Help me MN, I have 4 stone to lose and 10k debt to pay off!

[ChickenVindaloo2]

Hello,

I've mentioned this on a couple of other threads but I hope you don't mind if I start my own thread as I have 2 really important goals this year and want to tackle them both, together.

This morning, I am 14 stone exactly. I'm 5'1' and have never even had kids! (I'm 33). I gave up booze 2 years ago so now time to tackle the cake/takeaway habit. If I lose 2lbs a month, I can be 10 stone in time for (hopefully!) going to Wimbledon this year.

I have taken some "before" shots of myself nekkid in the mirror and entered my weight on fitbit. And am stocking up on healthy food (low GI type idea). I also have a wee stepper machine in the living room so I need to get on that.

RE the debt - long story short this was due to slight overspending mounting up and then being out of work for a while. It's partly overdraft, rest credit card. I should be able to pay this off if I just stop filling my trolley with things I don't need, esp in Tesco. And if I stop buying clothes/random crap. So Lidl it is, going forward! I probably won't clear the lot but if I could get it under 5k that would be great.

So here we go any followers and support is much appreciated.

I wish you luck in whatever goals you have for yourself!

I look forward to Boxing Day 2017 when I should be slim, healthy and financially sound.

WE CAN DO THIS!

I've lost a couple of pounds, I know its not 'real' fat loss but every little helps
I've a party invite for the 20th Jan so on damage limitation for the next few weeks.

Today is day 4 for me and I've lost 2lbs so far.

I haven't really felt hungry - having eggs for breakfast is the key to success I think. Also - being prepared with having something in for lunch - some ham, cheese, berries today and batch cooking (chilli). As I like to say "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail".

I have to say I did have a slight headache the other day (unusual for me) and my ring is slightly looser already so I reckon my body is detoxing/withdrawing from sugar.

185 days until Wimbledon...

Agree that eggs for breakfast works brilliantly.

Could the headache be dehydration? I personally find that taking a litre of squash around with me, even though it's a few calories, tends to kill off quite a lot of daft snacking. I found that my supposed addiction to diet coke just disappeared when I was actually drinking enough, and there was just enough sugar in it to take the edge off my hunger.

Headache gone now but thanks! :-)

Another 2lbs gone. That's 4lbs so far. Finding it remarkably easy so far tbh. I've told all my work colleagues what I'm doing so I can't lose face!

Have actually managed to reduce portions as well - only ate half a punnet of raspberries instead of the whole lot! I actually googled what the portion size was meant to be! This will, of course, help save money too!

Nearly at the end of the first week and that's 5lbs off so far. (I'm now 13st 9lbs).

As it is properly New Year now, I will start the exercise

I'm off to mum's for NY dinner (having just roast meat and veggies, no carbs or dessert). Will hop on the stepper later.

Also need to clean the house! But I am no longer prioritising the housework over myself!

Struggling with the money...there always seems to be just one more thing for £5 that I "need" before I can stop spending...

[applause 👏 ] CV you're doing fantastically well, you sound really determined. Like your planning ahead. It's going slowly for me, still working on losing what I gained over the holiday, but I'm not in a rush.

What are you thinking about buying? Can you find something free that would do the same job?

Well done for being so disciplined over the festive period.

I am going to crack on tomorrow. Will have a 'start weight' then as well dreading it

I spent hours this afternoon going through our finances and seeing where we can save. I have balanced transferred my CC for a 40 month 0% deal which should help me reduce actual debt faster and looked at how I can help DH spend less.

Tonight i will meal plan to help with the weight loss part, although this house is rammed full of biscuits given to us!

I need to save £2400 in a year so will follow with interest.

I've been "good" since boxing day. Getting my steps in and no drinking, had two glasses of wine last night but that would usually have been two bottles so still in a better place. Will probably weigh in on Tuesday and try to hit it hard in January.

CV you're doing really well, what a nice feeling to get such a good start before the new year has even started!

Off topic slightly, I live in an upstairs flat during the week, are there any DVDs/ youtube fitness type things I can do without pissing off downstairs?

I can probably make you all feel a bit better.....six stone and 13K of debt :-(

Non bouncy exercise was suggested on another thread:
Ballet beautiful/NYC ballet
Yoga with adrienne
Callenetics
Jillian michaels no more trouble/yoga
Fitness blender - silent
Tracy anderson

Don't worry Sherlock, there's always someone worse off!
We are all heading in the right direction!

I found having a budget book, and working out all of my finances, and writing down everything I spent, really helped. Also getting a second current account and moving a set amount (say £300 or whatever you can afford) across for food/petrol/treats, and not using my normal card.

Thanks Ditsy. I have made a simple excel spreadsheet (I found YouNeedABudget too much of a pita) and have 2 current accounts now.

I just need to stop getting good ideas from the Style & Beauty threads!

Chicken! I had the exact same goals last year....cleared the debt (all bar £500) but remain a fatty. For the debt clearance-all of the above tips are great. I saved every single spare penny in a jar (I mean, even pennies I found on the street!!) and used them weekly in the Coinstar machine at the local shop. I wrote a shopping list and STUCK TO IT even if I had missed something (only exceptions were toilet roll and tampons 😊). I went cold turkey on all take always including Costas etc. unless it was a birthday. I also had a huge house clearout and ebayed stuff we hadn't used. I got my husband to clear the loft out and if I couldn't name it, we sold it. The final thing I did for the last four months was take an extra little job I could do in the evenings to give just a tiny bit extra (sometimes just £25 a week) to bolster things. I paid off £9,450 of debt accrued purely from a bit of spending here and there-overdraft, credit card etc. It is a soul cleanser I promise you and also makes you think so carefully about everything you spend.

Weight loss however....hmmmm. Not so much. I've bought a day per page diary and I'm going to write my food and drink and positive thoughts in every day (think Bridget Jones but without the fags and wit) but am enjoying all the tips. With you on this one 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Ooh I want to join too!! Got 4 stone to lose and about £7000 debt.
I too am guilty of spending where I dont really need things and lazily getting takeaway or eating lunch out with the kids when I cant be bothered to cook.
Also as a SAHM I spend FAR too much on having coffee out with friends.
Im planning on going to a Jack and Jill sale with all my baby bits in March as my last baby is now 10months. Anyone know if theres anywhere worth selling kids clothes? The kids have so many they have barely worn but grown out of because they have far too much! (Kids clothes my biggest spending weakness)
I pledge now, that for the whole of 2017, I will not buy any of my kids any clothes unless it is absolutely fucking vital and definitely not just because there is a sale on 🙈

Ooh, new comrades! I'm very excited about our journey! What a fucking blast we will have totting up our achievements this time next year!

My exercise for today was taking all the decorations down and packing them away. Sweaty work!

I'm late to the party but 2 stone to lose (1.8 will be great though!) and a savings goal of 10k, I'm not sure which will be harder, there's always so much to pay for and so little will power with food.

Brick, I have vowed not to buy any clothes for DD, she's 20 months old and she has more clothes than the other 5 of us in the family put together! Plus it's all organic expensive stuff so I spent 2016 being an idiot and although we're not in debt we really struggled most months because DD 'needed' that new pair of dungarees. 😳 She won't be getting anything this year, my 3 DS's won't either unless it's essentials.

Welcome all! The party has properly begun! Can officially report a loss of 5lbs for the first week. How bout the other early starters?

(I have no money left for January now except £120 for food so that's that!)

I weighed in yesterday. I am 9 lb less than I was this time last year.

I suppose that's a bonus!

Hi, can I join in? I want to drop 3 dress sizes by this time next year. I'm currently a size 24 (15 st, 8lbs.) and want to get down to a size 18. I am starting on Saturday. (This week is eating up left over Christmas treats! )
I've googled and apparently it's 10-14 lbs to drop a dress size. I'm going with the 14lbs so have 42lbs to loose which works out at 1.23lbs a week.
Good luck to everyone and congrats CV2 for the weight loss!

Rowtg - me too, similar - I yoyo a lot but usually end up back at 13/14st. But this time next year...

Ooh kitty, you're crying out for an excel spreadsheet! (Or the graph fitbit uses to track your weight!)