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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Help, I need to get into my jeans - anyone want to join me for a September challenge?

430 replies

thatsnotmyfruitshoot · 31/08/2010 13:00

Just put all my loose linen summer numbers in the loft and realised I'm bulging out of all the lovely jeans I planned to wear this autumn. Going away for half term so it would be great to be a size smaller by then.

I'm 5ft 7 and need to lose about 20lbs to be at my most comfortable, so not drastic, but enough that I'm feeling really lardy, and need to do something before I gain any more.

My plan is to eat healthily (using food focus website to keep me on straight and narrow..) - boiled egg and slice of toast with grilled mushrooms for breakfast (totally fills me up), then soup for lunch and something with veg for dinner. One treat meal at the weekend. 30 mins exercise a day (either running or exercise dvd)

Please come and join me, I'm hopeless when left to my own devices..!!

OP posts:
theQuibbler · 10/09/2010 20:21

Hi swanriver - welcome Smile

Hey, hmc, 1.5lbs in 4 days. Thats' great - well done, you. AIBU? That's a scary, scary place. You're braver than me!

I went to my dance class - I'm so proud of me. I've had social anxiety for a while now, it's crept up on me and stopped me doing lots of things, and going to a class is kind of my idea of hell. New people, all looking at me, (and, in my head, all laughing,judging or disapproving. Weird, right?). Anyway I did it. I wanted to, and I did. And it was great, and I even managed to look at myself, occasionally, in the mirrors and I was doing OK, you know? I was keeping up. It's a good feeling. Smile

Timbachick · 10/09/2010 22:09

Oh quibbler - I am so proud of you. Well done on going to your class and for taking part.

For whatever our reasons sometimes it is hard to face the world. It takes real guts and effort to get out there and take part. Good on you.

Hello and welcome swan - good to have you here. You are right - having a place to come to, to write it down and discuss things really helps focus you on your journey.

bra - have a great weekend. Enjoy having your DH at home and your parents - what a busy time for you. Glad you have stocked up on the good things.

Shaxx · 11/09/2010 11:07

Just quickly nipping in today.
Well done to all of you losing weight - especially Quibbler for 6lbs AND facing demons. Well done for going to the dance class. Will you go regularly?

Blow out day yesterday as big family gathering. It was also my birthday and dh wants to take me out for a meal plus a friends 40th! May as well write this week off Hmm. I'll be pleased if I can stay the same!

Good luck everyone!

lovingmomof3 · 11/09/2010 11:19

good luck to you all trying to loose weight, im currently doing the special K challenge its hard but im feeling more energetic and drinking lots of water and eating fruit for snacks. xx

VivaLeBeaver · 11/09/2010 12:11

I've weighed myself again and after a week of being good I've only lost 1lb which I'm disappointed about. I have been good apart from last night when we went out for dinner and I had scampi and chips followed by chocolate roulade. Maybe that was still all sat in my tummy this morning!

The Alli has arrived this morning but not going to start taking it till the middle of next week when I have a few days off work.

Timbachick · 11/09/2010 13:06

Happy (slightly belated) Birthday Shaxx. I am sure this week won't be a total write-off. Try to stay moving and make good choices when you are able ... and remember --- water, water, water Grin

Viva - try not to be too disappointed. It is tough when you put in so much effort and see very little return. I have had times like this on many of my weight loss starts - keep absolutely to the letter and 1lb or half!! It could be a history of yo-yoing - the body does take a while to get the message that you are not going to starve it. It could be water retention - in which case you need to drink more water to flush it through. Either way, I bet you see a difference in the coming weeks. Stay strong, keep to your planand you will get there.

Hi loving - good to have you here. Good luck on the Special K plan - is that the one where you have two bowls of cereal a day and a meal? I don't think I could do that ... I'd end up eating the bowl as well Grin

Shaxx · 11/09/2010 13:54

Thanks Timba Smile
I was going to go to the gym but dh needed to go out and sort out his car. Being a local little gym, it closes at 12.30!

Next week I'm going to do A kick start with the Zoe Harcombe diet. I've done it before and it really does work.

If anyone wants to join in, I've copied it below. I usually change it so I have the porridge for breakfast every morning and then choose any 2 of the non-carb meals.
I didn't stick to it rigidly either and had a skinny cappuccino every day!

THE 5-DAY RULES

  • Unless specified, you can eat as much as you like, so you should not feel hungry.
  • Drink about 1.5 litres of water, herbal tea, decaf tea or coffee (without milk) a day.
  • No dairy is allowed, apart from a knob of butter for cooking when stated, and as much natural live yoghurt as you like.
  • Unless mentioned, all foods can be cooked in any way - roasted, fried, grilled, baked, poached, steamed etc.
  • You can have unlimited amounts of any vegetables, apart from potatoes and mushrooms.
  • Salad can consist of any veg - lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, cucumber, onion, beetroot and so on.
  • You can snack between meals on crudités or natural live yoghurt, but try and get used to eating only three big main meals a day.

THE MEAL PLAN
DAY 1

Breakfast: Unsmoked bacon and eggs all cooked in olive oil.
Lunch: Salmon steak, veg and a side salad drizzled with olive oil.
Dinner: Brown rice (50g dry weight) and any veg stir-fried in olive oil.

  • A protein-only breakfast means you'll stay full until lunchtime

DAY 2

Breakfast: 100g puffed rice cereal (available in the gluten-free section of all major supermarkets) with natural live yoghurt.
Lunch: Salad Nicoise made from tinned tuna (in water, brine or olive oil) or tuna steak with green salad leaves, hard-boiled eggs, olives and anchovies. Dress with olive oil.
Dinner: Lamb or pork chops with unlimited veg and salad.

DAY 3

Breakfast: Plain or ham omelette. Whisk 2-3 eggs, 1/2 tsp mixed herbs, 1 sliced red pepper and unlimited ham (optional). Melt a knob of butter (no more than 1/2 tsp) in a pan. Add the mixture and cook until firm.
Lunch: Stir-fried veg with chicken or beef.
Dinner: Stuffed peppers. Boil 50g brown rice (dry weight) and stir-fry chopped mixed veg. Combine together and fill a deseeded pepper shell. Bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes until the pepper is soft.

  • Using brown rice instead of white balances out your blood-sugar levels and stop cravings.

DAY 4

Breakfast: Porridge made from 75g porridge oats mixed with water and cooked to your liking.
Lunch: Chef's salad made from salad leaves, grated carrots, grated beetroot and boiled eggs together with a selection of cold meats. Dress with olive oil.
Dinner: A whole large fish (any kind, as long as it's not smoked or cured) baked in the oven with veg and salad. Dress with olive oil.

DAY 5

Breakfast: Natural live yoghurt.
Lunch: Roast or grilled chicken with salad.
Dinner: Tomato rice pasta. Cook 75g (dry weight) rice pasta*. Fry an onion and a clove of garlic in olive oil, add a tin of tomatoes, 2tsp basil and ground black pepper and simmer until the rice pasta is ready.

  • Natural live yoghurt kills off bacteria in the stomach and combats bloating
Shaxx · 11/09/2010 13:54

Oh, and I lost 6lbs in 5 days with it.

theQuibbler · 11/09/2010 22:19

timba and shaxx (Happy belated Birthday from me as well) - you're both too lovely. Thanks - your words mean a lot. Smile I don't know if I will go regularly, going to take it a step (ha!)at a time.

That Harcombe diet looks really interesting and do-able - hmmm - I might rethink my shopping list for tomorrow.

Had a good day today. Exercised (new Jillian Michaels DVD. Lord, that woman is tough), ate OK, have had a couple of glasses of wine, but think I've earned it, so no guilt.

Sounds as though everyone is having a busy week/weekend. Hope all is going well. Smile

swanriver · 11/09/2010 22:58

I was wrong about my weight - thought it sounded weirdly low...actually am 72 kg and need to get to 70kg! or below...Blush

Today had
porridge for breakfast
lots of black coffee
lunch was large portion of veg/lamb cass(no pots)
snack was sesame seedsugary thing,
supper rather too much cheese, bit of broccoli pasta, slice bread and tuna mayo
and a milk and water hot chocolate

so pleased I stayed off snacks but not that pleased that I feel quite full from supper

but no wine...

Shaxx · 12/09/2010 10:08

Gosh, I'm tired today!
I've had a busy few days and ds2 keeps waking me up too darned early!

Quibbler thanks for the birthday wishes Smile. Jillian has a new dvd??? whats it like? is it still on a 20min format?

Swanriver well done for staying off the wine. You'll probably feel better for it today too.

I wanted to get back into my diet today so I told dh not to not bother taking me out for lunch. He was thinking of somewhere really nice too (I must be mad!). Anyway, ils said they would have kids for the afternoon so I thought we could do something else so I'm trying to think of something. Cinema and a walk or something.
We did have a take away and a big dessert yesterday so I don't feel depriveD.

Have a good day!

swanriver · 12/09/2010 17:05

today again seemed to consume rather a lot...Blush

2 slices of black rye bread
half a bagel
large piece of redchilli-cheese
a cappucino
a tomato
croissant
2 pieces of bacon
fried egg
a cocopop cereal bar (sitting on a bus with dd who was irritating me beyond sanity)
an oreo

however, lots of walking by canal to compensate and have resisted Cornetto that dh is waving at me.

Timbachick · 12/09/2010 17:49

I'm exhausted too, shaxx Smile. I went to Proms in the Park yesterday with DH and DS. It was great and wonderful to be a part off (especially Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory at the end) but it ended late and I was up early to exercise...so am feeling really tired. Added to that I haven't found time to eat today and it is 5.45pm now!!! Shock I have been on the go all day ... time to sit down, I think Smile

However, I have made canneloni for tonight's dinner (from scratch with pancakes) so will be happy and full in a couple of hours.

swan - this is a journey and sometimes we need more than at others - try to keep an eye on the choices you make and try to drink a glass of water before you eat something that you think might not be the best choice.

Timbachick · 12/09/2010 20:12

How is everyone getting on this evening?

thatsnotmyfruitshoot · 12/09/2010 20:17

hi everyone, just a quick check in after a manic weekend! Lots of visitors so eating in and out but managed to choose mushroom omelette with salad while out (really wanted the posh veggie burger with chips!) and then did a Davina workout followed by a 3.5 mile run Shock yesterday while the others were out.

Going to bed in a minute!! Not sure what the scales are doing today, but my jeans are definitely feeling looser and my tummy is much flatter. Long way to go, but after 12 days I feel so much better already.

Hope everyone has a great start to the week, back tomorrow!!

OP posts:
Timbachick · 12/09/2010 20:44

shaxx - I have just had a look on Amazon for anything new by Jillian and see a dvd called 'Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism'. According to Amazon it will be available here from 4 October 2010 (you can pre-order). Seems to have good reviews. Is about 40 mins long and is based on cardio. I don't know if this is the one quibbler is referring to but was intrigued enough to have a look myself.

Is this the one quibbler?

theQuibbler · 12/09/2010 20:57

Hello all,

timba I watched the LNofTP - it looked amazing, must have been quite the experience to have been there. Am v. impressed with cannelloni from scratch - I haven't got the patience!

shaxx - the JM DVD (burn fat; boost metabolism) is about an 45m long, but split up into 3 segments. I'm aching all over today. Ouch!

Fruitshoot - your post made me tired just reading it Smile kudos on your energy.

Had an OK day. Not necessarily made the best choices, but nothing too scary. My son is starting school tomorrow, so am feeling a bit conflicted. Happy, scared, anxious, proud. You know the drill.

Here's hoping we all have a good week. Smile

theQuibbler · 12/09/2010 20:59

Hey timba - we cross posted. That is, indeed, the JM DVD.

Timbachick · 12/09/2010 21:13

Hi quibbler - it was fab. I have never been to Last Night but wanted to start taking DS to these sort of things/interesting/cultural events (don't even know if that makes senses Confused) Decided that Proms int he Park would hit the right note - it is a bit lighter than LNotP, there was Bjorn Again, the Jersey Boys, Neil Sedaka, Brian May and Carrie Ellis, Dame Kiri and Jose Carreras amongst others. He had an absolutely brilliant time, was up dancing and waving his flag and yelled sang along with Britannia and Land of along with everyone else.

Oh, and the canneloni are easy. I can post the recipe if you want.

Second the comment on fruity's output ... you must have taken your vitamins this weekend Grin

theQuibbler · 12/09/2010 21:34

That sounds even better! Glad you all had a good time. I'm such a Londoner in that I never DO anything. I live in Notting Hill, so Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park is our local park. We walked past the staging and I was all, "what is that?"; it's shameful. Grin

Please do post the recipe if you can - it sounds lovely. Pancakes, yum

swanriver · 12/09/2010 22:57

have resisted any further food all evening except some plain green beans...
and just had a cup of plain cocoa made with hot water, no sugar, which has hit the spot.

Imissmyjeans · 13/09/2010 09:45

Hello everyone

Have had a very busy weekend with a hen night on Saturday which involved a meal at Pizza Express and my youngest brother visiting at present.

Found it hard to stay on track in the evening but did try hard to make sensible food choices during the day. Having said that, with my birthday coming up this week I will be happy just to not gain weight by Friday.

I am going to try and start doing my pilates dvd this week and am hoping to get the go ahead from my osteopath next week to try some gentle jogging. Will be very interested to hear about the new JM DVD. I have the 30 day shred waiting to be tried once my back is up to it.

Timbachick · 13/09/2010 13:59

Well done swan - sometimes it is soooo tough, but it will get easier.

Imissmy - birthdays and guests are the bane of the dieter, aren't they?

I was super good this morning - I was offered a dip into a box of chocolates and said ...... no Shock.

It was my first morning at work so wanted to try and set a precendent. If they know I will say no then they won't dangle them i front of me ... I hope!

Shaxx · 13/09/2010 21:16

Well done Timba to saying no.

My day was good today. I did no exercise today but I went for a run yesterday evening so I don't feel too bad about it.

Ds2 decided to be wide awake from 2 til 4 this morning so I am zonked! My alarm goes off at 6. It was very hard to stay away from sugar to deal with the lack of energy but I managed to stick to fruit and yoghurts for my sugar hit.

Think I'll go off and start getting ready for bed. G'night. Zzzzzzzzz

Have a good day tomorrow.

shortandsweet2 · 14/09/2010 08:06

Morning!

I have had quite a hectic weekend. But I am another 3/4 of a pound down today and am very happy.

I have been out jogging and think this is helping my weight to shift.

Hope you all had a good weekend and have a great week :)

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