NOW, or NEVER, no EXCUSES thread part 4.

[Tortoise]

Here we are, thread 4 .
Time for me to have a large kick up the arse and lose weight! (After Easter!)

Weighed in this morning, 13st 12, I'm really looking forward to the day when I can write the 12 first but it's going to be a little while at this rate. Just 1.4lb off this week. Of course I'm just ramping up for 'that time of the month' so maybe I can blame the smaller loss on that.

Hope everyone's weekends were good, spent half of mine in work on overtime but Sunday was nice, DS1 arrived home from University, it'll be good having him around for a couple of weeks.

Lapland UK looks fantastic, just googled it, unfortunately both of mine are a bit old for it now I think. Well DS1 would probably still go for it but they would consider him too old and DS2 has already told me he no-longer believes in Santa

Well done Zalen, I really did not have the energy to go and get weighed today (weather pretty miserable so I stayed in all day). I did get on my scales though and it does say I have lost a lb, not sure if its correct but it will do.

Thanks arty, well done yourself, take the 1 lb loss that your scales are crediting with you. However inaccurate they are they have to be in the right ballpark and obviously must be more accurate when going down than going up!

I'm back. We had a lovely time and for the first time in months I think we're all free of sniffles. Dds loved meeting Santa and his elves. They were so excited I got quite emotional! (and I'm usually a tough old boot).

I weighed myself yesterday morning and have forgotten what it said, but it was definitely up. As expected I ignored the diet. Our hotel last night had a buffet and I enjoyed 3 courses, 4 if you include a couple of small bits of lovely, smelly cheese.

Zalen, well done for getting in the 13s! That must be almost a stone! It might seem like a slow loss but time really goes quickly. This time a year ago I was 12 st (168 lbs) and last week I was approaching the 8s. Dieting can be really crap but i think my tastebuds have changed and it has taken me this long to unlearn my bad habits. (I'm not completely there yet.)

Arty, I would call that a good loss. Let's hope Santa brings you some reliable new scales.

Up 4 lbs . I'm going to see if I can get 7 days of diet in before Xmas day. My non diet days will be Xmas day, boxing day and 27th December.

Dd1 has asked if we can leave mince pies for Santa. I haven't bought any this year or last year because I am the only one who likes them and so will scoff the whole box. Dh does eat them but not in one go like me so I'll need to hide them.

Hi Johnny, glad you had a good time. Nearly to the 8s is fantastic, in 2000 I lost 3 st over the course of the year, Jan 17th 2001 I touched on 10st and immediately started back up, although it took about 3 years to get back to where I started at 13 st.

Over the course of the last year I've been doing an hour of Martial Arts 2 - 4 times most weeks and have still managed to put on about 1.5 to 1.75 st. If I pass grading this week I enter the advanced grades, I need to get my weight down as I really struggle with the fitness components.

The alarm bells started ringing when I register 14st 13lb back in mid November, 3 days later I joined MFP at 14st 11.4, this morning I weighed in at 13st 9.4, definitely moving in the right direction. I worry though that I'm approaching my own personal nemesis, I've got down to around 13 st 4 several times before but seem unable to get past it.

Do you have a Greggs or similar near you, can you get a single mince pie for Santa to minimise the damage?

Zalen that's such a good idea I don't know why I didn't think of it. sadly we don't have a Greggs but I'm sure I can buy an individual mince pie from wAitrose or sainsburys.

I find it interesting that so many people lose weight and then put it on again and I am terrified of doing that myself. Do you know why you did it? Was it just falling back into bad habits? It's so easy to have a bad day and think "I'll start again tomorrow" and have this keep happening. This is my first diet (logging what I'm eating rather than just cutting back a bit) and I am terrified of putting it on again.

You should reach 13 st 4 in January. Come on and moan / get things off your chest if it becomes too difficult.

Btw I put about a stone on when I took up running between dd1 and dd2 and I always used to snack after swimming. There is something about exercising that makes me eat carbs afterwards so on the rare occasions I do it I do have to be careful.

In 2000 I lost the weight mainly because my car was stolen Boxing Day 1999 and by the time I got hold of the insurance company after Christmas I was so fed up I bought a push bike instead and cycled to work. I ended up cycling for around 4 years until we moved further from work and to the top of a reasonably big hill.

I think the problem was that once I'd lost the weight I drifted back into eating the same as the rest of the family which meant huge portions and it just slowly went back on. I'm going to have to be really aware of that this time if I manage to reach my goal weight. To be honest this is the first time I've ever really dieted, before I've always relied on exercise and 'being good' I'm just not very good at 'being good'

I also need to find out how tall I actually am. When asked I always just say about 5ft 6, I think that just sounded like a good height, I'm not sure that I actually have much in the way of grounds for believing I'm that tall.

Ha, I'm sure I'm 5ft 3 1/2 (or maybe 3?) but I like to delude myself that I'm taller. I think I like to bury my head in the sand (about all problems, not just weight) so for years didn't have scales and didn't weigh myself so I convinced myself I looked good.

I had a very good week then was very indulgent at the weekend and ended up at 135.1 lbs so an increase of .4lbs. I've put on 2.5lbs since the beginning of December which is pretty good as I've been out a lot. I'm now wondering if I can make Xmas day a diet day. I've ordered no high cal food other than pastries for the girls breakfasts but maybe I can just have egg on toast for a treat.

Sounds ridiculous but I've just binned some perfectly good sweets and biscuits because it is the only way to not get tempted. A visitor came over with chocolates and I'm wondering whether I can regift them to my brother.

I hope everyone else is well and you have good weigh ins.

Arty, a belated well done for last week's loss, I hope you are recovering well.

Good morning, weighed in at 13st 8.6 this morning so a loss of 3.4lbs this week

Christmas Day as a diet day I couldn't do it, but I wish you luck, that is one day I've decided not to even try to behave. I'll cook a ridiculously large amount of food and we'll be picking at the leftovers for days but that will be the only day we really go overboard foodwise. The rest of the time we'll have a few treats available but won't be going over the top.

Have a good Christmas everyone and I hope the diets don't suffer too badly over the next week

I was going to see Xmas day and boxing day as a non diet day but I ended up having two non diet days at the weekend. I find dieting relatively easy when I'm in control of my portions at home and so I think if I restrict portions of potatoes, pigs in blankets and stuffing I might be ok.

Well done for losing such a large amount Zalen. I think you're right to have one non diet day. I'm feeling slightly bad that we have no treats in the house (I threw away some biscuits and chocolates this morning as I can't rely on myself to not binge.)

I have just been on the boden website looking for sale items. I have bought one half price dress. I hope it fits, I don't usually buy it for me, but dd2 likes their tops, so I'm quite excited. I am also toying with the idea of buying some belts, 2014 is the year I'm going to try to become stylish!

Happy Xmas everyone!

I have put the turkey in and stock, potatoes, parsnips and just coming to the boil. Dds are watching a new DVD and this is the first moment I have had to myself for about 3 weeks!

Well I have completely failed with the diet so today is definitely not a diet day. I know that I have lost 60lbs overall so if I put a few back on I'll have to work extra hard in the new year to get them off.

Bought a lovely dress in the boden sale on monday and it arrived yesterday so I have something new to wear. It's quite plain but nice to have something that fits. I have also ordered a leather skirt that was half price. Very excited about that, would never have dreamed of a leather skirt before.

Anyway I hope you're all having a good time and arty I'm hoping your family are running around doing everything while you have your feet up with a .

Merry Christmas everyone!

Sorry I have been a bit vague on the posting front but have had a few problems this end, hopefully by next Friday all will be sorted.

My healthy eating seems to be a bit thin on the ground but my mind and heart is really not in the right place at the moment. Although saying that I have not been too drastic so hopefully in the new year once I am back on track I will soon get back into the swing of things. I did weigh myself on Monday and had lost 0.5lb which I was pleased at (but surprised) - jumped on the scales today and have actually put on 3lb (and that's before my christmas dinner!) So I think that is probably the correct weight! (but then again I am still using my not so accurate scales) - and no DH did not buy me a new set! ho hum, did get some nice pressies though.

Hope everyone is having a good time and has been spoilt.

Hi arty, hope things are getting better.

Well I have eaten like a pig. Admittedly we don't have much in the house so it could be worse, but mainly lots of chocolate cake. Dds like baking so we made a cake together on 27th.

I am almost too scared to weigh myself. At some point I need to get back in control. I am even thinking of trying slim fast or something like that to give myself a kick start.

Despite the massive overeating (and I have eaten so much I have given myself tummy aches) and too much washing up, we have had a lovely Xmas. Dds loved their presents and they have asked if we can make dough balls together today so I'll be eating even more carbs for lunch. Diet starts tomorrow!

Thanks Johnny, unfortunately things are the same - I will PM you.

I have obviously missed cheese whilst I have been healthy eating as I have eaten a fair amount of it over the Crhristmas period - and strangely enough I don't feel the need to eat anymore - think I shocked my DH when I said no thanks to cheese and biscuits yesterday! Thankfully I am not a huge chocolate lover so have not really eaten masses of chocolate, it has to be the right sort - posh girl me!! Flake, Twirl, Cadbury whole nut.

I am seeing consultant for my knee on Thursday, the last 2 weeks it has been quite painful and the physio reckons its okay but I am noticing the pain and limited to what I am doing due to not being on the strong painkillers - have only been taking paracetamol and ibrofen which don't really touch it. I am surprised it has now been 6 wks since operation and now I am on the count down to going back to work! I have missed work, only another 5 and a half weeks to go! yay!!

Healthy eating wise - I seem to be eating my main meal as I usually do, but for breakfast and lunch its anything, am hoping when everyone goes back to school and work and I get Friday over with I may just get my eating habits back under control. I am still getting comments about how different I look, one lady told me I looked 10 yrs younger! Made me laugh as at the moment I feel in the 60's .

I saw your pm and think I pmed you back!

Cheese was my weakness (well one of many!) but I am very restrained eating it now. I don't want more as my tastes have changed. I do eat more chocolate than I used to which is worrying.

Can you back to stronger painkillers? That doesn't sound good to still be in pain after so many weeks. I'm so impressed that you're still eating relatively healthily, if I was in pain I'd comfort eat like there's no tomorrow. I hope you're sleeping better now.

I weighed myself and I'm up to 137.1 lbs. it's going to be hard to diet with dh around because he turns his nose up at some of the things I eat. But I have to do something. I'm 5lbs heavier than at the start of December and while i'm ok about putting on some weight i think I'd be upset if I went over 10 st.

Oh god, I never thought I'd be the kind of irritating thin woman moaning about being more than 10 st. When I was 13 st I used to hate women like me so I'm sorry if I'm being irritating.

Johnny - don't worry in the slightest - you worked hard to get to that weight, I don't mind you moaning one bit! Hopefully in the new year it will all slot into place. Well here's hoping anyway.

I have found a soup recipe for my favourite vegetable - I adore brussel sprouts, so hopefully I am going to make a batch up and stick it in the freezer.

I am not going to Drs for weigh in this week, jumped on my scales and that was bad enough, I am approaching a 5/6lb put on so really need to get this week over with and everyone back to school and work. I am much more strict with myself when no one is around eating - crazy really as some of the food I have been eating has been in the house and when I am on my own don't feel the need to eat it!

Hope you are doing okay Zalen .

Hi, sorry I've been AWOL, I mainly post from work and have been off for the last week. Hope Christmas went well for you both.

I had a good Christmas, ate far more than was good for me, culminating in takeaway pizza on Friday night when I ate until my stomach actually hurt! Managed to get back on the diet for Saturday then it all went to pot again on Sunday and Monday when I took my eldest son back to University and we spent 2 hours yesterday morning queuing in the rain outside the Donmar Warehouse trying to get tickets to see Tom Hiddleston in Coriolanus. There was two people in front of us in the queue when they announced all the tickets were sold!

Obviously that required a comfort Belgian Triple Chocolate muffin and a Hot Chocolate with Whipped Cream to warm us up after

Weighed in today at 13st 9.8 so not too bad overall, hopefully New Years Day won't do too much damage and then I'll be back on the wagon for the new year.

Just got back from work, Johnny if you're seriously considering giving slim fast a try then Morrisons have a great offer going, unless I hallucinated it . I popped in to get a few goodies on my way home and as I was leaving I saw a sign on the window, Slimfast Powder, buy 1 get 2 free! Of course I seem to be coming down with a cold and may have hallucinated the whole thing but if it's still there when I go back in the new year then I'll be stocking up.

Right! I have given myself a good kick up the bum. So much stuff going on at the moment that I do not have control over but I do have control of my eating!

So far today I have been really good food wise and what I have planned for tea is good too. I have also started up MFP again. I am umming and arhhing at the moment whether to buy a soup maker. I have just downloaded a skinny soup recipe book on my kindle and so I am just about to have a nosey through that.

I have reweighed myself on my dodgy scales this morning and it is showing a 7lb gain since my knee op 7 wks ago! On the plus side (if there is one!) I know how it was caused and thankfully Christmas only comes once a year!

I am really trying hard to focus on today, it has become one of my hardest days off the year and easy to comfort eat through it. (my DM passed away 2 yrs ago today) - still a shock.

Thankfully DH and DD1 go back to work tomorrow, DD2 returns to school on Monday and DD3 goes back on Wednesday. Christmas is definitely over in our house, all decoration down, packed and back in the attic and house cleaned!

Okay - enough self wallowing - off to see Consultant tomorrow for my knee, going to ask about taking strong pain killers again so can do more and start going for walks etc as at the moment I am avoiding it. 5wks before I go back to work - --well actually 6 wks as it will be half term!

Oh and I am back to the Drs for my weigh in on Monday so will have a more accurate weigh in.

Arty sorry about your loss, I think you'd be forgiven for a bit of comfort eating this time every year.

I'm not going to be able to respond to your recent updates very wEll because the storm has killed our bt line. I have logged in with my mobile for the first time but it has such a tiny screen and buttons it's difficult to read or reply.

I have eaten loads because we got last minute invitations to friends houses yesterday and today and have been fed on lots of yummy food and drink.I am going to try to start the diet again tomorrow. Thanks for the tip about slimfast zalen, we don't have a morrisons near us but I'm going to shop around as I'm sure loads of places will have it on offer at this time of year. I definitely need to kickstart the diet and am intending to buy it and have it for lunch every day just so I don't have to think about that meal and I also need to implement a no snack policy and no nibbling kids leftovers policy too.

Sigh, I feel so unhealthy. I don't think I'm fatter but my skin is very spotty at the moment and I feel like a blob. Can't wait til dh is back at work on monday and I can really begin the diet again.

Arty, I've never heard of a soup maker. I would consider it but I have a pressure cooker I've never used so I can't really justify it. Maybe I'll google pressure cooker soup recipes with my rubbish phone.

Ooh did I say happy new year to you? Happy new year. Do you have any weightloss goals? I would like to be 8st 13 by easter just so I could be in the 8s.