Losing weight and reading more

[InterstellarDrifter]

I know these two things will improve my life absolutely loads but I fail at them every day
I have 3 books from the library and have read 3 pages from one and I’ve renewed them all about 3 times. They are books I want to read as well and I used to love reading.

Losing a couple of stones would be amazing. I know all about healthy eating, low carbing, intermittent fasting and they all work. I just can’t seem to stick to anything for very long.
If you’ve made these changes please share your wisdom or give me a kick up the arse.

What is it that's stopping you from reading? Is it lack of time?

You could combine the two by going for long walks and listening to audio books!

To be honest, I think it’s my phone. I always seem to end up reading stuff on the internet rather than reading books. Not social media, but more news and current affairs.
I think it’s made it hard for me to focus on books?

Yes, same here. Think it affects our attention span. I too was a great reader - I find I can still do it if I consciously put time aside (not easy).

I got back into reading with a new year's resolution a few years ago to read for 30 minutes every day. It's very rare that I don't do this. I keep a reading record which makes me accountable.

Similarly with losing weight/healthier eating - I would never diet or deprive myself, but instead add in positive habits (which over time change the profile of eating choices and fitness).

I read before bed every night for at least half an hour. I'm an avid reader anyway, but I agree that phones etc make it difficult. I find I have every intention of reading on an evening whilst DH watches TV, but I spend my time on my phone instead as the noise of the tv makes it too distracting to read.

Having a kindle made a big difference to my reading. I shove it in my bag everywhere I go, and even having 5 minutes here and there means I read more.

Audiobook while you go to the gym/go for a run. Getting both jobs done at the same time! Works for me

I put my phone on do not disturb to make time to read.

As for losing weight. I've lost 5.5st and kept it off for 20 months. For me this was a huge overhaul of my eating and putting an effort in. I look back at the differences and think wow!

I am the same about reading and am doing so less and less.....I need to make myself pick up my book at night and read. It's so much easier to scroll through my phone before I go to sleep.

Thanks for the tips and wow @Groovee on an amazing weight loss.
Love the audiobook and running tips and half an hour before bed. I’m starting the 30mins one tonight.

Definetly go up to bed and read. I go up about 8pm if I have a good book on the go. Kindles are fab, but either get a prelit one or a decent rechargeable light, no messing with lamps on then and it won't disturb anyone else. Get comfortable in bed, put your phone down and read.

Diet wise I am 2st overweight and have been for a while. I find diets tedious which they are, but when I seriously want to lose weight I have to be accountable to someone else weighing me weekly, so sign up for slimming world. It's not best diet in the world, but not the worse either and you can ditch the endless muller lights etc. But it is affordable and accessible to most people.

If I just want to lose a few lbs I cut back on booze, bread and processed foods and up the amount of fruit and veg. You could just aim for 7lbs by Christmas, have what you want over Christmas then start again in January, aiming for a few lbs each month.

I have lost 2.5kg just doing that. Also I weigh myself in KGs now, it's not quite as depressing as lbs and stones for some reason.

I managed to read for around 30 mins last night. I love the book I’m reading so I’m looking forward to reading more tonight.
I am going to try to focus on intermittent fasting and healthy eating during the day.

Switch your phone off tonight then and put it in another room. Put a bookmark in your book as a target for you to read up to. When you are reading, if you find that you fancy a snack tell yourself that you will get one when you've read up to your target page. Quite a lot of the time you'll find that the urge to eat passes and you end up not snacking. Join a book club so you "have" to read the book being discussed.

Drink lots of water and eat protein to help you feel fuller for longer. The Blood Sugar Diet recipe book has some good low carb recipes.

I'm the same. I shudder to think how many hours I waste looking at social media and refreshing MN! It really is a massive distraction. I also find starting a book really hard but once I'm into it I begin to prioritise reading rather than having to force myself to do it. Depends on how good the book is I guess!

As for the weight loss, have you considered joining a group? I started slimming world 18 months ago and haven't looked back. I've lost 2 stone in total and the group sessions keep me on track. It's not for everyone but it's just a suggestion.

Thank you for all your tips. I cant join a club at the moment. Maybe in the new year.
Switching phone off, drinking water and more protein are definitely something I need to be more mindful off and just do.
All I know is that reading and losing weight is something I feel I really need to do because I feel unhappy about not doing them. I really want to make those changes.

I'm spreading the gospel that is mindful eating. Firstly realise that there are two types of hunger. The first is proper hunger, that is hunger you feel in your abdomen and requires food to quench it. The second is mouth hunger, characterised by the I really fancy....... feeling. That second hunger doesn't need food it just wants it and can be overcome by displacement activity I usually get a drink and have that instead.

This is the most effective diet I've ever been on as it doesn't rely on cutting out specific foods.

I knew it’d be the internet. It’s the enemy of the human soul.

She says. On Mumsnet. On her phone

Yes @Pinkarsedfly
And of the mind too, I think.

Do you have DC? I find that setting a good example to them can be a powerful motivator when I'm not feeling so inclined to do it for myself. I don't want the DC to see mum sitting about on her phone and eating rubbish, so I make the effort to switch off screens and pick up a book and to cook the veg instead of the pasta. And then I discover after a few days that I feel much better because reading and eating well will do that for you, and then it's much easier to keep going because I'm already in the habit and feeling the benefits.

Listen to audible while you do your meal prep. Two birds one stone, get it out the way quickly. You never know, you might learn to love it.

Yes I do have dc. I’m embarrassed to say that I’m on my phone a lot even when they’re around. They seem to get on with stuff so I just go on my phone if I’m having some down time.
(I do spend lots of time with them too of course.)
I enjoy podcasts or audiobooks on the library app when I’m doing chores.