Maintaining weight & cheaters confessional

[EvaTheOptimist]

Thanks to BIWI's bootcamp I've lost loads of weight. I'm determined not to put it all back on. So I am now consciously trying to maintain my new weight.

I finished the last bootcamp on 150.8lb. My aim is to stay below 11 stone (154lb). Since bootcamp I have weighed between 149lb and 151.6lb. I think this roughly counts as maintaining!

My plan or experiment is to see whether basically eating bootcamp style, but with 3-4 off-piste moments per week (eg chocolate, toast, special treat meal etc) will do the trick of maintaining.

Post here to share your experience of maintaining the low carb way.

Also feel free to confess any cheating here, offload and wail in a safe space!!

Hello all on the "other thread"

Found this and thought of you, as you generally seem to all be in for the long haul and would be interested in the effects of this woe.
The low-carbohydrate diet and cardiovascular risk factors: evidence from epidemiologic studies.

will also post next door

Pleaseandthankyou I looked into a tummy tuck and it looks flipping awful. I am trying to do something about my tummy even considered having another baby gawd help me but I also accept that it may never go away. It's really annoying me at the minute because if you had told me this time last year that I would lose 33 lb but still have a flabby tummy I would not have believed you. Since finishing the shred I have noticed the top of my abs starting to show very faintly if you turn in just the right direction in a good light but I took a photo of my lower abdomen yesterday and scared myself so much I had to delete it. I think it's natural to obsess about bits of our body we don't like. Injust can't believe how long I worried about having knobbly knees and a boring nose when I was a teenager.

Thanks pisses that's really interesting and does help to reaffirm what we are up to .

minny hurrah for the auditors leaving - you must be knackered , it's so tense the while time . And at the thought of your rampant rabbit going feral in the bottom if the wardrobe !!

stunt how long ago was your last pregnancy ? I despairs of mine and thought that at 41 when u had DD3 it was hopeless and it would never be anything near 'bikini ready' - but 4 years on and from building up my abs and dropping fat % it dies look a lot better BUT not when I am leaning forward ..,. Then it looks like a wrinkley crepe sack ... Yuck . So ... I just don't lean forward naked unless the lights are OUT !

English is actually my first language .... My phone seems to prefer pigeon English ! Sorry all

And at the control undies minny

a boring nose .... I've got a blobular nose

I am bloody lucky with my tummy. I do have a slightly odd bit on the left lower ab that has a tendency to overhang slightly. I'm sure it is where twin one's head was wedged for the last three months of pregnancy, but other than that, it's alright, bar a few stretch marks - weirdly from the first singleton pregnancy... got none from twins...

My face, however is an entirely different matter. I have very seriously looked into eye bag removal. Apparently it's under a grand, and when I get to my target weight, I am having it done. End of. My friend had a tummy tuck. She's in magnificent shape otherwise, and extremely fit and muscly. The scar is hip to hip. Great in clothes, or bikini, but quite something if nudie.... Skin is amazing amazing healer, it might take a while, but it's really good at shrivelling back in, especially with pressure garments and time. I am pissing myself at the tweeting daughter removing controlwear notso

Hiya pisses good to see you - I will look at that link! (I have had two bloody glasses of red wine this evening... we shall see what the scales make of that tomorrow)

eva I am clinging to what you've said... I reckon it makes good sense. I know exactly when I creep off piste as well, so reigning that in is always a good start. And considering in January I weighed 18 stone, and today I weigh 16 st 5 lbs, that's ok by me! I just need to keep on at it.

Went clothes shopping in fucking asdas today. (I know I know) but bought size 16 dress and it fits!

Oh and one of my bloody clients dogs bit my fucking finger today! Properly chomped on the nail and left a divvit when I told him off for trying to break into the boot of the car. I was so cross, and when I spoke to the client, she was mortified, but then went on to tell me that he's been doing it to them! The dog is a staffiexlurcher.... extremely powerful breed, a rescue, underwalked, and now showing signs of aggression oh, plus a huge set of knackers. I have him tomorrow, but said I'll be muzzling him until further notice....

Cripes!

Notso I am picturing you in that changing room with tears of laughter in my eyes. They have got new stretchy fabric - goes on no bother. I am at the age where I would never have a tummy tuck - a face lift would be first on the list ( I'm joking.....) the problem is having a big bum means less wrinkles. Lose weight and the wrinkles appear very quickly

My internet has been broke all day!!

Did you miss me?! Finally fixed, don't know what was wrong and since I had no internet and I don't really watch the tv I decided to epilate my legs. Why the hell did I do that?! Its torture and my legs still feel spiky.

crabby no not me, that is my friends wee boy when he was about 6/7, he is 15 now! April lives with them and sometimes he still rides her . If everyone isn't fed up of pony pictures I will post one of me on a horse soon.

My friend has a house rabbit and he has never chewed anything he is not supposed to. He is a lovely affectionate rabbit, I would never have thought a rabbit could be like that.

minny I've also got stuck like that, luckily in the privacy of my own home rather than changing room

Woohoo on the dress trash you have a really lovey shape but you promised us pictures a while back...where are they? I think I am due to take another photo (not posting any here until I have a "before" and "during"..."after" is a while away)

Got some very nice news at work today Last year we had a professor from Brazil come and work with us for a year and a bit and when he left he invited some of us to visit him in Brazil. My colleague and I had started to arrange it all then the bosses discovered that we had no budget Today the Brazilian prof emailed to say he has got money to pay our internal flights, hotel and food if we can cover flights to and from Brazil Boss okayed it so we are off to Brazil in October/November for a couple of weeks to do some lectures, lab work and to visit some farms (and have a weeks holiday, OH will be able to come with me too).

Peony DS3 is 18 months and has only just started sleeping through the night... occasionally.

Asda clothes are brilliant Trash, I got a nice summery t-shirt in there for £4, the same type of t-shirt would cost £15 in Gap. If you're losing weight there's no point paying a lot for clothes when you'll be shrinking out of them soon. I only got stretch marks on my first pregnancy too Trash, which was quite a relief. I got some Estée Lauder Night Repair Gel that's good for the under-eye area. And back to books, have you ever read Julian May's Saga of the Exiles? It's a strange fantasy-sci-fi crossover but very good and character-driven.

Right I have been brave enough to take photos of my tummy and not delete them this time! Will I post them here or will it scare off random visitors?

Minny I'm laughing at evil tweeting DD broadcasting you being stuck in an all-in-one

Stunt - knobbly knees! My knees are now the knobbliest they've ever been and it makes me very proud! As my knee bones seem to be large the choice is only knobbly knees or enormous knees.

Trash more than 1 and a half stone off since January is blinking amazing. And very exciting to be in a size 16 dress. Whoo hoo!!

Sounds bad about the dog - like he's warming up to get even more aggressive?

Sayra exciting news about Brazil! And great that you can combine it with a holiday with OH.

Peony hope you are at least half-way out of the fort...

Pisses thanks for the link - I wonder if that would be enough to convince my mum this isn't a dangerous way of eating. I wish the text had highlighted the "high-fat" a bit more - that's the part she worries about.

stunt get your tum in here - I bet it's nowhere need as bad as you think and 18 months is not long ..... At a tangent - how do you find time to read with a little one ?

eva knobbly knees sound perfect ! My 'skinny part ' is my neck .... I am going scarves

Brave dog that bites you trashy - you are going to be invaluable when we get Peony Pup in 16 sleeps time ... this dog is going to be loved to death and spoilt rotten

pleased - oh yes - facelift for me too if I win the lottery......

sayra time to start practicing the salsa ?

Ps .... I got home at a normal time and am getting back to some sort of normality ...... No more sofa fort

The awful squishy tum, clothed (looks rather good) and unclothed (makes grown men weep!)

Its quite quiet on here just now!

Stunt I think you might be exaggerating I do see what you mean though about it looking amazing in clothes (I think a lot of people are like that, I know I've been surprised when I've seen some of the slim woman at work undressed) but you have had children (3?) and obviously that makes an impact on your body. I know that you said (I think on another thread) that you are now concentrating on trying to lower your body fat %age to help. I think that you need to keep this photo then in a couple of months time take another one and compare them. You've done the thread, would any of JMs other DVDs be of help do you think, I think I've got "ripped in 30" , "6 week 6 pack" and another one....none of them will help me unless I actually do them!

peony we've got a (gorgeous) Brazilian woman working with us just now, she is incredible and so sexy when she dances, she took us to a Brazilian place where they do Salsa in the rooms below the restaurant. She went off and danced, we went down, had a look and decided that there was far to much body contact going on and there was no way we could move like that so went back to the bar and drank our watermelon martinis instead

We had the funniest night at pole last night, one of my friends will be heading back home in a few weeks when she finishes her masters so she wanted to get a few pole pictures to put at the end of her final presentation which she will give on Monday. The instructor was showing us some moves with more than one of us on the pole and straddled me while I was on the pole When I get the pictures I will post them if no one minds?

I now really want to lose weight as the two of the others were managing some really good moves that I know I am strong enough to do but at the moment I think I am too heavy to hold myself. I am thinking about maybe starting the couch to 5k program to help with overall fitness/stamina and weight loss. I know that not all of you are able to do exercise like that but if anyone wanted to be my "buddy" then that would be good as I've never been able to run and am quite nervous about starting.

Wow - a rare breather - people have stopped injuring or worse their children for 5 mins .

stunt I think the personal view is always worse than an objective/ removed one. . Your tum really does have good definition in the upper abs . The lower abs I am sure need time - mine took 3 years . But in no way is it one that 'would make men weep ' !!

sayra right ..... Your t bags are on the way again !! My PA ( get me has just sent them 'signed for' - apparently last time when I just shoved a few tea bags in a normal envelope with a first class stamp it was woefully inadequate ..... Sorry
We would love to see pole pics !
I haven't got time for running at the mo - as have to use up all exercise minutes for getting back in the saddle ( big cyclist in the past and have arranged to go cycling in Yorkshire hilly ! In only 3 weeks and haven't done any cycling for a while years

Stunt I'm sure your DH doesn't weep at the sight of your stomach but us women always get hung up on something and we're our worst enemies, don't be too tough on yourself.

Sayra you lucky thing going to Brazil. I used to work with a mad Brazilian. She met her DH when he was working there and he died suddenly when her children were toddlers but she stayed here because he was an only child and she wouldn't take them away from their grandparents. And yes to the pole pics - I'm desperate to find a class to give it a go

Trashy with your health record the dog's probably contracted some nasty disease after biting you but the owners are out of order not muzzling it themselves and letting you know its a potential risk to you and the other dogs you look after.

Doggy advice needed before Peony takes over poor Diva's dribbling is getting worse side effect of having her spayed that we weren't told about so we'll probably have to ask for medication when she has her boosters. We tried to get a water sample last year but its impossible and she did improve but since DD came home she's started again - she was either peeing in her bed while we're at work and we didn't notice or unlimited access to the garden has weakened the muscle again. We've tried herbal remedies but they were rubbish and we've stopped her going in water how can a dog refuse to walk in the rain but love splashing in murky ponds in case she was getting infections so if you've got any suggestions let me know.

Rant of the day - I was booked on a course yesterday morning and my boss was on one at the same venue so I switched to the afternoon session so I could have a mooch round the shops when it finished at 3 wrote 4 in the school diary instead of going back to work til 5. Guess who left her reading glasses that I didn't need and they emailed to say they'd drop them off today and my boss opened the message and put a copy in a folder that I didn't get to til 2pm. I've flogged myself to death this wk but still feel guilty The best is she didn't get back to school til 12.30 so I could've done the morning session with a friend, had a mooch and still been back before her.

I have read the thread and just haven't found the time to update, but I have to write this before I forget (as have had a few glasses of wine) and it made me laugh sooooo much.

I always go in to kiss DD goodnight some time after she's gone to bed, as she reads/listens to music/buggers about etc for some time. Lately, she's figured out that if she plays my favourite songs when I go in, I'm more likely to linger, sitting on the seat in front of the fish tank, watching the fish/shrimp and having a bit of a slightly drunken sing. So now she plays one of my all time favourite songs, 'Something Inside So Strong' by Labi Siffre.

Tonight, whilst this is occurring, DD says...
'Mummy, why is there a wall of genitals?'

'Say what now????'

'That's what he says... You hide behind walls of genitals'

'Ermmmm.... Oh!...

...It's 'You hide behind walls of Jericho'!'

Crabby yikes! My first thought was a load of fish were pressing themselves against the glass!

Stunt my stomach looks worse, ravaged by 2 very stretching pregnancies. I have no advice - I have just accepted mine. I know that's not very helpful. I haven't tried pilates - would that have any effect? The thing is, there's kind of nothing there is there - its not muscle or fat, just kind of destroyed scar tissue or something.

Golly Sayra you are brave to even THINK about running. Sounds like great nights out (brazilian and pole-practice)

Peony your cycling trip in Yorkshire sounds fab. I used to cycle loads when I was younger, and I've been really rubbish for years at getting it going again. I'm actually thinking of walking with my bike to the bike shop tomorrow to get its punctures fixed.

Minny it does really sound as if you have more than done your work hours, can you find a way to guilt-freely switch off and enjoy a relaxed weekend? I am really bad at this, way too many weekends of my life, but not this weekend....

I've had a head start on the weekend - I'd done enough hours and enough tasks to take all of today off. My schedule was that of a real "lady of leisure" - Yoga, A long lunch in a sunny cafe garden with a friend, Taking the kids swimming at an outdoor pool straight after school, Getting home to find DH had made dinner and it was all ready. Ahhhh Quality of life. would it be like this every day if I was rich?!

Also for the record this morning I was 150.4lb, masterfully maintaining

Evening homies

sayra I missed you! Did you not see my nekkid selfies upthread? Plus my angry faces? I am of course, happy to post more of me poncing about in some asda clothing. I have gotten rid of my flowery bra as it is too small! Woo hoo about off to Brazil. That's so fucking exciting! I have friends in Sau Paulo, and would love to go. Just watching it on the telly box makes me feel all wibbley, and wanderlusty.

Stunt You have just managed to make me feel better about my cunting clothing woman! Now, having studied your belly parts intensively (and yes it is always ok, imo, to post copius naked pics) I have the following pronouncements to make. I am first and foremost, well jel of your fantastically sexy waist shape. I'd kill for those lines. Second - the wibbly bit. I must remind you, that at 18 month post birth, you are nowhere near finished fixing, skinwise. I had a friend who honest to goodness, looked like she had a giant savoy cabbage leaf for a lower ab when her dd was 18 months. She had no weight issue, and was deterined to have a tuck. A few years on, and the difference is phenomenal. Our skin is amazing stuff, especially when we're nourishing it so well. I have no bones about plastic surgery - and like I say, am defo getting my bags done, but I honestly would hang fire on any decision making for at least another couple of years, you pale and interesting beauty, you!

eva thank you! You are such a bloody ray of light, you definitely suit your nickname

peony I'm skittering with excitement for you. Puppy land here you come! You do know it's nearly like having another baby? except you can still get drunk whilst caring for them, plus go out and lock them in cages

notso I have never hear of that before either. I know it can happen to women after a hysterectomy. If it was my dog, I would want it sorting out. There is a vet on mumsnet... Lonecat is her name I think. Poor you and poor diva!

crabby That dd of yours is very excellent.

That bastard dog what bit e has had his utter come uppance today Off for the bollocky chop chop. Snigger snigger. I took him out yesterday, but I muzzled him as soon as I arrived, and he was still pleased to see me. I didn't have the other 'trigger' dog that he was desperate to try and fuck (male, and castrated ) with me either, so it was a smooth run. Phew.

Had an excellent couple of food and water days. Made courgetti, but deep fried in beef dripping. Aaaaaargh, drool. With pork ribs.

Dp is taking the piss out of me for mning. Off to seriously menace him now!

peony I will let you know when I get them I am not at home this weekend but will be back on Monday. My whole family cycle, I am not a fan of cycling, it hurts my bum!

eva at the moment thinking is all I am doing! I don't know the thought of running makes me more nervous than the thought of pole-ing! Hope you enjoyed your day off yesterday and well done on the maintaining.

trashy I looked back and realised that I had seen nakedness (I think I was on my phone at the time and can't enlarge pictures) and you can really see a difference now. Is that the bra you've had to chuck out? I have also been to Asda and got a pair of size 16 cropped trousers

minny whereabouts are you, I know people who do pole all over the place so I might be able to recommend a class (or not )

Here are some more pictures.

Hello everyone! Doing it tough here today. Have cheated

Trash size 16 trousers! You wonder woman you! Well deserved.

Stunt, weight loss is very hard in terms of loose skin. I do think skin can improve hugely. Drink lots of bone broth and massage copiously with coconut oil and keep drinking water and you might well see some great improvements. Personally I'm aiming for a lower body lift in a few months time. I have lost too much weight for loose skin not to be an issue. I am v scared and it is going to massively eat into my savings but for me it will be worth it. I have already had my arms done as they were just horrendous. It was painful, I have scarring but I am grateful everyday they were done. They look like normal arms in clothes, the skin before was just so uncomfortable and made me feel so bad about myself. You have to live in your body at the end of the day.

Oh and crabby I should definitely forget the boyfriend and stick to a dog. If I get any better, will be doing just that. Men are far too much trouble. most of the ones I meet just want to pee on me anyway.

Sayra, wow at those pictures