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Weight loss chat

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.

Don't know where to start but would appreciate some hand holding and a kick up the butt!

45 replies

morelovetogive · 22/08/2011 14:05

Hi,
I have had a couple of wake up calls lately and realised i need to improve myself generally. I am making more effort with my appearance and self confidence is starting to improve but i need to sort out my eating habits and learn to love exercise! I'm 28, i've got a 20 month old daughter and a husband with an active job and a high metabolism who is very lovely but crap at being supportive about me getting into shape! I am 5ft7/8ish and currently 13st 2lb. I'd really like to get under 11 stone which i think is about right for my frame. More than that i'd really like to stop the binge eating. I eat sugary crap by the bucket load and can't seem to kick the habit. I also have a limited cooking repetoire and am a really fussy eater which makes things difficult. I am also on a very limited budget at the moment. I really need some help and encouragement to help me change. I DO NOT want to 'go on a diet'. My mum dieted constantly when i was a child and i do not want my daughter to grow up with that. Instead i want to simply learn how to be healthier and find simple ways to improve my diet and to get exercise throughout the day. If there are others in the same boat who would be willing to be there at times of crisis to stop me failing and i will do my best to do the same and to help with new ideas for meals and exercising.

Thanks Smile

OP posts:
HowToLookGoodGlaikit · 23/08/2011 12:09

Would Paul McKenna be an option for you? Its very cheap to buy the book & CD, and then you can carry on eating your fave foods too.

cyb · 23/08/2011 12:52

I really think OP wants to do it by herself, without resort to hypnosis or anything else

foreverondiet · 23/08/2011 13:30

Paul McKenna is doing it on your own. The hypnosis CD is optional and can be useful if willpower is lacking. The basic premise is that you eat only when hungry, which is important for someone who needs to develop a healthy relationship with food.

I use Paul McKenna, but on its own it doesn't really work for me - I need to eat at meal times with the DC, and as I do a lot of exercise I need to fit in with that. But it has helped me to avoid snacking between meals if not hungry as that was my downfall.

But now I know when I'll be hungry - eg mid morning, so have apple to hand. I also plan before I start eating what the snack or meal will be.

morelovetogive your diet is very high in carbs - don't need quiche and jackets - there is already carbs in the quiche. Again frozen pizza and chips is a double serving of carbs. Have slice of pizza and salad.

I use lots of healthy eating tricks eg pad out bolognaise sauce with chopped tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, aubergine, courgette. If necessary use frozen veg (cheaper) and puree the veggies if you don't want to taste the texture of the veggies.

TracyK · 23/08/2011 13:39

Maybe you could stretch out your brekkie. Have an omlette -then when peckish an hour or 2 later - have the smoothie.

TracyK · 23/08/2011 13:40

Also - agree Paul McKenna is a good read - maybe from the library. Basically he tells you to actually pay attention to your hunger, stop eating when full and enjoy every mouthful.

HowToLookGoodGlaikit · 23/08/2011 13:40

Im pretty sure I am losing the weight all by myself Cyb Grin I listen to the CD to break my bad food habits, which is a very good thing :)

TheBride · 23/08/2011 13:45

Porridge is a good breakfast- and it is super super cheap.

I know what you mean about not having time to make food. I make myself a sandwich for lunch when DS is having his breakfast, and then I'm not tempted to just grab a handful of Pringles come lunchtime.

The thing with losing weight by lifestyle changes is that it is less depriving, but you do have to be more consistent to see any impact- maybe 6 days out of 7. It's really easy to let the bad habits creep back otherwise

morelovetogive · 23/08/2011 17:07

Ok, lay off the carbs and the sugary crap and drink more water are my initial targets then. That and brisk walks with the dogs instead of letting them run around on the field while i wander along!

Quite pleased with today. Went to a friends for a picnic lunch and while there wasn't a great deal of low carb options (sandwiches, sausage rolls etc) i had just a small amount and 1 slice of cake with lots of strawberries. Usually i'd scoff loads but i just tried to concentrate on eating until i was satisfied. I just got home and was about to reach for the biscuits but then thought 'am i actually hungry though - no!'. So a good start. Will take the dogs later then need to clean the house for a viewing tomorrow while DD is in bed.

Macaroni cheese for dinner so just a small portion for me with lots of salad.

The porridge suggestion for lunch is a good one. I usually have it in the winter anyway but it seems a bit heavy for summer somehow. I'll make some fruit puree to have with it to stop me reaching for the syrup!

OP posts:
TracyK · 23/08/2011 17:41

Well done for today. Once you get in the 'zone' it should become 2nd nature.

cyb · 23/08/2011 17:48

well done morelove

Its about thinking before you eat and not standing with your head in the cupboard mindlessly stuffing crap in

TracyK · 23/08/2011 18:17

Get some of those Alli pills - the risk of getting the runs - REALLY focusses your mind on low fat eating!!!!

RogerMelly · 23/08/2011 18:22

i have done the new weightwatchers plan and it is amazing. Have bought no diet crap, just looked at my portion size, made better choice wrt food and walked more. Have lost 3 1/2 stone very very easily

cyb · 23/08/2011 19:06

NO PILLS NO WEIGHTWATCHERS

It is NOT sustainable

foreverondiet · 23/08/2011 19:27

Taking on sustainable weight loss, IMO:

a) weightwatchers - ok if if teaches you about healthy portion size and healthy food choices, and you can stick this way of long term. Less good if you just trade normal bread and biscuits and their crap food (diet bread, cakes, biscuits). But if you want to focus on healthy portion size why pay £££ to weightwatchers when you can do it for free at myfitnesspal or other freebie websites?

b) Pills, personally don't really see point because you have to stick to low fat diet in any case. Why not just do low fat / low calorie diet without the pills?

c) Very low carb (ketosis) diets are not IMO sustainable. I do moderate carbs but its important to be allow occasional lapses. I worked on 90:10 for weight loss and 70:30 for weight maintenance.

d) Paul McKenna is IMO sustainable if it teaches you good eating patterns, ie to eat when hungry and not indulge in emotional eating.

e) Many people don't realise that when weight loss, its generally not all fat, but muscle mass is lost too. As a result when they lose the weight and get to target their body fat is higher than it was when they were last at this weight as muscle mass is lower. This generally leads to weight gain as the dieters BMR is lower than it should be as muscle is metabolically active and fat is not. To avoid/mitigate this it is essential to eat enough protein (ideally at each meal) and undertake resistance training whilst losing weight. Yes the weight loss will be slower but its more likely to be sustainable weight loss.

I am 4 months into my maintenance phase and my next objective is to try and restock some of my lost muscle.

TracyK · 24/08/2011 07:55

If it was easy to stick to a low fat diet - I'd look like Claudia by now. I have no real willpower - but if I am taking the pills - I KNOW I can't have anything unhealthy - so don't even bother trying. I don't envisage doing them for more than a month - but hopefully will give me a kick start to encourage me to stick with it and will have weaned myself off the craving for crisps!

I do a lot of body pump/combat so am not worried about losing muscle - but have dropped my weights down as I was starting to look like a fat body builder!

RogerMelly · 24/08/2011 09:22

@a) weightwatchers - ok if if teaches you about healthy portion size and healthy food choices, and you can stick this way of long term. Less good if you just trade normal bread and biscuits and their crap food (diet bread, cakes, biscuits). But if you want to focus on healthy portion size why pay £££ to weightwatchers when you can do it for free at myfitnesspal or other freebie websites?@

because for me I need to be weighed by someone else in person and talk about why I have had problems this week etc and it has really helped me identify why i make bad decisions wrt food and alcohol and what those triggers are. I have bought no weightwatchers or diet foods at all and my leader doesn't push them either. It has worked for loads of people at my group, some people have lost in excess of 100lbs (I have lost 50lbs) so i really think it is silly to knock something that obviously works for alot of people. It's not a quick fix solution, it has taken me almost a year to lose this weight, it has taken other people several years and plenty of people get to goal and stay there. I don't plan to be overweight again fwiw (hey who am i kidding, I was obese Blush)

TracyK · 24/08/2011 10:15

I must dig out my Paul McKenna CD again - I remember it was good to play in the car on the way to work - that kind of 'gets you in the mood' for eating healthily before the day starts.

morelovetogive · 25/08/2011 12:20

Well i ate nothing sweet at all yesterday. I even chose not to have a dessert when we went out for dinner. Pretty pleased with myself for that. Exercise hasn't happened for various reasons but will make more of an effort with that. Need to go shopping later so will bear in mind all of the helpful advice here when i write my shopping list!

OP posts:
TracyK · 25/08/2011 13:39

Well done you!
I had a bit of a shock today - I actually looked at how much fat was in a choc digestive bix - I thought skimmed milk cappacino and 2 of them would be an ok kind of snack to see me through till lunch at 2pm. eek - 4.5 g of fat in EACH ONE!! No more!

morelovetogive · 01/09/2011 12:59

Well i have done as suggested on the food front and cut out the sweet stuff and tried to make healthier versions of what i already eat and also tried to only eat when i am actually hungry and i have lost 4lbs so far. Very pleased to be under 12st! Exercise not really happened due to circumstances meaning i have not had much time so will try harder with that next week. Cutting out the sweet stuff hasn't been easy and i haven't been 100% succesful but a vast improvement on where i was and the cravings are leaving me now. Here's hoping i can continue like this! Its certainly motivated me to think that with little effort i have already shifted a little!

OP posts:
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