Starting today... 2st to lose.

[owlets]

Whilst shopping with my super slim friend over the weekend I realised just how fat I feel - and getting on the scales provided proof. I've put on 2 stone - 1 stone of which has come on very recently ( think a month or two?!).
Other than looking lumpy and increasingly featureless, my legs are achy and I don't feel like I've woken up properly ever.
So, I'm going to start on the diet today. The plan is to eat lots of veg and fruits, lean meats, and limited carbs. I'm going to have 3 decent sized meals a day, and not snack unless I'm truely hungry.

I'm going to weigh myself and post on here every Tuesday. Anyone who wants to join in please do!

Starting weight; 11st 13.
(Target weight 10st so 1st 13lbs to lose)

he's growing up though, moose - it's natural that he wants to try and do things on his own. as long as you let him know you are there if he needs you, i guess you have to get out of the way and bite your lips and cross your fingers.

no change today, but i forgot to weigh until after breakfast and i'd had huge eggs on toast because we were all on our way out to the remembrance day service and it was freezing!

you are still losing! well done!

Thanks madwoman.

I did pop up to his playground after school. I was going to peek and see if he looked ok, but he didn't, he was green/pale and drawn looking with big black rings under his eyes and visibly anxious and trying so hard to hold it together. I think he's feeling pretty rough because of the gluten as well though, as he's had a constant bad stomach and headache since Wednesday. He spotted me and was obviously pleased to see me, so I went over and did the jolly 'have a great time' thing, as well as gently reminding him that we will have dh's phone on all night and he can call us at any time if he feels he needs to. He looked really small and scared when they left.

I've been leaping at the phone all evening. No-one ever calls us in the evening normally, but tonight we've had a stream of phonecalls.

Its been mighty quiet around here without him this evening.

The batteries went in my food scales this morning and they're some obscure giant button things, so haven't even tried to log my food today. Just ate a massive veggie cottage pie which much have been a major carb overload - but am past caring this evening.

I reaaally want to be under 11 stone for Christmas - I know its daft, its only a number, not to mention I'll probably gain half a stone over the holidays, but I just seem to be stuck on it.

you will be! and fingers crossed for ds x hope he relaxes a little once it's underway. often it's the anticipation that's the worst. hope he's ok x

have a glass of wine as well it might help you sleep!

Well done moose and madwoman - no change after eating breakfast must mean you've lost.

I'm back on mfp, I thought it would kick me up the bum and I think it has. I want to be under 10 stone by Christmas and as you've got a similar goal moose it's made me want to try harder. You're putting me to shame. I haven't weighed myself since last week when I was 10st 3 and I've been eating like a pig (TOM) so am definitely more than that, so good time to restart I think.

Porridge for breakfast, fish for tea.

If your ds isn't bothered about HE madwoman, I wouldn't do it. It has damaged my relationship with my ds and I think he has suffered from not mixing with other people day to day and just having a different environment to go to. I now know it wasn't school per se that was the problem with my ds but that particular school. Schools have personalities and that one was decidedly Daily Mail in disposition. Fascists

Weighed in this morning and am down again to 11st 4lbs - why do I always seem to drop a pound overnight from Friday to Saturday?

Quick update on last night. The Mum called and brought ds1 home at 1.00 am, he was in a terrible state. He is in a really bad way this morning, not only with all the anxiety, but upset that he feels he let his friend down and also really sad that he missed time to play with him this morning before he came home.

So, decorating has been cancelled to try and keep things as normal as possible for ds1 today.

Lambskin, are you sure you need to be under 10 stone. Iirc, you are about the same height as me - or as I was before I shrank . Most people on MFP seem to agree that between 10 and 10st 4lbs is right for 5ft 7 and anything under is really hard to maintain.

I am sitting here watching dh do my BFBM workout. I'm too tired and stressed to do it myself today, so have written this week off and will get back to working out on Monday.

Maybe you should just weigh in on a Saturday - good news anyway!

I'm 5ft 5 so a bit shorter and so yes I really do need to be a bit under 10st really. I know I can do it and maintain it, I used to be around 9 st for bloody years before living (and eating) with dh. I will do it I will do it I will do it.

So sorry about your poor ds. He's having an awful time of it at the moment isn't he. Does he try to push himself to do things because he feels that he ought to rather than because he really wants to? I hate social occasions but force myself to go for dh who loves them, I generally end up drinking too much and either talk too much (all rubbish) or sit in silence the whole time wishing I was at home reading a book. I've had awful panic attacks in front of loads of people and generally humiliated myself on numerous occasions from childhood to present day. My heart goes out to him. He sounds lovely and you sound like a fantastic caring mum. Take care today x

I'm starting to think that as well, but I don't trust my body not to hold onto that pound until Sunday if I do that!

Yes, ds is really pushing himself to try and be 'normal' and 'fit in' at the moment. He's also really scared that he'll lose his only friend and end up excluded from the main group of boys in his year as a result. His friend is a lovely lad and really looks after ds1, but is also very popular generally in school, so is really good at facilitating ds1's inclusion in the playground. What we're going to do when he goes off to Grammar school the year after next I honestly don't know.

I am the same as you socially, I'd far rather stay at home than go out and and be sociable, as I find it so stressful, but dh is a social animal. These days I tend to grudgingly agree to go out a couple of times a year, but the rest of the time we cite lack of babysitters as an excuse for me not to go. I was agoraphobic as a teenager, as a result of forcing myself to mix for dh's sake, so I really feel for ds because I really do know how he feels. I only wish I knew how to help him, but not having been all that successful with myself, I'm a bit lost with it all really. Its heartbreaking and sadly will probably only get worse through his teens.

I don't feel like a fantastic caring mum at the moment. We had a bust up earlier on because he was being so vile to his brother that I lost my temper with him. I really tried hard to step back and not push him today, but I couldn't let the way he was behaving towards ds2 pass without comment. He then went upstairs, zipped himself the wrong way up in his sleeping bag and got stuck, but no-one knew until ds2 found and rescued him. He said he thought I didn't want him here because he always causes fights and I had to explain that I absolutely do want him here - but could seriously do without the fighting.

Since then he's had his Nintendo time, read the new Lego Club Magazine and has calmed down a lot. I know he's having to work really hard under the surface to keep it together though, so it could all kick off again at any moment.

I have also put on the obligatory 2 stone - do you think it is something they are putting in the water that just makes ladies put on the weight, I have noticed that everyone who has put on weight is drinking more and more of it, there must be a link somewhere
I always substitute butter and cheese for the lighter philliadelphia and heard somewhere that if you suck ice cubes that it satisfies both the hunger and the thirst.
I joined the ITV healthy starts diet and exercise plan (about £30 for 8 weeks) 3 weeks ago but only managed to get around to looking at it for the first week but it is really good you put in all your details, what areas you want to concentrate on and if you have any injuries etc and it gives you lots of meal plans to choose from (you can even put in if you dont like fish or how many drinks a week you like) and an exercise plan for each week and even a shopping list for your favourite store and you can print it all and do it whenever you like,
I am going now to set up the last couple of weeks diets and get them printed then start with you all on Monday (I have the roast dinner and Yorkshires planned for Sunday lunch followed by trifle so it has to be Monday)

Hello Whendid, welcome aboard.

I am planning to redouble my efforts starting Monday as well, so we can get stuck into it together.

Need to buy some new batteries for my kitchen scales first though. Why do they always have to be some obscure size and voltage, never AAs or AAAs?

My starting weight is 12 stones 2 pounds and I want to be about 11 stones by Christmas

Moose, shouting is what I seem to do most of the time. That and crying! Had an interesting chat with ds2 last night after a truly awful day. He said that he has 2 brains, ds2 brain which is on the right and his mid-brain which is on the left. It's the mid-brain that makes him shout, swear, be violent, and say no to everything and the ds2 brain is always trying very hard, which makes him very tired and quite often he can't stop it. We thought he explained it very well and it helped when dealing with him today (and he even went to bed without the usual mammoth fights).

Had the school visit today and that went very well. He didn't want to see any children in case they 'exploded [his] ears' but left feeling positive about that particular school and the Head. SALT have also set a date for a home visit! Happy happy happy day! Am celebrating with a Black Russian and an olive (found some Kalua in the cellar!)

Hope your ds has had a better couple of days. I think I got stuck in a sleeping bag once - most traumatic! Forgotten about it until I read about your ds, all coming back now though, I thought I'd never get out and was going to suffocate! I think your ds and I would get on

Hello WhenDid! How is your first day going? I had a roast last night too, I had loads of veggies and beef but no potatoes or Yorkshire puddings and it was lovely did have red wine though

I think I've mentioned booze enough now.

Ah, bless your ds trying to explain his brain/s. It must be so hard for them trying to get us to understand things from their perspective.

Glad the school visit went well, fingers crossed it all works out and ds is back in a lovely supportive school soon.

Ds1 watched the CBBC Newsround Special on Austism with me this evening and was really taken with it. He said it helped him to see other children with AS and he found it easier to take in than books about it. So, I've been looking through some YouTube videos of other children about his age with AS and are going to watch some together to try and help him get a handle on it all.

He's toying with the idea of dislosing his dx to his classmates, but I've told him to think very carefully and only do it with the help of his teacher or inclusion worker if he decides to go ahead. I had to point out that his bully may well use it as ammunition, so he has to take the decision very carefully.

Had to take him to the GP this morning, as he's been having something resembling asthma attacks every night for a few weeks now and last night's was really bad. Turns out he has a chest infection, but they do think he might be developing asthma as well. So, he has a course of antibiotics plus an inhibitor inhaler for now and has to go back for Asthma testing in a month's time. I can't believe he's might be having to deal with being asthmatic on top of everything else, just when he's started getting interested in running and sport for the first time in his life as well.

One of our dogs went missing yesterday, just to add to general fun, stress and mayhem around here. Escaped through next door's broken fence (that we have asked repeatedly for them to fix ). Of course, she can't wear a collar since her neck op, because the scar tissue is still too tender. She is microchipped, but that obviously doesn't help anyone who finds her get her back to us quickly. So there was I running around the park in the pitch dark calling a deaf dog, who also happens to be black - which didn't help. Luckily, when we called the out of hours dog warden, someone had already called saying they'd found a dog matching her description. We don't get many, if any, strays around these parts and there are lots of dog lovers, so that was in her favour. It was her and she was having a whale of a time playing with their dog and three children. They didn't believe me when I said she was almost 13, they thought she was a youngster because she's so playful. You cannot believe how relieved I was. I have sent the family hamper of muffins to say thank you.

Anyway, enough chatter. Back to the matter in hand.

I have completely failed with my diet today. Had to go to Ikea to get a new mattress and pillows for ds1 (hoping it will help improve his chest). Ended up having to eat in their cafe and daftly let dh go and choose me something. The something turned out to be Fennel and Chestnut Roast with roasted veg! In my defence, I didn't have any lunch at all yesterday - let alone a roast dinner, but I think I probably made up for it calorie wise with today's blow out!

I went and bought new batteries for my food scales on the way home though, so I will be back on track tomorrow.

Ooo, nearly forgot, my weight carried on dropping after Saturday, so am now 11st 3lbs!

I'm going to have to search for that CBBC programme, sounds interesting especially as ds2 seems to be developing quite a lot of self awareness, not sure if he's ready to watch it and relate it to himself yet though.

I can understand why you're feeling reticent about your ds disclosing something so personal. What do his friends/class mates think of him and his behaviour? Would explaining some of the things he finds distressing help? The thing is, once they get to a certain age any difference is a weakness to pick at so I think I'd be feeling the same as you. Some folks on the SN board must have some experience of this, maybe worth asking?

So pleased you found your dog - went through the whole gamut of emotions reading that! Neighbour! Fix your fence!
You are doing so well losing weight I think you can let yourself have the odd Fennel and Chestnut roast Not exactly a KFC or MaccyD binge

Anyway, how's the exercise going?

The programme is based on slightly older children, they're all secondary age, but it doesn't come across as only being suitable for older children in terms of content.

Barring one or tow, ds's classmates have always been pretty supportive of him. They've been together since nursery, so this is their 7th year together. I think for the majority it would be well received, but having been horribly bullied for a long time by a couple of them I would be vary wary about giving them any excuse to pick on. I already had to go in and see his teacher last week because they were starting up with low grade bullying again, which is how it always starts before quickly escalating.

I've read some stuff on the SN board about it, but it seems pretty much split. For some disclosure has been a really positive experience, others have felt it would encourage bullying.

The inclusion team have offered to come in and do an awareness day. They talk all about differences and discuss autism, adhd and other things, how they affect people, how that can appear to other people and why/how they can be supportive. They don't mention any names, but say that in most schools they've done it in the pupils quickly pick up who's who. Still in two minds about it at the moment, as if not done right it could potentially lead to witch hunts, iyswim.

Exercise was dead in the water last week, just too much stress and not enough time. I was supposed to get back onto yesterday, but again ran out of time, so am starting again today back at level 1 of the shred. Going to do a week on each and then start my new dvd when it comes at the beginning of the new year.

Am a bit scared of shredding again after a week off to be honest.

Have put new batteries in the kitchen scales this morning, so can back to weighing and measuring.

I was scared of weighing in and exercising again after a break, but ... amazingly I am 10st 3.6 exactly the same as last time despite a take away and rather a lot of cheating. I also decided to throw myself in at the deep end exercise wise and did Davina's Buff Cardio which I dread on the best of days. It was fine and I now feel right back on track. If I lose anything that'll be great but if I maintain I don't think I'll fight it. Maybe you should give a higher level a go, you might surprise yourself

Well done for getting back into it Lambskin.

I managed a Level 1 shred and the two kickboxing circuits from Banish Fat Boost Metabolism. Really enjoyed it at the time, but boy am I exhausted now.

Think I will do five days on Level 1 with a couple of BFBM circuits thrown in and then move up to Level 2 again. I had planned to get straight back into level 2 this week, but think its probably more sensible to work my way into it for a few days. Level 2 is definitely the hardest shred level. You'd think it would be level 3, but its all the blooming planks, plus some horrible chair-squats and v-raises in the last strength circuit that make it so much harder to get through.

Madwoman - are you out there? How are you getting on? Still Kickboxing your way through the stress?

What about you Whendid? How are you doing with week 2 of your plan?

What are your favourite bits of the shred? Or is that an oxymoronic phrase?

I actually like doing plank type things and lifting weights, I used to do a lot of yoga so I'm quite strong (read chunky), cardio kills me. It reminds me of school. I have no stamina but I think I'm probably from peasant farming stock so could heave a cow about and run quite fast, just not for very long. Or at the same time

I hope everyone else is ok.

I actually love all of level 3. I got a bit addicted to it and ended up staying on it for 20 days! Apparently i'm not alone in that though. Its also go plenty of planks in it, but somehow they don't feel so hard as in level 2.

I don't really mind planks, but there are so many different types, back to back in level 2 and then the last circuit is a killer.

I love BFBM though, especially the kickboxing stuff.

I too have gained weight, I am running on my treadmiller daily.

Update what u r doing daily to loose your weight. I too will follow you.

Hello Susan

I've completely changed my eating habits, cut out all cakes, chocolate, sweets and junk food and monitoried my food/calorie intake using My Fitness Pal.

Then I started doing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred workout dvd at the end of August, am now doing her Banish Fat Boost Metabolism as well and will be doing her latest UK release Ripped in 30 when it comes out early in January. I also log my exercise on My Fitness Pal.

I'm not expecting to lose this week, as I've ramped up my workouts after a week off and I know that always makes me retain water for a while. My weight has been stuck at 11 stone 3 pounds since last Sunday, so it's unlikely to change before my weigh-in tomorrow morning.

Haven't lost any weight at all since last Sunday, but had already met and beaten my target for this week and know its because I've kickstarted my exercise again, so not worried.

Stats:

Starting weight 16/6: 14st 2lb
Weight 24/6: 13st 8lb
Weight 1/7: 13st 7lbs
Weight 2/7: 13st 5lbs
Weight 13/7: 13st 4lbs
Weight 14/7: 13st 1lb
Weight 21/7: 12st 13lbs
Weight 29/7: 12st 11lbs (and 6oz)
Weight 16/8: 12st 9lbs (weighed in Tues not Fri due to holidays)
Weight 19/8: 12st 8lbs
Weight 20/8: 12 st 7lbs
Weight 26/8: 12st 8lbs 4oz
Weight 2/9: 12st 6lbs
Weight 9/9: 12st 5lbs
Weight 15/9: 12st 2lbs - 2 stone off!
Weight 23/9: 12st 1lb
Weight: 30/9: 11st 13lb 6oz
Weight: 7/10: 11st 12lb 6oz
Weight: 8/10: 11st 11lb
Weight: 14/10: 11st 9lb 6oz
Weight: 21/10: 11st 8lb 6oz
Weight: 28/10: 11st 8lb 2oz hmm
Weight: 4/11: 11st 7lb exactly
Weight: 11/11: 11st 5lb
Weight: 18/11: 11st 3lb

Target for today was 11st 4lb (beaten)

Target for Friday 25 November: 11st 2lb

i have lost two pounds

sorry for being awol, it looks like you've had a heck of a week! i've been maxed out with grant bids and stuff for the not-for-profit, so have been sitting on my backside all week, weeping over spreadsheets. i can't work out how i've managed to lose two pounds with no exercise except a brief trot round with the dogs, but i'm not going to complain. and my jeans feel a little more comfortable...

poor ds, moose. maybe the asthma/ infection thing didn't help with the sleepover? i know if mine are under the weather then everything gets worse. (ds1 was v v sick last saturday night, and has been all over the shop).

he had his paed appt on tues. she is absolutely convinced that meds might help his inability to focus and his fidgety issues (he sat in her office and his feet found a step school under the chair, and he spent literally 45 minutes dragging it out, fussing with it, and tossing it around with his feet.) but she does also see lots of other potential co-morbids with an add/hd dx, so she's recommended a full pscho-ed assessment including cognitive profile and what-not. so that's all being done next month, but we do have to go into the city. normally the psych does a school observation as well, but becuase of the distance, they have requested video-recording instead, so ds1's teacher is going to sort that out.

it's been going on for so long i'm a bit torn. we've always known he is different, but he is definitely getting worse, and we've gone from no-one being particularly interested (except on the continence side) to wanting full assessment in the three months he's been here.

i spoke to his poor teacher the day before yesterday (she's the one that cried at his parent/ teacher interview, and has adhd herself apparently) and she said she now feels really guilty. she's the 'Persistence' lady who rules with a rod of iron, and she said that she can really tell him off, and can then see by his face that he totally mystified, and has absolutely no idea what he done/ hasn't done/ was doing/ wasn't doing. genuinely completely baffled. so she doesn't want it to get to the point where he's being sent to the principal by the other teachers etc, as he genuinely has no clue at all what's going on half the time.

on a positive note though, i think we are getting somewhere with the continence at last. he hasn't soiled for about two weeks. i am extraordinarily chuffed for him. this is just at home etc, obv. i still think he would be unable to use the washrooms if we were away, but he is definitely coping a bit better with that.

and wooooooooooooooo! for your loss, moose

Well done Madwoman! Same thing with me last week, no kitchen scales and only one workout and I drop 4lbs in just over a week. This week, good as gold with my diet and workouts and my weight hasn't shifted an ounce.

However, I have just been out to dinner with my Mum and made a conscious decision to leave my diet at home. I had veggie moussaka (although in my defence there were very few decent veggie options and that was the only one I hadn't had a similar diet/home-made version of in the last two weeks). That said, I have absolutely no excuse for the side order of chips, G&T or banoffee tart and ice cream!

Knowing my body, I'll probably wake up tomorrow and find I've lost half a stone! Of course if I'd had a glass of water and a lettuce leaf I would wake up having gained a stone.

Sounds like a tough week in the Mad household what with sickness, spreadsheets and paed appointments. The assessment process sounds pretty full on, but hopefully it will lead to some answers and better understanding and support for your ds.

Wahey on the continence success though, fantastic step forward for your ds - long may it continue.

ooo, yummy. i look forward to tomorrow's weight loss report

i do feel as though i need a week off, rather.

Gah! 6oz on - shouldn't have given my body the heads up by posting on here last night.