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 have just stopped having breakfast again to see if it helps. I haven't eaten breakfast for years, my stomach never seemed to cope with it well (and I never had a weight problem) but recently I have been having toast in the mornings and I'm sure that's made things worse again.

Of course it probably doesn't help that it's toast! Hard to get decent cereal here in Oz though - I miss my Oatibix! (don't do wheat or corn - and even rice krispies seem to have wheat in them and I can't stomach porridge early in the day)

Maybe I just need to go on an attitude adjustment course first!

This is a bit sobering - I'm only about 4 lbs over what I was before I got pregnant, althought my belly does seem more wobbly not too worried and don't consider myself overweight at all (5'8 and a size 12) - but my waist is 32 inches so I am obviously deluding myself as I'm officialy 'at risk'. I think it's going to fall to exercise as I eat pretty healthily.

Muffintop - you asked about standard portion sizes, didn't see if anyone had replied (could have missed it) but when I lost a fair amount of weight a few years ago I did it through an online site where you log what you eat and what exercise you have done, and it gives you all the standard portions there (i.e. nowhere near as much as you would expect!). I think it's about 50g rice, 70g pasta, 35g cereal.

Valuable lesson I learned was my eyes are definitely bigger than my stomach and I would be satfisfied after eating a much smaller portion. Also, great bonus was you can eat what you want and balance it out by either eating less the next day or doing some exercise (an hours walk burns about the same calories as a chocolate bar). But it really encourages you to make healthy choices and plan your meals for the day. I lost 2 stone in a year, but wasn't hugely overweight to start.

Unsure if I can post a link here but if you want to the know the site contact me - they do a free trial.

Oh I really need to lose it round my waist, it's that huge bulge above my tummy button as well as below that's so depressing. As one of my friends says 'I don't mind having one stomach but two is too many'
Problem is I'm a real all or nothing girl, either bingeing or on strict diet and at the moment I can't seem to get my head into strict diet mode. Any suggestions?!

ADuck, I am the same - all or nothing. Kept starting a diet again every day or every week, and falling at the first fence.

What got me into the right frame of mind was 1) my sister's wedding in 5 weeks and 2) a friend saying 'you could easily lose a stone in that time'.

And then I just did one day. And felt so incredibly pleased with myself, I did another. (Completely fucked it over the weekend, but we were in Disneyland so not much choice!) Back on track again, and after a day or two it feels easier.

Oh, and the fat jeans. Bought fat jeans, now am determined never, ever to wear them again.

Good luck, everyone!

Right, I am starting today. My plan is to eat more healthily, eat less, and move more. The classic approach .

I am going to keep a food diary and I'll write what I ate and drank and at what time. Hopefully this will allow me to see more clearly what my weak spots are.

I'm starting a dance class this evening, which will be running for the next 12 weeks. I've never done any type of dance before but I'm really looking forward to it.

Good luck to everyone else.

Thanks for starting the thread MuffinToptheMule. I'd like to join in.

I'm going to keep a food diary, too. That'll show me what is really going on and will highlight odd biccies, glasses of wine etc.

For exercise, I walk the dog and go swimming. I'm not working atm so I am lucky to have time to do both regularly.

I recently weighed myself in Boots and I need to lose 5.5 kg.

Good luck to all.

Just finished a bigish piece of steak topped with a fried egg and grated parmesan. Finding no carbs really tough going, and just hungry hungry hungry, as I normally live on carbs only
This is day 2.5ish and I'm already feeling less bloated and lighter.
How are you all doing?

I am craving chocolate, biscuits, sweets etc

The no carbs people - do you have enough energy? Any headaches? Have you cut caffeine and sugar as well?

I only asked because I tried the Atkins a few years ago and gave up on day 4 after it brought on a blinding migraine. Did drop a few pounds though....

My dh is away this week, and I have lost 2lbs so far- why?
Because I'm eating a huge salad at lunchtime, and just a bowl of cereal about 6pm. Nothing after that. And no wine.
I've been running each night (just for half an hour) and feel so much better.
I am 6 feet tall and weigh about 11 and a half stone- all round middle. I'm in the menopause, and have noticed my thighs and bottom get bigger since last year. I'm determined not to be like my mum at my age- both in a physical and a mental way.
So wine and chocolate at the weekends and keeping busy- that's what I'll be doing!
Good luck everyone.

Sorry to hear that Riven Hopefully the pounds will drop off tomorrow?!!

If it doesn't work, I think the Lo GI Diet is v sensible and sustainable.

here

Not at all Riven- when I say salad, it's got avocado, chicken, new potatoes...(and dressing) and I have cereal for breakfast.
Tomorrow I will have some fish.

I see David Cameron was struck by an egg- not one of yours Riven?

Just a word from the WeightWatchers camp, which I am doing rather than low carb. I'm only on day 4 or so and it's hard because I am missing all that chocolate I was stuffing down ...

BUT I am eating a lot more healthily, purely because salad, vegetables and fruit have very few or no points at all. And when I get hungry, I eat WW toast and marmite, which is incredibly satisfying. (Have pasta for supper, too!) So if you're struggling with no/low carb, you might want to think about doing it a different way (and I promise, I am not sponsored by WW ).

I did a low carb/Atkins-y diet a few years ago and got crucifying headaches and felt very weak. I'm afraid I caved in before the increased energy levels kicked in.

Anyway, do shut up CJ. Hope you're all doing ok.

Riven, do you eat fish? I eat loads of prawns, crayfish tails and the cheapy smoked salmon bits. And you're allowed nuts, aren't you? They're virtually forbidden on WW. But if I could have them freely, I'd be stuffing down toasted pine nuts!

What about kippers?

Must leave thread before I get tempted by the low carb diet ...

I'll keep an eye on this thread too if that's ok. DD just turned one last week and altho' I'm back to my pre-preg weight, it's still a stone over what I was when I got married - 6 months later when I got pg with DS I was a stone heavier - contentment . Have been at WW for the last 6 months and only lost 9lbs - keep losing, gaining, losing, gaining! but am still BF DD, which still makes me ravenous.
Muffintop, my sis has just got some rosemary conley measuring spoons, which I think are for measuring pasta, rice etc. (I think they would work for cooked stuff too, so if you're cooking for the family, you can portion your own out after cooking IYKWIM)

Sadly, this time my weight is above my waist, where I've never really had it before - I know it's down to all the choc I'm eating.

I always get confused with the 'waist measuring more than 31.5 inches' thing. I'm 5'9" and a size 12. If I put on any weight it tends to go around my middle (which I hate!) but no matter how I much I try and can never get my waist measurement any lower than about 32" (my hips and bust are about 41 - 42"). Does this class me at risk then? Does it make a difference with regards to your bone structure and how tall you are? If I get any thinner it makes my face look haggard. I just can't win!