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 am so jealous of your toddler free day Green, even if your day sounded like a cleaning whirlwind. Is your house sparkling? I'm loving that your daughter is so fussy about her shoes, she sounds great (obviously not if you're rowing with her though).

We had a great night with the sleeping kids last night so I've probably jinxed it tonight and I will probably be up all night. He's dropped his day time nap pretty much completely, he might have one per week.

Had another fast day today, it was good. I was really busy and I had a 1/2 a portion of soup and then had 3 handfuls of chips. I think that brings me up to 570 calories so I am done eating for the day. Sadly. It's weird, the days aren't so hard, it's the evenings. I haven't felt dizzy or ill but I have felt hungry - as I do now. I will plough on though, it has to be worth it. I feel really fat today, it's so disheartening to be hungry and feel the size of a moose.

Weighed myself this morning as I feel fatter than ever. Turns out I've lost 6.2lbs!!!! My next fast day isn't until Monday but the weightloss has given me the will power not to go to mad this weekend (we're out for lunch tomorrow and have a birthday party and takeaway for Valentines on Sunday).

Have a good Friday everyone!

Hi all,
Sorry been having a stressful time with ds1. I'm feeling very deflated and defeated :(

sol wow that's an amazing loss congratulations. The 5:2 is a good diet I was very motivated when seeing the scales change. Also I used mfp to track my cals on non fast days. I allowed treats but kept with in my allocated cals for the day.

green well done on the house work. I'm also jealous of your toddler free day. I also need motivation I haven't been doing the diet properly I'm sure if I had stuck to it I would have a greater loss. I have to submit my results next Friday so I have a week to really push it and do well.

I weighed myself yesterday and I'm 11st exactly. Just 21lbs to go

Evening all,

6lbs is amazing Sol you have spurred me on. I tried to fast Mon and Wed but came in at 600 cals instead, weighed myself this morning and I am the same as last week. Will try harder! Total weight loss since Christmas is 10lbs and now on week 3 of c25k. Come and join me Sol it is really hard but it works.

Did you have a lovely toddler free day despite the cleaning Green well done with the shoes, I bought DD a lovely dress from monsoon and she says it's 'yucky'. How are you getting on with the non snacking?

Well done on your weight loss Rachey Sorry to hear you are feeling stressed. Hopefully things are easier soon.

I had set myself a soft goal of losing another 19lbs, but to be honest I need to lose more like 25lbs.
6 weeks till our holiday, my aim is a stone by then.

I had just finished writing a huge post and my bloody computer did some sort of upgrade thing and wiped the whole lot. I fucking hate computers

Anyway, sorry about the outburst.

Sorry to hear you're stressed out Rachey, would it help to have a vent here? It can be very therapeutic to let it all out and even though we are of no practical help, we can listen and probably sympathise. And I flicked back through the thread and you were 12 stone on the 7th of Jan, see how far you've come? You are doing brilliantly, don't be so hard on yourself.

I can't try C25K just yet Beyond, I have huge knee problems so walking fast is as good as I can do at this stage. I broke my knee caps in a car accident years ago so I have to be really careful, I currently have a massive bleed in one of them as I kneeled down and popped something. It looks like a bright red bruise but it's blood under the skin, it's so gross. I have the Davina 7 minute dvds and I plan to do them a few times a week and work my way up to The Shred. 10lbs since Christmas is great, you are so motivated. Can you return the dress or are you going to bribe your DD in ot it? I was looking at all the summer stuff for girls that's in the shops now, it's so pretty,the boy stuff is so boring.

I'm not sure if my 6 lbs will be my total loss, I'll have to wait until Tues to find out. But I feel like I could do 3 fast days per week - Mon, Weds and Fri - as I feel so well eating like this. My energy levels are through the roof and I feel great. It's probably down to reducing my intake of junk food and eating well for a change. I feel like doing a fast day today but we are having a load of people over for lunch so I can't. But I have changed the menu from a big stodgy roast to a buffet with loads of quiches, tartlets, tons of different salads, crudités with hummus, baba ganoush, tapenades, platters of meat (DH's department), and mini pittas and rolls. I can eat healthier and no one will probably notice. We have cakes and stuff for dessert but I don't really like cake so I won't have any.

For once I feel motivated about a diet after doing it for a few days. I hope it continues.

I went to the SALT with DS2 during the week. Would anyone mind if I posted the tips up here? I know it's off topic but it might be helpful. Let me know.

10lbs since Xmas is amazing beyond you should be so proud Are you going anywhere nice for your holiday? Well done on c25k week 3.

sol wow your knees sound so painful, well done for doing any form of exercise. 6lbs is amazing I'm so happy for you that the 5:2 diet is right for you.

It would be great if you could post about the SALT.

Thanks for the sympathy ds1 is at a really trying stage at the moment he cannot control his temper so he headbutts and throws himself about a lot. I feel like a awful parent at the moment.

The diet is well and truly out the window today went to soft play after ds1 football and they do the most amazing pizzas.....it was veggie

I'm very excited as tomorrow I'm ordering my new kitchen finally my house will start to feel like home

Just about to do a 1hr spin class to work off the pizza and Doritos I ate yesterday

I'm at breaking point..........ds1 very naughty at the crèche yesterday. Misbehaved all day and to top it off got up at 4.40 this morning.

I am so down ate everything in sight yesterday. I'm so unhappy.

Sorry depressing self observed post over.

Hope your all well.

Hi Rachey, firstly pizza and Dorito's - yum! And well done on the spin class, they are hardcore. How did you feel after it?

Can I ask you a few questions about DS1 (Feel free to ignore). How old is he exactly and is this behaviour new? Does he get to spend one on one with you or your DH at the weekend / during the week? Who told you he was misbehaving in creche?

The reason I ask is because my DS1 went through a very testing phase about 6-10 months after DS2 was born, it was almost as if he realised that the baby wasn't going to be leaving and his behaviour just spiralled. He wouldn't listen, he was angry and had huge temper tantrums. The only way we sort of got it under control was to spend one on one with him so he felt he was getting our full attention. So one day at the weekend DH would take him swimming and then out for lunch, the following day I would bring him to the cinema, do some baking or go for a coffee. His behaviour didn't instantly become good, but he slowly came around to his old self. We'd also do a "family" activity one of the afternoons, so we'd all go to the playground or to the park for a big walk and he could go on his bike - basically run the legs off him. During the week we'd try to get a half an hour one on one with him if we could because our house is a bit nuts during the week so it wasn't always possible.

As for your sons behaviour in creche, what did the creche suggest they do to help him? To a certain extent his behaviour in creche is not your problem (I say this as someone who has worked in childcare for nearly 20 years). They should have come to you and said that he is behaving X way, we think Y would be a solution. Don't let them make you feel bad, they should be supporting him.

As for me, it's the first of 3 fast days this week. Went a bit overboard at a party yesterday with food and wine, so weigh in tomorrow should be interesting. I'm feeling optimistic about this diet, I just wish I was skinny now. I bought ankle weights yesterday to wear around the house and my ankles are too fat so they don't fit - oh the shame! And I always thought I had skinny ankles, it just turns out that my legs are so big that they make my ankles look positively slender. Off to make some low cal soups and wash my floors - oooh the glamour!

Hi sol hope you had a good time with the family yesterday. 3 fast days a week.....you will def see a positive change on the scales

Ds1 is 2 yrs 7 months his behaviour has changed dramatically. He was struggling at 18 months then we saw a huge improvement at about 2 and then the past month or so it's really escalated.

He does go to little kickers with dad on Saturday morning and we do spend the weekend together either at the park or soft play. One to one with me is harder as ds2 still bf and clingy.

I'm sure u will be rocking the ankle weights in no time.

I'm already on my 2nd cup of coffee, I feel this day isn't going to be a good diet day

I really need 3 fast days as I am so big. I am really flabby and I'm hoping to find time to do an exercise dvd. I really want to see some changes as I only lost 2 lbs this week, I am happy enough with it but I think my heavy weekend of eating undid all my good work.

I'm sorry your DS1 is being hard work Rachey, it's so difficult and I really sympthise. Feel free to vent here. How did your day go yesterday, did it all go to pot?

Non Fast Day here. Planning veggie spag bol and vegan garlic bread for dinner, I think I need to up my protein a bit as it's quite low on fat days. DH is fasting today so I plan to eat lovely food in front of him tonight as that's what he did to me yesterday - he had an indian takeaway.

I found out that to lose 1lb you need to have a deficit of 3000 calories. Isn't that crazy? It makes me stick to the plan just thinking about it.

Sorry to hear you are feeling so fed up rachey Wish I had some advice, we just seem to muddle along. Sol always gives good advice. It's a very challenging age..... DH and I are a complete walk over and I am sure the DC know this, we need super nanny...... Don't you go back to work soon? I am sure you'll find this positive and just think, you'll get a lunch break! Really hope things improve soon.

Sol - I am absolutely sure you are being hard on yourself re legs. Well done on your fast days. Good your re so motivated though and it's really helping me.
I haven't been managing the 500 cals but managed to crack it yesterday.
No breakfast (well soya latte approx 50 cals)
Chicken breast and celery for lunch 250 cals
Dinner: king prawn stir fry (100g prawns, red pepper, onion. spices). 200 cals

Also, I have discovered courgette pasta and it's actually really nice and hardly any calories at all. How can you increase your protein Sol I can only think of eggs. Is tofu high protein?

How are you Green

On and I weighed in this morning and have lost 2lbs. I'd really like to lose 2lbs next week so also planning 3 fast days like Sol. Enjoy your non fast day and eating in front of your DH!

Hi Beyond, your menu sounds lovely. Congratulations on your 2lb loss!!! That's great. Are your fast days Mon, Weds and Fri? I was wondering if it was worth sticking to the same days every week unless something comes up? It might keep me on track, is that what you do?

I've started doing something nice for myself on a fast day, I did my eyebrows last night and I've started using really thick hand cream on my legs at night to sort out my dry skin, so I spent half an hour rubbing that in, I can't do it in the morning as my trousers stick to me, but I don't mind if my pj bottoms do. I looked a bit like a greased up chicken but I had much nicer legs this morning.

I was reading a few of the 5:2 threads and loads of people were saying they normally come in somewhere between 500-700 cals on a fast day and as long as they don't binge on NFD's they seem to still lose between 1-2lbs. I have to say I have been relying on stir fry packs of veg to get me through as I can't be arsed working out the calories of each vegetable individually. I went to buy tofu today but they had none in the local shop, but it's pretty much pure protein so it's the way to go.

I also ate garlic bread in front of DH. I felt slightly guilty but he ate a naan bread in front of me last night so I'm all about the carbohydrate based revenge.

I think I might get some tofu Sol I need to get some recipe ideas. Is it low cal?

I unfortunately ate loads today but am planning to fast tomorrow and possible Thursday. I am fasting Monday and Wednesday and then another convenient day. That's interesting re the 500-700 cals. I am going to try and limit non fast days to 1500 (I am loads over today).
Good idea re beauty treatments, I'm going to copy you again ! I've got really horrible tops of arms, I tried to give them a good scrub today. Apparently bio oil is good too, so I'm going to get some tomorrow.

evening all,

Well done sol and Beyond on your 2lb losses. Im glad you are both doing well at fasting.

sol thanks I might take you up on the venting offer.........im will take you up on it :) It frustrates me so much to see him headbutting. The HV thinks its down to his speech. I just have to ignore him.

Yes the diet has gone totally out the window. I emailed them and they said I cannot stay on Cycle 1 too long so I need to send in my results and go on to cycle 2. I will still lose weight but as there are weights involved in my exercise I will tone up so i am to avoid the scales.

Your DH is evil.........I love an indian :) I would not have been able to resist.

beyond thanks for the kind words. Im hoping things will be different when he is at nursery 3 days a week. Your meals sound nice. I lived on stir fries when i did the 5:2.

I think its advised to stick to the same days I used to fast on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I also used to have veg noodles instead of egg/rice noodles to bulk out my dinners.

I have booked in to have all my hair cut off. Im very nervous but Im bored and feel like I need a change. (at present I have a blunt fringe with long hair). I hope I look ok and it doesnt make me look old.

Sorry Sol I forgot to say, 2lbs is amazing. Imagine losing 2lb a week for a fee weeks and what a difference that will make!

What kind of cut are you thinking of Rachey ? I quite like that layered bob that seems popular at the mo. I really like blunt fringe though.

Please do vent. I think 2-3 is a very challenging age - things can only improve :)

I love tofu Beyond, I eat buckets of it. It's best to get firm tofu and wash it before you cook it, I just chop mine up, put it in a sieve and put it under running cold water for a bit. I cook mine in non-stick pans otherwise it can be a bit of a nightmare.
You can fry it in a little oil with onion, garlic, ginger and soy sauce on a high heat, then add in noodles or whatever.
Or chop it up and cover it in spices and a bit of oil and do it in the oven until it's cooked. I like to put on tumeric, garlic, cumin and garam masala, put it on greaseproof paper to stop it sticking.
I make tofu scramble which is tumeric, a few drops of light soy sauce, salt, a ton of pepper and then fry it up with mushrooms, a bit of onion and spinach. It's really nice.
If all else fails just cook it for a bit and add a sachet of Blue Dragon garlic and ginger sauce and it is yum.

Those are the easiest recipes I can think of, I steam it too and cook it in curries but the curries are fairly heavy in fat - bloody nice though.

Rachey that sounds so like my DS2, especially the banging his head off the ground. I did ignore it unless it got dangerous but he didn't do it for too long as I was quite unsympathetic to his discomfort (I used to say "Well what did you expect?" when he'd come over rubbing his sore head), when DS2 has an audience his tantrums are soooo much worse. I used to step over him on the floor and walk in to another room because his instinct was to follow me and that stopped him being on the floor and banging his head. He would then let me pick him up and cuddle him, but if he started the head banging I would move rooms again and he would follow me - misery loves company as they say. It might work if you try it.

I agree that you should step away from the scales, they are the ultimate frenemys - what is cycle 2 like? Does it involve a different eating plan or does it just include weights? What hair cut are you going for? I am looking forward to getting my hair styled by a professional (I cut my own hair at the moment) once my face loses it's roundness.

beyond I think it's called a inverted Bob?!?!? I will post a pic of the hairstyle I like. I'm just hoping it looks similar. I have naturally curly hair so I'm a little nervous since I have lost weight I felt a change was needed but maybe I should wait till I'm at/near goal?

sol I love tofu but never know what to do with it. Ur ideas sound fab. Yes cycle 2 is totally different. You can pick your protein, carb and veg instead of working to recipes. Also instead of just doing cardio you have to do weights as well. I'm looking forward to putting cycle 1 behind me, although I'm disappointed I didn't stick to it 100%

Hope you are all having a good evening. We just found out that our borough of London is smoke free so we have just had to go buy smoke free logs for our fire. It's not the same as they don't smell like real wood :(

Hopefully my new hair next Thursday. Minus the blonde/blue colour just having more highlights

That hairdo is gorgeous Rachey, it's lovely. Do you have dark hair? I throw a few boxes of colour in mine at home every Spring and Summer to lighten it, it makes me feel better. My hair grows really fast so getting it dyed in a salon costs a bloody fortune, I'm a whizz at home hair dying now.

Phase 2 might be easier for you to follow if you're busy. I like the idea of lots of choice on a diet, it sounds much more user friendly.

Fast day here. I'm still so full from eating so many carbs yesterday so I'm going to leave it as long as I can before I eat today. I have loads to do so I won't be hanging around the kitchen too much hopefully.

DH had his weigh in this morning, he only lost 1 lb and I savaged him. I told him if he doesn't get his shit together and follow it properly then he can sod off, I won't be helping him with meals anymore . I was furious because he hasn't been watching his calories on the NFD's and I'm at home like a twit working out all his cals on a FD and preparing all his food like an idiot. Rage!

Sorry for disappearing. Cleaned house (yay!). busy weekend and then the DC decided to be poorly yet again.

I didn't get to WW today. I haven't been terrible with food, but I still don't feel like I'm getting anywhere. Now I feel ill, so I think I will concentrate properly on it next week.

Well done on everyone's fabulous losses.

I have no toddler tips. I also just muddle along.

The hairstyle looks lovely Rachey. I think you should go for it now. I think 11 stone is pretty skinny (I'm jealous), so I think you'll look great. Plus it gives you time to figure out how to style it before you go back to work. I have wavy hair and it's a real pain when it's freshly cut.
I tried to book in for a manicure and facial yesterday, but the salon phone was constantly engaged. So I gave up. My eyebrows are atrocious too.

thanks for the positive comment about the hair cut. I havent has a bob since I was 12

sol how did you fast day go? I used to skip breakfast to allow for more cals for lunch and dinner ;) its a shame about DH I so now how it feels and my OH is the same. I cook healthy food and he takes left overs for lunch and then he snacks at work. He does run 3 times a week but he says he wants to lose 2 stone, which all the running in the world wont shift if he doesnt improve his diet. How much does your DH want to lose?

did you get all your jobs done?

Green hope your DC's feel better soon. Take lots of vitamin C (i like to think its helps) I wish I looked skinny but its all round my middle :( How do you get your eyebrows done? I get them threaded every 2 weeks as they are crazy.

thats a shame about not getting an appointment. could you try somewhere else?

The bob looks lovely. I wonder if it will be a bit high maintenance though? Speaking a wavy haired girl. and 11 stone is skinny! My DH is very slim, it's so annoying.

Sol Thanks for the tofu recipes, I am going to get some tomorrow. How was your fast day? I think I have ended up around 550 cals. I need to fast tomorrow but think I will struggle with 2 days in a row. Can't do Fri or Sat.

Keep trying to get an appointment Green I have had a haircut and had a facial and scrub thing and felt good afterwards. I am going to try and do something monthly. I have decided I need to spend more time on dressing nicely and looking groomed.

I have got a few things in my Boden basket. I am desperate for some new jeans though, pretty sick of my M&S jeggings. I have got 2 pairs of boyfriend cut but they don't look right. Any recommendations?

The bob looks lovely rachey . I wonder if it will be a bit high maintenance though? Speaking as wavy haired person.... although it could be easy with GHD"s??
and 11 stone is skinny! My DH is very slim, it's so annoying.

Sol Thanks for the tofu recipes, I am going to get some tomorrow. How was your fast day? I think I have ended up around 550 cals. I need to fast tomorrow but think I will struggle with 2 days in a row. Can't do Fri or Sat.

Keep trying to get an appointment Green I have had a haircut and had a facial and scrub thing and felt good afterwards. I am going to try and do something monthly. I have decided I need to spend more time on dressing nicely and looking groomed.

I have got a few things in my Boden basket. I am desperate for some new jeans though, pretty sick of my M&S jeggings. I have got 2 pairs of boyfriend cut but they don't look right. Any recommendations?