Reverse Lent: starting a diet on Easter Monday

[whimsicalname]

Right, I had a baby 3 months ago. I need to lose 2 stone. I've eaten quite enough chocolate today. Tomorrow I'm starting a diet. Who's with me?

Normally I would do this as 'Sober October', but this year it's Reverse Lent. I'll eschew alcohol, eat lots of fruit and veg and try to get back into exercising. I don't anticipate losing both stone in 40 days, but I'd like to get a good head wind behind me for the rest of it.

I'll start by weighing myself tomorrow (Monday) morning, and weigh in each Monday after.

I'd really appreciate a bit of company with this. 40 days should be manageable, it's got a good (biblical) ring to it and by the time we're finished, it'll be well into spring and we can wear some nice clothes.

What more could we want?

[rusmum]

Thanks frantastic! What can anyone advise to help? Get me going? What's worked for u?

[twinklestar2]

I'm going to join too if you don't mind!

I've been TTC for 22 months and in 40 days I have my follow up appointment at the fertility clinic so I'd love to have lost weight as I'm at the top of my BMI.

I'm 11 stone and would love to be in the 9s in 40 days. Going to do this by low carbing. Tomorrows menu:

Fruit and yog for breakfast
Soup and salad for lunch
Homemade beef stew for dinner

[FrantasticO]

Low carb, seems popular though I've not followed it.
There's a thread on here somewhere with LOADS of info.
If you search Biwi low carb you should find it.
It's got spreadsheets and menu ideas.
Might give it a go myself. I just find it hard to get my head round butter and full fat products being allowed as I've been on the diet / low cal way most of my adult life.

My problem is I'm good for days and days then blow it.
When I blow it I do it big style. Need to work on this bit!

Good luck everyone!

[FrantasticO]

Oh good luck as well twinkle.

[whimsicalname]

Hello newbies. I've had a hard day of loopy children, potty training and walking 6 miles with a double buggy. I'd kill for a glass of wine now. A problem I've just isolated of dieting in a different time zone is there'll be no one around to talk me down!

[whimsicalname]

Oh yes, strategy: my biggest weakness is picking, so I'm doing my best not to eat between meals or while cooking. I also really crumble when my kids are eating, so I'm doing more family suppers (good habit anyway!) Or leaving my husband to supervise.

I'm also aiming to exercise more, which mostly is walking with aforementioned double buggy and just to cut down on portions a bit. I'm breastfeeding so not keen to really starve.

[Trazzletoes]

whimsical don't worry! I'm usually up through the night... STEP AWAY FROM THE WINE

[whimsicalname]

Thanks trazzle. I resisted wine but ate some choc. Ah well.

How's everyone doing? Half way through week one!

[Trazzletoes]

Gosh already!

Doing ok here. I've been monitoring my calorie intake (as much as that's possible when eating food that has been cooked fresh by other people) and its certainly been an eye-opener!

I had dinner at lunchtime today and would usually go home tonight and eat another full meal, but I've got some humous and pittas and will do my Davina workout DVD again. I've ordered the 30 day shred too as so many people have recommended it.

I was ridiculously proud of myself for walking straight past a display of creme eggs at the supermarket!!! That was 90 minutes ago though and I still want one!

[twinklestar2]

Well done trazzle for walking past the creme eggs! I've stuck to it today apart from a biscuit and a few crisps. Myfitnesspal says I'm nearly 200 cals under my allowance. I'm happy with that.

[twinklestar2]

I forgot to say I turned down a free curly wurly today!

[Trazzletoes]

High 5!

[eagleray]

Well done on resisting the chocs!

I've had quite a good day, but DP went to the supermarket on the way home from work and then texted to ask if he should buy cake. I said no, definitely not, and he went ahead anyway. Am a bit annoyed as he's the one that raised the issue recently of my excess weight (in a health-concern kind of way). He now says the cake is just for him, but it's hardly bloody helpful is it

[Trazzletoes]

No way eagle!!! How cheeky?!

I've managed to stick to the 1650 calories all week, plus exercise when I've been home and speed walks in to town when I get a break.

Think I am going to allow myself to relax the rules for one day a week though - I really struggle if I can't ever have what I want so tomorrow I'm going to forget the calories but still try to get some exercise in. And the 30 day shred may have arrived by then... [gulp!]

We'll see what Monday brings anyway.

[Fairygen]

Hi all,
Due to making 60+ cupcakes on Thursday, didn't make SW. Decided to go it alone, as I have all the books etc.

So far so good, although I am enjoying a few glasses of wine tonight. I'm following the red plan which is high protein, low carb. I'm also going to listen to my hypnotic gastric band cd.....I need all the help I can get!!

Eagle- we have a 'bad' cupboard in our kitchen, where I put all the stuff I shouldn't eat. From past experience, after a while I forget about it.

[Fairygen]

Has anyone tried the Insanity workout program??

[twinklestar2]

I've stayed within cals but food has been bad!

Menu

Bacon, eggs and beans

Handful of crisps and a cream cake

Chicken Kiev with salad

[whimsicalname]

twinkle there was an article in the BMJ a year or 2 ago about a GP who lost weight by just eating mars bars. Stay within calories and you'll be fine! (although obv it would be healthier...)

I feel like I've had a really tough week and haven't really applied myself to losing weight, although i have done a lot of walking - probably 20 miles over the week.
Still, I hope I've shed a pound or so -for morale at least! See you all in the morning.

[Trazzletoes]

14 st 6 this morning.

I'm a little disappointed because I've been keeping an eye on my weight whenever I've been at home, and yes I know you aren't meant to weigh yourself daily but... And most of the week I've been 14 st 5. Then overnight I put on a lb! Grrrrrr.

To be fair though, I haven't exercised since Thursday as I have a problem with my eye and don't want to exacerbate it until I've been seen by the hospital which should be imminent. Also, I do have an extremely sedentary lifestyle right now, being stuck in a room for about 23 hours a day!

[Fairygen]

Well, that was a quick week!! -2lbs, which is a fluke as I haven't really tried that much!

I've decided to totally give up my favourite tipple, white wine. I only drink at the weekends, more through habit than enjoyment. After a couple of glasses my willpower goes out the window!

Hope everyone is getting on ok x

[whimsicalname]

Well done fairy and bad luck trazzle. Are you about to come on? That always makes me gain a pound or 2.

I was 161 this morning, 4 pounds less than last week which I'm pretty pleased about. All the walking must have helped, plus breast feeding!

Have a good week everyone.

[Trazzletoes]

It is still 3lb down on last Sunday night so I'm annoyed but not devastated.

Have fallen off and been run over by the diet wagon today though. Oh well, there's always tomorrow!

[eagleray]

well done on the losses everyone!

My weekly weigh-in should be tomorrow but I weighed myself this morning and have lost 1.2kg! I think that's about 2.6lb so was really pleased with that. The tricky bit will be losing more this week (to prove that it wasn't just some weird fluctuation).

I was speaking to a nurse at my GP surgery last week about something to do with the baby and she said I should be eating more calories due to BF. I told her I was trying to lose weight and she said 'oh don't worry about your figure just now' - I was a bit peed off as it's not like it's totally a vanity thing. I'm about 4st overweight and that does bring health problems, plus my thighs are so fat now they are raw from rubbing together when I've been walking

We're planning a beach holiday in about 4 weeks' time - I know it's not enough time to look halfway acceptable in summer clothes, but to be a stone lighter would be a start.

Trazzle you are right, tomorrow is a new day - good luck with jumping back on the wagon!

[Trazzletoes]

eagle perhaps your midwife was concerned you might try to lose weight too quickly and that could affect your milk supply - I think they have to be very careful when people tell them they are on diets not to encourage it too much, if you see what I mean? That's the only reason I can think of for saying that, anyway.

[twinklestar2]

Well done on losses ladies!