Oh, that's why I look fat...

[anothercrackatit]

Apparently I am fat! 13 stone, who'd've thunk it? Spurred on by the dreaded holiday photos I'm biting the bullet, would anyone like to join me? My BMI is 28.5. I'm hoping to lose 3 stone but 11st 6 would squeak me into a healthy BMI.

I've got My Fitness Pal and a Fitbit. I'm also embarking upon Couch to 5k. I've gained weight steadily in my 30s, I'm now 37 and clearly push has come to shove! I'm not averse to any faddy quick-fixes if anyone has any to share (!) but I'm currently basing my efforts on a review of the Hairy Dieters program on YouTube! Their lasagne is absolutely delicious by the way and there is no way you'd guess it was 350 calories a portion.

I loved MFP because it changed my failed short term dieting to a long term lifestyle change. You CAN eat pizza, and drink wine, and not deny yourself all these things. The thing is not to beat yourself up about them and make sure that over the whole week, or month you aren't overeating every single day, but save some calories for those weekend treats. Healthy eating is a long term thing, so it doesn't matter if one day you want some wine and chocolate, as long as overall you eat less than you burn, you WILL lose weight.

There is a before pic of me under my profile pics, it is horrific. There are also pics of some of the cakes I have eaten. Then my current profile pic was from my first ever sportive - the cycle leg of a triathlon relay. 13.2 miles in 45 minutes.

Go for it girls!!

(pics are on mfp not here)

Weighed myself this morning (every Monday first thing) and have not lost again :( that's 3 weeks in a row now with nothing off :( getting really disheartened with it. Grrrrrrrr

mcdog, you had dominoes - it's full of salt which means you will be retaining water. Same thing happens to me! Honestly, it doesn't mean you aren't making progress.

Is that true chop? I haven't ever take notice of the sodium bit of MFP but will do in future!!!

Also, should I drink more water to counteract it?? Sorry, I'm not very clever

Yes, drink more, it will flush out eventually.

I can easily go up by 3lbs after a takeaway - it's all water retention though.

This is the problem with weighing once a week - catch it on a bad day and it is demoralising! I always weighed daily, tried my best to ignore the fluctuations and looked for a downwards trend over time. Daily weighing doesn't work for everyone though. :)

Mcdog I'd swop your weighing day, I do it every Thursday now which is a fairer picture, I think, Monday is a bit much after the weekend.

I think you've got to have what you want, just make adjustments elsewhere. I build wine into my budget, I'd far rather have a couple of glasses than lots of carbs! I try to have a couple of booze-free days every week for health's sake but I tend to go with that quote, "a meal without wine is like a day without sunshine"! Not breakfast or lunch, clearly! Was the pizza worth it? If so its only like a version of the 5:2 diet, even out the calories over the week like Chops says.

Chops your triathlon sounds amazing! I'll see if I can work out how to view your photos on MFP. I finished week 4 of C25K yesterday so I'm having a rest day today. I did 5 minutes on the rowing machine to get my heart rate up and then a brisk 40 minute walk with weights. Luckily I got out in a dry patch! I'm going to cook a couple of suppers and do some baking for the week this morning. I find that I get tired and disheartened later on in the day and I'm much better off cooking while the children are at school. We've got a busy week lined up with half days, open evenings and an INSET not to mention a hospital appointment for DD who may or may not have broken her wrist. I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

That is demoralising mcdog, but agree that weighing on a Monday is really not fun, especially the day after a takeaway. I'm a daily weigher too (except when I'm completely off piste like I have been lately), and you start to notice patterns, depending on what you ate. Try again on Wednesday!

another feel your pain re chocolate. I'm substituting with options hot chocolate at the moment. I've considered going sugar free entirely, but I'm not sure I can.

As for long term change, I think you're bang on Chops. I've been on and off diets for ten years and I'm now as heavy as I was at the beginning. I always think I can get off the diet and eat like a pig again. Plus I end up cooking about eight times a day because I'm doing some faddy thing and that's knackering and unsustainable.

So, today it's going to be homemade chicken pie, with the leftovers from yesterday's roast, and a plate of veggies on the side. I'll count the calories, all of it is made with real ingredients, not fake chemicals, it's kind to my budget, and I'm not adding to the carbs by having potatoes. I admit I'd lose faster if I didn't have pie, but everyone needs fed, not just me, and we're trying to save money wherever we can at the moment because we're moving house.

I'm in desperate need to lose weight! Anyone in Durham need a gym/exercise buddy? :(

Sorry lulu, I'm nowhere near

I'm gonna change my weigh date to Thursdays on your recommendations, I hope it works as seeing no results on the scales sucks!!

Sorry lulu from here as well, very much further south. Have you tried Couch to 5k? It's very good and a bit like having a running buddy.

Liz your chicken pie sounds delicious. That's what I love about calorie counting and MFP, you really can eat what you like as long as it adds up at the end of the week. We're having another HD recipe, meatloaf this time, with a spicy sauce. We've not tried it before but everyone has heard of it on American TV so they're very excited! Fingers crossed it goes down well.

I weigh in on a Wednesday morning before I go to fat club in the evening, gives me an idea of what to expect. Usually I'm 2lb heavier in the evening, which I think is fair, but last week it was 4.5 lb

I had very good intentions of gym and exercise this week, but managed to fall over in the garden last night and twist my ankle! I hadn't even been drinking so no excuse, it was dark and I didn't see a loose paving stone.

However, I have joined the low carb bootcamp thread, anyone else doing it? I do find low carb tricky as I'm vege BUT have heard that a high protein diet is good for IVF treatment, which we will (hopefully!) be embarking on soon. Better make the effort to lose a few lb's before my op on 23/10 as well.

I am in awe of everyone's organisational and cooking skills, I have neither the time or the ability to cook these things!!

I've done low carb quite a few times before, twice getting down to A healthy BMI very quickly. The last time was in November and, as you can see, I put it all right back on again! I can't bear to do it again although I know it works. I also don't think its a sustainable solution where as the calorie counting means you can eat anything as long as you do the sums. That's for the moment anyway, I'm sure I'll lose interest at some point! The low carb diet is great if you're time-poor as its so easy to follow, no counting, weighing etc. I'm only able to plan lots of meals and cook ahead at this advanced point in my life - when I had younger children, a part-time job and lived in the sticks there was neither time nor energy for much other than survival. You'll get there Ruby, you might just have to wait awhile

I feel like I'm starving to death on low carb, like my stomach aches for food. I don't think that's good for me!!! I admire people who can do it though as the results always seem really good.

Off to bodyjam again, love it!! X x

2lbs off!!!! Yay!!!!

wahey!!! well done mcdog.

busy busy week. Off for a breeze ride, gym and maybe a swim. Catch you all later x

Yay! Mcdog, 2lbs off, very good. I Can't help but note it's not Thursday though . I'm hanging on in for my Thursday weigh-in {ahem!} I'm quite cheery though as my size 16 trousers are now far too big and the 14s fit comfortably with even a little room to spare. Those are the more forgiving brands, clearly!

Yes, well spotted that it isn't Thursday :) I decided on today for weighing as I was out tonight!!

Another, I love that smug feeling of clothes getting too big!! It's very motivating I find

LOl mcdog, I'm like a genius at days and such! I'm also under 12 stone!!! 11 13.75 but I'll take it! Chips and beer to celebrate! Nooooo, I know, that's how I got here! Still 7.75lbs off a healthy BMI and 2 stone off my target but I'm happy to start with an 11.

clothes getting loose is the best thing ever! If you work out hard, your weight won't always decrease steadily, but if your clothes are getting loose, that shows you are doing the right thing!!

I got a letter yesterday - I got a place in the London marathon! Eeeekk!! I have had injury since applying so really hoping I will be ready in time. 6 months to train!

I've lost over 2 stone since Jan using MFP.
Wasn't hugely overweight but bmi 26/27.
I am 5 ft 3 and a bit, weighed almost 11 stone at my heaviest, was 67 kg at start of the year.
A friend persuaded me to go with her to a fitness class, I wasn't keen as I hated exercise !
Seeing myself in the mirror at the gym made me start The Shred,and I began to love my changing shape, seeing definition in my arms,shoulders and legs.
I stuck to MFP 1200 calories a day which was very doable coupled with the exercise.
I only weigh myself once a week when I go to work, and saw a steady weight loss of around 2 lbs a week.
now I weigh 53 kg, am size 8,and do 3 classes a week plus long walk couple of times,run couple of times and still shred at weekends or when I haven't attended a class.
my vice is a glass of dry white at night, can't seem to kick that!

Has anyone got any breakfast ideas? I am getting very bored of porridge :) needs to be quite quick due to mad children, and low cal obviously!!