The significant shifters 2016 part 2 (all welcome)

[LentilStew]

New thread, ladies

flyright, I'm going to be honest here. The only time I've ever had this long a break from drinking alcohol (nearly 3 weeks) was the one time I was pregnant. I'd say I've drank every single week since I turned 18. That's awful isn't it? If I can do it anyone can! I struggled on the first weekend but this weekend was quite easy actually. It's like I'm out of the routine. Before Christmas I was drinking at least a couple of bottles a week (probably more). I'm doing it more for my health and weight loss more than worry over my liver, but it's nice to give that a break for once.

I'm still on the fence about daily weighing. Indeed, I only got a set of scales as a result of this thread and the fb page, mainly because I am worried about becoming obsessed with numbers and forgetting that I am actually aiming to eat more healthily this time.

In the past I have done daft things to get the numbers down , things that were certainly not healthy, for example, not eating/drinking on day of weigh-in, laxatives to get any lurking shit out, even a session of colonic irrigation . Yes, it is a big thing to have scales in the house to be honest and weighing myself on them once a week is just about as much as I can cope with.

I walked to town yesterday, it had been snowing most of the night but I reckoned that with care I could manage. I did manage until I inadvertently stood on a fallen sign (metal) which was really slippy and I went arse over tip into the ground. Thankfully having a fat arse was an advantage and I merely banged my shoulder.

Foodwise things are ok. I brought home some really lovely malteaser chocolate slices from school (from a fund-raising bake sale) and didn't have one, although I did have a conversation to myself about it. "Go on, have a piece it isn't going to make a difference" and "I'm not actually hungry just now, and it's not a big deal if I don't have a piece now, maybe later" and "I'll give it to my daughter who is visiting us tomorrow".

Tried to go out to do my Cto5K (starting week 3 today) this morning but it soon became clear that it was too icy now to be safe, so I abandoned it and walked (carefully) instead. This is where I have to be realistic and not panic because I have not followed my routine properly, countering thoughts like "oh no I will get fat if I don't exercise". Daft, eh? Instead saying to myself "for heavens sake, it isn't safe to run today, try again tomorrow or the next day. If you fall and injure yourself you might not be exercising for weeks!"

It is just getting things in perspective, I guess. I have no deadline to work to, just the rest of my life (a long time, I'm hoping ).

You do whatever is best for you stopsfaffing what works for one won't necessary work for another. well done for resisting the cake.

I'm another 1lb down this morning, 9lbs downs so far. The last 4lbs I've lost I've managed to lose 1lb every six days.

Yes I echo that Must we all have to do what works for us and try not to get into 'unhealthy habits' in our desire to get back in shape. And you're right stop it's about so much more than what the scales say. It's developping a healthy relationship with food, eating for TRUE nourishment (and enjoying it).

I'm not sure about what to do about weighng myself to be honest, don't want to obsess over it but also don't like the idea of the random fluctuations being on a higer figure on a monday morning. With that in mind checked yesterday morning and had just gone under 16 stone so first time scales have said 15 something in a while - hooray! And that's in spite of the blip I had last week when I feared I'd give up again (after eating chocolate)

I'm having similar converstions with myself stop talking myself out of having something that I don't actually need. Well done for cake-avoiding! I resisted chips and desert eating out yesterday, had meat and lots of veg and salad.

By the way stop , re slippery surfaces I've bought a hiking pole from an outdoor kit shop, which is really helping me keep walking, even through skiddy mud and water (no ice here at moment). And it makes me feel fit and 'outdoorsy', not like an overweight 50 something woman who is worried about skidding, falling over and injuring herself!

I'm reducing portion size too toe - it's so ingrained to eat everything on the plate but seems to really work to put less on it, tell self can eat more if need to and then find I've had enough. Also really trying to eat slowly, chew lots and be aware of what I'm eating so sitting down at the table with my food, not grazing while in kitchen cooking for us all.

Well done up for cutting back on the alcohol. There's so many of us on here all taking big and small steps towards our goals.

Yay! 1 1/2 lb down from last week still and 2" off waist, 2" off hips. Still feel very very big but alot fitter and a tiny tiny bit smaller!

Good luck to anyone else weighing in today and DON'T GIVE UP if the scales haven't moved this week - stick with it

Another 3lb off here! :) I've lost just over a stone in total since 4th January! I'm so pleased!

First loss since week 1! 3.4kg overall since the start - about half a stone. Sustainable, and I've not done anything major but eat less crap and cycle a bit more. Yay!!!!

Well done to everyone and Bon courage for the new month. Keep it up!

If you weigh yourself every day and you're a bit nerdy you can keep a graph of the readings and you will see that despite the fluctuations the general trajectory is downwards which can help with motivation. Best not if you're the type to get obsessed by fluctuations, but good for those that like a daily weigh.

Can I join? I've been in denial about just how huge and unhealthy I am for years, all the time it's been getting worse and worse.

I've been asked to be bridesmaid in about a year and we have a big family holiday to Florida this November. We went last year and I was actually really worried about fitting in the rides with my children, and I never want that feeling again.

I started January 4th too, walking 10-25k a day using Fitbit, cutting out carbs and alcohol and trying to keep to 1000 - 1200 calories a day.

I've lost 25lbs! And just over 4 points from my BMI, and although I've got a long way to go, I really feel different about it this time, in excited to wake up and walk everyday, and I don't feel resentful about not being able to eat what I want.

I made myself a motivational list of quotes I found on here about things that get better when you lose weight and I read it every now and then, the biggest one being 'my DC stopped being teased about their fat mum' I don't want that to happen to mine. They deserve better than the person I've been giving them...

Sorry, that was long!

Everyone is welcome here. 25lbs is a massive achievement. Well done!

In January I have lost 20lbs! I lost 6lbs this week. I'm really shocked as I'm due AF so expected to be up.

prof I have a graph with intermittent readings since 2010 on my fitnesspal. There are a couple of good overall down bits, esp in 2012, but the overall trajectory is definitely up. So the moral is, start a new one when you start again!

Welcome Mary, I just joined last week. That's done weight loss, well done. All of those weight losses are very impressive. I'm feeling inspired with all of your motivation.

*some

My scales were not working properly today (yet again) so I measured myself and see a reduction on all areas from last week. Very pleased indeed. I will try and weigh again next Monday and see if there is a result so I can add it to the spreadsheet.

It is really handy to have somewhere to discuss things isn't it? Helps me to get things in perspective sometimes. Hi Mary and welcome .

Hiking poles? Hmm clear I've seen them around and actually they may be handy if I'm in the woods next door to where I live. It is notoriously unstable underfoot and if I'm running (which I intend to when it gets lighter) they could be useful to help me balance.

I'll do some research later.

Thanks .

Meant to say, was doctor on Friday and mentioned my new fitness regime (Cto5K). She mentioned a walking group she does from the surgery along the canal path on a Wednesday night. I am welcome to come along at 6:30. May do this. She also mentioned someone she knows who does a running club (but light running not fast stuff) and she gave me her number. Not sure about that yet, but maybe in a couple of months.

*saw

Welcome to the losers club Mary.

Some great results coming in this week - a pat on the back well deserved to you all.

I've lost 3.6lbs this week so 14.6lbs since 4th Jan. Really seeing it in my face and lots of people have commented. That's really odd because last time it took a 3 stone loss before anyone noticed!

I'm anticipating it slowing down though and will be happy just to keep a downwards trajectory over the year. I'm going to test this daily weighting malarkey to see how it compares to the weekly number.

In the meantime I'm thinking of getting a Fitbit but don't know if it's worth getting the Charge HR - does anyone else have a recommendation?

Well done to everyone on all the fantastic losses! Aren't we all doing well?! :)

can I join too? I have 3.5-4 stones to lose. I lost just over 40lbs last year doing 5:2, but still have a long way to go. After not putting on weight over Christmas (or rather losing the weight I did put on within a week) I've managed to put on a kg in January - too much wine, cake, parties etc - feel pretty crap about myself.

Anyway I want to do a few weeks of ADF to get back to losing - aiming for 500 or FDs & 1200 on NFDs. Were going on holiday at the end of the month we we get back I'm considering doing the 8 week BSD to reset my eating habits a bit. Haven't had any wine for a week though!

Well done to everyone losing - it's a hard old slog sometimes!

Hi everyone, 1lb loss here which I'm ok about this week as I fell of the wagon big time towards the end of last week.

Some fantastic loses here and welcome, Mary, sounds like you've made a superb start!

We drive to school as it is 2miles away and pass nursery on the way home. Yesterday and today I have driven all the way home then walked the 15min back to nursery. I've put DS on the buggy board so he's not too exhausted by the time he gets there. Just in from that, quite bracing in this wind but I won't manage to the gym today so I needed to do something.
Good luck to everyone this week. I'm so pleased that despite slipping up I managed to get back up and carry on. Every other time I would have given up at such a slip.

what I'd like to be able to do is take the emotion out of my weight - a small gain & I absolutely despise myself.

DH (who is known as being skinny) gained 4kg over January (beer, beer & cake!) but he just shrugged it off - his attitude is that he had a great time & now he's stopped & he'll be back to normal weight in the next month or so ... no big deal, no self recrimination. I wish I could be like that!

Welcome to all recent newcomers - if we can carry on like this all year we are all going to feel so much healthier . .... especially if we can ride out the inevitable blips and challenges.

I'm with you on that one lentil - my lapse last week could easily in the past have turned into giving up totally BUT instead I rallied and have actually lost more weight this last week. And it has given me a huge confdence boost that this time IS going to be different and maybe I actually can keep this up until I'm back in the size10/12 clothes waiting patiently in my wardrobe.

The support/inspiration/motivation we are all creating on here is helping me loads - thanks everyone and have a good week!

And if there's anyone out there who started off well in January and is having a major lapse or feeling like giving up, you can still turn that around and restart plodding up that hill we're all on.

well I had a good day & have stopped feeling sorry for myself! Fast day was fine :)

Hi, my official weigh in today and 3lbs off, giving a total of 20lbs in the last 3 weeks. Think cutting back on the booze walking for an hr most days is paying. I'll take these losses when I get because it'll no doubt slow down soon. Was really tired today and found myself gorging on loads of granola, so a light dinner for me.

that's brilliant sosad :) Well done!