Right!! Enough is enough!!!

[Hippychickster]

OK, I know this isn't massive in the big scheme of things but all my adult life I have weighed about 8 1/2 stone. I'm 5' 6" and have always been a size 8.

I'm 49 now and in the last year I've put on over a stone. I am now 9st 10 and I feel shit! I don't think my eating habits have changed, I think I'm just getting older. I feel really lethargic and like I can't even be bothered to go to the gym. My last swim cost me about £200 it's so long since I went before that.

I am going back to work tomorrow when I will obviously have loads more time than in the holiday as routine will be restored so I am hoping to stop eating crap snacks.

I don't want to go on a diet as I eat pretty healthily anyway. I don't have a sweet tooth which is good. My absolute achilles heel is savoury stuff like crisps and wine. I have had them every night this holiday (I'm a teacher so it's not just a week or so).

I don't want to look drawn and older, but I would like to be 9 stone again by Christmas. I think sensible eating, cutting out wine and crisps (apart from Friday nights) should do the trick.

Anyone out there who feel like me? I know there are people who will think 9.10 is not a lot but for me it feels uncomfortable.

I'm not going to weigh for at least 2 weeks. I rarely weigh anyway, I only did it because my clothes and bra feel tight. I just want to feel better and more like me again.

I may need some encouragement to stay off the wine

Is it normal to wake up tired and with a headache? Since I've stopped drinking I seem to have a thick fuggy head in the morning. Going to persevere but thinking maybe this is a phase I need to get through. Cutting out crap, exercise and no wine is taking its toll. My skin looks good though!

I find I get headaches and feel grotty after a couple of days of cutting out sugar. Stick with it and I'm sure you'll feel better in a day or two!

Eastpoint, I think you will be able to get much more into it when all the kids are back at school. It's too hard to get started when there's loads going on. And also, I think it's wrong to beat yourself up about going out to eat. I am definitely not going to! That's why I don't want to go on a 'diet', because I LOVE going out drinking and eating. I just need to do it every now and then, not nearly every night.

Meg - I am sticking with it. I read somewhere it takes 4 weeks to see a difference in yourself, 8 weeks for friends to notice and 12 weeks for random others. That is keeping me going.

Did a 10 hour day today and I'm, knackered so not done any exercise. I'll wait till later and see if I CBA.

Weighed in today at 9st 7.5lb!

That's 3.5lb off since Saturday! :)

Cycled everywhere yesterday, even into the Royal Academy rather than catching the tube and have done upper body weights & cycled everywhere today. I just had physio & can't run for at least another week but I am allowed to cycle & walk slowly. Apparently the fast dog walking I was doing in the holidays was bad for my Achilles. Anyway I'm back on track - don't know if I'll fit in my dress but I have other dresses & I'm having my roots done so I'll be fine anyway. I'm 1 ½ lbs more than I was last Wednesday but lighter than I was at the start of the week. I am super sensitive to water retention due to carbs/salt, it's very recognizable as my wedding ring either comes off or it doesn't depending on water retention.

Meg that is brilliant!!! I daren't even weigh. Just think I'll be disappointed this early.

I too have cycled today. Not all over but to work and back, and I've done a pilates DVD so feeling good.

Celebrating with a few GOWs tomorrow night. Not had any alcohol for ages so having some tomorrow.

My DH is on holiday at the moment so I haven't seen him for over a week. He's back on Wednesday and my DD went back to London today after a couple of days here, so I'm on my own, but not tempted to pork out. I am in the zone!

Come on girls - let's finish the week strong!!!!!

Still down on the start of the week. Dog walking & Pilates fitting in around hair & work today. I shall cycle to Pilates . I suspect the champagne will be freely flowing tonight.
Good luck today everyone.

Well done everyone :) my first day off since the kids went back to school so I have just run 5k. Managed it in 33 mins which is not too bad considering my fitness levels aren't that great at the moment! Need to tone up my middle though.

Meal out tomorrow for our wedding anniversary, will definitely have a drink or two but will try to steer clear of the bread and sugar!

Oh dear. I really wish I'd not had so much wine last night. I feel shit!

A new day. New resolve.

Had a lovely evening, wore my new dress as I'd hoped. My oldest dd said you look good when I came downstairs. Drank champagne all night & ate delicious food, luckily it was a standing up party as I don't think I could have eaten a full meal in my dress without it splitting. Dog walking & weights today.

Food standing up also has no calories!! I bet you looked lovely!

I've had a good day. Feel a bit better now but not drinking anything tonight. Eaten really good food and about to do my pilates dvd.

Sounds brilliant Meg! Not sure I could run 1k let alone 5. Have a great evening. Happy anniversary!

Sounds like all are doing well. Now - a Dolce & Gabbanna dress - that is what I really aspire too. I am so sad I have no occasion to wear (do they do Jeans?), but then again I will be 50 in Feb so....................?? September always hard for teachers, but I am very determined and my poor teacher friend suffers my determination - she IS going on an 8 mile run tomorrow! How do I post the smileys list?

woodlands - I am 50 in December! I can't believe it!

I am so impressed with all the running that's going on - I couldn't run 8 miles. Mind you I have an app which is couch to 5k I think. I might try that.

For the smileys, just scroll down.

Hippy I couldn't have run for a bus two years ago. I did the couch to 5k programme and it made it really easy.

I'll give it a go. I think running is a good way to get cardio in. Off to bed now, but feeling good about today.

Well I managed to stay off the bread last night - had three glasses of wine and an extremely delicious chocolate brownie, it was definitely worth breaking the rules for :)

Got up at 7am today and went for a run so I think that lets me off the hook! Back to normal today. I have to say I slept really badly last night - I sleep much better when I haven't been drinking.

Well done, I'm still luxuriating being in bed. First day I haven't had to get up early for ages. I'm really missing running, I might be allowed to run again next week .

Well done Meg. I have done my first day of couch to 5k and then did the pilates dvd for today. Feeling good.

Half a bottle of wine yesterday evening. but then I did cut the grass and it was so long and wet it took my friend and me 2 hours to do it with 2 lawnmowers so I felt I'd earned it!

A new day and a new week. I am positive! I can already feel that my clothes (especially bras) fit better and my stomach is much flatter.

Keep strong everyone!! We can do this!

Didn't make it to the gym yesterday but will today as I ended up doing a lot of work which means I'm starting the week ahead (I work from home & DCs all had lots of homework/music to do). Cooked a low cal dinner for us & didn't eat any of the choc icecream I'd made for pudding; thinking about it I cooked rather than doing weights. Out with the dogs now, booked gym 11-12 so it really will happen today . Well done hippy on start of c25k!

Pilates this morning before work, now just done the C25K. Feeling knackered but good!

It's the exercise and wine I know I'm going to struggle with. I am not tempted in the least by food. I feel better in myself so I can say no to anything foody. Although my DH has been away for 2 weeks and he's back tomorrow so I know he will take me out for a meal on Friday or Saturday and I'll pork out and drink shit loads of wine!

At least I'm prepared! I'm not going to NOT do stuff like that every now and then.

Well done everyone. Keep strong!

Yep wine is the thing for me. It always makes me crave chocolate too. Last night I had half a bottle of red and I felt crap this morning. Still managed to go running today though.

I had a good day on Monday, dog walked, did 40 minutes on a bike at the gym & then lower body weights, push ups & abs. I cycled everywhere too. Yesterday was a treat day - I spent the day at a cooking class so had a good lunch but I did cycle there & afterwards did errands by bike. Dinner was tuna & tabbouleh I'd made earlier but I ate a few chickpea flatbreads... One glass of wine with lunch. Wednesday is going to be dogwalking & then 3 ½ hrs in the car for work ...

That looks delicious East! Really tasty. Sounds like you have been really good with your exercise.

I haven't done any today as both the C25K and the pilates said rest today. I feel so lazy! My DH has just come home from holiday and I'm so tempted to have a GOW but I'm not going to. We are going out to my have restaurant on Friday and I know I'll get shitfaced and eat loads!

Meg, I think If you can drink half a bottle and still go running you are fit enough!!!