Will it always be this difficult?

[Oakmaiden]

hi. I have just started a diet. Well, three days ago. At 5'2" and 15st 8lbs I had to, really. So I joined the online weight watchers, and have been using their points thing.

I am finding it really hard. Will it always be this hard - I have over 5 stone to lose so it is likely to take me most of a year. Will I get used to eating food I don't find as tasty (big cheese freak, here) and eating less of it? Or am I going to have the most difficult culinary year of my life?

Feeling really down about quite how obsessive I have become over food in the past three days....

I think it gets easier. I have been dieting since October, I am at my target weight now though. I lost 3 stone in 5 months, although the first 2.5 stone in around 3.5 months. I don't mind eating less as enjoy not feeling stuffed and bloated. I genuinely enjoy eating vegetables, and devising low fat low carb recipes.

Am I obsessed by food - a little perhaps, eg I was on holiday last week and we went to a restaurant (I didn't choose it) and I was very worked up that there wasn't really anything on the menu that fitted with my diet. Pathetic really, because as I said I am at my target weight. I ordered the healthiest food, and I didn't eat the bread that came with it rather than the food I used to want to eat.

Perhaps though if you love cheese maybe a low carb diet would work better for you? Me, I love ice cream!

Oakmaiden.. well done for making a start ..

My tips would be :-
a)Come over to the WW propoints thread... it helps me to have people who will nag, cajole and support around, esp when DH is watching TV.

b) Personally I find it helps to go to a class. It keeps me honest, and other people share good ideas.. it is only nervewracking for the first 5 minutes., honestly

c) Work out what you can eat that has very few proppoints in ( Butternut Squash soup for example) then you can afford treats that you really like

d) Probably not the same, but Philly extra light soft cheese is only 1 Propoints for a little boxy thing and it quite versatile

e) Force yourself to try some new recipies and try something new. It can be very hard work if your diet is too strict and wthout some variety

It will improve, Wizzler talks sense. Philly XL is my saviour but if that doesn't float your boat, you will find something. The first few weeks are a PITA as you have to get to know the PP for your regular things and mess around a bit finding replacements for some which are lower in PP.

I'm big on building in treats so have a takeaway at the weekend and a fair amount of chocolate. Increasing protein and reducing carbs has been the secret for me along with low fat calcium, but it took a bit of time to get the balance right. The WW thread is great to have as back up, fast moving. Just dive on in.

Thank you all. I did a bit better yesterday. Apart from an unseemly urge for chocolate, which is odd as I am not generally a big chocolate eater. Will stroll on over to the WW thread later. Thanks again.