Anyone else just eating healthier/less and moving more?

[KnickKnome]

I've tried every diet known to man (and done quite well on some- I was down 50 lbs before Christmas, though dreading seeing the damage an all inclusive holiday and Christmas has done!)

I've had enough of counting calories/points/syns or whatever. I'm fed up of following plans or drinking shakes. What I really want to do, after years of yo yo dieting, is to eat healthy stuff (not low fat stuff though) that excites me, in slightly smaller portions and do exercise that I enjoy. I want to cut down/out fizzy drinks (already cut these out), sugary foods, chocolate, processed stuff etc.

I not only want to lose weight, I want to lose it (and enjoy it whilst doing it) and maintain it. Yes it's a cliche, but I don't want to diet, I want a lifestyle change. I want to be able to go out to a restaurant for special occasions and not worry over how many syns/points etc the food will 'cost' me, but be able to enjoy it. I don't even know if this makes sense, but after spending so long on different plans, I'm so excited to just eat stuff that's not dictated to me, but stuff I think I should be eating.

I've just done a meal plan for next week, and an online food shop which has got me really excited to start (yes, I'm weird! )

I still need to lose at least another 50 lbs. Does anyone want to join me?

Forgot to ask... How was your birthday weekend LowCrab?

7 minute workout? Sounds interesting. Does that include warm up and cool down?

Aimlessly I have recently started getting spots and also have dry very sensitive skin, it's a nightmare to know what to use in them.

OK, so here's what I ate today, can I have opinions on whether it seems good etc please, would appreciate feedback. I feel like maybe I should cut back (and eat more than other people) but if I cut it back I get stomach aches from not feeling like it has enough. I also have a very restrictive diet which makes things tricky. But pointers would be interesting to me.

Small bowl of homemade muesli (rice puffs, oats, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, raising, linseeds, almonds) with almond milk
nakd bar
banana
quinoa base pizza with weight watchers cheese and a tofu and veg salad
small bowl of porridge with raisins
pack of organix carrot sticks snack
homemade butternut squash and sweet potato soup with 1 x millet bread
plain yoghurt with pear and blueberries
2 x rice cakes and peanut butter
small bowl of muesli and almond milk (as breakfast)

Reastie - Your diet sounds healthy as there's lots of fruit and veg included. I guess the portion sizes would determine if it's too much or not.

I know this is a non counting of calories thread but if you're eating too many calories (You might want to check the muesli as there's lots of cals in seeds and nuts) then you won't lose weight. I know roughly what the calories are in most things and keep a loose tally in my head and will choose the lower cal option if one is available. For example I buy WeightWatchers Danish bread as it's roughly half the calories per slice than the average slice of supermarket bread.

Why do say your diet is restrictive? Are you Vegan?

I know re: muesli. I used to buy it but found it too sweet with too many raisins, so started making my own, and also wanted to get more protein/good fats from the linseeds etc. My portions aren't huge but I'm working on reducing them (having small bowls and plates are most helpful with this). I'm vegetarian, gluten free, don't eat anything with added sugar or sweetener, and have to avoid a number of foods due to IBS (many vegetables and pulses/beans). It's a nightmare eating out! I've been eating lunch at work 3 x a week, which is a baked potato and cheese. I've only been having a little cheese and healthy salad, but I'm sure I read somewhere potatoes are high GI (??) or some such so I need to check this out.

Reastie that menu sounds delicious! And if you do lose weight with it then even better!

Today i walked 5.8 miles into town and back. I haven't drank as much water as usual but i'm not trying to catch up now or i'll be up and down all night.

My menu for today:
Green juice
Apple
M&S balanced for you beef ragu
Greek yog and honey
Rice cake and peanut butter
Chicken and polenta bake with parmesan, roast cherry tomatoes and carrots
Strawberry cornetto

This is the first time that i have tried polenta and it was lovely. I might have it for lunch tomorrow i enjoyed it that much!

I am 9 days into my healthy eating as of tomorrow (not weighing until 1st March) and i feel much better mentally, physically my stomach seems flatter and i found today's walk quite easy so i must be getting fitter too!

I really need to give the house a good clean, hoping to do that tomorrow and walk a couple of miles with the kids to Tesco and back for pancake supplies (i will definitely be having a couple of those!).

Hi all, sorry for the radio silenc.

London and my birthday were great, but I ate like a right tit on the return journey and the first day I was home. I basically was really tired (and fell out with my mam) and reverted to stupid old habits like munching my way through huge bags of jelly babies and mini eggs even when I didn't really want them.

So I've gained 4lbs. I'm hoping I can shift them quickly.

I'm right back on plan today and can't honestly say I feel that I am missing the sweets.

Re the 7 minute workouts. My work out clothes are generally easy to grab as infuse the same kit for skating and it's usually just hanging around in a pile of clean laundry that I'm yet to put away.

You can just do 7 mins if you like. But with the superfast warm up its more like 10 mins.

There are about 10 workouts on the disc and I generally try to do 2 or 3 in one go. But there have been some days when I've just done the one. I figure one must be better than none.

I generally exercise after ds has gone to sleep, so I try to put my kit on and clear some space before I take him up to bed. That way I have fewer 'reasons' not to do it later.

I know Davina is a bit marmitey for some people, but I quite enjoy her exercise videos.

In other news I have an ear infection and ds has some unspecified virus that is making him utterly exhausted and much easier to parent

Lowcrab don't worry about it...quick on quick off i say, i bet you can have that 4lbs off in 2 or 3 days. I am an emotional eater, so a crap day can send me to the fridge so i sympathise! Hope your ds gets better soon.

Bleurgh i have eaten too much Nutella today. I only had 2 pancakes but kept dipping in the Nutella!

I have been on a 2.5 mile round walk with the girls to Tesco and the park today, drank about 1.5 litres of water again (instead of the usual 2-3). Menu for today:
Green juice
M&S chicken and asparagus risotto
2 pancakes and shit loads of strawberries and Nutella
Chicken and polenta bake (same as last night)
Strawberry cornetto

I really could have done without the cornetto but i wanted it and waited 20 minutes before having it to make sure i really really did want it! I am not depriving myself of anything as i have said earlier. I am regretful of the amount of Nutella i have scoffed but i don't feel guilty; it was pancake day, a one off, i don't buy it usually and it's all gone now.

Tomorrow i really need to crack on with the housework, a good vacuuming session should burn a few calories. I can't go on a big walk as the kids moan so will try to do a dvd in the evening instead. I also have a few things to put on Ebay which will keep me busy for while and hopefully out of the biscuit tin.

Hiya,

Low hopefully it'll be off as quick as it went on. Glad you had a good time other than return journey.

Happy can you buy (I have no idea hence the asking) mini cornettos? Just thought that might give you the satisfaction of having one but with less calories. Did you get everything on ebay? I have so much stuff I keep meaning to do but it takes me ages. I did manage to sell my T25 workout set last week though.

Did an insanity cardio power workout today. It was super hard work and I wish I was fitter. My body feels tired today from it. I've been so so hungry today though and have eaten so much. It's so frustrating . This happened when I originally started insanity workouts whilst my body got used to them, but this time I'm only doing them once or twice a week and doing pump the other days so it means my body won't get used to insanity. Maybe that's a good thing.....I'm just fed up with trying and not getting anywhere.

Hi all,
Well my Davina dvd has arrived (though I haven't opened it yet!).
As mentioned previously I think it will be more of a 10 mins workout and there are a few different ones so depending on how I feel & how much time I have will determine just exactly what I do.
I guess it's not boding well that it came on Monday and is still in its packaging! ?!
Clothes wise for it, hadn't really thought about it but was hoping to do it either first thing in the morning or last thing at night in which case I may well be in my pj's!! (they are comfy at least!).

Have had a reasonably good week so far food wise though am still going over my MFP daily allowance most days. I think it's because I'm breastfeeding which makes me ravenous! plus I haven't told MFP (not sure if you can?) so it isn't taking into account the extra calories I'm using up.
It suggests I have around 1300 a day which doesn't seem enough...

Anyone else using MFP?

butterfly I'm not on MFP so much anymore, but I'm on there if you want to friend me, I'm reastie1. FWIW I lost weight using MFP despite being over cals most days if only it were still the case. There is a way of adding bfing I think, but I can't remember how. 1300 kcals definitely sounds too low in any case.

Thanks reastie, will try to look you up...
I guess I could add some sort of exercise to make up for the breastfeeding calories I'm burning, just don't know how much I am burning if you know what I mean.

Anyway am currently trying to resist the bag of Haribo that's sitting in our cupboard... definitely lots of 'dead' calories (sugar) in those!!

Reastie i don't think a mini cornetto would cut it...i would eat at least 2!

I managed to get a few things on Ebay today, aiming for a few more by the end of the week.

Your exercise schedule sounds full on, no wonder you get really hungry. I would love to do Insanity, i have the TurboFire workout dvd's which are ace.

Butterfly 1300 is definitely too low if you are BF. The Kellymom website recommends 1800 i think. I know my milk would shrivel up if i only at 1300 calories LOL. In fact i am thinking i should go and post in the infant feeding forum as i am sure my supply is dropping, i'll give it until the end of the week to see if it sorts itself out. I am not counting calories per se but doing a quick tally in my head and i am around the 1700-1800 mark i think, but dd is being weaned onto food now so i would have thought i didn't need to eat as much.

I haven't done any exercise today aside from housework. I will definitely do some tomorrow. Also only drank 1.5 litres of water, i'll try to drink 2 litres tomorrow.

Today's menu:
Green juice
2 x soft boiled eggs on 2 x wholemeal toast with proper butter
Greek yoghurt and honey
Rice cake and peanut butter
3 or 4 handfuls of the girls sweet popcorn at the cinema
Vegetable curry and brown rice
Strawberry cornetto

Hi, I'm still here too. Have a cold so feeling yuck.

I use mfp but don't worry about the calorie counting so much. I find if helps me to be more aware of what I'm eating. I have trends of having days where I font eat as much and am under target. but these are naturally followed by ravenous days where I eat much more.

Yes, we'll I hear bf-ing can use up around 500 calories a day so if I add that to the 1300 MFP is suggesting then maybe 1800 calories does sound about right...
Will see how I go - don't want to be hungry and certainly don't want my milk supply to suffer.

For what it's worth, yesterday I ate:
Special K with skimmed milk
Orange juice

Tomato soup & a bagel

Pasta bolognese with homemade pasta sauce
Apple

Several cups of tea
Some water (but nowhere near enough!)

I'm looking for healthier breakfast ideas - I enjoy cereal in the mornings but know the majority are full of sugar! Even the ones which are meant to be healthier, ie. Special K & Bran Flakes. What does everyone else have? I'm thinking a couple of slices of toast might be better?
Thanks.

breakfast for me can range from

a banana, glass of milk and a handful of brazil nuts
porridge (although i buy the sugary syrup flavoured one)
scrambled egg and toast
a bowl of alpen (again, very sugary)
or yoghurt, granola (sparingly) and some fruit.
bagel and peanut butter

it varies depending on how hungry i'm feeling that morning and whether i'm exercising after breakfast.

i like to have variety.

also, if i've eaten a big dinner the night before (especially a take-away) i'm often not hungry in the morning so skip it until an early lunch.

Just checking in quickly before bed...

Bit of a strange food day today compared to others. I have been so hungry and at points wanted to binge!

I went to an Insanity class with my sister this evening. Wow. Enjoyed it but I'll be in pain tomorrow I think!

Today's menu:
2 weetabix and semi skimmed milk
3 cereal bars
2 eggs on 2 small slices wholemeal, butter
Greek yoghurt and honey
2 more eggs eaten same way as above
Strawberry cornetto

So you can see I have eaten 4 eggs! 3 cereal bars! No fruit or veg! I have loosely totted the calories up and comes to approx 2100 which isn't all bad. Hopefully back to something a big more balanced tomorrow.

I did plan on roast veg, chicken and quinoa for after my class but I couldn't be bothered to wait for the veg to roast and I just fancied eggs.

11 stone 10 lbs.

Wow, well done nevergoogle, you must be well chuffed!

I'm having a good week food wise though am meeting a friend for coffee & cake today (can be my Friday treat!)
Will walk into town and back though (about an hour - with a pram and half of it will be up hill!) so feel I'll work some of it off!

Will just have to try to have a healthy weekend though this may be tricky as we've got more friends coming tomorrow so no doubt we'll indulge in copious amounts of food (& drink?!) and then DS has a birthday party on Sunday where food is provided and will no doubt include cake, sausage rolls, crisps, fizzy pop etc.... Must resist!!!!!

Have changed to morning weigh in, 10st 11 woo hoo. I know it will fluctuate So I am going to try and not weigh again until next Friday morning. Keep going gang

strange that the week I don't run at all, I lose weight.

I guess my appetite is low because of the cold I'm trying to shake off.

I'm hoping to get out for a run tomorrow morning and am now looking forward to it!

Happy Friday all

Butterfly...sounds like a nice weekend, just enjoy it.

Nevergoogle...bet you feel better once you manage a run.

Well I have managed to avert a disaster food wise today.The girls were having some professional photo's taken this morning so I dashed out with no breakfast, got to my mum's at 1pm RAVENOUS. Quickly proceeded to scoff 4 choc chip cookies and a mini roll! Dashed home still hungry. I managed to take a minute to talk some sense into myself and had a big drink of water and made...you guessed it...eggs! To be fair I needed to go to the shops so not all that much in but I could have planned it better. As I was so hungry I had 3 instead of 2, with 2 small slices of wholemeal and butter. I then had yoghurt and honey. I felt nicely full then and went to Tesco for some bits and bobs.

I put dd3 to bed at 7, fed the other 2 then did level 1 of the 30 day shred. I'm now in the bath. Going to just have some weetabix then some fruit (and maybe a cornetto!).

I want to eat light tonight as I'm out for a family meal tomorrow lunch as it's been 2 years since my grandad passed away. I'm going to choose whatever takes my fancy and will probably have a pudding too. Provided that doesn't send me off the rails I have chicken with quinoa and roast veg planned for tea tomorrow. I hope to do the 30DS again too.

Have a lovely weekend

Ooh had a huge potion of fish, chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce for lunch, followed by toffee apple crumble and ice cream.

Later on in the afternoon I ate a massive bag of Maltesers (444 cals!) while watching a film! I ate them so mindlessly I could hardly remember eating them once they had all gone

Anyway, instead of feeling guilty and this leading on to a binge I did level 1 of the 30DS and am about to have some Weetabix and a strawberry cornetto.

I've not eaten much fruit or veg at all in days now and I'm missing it. I hope tomorrow is better, aiming for at least 5 portions and 2 litres of water. It's my birthday Monday so will be eating cake etc so would really like a nice healthy day tomorrow to offset it.

Hope everyone is well

I have reached the 60lbs lost mark.

Feeling chuffed but those BMI charts are not very forgiving are they.

For a healthy BMI I need to get to 10 stone. So 24 lbs to go.

Will probably take about six months. I have a wedding to go to then so will make that the aim and buy a gorgeous outfit to celebrate.

I find long term goals like that so intimidating though. I like to take each lb as it comes and go for little achievements and lots of them.

Nevergoogle 60lbs is fantastic!! 24lbs in 6 months is about 1lb a week...you can do it

I managed to stick to my plan today. Eggs on toast for breakfast, sandwich and salad for lunch, greek yoghurt and honey, cajun chicken with tons of roast veg and quinoa, strawberry cornetto. Also did 30DS and drank 2 litres of water.

Feeling good and looking forward to birthday cake tomorrow