Does anyone want to join me in losing weight for the last time?

[princessstrop]

About three years ago I weighed 13 stone, and out of nowhere I found the motivation to go down to 9 and a half stone in a year. Since then, it's gone up and down, mostly up and now I'm back up to almost 12 stone.

So I've decided now is the time to find that motivation again and lose all this weight - for the last time. No more putting it back on!

Start Weight: 11st 12lb
Height: 5'2
Goal Weight: 9st 7lb

Does anyone want to join me? I think I'd do so much better if there were a group of us all waiting to hear how the others had done and give each other plenty of support.

I'm tired of being the "big friend" and just want to be comfortable in my own skin. I've got a holiday booked in June that I'd love to be confident enough for to get all my old bikinis back out, so my first little goal is to have lost a good half a stone by then!

Here is some imaginary to bribe you all to come and join me.

[NightWanderer]

I'd like to join too, if that's ok?

I need to weigh myself but I never lost the baby weight and the baby is now 2. I'm also interested in couch to 5km.

[QuimReaper]

Haha ichoosesleep

If it helps at all, I like to listen to something more engrossing than music to distract myself, like a podcast or audiobook, so I use an app called "5K runner" which you can set to just ding when you have to start running and double-ding when you start walking, so you don't get interrupted the whole time by the coaching.

I know for other people the coaching is part of the experience though, and really love the little prompts like "halfway there now, you're doing great!"

[ichoosesleep]

I've just had a look on the app now which has been on my phone for god knows how long it looks really good and motivating. I think that's what I need is something telling me when to start and stop instead of trying to just run for a song and walk for a song. Doesn't help when you listen to paradise by the Dashboard light and then Budapest

[QuimReaper]

Yes yes yes ichoose, definitely do it! The first runs are literally a few goes at about 1.5 minutes, with the same again to recover. I used to have the same problem, I'd decide to take up running, then get out the door and go haring off like Usain Bolt, get all out of breath by the time I'd got to the end of the road, limp shamefacedly home, and be too disheartened to try again for the next ten weeks.

I got my fitness up to 5K (on a treadmill) a couple of years ago and went around like a dog with two tails I was so proud of myself. But I overdid it, got shin splints, gave up for several months, and now I'm back to not being able to run for more than three sodding minutes at a stretch So you can't be more unfit than me, and even I at one time could do a 5K!

[ichoosesleep]

Quim I keep meaning to start the c25k but ever get round to it. Is it worth all its cracked up to be ? I would absolutely love to be able to run 5k with out stopping! Then again I'd like to run the 2 minutes away from my house like I tried the other day without coughing and spluttering and then having hallucinations of people handing out bottles of free water down the road

[QuimReaper]

I feel pretty virtuous today - I'd got into week 4 of c25K a while back but I abandoned it for too long and have had to slide back into w3 as I was struggling (the no carbs and v few calories might not have helped) but I did almost 9.5K between walking to the park, C25King along the canal path and then walking around the park and home again. Yesterday I did a 10K walk to get myself into the swing, and will try the next c25K instalment tomorrow

Please god let it show when I weigh in on Sat! I can't see or feel a difference yet so a scales victory will be a real boost!

[QuimReaper]

My best tip so far is smoked haddock fillets, they're delicious with a poached egg and some steamed spinach!

[applejack18]

Thanks for the recipe share. My meals are currently fairly boring in that they are more an assembly of items rather than a concoction like the lasagne. Which By the way sounds amazing. My slow cooker is currently sitting in the loft still unopened let alone unused. It's on my list of things to do once my youngest starts full day school (reception) in September, when I'll be free, free, free I tell you! (I work evenings and weekends so daytime freedom will be much cherished!)
Had a healthy food day. Couldn't do gym as kids on school hols till may.
Coffee with milk and Greek Yoghurt, walnuts, blueberries
Salad of romaine lettuce, spinach, chicken breast, avocado, red pepper, cherry tomato, olive oil, cider vinegar
Salmon filet and butternut/courgette spaghetti in soya sauce.

[ichoosesleep]

Ooh honestly I would never cook Lasange any differently since doing it in slowcooker. I wouldn't worry about the cheese I literally just sprinkle a bit on top to get the scattered orange look that bubbles!

I use 5% mince, onions, mushrooms, red pepper. Fry it all up then add passata, tinned tomatoes and mixed herbs.

This is instead of using a red Lasange sauce jar full of salt, sugar and unwanted calories.

I always use a jar or white sauce though because I can't make that to save my life and I can't stand the white sauce they make on slimming world it goes curdled and stiff

I layer it up as normal although it's like doing a jigsaw puzzle with the lasagne sheets and oval slowcooker. But it never matters once it's cooked any way.

I always pour the White sauce into a jug first so I can mix some water into it so it goes further.
Sprinkle with a bit of cheese..

Then just leave it . Serving about 4 people it comes to around 400-500 cals per serving. Which when calorie counting like on my fitness pal isn't bad at all.

[shovetheholly]

Me neither quimreaper!

Finding today tough. I've stuck to my programme - just - but this has been the biggest willpower test to date. The hunger is starting to bite!

Stir fries- my secret weapon is posh soy sauce. Makes loads of difference!

[QuimReaper]

Not that I could ever eat lasagne on a diet, I always use about six tonnes of cheese. Mmmmmm

[QuimReaper]

ichoose I've never tried lasagne in the slow cooker - does it work well?

[QuimReaper]

applejack all I used was a bit of red onion and garlic paste, a chicken breast, half a courgette, a red pepper and a few chopped mushrooms. I doused the whole lot in soy sauce and it turned out great!

I think my problem with stir frays usually is that I use too much fiddly speciality-Asian stuff and end up over cooking bits of it and end up with a gigantic messy mound. Keeping it simple seems to work better for me.

[ichoosesleep]

I struggle with stir Frys too. I always end up with something that looks nice but tastes disgusting! Good day here too :) made a Lasange in the slow cooker. Love knowing tea is prepared !!

[applejack18]

Ooh love a stirfry - would you like to share the recipe!?

[QuimReaper]

Good day here, made a lovely chicken stir fry for my supper and had a beautiful 10K walk, now into a hot bubble bath with a gallon or so of tonic water!

[applejack18]

Another day done -
Mostly healthy...a few treats as we had friends round.
Instead of gym I went clothes shopping as haven't been in ages - just about managed to squeeze into some size 14 high waisted skinny jeans in new look and got them plus a few nice tops. Tight jeans are another handy way to keep the weight in check and a spur to lose more hopefully
Coffee with milk - Greek yoghurt with blueberries and walnuts
10 bite size fishcakes
Hummus carrot and pepper sticks
2 beef burgers and corn on cob
Orange
Half cookie, handful crisps, 1 custard cream

[shovetheholly]

apple - To be honest, the 'pressure' is really just habit. I'm used to going to the pub on any old evening, just to chill out for a bit. Or to celebrate. I'm also surrounded by people who are heavy drinkers, so it feels 'normal'. I'm throwing myself into exercise and other routines and limiting going out to twice a week, and a controlled amount (half a bottle of wine, which is miniscule compared to normal). I will relax that a bit once the new habit's in place but I know myself, and if I waver before I've done 8 weeks or so, it won't stick!

[ichoosesleep]

Just got back from docs and whilst there she recommended I see a health trainer who works up at our surgery. Anyone ever seen one ?

[applejack18]

Congrats *shove that's a fab start - onwards and downwards and enjoying life - have you felt pressure at the pub or are you telling friends about your changes?

[shovetheholly]

I'm just starting my third week of the diet (day 16) and I've lost half a stone so far. A lot of that is the initial, rapid loss that's easy to achieve, so it's about here that the real work starts!

I feel SO much better for eating healthily - I've really reduced my alcohol. It's difficult because I go to the pub a lot with DH and with friends, so it's meant building in new routines, which feels strange and odd - like a loss. On the upside, though, I do feel far more energetic than I have in a long time! I'm also allowing myself the odd treat so it doesn't all become too hair-shirty: had a lovely lunch at a really posh restaurant last Friday, which was delish.

I'm going to check out the slim rice - sounds perfect for me. I love carbs.

[applejack18]

On the fast day I drank whatever was around (I was at a family kiddy birthday tea), so coffee, Diet Coke etc which also have the benefit of being quite filling - for the rest of afternoon I had water and peppermint tea just because I like it and it's caffeine free! I didn't eat anything! I've never done it before and in the past when I've had a very low cal day I've woken up hungry in the night and not been able to get back to sleep. I think it only worked this time because I'd had a massive binge the day before (on a shrunken stomach) so I genuinely hardly felt hungry. Interestingly I've never felt I could do the 5:2 diet having regular fast days. Everyone finds their own path (cheesy )

[ichoosesleep]

Well done applejack nice to hear your still doing well!

Could I ask about the fast? What do you eat and drink on it ? U mention peppermint tea?

I've had a much better day. Got my 10,000 steps and will have finished my water soon.
1180 cals eaten including avocado on toast twice plus a homemade beef curry.

I went to Holland and barratts today also and bought some more of the "slim rice" it's on offer at the moment for buy one get one for 1p. I forget what it's actually made of but i use them instead of carbs

I think It's about 20cals a packet and you get quite a good portion. Once eaten with curry or something it's not bland and I can easily think I'm eating normal rice.

You have to rinse it first before cooking for two mins as it has a packaged smell.

Brilliant for weight loss though if your a carb addict

[applejack18]

Hi folks
So the fast was really ok. I was so stuffed from the day before that I only really felt hungry at about 8pm so I had more peppermint tea. It's a funny old thing but it is so much about being in the right mental zone, mind over matter.
A common theme is that we are all finding that we have unhealthy moments (setbacks) at the weekend. For some the trigger is booze, for me it's stress/sleep deprivation and lack of planning (and DH doing spontaneous takeaways that are sooooo yummy and tempting). For me I need to remember not to let that moment make me throw in the towel completely. I keep thinking back to the original thread title - losing weight for the last time. We can really do this - despite multiple slip ups - keeping our eyes on the long game.
I went to the gym and had a healthy food day (though a bit odd until I had sorted the Tesco delivery)
Greek yoghurt honey and walnuts
Six fish fingers and 250g of butternut "spaghetti"
1 chunk of dc dairy milk
Romaine lettuce wrap of Spinach, tahini, hummus, carrot, cucumber and 5 falafel
Strawberries

[Claire28will]

I know the feeling and my problem is that I'm so greedy once I get going! It's shameful!