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?

Hello can I join you all?

I started "clean eating" (hate the term but it's an easy way of describing it) 8 weeks ago and I've lost 25lbs.

I need a bit more support now though as I slipped for the first time last night and ate a whopping Chinese. I'm suffering today and feel utter shit but boy it was good!

I've got a long way to go as I started at 22 stone but I'm very determined. I'm 5ft 11 and ideally I want to lose another 6 stone. Something just feels different this time. I have been weighing on a Wednesday but will make the switch and join you all on Monday.

Hi Giraffodil - love the name :) I do love Chinese takeaway - I always feel crap the next couple of days though.

What kind of changes have you made to be eating 'cleaner'?

Welcome Giraffodil and well done on your loss so far 25lbs is amazing!

fuzzpig You're right about technology! It might be my phone rather than the app as it's getting on a bit but I'll soldier on with it, anyway I can't pretend that I was too upset when it cut out early!! Sorry to hear you're not feeling great, it must be so frustrating to want to exercise but not be able to. Do your relapses tend to last a long time? I have embarrassingly little knowledge about ME.

Been proud of my food choices so far today, had an appointment in town over lunchtime which would normally be an excuse to grab something stodgy from Greggs or similar. Today though I had a late breakfast before going out and then headed to sainsburys and got a big bag of mini carrots and a tub of caramelised onion hummus. Delicious! Just grilled some chicken so will have an early dinner of chicken salad and then probably fruit and yoghurt. In the nice place of feeling good about my choices and feeling the benefit of eating well. I hope the novelty doesn't wear off any time soon.

Hello all,

Well, I feel like I deserve a bloody medal today. Not only did we end up for lunch and I chose an omelette over everything else, but I've baked with the children this afternoon and not a single hideously decorated cupcake has passed my lips. Tonight we're having chilli without the rice, with some stirfried broccoli with garlic and a dash of sour cream and some cheese. I may have to succumb to a glass of wine though. It is Friday...

Mess my love, sounds like you're going great guns and kudos to you for going out running again and making progress, that's amazing. And your food choices today sound perfect - doesn't it make the world of different when you've made the right decisions and can feel good about it?

Fuzz, I agree, I think clean eating has to be the way forward for everyone, for health even more than weight, but as you say, it's not always that easy. I really hope your relapse isn't a rotten one and you're feeling brighter and more energetic soon. Don't give yourself a hard time about not exercising - build yourself back up first then think about what you can tackle. The diet, I'm sure, can only help.

Toasted, oh how I could empathise completely with your post. Baggy clown trousers that are actually tight. How trousers wear away at the thigh. Oh being this big is just bloody hateful, isn't it? But you can do something about it - it's in your grasp, just as it's in mine, and I have to keep reminding myself this rather than just moaning that I've been dealt a shitty hand when it comes to beach bodies. Sounds like you're focussed, and I love your monthly weigh in idea, which must relieve the pressure somewhat. You CAN do this. Make those clown pants baggy!

Wardeness, Rum, Satin, Spaniel, Lake, Vida and Cider, how are you all doing? Is Friday a good day or a challenging one?

Buttons - wow, inspiring results, thanks so much for posting. Proves that weight loss IS possible, and not just some pipe dream.

So what is everyone's plan for the weekend - this is where I usually come unstuck, so I'm researching proper low/no carbs tonight, making a shopping list and meal planning for the week ahead so I'm not left wondering what to do and snacking on toast or Haribo. We have friends for dinner tomorrow night and there was talk of a takeaway, so we'll either do that and I'll have egg foo yung or chicken tikka with salad, or I'll cook and I'm not entirely sure what. If they're unlucky, they'll all end up with omelette!

Giraffodil, amazing loss, well done! As Fuzz says, can you give us some ideas of what changes you've made as it's obviously working for you!

Dreaming have you ever tried cauliflower rice? I tried it for the first time the other day and it was actually really nice probably something to do with the butter I fried it in

Your food for the day sounds lovely and I think definitely have that glass of wine. A little bit of what you like does you good

Giraffidil please come and tell us your secrets, 26lbs is incredible!

Good food day for me today! Breakfast was 3 scrambled eggs with cream and cheese (I was stuffed!!)

Lunch was two boiled egg, tuna mayo and cheese salad. I started work at 12 and had to eat one of the eggs before I started as I was so hungry, it was enough to tide me over until my break.

Dinner is (currently eating and on mumsnet, bad eating habits I know!) 3 meaty sausages with buttery, creamy mashed swede which tastes bloody lush!

2 coffees with cream as well

I've been noticing that I'm a bit more energetic as well, which is definitely good! Instead of launching myself on the settee after work, I went straight to DD to finish her bath, have a play and get her ready for bed!

I don't know why but this time it feels different. It feels like its not impossible, it's within my grasp and I can see myself doing it just give me 2 weeks and I'll be in bed shoving galaxy bars down my throat crying!

Awwww Letme, I missed you off my role call, so sorry!

Well done for your day - sounds like you've been fantastically good. And yes, I totally understand about your feelings this time. Like you, I feel like it's within reach, like a switch has flicked. I also can't help but worry about falling off the wagon and feeling like I've failed, or getting bigger, but then I have to shake myself out of it. We CAN do this, and you've made a really fab start!

It's quite all right

I know, the fear of failing AGAIN is huge. I have so much to lose if I stop this. This is the first time I've really felt like my weight is affecting my health. My knees and ankles aching, needing to hoist myself off the settee, it's not good! I'm only 25 and I feel like I'm 60. And my DD is nearly 2 (it's her birthday in 8 days-yey!) and I don't want to be the mum that can't run around and play with her. I want to actually live a little more, go out and socialise more and not feel embarrassed about the way I look. Failure is NOT an option

Plus if I go back to the carbs and decide to low carb again I'd have to go through the 3 days of carb flu again and I don't want to do that!

I hope you're having some wine

I'm breastfeeding a very chunky 4 month old so I think that might be helping with the weight loss

I'm eating whenever I'm hungry, only eating 'real' foods. Starting my day off with a green smoothie really seems to be helping. I'm not cutting carbs completely just being mindful about portion sizes and making swaps (sweet potato instead of regular potato, cauliflower rice instead of normal rice etc)

I had a fairly traumatic labour and it's give me a new found respect for my body so I want to look after it for my children.

My favourite meal at the moment is a traybake of halloumi, chicken, peppers, sweet potato, chorizo, red onions, courgettes all roasted and served with loads of green veg. Even the kids are enjoying it. I'm also using an old slimming world trick of filling half of my plate with salad or veg. It's so filling that I don't feel deprived at all.

Hi all, just checking in. Have been out at the safari park all day and must have walked close to ten miles with a baby strapped to me. Have been very well behaved, packed a salad for lunch and fruit for snacks and only had the smallest of licks of DS1's ice cream, purely to stop it dripping on the ground you understand! Going to have a night off the gym but am also laying off the alcohol. Going out to a cocktail making class tomorrow and possibly dinner to so that can be my night off!

Sounds like everyone is doing pretty good. Thanks very much for the salad ideas will try them out next week.

Oooh that traybake sounds flipping gorgeous! I love halloumi. Our oven doesn't work ATM but I wonder if I could adapt it for grilling?

I'm slightly different in that I haven't really tried and failed, IYSWIM. I just never bothered trying really, nothing major anyway. I've not put myself on a diet I mean. I have made changes but only gradual because I never dared commit myself (especially telling other people) that I was trying. If that makes any sense?! I would be terrified of people commenting.

Speaking of 'trying' - I forgot to mention, that's the other reason I really want to lose weight. I would really really love to have DC3. But I need to get my fitness and my weight to a reasonable level or it would just be utterly crazy. Time is ticking for me - not because of my age, but because of DH's - he's much older than me (not that you'd know it - he's astoundingly fit and lean, the git! :o In fact he's playing in a charity football match with the local team tomorrow!) and has said he really doesn't want to be fathering a child past 50. He is 47 and a half so doesn't give me long really, even assuming that I would be lucky enough to conceive quickly again.

My whole life needs an overhaul, really. Weight, fitness, health, money, organisation... I'm a flipping mess. I hope y'all don't mind me sounding off here thanks for the kind comments also, I'm feeling a little better this evening but have cut out everything I was supposed to be doing on the weekend. Including watching DH play :( but it's necessary damage control.

Hmm... thinking about what good food I need to focus on. In the past I found it helpful to focus on the positives of including good nutritious food, rather than banning myself from anything.

What are everyone's favourite healthy foods? Mine would probably be avocado :)

Fuzz my love, sounding off here is absolutely the right place, and everything you say resonates with me. I know what you mean. I find my weight, or diet attempts, are always linked to everything else. If I feel in control of my diet, my weight's coming off and I'm feeling positive, everything else just naturally falls into place. The house seems more organised, I'm better with money, I take care of myself so much better. If I'm being neglectful and stuffing my face with crap, well, everything else follows suit.

And for what it's worth, I can't think of anything more important to lose weight for than another baby. That's the perfect reason to shift some pounds and improve your health - good luck!

Letme, oh I'm with you on everything you said too. If I'm honest, I think this is the first time I've allowed myself to acknowledge just how big I am and what problems it causes. If I've been active, my feet and ankles throb in the evening and I've never understood why. The penny's only just dropped that it's because they're carrying me around. My knees are bad anyway, and more so with this weight, and my back is just awful. Most is pregnancy related but my weight is really having an impact on my health. I get breathless on the gentle walk to playgroup which is slightly uphill. I get breathless when I bend to put my shoes on - how ridiculous is that?

Now I've realised all of this, it feels more essential than ever that I get this sorted. It's like the blinkers have come off. I always thought I scrubbed up off for someone who was 'curvy' and my latest holiday photos have shown that I don't. I'm not curvy, I'm fat, and it breaks my heart. I'm not meant to be like this.

So, how are everyone's weekends shaping up? We've got a few things planned but nothing that should disrupt my food plans. Friends coming over tonight, but I'll cook so it's in my control. I'm off in a mo to tackle a food shop and I'm just menu planning for the week ahead now.

Looking forward to the big weigh in on Monday.

Bad day yesterday. I had a takeaway. And 3 cans of Coke to wash it down!

I think I stress eat. We were cooped up indoors all day due to the rain and DC have been outside everyday the last month so went stir crazy.

I was stressed
I ate

New day today though.

Dreaming as horrible as this sounds I'm so glad there is someone out there who can relate! My stomach literally gets in the way and gets squished when I try to tie my laces and walking up one flight of stairs has me breathless!

BUT now we have our health as motivation I think that needs to be my real motivation. As much as I want to look like Miranda Kerr and not Jabba the hut, my appearance isn't as important as being healthy!

Well I'm working all weekend (as usual ) but I have a spinach and lettuce salad with last nights left over sausages and 2 boiled egg. All smothered in mayo! And a small tub of Greek yogurt to have before I start if I start to feel peckish.

We're going our for a meal tonight with DP's family so I'll be a sweaty mess heading out from work and straight to the pub. Have already planned to have a mixed grill minus the chips plus some salad to get some greens in there. I just pray the chips don't call to me!

S'ok Wardeness we had a takeaway too. DH had promised the DCs we would have one on payday. I didn't turn down the offer!

I think I might suggest putting an end to that though (it's sort of worked its way into the realms of 'tradition') - TBH I didn't really enjoy it that much, I never do really unless it's Chinese and for the amount it ends up costing, we may as well go out, especially if we use voucher codes/clubcard points/tastecard etc.

I am starting to get to the point where I can deny myself something IF I can reassure myself (I panic otherwise!) that I can have it at some point. So if I suggest we have a proper meal out once a month when we've been paid, that might help me get through the rest of the month when I'm REALLY craving it. There are three days over the next month where I will get some time to myself in town (childcare paid for the full day, but I finish at 2pm) so I'm going to mark those as the times when I can treat myself to something before I go home and get some 'freelance' work done before DH gets home with the DCs. I will have to really think hard about what I actually want, I MUST let go of the habit of just having what I want, when I want. That is my downfall. I need to change it for the sake of my health AND my wallet.

Thank you Dreaming for your kind words :) I am starting to feel more positive about this total overhaul of my life! I feel a bit better this morning, not out of the woods yet, but still an improvement.

As for my weekend, well we are really just running down the freezer/store cupboards, so cobbling together whatever random crap is left! As cliche as it is... this starts on Monday :o I need to get a Tesco order together for then (or maybe tomorrow evening) and actually plan properly. I always end up forgetting/not bothering to plan, and then end up getting any old rubbish delivered. I've noticed that DD especially has also started demanding unhealthy snacks all the time and turning her nose up at the decent food she really loves - it's my fault, I had become really slack about how much of this stuff we kept in the house. Again, I need to change it for financial reasons as much as health reasons! It's all very well these foods being on special offer, but when you end up choosing so many that you've got a tenner's worth...

Morning all, happy weekend! Sorry you're working Letme.

fuzzpig what you said about being able to deny yourself if you know you can have it later is exactly how I am! If I think 'right that's it McDonalds is so awful for me and I always feel sick after eating it I am never having it again' then it's all I want and I end up daydreaming about chicken nuggets and Big Macs! If I say 'maybe I'll suggest a McDonald's in a few weeks when I see [friend who likes mcds] but for the time being ill eat healthier' then it doesn't seem to become an issue and I don't even fancy it in the meantime as it's sort of 'booked' in my head.

Dreaming thanks for all the fab support and for starting this thread, it's really given me some focus and I definitely am starting to think 'I'll made this good food choice and then when I update the thread I can feel proud not ashamed!!'. I've even been tempted to try c25k again today but think I should probably take their advice about having rest days inbetween.

I've had a breakfast of shreddies with sultanas and I'm still absolutely full up. Had a lovely hot chocolate which has become like a treat thing for me and has meant I haven't eaten actual chocolate in quite a while. Got a load of spring onions in the fridge that need to be finished soon so planning chicken and onion in pitta for lunch - normally I would chop it all up and mix with lots of mayo but not sure what to use, I'm wondering about a yoghurt dressing but not really sure what to put in it. Any ideas from anyone who's a better cook than me (so basically anyone then!)?

Oh and meant to add about my weekend, out for dinner with a couple of friends tomorrow night and have said I will be sticking to my healthy eating (one friend is trying to diet too but we are such a bad influence on each other when we're together to eat). I am determined to stick to it and I think knowing the weigh in is coming on monday morning will definitely help me!

Hi all,

Letme, reading your words is like reading my own - ditto on everything Here's a new healthy us!

Righto, here I am, with a week's shopping, inspired by the low-carb bootcamp recipe thread. I went minus children (which always feel a luxury) and hit the supermarket. My week's meals now include:

Goat's cheese salad, salad with brie and parma ham, sausage and mushroom stroganoff, thai meatballs with peanut sauce, mustard chicken, mozzarella chicken and creamy garlic mushrooms. Everyone else can have theirs with crusty bread or potatoes, but I've got enough vegetables and salad to sink a battleship I think.

Tonight we have friends over for dinner and I'm cooking the garlic mushrooms as a starter, then the mozzarella chicken, then they're having crepes which I will ignore and sip a glass of very dry wine. I didn't have a glass of wine last night and will try and just have a couple tonight, though my resolve when friends are here may well fizzle out...

Happy weekend everyone.

Thanks Mess, it was busy as usual (today was too!) I also work in a cafe so there is yummy food everywhere. Along with lattes, hot chocolates, mochas etc (that's where the last stone came from!)

Dreaming your food for the week sounds absolutely delicious!! Can I please come for the creamy mushrooms? I love mushrooms!

Good day so far but I think I'm in danger of actually turning into an egg I've eaten so many.

Had egg mayo with bacon and some salad and mayo for breakfast. Unusual breakfast but I'm a bit sick of scrambled egg and wanted something green!

Lunch was a salad with tuna mayo, boiled egg and cheese which was lovely. I'm undecided on what to have for tea because Saturday night is usually pizza night! DP's is in the oven. I've just bought 2 avocados so I'm considering another salad, or maybe an omelette. Or maybe I'll just cut the avocados open and eat them with a spoon I love avocados

I need some cooking inspiration! Hope you've all had a good weekend, weigh in tomorrow (I'm strangely excited for it )

Agree your food plan sounds yum! What is the peanut sauce you're doing please?

We are actually trying to properly plan our shopping based around a list of things I want to batch cook. Normally we end up forgetting until it gets way past bedtime and so we end up with whatever I happen to click on. I've got loads of ideas though and have shopped accordingly, and I've actually got the slow cooker out. If I don't learn to love it now, I never will!

I won't be able to weigh in tomorrow as we don't have scales! We have a wii fit board but not sure it works. I am also a bit wary of weighing myself in front of the DCs, as I don't really want to make weight an issue - so might try it when DH takes them to the dentist.

Fuzzpig I'm like that with shopping, if I don't have a strict list I'll end up getting loads of stuff that I can't make a meal from. Meal planning has definitely helped with healthier eating AND saving as I always have something good planned to make whether I actually make it is another issue however and have just enough in that I can't go off track and cook something unhealthy because I don't buy it.

Getting rid of the Ben and jerry's food shop Friday is proving to be tough though. I shall miss you, yummy cookie icecream

Oh, Ben and Jerry's! To be honest I'm allowing for having a couple of treaty things in my shopping order (which I've finally completed, by the way - took ages!). What I need to do is (a) not try and hide it from the DCs and get all possessive about it (yes, I really do that ) so we can just share it and enjoy, and (b) accept that when it's gone, that's it for the week. That. Is. It. That. Is. It.

That is going to be the difficult bit.

So I've ordered a little treaty stuff, but this time not so much that I could stuff my face every day for a week and still have snacks left over (not that there usually is much left over). TBH it's still more than what I should have really, but a big improvement nonetheless.

Crikey. It's no wonder I'm fat really is it?

Anyway. Moving on. Up bright and early tomorrow to receive the shopping, and then I'll be attempting to start a load of batch cooking. Going to get the DCs to help too. Quite excited about the amount of lovely healthy food I'll be filling the freezer with - it should make the evenings much better.

And easier too, think of the time you'll save with having loads of good meals that just need to be bung in the oven! I always tell myself I'll have a batch cooking day so I'm organised throughout the week and I never do it

Sounds like a good plan with the treats! My problem is scoffing them all in one sitting I've been known to eat 8 kitkat chunkies in one day, please don't tell anyone

Need to be bung? Bunged? Banged...?! I don't know