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..!!

Thats very positive Timba.

Here's a link to the space station times. Just click on wherever you are. You also get to see the Progress satellite too.

You can see it again at 10.27 although the elevation doesn't seem to be much. I take it it may not be possible if you live in a built up area.

www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/region.cgi?country=United_Kingdom&region=England

Thank Shaxx. Missed the 10.27 but have hit up the website you give and will try and catch it another day.

I am in London, but not in a hugely built up area so hopeful I will see something.

Oooo, I'm going out of town this weekend and will have a look for the space station - very cool!

Great idea on the 6-a-day, Shaxx. I'm after ice cream but still have only eaten 5 today so I need to eat an apple first. Hopefully that will tone down the ice cream cravings!

I have purchased biscuits for the children that I do not like. This is helping tremendously.

Did a half hour of running on the treadmill today.

Okay... Everyone name at least one song you like to work out to, as I need to download some motivation onto my Ipod.

well lady gaga always keeps me motivated - that's my housework music :o

lunch is sorted for today - had a few bits in the fridge that needed to be used up so I've made a stew - lentils, broad beans, butternut squash, onion, tomato. I also skinned some turkey sausages and made meatballs for it. managed to skim some of the fat off, really should've done that before putting the water in

got heaps of maths to do today but at least I have to go out as DD has preschool. from next week she'll be going every day so no excuses!

ooh, may have to try the sweet potato crisps, I have a whole bag of them in the cupboard! I love it baked with feta cheese and spring onion.

had a drastic day yesterday so comfort ate at work
on the upside went food shopping after work and bought all healthy foods and snacks
so my diet begins here......

i am going to try and stick to the slimming world diet as its the only diet i know that you can eat as much as you like of certain foods....

glad to hear eveyone is doing well

Thanks for the welcome

So, took your advice and got on the scales and it says 9lbs , but I'm due on now, so it's not that accurate (thank God). I can work with that - 2 or 3 weeks if I'm disciplined and it could be gone!

Work out music - my playlist has got Florence and the Machine, (esp. Dog Days are Over for Xtrainer), Lady Gaga too, Black Eyed Peas, Destiny's Child and a bit of Kanye (Stronger). I like this site for ideas fitmix

I have got the day off today, so no excuses - must do some exercise! Plus can do some cooking and be a bit more prepared to stop me snacking on rubbish. Am feeling more motivated than I have for weeks . Have also got my eye on a really nice outfit for Xmas, as we're going away, and that could be a good incentive, too.

Hi everyone can I join too?

Have started back at slimming world today. Doing it with my friend at home. We put 2 quid in a pot each week and when we hit goal can take the pot and go on a spending spree :)

Everyone is doing very well. Playlists must have lady gaga but I also like dance music as that really does get my blood pumping and I then work out harder.

hi shortandsweet
i am also doing slimming world, we could swap tips and recipes
at work i support a lady with mental health problems who has been going to slimming world since nov last year, i devise all of her menus etc as i am an ex slimming world goer so know all about the days etc...
well anyway she has lost 2st 8lb thanks to me...

im just at myself for not doing it myself when i spend most of my time anyway devising menus and cooking for her

not to worry... i am starting today, not going to the groups though, doing it myself...

I really like dance music to work out too. The gym usually has Kiss playing and that usually plays good music.

Quibbler well done for facing the scales . The outfit is a great incentive. What is it? any links? [nosey]

Prpoernoun I had a real fight with myself yesterday. I have some Ben and Jerrys Phish food frozen yoghurt in the freezer. Its the most stunning 'ice cream' in the world but a bit healthier as its yoghurt. I was really craving it yesterday and had herbal tea instead!

I went to bed so pleased I resisted. I just don't want to undo all the hard work and really, really want to lose 10lbs by the end of the month.

Hello, can I join?

After reading this thread I've joined Food Focus.

I'm a lapsed Slimming World member, but I'm also listening to Paul McKenna's I can make you thin.

I'm going on holiday next month and am 11st2 right now. I'd love to lose about 10lbs this month.

My fat day jeans don't even fit me right now

Can I join in please, have just booked a holiday for 6 weeks time and could do with losing a stone by the time I go. Though I'd be thrilled with 1/2 stone.

I've had weetabix for breakfast and am about to go out for a run (first time in months).

BTW, I daren't weigh byself. I'm also a failed SW person and knowing how tight my clothes are from when I did used to do weekly weighing I'm scared I'm over 12stone.

Hello, Can I join in too!

DS is 20 wks old and I weighed in at 10st 9 today. I am 5ft 2 and was around 9 stone 7 pre-pregnancy.

I am exclusively breast feeding so I am going to do ww online to try and help me lose the weight sensibly.

I have decided I need to start now to shift my mummy tummy as I have a wedding to go to at the end of Oct and I am back to work in mid November.

I am going to get my favourite skinny jeans out of the loft to help me stay motivated:)

Morning all, and welcome everyone new, more the merrier!

I weighed myself this morning - have lost a pound since Wed. Hooray! Suffering from time of month bloat too, so hopefully I'm as heavy as I'm going to get.. been out for a run in an attempt to offset tonight's meal out. Going to stick to diet coke or fizzy water rather than wine, that will be tough.

Just discovered Philadelphia light cheese with thai sweet chilli. Yum yum yum!!! Going to use it in sandwiches or on jacket potatoes. Am munching through the rice cakes at an alarming rate but they're keeping me away from the biscuits.

ipod running playlist- black eyed peas, girls aloud (brilliant to run to, beat is perfect!!) daftpunk, Lady gaga, Pixie Lott, Little Boots, the Veronicas etc. The cheesier and beatier the better!!

Hello new people!

Thasnot well done for your lb loss. I did the same thing this morning and had the same result yippeeeeee!

I'm very worried about tomorrow as my sis is having a party and she's got all sorts of goodies! She lives quite far and I know I'll be starving when I get there.
How do I limit the damage?? I really don't want to undo all the hard work this week.

This always tends to be my problem. I'm really good all week then there's usually something at the weekend that undoes all the damage!

Next week, I have a close friends 40th, my birthday, and a family get together!
In one week!
The week after is dhs birthday.

I need a coping strategy.

Hi everyone! Wow, so many newbies. Welcome to all.

We are a good bunch here - tons of support and motivation and tips! You even get recipes

I too have done SW in the past - lost 4 st with them but have managed, through diligent over eating, to put it all back. I think this is, by far, the best approach. I have actually taken responsibility and accept that change will only come through my own efforts.

Viva - face those scales . I was you a week ago, didn't want to know, but Shaxx suggested that it was better to face up to the reality of the situation. I did and feel alot better about it all. It was worse than I wanted it to be but hey, not knowing doesn't make it less???

Proper - I love Alexandra Burkes new album (Overcome) - it is full of upbeat, catchy songs, as well as a few slower ones (helps recovery) . Black Eyed Peas are good, some Timbaland is fast enough. I also love rock so Iron Maiden is fast and furious and motivating

Anway, good morning to all. I have done my 60 minutes power walk, 10 minutes stretching and 15 minutes sit ups/press ups. Am feeling good

Shaxx - can you eat before you go? If not, could you take a cooler bag with a few sensible foods in: crudites, low fat houmous, yogurt, baked potato crisps (home made)? Don't know if that is an option and, of course, you will want to be 'part' of the parties but maybe this could offset/limit the damage?

Fruity - congrats on the lb loss. Well done. It all makes it worthwhile when you see those scales going down.

My DH, possibly the most unromantic Italian on the face of the earth and not the most observant person when it comes to weight loss has said it is beginning to show . My lovely parents said the same but I was not sure as they are too lovely and sweet to say I look anything other than gorgeous I could be a blimp and they would say: oh no, dear, you look wonderful!!

whataluv - do you know the recipe for SW chips? If not I can list it here. Really simple and quite a good substitute!

Sorry about the manic posting ... don't know what has got into me

Hello, may I join too please..?

I joined a thread in the new year but lapsed pretty quickly ; I have 2 stones to go and would love to do it by Christmas.

I've lost 8lbs in the last month doing low gi, and am finding taking it relatively easy (and moving on from slip-ups without beating myself up...) to be working. I really don't want to lose the impetus, so this thread looks great.

stressful morning here (very grumpy kids) and was reeeeeally craving toast and chocolate spread... but I made myself a hummus wrap :o

I only have one slice of bread left and I'm saving it for the weekend.

thatsnot - philly and chilli is lovely on rice cakes!

Hooray for observant dh, Timba!
The compliments are really motivating. My dh always notices too. Even if I've only lost a lb he'll say that I've lost weight!

I've been thinking about all those meals etc and as well as trying to control my portions by having more salad, I've decided to eat an apple before every meal and have a glass of water!

I'll also really reduce the cals and up the exercise on the days I don't have anything going on. Hope that'll work!

Right will weigh byself naked first thing tomorrow morning.

Have had a muller light yoghurt and a cereal bar mid morning. Needed some cals after my run - only did 20mins but it was non stop and nearly killed me!

Have had a tin of ravioli with the sauce scraped off for lunch.

Morning all.

Thanks for the Rachels Organic yoghurt tip. Picked some up yesterday and its yummy (vanilla). Sainsburys have them at 2 for £3 at the moment. Had some with some chopped Hazelnuts for breakfast, with cucumber, red Pepper and Tuna for lunch.

Have managed to cut down and have only had one cup of tea so far, and three glasses of water.

I have an Ipod which I power walk to. Lots of power Ballads on there as well as some Lady Gaga, P!nk, Beyonce and Kelly Clarkson.

I always find the weekend harder as I pick all the time, plus we go out alot and there is a cheesecake shop just up the road from our local park. Will try to be extra motivated.

Keep up the good work ladies.

Hi phaseo - all welcome here so come on in. You'll soon be on target.

Bra - grumpy kids are a sure fire way to start reaching for the biscuits aren't they? Try to peel some carrots, cucumber, celery etc and put in fridge so you can grab a chunk/stick whenever you feel peckish.

Shaxx good idea. Try not to cut back too much though prior to the party though or you might find it really really hard to resist

Morning shade and viva - hope all is going well for you.

I've just been to the fruit and veg man near me and bought his entire stall - going to make parsnip soup (really lovely and filling).

Hello all - Just in from my 'run', which was 20 mins of running and 30 of walking - hopefully that mix will improve as the month goes on!

Thank you all so much for the Ipod suggestions and Quibbler for the fitmix link. I've downloaded lots of MIA for energy and Arcade Fire's Ready to Start for my warm-up. I can get an extra 5 minutes of running out of a decent music line-up.

The weight has sunk just the right side of 158, so it's going well.

shaxx A few tricks that help me at parties/events: Drive so you can't drink. Eat lots of healthy snacks before and throughout, just keep munching carrot sticks, fruit slices, low-cal snack bars, etc. Bring a handbag full if necessary. Then tell everyone there you're on a diet, so they don't shove cake in your face. Good luck!