Would like to see my toes again! I want to lose weight because...

[WideWebWitch]

I don't know if anyone else is trying to lose weight, but I realised recently that there are various things I do differently since I've put on weight, such as:

I half lie, half sit in an undignified sprawl on the bed to get my tights on since it's too uncomfortable to do it from standing and I'd probably overbalance

I roll out of our (very low down) bed in a kind of sideways, crab-like fashion and then get up from being on my knees. This one must be really attractive to watch!

I'm careful about my back all the time since it's slightly painful and I know it's due to the extra weight on my stomach...

I'm not gargantuan but have about 2 stone to lose. Realised today that not having to worry about the above is another incentive to stick at it.

Anyone else want to share their embarrassing reasons for dieting?? And I have no excuse for being overweight, ds is 4 and I'm not pregnant, although it's only a matter of time before someone asks me when it's due

ha, ha yes! It's my rippling muscle. Nice one Manna. Expect a full report on Wednesday Rhiannon - good luck, you'll get into that dress soon. Now, what shall I have for lunch tomorrow...

Sniksnak (like we need to be thinking baout snacks!!), we crossed in the post there.You sound like you know what you're talking about. Are you a fitness instructor?

guess what I had for lunch today - a bowl of frozen peas with a little grated parmesan! how sad is that? I'm a chef........

Uh-oh rumbled!! Knew I should've kept my big mouth shut!....I complete my YMCA fitness instructor diploma this summer. After that I'll be doing a personal training qual so I can set up as self-employed - I'm particularly interested in helping out clients with long-term weight issues who really need one-to-one support to stick to a new regime, and would like to offer my services to new-ish mums who want to get back in shape/in better shape.

Not a big fan of dieting as such - although the WW scheme is the best there is. A good kickstart say for the first week or two is to increase protein and reduce your carbs, eg in a meal eat 50% veg, 20% protein, 10% carb (do sections on the plate, don't faff with weighing out). And drink LOADS of water, it fills you up and makes you feel grrrrrrreat.

Mmm, manna, can I come to your restaurant? Do you do cheesy peas a la fast show?! How many points in that!
Sniksnak - well done. I used to do the YMCA video tapes - the Y plan etc. There quite good i htought. Bet you don't live in Scotland, I could have been your first client - more boohoos! Seriously though, i do feel like I look better and my jeans go on easier, so it may well be a muscle thing. Thanks for the reassuring comments.I hope so. I am having my body fat percentage measured at the gym tomorrow - I can't wait!!

Well done everyone, I reckon this could turn into a WW support line.

Rhiannon, has your sweet tooth discovered Shape Devon toffee, white choc and raspberry, and chocolate yoghurts yet, yummy yummy. Also, for the snackers, M&S Count on You crisp things (shapes) are only 1 point per bag. It helps with the evening tv snacking.

Off for the weigh in tonight, two meals out in the last week, so who knows??

Ali, seem to be suffering with terrible wind tonight!!!! I think it might be the culmination of too many Snack A Jacks!!! I think someone needs to stab me with a big pin and watch me fly around the room!! Have got my WW weigh-in tomorrow, will report back. R

Three pounds off on my first weeks: only 47 more to go .... I'm very virtously eating a load of raw vegetables for lunch.

Susiebabes, I know exactly what you mean about motivation. It's so difficult to start, so difficult to stick to, unless you really want to do it. If you don't really care what you look like (and I'm a great believer in handsome is as handsome does - and also in having no mirrors in the house!) then I think that maybe it's not until you get a real health scare that you realise you have to do something. I am fed up with feeling tired all the time. I want to feel good in myself again. If you don't join a group, try to make sure that other people can give you support.

Sniksnak, very interested to hear what you say about WW. Can you explain why they say stick to 18 points for the first week and then go up? My WW leader, atlhough pleasant and now thin, is not inspiring in her level of knowledge. What would happen if you stuck to 18 points?

Viv, thanks for your comments. I loved the pile of bricks - that must have made you feel very proud of yourself. I'm trying to visualise the 6 packets of butter I have lost this week. What I think I need is a fridge sticker set of butter packs to use to show how much weight I'm losing! Any fridge magnet makers out there?

Copper, I assumed that the 18 points in the first week was motivational - if you see some immediate success you're more likely to carry on.

7lb off in 2.5 weeks on my mad no carb no sugar diet - hurrah. Only another stone to go! I went out and bought the atkins diet book today, as I think this is kind of what I've been doing and think I should take some proper advice before all my muscle tissue wastes away or something!

Went for second WW weigh in this morning. I lost 3lb this week making 7.5lb in 2 weeks. I got my first silver tick, the first of many I hope.

Feeling motivated, massive salad and half a low fat pizza pocket from Tesco. R

Copper - they say that you need to eat 20 points (or the equivalent depending on your weight) to keep the metabolism going - ie the body needs 'fuel' to keep going. If you go too much below for a length of time, the body thinks it is being starved, and slows the metabolism right down to conserve energy. You need the metabolism to keep going to burn off the fat.

Does this make sense?

Rhiannon - Well done, here's to as many more silver 7s as you want. Boo hoo, only 1/2 off this week. The woman saw my disappointment (I have been a WW saint, even when eating out!) and put it down to the time of the month. Watch this space for next Tuesday.

I discovered a great baked potato topping - a big spoonful of no fat natural yoghurt, good pinch of curry powder, cooked chicken (no skin) and a few raisins, hey presto coronation chicken.

Keep posting, all motivation needed and appreciated.

Well done Rhiannon - I am desperately low on motivation - and 7 year olds party at Pizza express didn't help - although the party was a great success and to be recommended.
Sniksnak -if you follow your 50% veg, 10% carbs, 20% protein, what are you supposed to eat for the other 20%? Butter on your baked spud?!!! And now you've admitted to knowing something baout this getting fit lark, is it better to do weights followed by CV work, or the other way around? Ta.

salalex, I recently read in the WW magazine something that is helping me to keep going. In one of the interviews the slimmer said something like, 'you are the only one in control of your body, what you put into it and you are responsible for what you look like'. 'It is one of the few things in life that no one else has got any control over'. R

Weight watchers fans - does it realy make a difference to your motivation to attend WW as opposed to going it alone?
Rhiannon are you finding it difficult or not?
Thanks

Can someone explain?
I have changed my name for this one.
Copper wrote "handsome is as handsome does" . I have never understood what this saying means.Perhaps someone could enlighten me, ta very much

Jasper, Ive found it REALLY makes a difference to doing it alone. I wouldnt have stuck with the diet otherwise.

It motivates you, gives you ideas, picks you up when you want to give up, keeps you focussed and gets you weighed same time same place, week after week.

You get recipe ideas, hear inspiring stories from people who've lost tons of weight, and realise that your weight loss is an achievable goal.

Ive done it three times now, before wedding and after both boys. I've recently lost 2 stone and am on maintenance now which really helps keep you on track after you've done all the hard work.

I recently bought a pair of M&S size 10 jeans, which is unbelievable seeing as I lived in a size 16 for so long.

So. yep - I'm a big WW fan!

Jasper - I agree with Ems, I went to WW years ago & lost two stone, however, stopped going to the meetings & put it all back on again. Went back last summer after birth of DS, lost 20lb sensibly & in a reasonable time frame - stopped going, & here I am 20lbs (& more) back on !!

Of course it is all common sense, and everyone know how to lose weight - eat less, exercise more - but somehow it really does help to have the motivation of the 'teacher' & other members.

PS: Never believe anyone who says the weight drops off when you stop breast feeding!

Hi Jasper, yes I find having a Wed morning goal every week is good for me (that's when the class is). I have to keep incredibly busy to stop myself from eating and often find myself in bed really early with magazines as I know I won't get out again to go down to the fridge. Go for it! R

Thicko - ha, having written it I couldn't actually explain it! So I looked it up and handsome has at least two meanings. The only one still current is good-looking, but it also used to mean "Of conduct, etc.: Fitting, seemly, becoming; courteous, gracious, polite". So I suppose it means that someone is only good-looking if they are also good-behaved. Someone said it was a proverb beloved by ugly women!

AliH - Thanks for the information on eating up to the number of points allowed - I'll have an excuse if I haven't lost much this week. To think I could have had that cake after all ...

Weight watchers question.
WW literature says a breastfeeding mum weighing between 11 and 12 stone (I know one quite well )needs 28 points a day to lose weight. It does not take a genius to work out that a point is about 100 calories so this means our hypothetical overweight breastfeeder would be eating about 2800 cals a day. Surely she would not lose weight on this? Wouldn't about 1600 be more realistic?

Jasper, I went to WW after my 2nd was born. She was 9 weeks old when I started. I was breastfeeding her solely and had 28 points a day. I lost about 17 lbs. You need all those extra cals obviously - I don't think that 1 point = 100 cals though. One slice of ordinary bread is about 70 - and a small banana about the same? I'm not sure. Anyway, worked for me. Shame I put it all back on!

Thanks Salalex. How long did it take you to lose 17 pounds?
I have just read this months ww magazine and am more confused than ever about the points system.Seems points mean different hings calorie wise in different foods/recipies.
On p84 there are recipes each with 5 points per serving and the calorific values vary between 175 and 470 - and these both are valued at 5 points!
Someone please explain!

Can't remember how long it took me - will check my stuff at home later. If you are doing WW I;d forget all about calories. Use the points finder thing and just stick to that. I have not managed to work out how they do it but it seems to work. I think it is all based on the saturated fat thing so the more saturated fat the product has, the more points it is E.G. creamed coconut 100g = 23 points! Apologies if I missed it in an earlier posting -are you going to WW or thinking of? Must do some work!!