Pre holiday slim down

[HopefullyDothButterNoParsnips]

Right - off on hols in 8 weeks. Am currently the size of a manatee. I'd ideally like to shift 1.5 - 2 stone. Ambitious, yes, but needs must. Anyone have any tips for fast weight loss to kick start things or anyone fancy joining in. I think I'm going to cut carbs initially and try and do a bit of exercise. Bread, pasta and cheese are my downfall and all the wine!

[twobambinos]

I just had porridge with berries today. Boring but If I try to get too creative I over eat. Lunch at work is definitely easier if I bring my own sandwich or salad in. Otherwise we eat out and I find it hard to resist the yummy food. I'll just have to eat out less to drop the pounds I think. The thing is you just never know what's in the food. At home I might have a toastie/leftovers from dinner for lunch

[sexymuthafunker]

Breakfast
Yoghurt & fruit / porridge / avo on rye seedy bead / egg

Lunch
Salad

Dinner
Fish & veg / fruit

[artycakemaker]

I'm in a Premier Inn this weekend so had for breakfast a bowl of fruit salad, a banana, half a raison bagel and some butter. very nice. :)

I am planning lunch at Itsu- they do a poached salmon salad that is pretty good and about 350 cals, and am travelling tonight so will be another salad on the run.

[StealthNinjaMum]

Hello

Can I join? About 5 years ago I lost 5 stone on a mumsnet thread and i really think chatting to random (but lovely) strangers really worked for me.

I am 5 foot 4 and I think my lowest weight was 8 st 13 and I was so happy and confident at that weight. I have piled on the lbs slowly and I know I'm not as big as I was - probably 11 stones now - but I do feel big and I have a wardrobe of beautiful 'thin' clothes that I want to fit into.

I still eat healthily but know that I pile on the lbs by having the odd treat every day so I am going to track my foods and snacks on mfp. I haven't weighed myself yet but think it would depress me so I am intending to eat 1500 calories for a week and get back into the routine before I weigh myself.

[HatBox]

Hello all,
Please may I join you? I am 5ft 9 and weigh 14 stone 5lbs. I have 10 weeks to my holiday and I am determined to be under 12 stone 2 lb - which would put me at a healthy bmi. This is going to take some serious determination - but I think that it can be done!

[artycakemaker]

I really do not want to hijack Hopefully's thread, but can I ask also for some insights as to what people do to look as good as they can? I feel so depressed all the time that I have really 'let myself go'. I hate that phrase, but it is true. I'd love some tips really. It's like I have forgotten how to make myself look nice.

I live in jeans and oversized jumpers (even in this weather).

[HatBox]

Good question Arty. I think it really helps me to treat myself to non- food stuff like manicures or pedicures. I have to convince myself that I am worth taking care of - so I always make sure that my hair and make up is done. I f I don't I just seem to slob about and eat!

Clothes is a much trickier issue. I am tall so I can cover my wobbly bits in maxi dresses quite effectively. Not everyone's fave look I know, but it will do until there is less blubber!

[StealthNinjaMum]

To answer the earlier question about breakfast today I had lots of leftover baguette from yesterday. Feeling bad about that as normally I just have toast with marmite but as the bread was in front of me I ate it!

For lunch we'll have cold meats, veg and fruit. I am going to try not to have more bread. We also have leftover dominos pizza which dh ate cold for breakfast and it will take all my willpower to not touch.

Arty when I lost weight before I used to paint my nails a lot in the evening to stop me raiding the fridge! (It worked and I felt more groomed) I am going to do that later. I used to live in 4 or 5 dresses because when you lose weight you don't want to spend a fortune in trousers or skirts for each size down you go and dresses last longer. I can remember feeling amazing as over a period of about 18 months I bought jeans in every size from 14 down to 8. I threw all my clothes over size 10 away and am really squeezing into my clothes now so I don't look great.

[twobambinos]

Stealth ninja I'm squeezing into most of my clothes now and some of them don't fit at all. A stone would open up a whole new wardrobe for me. It's waiting and ready just need to lose the few pounds. And the hot weather is really not helping the squished clothes.

Went for a 4mile walk today. And had a roll with ham cheese and onion for lunch. Try to not snack now before dinner and drink 2l of water.

[StealthNinjaMum]

That's amazing two bambinos, I haven't even left the house today.

I am currently sitting in nice tailored shorts and a tshirt.flab is hanging over the shorts and it wasn't there last summer! I think summer clothes are less forgiving than big winter jumper dresses with boots so it has been a really shock to see what I look like.

I wasn't going to weigh myself but I did. 161 lbs. Still a lot less than I used to be but my target is to lose a stone before 15th July. Not sure that is possible but it would be good not to have such a stomach overhang by then.

[sexymuthafunker]

Hi hatbox I am in a very similar position. What's the plan?
I have so far started swimming for fitness and trying to eat super healthily...

[sexymuthafunker]

Am planning to up the exercise massively too!

[HatBox]

Hi sexy
I am going to live on low fat protein, veg and salad and berries! Definitely no wine!
15000 steps a day plus as many classes as I can fit in - Zumba, pilates, yoga etc.
Swimming is a good idea too!
Lets do this!

[HopefullyDothButterNoParsnips]

Morning all. I went to the gym last night for the first time in months. Spent time on the cross trainer. I just need to keep going and it will form a habit.

Re looking good - I think grooming comes into this a lot. Hair and make up done, good mani and pedi and you're halfway there. I need to follow that rule a little as nails are in dire need of attention!

[sexymuthafunker]

My vice is the wine I'm afraid.
Am banning it through the week and limiting it at the weekend. Thinking spritzas might be the way to go - so you drink less

[AndieNZ]

Don't flame me but there is a "gastric band" diet called "Don't Weight Around" by Dr Alvin. I've just read his book and I am raring to go starting today. You basically follow the principles as if you have had a gastric band operation...without having the actual operation obviously.

The rules of the diet are that you are allowed to eat anything you want, but it is extreme portion control and all about shrinking the size of your stomach. You follow this...

Nothing but coffee or tea for breakfast. One multi vitamin tablet.

Five bites of anything that contains protein for lunch
Five bites if anything that contains protein for dinner.

Lots of water and low calorie drinks.

I know it's brutal but results are fast. You can lose approx more than 30 pounds in a month.. Or more than a pound a day. There's no calorie counting or expensive products to buy. He does recommend you invest in a very good multi vitamin. Exercise is recommended for toning but not essential whilst the focus is all about shrinking your stomach and getting used to the small amount of food. The first three days are the hardest but once you get past that, it's gets easier.

There's a lot of Facebook groups for support.

I'm starting doing it as I have a wedding to go to in two weeks and I cannot fit into the dress I want to wear. I also just want this extra weight shifting as soon as possible.

[bambisims]

Andie, I think that will almost certainly work for you to lose weight but would imagine you'll feel TERRIBLE and as soon as you start to eat 'normally' again you'll just pile it all back on. It really doesn't sound like a good diet plan!

[Umpteenthnamechange]

Can I join? I have 10 kgs to lose and feel very frumpy. Being crazy busy doesn't help

[AndieNZ]

Bambisins

I've done the diet before and lost a stone and kept it off. I took a break and I'm now ready to shift more weight as I'm super motivated.

When I did it before, I did feel awful but I wasn't taking the multi vitamin. Once I started taking the multivitamin I felt much better.

[bambisims]

Oh okay well good luck then...just remember to listen to your body!

[HopefullyDothButterNoParsnips]

Andie how is the gastric band plan working?

I'm not losing anything atm. Just trickling along. Need to move myself.

[AndieNZ]

Hopefully

It's going really well, thanks.

I am finding it easy as I don't have to count calories or points or anything. I also don't have to buy any special foods in. I can eat anything!

Bank holiday Monday I skipped breakfast and took my multivitamin and just ate 8 bites for lunch and then 8 bites for dinner. We went out for lunch so there was no scanning the menu wondering what I can and can't eat.. And feeling deprived. I just ordered a small portion and then left the rest on my plate. Yesterday was a bit harder as I went swimming with my son and swimming generally makes me hungry. I drank plenty of water and reminded myself how great I am going to feel once I have got the weight off and can get into my dress.

Off to the seaside today so I will be able to order fish and chips with everyone else but just in a smaller amount!

The book is super motivating so I make sure I re read parts of the book to keep me motivated.


I feel lighter but I am not weighing until the end of the week.

[sexymuthafunker]

Have downloaded my fitness pal and swimming app & it's quite a revelation! - 2lb down this week so far. Am weighing every day. I have never counted calories before and tend to avoid my scales- it's really not that bad and has def been helping me be more aware of what's going in Vs energy expended

[artycakemaker]

Morning all. Hope everyone is well.

I am okay- I found this great calorie counting site

www.nutracheck.co.uk/CaloriesIn/

I have never counted calories before, but it seems to be working well at the moment. I am aiming for about 1200 cals per day or less and actually am not feeling deprived as I am focusing on lean protein and loads of salads. Last night I had pork and pepper kebabs with spinach and cherry tomato salad.

Knocking the booze on the head has helped immensely. I am drinking loads of water and tea. Have not yet looked at the scales, but am feeling better!

How is everyone doing?

[sexymuthafunker]

Thanks for the link arty that's really helpful! I'm the same never counted before but it's really motivating to see it working! 3lb down this week alewdty and also not feeling deprived!

Do you think it's ok to be really good all week then have some wine at the weekend???