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?

That's EXACTLY what I do! Sometimes, when I've lost I even go "oh, now I deserve a treat!" Step away from the scales!! We all know we need to do it but it's hard. (TOTALLY just weighed myself for the first time in ten days!!! 4 pounds down (from my melt down fortnight) - niiiiiiiicccceee!!!)

Whoop!! Fantastic Dakota

I do feel freer having avoided the scales for a bit. I have, however, given a lot of mental energy to wondering how much I weigh!!! I'm hoping that will ease with time!

I do worry about losing it as a useful benchmark but will do waist and hip measurements. It's a bit scary taking a step into the unknown.

Well that didn't last Dakota........I've already got back on the scales . Was worried my weight would creep back up and I wouldn't notice. It was too scary!

I think I'm trying a different tactic. The other extreme to be honest! Am going to weigh myself daily and log in on MFP. In the past I'd weigh daily but only log a loss on MFP. I'm going to try and take the emotion out of it, especially as I'm moving towards maintaining. Try to just make my weight useful data, nothing more. We'll see how it goes!!

How are you?

I'm good thanks, feeling trimmer (although the scales aren't agreeing at the moment...).

How's the daily weigh in going? To be honest, let's not judge. We all know we SHOULD throw the scales away but we're just not going to, are we? So whatever works best for you. I hooe you're finding it useful and yes, I agree, potentially weighing every day takes the emotion out and makes it a more fact based exercise. I hope it's working for you.

Thanks Dakota!

The daily weighing is going well. I'm logging every day and that's helping me try and see it as just data.

Glad to hear you're feeling stronger, leaner and good.

I'm aiming to avoid starting my festive eating until Christmas eve this year. Usually it's at least the 4 weeks running up to it! I obviously want to enjoy all the special foods and have a relaxed and happy time. But I'm well aware I could honestly undo so much hard work if I properly go for it!

Are you still there Bus?

Hello my friend!

Yes I'm still here, keeping on keeping on . I'm 9 st 11lb which I'm thrilled about. More importantly my body feels stronger, leaner and I'm shrinking out of all of my clothes! Great but very expensive.

How are you getting on Dakota?

#waves!!!

You're amazing! Well done! How much is that in total and in how long? You must be so proud of yourself!

I'm okay...after many weeks of wobbling and generally just feeling really crap I decided to just bite the bullet and cut. I know I might regret it long term, but I was so fed up of hating myself. So I've cut down, just this week and only to 1700 calories but have already lost a kilo in three days and feel better for it alredy. I guess, long term, I'm thinking I can go back to EM2WL when I've lost some weight and focus then on getting back up to my true maintenance figure. I just kept hearing myself self-body shaming and decided I needed to do something which would make me feel better about myself. Kind of disappointed with myself for not making it work (to be fair I didn't put on loads of weight but I felt so rough and fat and uncomfortable in my own body) but kind of proud that I've seen an issue building and taken steps to avoid it. I hope I have done the right thing. What I really hope is that in a year's time I am in your position and proud of a massive weight loss. :))

Thanks so much Dakota!

I started at the end of feb at 12 st 5 1/2 lb. I got to 10 st by the middle of aug. It's taken me until now to comfortably get into the 9 st bracket. A bit of a slog! I bounced about, up and down a few pounds for months. My body changed in that time as I've kept up with the strength training but it was hard to keep motivation at times.

I feel fantastic and while my body is by no means perfect, I'm very proud of what I've achieved this year. My aim is just to continue improving my lifting. I can deadlift almost my own bodyweight now which amazes me!

I am full of admiration for you Dakota. You can do this. And being more self-aware, understanding yourself more and knowing triggers and cycles of negative thoughts is so positive.

I try and really think WHY I do stuff now. There's always a reason.