One year to change my life

[BirthdayBelly]

It's my birthday in a few weeks and it got me thinking. I do not want to be overweight and unhealthy by my next birthday. I don't want to feel trapped inside my own body anymore. So I'm finally going to do it. This time next year, I will be slimmer, able to run, able to do sit ups again and I won't be ashamed of my body or embarrassed on behalf of my dd.

Height: 5ft 4
Start weight: 197lb
Goal weight: 126lb

So that's 71lb to lose. According to the guinea pig thread that's an Irish setter and a guinea pig that I carry around on my back each day. Not anymore!

I started today and for the first time in my life, I stuck to it. And now one day is done, I know that maybe, just maybe, I can do this for real!

If anyone else would like to join in and change their life in a year, feel free!

Hi there, can I join you?

Well done on sticking to day one!
I feel the same about my weight and reckon it will also take me a year before I can say I've cracked it.
Here are my stats:
Height 5'4""
Current weight: 11st 2lbs (already lost 3lbs)
Goal weight 8st 13lbs
Timescale: goal weight (lose 31 lbs) by end Jan 2015
Then maintenance to end July then big reward for myself if I do it ( don't know what yet)

I lost a stone last year, but then broke my ankle badly and put it all back on again through boredom and inactivity being stuck in the house. That's why, for me, the maintenance part to next July is part of the deal before I reward myself.

I feel I'm a bad example to my 15 year old DD, which is really beginning to bother me, as she is getting a bit larger herself.

Are you using a particular eating plan?

Hi!

I was thinking of big rewards too and my first thought was a load of food and it was a bit like NO THATS THE WHOLE POINT TO CHANGE LIFESTYLE

I worry about setting a bad example too. Mines only a toddler but she's constantly asking for biscuits and chocolate. I don't give her them but it's the fact that she must have seen me eat so many and want them herself argh.

Eating plan wise, I'm going to make healthier choices re portion size and the food I eat and calorie count. I like numbers so I think it will suit that side of me! Are you going to do anything in particular?

Ouch for your ankle! Just reading that made mine feel all funny!

to food as your big reward. I'm maybe thinking of a major shopping trip for some fabulous clothes ( I always end up buying clothes for the kids instead as they look so lovely in them whereas I'm not happy with what I see in the mirror) or perhaps a long weekend away. Well, I've a year to think about it!

I'm not following a specific diet but trying to cut out the (many) snacks I have and massively reduce my intake of processed foods or foods with added sugar. My downfalls are biscuits and chocolate. I have also slipped into a bad habit of a glass of wine in the evening, so that will be limited to weekends only. Our meals are generally pretty healthy, but I'm cutting portion size down. I've also registered for My Fitness Pal to keep track of my daily calories- I quite like numbers too.

I remember that toddlers can be very determined in trying to get what they want, but hopefully your DD will follow your lead after a few weeks. Once they're older they get much more articulate about what they want which can be pretty wearing - mine are 12, 15 and 17 and are not keen on my idea of a biscuit and crisp- free house!

Good luck, just to show it can be done in 1 year from May 13 to May 14 I dropped 5 stone, lost another 7lb since may. Dropped from clothes size 20 (tight 20 at that) to a 10/12

You can do it!

Wow sirzy, that's similar to my goal, well done. I'm just starting really, can I ask how your skin was after losing all that?