Calling all Grinches! Who wants to lose weight in December?

[FrancisdeSales]

I have to start watching what I eat and exercise as I am stuck in a rut! It may be bad timing but I don't care. My goal is 2lb a week so 8lb by the end of Dec. I am 159 lb right now (11 stone 5 lb). Please come and join in my insanity - I am also joining a gym this week.

Ugh... I feel awful this morning! I didn't drink at all but I had some bread yesterday, a couple of potatoes with dinner and then dessert was a very sugar lemon meringue tart. I genuinely feel hungover! I was in bed before midnight and slept until 8am but my head is pounding, my mouth is dry and I have shaky hands

I honestly feel like I've had a night on the tequila, I'll be glad to get back to low carb!

Very sugary*

Hope you don't mind if I join. DH and I have just started low carbing and trying to get fit.

Been to the gym three times this week and have lost 2.8kg since Monday.

We've decided to have one day "off" a month - this month will be Christmas Day - where we can just eat what we want. Once a week, we are having a cheat meal in moderation - ie a bit of sushi or Nandos.

I'm 5ft 9 and currently 76.9kg (about 12st 1). Hoping to be in the 11s next week. Not sure what weight I'm aiming for, more about feeling comfortable in my clothes. I'm a large 12, so aiming for a large 10/small 12.

Probably got another 10-12kg to go. Hoping to achieve that and keep it off by April/May.

Well done on your loss so far SquadGoals!

The worst side effect I've found of being off the wagon yesterday is my hip bursitis is back with a vengeance. I've had six months of chronic hip pain until I went sugar free, I've practically been skipping around the past couple of weeks but this morning it feels like I've done 4000 squats

I've done a bit of googling and apparently sugar is commonly linked to joint inflammation.

Squad - how do you lose so much in a week?

I sort of nearly fell off the wagon today, I was about to do a supermarket online order because I hate the supermarket at the best of times but even more this year. But after 5 minutes online - I normally shop at Aldi - I realised that there's so much temptation about. It is better for me to just go to Aldi after work and then I only get the essentials because I cba actually looking at stuff in the supermarket.

Didn't eat brekkie today so although I was out last night I think it should be okay.

I had a big blow out meal yesterday, complete with dessert and wine. So no weight loss here but mercifully no gain either.

however, there's a lot of nice food floating around the house that I'm trying to ignore. Dh is trying to lose weight too so I can't just wait for him to scoff it all. Most of it is open too, there's a half full box of Hotel Chocolat in arms reach.

God, I don't know what's worse, the temptation or me whining about too much nice food in an age of food banks. It's the latter isn't it? Urgh, I'm a ungrateful grinchy bitch

lorelei, I'm an endomorph so seem to respond well to low carbing. I think it's perhaps just initial water weight maybe - it's the first week I've done.

I'm having roughly 1200-1500 calories per day, but focusing more on moving more. Been to the gym 3 times doing a mix of cardio and weights, plus swimming 2km and a round of golf

Under no illusions that I will consistently lose this amount every week, looking for 1-2lb and keeping it off.

I'm disappointed with how I've done this week. I've fallen into too many of my old bad habits. Meals have mostly been great, but the evening snacking has been disasterous. And there has been the odd meal grabbed on the hoof, so unhealthy fast food. I've limited my portions, but it still won't be good.

I weigh in at ww class tomorrow pm and I hope to have lost something. I know that I'd love to lose quickly, but quite frankly, as long as the trend is going down on the scales then I will be happy.

It took me 2 years to put on the weight, so I can spend a few months losing it.

Oh dear, DP had a day off after a week of twelve hour shifts and we went to Edinburgh on the train to visit the Christmas markets. I had a Bailey's flavoured marshmallow teacake, a hot gin toddy, two chocolate peanut butter cookies and a burger and chips for dinner.

Ahem. Back to it in the morning...

I've never come across the word 'endomorph' before Squad, I had to google it to see if you were outing yourself as a power-ranger.

Good luck with the weigh-in Charley, I think a weigh in on an evening following the weekend has to be the least forgiving. I personally don't get on the scales unless its first thing on a morning (but, importantly after my first wee) and down to my undies, I'm presuming that's not how it goes down in a ww meeting?

Helena that sounds like a lovely trip and one that will be well remembered, totally worth falling off the wagon for a day!

God I would love that Kondo

My idol as a child was the Pink Ranger

Had the weekend off from the gym and therefore the scales. Back on it tomorrow and hopefully see some more progress.

I'm really enjoying this way of eating and also not feeling like I am stuffing myself until I burst. I'd forgotten that it is ok to feel hungry at times.

I've lost 3lb since last week's class! Hurrah for smart points. I ate all my daily points, all my weekly points and my fitpoints too!

I think a Monday evening class keeps me on track a bit more over the weekend. I do succumb to a post weigh-in treat, and having an evening weigh in means I have already had my sensible tea, then something indulgent that I've really been fancying for pudding that evening.

I normally weigh for my own information first thing in the morning, bra and pants after the first wee. :)

I'm pleased with today's results. Although every pound I haven't put ON is a bonus at this time of the year.

6lb in the last 2 weeks. :) :)

Charley, 6 pounds in two weeks, how cool! I went to WW once but the number of points they allocated me put me off and I never went back.

I lost another paltry half a pound this week, but this exercise programme does say that tape measure is more important in the first few weeks. After just a week of that new programme I am feeling the benefits so that's good.

Had a meal out tonight but managed no brekkie and tiny lunch so should be okay.

Well done on the weight loss Charley! I feel like I'm heading to that danger time now, chocolates are appearing at work and I'm finding it harder to eat sensibly the rest of the time knowing I will be unlikely to lose weight. Have to keep reminding myself that maintaining is good enough for now.

Same fading, I'm trying for at least another week of really low carbing and eating well, plus exercising 4-5 times a week.

Next week is going to be difficult. We are going away from Sunday - Tuesday, then flying to Australia and obviously it is then Christmas.

Maintaining is good enough during tricky times. As long as my calories in are less than out, I'm ok to go above the 1200ish I've been sticking to.

I'm back at 14st exactly this morning, which is annoying but I can't complain after the food I had on Friday and Sunday. Yesterday I wasn't particularly low carb either, I'm trying out the new Weight Watchers plan and I'm not totally convinced. I used to do the old points back in 2008, then I became a dab hand at ProPoints but the new plan is a lot more restrictive.

I didn't manage to get to the gym last night as all the trains were cancelled so I had to get a lift home with a colleague, then pick up my car and drive DP to work for his night shift. I used the evening to meal prep a load of lunch and dinner stuff though so not totally wasted time.

10st 5 today so I have reached my mini goal for Christmas but, because I am burdened with the modern curse which is known as 'apple shape', with a waistline of 82cm, apparently I am still at risk of obesity related illnesses so no victory cake for me.

KondosSecretJunkRoom

I'm an apple too, after being an hour glass for years! I measure up as a size 14/16 everywhere except my waist, which measures as a size 18/20!

I find it so hard to lose from my stomach too, and losing weight makes it look bigger as everything around it shrinks

I was an hourglass too, a lifetime ago before I had children. Now I look down at my belly in frustration wondering when my body will give up that stored energy. It has to, eventually, right? I hope it sorts itself out and before it decimates the fat in my ass and face.

I'm going to keep going and attempt to reduce my sugar intake further - I think the next thing I need to do it learn how to make really tasty sauces from scratch instead of popping open another jar of delicious but sugar laden Lloyd Grossman sauce. A job for the weekend I think.

I'm an hourglass. Normally, it means I get away with carrying a bit of extra weight but still be shapely. I knew push had come to shove when I was starting to develop a spare tyre and that my stomach was almost sticking out as far as my boobs. (Lovely image I'm painting there.)

It is the last place I put on weight, but the first place I lose it. I'm 6lb down these last 2 weeks, but had already lost about 3lb from my heaviest and I'm already starting to see a difference in that worst area.

Unfortunately, I do have heavy legs and bum, which means that I have lots of lovely dresses that now fit me down as far as my hips, but are then too tight. So I shall plod on and on with the diet as long as I can.

I've been 11st and I was a size 12/14. I really liked my shape then and that's what I'm aiming for.

Sadly, my natural shape is pear. When I was size 8, I had a sticking out arse. Now several sizes up, it sticks out like a shelf.

I know I'm supposed to be more worried by my waist measurement but I hate that "bum as shelf" thing, I could probably start balancing my handbag on it. Grr.

Now that my tummy sticks out too, I still find the bum more annoying. Weird. That said, when I do lose, the first place it goes from is my tum.

The social events are ramping up now and dodging empty calories is getting harder. I have to do a bit of planning otherwise one treat meal will follow another until I undo all the good work over the next two weeks.

What is everyone else doing? Just saying no thanks seems to offend the sensitive and saying you are on a diet opens you up for scrutiny about why and what you are doing. Meh, I might feign a poorly tummy for some small family meet ups, no-one wants more info then

Kondos, glad to see someone on the board!

"no thanks" is always going to offend people, but are you at people's homes? I feel your pain because I can gain with amazing speed and then it won't come off over months - seriously.

I definitely wouldn't tell people you are dieting at this time of year. Maybe say you've got indigestion? They don't need to run away fearing you have a bug but they can't keep telling you to eat either.

What I have found is that the new (weights based) workout which is supposed to really help change my appearance (!) - sorry I keep reminding people that because it's kind of an odd thing to do and I am not supposed to weigh myself - is making me really hungry. But I hopped on the scales this morning to make sure I hadn't gained anything this week and I haven't, so probably being paranoid.

I have realised I am supposed to work out Xmas Day and Boxing Day - I'm aiming to up it from 3x a week to 2 days on, 1 day off - and am travelling Xmas Eve and the 27th - so they would be my days off. I can't carry weights in a bag so I'm going to chuck in those exercise bands and use those instead. There's now a count down on my wall for my holiday - less than 8 weeks!

Exercising on Christmas Day is truly dedication to the cause and puts me to shame Lorelei. Where are you going on holiday? I'm so envious, there's nothing better than a change of scenery at the arse end if winter.

I think reshaping your body sounds awesome and it's something I intend to do when I have lost some more of this weight and have made a habit of eating better.

Good idea with the indigestion - best not make a total social dick of myself.

Kondos, it remains to be seen whether I actually do it! But tbh I get very fidgety on Xmas Day anyway.

I do think I'll do it because it's just a long and boring day where the expectation is for all rellies to be together all day long doing very little.

I'll be in the US, nearer to West Coast so it won't be freezing but it could be anywhere between about 14 and 22 - luck of the draw really. But I don't really go away and I've got a few lovely nights out planned with my friends and I am so tired of being the fat one.

the sad thing is, this holiday was planned last summer. In that time I've:
been to WW and not liked them
been to SW and not liked them
calorie counted alone and lost an average of .5lb a week. Gah.

I've got years of Xmases to overeat so I figure I can not do it for just one!