Officially my heaviest and time to change. Anyone with me?

[DreamingOfADifferentMe]

Hi all,

Well, having just returned from a gorgeous week's holiday, I decided to take the plunge and step onto the scales. Bloody hell.

I'm officially the heaviest I've ever been. I look awful. And I'm desperate to change. I've spent the last few days reading threads on here that I think will inspire me and I'm determined to make a change.

I have a number of milestones to get to, including a holiday in October, but the big one in my head is going to see the GP in a few weeks' time for a repeat prescription for my contraceptive pill. Last year, she made some reference about my weight as they may not have been allowed to prescribe it, given my high BMI. She did, and prescribed me a year's worth, and they're nearly gone. Have I lost weight? Have I heck - I'm actually heavier, and I can't bear the idea of going back and having the same utterly humiliating conversation.

So, I'm just debating the best approach. I know low/no carbs works really well for me, though I can struggle to stick with it, but that's what I'm going for initially.

This morning I weighed in at 15st 11, and I'm just 5ft 4. I'm a size 18. This cannot be who I am. I am not the woman who looks back at me in the mirror.

My mission is to shift, ideally, around 3st initially. I know that I look and feel great at 12st something, and even though I'll be far from a size 10 skinny minnie, I will feel fantastic. Then, when I get to that point, we'll see.

However, when there's such a long road ahead, I know I get easily defeated. So, does anyone fancy a hand to hold along a similar path? I'm happy to give tonnes of support and will cheer folk on, anyone fancy returning the favour?

Good day for me so far

2 eggs scrambled with cream and cheese for breakfast but by 12 I was starving! So had a lunch of 2 chicken drumsticks and creamy broccoli and cauliflower. I resisted all the urges that Costa had to offer and even got some beginners nutritional books to keep my motivation up!

I even got a book out called "Run Fat Bitch Run" in the hope that I can get motivated to jogging again. I used to run 45 minutes without stopping (worked my way up with C25K) and now I can't even jog for a minute. I really do miss it, but I'm scared to start again at this weight for fear of being laughed at. The area we moved to has no where more private to run, it's all streets and roads where people can see and laugh

Hope everyone else is doing good today

Right, I've read the full thread now (well, I didn't read the spam post :o) - apologies in advance for not namechecking people as my memory is shocking ATM! But hello to everyone!

Thought I'd post a little about my plan if that's ok - I think organisation is my main downfall. I live in chaos that reflects my mental state! And that chaos means I end up relying far too much on junk/convenience/fast food. It's ridiculous as I do cook some really lovely healthy meals, and I genuinely enjoy lots of nutritious food, but then it gets to 1.30pm and we are heading back from an activity (we do Home Ed) and yet again I didn't pack sandwiches and fruit so... McD it is. And in the evenings I haven't been organised enough to get something decent out of the freezer, and I'm too dizzy and tired to make something from scratch, so I get DH to pick something up on the way home. I am planning a marathon batch cooking week to really stock up so I have no excuse for not eating a decent dinner. I'm even planning to freeze sandwiches for lunches on the run - as much for my wallet as for our health!

My other issue is sugar. I am a total sugar fiend. It's really out of control. I'm not sure where to begin with that one! Well, other than not buying so much chocolate and stuff when I order Tesco. Again, I can use money as a motivator to help me reduce the amount I'm getting. I know I will enjoy a bit of chocolate much more if I really savour it... But I actually panic at the thought of not having anything sweet to eat in the evenings I also have a mega Dr Pepper addiction, I go through phases of having it every day which is really not good - especially as the caffeine messes me up.

I also need to make sure I keep drinking water - this is part of my treatment plan for POTS (along with consuming more salt, which completely goes against what I'd been brought up to believe, so I find that bit really hard!) but it'll also help stave off the thinking-I'm-hungry-but-actually-I'm-thirsty feeling. If anyone else struggles with drinking enough, I'd really recommend a Bobble Bottle - the replacement filters are annoyingly pricey but water tastes SO much nicer from it - preferable to other bottles I've used where they end up tasting like plastic and fairy liquid!

Welcome to everyone new,

Also been thinking about my goals, I weighed in this week at 15st 7, so I'd love to be.....

Under 15st (let's say 14st 12) by my holiday 20th August

14st by my birthday (early Oct)

12st 7 by New Years Eve (have made tentative plans to spend it with a certain someone - I'm currently single - and would love not to feel self conscious!!)

Making 3st loss in just over 5 months - doable, I think. Onward!

I weighed in this morning so 15'2 it is

I've had a disastrous day with food / work and toddler so I'm writing today off. i hope that's allowed!

B- granola and yoghurt
L- tomato soup
D- is where it cocked up... DD turned the hob up on our Spanish rice tea, burnt like a mofo in the pan while she was having an epic meltdown. Gave up and threw a pizza in the oven for me and DH, but only after eating crap out of the cupboard. #failing today

Hi to all the new folks, nice to have more support.

I've been tricked by those banana yogurts things in the past too Mess. Tasty little bastards pretending to be healthy.

I was saved by a bag of hazelnuts today after my craving for chocolate nearly got the better of me. Just a wee handful seemed to do the trick so I now keep them in the cupboard next to the kids' biscuits so I see them and can use them as a buffer!

Just wondered what does everyone put in a salad? I nearly always have leaves, Cherry tomatoes, black olives, red or yellow peppers and a balsamic dressing and then chicken/fish/prawns/ham but it's getting a bit repeativative. Looking to steal some ideas.

Shake it off spaniel, start again in the morning. I'm really shit for thinking "oh no! I've had a biscuit, that's it all fucked, I might as well have the rest of the packet, a family size bag of crisps and wash it all down with a bottle of rum." I will get better a writing off little mistakes and not just jacking it all in.

So far so good for me. I've eaten smaller portions and generally had more veg but otherwise eaten the same as DH. Been logging everything on MFP and been under my daily target so hopefully will be good news, perhaps it helps having a 1kg little person squishing my stomach!!

Rum, they're evil aren't they?? I had always assumed they were just dried banana covered in the coating (bad enough when the biggest ingredient in the coating is sugar) but no, the banana is actually FRIED! I won't be buying them again for sure.

Spaniel don't write off the whole day, just write off the dinner! What I mean is don't be tempted to snack tonight just because you feel like you've already failed today... and yes I'm trying to practice what I preach right now!!

Lake sounds like a good day, nicely done!

I really need to get back to MFP but I always stalled when trying to log something home made, what does everyone else do? Working out the calories etc of every single ingredient just seems so ridiculously, but I'm always wary of searching for say 'homemade bolognaise' as it could be wildly different from the one I've actually made and eaten.

If you just add all the individual ingredients once Mess you can create it as a meal and then add it that way. The bar code scanner is really handy too. I've done it with most of the meals I make regularly.

Well done today Lake. Sounds like it's been a good day.

Ah Lake I remember the stomach-squishing well! :o In fact it was when I was heavily pregnant with DC2 that I FINALLY learnt that it was ok not to, for example, finish everything on my plate. Because he was so massive (nearly 12lbs when he finally arrived :o) I could barely manage a thing. It changed my habits - clearly got a way to go, but at least it did help psychologically - I now have no trouble leaving food if I'm full. I honestly couldn't do that before.

Rum one of my favourite salads is a nicoise type thing. Hard boiled egg, tinned tuna, green beans, boiled potato (guess you could cut this down or out if reducing carbs) and avocado plus regular salady stuff. It doesn't need a dressing because when you stir it, the avocado and egg can get a bit mushy (it's not the most attractive of meals, granted...) so it's got a creaminess to it anyway.

Thanks all! I may have recovered it as I took the dog for a longish walk after bedtime and just came in for a brew - no 8pm snacking here.

Be warned about those yoghurt covered cranberries too, they're sinful!

Salad wise I like ceasar salad, not a lot of dressing though it's too rich for me or leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, red wine vinegar dressing and feta. Someday a lettuce seems like too much hard work so I have crudités with homemade mint yog or low fat hummus.

I could have started this thread myself 6 weeks ago - I weighed 19st and am 5'4. I've never felt so apalled with myself.

I started Slimming World online, and so far have lost 22.5lbs. Still a massive way to go, but it's a start. I already feel fitter, and have gone from doing zero exercise, to having joined a gym and have been going 3 times a week. On Monday I did a Bodypump class (couldn't walk the next day!)

I'm amazed at what I've achieved over such a short period of time

Had a good day. Logged in to MFP for first time in 18 months, came in under target. Had no alcohol! Did 25 mins on the cross trainer.

I struggle with drinks as I don't really like fizzy sweet stuff and especially stuff with sweetners in, I also hate coffee. Hence why I tend to hit the booze!

I drink a lot of tea, milk, tonic water, tomato juice but I would love some recommendations ...

Well done everyone. Definitely echo what people are saying about not using one instance of eating something calorific as an excuse to do so all day (or week).

I've been (stealthily!!) looking at how some of my thin friends eat, and the key thing is that indeed they may have a big meal or sweets or a dessert or a pile of wine one night, BUT (a) not every night, or several nights a week and (b) the rest of the day - or the next day - consciously or unconsciously, they generally eat pretty lightly. So the number of calories they consume is not sky high overall.

Long-term, after dropping some initial weight, I want to train myself to 'eat like a normal person' like this. Balance.

Too many buttons - that is really inspiring. To think I could be down anything like that in 6 weeks, which will go past in a flash, really cheers me up - thank you.

PS - would love more salad ideas too.

I have been sticking to leaves, tomato, onion, pepper, carrot and cucumber, sometimes olives, but it does get a bit old.

Any idea of good alternatives? Or good meat/fish/protein to go in there too?

Dressing is another thing - would LOVE suggestions of tasty low fat ones.

Just saw this, and would like to join please!

Just moving into size 18 clothing and I need to get the weight under control NOW!

I like the idea of low carb, hard to stick to religiously, but works for me as well. So tomorrow morning it's off to the shops and stock up on some lovely low carb food.

Morning all,

Am in a bit of a rush so forgive the lack of individual high fives and claps on the back, but it sounds like we're all in the right mindset still.

Day four here and feeling uber-committed. Resisted the urge to hop on the scales and am determined to try and wait for Monday's weigh in. I know I need to drink more water, and I need to find out more about the whole low-carb thing as I know i could have more exciting meals than the ones I'm having and boredom is my downfall.

My favourite salad is leaves, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, spring onion, parma ham, gerkins, brie and some toasted pine nuts. Add a drizzle of dressing made with olive oil and raspberry vinegar and I'm genuinely in heaven.

Will be back later but good luck for today ladies, we CAN and WILL do this!

Fat free homemade salad dressing
m.youtube.com/watch?v=s_WKsDI5ckQ

Healthy salad dressing recipes
www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/photos/healthy-salad-dressings.html

Hope links work

Today started with toast and coffee. Not a great start but will make sure I come in at my calorie goal.

Craving comfort food like corned beef hash.

Oh and no exercise last night as DS2 decided he didn't want to sleep until 11 bloody pm.

I'm wearing my size 20 'clown trousers' as I unflatteringly call my elasticated wait trousers.

I finally stopped kidding myself about my size 18 jeans that no longer fitted and purchased a few pairs of size 20 trousers and a pair of jeans in the same size.

The other pair of size 20 elasticated waist trousers that I'd worn to death finally gave up the ghost, i.e. worn away by my thighs until they split.

One of the pairs of trousers I purchased are what they call 'harem pants', my thighs are so huge, they cling like leggings on me .

However, I may have gone down a bra cup size.

B - Low fat cream cheese and marmite on a third of my toast, when I've eaten that, I put low sugar marmalade on it and eat the rest.

Snack - (Paul McKenna says eat when hungry) low fat cream cheese and ham sandwich. A large snack I know, however.

Late lunch, about 3pm - a slice of vegetable frittata from the deli, 130g Greek style salad and a generous portion of pumpkin and pasta salad both from the deli.
Followed by W.W. individual chocolate mini roll

Tea - Crumb chicken, 6oz oven chips, peas, tomato and ketchup.

Treat - Flake, dipped

On Saturday morning I will go to an aerobics class. Twice a week I'm also doing, 'Box Fit' which fitness training with a nod to boxing. It's a hard work and I burn loads of calories.

I will weigh myself on Saturday 1st August. I made a pact with myself on New Year's Day that I would weigh myself on the first of every month come what may. I've done just that irrespective of the outcome. I do it monthly to take the pressure of the weekly weigh in.

Just done my second lot of c25k and the app shut down AGAIN! It seems to be very sensitive to anything else happening on my phone, for instance today I skipped a track on my media player during one of the 'run' phases and the app just stopped, would have let me carry on running forever I think! Anyhoo I did longer today than on Wednesday (5 run phases instead of 3) so I'm calling that a win and will be more careful with my phone and attempt to finally complete a session on Sunday. I also found I warmed down and my breathing went back to normal faster than it did on Wednesday, although it seems a bit soon for fitness improvement so I might be imagining that.

Good luck with food choices today team!

Sounds frustrating Mess! Sometimes I think technology is more hassle than it's worth.

I'm heading into a relapse of my ME, in a lot of pain today so rather frustrated and worried (it's been a while). So needless to say I won't be exercising today! I'm starting my exercise therapy on Monday though. Would like to add in my hospital stretches DVD and some tai chi at some point but wary of going in too fast. This is a world away from how I was before I got ill - don't get me wrong, I've been fat forever, but I really loved the gym and enjoyed doing loads on the cross trainer/rowing machine/weights etc. Can't do bugger all now :(

My focus foodwise is going to be 'clean eating' - I'd done really well last year but kind of slipped back, and I want to reduce processed food and eat things in as natural a state as possible. It's a vicious cycle - I get convenience food because I am too dizzy and tired to cook properly, but that food doesn't help my body.

I'm about to have a micro lasagne, not even very nice TBH, but that's about all there is. But it's payday, so the next food shop will be stuff for bulk cooking if I can manage it.

Thinking stuff like:
Tomato and veg sauce - we like this with pasta but I don't have as much actual pasta with it now, and always do veg on the side
Bolognese - as above, my version is packed with grated veg and red lentils
Cheese sauce - for cauliflower cheese etc
Lentil stew - I'm the only one who eats this but it's yummy!
Leek and potato soup - DD loves this too, unfortunately DS doesn't.