HELP! I eat well but I am now too fat to go on a riding school pony.

[BoffinMum]

I need everyone's support and advice. I am four stone overweight. There are a number of perfectly understandable reasons for this, to do with pregnancy, disability, work and so on, and I still look quite nice, but things have to change.

I rang a riding school this morning to book a lesson but when I told them my weight they said they didn't have a pony big enough for me. This is officially a turning point for me.

Now I eat well and sensibly, I can cook well, and I take a little bit of exercise (I can do much aerobic stuff as it sets off my osteoarthritis). But I need to do more to help myself so I get back into a normal weight range and start to try to have a life again.

Please help me everyone. I really need to do this.

I always ask for a horse. When my dad died, and left an unexpected legacy, I honestly thought I might be on for one. Then we spent it on school fees.

Many stables having Boxing Day rides...I'm hoping to be on one...

I've been advised to set a realistic expectation re my weight over Xmas; eg, to stay the same, or only put on one pound, or whatever. To aim to lose half a stone is not realistic.

This is true, but Paul McKenna hasn't got a pep talk for that!

I think one of the the things that is helping is eating slower ... I was really scoffing food down, but I am probably 25% slower now and that seems to reduce food intake.

There, sorted!

Lost 5lbs so far, since you all helped. This is the absolute bestest weight loss programme I have ever, ever been on. I am very grateful to you all.

Brighthair, I hope I haven't unnerved you by making references to RL. Sorry if I have. I was just being friendly.

I am up to 7 lbs now.

The best bonus is that the Paul McKena app sends me off to sleep very quickly every night.

17 more lbs to go before I can ride at Barrington!

Well Done Boffinmum

Would you mind summerising what you have changed please?

Crikey, that's fantastic, Boff.

You are an Example to us all.

1. I enter absolutely everything I eat into Myfitnesspal and if I have overdone it one day, I eat more protein, fruit and veg than carbs the next day to reduce overall calories, and/or I do a bit of extra exercise to buy more calories back from the system.
2. I have more or less inadvertently ditched bread, apart from 2 slices of Weightwatchers bread every other day.
3. I listen to the Paul McKenna thing when I go to sleep every night, in fact it actually makes me go to sleep.
4. I do the Paul McKenna anchoring techniques to avoid cravings, promote success and to avoid emotional eating. Of these, pinching my thumb and middle finger on the right hand together to promote feelings of success works the best. The anti-craving one has been so dramatic there are certain random foods that physically make me gag now - I tried to eat some duck's gizzards the other day (don't ask) and I literally couldn't cope with it at all!
5. I eat more hot meals than before - often three a day. I prepare meals more carefully.
6. I do personal training once a week and do a workout that uses up 350 calories, having my Weight Watchers toast as a reward afterwards.
7. I find I get quite thirsty, so I probably drink about 4 extra glasses of water a day.
8. I eat a bit slower and tend to sit at the table (but not always). I find food tastes a lot better and more vivid, coincidentally.
9. I do a little bit more walking but not much, as my hips have been quite bad.

10. I do a bit more cycling but not if it's frosty. Not a lot, though. 11. Now and then I put my Adam Ant records on the record player and dance maniacally around the living room, exhausting even the toddler, until my hips pack up for the day.

You did ask!

Oh, but that's not fair! You've been doing all the right things, and doing them consistently.

Seriously, well done for being so determined and logical about it.

Does anyone want to buddy me on myfitnesspal?

Oooh I will - what's your mfp name?

Boffin I'm the same name on MFP if you want to add me (searched your name and nothing comes up)

Have pm'd

I'd love to...but will have to join MFP first...

Don't hold yer breath...

Right, I have lapsed. I am eating about 1800 calories a day instead of the 1540 allocated, and I have put on something like 4 or 5 lbs in a week. I am not sure why this is, as the maths doesn't work. I have been moderately active including going for a walk on Boxing Day and yesterday, and also fitting in a gym and swim. Any ideas or tips?

I think most diet gurus would say you have to write it off as "Xmas" and move on...it's a rubbish time of year for dieting.

Re the maths - could be partially to do with water retention or hormonal shifts; weight does fluctuate eccentrically. Alcohol?

In a few days the newspapers will be full of "turn over a new leaf" features so you can get going again then. I would do - in fact I am doing - damage limitation for now.

I think you're right - I'll move on and put the last week behind me. There might be a few thyroid problems underpinning it as well.

I think it was Lenin who said that thing about "two steps forward, one step back"...It still leaves you one step ahead, and given the Xmas factor, that is fantastic.

You are right - I have lost another pound so perhaps I am back on track now. I did a lot of very healthy cooking with my new Magimix, so I think that helped. Plus adapting menu plans in my El Bulli Family Meal cookbook. For example yesterday we had vegetable soup with turkey stock, risotto and strawberries with Greek yoghurt for lunch, and pork steaks in BBQ sauce, cauliflower béchamel and new potatoes for supper, followed by banana slices in orange zest syrup, and it was all very tasty but modest calorifically.