Okay these are the little rules I am following in bid to lose couple of stone - any to add?

[wildpoppy]

Day one of diet - today - went well. I am size 20 and want to lose a couple of stone. To be a standard size 18 would be fine for me. I'm about a stone heavier than when I conceive dd and want to ttc again soon. I am rubbish at diets though. So here are the self imposed rules I am going to follow. Any to add?

• don't weigh self - go by dress size

• always leave a mouthful on the plate as it's not needed and over a week that adds up to a whole meal you didn't wat

• no fizzy drinks (rarely have these anyway)

• no sugar in coffee (about four times a week I do this)

• pasta or bread just once a day

• no cake unless it's someone's birthday

• if I fancy chocolate have a hot chocolate instead

• remember anything bad I fancy will still be there for consumption when diet ends

• have a little treat every few days

• do not finish the baby's dinner if she doesn't eat it all.

I think I'd be a bit more specific with the portion sizes. A mouthful left on the plate (incidentally Paul McKenna advises this, and I get where he's coming from...it psychologically helps you to break the mindset of finishing everything on your plate) won't realistically do much if you're eating humongous portions. Maybe a rule like half the plate veggies, a quarter lean protein and a tennis ball sized portion of carbs? Depends on how big your plates are too!

Same with bread/pasta once a day...can you quantify this? How large a portion?

I think every day can be a treat day, but it has to be controlled. You will eventually find things which feel quite treaty but don't do much damage. But I'd limit it to something like 150 cals a day (I know you don't want to count calories though). The 'when the diet ends' mentality is a dangerous one. We need to think of this as a new way of life, hence why you should work the yummy stuff in, but in a controlled way so it feels sustainable, and eventually you'll want it less and less when you know it's 'allowed'.

The hot choc thing really works for me. I like Options or Highlights. Only around 40 cals.

Drink a bit more water. (Not a drastic amount, but a cup or two a day doies make you feel healthier after a few days.)

Take a bit of exercise EVERY day, if you physically can- be it a brisk walk around the block or five minutes getting hot and steamy with a skipping-rope.

Re: bread. Don't use butter or marge. You stop missing it really quickly. If you have a sandwich, STUFF it with salad. And the brown grainy bread really does fill you up for longer. (If I have Burgen bread for lunch, I don't need to eat again till tea-time... physically can't, in fact.)

Make sure everything you eat is nutritious.

Funny, for me, polishing off the baby's meals has helped me stop being hungry between meals, but I don't suppose mashed carrot is all that fattening. :o

Good luck!

There are 4 simple rules you need to follow to lose weight

1. Eat what you want (if you dont fancy veggies with dinner dont have them, want that slice of cheesecake for brekkie? have it!)

1. Eat when you are hungry (dont feel the need to eat just because its 12 or dinner time eat when you truely want to)

1. Eat slowly and conciously (aim to chew each mouthful 15-20 times, enjoy every mouthful)

4.Stop when you are full (dont finish the plate just because its there,if you are unsure then stop you can always eat again if you are not!)

I have been following these 4 simple rules for 5 weeks and have lost 22lbs
I have eaten what I want and never felt guilty, never felt the need to binge and have enjoyed every mouthful of food I have had

a good trick I have is every time I want something sweet, I eat some protein instead- a few almonds or a spoon of natural (unsweetened) yoghurt or a slice of cheese. Then I have a glass of water- it really does help with my constant sugar cravings. Good luck!