20lbs lighter by Christmas Day, anyone?

[notagiraffe]

Hi
Got weighed at weekend in one of those places where you can't shift your toes around on the scale to lose half a stone. Bit of a shock. Does anyone want to join me to be 20lb lighter by Christmas?

That's only 2lb a week. We can do it.

Height: 5'4"
Start weight on 21st October: 159lb
Goal Weight on Christmas Day: 139lb

Food Plan: no sugar or processed foods, lots of water, lots of veg and lean protein. Alcohol free on weekdays

Exercise Plan: Daily Shred plus what I already do (fitness class and walks)

Anyone want to join in and add plans, tips, motivators, anything at all to get us there by Christmas Day?

Day 2-

I've had a pint of water and a bowl of fruit and fibre and I'm starving.

It's only 9.45am.

Meh.

Morning all,

I'm supposed to be on a fast day today but I have a netball match this evening so I'm going to let myself have a few more than 500 cals so I have enough energy to sustain me through the match. Will probably have about 700-800 instead. Feeling focused and positive today.

bish - sorry to hear about your dad, well done for getting things under control in difficult circumstances. I let a knee op ruin my weight control a few years ago and have been yo-yoing ever since so it's best to try and not let bad things ruin you for good.

Crystal - I'd be careful about the weighing. I can easily fluctuate 5Ibs in weight depending on time of day and other factors. It's not always a true reflection of weight loss, especially if it's your 1st week on the diet.

Molly - you're food diary is very carb heavy! I'm assuming vol au vont is pastry which is very high cals - as are chips. And a sandwich as well in one day does seem rather a lot for me personally. When I'm "being good" there are certain foods I wouldn't touch - pastry, chips and bread are all on the list.

I know I'm late to the party but can I join too please?

Current situation:

Height - 5'4"
Weight - 191lbs (13st 9)

20lbs lighter by Christmas Day would be amazing - ideally I would like to be at least 14lbs down.

So target at Christmas is to be between 171lbs - 177lbs (12st 3lbs - 12st 9lbs).

I have always been fat - can't remember a time when I wasn't. Even as a child I was heavier than the other kids. My weight got out of control 6/7 years ago and then I lost 6st back in 2007/2008 just by being careful about what I ate - got down to the lightest I can ever remember being (10st 10lbs) - on the same day I found out I was expecting DS1! Now have DS2 as well, I'd like to take back control - my current refrain on trying any new clothes on is "I look like a sack of potatoes!".

The plan:

Get the chocolate habit under control! Stop the snack binges and increase consumption of water and fresh fruit and veg.

Exercisewise I'm a bit limited with a toddler around all day and no real suitable space for doing and exercise DVD (crappy laminate floors in the living room and stone floor in the kitchen which wrecks my knees if I try to do anything in there) - I will need to have a think about what I can do.

WDIS - Why don't you try the 30 day shred DVD's? they are great for beginners to do at home, they only last about 20 mins so perfect for squeezing into a busy day and I do them at home on a wooden floor in a space that is no bigger than 2 meters square.

'Morning everyone.
So sorry about your dad bisch, I think it's really hard to avoid comfort eating when you are going through such a traumatic time.
After a good start yesterday I ended up eating chocolate at work in the afternoon. I just can't seem to stop myself.
I need a major injection of self-discipline into so many areas of my life at the moment (work, diet, exercise, housework) and I'm not sure how to do it.
I like the sound of molly's motivational tips so maybe I'll give them a try.
Good luck to all for the rest of today. Hope I will reporting back later to say that I avoided the chocolate trap.

I'm struggling here under a heavy cold & fever combo. Not great. It is raining and half term for DC here. Also I weighed myself this morning to find I'm at my top ever weight (other than being overdue) of 16 st 12 lb.

On the plus side, I'm determined that the only way is down the scales.

Love the mantras. My favourite one is "don't reward yourself with food, you're not a dog"

Hindsight the only way is down the scales is good!

Mollydog put your daily food in MFP - it doesn't just tell you how many calories you've had, but also suggests quantities of protein, sugar etc each day. I was interested to see how little sugar you're supposed to have - about 2 pears is the total for a day.

Thanks for the inspirational quotes.

Was so hungry today at work that I had a slice of banana bread. But have a healthy low calorie chilli in the slow cooker for tea, so will manage to stay within the quota, especially if I can drag DS2 out for a bike ride or a run.

Does anyone have any tips for protein-high breakfasts? I find they stop the hunger pangs but I really can't face eggs every day!

I just joined MFP under Mollydoggerson, I've consumed 920 calories already today. What an eye opener.

I'm amazed how much sugar is in milk.

I do have the MFB app on my phone but I gather you're meant to do a bit more than just downlaod the app??
I'm a bit afraid of it but might have to give it a go.
Went down to canteen to get a cup of tea and manged to avoid the chocolate and opt for a banana instead so very proud of myself.
Hope your cold gets better soon Hindsight, very hard to be disciplined when you're under the weather (literally as well as figuratively in your case)

Hi WDIS

With your toddler, can you go to the park when it's fine and soft play or swimming when it's not and join in. Joining in when they were small kept my weight down. It's since they started school and I'm not chasing round after them that I started to spread out a bit!

Gettingon - not sure about the MFP app. I log on online and then you log your food and exercise for the day and they give you estimates for what you've had. It's a bit time consuming at first but it's worth doing and a real insight into what you eat and what you should be eating to lose weight!

Hindsight soup is your friend - almost no calories and so comforting when you have a cold.

Hi all,

can I join too please. I joined Rosemary Conley in June and have lost 2 stone but have around 2-2.5 left to go. 20lb by xmas would be fantastic. I'm finding the diet side of things okay but really struggling to fit in any exercise and would appreciate any tips.

I am a SAHM with 2 DDs (4 and 16 months). We spend a lot of time out and about but I am doing everything at DD2's pace i.e. not much more than a crawl. She hates the buggy so we tend to stay close to the house and walk to the park, river, shops etc. It can take most of the morning to do the 10min walk to the park examining every leaf, bug and puddle on the way. I'm not moving far enough or fast enough to count it as exercise. I go to my weigh in/exercise class one night a week, teach at the local college 2 evenings and tutor 1 evening plus Saturday mornings. Then I have all my prep work/marking to fit in plus a bit of cooking/cleaning and relaxing. I seem to be permenantly tired with a huge to do list and no energy to head to the gym/fit in a run when I finish at 9pm. Sorry - this sounds like a moan which it isn't. I love being at home with the kids and really enjoy my work but I can't seem to get organised and I have no idea how to shoehorn any exercise in to my week. How do you all manage?

I have always made my own veg soup , it's a great filler upper before dinner or for lunch and mostly very low carb/ calories depending on what veg you use .. Avoiding the bread to go with it can be trying !

notagiraffe I find breakfasts really hard on a low carb diet. Nearly everything 'quick' is carb and quite often can't face eggs until lunch.
I have to admit I've been avoiding breakfast a lot.
Maybe Turkey rashers in microwave?

Heyy..hope it's all going well for everyone.

I had a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon for breakfast and then nothing else all day. By my reckoning that's around 300 calories so I'll have something tiny for dinner and turn today into an accidental fast day!

Will go for a run in a mo too...bit scared to weigh myself as I had an awful week last week.

I do find MFP helps in that even if I do slip up, the act of documenting what I eat and how many calories is in it means I cut the cals elsewhere in that day.

For example, the day before my period I had an afternoon off and couldn't resist a packet of fresh-baked salted caramel soft cookies...I ate ALL of them. In one afternoon.

But I just had the vegetable part of dinner so it wasn't a complete disaster calorie wise. OK, that's not a healthy way to eat but it's a very very rare occurrence and before I used MFP I would've had a big heavy dinner on top of that, too.

It is great knowing how much is in everything. I find I over-estimate the calorific content of my meals and under-estimate my snacks.

Can I join too please? I have a 2.3 yr old and a 7 month old and my motivation to lose weight has been sadly lacking. I've got 10lbs to go to my pre-preg weight & a further 10lbs to get to a weight where I can fit into my nicest clothes! I do lose weight fairly easily when I'm careful about what I eat, but I am really rubbish about sticking to diets. And I have a nasty biscuit/ice cream/wine habit.

Height 5'5". Weight 151lbs (10st 11), goal 131lbs (9st 5). But I have to start tomorrow as I've just made a spinach & ricotta cannelloni. Whoops.

Lots of people joining :)
Have stayed on track for two days. Tracking using mfp. Getting used to the new design of it as it's changed since I last used it. I do like he scanning of bar codes to sort the calories out though.
I did have a double decker that ds brought me but still within calories. I'm staying at 1300. I haven't exercised yet to earn any extras if needed.

How's everyone else ?

Eggy wedgies... For about 3 days before my period I am always ravenous. Always for sweet goodies unfortunately. Wish I craved cucumber or similar!!

Sign me up. I've tried in vain to do SW again but got fed up cooking full fat stuff for the toddler and DH plus lower fat versions for me.

I've been using MFP for 2 weeks and find it incredibly hel

Sign me up. I've tried in vain to do SW again but got fed up cooking full fat stuff for the toddler and DH plus lower fat versions for me.

I've been using MFP for 2 weeks and find it incredibly hel

Find MFP incredibly helpful. I've lost 2lbs so far and would like to keep the momentum going.

I'm 5ft and 155 lbs. Would like to lose 14lbs by Christmas.

In getting there with my food intake but its the wine in the evening that's my downfall. Limiting myself to 1 decent bottle a week.

I've started C25K yet again and am starting week 3. Also started going to a Body Pump class once a week but think I need to fit another class in somewhere.

I fear it's all going to go to pot next week as we have my parents coming to stay for 2 weeks (we live overseas).

Day 3 of tracking here on mfp and I'm still doing it and being honest in what I eat!

I am really hoping this time is the time I actually knuckle down and loose the weight I'm not happy with.

I on Monday was 81kg and I'm just short of 5ft 6.

I don't look too hideous but I feel quite uncomfy and would like to enter the new year in size 12 jeans rather than 14's.

I am gymming/exercise class 2-3 times a week.

Fingers crossed everyone for you too!

2nd day of logging on MFP and I eat way too much sugar.

Does anyone know if there is as much sugar in soya milk compared to normal?

I had a lovely day at my conference , especially sampling the local produce at the buffet lunch
Breakfast 1/2 slice of wholemeal toast and jam
Lunch ( ummm , where do I start ) chicken liver parfait , sour dough bread , chutney
Sausage stew with thyme cobbler , root veg
Apple crumble
Blue cheese , fruit & nut bread
Coffee , Italian macaroon
Obviously I stopped counting at 1500 calories , and haven't had any dinner , just loads of tap water
Very low calorie day needed tomorrow