Muffin Tops

[MuffinToptheMule]

I've just read this article on the BBC News website. I was aware that being overweight, (especially if you carry it around your middle) is very bad for your health but this has really brought it home to me.

I think I need to change my lifestyle, get rid of the muffin top and then I'll change my Mumsnet name.

Does anyone else want to join me?

I completely agree, it does require a lifestyle change. If I went back to eating like I used to then it would all go back on again. I am using it really to kick start a regime of eating smaller portions and better carbs. In reality, whichever 'diet' you follow, once you go back to the cakes and biscuits again the weight will come back (unless you are doing enough exercise to compensate of course). I agree it won't suit everyone, I am finding the rapid weight loss very encouraging though.

I think I would find it encouraging too Marion but also pretty depressing because I would lose weight and then put some back on.

I also really can't do the cutting out food groups. As soon as I cut out a food group or a certain food I end up eating double the amount of it.

I struggle more if I am generally 'cutting back' because I feel like I am not allowed anything to snack on, then I tend to break. At least this way I can have a lump of cheese or a pepperami!

Very true. I think I am going to struggle either way. However, I am determined to do something because it really does feel like I'm wearing a fat suit!

Hello - can I join too?

I'm another one who's trying to do the sensible lifestyle change rather than (the oh-so-tempting) crash & burn approach
My rules are:

• no snacks except fruit & veg
• booze only at weekends
• one small treat a day (in theory so I don't get grumpy and feel I'm totally loosing out) It's also helping me look at a biscuit at 10am and think "Do i really want to trade in my treat now??"
• no eating up what's left on the kids plates
• smaller portion sizes (esp carbs), keeping up the exercise (I run twice a week, which probably isn't enough...) and cutting down on meat (aiming for at least 2/3 meat free days a week)

Thanks for wishing me luck Headfairy . I know what you mean about stopping smoking having an effect on weight. For the past 5 years I've been telling myself that I can't give up until I've lost the excess weight, but I'm getting fatter every year so HAVE to do something about both weight and smoking this year. I'm a prime candidate for heart disease/stroke as I am. Being a fat smoker makes me feel like shit as well.

Smokers - if it's any consolation, I stopped smoking a month ago and ate like an elephant. But it's only a month and now I feel calm again and able to tackle the weight issue. I reckon it's worth it to have given up the fags, and because I feel better (smug non-smoker halo ) I want to look nicer too, if you see what I mean.

I don't think fast-acting diets are for me, tempting as they are. Slow and steady - boring as it is - has always been the most effective.

Finishing off the kids' leftovers - nightmare! I try to make myself a salad to eat (0 points or calories) while they're stuffing down their pasta, so at least my mouth has something to occupy it ...

Oh well done CJC. Did you use NRT or Champix, or did you go cold turkey?

I'm quite prepared to gain a bit of weight but don't want to increase my waist size after reading the linked to article. I'm not one for dieting really so will just try to make better choices than I am at the moment...most of the time anyway.

Please may I join as well. My many efforts to lose my muffin top have failed, owing largely to my ravenous appetite, love of chocolate and lack of time. I walk everywhere and run a few times a week so goodness but not enough to keep my waistline from expanding. I have wondered about weight watchers because I like their balanced approach to eating. Does anyone know whether you can print off menus to get you started?

I never really thought about it, until they wrote I have a BMI of 26.5 on my maternity record, I'm not sure what that means but I know it's above avarage.

I'm probably fatter now, I'm 39 weeks pregnant and eat chocolate and cake daily because I don't care right now (normally I eat lots of stir-fry, soup and mainly fish.

Reformedcharacter (love the name) - I went cold turkey. It was really hard for the first few days, then got a lot easier. Now I don't think about it. And I was an addict.

Yes, I ate a lot to compensate. But it was only once or twice a day - I'd suddenly feel this insane compulsion to stuff my face with sugar and carbs - and now that has gone too. I really do think it was worth it - probably put on half a stone, if not more, but now I'm going to lose it. Oh yes.

I really do feel a hundred times better, and ready to face a diet so that I can be thin again!

I already know that muffin tops are bad and I know what I have to do and I just can't get to grips with it - I have a supposedly healthy BMI (just shows what shit BMIs are) but my waist to hip ratio is bad - and I am carrying over a stone too much with it all on my stomach.

Problems = lack of exercise, too much wine and chocolate. Trouble is, am not in a good state to be giving up wine and chocolate; and have trouble exercising (bad back). DH always overdoes portion sizes too - I keep telling him not to give me so much but it doesn't seem to get through to him

Gotta be done soon though...

.

Dukan That's what I've started. Need to lose the baby weight.
V. hard as I love sugar and bread. I'm allowing myself a small bowl of cereal to help me through the day as well as salad/greens.

can I join?

CJC Respect! I'm using patches this time around - just cannot bear the 3 day hell period you get with cold turkey. I've become a housework machine because I can't sleep properly and am up half the night. I think it's the patches, but I'm scared to take them off at night in case I wake up craving. Must be using up loads of calories with all this vacuuming and polishing though!

Low GI diet is v good, and useful in educating about portion size.

Weight/circuit training as well as walking and running. More muscle means you burn more calories.

Marion Cole

Can I ask - is the India and Neris diet suitable for veggies? Am quite interested by it.

Thanks

I usually use a handful as a portion size... when I'm cooking rice I will only cook what I can comfortably hold in my cupped hand. And not overflowing either, that's cheating! And wholegrain rice is much better.

I do miss potatoes but I saw something on Come Dine With me that I'm going to try, sautee an onion in a drop of olive oil, add a chopped clove of garlic (or three if you're a garlic fiend like me) then add a tin of butter beans or canellini beans, a quarter pint of water or some stock if you have it, a squeeze of lemon juice and some herbs if you have any, basil leaves if you have any. Simmer for a few mins until most of the liquid is gone, then puree. Apparently it's a really good substitute for mashed potato, and are much lower carb/GI.

It is suitable for veggies but I think your diet might be quite limited for the first phase. I think you would be eating a lot of cheese to get your protein! And eggs, if you eat eggs. You are encouraged to eat at least 3 large portions of green leafy veg every day. Lentils and pulses are out to begin with.

OK thanks. I have ordered the book anyway, so I'll give it a go!

Thumbwitch, you sound like my twin, except for the wine.