Who's in for healthy weight loss in 2012?

[TartyMcFalalalalalalalalarty]

I'm sat here piling on the pounds over Christmas, not quite having lost those I gained last year!

It's got to the point where it's now or never - DH and I are TTC #2, so I have to get to a healthy weight to give us the best possible chance, which is motivation in itself. I need to lose about half a stone to get into my healthy weight range, but ideally would like to lose another stone on top of that.

I've half-arsedly tried Weight Watchers and Paul McKenna over the last year, and if I gave it a decent shot, either of those would help. The main thing I'm going to do to kick start the weight loss though, is make a new year's resolution to cut right back on junk food, which is my weakness. Basically, if it's not something nutritious, or if there's a healthier alternative, I'm going to try to give it a miss!

Having cancelled my gym membership last year, I joined a running club instead and will be going out with them once a week, and once with my DM. I have a kettlebell and DVD at home, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kettlercise-Just-Women-PLUS-Kettlebell/dp/B0053YNSDY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325074972&sr=8-1 this one, and will continue to use that twice a week. I'll also be going to a PAYG spinning class once a week, and maybe the odd Kettlercise class to vary the routine on the DVD a bit.

So, anybody interested in joining me? I'm not sure whether to go for it immediately from 1st January, or to wait until the 3rd (I have parties to go to on Sunday and Monday, so might be setting myself up for failure). That said, it would be a real buzz to manage a couple of social occasions straight away - they're usually another downfall for me!

I'm doing ok. Not hungry as of yet. Ask me in 10 mins!
Making shepherds pie from scartch with veg as ds likes it. Better than making a burger I suppose.
Thanks again. The positive comments is what I need I think. When I start eating healthy and there's no praise the first few days become extremely hard.

Happy birthday Putyourhaton!
Enjoy your day :)

Happy birthday putyourhaton - relax and have a lovely day.

Well done vicky08! I think sometimes it's even more satisfying to notice physical changes like fitting back into clothes!

putyourhaton have a FAB day and enjoy. You can be restrained next week and just think how slim and fit you'll look by your next birthday.
vicky well done on the jeans test - that is the ultimate as how you look and feel is almost as important as what the scales say
fazsaeed a big glass of milk with your breakfast is also good - plenty of healthy fluids will help reduce snacking.
Burgers are fine so long as they are home made, with home made oven chips (that have very little fat) and no fizzy drinks or fatty extras and NO snacking between meals.

To lose the weight permanently will be a slow and steady job because you have to train your brain to no longer accept your old eating habits.
If you have to snack, a bowl of dried fruit or sliced raw veg will provide your body with the nutrients it needs.

fazsaeed - Welcome! One big thing to learn is that, for a lot of main meals, it is not the ingredients which scupper a diet but the cooking method. So lean mince and onion made into burgers and potatoes chopped into wedges and sprayed with a tiny bit of oil then oven cooked = burger and chips which is pretty healthy. Burger and fries from MacDonalds = calorie overload!

Putyourhaton - happy birthday.

DD1 has been ill and I fell off the wagon spectacularly yesterday and had takeaway curry. However, despite DH also buying a big block of chocolate I didn't touch it, and I have resisted the urge to 'write off this week and start again after the weekend'. Had yoghurt for breakfast and stir fry veg for lunch (the kids version had noodles too).

((Newyears)) poorly small people is a downer
and WELL DONE on being strong again today

takeaway curry is bad - but only if you let it be. Get a set menu as the portions are smaller and the veg coefficient is higher, go for fruity sauces rather than creamy - everything in moderation.
I go out for a Chinese once a month and ALWAYS do a set menu as the variety of flavours is bigger and the portions are smaller

and BTW - home made oven chips are pretty healthy.
"French Fries" from McD are not even potato - they are extruded macerated corn starch
Chip shop chips are around 22% fat
But if you slice up potatoes (skin on to keep all the nutrients) put them in a big bowl, sprinkle on a bit of cornflower and a bit of oil, mix / toss it all (an excellent messy job for small boys) and then spread on a baking tray and cook for about 20 minutes - they are under 5% fat and just wonderful.
Just do not overdo the ketchup (22% sugar) or mayo (68% fat) :-)

You can have completely syn free chips with SW if you chop up the baked potatoes into chip shapes, lay them on a non-stick oven tray and bake them on high for half an hour.

I actually prefer them to other types of chip as they're not at all greasy....

I agree home made chips/wedges are so easy. I never buy oven chips.
I just cut a potato into wedges (leave skin on), put them in a bowl. Add salt and a spoon of olive oil. Mix it around then put them on a baking tray upright and cook in a hot oven for 25mins.
I've sometimes added cumin and chilli powder too. They're delicious.

Happy birthday putyourhaton - have a great day!

fazsaeed, if you like cereal I think weetabix is the best in terms of sugar etc?

NewYearsRevolution at the 'write off this week and start again after the weekend' - I have def been guilty of that! It's completely illogical when you think about it (I've just eaten some rubbish so I'm going to use that as a reason to eat more rubbish) so well done for not falling into the trap!

I've just had a hot cross bun but am going to be strong for the rest of the day.

The burgers that we have are ready made frozen burgers...
Stick them in the halogen oven for a bit and done. Fast and convenient.
Im not being too strict I'm allowing everything in moderation.
Ive had lots of veg which is good.
I've not snacked on anything so far today.
When I was hungry while dinner was cooking I had a glass of water.
I'm proud of myself.
Pat on the back :D
I would of usually had some malteasers, cuppa with choc biscuits...

I'm going food shopping later on. My take a bag of nik naks with me (100 cals) so I'm not tempted to buy extra because I'm hungry.

mmm chips, I'm going to try out the hm oven chips this weekend.

I second weetabix for breakfast, it keeps me full up all morning, I have 2 weetabix and skimmed milk.

fazsaeed don't go food shopping when you're hungry, you'll only want to buy more bad things, it's better to go after you've eaten.

My DS has always been ill all this week, it really upsets your routine doesn't it?

Well done NewYearsRevolution on not writing off this week.

Vicky clothes are a really good indicator aren't they, you can feel a real difference no matter what they scales say.

Happy birthday putyourhaton. Don't feel bad, if you can't enjoy pizza and champagne (nice combo btw) on your birthday, when can you? Great that you're getting straight back on the wagon. You too NYR .

fazsaeed have you considered shopping online. It's less tempting and easier to stick to your list. When you buy burgers, just have a look at the fat content on the packet and see if you can find anything lower. Fishfingers or fish fillets in breadcrumbs (not batter) would be a better choice or a grilled chicken fillet. Reading the labels is time consuming but so interesting. Once you get into it you will be able to compare everything you buy (cereals for example) and get the nutrients you really want. Well done so far, some positive changes made already. Keep it up .

I've had a really stressful and day really want to kick back with some wine and 'nibbles' but I'm not going to. I recognise that as emotional eating/drinking and I know that, really, I do want to lose weight this week. The feeling will pass. I'm going to have a coffee and later I might put a facepack on to pamper myself a bit .

Hi all, a good day for me today. Porridge, soup, and for dinner ds is helping me make healthy pizza's! :)

Happy birthday putyourhaton hope you've had a fab day. Enjoy your pizza!

fazeaeed Do not, under any circumstance's go shopping hungry!!! It will be a disaster! Online shopping is a great idea as you can really stick to your list! And try and swap the niknaks for something else fruit or veg, or even a few crackers, the trick is to break habits!

I'm another one who loves homemade chips. They taste so much better than shop bought and take hardly any effort! Much healthier!

Well done with the jeans vicky ! Its such a good feeling when you fit better into clothes. I haven't had the guts to try any of my 'skinny' stuff yet.

I've just shredded. I'm making pizzas too then I'm off to my book club.

Out for lunch tomorrow at family so will have to eat whatever is there. Seeing as its my nephews birthday and they live 2 hrs away, I don't really have much choice so I'm just going to enjoy it and then not have any dinner.

Have a good weekend everyone.

I'm back and very proud of myself :)
No junk
I got lots of fruit and veg.
Some special k snacks and velvet rice crisp things. I've told mum that I'm no longer eating shit and she didn't buy half as much crap. ( mum is very thin, she eats lots of crap though!)

P.s for tea ive got tuna pasta and some salad

Very well done vicky!!!
I bet that's such a nice feeling to put old skinny clothes back on and they fit!!

fazsaeed
WELL DONE on standing up to your Mum. Inner personal strength is half of getting control of physical matters.

Clothes - oddly I've not actually lost weight this week (sneakily popped on the scales this morning) BUT getting muscle tone back in, am overhanging my jeans less. Bye bye to that muffin top.

Hathall fill as much of your plate as you can with veg and salad before the meat bits are served = bingo hidden portion control ;-)

well done fazsaeed, now you're set up for a healthy weekend!

I've had a good day today. Only treats since Tuesday have been an alpro soya choccy dessert each night - 110 cals

I'm on for another good one tomorrow, then a little treat on Sunday - brunch with DP for his birthday. I'll try not to be toooo bad though (no chocolate croissants!)

I swear my trousers felt looser today but it could be psychosomatic!

here's a silly
I saw a programme about Diana Rigg a few years back
when she needed to lose weight she would stand up tall and then tie a ribbon around her waist that if she slumped or put on weight, dug in.

A tad extreme BUT the point is - move away from elasticated waists and stretch clothing and make a real point of looking at yourself in a full length mirror (or shop window) once a day and do two things

• what looks good ?
• what looks bad ?

and get into the habit of standing tall, shoulders back and down (boobs magically up and out), pulling your tummy in and tucking your bum under.

And SMILE - most of the time if you can. At people and in general.
You'll be amazed at what happens ...........

Whenever I have to stand still for a couple of minutes, I try to remember to pull my tummy in. It's a little mini workout .

I overarch my back terribly- horrid posture which makes my tummy stick out, and its naturally a bit of a pot belly anyway...

My ex once said to me, very matter-of-factly "You know, you're not fat, its just that you stick your tummy out so far when you stand up!".

Hard to change the habit of a lifetime though...

cup
change it
I'm nearly 47
bad backs are a bastard
train the muscles while you are young
EVERY DAY pull your bum under - IGNORE the African / Brazilian / Daily Mail pictures - a straight back is a strong back
faire
too right - tuck the abdomen in and aim to see the definition that are ribs....

Today I have refused, biscuits, chocolate bar, donut, chips, and sausages!! Tough day but did have take away but had chicken chow mein instead of normal curry.

Well done Lisa. I have refused cakes and doughnuts today too. I don't think I would enjoy them anyway, I would feel too guilty for eating them! Gotta stay in the zone.

I have a wedding to go to in May and will see family I haven't seen since last summer. I want to make an impact and feel good about myself so I am so determined to get this weight off and keep it off! If I'm tempted I just chant May, May, May to myself. Seems to be working.

Well done Lisa!
That's brill.
I refused mc Donalds lol.
:)

Thank you for the birthday wishes, I had a lovely time but back on the wagon today, early walk on the beach, swim and shred! but by god did that pizza taste good sent leftover cake, soft drink etc. home with sil so bad day doesn't turn into bad week.

well done everyone on the superb refusing!

Wow walk on the beach so early in the morning I'd love to do that!