Hello! Day One Done - anyone want to join me?

[SharkSkinThing]

Just wanted to say hello and see if any other new starters wanted to buddy up for support and advice?

I've got 3 - 4 stone to lose, all gained AFTER having my DS who is now - god help me - 5. All down to long-term sleep deprivation and sugar reliance, and forming terrible habits. And wine to help me cope with the sleep deprivation,

Anyway, hoping to finally turn things around now that he's finally sleeping (sometimes until 5.30am!). Would love to chat to others who are finding that this WOE works for them.

xx

I'm certainly not giving up wine! I'm just regulating it to the weekend.

Oh, my cousin gave me a good recipe for cod or haddock. It's a can of mushroom soup, an onion and a cup of cheddar cheese all baked in the oven for half an hour. Pretty tasty (and I think low carb)

Thanks, fit, that sounds awesome! I love all of those things.

I also love wine!

Ok, I've only done one day of this, but I noticed something rather big for me. For the past couple of years I've had major problems with bloating. I wake up looking fine, but by the end of the day I look about 6 months pregnant ( I swear). I've chalked it up to the gap in my abs just not holding things in, but last night, I was so less bloated then normal. Like incredibly so. Didn't feel uncomfortable or anything. I will see how the rest of the week goes, but I'm wondering if the bloating was caused by an intolerance to wheat.

Well, I've been well and truly off the wagon! I've still been exercising but avoiding scales it's true what they say though - you can't out-train a bad diet. I weighed in at the gym on Saturday and I've gained half a stone!

Back on it from today, my countdown tells me that I'm 177 days away from my wedding and I have 40lbs to lose

Could be! Carry on cutting it out, then after 3 weeks or so, eat some bread and see how you react. That might give you a guide? Have you also cut dairy? Might be worth looking at that too?

Great to have you on board fit! I had rapid weight loss in the 1st 10 days - which I guess was a combo of water and bloat and actual fat loss...but I really noticed a difference and found it very motivating - hope it works like that for you too.

So my weekend was actually nice after my moaning about it! Yes...I had to do all the work while dp chatted with guests..but the kids were all really good and sweer together, everyone was quite chilled out and we stayed up late chatting etc. guests bought nice breakfast to have - it was danish pastries, which I did eat...but didnt feel bad as it was very thoughtful of them, plus it was delish...!!

your course sounds ace shark. I did cultural theory as part of my BA and looked at feminist poetics and performance art (useful degree!!) I love a bit of gender theory, have you looked at Judith Butler? Probably old skool now as it was approx 10 million years ago.

I am really hoping to go back to uni next year, I have been at home with the kids for 13 years! My brain is mush!

Must do exercise. But find it v. boring. I quite fancy strength training...?! Gotta get those bingo wings in order...

Up North for rest of week on the family farm. I fear for my progress in the presence of cake. But I will try! I will commit to wandering the moors with the dog (although he is a hapless lurcher so will prob end up carrying him...the beginning of my strength training???)

Have a good week the rest of you and I look forward to catching up on my return!

Hi helena 177 days! How exciting!

Hi devoncreamtea! I'm going between bouncing off the walls with excitement and being terrified and wishing I had more time because my dress doesn't zip up!

Have you also cut dairy? Might be worth looking at that too?

About eight years ago I was having really bad gastrointestinal problems. Was actually hospitalized for the pain and vomiting. They checked everything and eventually told me it was IBS. During that time I cut out dairy, and it didn't do anything to help. Now I'm curious as to whether it was wheat (I lived on pasta and nachos back then).

I quite fancy strength training...?

I do strength training 5 days a week. Let me know if you want any advice. :) I really enjoy it. You see results so clearly, and you feel stronger every day.

fit oh that sounds awful. wheat intolerance is supposed to be quite common, it will be interesting to see if you start to feel better without it. My sister is coeliac, only found out at 32. She manages really well without and ends up accidently low carbing too, which has had a knock on effect on her weight and health. I think the low carb approaches (paleo, primal etc) are really healthful ways of eating anyway, but even more so if you can eradicate the pain and inflammation of IBS. Hope it works for you!

helena that sounds so lovely to be so excited!! I'm sure the low carb will work for your zip situation (!!) but even if it doesn't, there are much more important things for you to be thinking about - so don't let it get you down when you are so happy!

Oh yes please fit! I fancy kettlebells - what do you do?

Hey everyone...hope all are well, wherever you may be, as we begin another week.

devon Judith Butler is still feminism's home-girl. I have no idea what she is talking about (most of the time), I understand her better when I watch her talking in lectures! Same with Foucault....

And second that, Helena - a wedding! How awesome! You can totally do this. Maybe try for ten pounds before Christmas, have a break, then go for it after?

fit I cut out wheat before trying this and it really made a difference to my, er, inner workings. I was going to the loo 4 or 5 times a day, and I put it down to things changing after having my 9.7lb DS, but actually, I think wheat was the culprit.

As others have said, perhaps try losing that for a few days and see what happens. I love pasta. I could eat it until I die. You may find you can get away with a couple of times a week? You can get gluten free types, too. A bit chewy, but who cares when it has cheese on top?! Or whole-wheat? mmmm, pasta.

Can I have some strength training tips, too please, fit? I love cardio, but need something else - what can I do at home?

xxxxx

Unfortunately my gym is pretty ghetto, so we don't have kettle balls (and I need them in 3 weeks as part of this program that I'm doing to close the gap in my abs, so I may end up buying them one :P).

I started off doing just a mix of arm and legs, but eventually I moved on to this: www.bodybuilding.com/fun/wotw94.htm

I go to the gym 5 days a week, if you go less, you can easily find a 3 or 4 day split on bodybuilding.com (don't visit the forum unless you want some real hardcore body builder advice, but otherwise the site is great for instructional videos and ideas).

Start slow, if you can't do something, don't worry (I still can't do pull ups and I've been doing this for a year), just google another exercise. Try and split up what you do every week. So one week do 6 exercises per muscle group, the next week do a different 6 exercises (then back to week one).

Do 20 to 30 minutes of cardio 3 times a week.

Probably the biggest advice I can give is stick with it. I remember the first 2 months I almost gave up because I got really bloated and thought I was looking bulky. Turns out that's a natural reaction to weight lifting for the first time and it does go away and you end up looking leaner and more defined.

what can I do at home?

Do you have the money to buy a few free weights? And how to do you like pushups and squats. ;)

We're getting married in New York just the two of us so the stress is minimal, I just need to give my head a wobble and knuckle down with the diet. The dress is still several inches away from zipping up and I'm exercising like a fiend (free weights, kettlebells, spinning, swimming, running) but it really makes no difference if you're eating loads of rubbish

Hi all, I've been following this thread with interest as I'm starting a low carb diet. I rely on carbs too much and feel bloated and sluggish all the time. I am terrified of fat though as it goes against all the diets I've normally followed. I'm worried I will eat too much and put on weight. Today I've had cheese and nuts which I'd never normally eat. Is it best to follow a specific low carb plan and can anyone help with which one? Thank you.

Woe, Helena, well done! I reckon if you chuck in a bit more of the low-carb you'll be there before you know it. And NYC? [jealous] !

Thanks, fit. It would be impossible for me to fit in more than one extra exercise session at the mo (on top of work, kids, studying, drinking but I do have some free weights home..so maybe I could also do some push ups whilst watching telly?!

And welcome, red. We are all still learning here, and others are finding what works for them, but I would suggest you start here, with the two-week Bootcamp!

www.mumsnet.com/health/diet-and-fitness/low-carb-bootcamp

I just only ate what was on the list (but I avoided cheese, I like it way too much to be trusted!). I ate quite a bit the first few days and then it settled own. The magic key is water, at least 2l a day.

You can always post what you are eating and others will nudge you in the right direction , if that might help?

xx

WOW....even....

Thank you, I'll have a good look at the link.

I had 2 scrambled eggs with mushrooms cooked in butter for breakfast.

Lunch didn't go well as we were at friends for a half term play date. Cheese and veg mini quiche with salad, I left some of the pastry but it scuppered day one!

Dinner was Turkey steak with cheese, and spinach and mushrooms cooked in butter.

I had a (large) handful of unsalted nuts as a snack.

Probably haven't drank enough. 2 cups of tea and 4 big glasses of squash. Can I still have tea and squash? I normally eat loads of fruit but have avoided it.

I have prepared a salad for work. Boiled egg, prawns, spinach, olives and tomatoes. Breakfast may be an issue on work days. Can I have berries with full fat yogurt?

Feeling unprepared now so off to do some more research and will try again tomorrow. Thanks again!

I also meant to say that I am doing Go Sober for October so seems a perfect time to start whilst I'm not indulging my regular wine habit. I feel so much better that I'm hoping not to drink as much when I finish the challenge!

Hi redmimi,

I've been following this: www.dietdoctor.com/

It's a bit more like the bootcamp light, as, personally, I'm trying to aim for an overall healthier lifestyle and something I can maintain, rather then just the initial quick weightloss (not that some weightloss wouldn't be lovely).

Day 3 for me. Felt really groggy yesterday, and I'm a little dizzy today, but otherwise feeling good. I expected major carb cravings, but haven't gotten any at all. Or any cravings for a glass of wine, so pretty good so far.

Oh, and the bloating is still way down from previously. My stomach was still the same size last night as it is in the morning! And that was after at least 4 liters of water yesterday (so thirsty), not sure if its cutting out the carbs or the fruit that's doing it, but wow. And everything I read said a high fat diet is supposed to make you bloat! Not me!

Thanks fit, glad you are finding it ok so far. Lots of interesting stuff to read. I had egg, prawns and spinach with full fat Mayo for lunch. It was delicious and filling but felt very naughty! Hoping I'll get my head around it quickly.

I know! I keep telling myself that this can't possibly be healthy. :)

For right now, I'm allowing myself one cheat meal a week (my DH's homemade pizza on a Friday night, it's sooooo yummy). And I had 2 small glasses of red wine last night, and even though it says I'm allowed it (in moderation like nuts and berries), I still felt bad. :P