New Mums: Pre-diet we had pride, now we want new bodies!

[SolitudeSometimesIs]

Here we go again!

Ok it's the magic thread where we find inspiration, motivation and actually see the results we want and manage to hold on to them once we get them.

No more excuses (unless they are hilarious or necessary).

Welcome all!

I love that Orla bag - beautiful colour. Just right for summer :)

I just like the bag threads for the guilt trip posts. If I had lots of disposable income I would spend it on Bags and clothes too. (Not cheap renaults!)

Harvey Nichols has a preview sale with 50% off. No Marcie though. There are some Coach and Marc Jacobs, but they are boring compared to the Orla bag.

I shouldn't even be looking. I have lots of other nice bags (Fossil,Hobbs, Jigsaw) I should dig them all out and starting using some.

Which Mulberry's do you have? I'd love an Alexa.

I keep thinking of a career change, but I don't know what. My back ground is all Biology and Science Education. I don't want a science job. Everything I think of is NHS based which is probably just as bad as teaching! I might look into home and hospital teaching. A few people have mentioned a shortage of staff and it's probably less pressure than in an actual school.

My ideal job would be squeezing spots actually. Or being a vegetable gardener!

Ew Green!!

How about lab based NHS work?

I have got the Bayswater (use for work). Bayswater tote (more weekendy) and Anthony Messenger. I think I'd like a Lily but prefer the Marcie really.

I like Hobbs and Jigsaw bags as well.

I had a renault Clio years ago {grin}

Have you looked in the Mulberry outlet shops?
Bicester/York/Somerset.

I think the York and Somereset ones also post out, so you could ring and check their stock if you wouldn't have a chance to go. York not too far??

Spot squeezing and fashion advice. Sounds like a good night!

Hi all. Had a fast day on Saturday because I was busy but I drank so much wine while sitting in the sun with DH and our kids. I have no handbag advice or input, I use some old handbag that I bought 5 years ago when my handbag prior to that fell apart.

I like the Christmas weight loss plan. I'm on board. Although I may break the board because I'm an enormous hippo lady at the moment.

Green do you have a Renault Scenic? I want one so badly but the reviews are really bad. Are they dreadful?

My hobby is watching spot videos on YouTube

I think I'd have to re train for lab work. I'll have to start thinking about it properly.

I don't have a Renault Sol. There was a designer bag thread on the Style and Beauty board and posters suggested that the OP could buy a cheap car with the money instead. It's quite funny.
The Scenics seem popular though. I'm torn between a 7 seater or going back to a Mini. I don't actually need a new car at the moment.

Stop enabling me Beyond. I look too scruffy for designer bags anyway, they don't go with my supermarket outfits.

I'm definitely starting the Christmas plan tomorrow. Too tired today, so I've just been picking at stuff. I plan on making a healthy dinner.

The Hello Fresh meal box that we got last week was good. We didn't get a takeaway at the weekend because of it. We're thinking of getting one every other week. I might fit 5:2 around it.

I haven't been over in style and beauty, I feel I have nothing to contribute as my style has gone to shit in the last few years. I attempted a summer-y, floaty top with skinny jeans but a salesman assumed I was pregnant so I'm not going there again.

One of my mates was given a Louis Vuitton bag for her 30th birthday and she rang me one day saying she was trotting around Lidl with her Louis and felt like the biggest idiot ever, like a WAG who'd fallen on hard times.

We have a 7 seater. The back 2 seats rarely get used so I have an enormous boot which is dead handy. It's pain in some ways because everyone asks for a lift because they know we have a car the size of a hearse. I plan to get a Figaro when the kids are grown though - they are very cute, like Ms Marple cars. Or I'll get an Audi TT roadster in British racing green and lean out the window smoking a long cigarette like Cruella De Vil. Two very different images there, says a lot about my personality I think.

I ate 2 bags of crisps today. Dieting is not going well. In fact I just finished a college exam and I'm having some wine to soothe my frazzled nerves.

Would you re-train for work Green? Could you do it part time? It could be pretty good. Or maybe we should focus on a catchy fad diet and make our fortune that way - the next thread could be called "New Mums seeking mansions - still fat but we're loaded - surgeries booked for Tuesday".

Love the new title.
Love idea of miss marple car.
Most of my bags are only lovingly stroked from time to time, only use mulberry for work really. But DD will inherit them one day and she may have more of an exciting life than me and hopefully the bags will serve her well and she may think of me fondly

Had bag of chocolate peanuts today.

Off to bed now, up at 0530 tomorrow.

ps like Fiat 500

I think I live through my bags. Children I mean, children of course.

Chocolate peanuts are delicious - YUM!

Up at 0530 - BOO!

So really if you buy more handbags Beyond you are adding to your daughters inheritance/ your legacy. That seems like a wise, wise investment.

I don't have daughters but I plan to leave my rather extensive shoe collection to my niece. DH asked what would happen if her feet were too big/small for my shoes and I told him she'd wedge her feet in/ wear heel fitters to make sure they fit. My shoe collection is worth thousands - oh to have disposable income again...

Dieting is going horribly this week. I have eaten so much junk and feel so sluggish and have no energy. I think better eating is going to have to start, I will feel better when I get some nutrients and vitamins in to me. Motivation is low though. Why doesn't salad taste like cheese and onion crisps?

I am enormous. Had lunch out 3 times this week plus other yummy stuff.
Going to have to completely start afresh once again.

Lunch out sounds nice. Was it delicious?

I have a dinner out next week that I am quite over excited about.

I will join you in the re-start. Should we have some sort of start date?

I need a re start too! Had lunch out today with DD1, just because I can (and she's lush). Birthday meal and cake yesterday. Nice stuff planned for Father's Day weekend too (why not make a weekend of it?).

Shall we start on Monday?

I got the Orla bag today. It's very nice. I feel I am letting my DDs down by not having more luxe bags. I spend too much on makeup which is not going to be good to pass down. My shoe collection is extensive, but highstreet. What to do?

Okay, I'm starting 5:2 properly tomorrow. I've gained loads recently and have slipped back into terrible eating habits. I've been looking at some WW and SW magazines for healthy meal ideas on non fast days. I have to stop having toast all the time.
I need to stop drinking wine too. I'll have gin instead, I never fancy more than 2 G&Ts!

How are you both doing?

Really food based weekend here, intertwined with being busy but I'm not going to kid myself that it will make a difference. I'll hit the scales tomorrow and see what damage I have done.

Have you had a weigh in Green? At least then you'll know where you stand and how much you have to lose. I know what you mean about the wine, I love a glass or two in the evening. Is vodka a good option?

Have you found any interesting meal ideas? I'm running low on inspiration.

I have a terrible dry roast peanut and cheesy puff addiction. I there some sort of rehab for that?

Well I'm over 5lb heavier than last Monday. Great discipline eh? hopefully it's temporary. All of my clothes are tight. I'm ashamed of myself really.

I was tempted to start Exante again, but was scared of getting a bad stomach. So I've stuck to the 5:2 plan. Although I can't be bothered to hunt around for food so I'm having 2 Exante meals. I've spent part of the morning meal planning and ordering food for the rest of the week. I'm going to do some batch cooking later on in the week.

This months Slimming World magazine has a lot of nice recipes in it. But they are mostly meat based. I'll have a look again to see if there's anything to suit you.

I've not seen any rehab for that addiction. I'm partial to Frazzles at the moment.

Frazzles - yum! On the bright side, must be better to indulge in peanuts rather than chocolate.

I have had the most desperate weigh in, I am really sorry to tell you both I have regained every single blooming lb I lost post Christmas. I am the most rubbish dieter ever....

So I fasted today

28lbs to go again! Out for dinner tomorrow,work lunches Wed/Thurs, so fast day planned for Friday. We have a few days off next week and doing days out, but going to start my exante at the end of next week just to give myself yet another kick start! My aim is to lose 14lbs by end of July and then try and lose more with 5:2, although maybe a stone and maintaining is more achievable for me.

Maybe we should just have a rubbish dieter club? I'll bring the Frazzles.

Well done on your fast day though. I thought I'd done really well. Then it hit 8pm and I ate another 600 cals. At least it was a lower calorie day I suppose.

Hope your plan works for you.

Dieting sucks, I have no control. Plus I'm so tired. Trying to stop breastfeeding DD2, but she isn't taking it very well. I'm sure it adding to my general crappiness though. I just want to feel human again.

I'll join the rubbish dieters club. It's all gone shit after 2 days of being really controlled. It's the evenings, I always get peckish.

How goes the breastfeeding stopping Green? It's hard isn't it? I couldn't wait to stop, I wanted my body back (yet wrestled with feeling guilty). It's a bloody minefield.

Well done on the fasting Beyond, have you anything nice planned for next week?

What are these Frazzles of which you both speak?

I'll get some cards printed and laminated (secret club).

It's the hours of 9am -10pm that I'm struggling with currently.

We're slowly cutting down on the feeding. It's only at night. I've been rubbish at sleep training and she's not good at self settling. I suppose we'll get there. I never thought I'd ever go on this long. I really think it's messing with my hormones though. I don't mind doing it, but I felt amazing after stopping with DD1. Yes total mine field. No need to feel guilty though as long as they are fed! I quite enjoy telling people I still breastfeed, not many do extended so they all look shocked. Such an uncomfortable subject for some people.

Dieting just not happening so far this week.

Frazzles are just bacon fries, I think they're made by Walkers? I just resisted adding an 8 pack to the online shop (only £1!!!)

Ooooh bacon fries

I would love some laminated cards. No photo's on them though. I do not photograph well on those sort of cards. Imagine weird facial shine and triple chins.

I breastfed for 6 months-ish with DS1, it was exhausting. I really admire you for continuing for so long. It made me feel quite low sometimes, it was very tiring. You're right, it is so uncomfortable for some people - I wonder why that is?

I wish I'd ordered the Bacon fries now.

I don't think we need photos on the cards. Or we could use photoshop/ old pictures. No one will know.

I think BF is uncomfortable because of the boobies. They are only for sexy purposes.
When I told my DB and SIL I was still going they looked (they'd been having a little rant about their friend feeding a 2yo). Yet they love the whole Burlesque scene. Boobies are fine with nipple tassels, but not a toddlers mouth stuck to them. (Plus they are both NHS professionals)
Anyway, it's not something I discuss much , and most people are normal about the whole thing.

I'm still fat. M&S dine in for dinner. Planning on a healthy weekend though.

Ha! At boobs being for sexy purposes. I have fed two kids off mine and sexy they are not. Unless "sexy" means "saggy"in Swedish or something? If I put tassels on mine they would only serve to brush the floor as I wander around braless - not a good look! Not that I would dare to be without a bra. My womanly appeal is not based solely on my boobs, I was quite an awkward teen/in my twenties so I developed a good personality and humour which people seem to get. I know it's quite patronising, but I feel sorry for people who base their femininity on their bosom, there's so much more to us than that.

As I get older I seem to be becoming more of a feminist. And I hate that word. It conjures up 1980's images of hairy pits and really angry, men-hating women. I'm not that sort. I'm a new type. I embrace cosmetics, hair removal products, decent lingerie and...well, men (not strangers you understand, I don't go around randomly embracing men).

Anyway, enough of my rambling. Back to dieting, Yeah, I've been shite this week. I've eaten loads. I've been pretty active but I don't think it will matter.

So, being the brave, empowered woman I am - I've hidden the scales. As is my right, as a woman (and cowardly fatty )

What did you get in M&S for the meal Green? I have no M&S near me, so I'm super jealous!