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

[thatsnotmyfruitshoot]

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..!!

Thisis do you often have full on work days?
Do you have breakfast as home?
If not then you could take some microwavable porridge. For lunch, you could take in salad with chicken/tuna, or soup with a roll with some low fat cheese/sliced meat and salad. For the evening, I would take any leftovers from a healthy meal made the day before(make extra) or a ready meal. There are some good fresh-looking ones in the chiller cabinets at supermarkets which are cal counted.
Fruit and yoghurt for snacks.

My tip of the day - instead of thinking about what you can't eat, try to make yourself eat 6 portions of fruit and veg a day. You won't feel hungry at all!!

(Thats alongside your healthy meals of course! not just 6 portions of fruit and veg )

I've been looking at tthe cook yourself thin website. There are some good recipes on there that I'm going to try.

www.channel4.com/food/recipes/healthy/

Hey Shaxx - good advice on the alternative way of thinking - it really works and, tbh, if we want to lose weight and keep it off then we need to change the way we think as much as we need to change the way we eat!

Another tip: if you think you are hungry, drink a glass of water first and wait 20 minutes. If you are still feeling hungry then eat something healthy but you may be surprised that sometimes you are thirsty - we often mistake our thirst reflex as hunger.

Welcome ShadeofViolet - you'll get loads of support and motivation here.

Have done 75 minutes power walk around and around the park so feeling positive. A banana is now calling my name.

Keep it up ladies

hi everyone, it's such a gorgeous day down here, and dc's back at school today so I managed to get out for a 30 min run, and then walked 20 mins into town and treated myself to a Costa coffee (God it was hard resisting the cakes though..)

Somehow I still have 1400 calories left to use up today, I think I might up my weight loss target to 2lbs a week as I seem to be managing fine on the allowance so far.

DP is taking me for a Thai meal tomorrow though, I might need to save some calories for that as I bet green curry isn't low cal!

Shaxx, will look at that link, am a bit stuck in a rut, recipe-wise.

Well done on resisting the cakes fruity, and well done on all that exercise.

Any mind if I join you?

Have really lost my motivation over the past couple of months after having worked really hard at this weight loss lark for a bit (I lost about 65lbs as was very overweight)

Am terrified I'm going to lose all focus and just start piling it all back on again, .

Could really do with losing 10lbs by the end of the month as a sensible starting point, but need to get on the scales first - have avoided it as I'm sure I've put on about half a stone (I can see and feel it) and I'll be gutted Plus do need to do start exercising again.

Bloody hell - what an essay. Honestly, am not usually such a talker . Please don't kick me out before I've even started .

Well done Timba and Thatis on your exercise today!

Thatis I think its a good idea to save your calories for your meal out. Its what you eat over the week that matters, not just each day.

Timba thats a good idea about having a glass of water first. I find if I question my hunger before reaching for crisps, I'm not even actually hungry. I just eat for the sake of it.

I'm hoping to make it to a class called 'Tone and Groan' today. What a silly name! It made me laugh. It sounds like hard work though.
If dh gets back too late, I'll just go to the gym.

There are better recipes on the bbc good food site (how can you tell I'm stuck in a recipe rut )

They seem very straightforward.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/recipes/special-diets/low-fat/

Hi Quibbler!
You're more than welcome here.

What an achievement! 65lbs! Thats phenomenal.
I suggest you get back on the scales tomorrow morning as that will get you back into gear.

Apparently, people who weigh themselves often (even every day) are less likely to pile weight on and more likely to keep themselves in check.

Don't fret. We'll help you out and you can give us tips on how you lost all that weight!!

Welcome quibbler, and - wow, I don't think putting 7lbs back on a fantastic 65lbs loss is so bad - you'll be back on track in no time. Grit your teeth and step on the scales. And don't worry about writing essays, I'm the worst for that!!

Loving the sound of tone and groan, Shaxx. Sounds a bit rude. Do report back!

Hi quibbler - we are a right friendly lot here so you are more than welcome. Do weigh in though, as Shaxx says it helps focus your mind and makes you less likely to stray. I don't weight every day but every week - it works for me.

Loving the sound of that class Shaxx - I would be the one in the back doing ONLY the groan part . Am going to check out the eat yourself thin website. I use the good food site regularly and the delicious website - can't do those link thingies but it is www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk - they have a good receipe category.

Thatis - don't fret the meal tomorrow, go light today and it will even out.

Can I join, need to shed about 20 pounds, food Focus says mid Nov and thats OK.
Day 2 and doing OK but hubby is away so its a bit easier!

Hi walker, come on in and make yourself at home.

It's always easier when they are away isn't it. Sometimes I find myself eating when really I'm not hungry, it's just that I've made food for DH or DS!!!

I am on food focus as well. I will be on it til March next year as I have somewhat more to lose

Anyway, welcome

Can I join too please? Am 11 st 7 and need to lose 2 stone. Would love to lose at least 10lbs this month. For last 3 days I have been having a slice of toast and scrambled egg for breakfast, salmon salad for lunch and salad plus meat for dinner. Trying to fit in time to exercise but with DS not back to school till next Weds I can only fit a bit in. Earlier this year I was hoping to be 9st by 25th Sept for a reunion I am going to - hmmmm not sure that is going to happen!

Measurements:-

Bust (over) - 40"
Waist - 33"
Hips - 44"
Thigh - 25.5"
Upper arm - 12"

Would like to be a 30 inch waist and 40 inch hip at least by xmas (sadly the boobs deflate with weight loss or I would end up being a perfect hourglass!)

Hi nikki - welcome welcome

This is proving to be a popular thread and we are a supportive lot in here . Loads of motivation and support.

If the weather holds (not sure where you are?) you could try to get to a park with DS and get in a bit of exercise there? A child's playground can easily become an obstacle course for adults

I love our local playground, they've revamped it and actually put things in there just for adults. Not to mention the zip wire nearby too. I am such a child.

Welcome walkersmum and nikki - nikki, you sound a bit like me! I think hourglass shapes are lovely but can be unforgiving - I can't carry any extra weight at all without looking bulky, and big boobs are always difficult to dress.

I still have 460 cals left today - hooray!! Am going to put them in the bank for tomorrow's Thai-fest.

I don't know whether to weigh myself tomorrow, or to wait until next Wed. I'm dying to know if anything has changed but don't want to get demotivated if it hasn't..

Thanks, feeling better already and isn't stir fry the best.

stir fry is indeed yummy! we had a veggie stir fry for dinner with extra spinach and leftover chicken. no rice.

realised I'm craving carbs though, as I'm not having sandwiches etc... so can anyone suggest some healthy-but-tasty carby snacks please?

I love rice cakes and ryvita and having read other posts I'm really glad I don't like oatcakes :o but any other suggestions would be great.

(BTW I know a lot of people cut out carbs when they try to lose weight, but I don't want to do this as I'm BFing)

Algebra I don't think theres any need to cut out carbs when you're dieting. I don't believe its healthy or sustainable after. I've done Atkins and lost a lot of weight very quickly (pre kids) and I'd never do it again.
I do see good results when I cut out bread and carbs at dinner though.
To be quite honest, I can't think of healthy carby snacks! All I can think of is whats already been mentioned (and er low fat crisps!)

I'm an hour glass shape too! yes, it is unforgiving as I always end up looking bigger than I am if I wear loose tops.

Unfortunately, I did no toning and groaning today as the class was cancelled. I did 10mins on the x-trainer and a 20min run instead.

Btw sandwiches aren't bad. Have wholemeal bread and lots of salad and a little bit of lean meat/tuna/extra light cheese. Give the spread a miss and its probably only 250-300cals

Oh Shaxx, my mind was positively bobbling about the groaning class

Stir fry is indeed a wonder dish and is a firm favourite in our house. You can bung in anything really, and make a decent meal.

With regard to carby snacks: I slice potatoes thinly, put them on a baking sheet with a SMALL amount of oil and bake in oven 'til crisp. You can do it with sweet potato too. They are lovely

I also used to do this thing with lasagne sheets . Boil a bog pan of water and pre-heat the oven. When water is boiling place a few sheets of lasagne in and boil for 8-10 mins. Lift them out and put them on chopping board, cut them in half (with ways) and them in half on the diagonal so you end up with a tortilla shaped piece of lasagne. Bake in oven for 15-20 mins or until crisp. You can make as many as you want and they taste 'quite like' tortillas. You can sprinkle them with salt etc.

Hope we are all happy today?

Hey thats a good idea with the lasagne sheets and potatoes.
Doesn't the lasagne just taste like it does in the packet though? intrigued.

Yes, happy today

Ds2 has been almost fully potty trained, I'm making a cup of herbal tea and will veg infront of the tv with it in a bit.
Oh, and we just saw the International Space Station go by this evening and the boys were so excoted

You happy today Timba?

excited!

Oh yes, I am a happy bunny today. Feeling like I am actually doing something to change myself - making lots of good choices

The lasagne is really quite nice . If you sprinkle it with garlic salt, sea salt, paprika etc it can add flavour. My DS loves them and keeps pestering for more!!

Oh, am annoyed I missed the space station .... hmmmmmmmmmm. My DS would have loved that.

Glad the potty training is nearly sorted. Be prepared for the odd mishap but once it's done it's such a relief.