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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.

Original poster

2011 Paul McKenna P3 - the march towards skinny jeans continues

971 replies

whomovedmychocolate · 16/03/2011 18:40

Well the old thread was getting mordibly obese wasn't it? Grin

Welcome new people and people who've been here for a while, this is the definitive Paul McKenna support thread.

Whether you are dribbling over his Paulness or wibbling over pudding, we're here to listen, slightly mock you and tell you to step away from the scales.

The Paul Mckenna plan is not a diet but a way of teaching yourself to eat slowly and consciously and achieve the body you've always dreamed of.

There will be no diet foods on this thread, no starvation and no beating ourselves up because ^lifes' too bloody short to weigh a carrot and we'd far rather be doing something incredible instead!

OP posts:
CheerfulYank · 08/04/2011 00:31

Yes, that is true, and I really am very happy most of the time (hence the nickname :)) but it's hard not to get down sometimes. I'm loving Paul though, and feel really good about it!

ppeatfruit · 08/04/2011 09:34

Also cheerful remember what P.M. says about about the 'normal ' diets they are IMPOSSIBLE to stick to, so you're not different at all!

JuicyOlive · 08/04/2011 10:52

Hello all and welcome back solo - good to see you.

wmmc we're going to miss you - who is going to be chief nag motivator now? Take care.

Welcome CheerfulYank. Just sneaked a look at your profile and you (and your family) are gorgeous. The more I do this programme, the more I realise that the diet/binge cycle is heavily influenced by the false poor self image we have have, and how that affects our emotional eating.

Some of us met up at the seminar earlier in the year, and quite frankly when shrinkingnora says that she is scared of getting in front of a camera, I can't believe it - she's lovely - inside and out. (And conversely I'm going to have to try and believe her when she tells me that didn't look like a sack of potatoes at a recent family event).

Anyway, it's takeaway night tonight - tikka massala or mushroom curry? Hmmmm? Definitely poppodums though!

BsshBossh · 08/04/2011 12:00

Juicy - "Who is going to be chief nag motivator now?" Er, YOU Grin.

DandyLioness · 08/04/2011 12:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BsshBossh · 08/04/2011 12:55

Question for all about time of the month/Aunty Flo

I am ravenous today and it's my time of the month. Now I am wondering how much of the hunger I am feeling is emotional and how much is physical. Trying to be hyper conscious etc but I am curious how many of you do feel more ravenous at this time?.

Welcome Dandy Smile.

CheerfulYank · 08/04/2011 12:59

Definitely me, Bsshbossh ! Especially the first day :)

Thank you Olive :)

JuicyOlive · 08/04/2011 13:10

Welcome DandyLioness also.

"I realised that I didn't always want the chocolate and fatty foods I thought I did, yet I felt I deserved them so would eat them anyway, dammit " Yep, that's been me all my life.

When I was at the PM seminar back in Feb one of the first things he said was: "You are not a bad person for being overweight. You are just someone who has developed some poor eating habits."

Ladies - stop beating yourselves up and just enjoy your food according to the rules and see what happens. You have nothing to lose (apart from a bit of weight of course).

DandyLioness · 08/04/2011 13:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BsshBossh · 08/04/2011 13:34

Dandy, I'm no expert on this as I've only been doing it for 6 weeks, but if I'm faltering I find it works really well for me to focus on a single principle at a time.

I start with "Eat when hungry". Am I really hungry, is my stomach physically growling or am I feeling a physical "hole" in my tummy as opposed to an emotional or greedy "hole". Listening out for the physical signs of hunger really helps me.

I now have a pretty good idea on how much food it takes to satisfy physical hunger and so I serve myself a small portion of a meal and only have more if I need it (physically). I find serving myself small portions to begin with really helpful.

Then I move onto the other prinicples. When I was starting out with PMK, I found it easier to eat alone (as much as I could with a family, anyway) as I was less easily distracted from the rules. Alone I found it easier to focus on slowing down whilst eating. But it gets easier and now I can eat with others and still be mindful.

rookiemater · 08/04/2011 13:45

Dandy I do think listening to the CD really helps, although after only 2 weeks of it I am so bored that I am bidding on ebay for the 5CD set for a bit of variation, but it seems to help the rules sink in without so much conscious effort.

Bsshbosshes idea of only focussing on one of the principles sounds really good, I might borrow that one. I went out for lunch with DS aged 5 today and had to force him to sit in his seat after he has gobbled down his lunch so I could eat my baked potato mindfully.
I am trying to install some of the PMcK principles in him, and say things like It's really good to eat slowly and taste every mouthful - don't think its working though!

onesandwichshort · 08/04/2011 14:05

Rookiemater - I think that's so true about it really being good with children. One thing I am really proud of is that DD - 4 - has a much better attitude to food than I do. I've always let her say when she's had enough, and so she doesn't eat unless she's hungry, and can make chocolate last for weeks. And boy does she savour every mouthful. I should be taking lessons from her really.

Hello to all the new people. I am still at the trying, not always succeeding stage; not helped by the fact that every time I think I am going to get some time to myself, we have a viewing booked in and I then end up tidying like a nutcase rather than listening to the CD. But I have been on 2 cyclerides, and am not as unfit as I thought I would be, which is good.

Not sure about the time of the month thing; I suspect it may be emotional for me, as it's definitely got better since I started on this (before I would ransack the cupboards for anything to eat in then 2 days beforehand).

BsshBossh · 08/04/2011 14:07

My DD's childminders have taught her to say, "I've had enough now" and push the plate away Grin. They must be PMK'ers. DD is quite assertive about it too. I have to abide by her intention (and she's full of energy and has a reasonable appetite for her weight/height so nothing to worry about).

rookiemater · 08/04/2011 14:09

Sadly our DS is not much of a natural eater. He is a sturdy boy, just on the right side of it though as he loves exercise, but also loves crisps, chocolate, cakes, you name it and wolfs them down without really tasting them. I will keep dropping in the concepts and also hopefully the behaviours myself in the hope that some of it will filter through.

Paul if you follow these threads - could you do something for children ?

DandyLioness · 08/04/2011 14:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BsshBossh · 08/04/2011 14:16

rookiemater, for many (most?) kids there is always something better to do than eat Smile. My DD takes after me, I have always been a slow eater and DD takes forever too! I wish she would bolt it down more so we can get on with things. But that's just evil-mum talk so ignore me everyone Grin.

rookiemater · 08/04/2011 14:24

DL - I haven't got it yet, but it looks like it has separate CDs for Thinking like a slim person, Emotional Overeating, Craving busters, Exercising and then a general one I think.
I will probably just use the Thinking Like a slim person one as tbh I don't have huge issues with cravings or emotional eating and am currently training for a half marathon, but just fancied a bit of variety.

BB at Ds's nursery they are very pleased he is such a quick eater as they don't get nearly enough time to eat their lunch, 10 mins max for some strange reason and it gets worse when they start school as I think the classes are staggered, but even before starting Pmck it annoyed me that they said DS was a good boy for being the first to finish his lunch all the time, not a great message for children to learn to bolt down their food - particularly if they are erring towards being slightly chubby.

ppeatfruit · 08/04/2011 15:08

I'd have a word with the manager of the nursery rookie that's not good. Welcome Dandy you're in the right place for common sense weight loss; no stupid cal. counting or SHXX foods!

ppeatfruit · 08/04/2011 15:12

Solo do you know if Deafworm is okay? And have you tried my amazing belly exercise yet? 'cos it activates the muscles and works easily.

lotSOLOvelyeggcellentchocolate · 08/04/2011 15:59

Haven't seen Deafworm around at all...just made an advanced search and she only shows up once since March the 1st. I'll PM her.

Not done your belly exercises yet, but have just started to retrain myself to hold my muscles in again naturally...always had an inverted stomach ~ it was more than flat, with a 22" waist but I now have a bit of an apron going on...the only excuse I have is my age sadly :(

lotSOLOvelyeggcellentchocolate · 08/04/2011 16:02

Ok, have PM'd her.

shrinkingnora · 08/04/2011 20:05

Interesting day here. Pauled for most of it. Excellent slow and very enjoyable breakfast. Slight issue with some mini eggs mid morning but I was genuinely hungry and I did enjoy them although I think I ate twice as many as I really wanted. Went out for lunch (again - being signed off work is quite fun when your hubby is off too Grin) to Nandos and had a wrap and a leafy salad (which I didn't finish). I started off ordering chips and then changed my mind because I really wanted some greens. I had about 5 of DH's chips but they were pretty gross. And then I was going to order pudding (frozen yoghurt) but I didn't because I wasn't hungry. Nothing all afternoon and then a picnic in the park for tea - allegedly for the kids but by the time we had finished their leftovers we were both full so the fish pie is now tomorrow's lunch.

I have just realised that was an extraordinarily boring paragraph. Sorry!

I've generally felt so much better today and really motivated to do stuff. I bought new clothes and didn't want to shoot myself after the changing room experience, which is amazing. I just was quite objective about it and didn't think "That looks horrible because I am horrible". I thought "That looks horrible because it's not my colour/size/it's a bad cut etc". I think that my little voice inside my head has really changed over the last couple of months. And I tried on a size 18 dress in Phase 8 and it was too big! I'm not quite a true size 16 yet but definitely an M&S/supermarket 16 and also got some 16s from Next. I am convinced they have started vanity sizing shoes as I have gone from a 6.5/7 to a 5.5/6.....

Juicy (I like that everyone is calling you this, not Olive, I think it is significant!) - I would like to apply for the post of Chief Butt Kicker Grin

Welcome to all newcomers - you are in for a fabulous time, discovering how great you really are and enjoying eating ABSOLUTELY EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT.

I am menu planning for a barbecue tomorrow. And it is fun when there are NO restrictions Grin

shrinkingnora · 08/04/2011 20:07

PP - what is your amazing belly exercise? I'm all intrigued... Although I am not allowed to do any belly exercises currently but I can save it for next week!

HowToLookGoodGlaikit · 08/04/2011 21:31

Im interested in teh belly exercise too!

Nora, I cant wait to be able to wear "normal" size clothes - I have to shop in plus size shops still. But one day, and one day soon!

shrinkingnora · 08/04/2011 21:37

Ok, barbecue tomorrow:

Fish kebabs (salmon and white fish of some kind)
Chicken and bacon kebabs with honey and mustard glaze
Sausages
Homemade burgers with cheese in the middle
Lots of leafy greenery
Crap white rolls to make the kids happy
Delicious granary/seeded bread to make me happy

Not sure about pud things but probably some meringue/fruit combo or I may do an icecream sundae bar which would be fun for the kids.

And Pimms. Lots of Pimms Grin