Anyone else want to make a real effort from tomorrow - 4 weeks of exercise and eating well?

[amiboverd]

I have been trying on and off to lose weight for the past year but now planning to really exercise 3 times a week if I can and cut down on the sugary crap I eat. A but part of it is the habit of wanting something sweet after dinner when I don't even really want it.

A day late but yes I’m fully in!

First day down, and I've done okay, but still feel hungry.

Did okay meal wise, didn't eat until 12- had an okay lunch, but too much cheese!

Only had one snack time- rather than grazing all day, but could have eaten less.

Then had my first session with my personal trainer/life coach- it went well but really highlighted how unfit I am!

Then dinner- again too much cheese, starting to see my weakness!

Managed not to have any sweet things today apart from fruit, which is good for me.

Dinner felt too late for me, didn't eat it until half 8, but that was because of the slot I could book with the personal trainer- have an earlier slot booked for tomorrow thankfully.

May I suggest you look at Caroline's EPIC Beginners first. Even if you are used to working out with dumbbells, these 5 sessions will give you a good introduction on how she structures her workouts.

After that I'd look at a full body workout from several of her programs. They are all different, even though the basic moves are the same. It's best to familiarize yourself before diving in as some are more challenging than others.

I definitely agree that, unless you are superfit and experienced, you'd need to use much lighter weights. I generally use 5kg, 8kg, 12kg. I've been working out with Caroline for over 4 years, but I'm quite old... nearly 70. Thanks to her I'm fitter now than I was in my 40s.

Today so so: I walked a lot but couldn't do planned class because I had to do child stuff. Only a banana and a single Jaffa cake as daytime snacks, which was not terrible. Trying not to get discouraged!

Morning, can I join too?
I exercise around 3/4 times a week already but then ruin all my efforts with snacks/chocolate/crisps!
I did body pump yesterday and didn’t eat anything else after dinner (snacking once the children are in bed is my downfall) so a good start to the week!

Had a meal replacement this morning which was tough as I made the kids pancakes for breakfast. I would've usually caved but I'm so glad I didn't! Going to take the little ones for a walk later

I did my first spin class today. It was tough as expected but the hardest bit wasn’t the cardio - it was the pain in the bum! That was the least comfortable saddle ever. I’ll give it another go but wear padded shorts next time. Ouch!

Morning everyone!

That's really good @TotalOverhaul @helpmebe @Gymmum82

@Toytransportemergency I ate about 60% of a double chocolate cookie after dinner yesterday. I also thought it wasn't so bad as I'd usually have had a full one (or more) and I'd have had other sweet things earlier in the day ordinarily.

also they are "fresh" cookies so I figured I should eat some...

Sounds like everyone is going really well

I have been working and haven't even taken a proper lunch break so I'm going to do day 3 of the Blogilates abs and arms challenges and then have some food.

Plan to do a "proper" workout tomorrow as I'm working from home again and it's a lot more difficult to fit in exercise when I'm working in the office.

Just realised it was not morning when I posted that!

Your bum gets used to the seat. I remember when I first started spin and my bum was so so sore for the first maybe 3-4 weeks and my friend said it’ll get used to it. She was right. Now it doesn’t hurt at all. If I take a week or so off then it hurts again the first one back but back to normal after that. Keep going

Hello - I'd like to join please - there was a similar thread in the run up to CHristmas last year that was really helpful. I'm 56 5 ft 5 and 75kg so I really need to lose some.I lost a bit earlier in the year as I ran the London marathon but have been off running most of the summer with a knee issue and have been banned from most of the machines in the gym so its getting me down a bit at the moment. Also hada lot of parties etc in recent weeks which never helps....

Well done everyone on your achievements so far. I didn't do as well as I'd hoped yesterday as although our evening meal was very healthy, I ate much too large a portion!
My first target was to get back to walking 5 miles a day after dropping to about 3 during the really hot weather. Yesterday I managed just over 5 miles but boy did my legs ache on my walk this morning. It's frightening how quickly you lose any fitness as you get older. Despite the aching and the rain I managed five and a half miles today. I have since done 10 minutes of light weights and I am starting (restarting) a timed plank challenge with my husband this evening. I am also planning a much smaller portion of dinner tonight which I hope will be eaten within a seven hour window since breakfast.

I’m doing ok today as well - been for a walk and had a healthy lunch. No snacks except fruit.
I have a healthy dinner planned and should manage another walk while kids are at a club BUT we are planning to watch a movie on the couch which will involve a lot of willpower to keep my greedy hands out of the popcorn.

That's frustrating @londonmummy1966 please join us

i find it helpful to have others to chat to about exercise and food and it helps keep me motivated

I did the blogilates 200 ab challenge and 100 arms challenge for today and feel good for doing something

That’s good to hear. By halfway through I was looking around and wondering why no one else seemed to be squirming in pain. I’ll try again on Thursday or Friday because if I don’t do it soon I won’t at all.

My plans for regular early evening runs have had a setback today as DH has fallen off his bike and broken his arm. (And bruised his ego!) He’s mostly fine but I’m going to have to do all the bedtimes and dinner cooking for a while, gah. But I’ll fit it in somehow because I actually have motivation for once.

Can I join please. I have lost a lot of weight and I am now trying to gain muscle without gaining too much fat which is proving very hard. I got down to bmi 18.5 fairly easily but am worried I just lost a lot of lean mass.

I am about to start Caroline Girvan iron series for the 2nd time around and see if I can up the weights this time. I am also thinking of taking some protein powder and creatine as I really struggle to gain muscle.

Todays been good so far. Trained legs this morning. Have had a healthy lunch and breakfast and have avoided snacking.
avoiding weighing myself as I know if I’ve not lost anything I’ll be more inclined to give up

That's good @Gymmum82

It's easy to be demotivated isn't it.

I weighted myself yesterday and will try to leave it until at least the weekend.

i have had a good morning too. I missed breakfast and had a small toasted cheese sandwich at about 12 and then at about 4pm made some egg fried rice with leftover rice from last night. Not a great time to eat but I figured that was better than a snack as I was hungry and realistically it will be 6:30/7 earliest when we have dinner.

I 10 mins of abs, arms and squats too.

I had a disastrous day today. I did manage the gym at 6am and had a healthy breakfast and lunch, but from 2.30 I’ve eaten cakes at work then chocolate this evening. Thousands of calories!
nothing I can do about it except try again tomorrow!

Only 2 days in, but I am doing well. I am doing Weight Watchers, my target is 26 points per day, but I usually eat 28-30, but I have 49 points ‘extra’ per week in this plan.

I usually do 3 Pilates classes per week, it realise that won’t burn off any calories. I am reluctant to reduce my classes so I’m trying to supplement this with a few brisk walks/bike rides each week.

I had a good day today. I did well at lunch by having some fruit rather than chocolate and saved up most of my calories for dinner. Iv noticed if I don't eat a proper meal at dinner time I am most likely to fall off the wagon.

Also have done 60 mins of brisk walking today ( 2 x 30 mins). I am just hoping I can keep it up as it feels hard.

The silly thing is I actually don't feel hungry, but I'm craving sugar and chocolate.

@thenewaveragebear1983 Thats
not a nice feeling but think of the positives - healthy breakfast and lunch and you went to the gym!

@NearlyMonday It will burn some calories and helps build muscle which means your metabolic rate is higher and your burn more calories

@helpmebe I can relate! I crave something sweet after dinner almost as a habit. I didn't have anything tonight only because I had a zoom call just after my dinner and didn't have time. I try to fill up on meals so I'm less likely to snack so that might mean eating dinner earlier (whereas DH would eat dinner late but snack on crisps beforehand because he's hungry) or this afternoon i just had a very late lunch as I'd have eaten unhealthy snacks otherwise.

I think I've had a good day as I had a cheese sandwich at 12, home made egg fried rice at 4 ish, fish and chips with salad at 7:30, a small fruit smoothie and a can of Appletizer. I'd usually have eaten a few sugary snacks as well.

Breakfast was good with yoghurt and fruit.
salad for lunch . Not so good for tea - quick pasta meal. But at least have not snacked! No exercise but planning on doing the beginner shred day 1 (gulp) tomorrow am

After a good day yesterday I ruined today by not eating a proper lunch then snacking on chocolate and biscuits all afternoon and again after dinner!
Start again tomorrow 🙄

Can I join please? I was planning to start on Monday, but by midday my ds2 was on the way to hospital with cardiac symptoms and eating healthily went out the window! Today has been a day of recovery, although I've only had one sugary item, and I ran for 15 minutes this morning to regroup from the stress. So.. Wednesday is coming and I start now.