that you like doing.

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

I have had a successful mornings shopping - I have come home with exercise DVDs instead of food!

I just need to work out what I am going to do food wise. Just going to plan the next week to begin with.

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

Please help me to plan some meals!! Especially my dinner/tea 4 nights a week. I work 4-9pm 4 evenings a week. I need to find something to eat that is good for diets (i.e. low cal), I can eat whilst typing (get no breaks!) and doesn't smell too much!! (Someone complained today that prawn cocktail crisps smelt!! )

[Thisisthelasttime]

Hi all can I join in. I'm so depressed with this hot weather. I have a press full of clothes and I am reduced to wearing the same things everyday. The last few days have been awful as it's so hot so I dug out some old primark leggings and bet myself into a too small tunic dress and flip flops. At least I was cooler. I have some beautiful white linen trousers that I bought last summer that were too big. I dug them out the other day and I can't even button them. I feel like crying.
Anyway I'm going to go back to a slimming class tomorrow and face up to it. I'm guessing I'm about 14.5 stone. I love eating but I reckon a lot of my weight problems are from emotional eating. I'm going to a wedding on August 9 and would love to have a few pounds gone by then. Sorry for waffling on but its great to get it out.

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

Thisisthelasttime I had to raid my mums wardrobe this week. I had nothing to wear to work, as my one pair of black trousers were in the wash. Attempted to buy a new pair of trousers in a normal shop, but there was no way that I was going to be able to bend down in them!
Good luck in joining a slimming club tomorrow.

Going to go to Asda/Aldi tomorrow and get some better food in. I think I will take fruit and yogurt to work (few strawberries / peach slices with some greek yogurt for later in the evening, and some grapes to snack on between calls). Have also been looking on Asda website at some prepared veg packs they have to make soups and things. Will definitely get some of that and make my own vegetable soup (though I might wait until it cools down a bit!)

[Thisisthelasttime]

Coldfeet thank you. Would you not make a sandwich or some ryvita with low fat cheese spread to have with your grapes . Or a salad box .

[lisbapalea]

Can I join? Made a promise earlier this week that this os the last summer I spend being overweight.

I want to lose 3st which will take me to a 12. I am currently 14at (5ft 8) and a generous 16.

I just need to stop being so damn greedy and lazy! I am now a gym member but I do struggle finding time to go but could manage 2-3 times if I prioritise it more.

And I just need to eat less. Even the 'good' stuff I just get greedy with, which negates its 'goodness'. I need to retrain myself I think.

I also have a wedding on Aug 16 and would like to lose a few pounds by them if possible.

I do weigh ins on Tuesdays so I will be back then if not before!

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

Salad box isn't too easy to eat at my desk - I have tried it before and I didn't get much work done (have targets to keep to, so I literally need something that I can eat whilst typing). I often have a sandwich but would like to stay away from bread as much as possible.
Whilst on the phones I literally have the time for a quick sip of water in between calls-couldn't manage more than 1 grape at a time.

I think that's why I need to do as well lisbapalea - prioritise losing weight!! It is why more important than the ironing!!