Help, it's so boring!

[pyjamalover]

So I've been eating really well for a week, it's going ok, I felt starving for the first few days but ok now. But it's so dull! Also was eating quite badly before, so expected to lose lots in the first week but have actually only lost 1kg.

I've never really dieted before but weight has gradually crept up over the years and really want to lose a stone.

Any hints or tips from those who've been on the wagon a while?

You're not doing it right if the food is boring

The food isn't boring, it's good food. Just watching what i eat, not having ice cream at the park, saying no to sweets at work is boring!

1kg isn't bad in a week - it's more than 2lb. And I agree, there's no need for it to be boring, you just have to be a bit more creative about what you eat. I'm actually quite enjoying it. However, I have no "banned" foods, it's all about balance and moderation - things I wasn't too good at previously!

It's still early days for me yet, but I've been eating well for about a month now, and it really hasn't been a hardship. I've lost around a stone so far. I could almost certainly lose faster if I tried, but if I deny myself too much, I know I won't stick to it, and i won't be able to maintain it either, so I'm happy with the slower pace.

Are you exercising? I find that helps enormously, and I'm already looking more toned, though I still have a long way to go.

You shouldn't feel staving if your eating healthy.

Some top tips for healthy eating.

Fresh herbs added to salad or cooking really life a meal.

Try some food you haven't eaten before every week. So a vegetable you've never eaten, why not have crumpets instead of toast, or a different cooking technique.

I try to have 3 or 4 different breakfast options during a week. So maybe 2 different types of cereal, porridge, toast, eggs.

Are you on Myfitnesspal.com? I enjoy looking in the food diaries of other people, might give you some new ideas. There was a thread with Mumsnetters looking for friends a few days ago (yesterday?) and you can add me if you like. I only just started but I have been about 500 calories under my goal each day this week and I've not been bored at all by what I eat nor have I been hungry.

It can be boring but unless you are doing low carb, a solero is only 100 calories, or a small portion of ben and jerry's cherry garcia frozen yoghurt is around that as occasional treat.

And there are other treats that can be incorporated into a diet, eg greek yoghurt with strawberries, smoked salmon.

But yes it is long slow and boring and the sad truth is that if you want to keep it off once you have lost it you will need to get used to saying no to sweets at work permanently.

Thanks all, i know it's all true. I think a lot of these forums, websites etc are BECAUSE eating well is a bit boring, so I go on mfp but would rather be tucking into a family size bar of dairy milk.

I am enjoying the yummy food and now the (physical) cravings have gone i feel better already so will definitely keep it up.