So, I'm changing my life on Monday...

[Runnaway]

Well, that's what I hope. Am currently overweight. I am tall so can carry it quite well, but I always feel very flabby and am uncomfortable with my size. I have lost weight successfully before so I know I can do it, but have lacked a bit of motivation and willpower in the last year. Gradually my weight has crept up and trying on clothes yesterday was not fun!!

My plan is this:
Food diary - am a mindless eater
Drink more water - tend to eat when I am actually thirsty
Move more - this will be the biggest change. I work FT now and move much less within my everyday life. I now need to factor in exercise as it is no longer part of my day to day life.

I would like to lose 14 pounds in total, but am going to start with 7 pounds as my first goal!

So, anyone care to join me?

Ooh! Exciting!!! I'm glad you're feeling so motivated .

That weight progression sounds sensible. But I haven't actually been following TNRLFW properly at all. I've just been using it as a bit of a resource for ideas for different exercises and for inspiration really.

I started weekly sessions with a personal trainer in May. They finished in July and I started doing a weekly weights session at the gym instead. Can't remember what weights I started on but I've added a bit each session.

Ah, fair enough. I think I need the routine of 'do this, then that', i've come to realise I am a rule-led kinda gal!

Will let you know how it goes!

Please do!

I think I'd have followed it more strictly if I hadn't done those personal training sessions. They've given me a bit of confidence to go off plan!

How's things with you?

Okay thanks. Nothing to report though really. Done two workouts- all good, though I already need more weights, so I'm debating having a barbell in the house....where to put it for the 6 days and 23 hours a week that I'm not using it!!??

How are you?

Pleased to hear you've got off to a good start. Amazing how quickly you can up the weights isn't it.

I'm fine ta. Had indulgant weekend away with family so having scone withdrawal symptoms currently! Am thinking of revising my goal and perhaps just maintain for a bit. I picked an arbitrary weight to aim for and not sure why I'm pressing on when I'm ok where I am. Think I was thinking of getting my bmi more in the middle of the healthy range but perhaps I might work on that in the new year.

How's it going Bus?

Hullo

I'm still hovering about just above the 10 stone mark. Have had a few blow outs but am finding it easy enough to get back on track rather than derail my progress.

I'm still dithering about what to aim for goal-wise but am definitely going to try and get into the 9 stone bracket.

Am absolutely loving my weight sessions. Feel sad that I can only go once a week due to family commitments and work. Might try and push for another session some weeks. It's additive!

How are you getting on Dakota? Update please!

Sounds good! You go girl!

I have done 4 weeks of my cut, eating 2000 calories (more some days) and lifting 3 times a week for the last fortnight. I've lost 4 pounds.

Really torn about how I feel! Kind of know this is great, since the whole point was that I could lose without being on a diet- and I certainly haven't held back with food and drink.

However, I know I could have lost more if I'd cut more, and I really feel fat and ugly. My clothes are really tight, I feel bad because of it....just battling a bit with the old demons I think!!

Ah Dakota. Those demons and I are good friends enemies.

If the scale is a trigger to feeling bad, might you be happier going on measurements instead? Perhaps aiming for waist being half your height? That's apparently a healthy ratio. I torture myself with the fact I've pretty much stayed the same since the middle of August! But I know I'm getting stronger and fitter so I try and keep that in mind.

You're losing fat and retaining muscle on your regime. I find the scale goes up by a few pounds after a weights session as the body retains water to repair itself.

This is a long term change for you. Not a quick fix which is unsustainable. A pound a week means a stone by Christmas. Stay strong girl .

On a good day I feel blessed to have found this woe, and generally, I am fully aware of, and onbaord with, the whole eating like this forever element of this diet- which is why I began it.

On a bad day, like today, when my size 16 trousers feel a bit too snug, I want to turn to ridiculous shakes and other silly things I have tied a million times before.

Just gotta suck it up, I guess. If I was able to maintain current rate of loss I'd be pretty hit by Summer....it's just whether I can stay motivated that long.

I'm doing a bit of reading on Paleo eating and, while I don't want to incorporate that fully, I guess I know that I really need to be eating more 'purely', thou I would stick to 200 calories. That's a lot of meat and veg!!! Haha!

2000, obv!!

How are you feeling this week Dakota?

I've been interested in the paleo approach. I'm not following it but have naturally grativated towards foods which are more "whole" and not too messed about with. Never really saw the point of that before but now I do except when I'm filling my face with wonderous cake and other such stuff

I'm starting another block of sessions with my trainer at the weekend. Really looking forward to being put through my paces again!!

I'n okay...just eaten a third of an easter egg though so feeling all kinds of guilt!!! Soooooo weak!!

Oh god Dakota please don't torture yourself about a third of an easter egg .

Log it and move on.

I'm quietly impressed it was a third. My usual response would have been to inhale the lot!!

How's the weights going?

It was only a third because the pesky children were there too and it was theirs!

Weights going well. Feels totally doable to do it twice a week, although, strictly speaking it should be three. I find three tricky if there is anything even remotely unusual about the week (dentist trips, parties etc) but I figure that twice a week forever is better than three times a week for a month and then dropping it because it's just too difficult to fit in. I am definitely getting stronger and my arms feel (though don't look) firmer, for sure!

How about you?

Ooh good for you! I definitely think the attitude of sustainable change is important. This is healthy living long term.

My arms have improved beyond recognition since doing weights. I honestly thought there was no hope for them so I'm thrilled. I would never wear a sleeveless top before, even when it was scorching. Now, there's no stopping me .

Weigh in for me tomorrow. I will literally weep for joy if I'm under 10 stone. I know it's just an arbitrary number and I really really shouldn't get hung up on it. But it's psychologically massive for me.

I'll update you in the morning .

Good luck!

Well......I made it!! But no tears of joy as I'm literally only 0.2 of a pound under!

Woooooooo!! Well Done! 0.2 is 0.2!! Hooray for you.

Thanks

How's it hanging Bus?

All fine with me. Had a major wobble a couple of weeks ago but feeling stronger and leaner and back on top. Roar!

I'm so pleased you're feeling in the zone Dakota. ROAAAAAAR!!! What's set you back on track?

How's the training going?

I'm having some ideas about stopping weighing myself. I've got specfic goals I still want to work towards; reducing my waist measurement by 1 inch and increasing my deadlift weight each week.

I'm still tracking calories on MFP but find I'm getting too hung up on the number on the scale. It affects my mood and I don't want to live like that. I read something that said you're aiming for "a look" not a number. It rang true.

I don't want this to knock me off course and I'm not sure how it's going to pan out long term. Any thoughts?

I didn't want to throw away six months of slow progress to get up to calorie goal- just had a crazy food fortnight then wrote myself a letter about why I'm doing this....sorted my head out. Sounds a bit stupid, but it's somehow easier to advise others than yourself, so I treated myself as third party. Really worked....for now!

The training is going okay. Still only on stage 1 but feeling so much stronger and REALLY enjoying the lifting. This could be a real thing for me...I really hope so anyway!

As I get stronger, the scales hold less appeal. I know I'm too heavy, but while I can see myself trimming down I'm okay with that. Must do some measurements and see if I've lost any inches, but feel like I have. i think if you can take a proper step away from the scales that has to be ridiculously liberating, doesn't it? It struck me the other day, there are people who only ever weigh themselves when they see a scale in Boots, or the gym or whatever...they have far more freedom than someone who weighs every day, huh? How cool to never feel driven by the numbers on a scale. If you can do that, do it! I thought about asking dh to hide the scales and only let me have them every few months- could you do that?

You are incredible though- genuinely an inspiration. Keep going. Keep rewarding yourself. Keep positive....and get rid of the scales....??? (Gritting my teeth, because I don't know if I could actually do it!!)

Thanks Dakota. I really appreciate that.

The letter doesn't sound stupid at all. I'm really pleased it helped set you back on track. I sometimes text myself messages to help keep focus.
I'm so pleased you're enjoying the weight training. It's pretty addictive I think! Seeing change in the mirror is a big motivation to continue. Plus it just feels so great!

I think I'll try to avoid the scales until mid-dec and see how I go. If I eat well and exercise, I feel good. I don't need the ridiculous situation where standing on the scale negates all that because I don't see the number I was hoping/expecting. That also makes me think "fuck it" and stuff myself with crap.