I am going to lose this 2 stone, for good!!

[FlossyMcgrew]

I will be taking "after" pictures on July 1st.

I took before pictures yesterday and they are awful. I have at least 2 stone to lose. I have joined other threads here before, with some success. Then quit after getting halfway to my goal and gaining everything back in half the time it took me to lose it.

I am 5 foot 6, have been wavering around the 12 stone mark since having my 2 dc within 13 months. Youngest is now 2.

In my "before" pictures (which I won't post until I get to post them with my afters!). It is painfully obvious that nearly all of my weight is around my middle. This is particularly worrying as my family history is full of diabetes, heart problems, cancer, strokes- you name it.

My plan is this:

MFP to track my calories

30 day shred or alternate 30 min workout 5 times a week

More conscious eating. Re-reading Paul McKenna, "I Can Make You Thin."

Easy on the carbs. My current 2 slices of toast breakfast, 2 slice of bread sandwich and crisps lunch, and insert random carb heavy dinner here, is doing me and my middle no favours.

Drink more water. At least 4 pint glasses per day.

Chew gum instead of mindless snacking.

No baking. I can think up any excuse to bake, and then of course I have to test my product--no more!

And that is basically it.....

I am hoping that I can make all of these things my new way of life, rather than a diet.

I am tired of hating myself in every picture.

I am tired of refusing to buy new clothes in this size, and looking like a slob as all of my clothes are old and don't fit properly.

I want to be healthy and I want to be here for my kids for as long as possible.

I want to be a good example for my kids.

I would like to feel attractive again.

I am going to check in here at least once a week. Monday morning weigh in to keep me honest over the weekends. Please feel free to join me, or cheer me on.

I don't want to be a diet bore in real life so I am going to use this thread for my rambling instead.

So here goes......

Week 1
12 Stone 7

just back from holidaying in sunny wales for the past few days, not easy to diet when away from home. Now my parents have arrived for a few days so it will be eating out and wine aplenty - not sure how i will do at my first weigh in tomorrow!

hope everyones well and managing to stack on track :)

Oh help - what kind of snacks do you eat with tea/coffee, in the absence of the biscuit tin??
I need coffee to feel awakey-wake but trying to nibble on something healthy...well, I'm in need of some inspiration!

Dudess, I'm loving milk chocolate covered rice cakes at the moment, 83 cals for one, perfect for a cuppa.

Cheers, Howiwonder will have a look at those.

I have finally reset my password! Might have been been nice if they'd warned us in advance....

Weigh in tomorrow, I have drunk all the wine, eaten all the takeaways and sulked most of the weekend as dd has declared dh her favourite parent.

Not healthy but I have discovered Marks and Spencers chocolate covered crispie bites at only 50 kcals -you have to hide the tub though and only have one!
Otherwise I have a Pear with a cup of tea-seems to hit the sweet fix.
Also again not healthy but something strong tasting like a ginger snap takes a few nibbles and is only 37ckals.

Weigh in day, have gained a lb in the last few days so currently 12.7.

It's a new week, the sun is shining, no excuses now!

First weigh in for me today - 4lbs loss! Chuffed with that.

So, start weight 7.4.14 - 10st 12
14.4.14- 10st 8

Yes runningkatie, let's use this nice weather as a reason to get motivated! I'm going to try and go for a couple of runs this week - tried one yesterday and nearly died after 5 mins, I am so unfit now

I have been away for the weekend... Will weigh in when I am home this afternoon :(

Evening everyone, late check in from me, but here for my Monday weigh in:

Week 7
1 lb loss
11stone 10
11 lbs total loss

I am happy that I kept off the pound I had lost for my birthday, but I have really got to take control of my weekend behaviour. I am really careful all week, diligent even, then the weekend rolls around and I seem to be slipping into a bit of a reward system? Over rewarding myself and cancelling out all of the hard work throughout the week.

This weekend will be another challenge, with lots of social events, big Easter meal, chocolate etc. but there will always be something. May need to lay off alcohol for a bit I think. Haven't been crazy, but the calories don't help and then loosened inhibitions and poor planning led to a takeaway Saturday night, we never do that?!

You are right though RunningKatie it is a new week, and the sun is shining, no excuses :)

Way to go howiwonder! That is fantastic.

Will weigh this morning and see how much damage the holiday has done ...

You guys are going to be so bored with me keeping popping back!

Some great losses on here - well done. Flossy 11lb in 7 weeks is amazing.

I just have been really struggling recently - nothing more than the generally busy-ness of juggling family life and work but I've just been feeling really overwhelmed with it all so my eating has gone out of the window.

I weighed in yesterday morning at a pretty much all time high of 13st. Yikes. I really need to get this under control. I went out at lunchtime today and looked around the clothes shops. There are so many lovely things that I would never dream of buying at the moment but if I were 11.7 - I would feel pretty good in. I feel quite motivated now so perhaps that was a prety good use of my lunchbreak!

So I am going to count this as my week 1. I am going to post everyday on here - even if just to say hello. I think I also need to start exercising - I'm just so tired all the time - how do you get the motivation to exercise? Realistically I can't leave the house in the evening as DP is rarely home early enough. So I'm home bound unless I go out for a run in the morning - I'd need to be back by 6.30am - is that realistic or am I setting myself up to fail by saying I'll do that?

Sorry to moan on - will try and be more positive in future.

Moan away anna it's hard sometimes :(

I'm going to get back on it seriously after this weekend as I'm away from Thursday - Saturday.

Just need to keep motivated! :)

Not impossible Anna but pretty hardcore to be out running before 6.30 - lots of people do it but I know I would struggle. What about exercise DVDs so you could still fit in things at home rather the trying to find to get out of the house? I definitely need to turn my mind to exercise, feeling very unfit. Wondering if I could find the time to go swimming.

I somehow found myself eating a whole bag of cadburys caramel mini eggs today, had bough for an Easter egg hunt for the DCs! very annoyed at myself as had been having a very good day food wise, I'm just awful if I know there is stuff like that in the house - it calls to me, you see. Will now have to replace in time for egg hunting

Flossy, you're almost at a stone loss - well done, that's amazing!

Evening all,

Welcome to week 1 Anna! Sorry that you have been struggling, but good for you for coming back. Life and parenting and all of it is just so relentless sometimes, it is overwhelming! We will be in those lovely new clothes for our July targets :)

I am the same with getting out to run, would have to be back in the house by 6:30 am, so for couch to 5 k, 30 min or so, I would have to be up by 5:45 ish. I actually did it for a couple of months last fall, and felt really great, but when it started getting dark earlier, and cold--I gave up. I keep toying with the idea of a treadmill, but they aren't cheap, even on eBay. Also, I found that when I ran in the morning, I felt entitled to eat more throughout the day? Silly.

But, if we ran for 3 days a week, that could be 2 early mornings and one weekday afternoon? Should we just take the plunge and sign up for 5k runs in June or so, to force ourselves into action? :)

Lately I do the 30 day shred off YouTube, after the kids are in bed. But even at 30 minutes, sometimes it feels like that eats up most of my evening, and by the time I tidy up, make lunches etc, my evening is gone. I am definitely noticing a difference in tone and less jiggle--still plenty of jiggle to work off though!

Thank you for saying it that way, howiwonder, that I am almost at a stone lost. I haven't been seeing it that way lately, and been getting down on my slowed progress over the last 3 weeks. I started out this thread with a really positive attitude and I need to get it back.

Good luck everyone.

Sorry that should say, run 2 early weekday mornings and 1 anytime weekend, need to get to sleep now!

Weighed myself last night.. Lost nothing but haven't put on either and I had a nice weekend away so back to the salads now! I love pret tuna Niçoise salad.

Hi all
I weighed in monday and no weight loss. Boo! But, naughtily i got on the scales today and it showed a gain of 2lb! Does anyone else fluctuate like this?! I am aiming for 2lb loss this week so a gain isnt helping. I am feeling quite frustrated as i have been good, and slightly on the panicy side as i was aiming for a stone late by late may for a wedding and i dont think it is going to happen. On the plus side, it has made
me more determined to do it rather than give up. I went out for a small run / walk last night and have invested in some dumbells.
You all seem to be doing really well. Anna, it is hard ro get out exercising. My husband all but pushed me out the door last night when i was complaining i was too tired. I have done the 30 day shred before and its great, if you can squeeze that in it might help? Mornings are a no goer for me too.
I agree with Flossy, we WILL get in our nice new clothes in July!
Right, im off to log my food in MFP. RunningKate, are you still on there? X

I am still here and there lamby!

Been struggling to keep up, my weight is fluctuating too, i try to ignore it a bit and see how i feel but it doesn't work.

The sunshine does make me feel so much cheerier about it all though. I went out on my bike at 6 yesterday morning, discovered brake wasn't working so rapidly returned home. DH sorted it so went out for a quick ride in the evening.

I always used to be a morning exerciser, i loved the smug feeling of having done it already, otherwise i can find a zillion excuses not to go out in an evening. I certainly can't run on a full stomach. I found the easiest way was to get all my gear ready the night before and just roll out of bed into it. No time for thinking!

Flossy, you are doing brilliantly, 11lbs is great going.

I tried on a summer top today, i could do with losing a few more lbs but it's fitting better. Hurrah!

I just had another motivation boost - i just tried on a dress, it was lovely and floraly but it made me feel huge! 2 sizes down and it would look great. Roll on tonight when i can go for a run!

Thank you for all being so lovely!

I always used to be a morning exerciser - but that was when I lived by myself and could go to bed when I wanted and sleep all night! I think I will try it. Floss 2 times a week is a good aim - I think tuesday and Thursdays would probably suit as those are the days I don't have to leave the house until a bit later. I'd still have to be out early as I'd like to be back before the girls wake up - DP would be at home but he is totally rubbish in the morning and works very long days so I wouldn't want to add that extra pressure to him.

howi - I'm like you - feeling very unfit and needing to think about exercise - it is so difficult to find the time though isn't it?

Will also look at the shred - I keep meaning to do that but seem to have a mental block about it! my current excuse is that I can't possibly do it unless I have an ipad! I'll just need to look it up on my phone and do it from that.

Sleeping - I had that pret salad yesterday - was yummy. I made my own last night for lunch today - it was fine but not so good as the pret one.

I'm going to make a salad for every lunchtime - I make lunches for the girls each night and cut up salad bits so its not much of a stretch further to shove some in a tupperware box for me. I need to mix it up a bit and so will buy some pickles, capers, olives etc as that does make it more interesting. Anyone else have any good salad ideas? I easily get stuck in a rut!

Lamby and running can I add you on mfp too? I really want to do it this time and the more support the better.

Oophs - sorry for the essay!

Fab posts everyone, even with a little naughtiness now and then still great to come on here as it shows desire to do better :)

I had a (frankly gorgeous) wedge of cappuccino cake yday and think I need to make a lighter version! So today I've danced around to my Latin Summer CD and had 10mins on my wobble board. I have swapped mid-morning coffee for glass of Orange juice and a square or two of dark Lindt coconut choc and some raisins..the vit C helps the iron in dark choc and raisins whoosh through my body...great tip from my biology teacher sister.

Love the idea of updating my wardrobe in July, or at least wearing most of my wardrobe again...Had a declutter today and I have some flattering pieces, once my backside has reduced in size!!

Weigh-in on Fri, but am at that time of the month and I gain about 6lb in water retention, grrh! Next Fri will be more like my actual weight!

anna I'm on MFP too :)

Feel free to add me on mfp, I like seeing other people's updates and also means I login regularly so I can keep up with my stuff!

I am going to cycle tomorrow morning. Probably about 6 miles I think, hoping to get up at 6am and go. My kit is by the bed and apparently my bike is ready and waiting for me.