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!

Oh I hear you Green I need layers too, my hair needs the swish factor too. It just sits flat and I look like a librarian if I don't have some. I have been known to hack some in to my hair when mine grow out.

Isn't it nice to get some time to ourselves? I have a monthly child-free meet up with a friend of mine, she has no kids so we meet up for a leisurely breakfast and then go for a walk, it's lovely. I manage to finish several coffees while they are still hot so I vibrate home from a coffee overdose.

How much weight do you generally lose on the first week of Exante Beyond? I lost 10 lbs doing the crazy grapefuit diet last year and kept it off so I'm hoping the same thing happens again.

What are you ordering Beyond? I bought all the kids Easter eggs 2 weeks ago but I'm not touching them, they were hard to track down and I'm not going through that again if I eat them (DS1 wanted one that came with a lunchbox and wanted DS2 to get one with a cup and bowl, so bloody hard to get).

You have a great Scientific mind Sol. I like special carbs.
I must admit that the Solar System baffles me. I'm not a Physicist. DH loves watching Brian Cox. I find him annoying. I find it all too much to comprehend really. I know that sounds terrible coming from a ex science teacher! I also admire your maths skills. It takes a lot of planning to get wine into 600 cals.
Ketosis flu is just feeling like you are getting flu. It can happen when you go into Ketosis apparently. I felt really tired and headachy and had the chills. It disappeared quite quickly after drinking loads of water

Beyond to be honest my low carb meals were mainly eggs! Omelettes, fried eggs and Turkey bacon with mushrooms. Poached eggs and spinach. I wasn't adventurous. If I was cooking for us all I'd just roast a chicken and do lots of green veg for myself while they all had potatoes too. I did research low carb meals and they sounded nice, but I just stuck to easy things. Sometimes I would cook Exante pancakes or porridge and have them with full fat Greek yogurt.
I found it much easier when I added more food. Plus I had single cream in my coffee, but I did limit tea with milk to once a day. I tended to save the Exante bars for if I wanted something sweet and I got small amounts of salted nits in for savoury snacks (small amounts of I'd scoff them all)

I keep thinking I'll be happy at 11.5 stone, but then my Mam produced pics from 10 years ago. I was about 10-10.5 stone and look tiny. I must have heavy bones. So part of me was thinking that I should aim for that. But I'd love to learn to accept myself in whatever state and stop being so horrible to myself.

Sol I lost 11lb in the first week last year.

There are some brilliant diaries on a site called Minimims. It's a diet forum but has a section for each diet. Some posters have diaries of their journeys, it's very interesting reading them. Plus you pick up some good ideas!

My hair was also looking very librarian like, with a top layer of frizz. My hairdresser was very 'told you so- you need layers'. I would never dare cut it myself.

I also want to know what you've ordered Beyond. Are you doing anything special for Easter?
I've bought childrens eggs but they are on top of the kitchen cupboards now!
As long as DD1 gets an egg hunt she's not bothered about the actual egg.

11 lb would be amazing. I don't know what weight I would like to be, my body is so different after having 2 babies. I would like to fit comfortably, with no saggy over hang in to a size 14. I don't know what that is weight wise. My belly has stretched skin and is...gloopy for want of a better word, even if I weigh 8 stone I don't think that will improve. In fact I think surgery is the only way to go on that one.

Don't be hard on yourself Green, we can be our own worst critics sometimes. Happiness has to come from within sometimes, if not happiness, then at least acceptance. My poor battered body cannot look like it did 10 years ago, but I can try and do the best I can with it. I can learn to dress it better and trim down whatever excess I can. I'm not hugely vain but slapping on make up and spritzing fantastic perfume can make all the difference to me.

I am NOT looking forward to ketosis flu - I'm a huge wuss! Can it not be ketosis induced good nights sleep or something? This calls for more Sol Science!

Holy crap we're in Most Active on a Friday night - get us!

I think if you drink lots it might not happen. Like a Beyond says you might just get headaches? I did sleep well when low carbing.

I think I list so much because I was massive!

I'll never look like I did 10 years ago. I'm not overly bothered. I've always had a terrible habit of comparing myself to others and thinking 'if I was thin life would be wonderful' . I know this is not the case, everyone has problems. I was obessed about exercise 10 years ago and would spend hours discussing diets with anyone who would listen (sadly everyone I knew).

Makeup is not vain. I love it. I hate that women have to down play the fact that they spend money on it. Men have hobbies that cost a fortune. Makeup is mine.

I am starving!
Going to go to bed in a minute in a bid to stop me eating.

Did you used to work out a lot Green? My level of fitness is shocking, I am so unfit. There was some serious huffing and puffing while playing football the other day. I love to discuss diets, hence this thread!

Sol in my 1st week I lost 6lbs and then 4lbs the next (added in an evening meal). I hope to lose 7lbs and then maybe another 2 before Easter.
I agree with Green, you are a master of maths to be able to get wine into a fast day. I think if you drink lots and just take some paracetamol you should be fine. I also feel cold when I fast.My I tend to get cold hands and feet anyway.

I am super excited because one of my best friends is coming to stay for Easter. I am planning curry for one night (ordered lots of lovely naan and veg sides). We will also hopefully go out for dinner 1 night (if we can get a babysitter). Planning 2 lunches out and on Sunday a big roast, with apple crumble and custard/ice cream and then an easter egg hunt in our garden (which shouldn't take long, the garden is not that big). Evening of arrival, pizza and prosecco!
I have ordered loads of lovely things like cupcakes and ice cream. Planning on having 4 days off, but then will fast for 3 days the following week to hopefully make up for it!

Green my DH loves watching Brian Cox et al but he is a physicist.

I think you are both taller than me? I am 5f4. I have small bone structure so really should be aiming for less than 9st12 but really I want to live and that involves chocolate and wine and eating out. so I will settle for just under 10. I think this is probably a healthy weight for mS. I need to fit in some exercise, at the moment I don't do any because of lack of time more than anything. I was wondering about trying couch to 5k.

I agree, I love make and girly things, I am going to make more of an effort. Planning on clearing out my wardrobe to make room for some new purchases. Just had a jumper and a blouse arrive from Boden which I am happy with. I need a storage solution where I can easily see what I have.
Are you both good about clearing out old things? I think I am a bit of a hoarder with clothes, which is odd as I am not with anything else. I think I feel guilty about the amount of money I have spent on them. I have taken quite a lot to the charity shop recently but could do more. I think I may give them to our PA at work, she doesn't spend much on herself, so I think she'd be happy to have them.
Still on the hunt for jeans that don't need to be constantly pulled up!

I just wrote a reply and then it disappeared.

This is a quick version of it:

Beyond - lovely plans I must find out what we are doing.
I'm also 5ft 4. I'm just going to aim for a stone loss at a time and see how it all goes.
I'm a terrible hoarder too. Just chucked out a load of old makeup and actually sold some unused skincare, lipsticks and Eyeshadows on a beauty forum I go on and made £80! I've just got rid of a lot of big clothes and maternity stuff but need to go through everything again. The loft is full of clothes too.
I always feel better about getting rid of stuff if I give it to someone else. I also give stuff to the woman's refuge, and I signed up for gift aid at The Childrens Society shop. They send you a letter telling you how much they made so that gives me a nice 'glow' too!
I'm trying not to buy anything new unless I need it, so it's only been a summer jacket and jeggings so far. I need to go jeans shopping soon but the thought is depressing!

Sol I only exercised so I could eat more! It did work but I went less and less when I bought moved in with DH. I only went to the gym and didn't enjoy it. I do need to do something more active soon.

Grrr I just lost a long ish post too.

Think a stone at a time is a good plan Green. It's difficult to tell with all the post pregnancy shape changes.

Had a really hungry day today, so had some chicken/ham and 6 cashew nuts!

Had a bit of a hellish day. DS1 has been projectile vomitting and has diarrhoea, thank God my house is pretty much made of stuff that can be wiped down. I'm hoping that everyone doesn't come down with it.

As for hoarding clothes? Yes I do that, I have mountains of clothes that I don't fit in to but that I hope I will fit in to at some stage. I go through the bags and wardrobes every few months to cull stuff that I'm too old for or that has gone out of style.

I'm 5 foot 7 and all legs, arse and boobs. I'm sure this would be a great combination if they were slender (apart from the boobs obvs) but I am rather chunky so I just look overweight. I can carry extra weight to a certain degree but there is a limit and I feel that I am at it. I'm quite small boned and when I was first going out with DH he could hold me around the waist and both hands would touch each other, if that makes sense. I had a tiny waist.

Your Easter feast sounds lovely Beyond. You sound very organised. Have you a few day trips planned too? How will you find the time to exercise if you start c25k? I find myself exhausted at the end of the day and I know your day starts hours before mine does.

Green that's great you sold some stuff you didn't need, put together a fund for skinny clothes so you won't feel bad when you have to throw out your entire wardrobe because it will all be too big!

Sol - hope you had a better day. Hope DS is better.

Yes planning a days out with nice lunches and also a shopping morning.

Had some chicken/ham/nuts today - so only had 2 shakes to try and make up for it!

I have no idea where I could find time to exercise, but just feel I ought to....

Hows things Green?

Yesterday was a bit better than Saturday, poor DS has been so good even though he feels rotten.

I had a weigh in. I am 187.3 lbs. Now I know this sounds enormous but it's the first time I have managed to get under 189lbs for ages, I hit a wall at 189 and couldn't get through it. So I've lost 4 lbs on the 5:2 in just under 2 weeks and I am pretty happy with that. Ordering Exante tomorrow and I am weirdly looking forward to it.

I don't think extra protein will be too damaging Beyond. At least it wasn't half a pizza and a bottle of wine, you are very reserved.

I'm on a fast day again today, it fell apart a little when I ate some of the kids toast this morning because I forgot it was a fast day. But I have carrot, celary and some guacamole for the whole day (I can graze on it throughout the day rather than saving all the cals up for one meal).

I may be posting a lot on this thread today to stop my hands reaching for the crisps in the press.

Well done Sol. That's brilliant. 4lbs is amazing.
Poor DS, hope he improves soon. Is he tolerating fluids?

Good plans for today, I have decided to introduce some more foods.
So I did 6 days on exante, I weighed in this am and I am now 11.2 which is a 9lbs loss, obviously some (hopefully not all!) of that will be water but I am hoping not to gain if I low carb.
I felt a bit light headed this morning and so had a slice of toast. I am going to low carb for the rest of the day. I will do 5:2 from now on, fast day Wednesday. Can't fit another one in this week due to social things and next week is Easter, I think I can fit in 2 fast days. So really I am just hoping to STS for the next 2 weeks.
I might join you in week of exante after Easter, in case have gained (lots of celebrations = cake for next 2 weeks).

Ok. Exante ordered. Got the month plan of breakfast, lunch and dinner. It only worked out 20 euro more expensive than ordering 10 days worth of food due to the expensive delivery cost.

That's an amazing loss Beyond, you must be delighted. I think aiming to stay the same is the best way to do it. Have you dropped a dress size? Definitely a good call to have toast if you're feeling woozy, there's no point in damaging your health.

My order won't be here for 7-10 days (you'd swear I was ordering it from Australia or something), so my plan is to 5:2 until then so I can make some changes myself and get myself prepared for the hunger .

How are you getting on Green?

Jesus I'm starving today.

I really want a cup of slim a soup but DH has the car so I can't even trip up to the shop and get one. I've just eaten my carrot sticks and guacamole that was for dinner. It's going to be a very long day I feel.

Fantastic losses you two, you must both be so pleased. I hope I manage something as good as your loss this week Beyond. You are very close to your target now, that must feel amazing.

I've started Exante (again) today. I'm trying to drink lots of water and avoid tea and coffee. I'm bored, trying not to go into the kitchen. I've had my shake for lunch already so I'm trying not start looking for stuff to pick at.

Do you not have any soups lurking about in the back of a cupboard Sol? Or even some veg stock that you could throw some veg into? Or some Marmite you could dilute?
I hope your son is feeling better soon.
That is a long delivery time. You may as well start after Easter if it's not going to turn up until next week.

Good luck Green. I found drinking sparkling water really helped.
I know I will put some weight back on but going to do another week after Easter I think, I ned to order some more. Will look out for a good offer.

Have you any Buillion Sol? Have a hot drink of some kind? An apple? celery?

I have decided to fast tomorrow and Wednesday due to having a calorific end of week planned. So I'll be joining you in the starving mode.

Would you recommend any of the meals Green?

It BOGOF at the mo on meals, shakes and bars.

I'll have to put some sparkling water in the fridge.
You might not put lots on anyway, I put about 4lb on over Christmas and about 3lb since. Although it keeps going up and down. The fasting will definitely help.

I don't particularly like any of the meals much, but if I had to choose I'd pick the spaghetti or the chilli. I don't think the pasta and ham soup was too bad either, the carbonara and shepherds pie were edible. I haven't tried some of the newer meals (curry). I was looking at the cheese scone mix but the reviews seemed mixed. I'm tempted by the chocolate puddings and apple crumble!
I'm also curious about the sausage and egg mixes, but I can't see how the egg is too different to scrambling a couple yourself?

No soups or anything here, the shopping is coming tomorrow and because DS was sick all weekend I never got out to pick up a few bits and pieces. I'll just avoid the kitchen 'til DH gets home and then I'll swing up to the shop.

Are you on the 3 meals per day Green? It's not good to hear you don't like the meals, I just ordered a load of them. I got that pack because I don't really like milkshakes. Have you had the porridge or anything? I think you're right about the egs, I'm assuming it's just powdered egg white to keep the cals down (sounds gross!).

I'll be the tester for the meals if you like Beyond. It's so annoying that it'll take forever for them to get here - I want to start today!!!

They aren't too bad Sol, it's just the texture that takes some getting used to. I just add lots of herbs/spices depending on the meal. I found the spaghetti and chilli better when I added more water. I just preferred making a low carb savoury meal of real food after a few weeks. They are good to start with though.
The porridge is quite nice, so are the pancakes. The bars are the best, I'll happily eat a bar or shake but have to force myself to have a savoury meal.

I'm going to have 3 meals per day. I'm going to try to do that for 3 weeks, then add more real food in and try to low carb. That's my plan anyway. I just remembered that we have more family fun/eat a thon planned for us with the inlaws this weekend. then there's Easter. I'll just need to summon up all my will power.

The porridge is fine Sol. I haven't tried any of the other meals, think I may stick with the bars and shakes until you have trialled them :) I really liked the chocolate/strawberry/banana shakes and am not normally a shake person.
When are you planning to start?

Could you do 2 replacements and low carb meal over weekend/Easter Green?

I'll try and do something like that Beyond, once I find out where I'm expected to be. I won't plan too much though. Knowing me I'll have gave up again by then.
I'm just in a huff because our weekends keep getting taken up with other people's plans.

I'm hungry. . Tomorrow is really busy so I hope I'll not be thinking about food so much.