March starters - better late than never

[WONAR]

Continued from original thread here.

It's a new month and time to kick ourselves into gear. Come one, come all, and share your weight-loss plans, meals, tips, battles, lows, and highs here with us. Welcome!

Thank you Wonar. I weighed this morning. I have stayed the same weight for the last few years which is good but want to push forward and lose two stone.

Hahaha, sometimes I like to watch those programs while eating a bowl of spinach to feel extra virtuous, but this time it backfired.

Yeah. I went to a pub quiz the other night without prepping some kinda dinner/snack and had to sit for hours while plate after plate of deliciously scented burgers and portions of fish and chips wafted saltily past. Pure torture. Didn't eat until about half 11. Like you, I've learned my lesson.

Hi Jemmi! Good luck on the weight loss :). Add me on MFP if you use it - TheLightPrincess

Has anyone else tried konjac 5-calorie noodles? I'm loving them this week. Just made a delicious beef broth, with leftover roast beef, spinach and Konjac noodles.

Hi Playnice. Thank you. I don't use MFP though but that was kind of you.
How are most of you going about your fat loss?

Oh no Play rookie mistake! Aaargh nightmarish! The noodles sound good, where can you find them in the supermarket? Sounds like an interesting option!

Hi Jemmi, I've joined a gym and I'm doing 3 classes a week there (evenings as I work FT, but so far it's working out). I've swapped my lunches, as before I was eating e.g. a panini, crisps and a banana, and now I'm having salads with yoghurt and a banana. I'm off takeways (sob) and I'm trying not to eat too much stodge - I've had no rice since I started, which is very unusual for me (usually 4 or 5 times a week), I don't eat bread and barely have pasta or potatoes. I don't want to completely cut things out, but I definitely won't be eating treats as often as I did.
I don't have scales so I'll be measuring myself every Friday.

I got them from my local Planet Organic, but you can order them online pretty easily too. Apparently you can make low carb rice pudding with the Konjac rice, and things like stir fries and pad Thais with the noodles. They don't taste of much, but smothered in sauce, or soaked in broth, they're not bad to my tastebuds.

I'm doing a mix of low carb and calorie counting. I like low carb, but I don't really hold with that Atkins 'enjoy 9 sausages for breakfast and a tub of pate for lunch' nonsense. I'm finding it quite easy to keep my cals low just by low carbing, but I am keeping an eye to check I'm not creeping too high, especially as I'm still eating cheese.

As for exercise, just 10,000 steps/5 miles a day. I'm only a few weeks in, so I might start the gym when I've adjusted to no carbs a bit more. How about you, Jemmi?

Well I have been eating mindfully so eating whatever I want (generally good choices) as long as I am properly hungry. It works and I don't gain but want to lose a stone or two for summer now so need more structure I think. Im not cutting anything out as that leads me to binging. Will be eating as naturally as possible. Fruit, veg, salads, fish, chicken, porridge but will cut down on my salty butter (which I love) and cut down on my thick olive oil. I don't drink and don't eat too much of anything much but am obviously eating more than my body needs as I am staying the same weight. I have started using my treadmill and exercise bike and free weights two weeks ago so that should help. I could do with more steps though. Maybe I could do with a step counter thingy?

It's nice to have a step counter. On my iPhone 6, MFP tracks my steps for me, but I don't know if that would be the case for other phones. I don't even know quite how accurate it is, but I tend to hit 10,000 steps at 5 miles, which t'internet says is about right.

It's nice to have something low key like 10,000 steps to aim for, though. While it takes quite a bit of effort for me to get off my arse and go for a run, it's quite easy for me to hop off the tube a stop early if I'm hovering at the 7,500 step mark.

I feel really disheartened today. I've only been dieting for two weeks, but it feels like forever because there's so much thinking about food. I just want to see results!

Can you see yourself low carbing for ever Playnice

Not to the degree I am now. I've read a lot of research about the effects of sugar, and I do buy into it. In future I see myself adding fruit and nuts back in, and widening my vegetable allowance to include sweet potatoes, carrots and butternut squash etc. I think I'll keep avoiding the sweets, chocolate, white bread, pasta and rice etc.

Those are some great ideas Jemmi, it sounds like you're very much on the right track. It sounds like we're in a very similar situation (eating pretty well, but a bit too much!). A step-counter could help to motivate you.

PlayNice I'm feeling that way too! I keep telling myself that it's far too early to see any results yet, but I still wish I could. I'm sooooo bored of salad or soup for lunch!

My first Pilates class tonight was great. It was really tough in some parts, but the instructor was absolutely fantastic and very motivational. She asked me a few questions at the end and I told her that it was my first ever time (I collapsed out of position a few times!), and she said not to worry because it hadn't been a beginners' class and some of her regulars found it as difficult as I did. I'm already booked in for next week

So hard, isn't it, WONAR? I'm too scared to weigh myself in case it's disappointing; I'm certainly not seeing much. Holding out until Monday morning and desperately hoping for a half decent result.

Watching The Imitation Game and just want a bit of popcorn or some biscuits or something!

It is hard Play; I went to the supermarket after LBT tonight and all the Easter eggs were staring right at me as I went in, with their bright £1 signs above them...

The good news is that LBT tonight was still pretty hellish but not as hard as last week! Maybe it's a bit early to be optimistic but I think I'm getting fitter. Since Pilates last night I've been readjusting my stance all day and I didn't have any back pain today, which is incredibly unusual. I'm going to stay optimistic and try really hard to love my salad-for-lunch tomorrow

Any more thoughts on the step-counter Jemmi?

I want to get one. Will look on internet later. I saw the Easter eggs tonight but will buy next week. Since doing mindful eating I'm not bothered around food like I was years ago. I have loads of chocolate at home but don't bother with it much. Bought a strawberry cream muffin tonight, will have it later . Yum.

Mmmmm, Easter eggs. I keep seeing Frozen themed ones dotted everywhere, which luckily barely even resemble chocolate so aren't setting off my cravings.

I think now the initial 'thrill' of the diet has worn off, I'm slowly beginning to deal with my boredom/emotional eating. So it's probably for the best. But right now saying 'no' to myself feels like an act of self-loathing, despite it being the opposite. Damn whoever told me chocolate was a treat (that'd be everyone ). Maybe I need to research mindful eating!

Ooh no, I think you definitely can get fitter in a short period of time when doing that sort of high intensity cardio. It's so great to see those sorts of results. I'm hoping the scales will give some to me on Monday. The thought of which is hopefully going to inspire good behaviour this weekend!

Play I used to be a bingeater but read a book years ago that turned my eating around. My mother kept me skinny through diets. She policed my eating and caused my disordered eating patterns. It hasn't been easy but I now buy any food I desire and don't over eat or crave anything. whenever I have tried any diet I only end up binging because of the cravings. I'm doing weights as they change my body shape and help burn fat.

Hi all, bit of a late joiner but I need a thread like this to help with my motivation. rejoined WW today and I have a fitbit flex. I have some fitness dvds so I might give them a wee go starting tonight. I also keep meaning to instagram my meals if anyone wants to follow me and join me in that to help me remember to do it!

"right now saying 'no' to myself feels like an act of self-loathing, despite it being the opposite" is absolutely bang on Play. I mixed it up and had low-fat hummus and carrots sticks for lunch today, along with the obligatory banana and yoghurt; guuuuhhhhhh. However I've been feeling more energetic and still no back pain after practising my Pilates stance again today! I might even go to the gym on Sunday anything to stop negative thoughts creeping back in.

Jemmi so sorry to hear that. Part of the reason it took me so long to join a gym is because my mother has essentially been on my back about my weight for 10 years, and a perverse, stubborn part of me didn't want her to be right. I can still remember her telling me how much less she weighed than me on her wedding day, when she weighed 8 stone at 165cm. At the time I was 16 years old, a size 8, and weighed 9.5 stone at 176cm (think Nicole Kidman in terms of height, weight and shape). I burned with shame for months and I was already slim and healthy!
I want to get into doing weights, would you mind me sending you a PM?

You're very welcome here frankie80, the more the merrier! I don't use Instagram myself but joining WW and keeping track of your meals is definitely heading in the right direction

WONAR I was 5ft 7 and size 6 to 8 and weighed 7 and a half stone. I was very bony looking but still felt "fat". She thought I looked great. Sad really. Feel free to PM me if there is anything I can help you with

me today
one cheese toasty with lettuce,cucumber and tomato
salmon with white wine sauce, broccoli cheese bake with celery, spring onions,Tom's and peppers with a mixed nut and cheese topping.
cherry,blueberry,raspberry and banana smoothie.
all homemade.

All small portions on small plate and stopped when I had enough.

Aaaaargh....I keep coming up against massive temptation and events hinging around food that are affecting my progress.

I'm 5lb down and that's good.

Today was a lovely lunch out with a friend for her birthday. It was lovely and completely not diet friendly. Not so good.

Tomorrow and onwards I know what I'm cooking/eating for the week but Thurs we are taking Mum out for afternoon tea. Sigh. Lovely temptations.

I'm making my savoury vegetable rice tomorrow - it usually makes a few portions that are low fat and very tasty. I just need to get out of the habit of picking at bits from the cupboard and to be organised enough to make my lovely meals and not just grab something less good and go.

Thanks Jemmi I'll PM you at some point well done on your food, all that sounds absolutely delicious!

Hi Marnie, well done on your 5lb loss! IKWYM about temptations; today for Mother's Day lunch I had a creamy chicken dish at an Italian restaurant... I'm going to be good for the rest of the week now. I did eat all my vegetable though I guess if you allow yourself something every now and then you're far less likely to give up on yourself. Don't be afraid to give in to temptation every so often - in moderation, of course.

I did my measurements again and there seems no point in posting them as they're the same as last week, which made me feel a bit down, but I'm definitely a lot fitter than two weeks ago. Every cloud and all that! Also, whilst browsing the 'net this weekend I stumbled across this weight-loss blog. It's by a lady from England and I very much like her frank and honest style and I find her writing quite motivational. The link above connects to her FAQ where she talks about temptation, emotional eating, and helpful tips.

I did my gym today. Did my hamstrings and quads, triceps and biceps. Will try and do some weights every day.
Am going to go by my clothes and my measurments too WONAR, the scales just try to make me feel bad haha.