Diet starts tomorrow honestly.....any one want to join me?

[breeze]

Since this year started I have been dieting really half-heartedly. I desperately want to lose the stone that I put on while I was down with my PND. No more excuses I am definately going to start tomorrow. I am sure I could lose the weight easily if I just cut out the things that I pick on between meals. I will have a proper breakfast rather than a handful of biscuits and will not pick on leftovers from DS dinner/lunch. Anyone else fed up of not trying hard enough on their diets and care to join me.

3 pounds this week - mainly due to stress as ds has had terrible diaorrea and vomiting!

Hope for same progress under different but challenging Easter conditions next week

Happy Easter all

Started doing Atkins diet a week ago as bored stiff with WW and not sticking to it. Anyway, so far have lost 5 1/2 lbs in a week. Probably because, for the diet to work, you have to stick to it like a limpet - there is no half way house. So no nibbling at ds' left over pizza or helping myself to a Jammie Dodger. Anyway, am delighted and going to try to stick to it for as long as possibly until holiday.

Hi Willow2,how are you finding the atkins diet...I thought about going on it myself,im so fed up with WW.What kind of things do you eat,i could do with finding out more about it.I need to lose 1 stone to get to my goal.Im finding it so difficult,Ive also heard the Atkins diet can make you feel ill,what do you think...

Much better this week: down to 11st 2lb - lost 3lb last week. That even includes having had loads of bubbly yesterday (we had had some friends and family around for a Great Easter Egg Hunt for ds, followed by a full American style brunch for the adults) and a few mini eggs!

I prepared so much food - American pancakes with maple syrup and bacon, orange muffins, banana muffins, welsh rarebit muffins (very yummy!) (from Nigella's books), kedgeree, three types of melon, strawberries, (dh did the bucks fizz, the bacon and the sausages) - that by the time we were ready for brunch, I was no longer hungry!

Now I just need to be sure not to help ds with his multitude of eggs!

saphire5 - If you go to www.atkinscentre.com (or something like that) you can find all the information on the first phase - induction. If anything, there is more info on the web site than in the bloody boring book.

Essentially though, in this induction phase you can eat as much fish, meat and eggs as you want along with butter and oil - plus 3oz cheese a day and a set amount of certain salad vegetables and other vegetables. The idea being that you eat under 20g of carbs a day - which come mainly from the veg - so that after a few days your body has to start burning stored fat for energy. Oh yes, and you are not allowed caffeine or sugar.

Does it work? Well it seems to be, and the BBC's diet trials said it was the best diet for fast weight loss. My dh has also lost 7lb and counting.

You do have to think about different ways of eating the food you are allowed - otherwise you'll go mad with boredom. There is only so many times you can have eggs and bacon for breakfast - with no toast or ketchup - and not feel sick. To be honest I find breakfast the hardest meal - I'd just rather have a bowl of cornflakes!

And yes, it can make you feel a bit odd. I seemed to veer between unlimited energy and exhaustion in the first few days - but feel ok now. One tip is to neck a handful of macadamia nuts if you are feeling really rubbish. That definitely made a difference for me. And you must take vitamins too.

Which makes it sound like a truly dreadful way to shift weight - but it's just the first two weeks that are so draconian, then you can slowly add back various different foods and up your carb intake.

Have to say it helps that I have a holiday that I am working towards. It isn't the easiest diet, in as much as I would rather eat a bit of everything in moderation.... problem is what is moderation to me might not quite fit the dictionary definition of the word! But strangely, the fact that it is so limited also works in its advantage. Because it takes several days for your body to change over from burning carbs to burning fat for energy, I've not given in to any cravings for fear that it will tip me back! Also I've found cravings definitely lessened after the first few days - so worth hanging on if you can.

Phew - hope haven't bored you silly!

Well, I put a lb back on this week Not surprising really as I had a few down days, and stuffed loads of chocolate. Anyway, now the Easter break is over, I am torn between carrying on the diet (I still have two stone to lose) or going back to eating like a pig. I know that I 'should' go back on the diet, but am not really in the mood.

I WILL though, as I don't want to be a size 14 or bigger all my life. I have so many lovely clothes in size 10, and I do want to get back in them.

After alot of deliberating, I have finally joined WeightWatchers online. Does anyone else do WW online and if so what do they think.

Chiccadum I go to the ww classes but there is a story in this month's mag about a woman who did it from home and lost about 8 stone!

Willow2 Thanx for the info,i think im going to give it a go TOMORROW,i feel really fat and sluggish especially after eating so much of the kiddies easter eggs.You have definatly given me some incentive.Well here goes.... i will keep you posted ,let you know how im coping,might even see if dh will try it to.

I may be wrong, but I think it was Jasper who said in an earlier thread that you had to make the decision to either:

Be obsessed with food and be thin, or be obsessed with food and be fat.

It really struck a chord with me, and I strive to achieve the first bit.

Mind you, with a houseful of Easter eggs, it's going to be a struggle

Chiccadum I joined WW online yesterday. Its a bit confusing at first isn't it? I'm already -1 in the bank, mainly because I knew I was having pizza for tea and so wanted to start today but it wouldn't let me I had to start it yesterday and by that time I had already had two chocolate bars. Never mind I worked out last night so it gave me an extra 3 points and I'll work out tonight as well after having walked to and from work so I'll have bonus points today as well. Seems it will be fairly straightforward when we've got the hang of it. Good luck.
I did well last week I managed to lose a pound despite going to France and not eating brilliantly and drinking far too much wine. It must have been all the aerobics I did at the beginning of the week.

So Breeze, How much have you lost in total?. I know how you can not resist the choccies.

Yes fms, it was me - I was quoting something my weightwatcher leader said but actually you put it far better.

It really struck a chord with me too. I have been obsessed with food for as long as I can remember! Not all in a bad way - I love cooking, which is a lovely obsession to have.

However I am MUCH happier being obsessed at nine stones than I was at nearly twelve a year ago.

Well, I actually managed to stick to 1500 calories today, and still fit a Creme Egg in. So that can't be bad can it! I am full and glowing with self-satisfied smugness. Let's just see how tomorrow goes shall we

Jasper - so glad it was you!

Tell me, as one who has reached their goal, to one who's about 2.5lbs away from hers.....

Just HOW do you keep the weight off??

I'm almost scared of reaching my goal. I feel as if I'll steadily slide back into my old ways. I've already moved my goal once from 21lb to 26lb, and that leaves me with only 2lb to my lowest possible weight for my height according to WW.

I'd also like to know why, oh why am I nowhere near looking like Kate Moss despite having lost so much weight??!!

fms - if I may interrupt your question to Jasper? When you reach your target weight, increase your calories by 200 a day each week. e.g. If you are having 1500 now, have 1700 the first week, then 1900 the second etc etc, until you stay the same weight one week. Then stay at that calorie level to maintain.

Your body fat continues spreading itself out for a year after you reach your ideal weight. So try not to panic if you think that your hips are still big, but your shoulders look boney (for example!) It will sort itself out if you stay at target weight for a year.

fms, Chinchilla has explained the sensible way to do it. Alternatively, do what I did. Reach your goal just before Christmas, then eat everything in sight for four weeks and gain half a stone and take three months to lose it again.
It is not easy.
Told you I was obsessed
Seriously, it is not so hard if you don't go mad. I really have learned better eating habits and don't even feel as tempted as I used to by all the fattening stuff - most of the time that is. I can still pig out big style but it lasts for days instead of weeks now.
I know what you mean about not looking like Kate Moss, and to this end I have reluctantly taken up a little exercising.
You must be very slim if you are nearly at the lower weight range limit. I'm a good bit off that.
Have you found it difficult?

Chinchilla, sorry to butt in here on this thread, but I have been lurking around, I do Slimming World, which works for me. However our consultant said the way she has kept the weight off for 10 years is to have 5 days on, and 2 days off! ie Monday-Friday eat as is you are still on a diet and Sat-Sun eat whatever you like. And she assures us if she eats ice-cream it is the full tub!! However she is in an enviable position since there are no kids/hubby to wreak things. Therefore there are no tempting treats in the house. I do think it is sound advice, and whether it is the weekend blow outs or whatever, it is about allowing yourself to eat whatever, but occassionally, rather than slipping back to everyday

Good luck.

I have weigh in tonight and last week I had staed the same yet again (3 weeks running) so I was v.v. pissed off to say the least. However my consultant is a bit of a bully (in a nice way) and basically told me it was my choice. I found myself cheating loads, and not being able to stop, so I asked her how. She siad that I had the choice to stick with it, or to cheat, she couldn't do that for me. It made me look at myself and realsie once again I was sabotaging my chance (with just 5lbs to go!) and I just needed to get on a stick to the diet. This week I stuck to it like glue (bar 2 meals that I allowed for) and fingers crossed, but I am sure at least 2lbs will be off. I was so miffed last week as I had promised myself a pizza if I had lost weight

Is there room for a late joiner to this thread?

I'm 5'4", and yesterday morning got on the scales and weighed 13 stone 4 lb. Am creeping up towards a size 22, and really don't want to go there! Added to that I've been suffering with a problem with a trapped nerve in my neck, which my doc thinks is due to having breasts that would rival Dolly Partons!

I've tried so many diets in the past and failed due to cravings, I'm on my second day of a low-carb diet - not Atkins but the 'Stone age diet' which allows carbs at the evening meal, but only in proportion to the protein intake.

Yesterday was the easiest first day of a diet ever - I felt full, didn't crave anything and even didn't want a glass of wine when dh poured himself one! But I know it's gonna get more difficult so do you mind if I gatecrash here?

No problem Crunchie! Everyone has to try to maintain the way that suits them. I just wish that I was anywhere near maintenance! I'm so cross because I have done it before, and just put all the weight back on.

Rosiemum - of COURSE you are welcome. Ooh caveman diet - not many dinosaurs around now (Yes everyone, I DO know that dinosaurs had died out prior to man evolving!!!)

Thanks, Chinchilla and jasper for your advice and help. Interesting thing about the fat spreading itself about after you've lost weight, but still can't say that even my ankles resemble kate Moss's!

The other thing is, that I don't think I'm particularly slim being at the bottom of the WW chart for my height. I know that a lot of this is self perception, and I need to check with my leader as I'm now starting to wonder....

Has it been easy? Yes and No. It's taken me a long time to lose the weight. I joined WW last July, and reckon that I should be at goal with a month to spare - ie 11 months. I do tend to be very good during the week, and splurge a bit more at w/ends - or - I eat a sensible breakfast, low cal lunch and then whatever for supper. Dh very suspicious of anything that smacks of WW!

I'm still drinking wine, and I'm now into those WW chocolate crispy bars which keep my urge to eat ds's easter chocolate down to a minimum.

I am finally joining this thread properly - have at 3 stone to lose, since Monday I have lost 4lbs. I am doing sensible eating (have been to WW - many times!! - so know the rules) and tons more exercise, in fact am cutting down on Mumsnet to do more exercise videos whilst DS is asleep - have to admit I feel better already.

Good luck everyone.