In need of a bit of advice

[InTheSpirit]

I decided after reading the book to start the 5:2, after trying WW, SW and Rosemarie Connelly with only a bit of success, but I always end up putting it back on. Will be starting after Christmas, but have already started cutting down on my calorie intake and portion size.

Decided I wanted to start jogging/running and swimming again but am worried about reactions of people out there, because have had some quite mean things said about me before. I am currently a size 18/20 and want to get down to a size 14 (at first) is this reasonable? Once I get there I will decide how much more I want to lose.

I think a lot of my problem is I am embarrassed about how I look when I am out doing my thing... I am very shy/ self conscious. My mum bought me that Miranda one and some Maracas and that looks like fun!!!

Is there any way I can boost my confidence?

My OH is a fitness instructor, and he is fab at keeping the kitchen stocked with healthy stuff, and tries to help me overcome my lack of confidence, but for some reason his pep talks don't work... "and once he gets on his soapbox" as my Nan used to say, it is really just on and on and on... and sometimes he can be a tad preachy about it... and I know he is being sweet and trying to help, but its not- if that makes sense...

Anyway, any advice would be appreciated, Thanks in advance!!

You really do have to do it for you and not worry about what others think! In fact, what they will be thinkng is: how wonderful that person is! Good on her for getting out there! Hoorah! And that is exactly what you must tell yourself...

As somebody who has been very far in the same direction as you at times in my life, I can tell you that it is definitely worth making the effort. Once you get the ball rolling, you will wish you had started earlier.

Don't be like me and leave it until you're in your 60s to lose weight and take your health seriously...to look and feel as good both inside & out as you never have before. Trust me, that is the result of taking the first steps.

It does take a bit of getting used to at first: fasting. You can feel lonely, abandoned and bored if eating has always been a best friend. Then you get over that, and begin to enjoy the feeling of being empty but not hungry...which is when your body is 'doing its housework'.

Hope this helps.

first off tell your OH he is wrong about snacks, they are only needed for the very lean
so they should not be in the house
that will make it easier for you to cut down on calories

your best bet is to get some tone at home - Jillian Michaels or pilates or hula hooping
and then ignore what other people thing
because in a year you'll be slim
but they will still be judgety

In your OP you ask if it is "reasonable" to get from a size 18/20 to a size 14 on the 5:2 way of eating.
Well yes it is and I know because that is what I have done in just under 1 year.
This time last year I was a size 22/24 and, though not miserable about my weight, I knew this was not a healthy size for me and that wishing myself slimmer was not going to make the excess weight go away.
I had to take action.
I decided to enjoy Christmas and New Year but made myself a promise that in January I was going to make a determined effort to take control.
Like you, I started with small but effective changes - portion sizes, healthy eating etc.
I also led a very sedentary life so decided that any sort of movement/exercise just had to be better for me than none at all.
I started off just walking once round the block - approx 5 - 10 minutes brisk walk.
This was in January so the streets were in darkness at about 3.30pm which suited me fine as no-one could see me huffing and puffing my way up the hill by my house.
I frequently didn't want to go out in the cold, wind, rain and dark but I made myself persevere and, without fail, I always felt better for doing it.
Gradually I started to increase my time out walking until I got to 30 - 40 minutes brisk walk daily which I'm still doing.
I also read a newspaper article about 5:2 and decided to add that into my regime as well - every little helps was my way of thinking.
That addition has made a huge difference.
I stick to my healthy eating/moderate portion sizes on eating days and have 2 days of 500 cals intake.
The result is I have lost 4.5 stone in 11 months.
I feel fabulous - so much more energy and get up and go and that in itself is a confidence boost. Once you start to see and feel the results from your efforts, the confidence follows.
With regard to your DH and his preaching, you need to tell him kindly but firmly to back off. You are not one of his clients and you need to do this your own way.
Good luck with it. You can do this.

WingedHarpy
would you be willing to pop that post over onto the 5:2 inspiration thread
as its fantastic?

Will do Talkin.

Yes, you can do this! Try logging what you eat on My Fitness Pal each day, and what about trying Couch 2 5k too, or just some really brisk walks to start? Plus exercise at home is great- I love my Jillian Michaels DVDs as it's so much quicker than getting out to the gym, plus I can give it my all and not worry about how I look sweating and grunting away. I've also discovered the 7 minute workout- you need to do 2-3 circuits for results but it's still not too long.

When you start logging you can really see where you are over eating- usually snacks I have to say. Eat mindfully and only eat them if you really want them- not because you're bored, upset, it's Friday night etc.

Look on the inspirations thread to see the 5:2 successes (great post Winged), and pop over to the main thread or exercise threads for support). Ignore people who can't be positive about you trying to change yourself for the better. Some people are dicks so their opinion is not worth listening to!