2018 - Thread 2 of Help Me Mumsnet I have 4 stone to lose and 10k debt to pay off

[ChickenVindaloo2]

Hi everyone,

It's the day after the day after Boxing Day, Thursday 28 December 2017!

Just over a year ago, on Boxing Day 2016, I was 14 stone exactly (My highest weight ever was 14st 5, I'm 5 foot 2 ish). So I needed to lose 4 stone just to get to a healthy weight. After a false start, I lost 3 stone, getting down to a low of 11 stone exactly through stopping binge-eating. I also went to (private) CBT therapy and started going to the gym. I had popped back up to 11st3-4 in the run up to Christmas, mainly as a result of complacency and dropping the gym visits due to the dark evenings.Having eaten more than usual and some salty foods over Christmas itself, as of this morning, I'm 11st 5. I need to lose at least 2 stone really to be a healthy weight and perhaps 2.5-3 to achieve peak gorgeousness!

(I also had £10k worth of debt, mainly on credit cards. I re-mortgaged and I now have £5k on a 0% credit card for 2 years. I've worked out I need to pay it off at £200/month)

In terms of weight loss, the general rules are to err on the side of low carb, unprocessed food. I need to get in more salad/veg and restart the gym sessions. I also need to watch portion sizes and ditch the snacks, treats and extras.

Rowgtcfc has been an amazing help throughout and I hope she will join me on this shiny new thread! Would also be delighted to see new comrades of any size, shape or "diet" plans!

I've attached a pic of me at my heaviest plus one at the end of last year.

Thread 1: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/2811974-Help-me-MN-I-have-4-stone-to-lose-and-10k-debt-to-pay-off?pg=1

Some of my best tips which I hope help!

• every day is every thing. it's what you do every day over the course of a year which makes a difference. In a year, what will you wish you did today?
• it's ok to just not eat crisps/chocolate/sweets/cakes/biscuits, easier, even, than trying to moderate
• eggs for breakfast
• salad and veg are your friends
• low sugar but good fats is anti-ageing too!
• You need less food than you think. You won't die from hunger.
• The secret is: there is no secret. Most slim folk have to prioritise it and work at it.
• Practice being slim. Act like you're slim.
• Do what suits you, find your own path. Eg don't assume breakfast is vital for you.

MrP, pleased you had a good holiday! Well done on no weight gain.I 've never left the good old UK so can only imagine Spanish food being much healthier than pasties and cream teas.

Offered the Facebook option to Chicken but she declined. (Ive seen my photos and id run for the hills too!) I do always pass on everyone's good wishes. And try to persuade her to come back!

Still got the bug but have shared it round home and work so feeling much better.

Coffee, sorry to hear about your knees and foot. I have wear and tear arthritis in my knees, hence the trying to lose weight. 5k is my aim, could never imagine a half marathon.

Ww lady declined a weigh in after I jumped on the scales and found I was lighter. I asked dd to take a side on underwear shot a la the body coach. There was a sharp intake of breath closely followed by a quiet, oh, youre fat. Had to explain i already knew that, i was just trying to work out how fat. And actually not as fat as i thought. Bonus

Hi both, how are you doing? I'm so sad that our numbers have dwindled. Not only have we lost Kitty and Chicken (although I hope they'll both come back) but there were quite a few other people at the start. It's a shame.

Row - I'm so sorry to hear about the wear and tear arthritis. It sounds miserable. It's one of my biggest motivators for wanting to lose the weight (along with fears about diabetes, heart disease etc). Aww bless your daughter. That's sweet that she was helping you. I don't think I'd let anyone in my family see me in my underwear .

How are you doing MrP? Hope you're well x x x

Hi Row, Coffee and any lurkers,
Holiday was amazing thanks but finding it tough to get back into the diet and fitness groove since returning!
Hope you’re both feeling better now? How are the summer holidays going so far?
My daughter stayed on in Spain for two more weeks at her friends family villa ( v jammy) and my son is back in London as his job is there and he has to rent his student digs over the summer. This means me and my husband are home alone which is lovely and the house is staying tidy. My bathroom is all zen and spa like which I love as my daughter normally trashes it with her teenage lotions and potions and hair treatments on a daily basis.
Doing an exercise class tonight for first time in weeks - dreading it! Then the heatwave returns here on thurs so it will be back to staying very still again until it passes.
Aw that’s a shame chicken didn’t want to be fb friends with us - I really enjoy seeing your posts - it’s great to put faces to names.
Haven’t seen Mrs Boasty in a while but have seen some shameless boasting from her on social media - apparently she has a secret admirer!

Good to hear from you both!
Coffee I have no problem with anyone seeing me in my underwear (within reason!). I'm very matter of fact about it, I'm fat because I'm greedy and lazy. My motivator is my 11 yr old ninja. I need to be healthy enough to see her grow up and enjoy my grandkids. She's 11 so it's a long term goal

MrP your holiday pictures were lovely to see. Looks like you all had fun! Very jealous of your skinny arms though!
Ninja hasn't spread into the bathroom yet but I can't always open her bedroom door.
My Wwlady is quiet too. We had a weigh in last week and she got off the scales and just shook her head. Not been near them since.

Was 14st 3 on sun so going the right way again. Too hot not too behave

Yay Row that's that's great that you're heading in the right direction. Feel a bit sorry for WW lady - it's so depressing when the numbers go up. Let's hope she gets her mojo back soon.
I managed to do my boot camp class tonight but my heart wasn't in it. I hope I get my mojo back soon too!
Coffee - I meant to say that that's brilliant that you're thinking of doing the half marathon - definitely go for it. I am doing the oxford half in October and it's such a great incentive to get fit. I see from fb you live in the part of the world that I'm from - I expect there's some great countryside to train in around you. Anyway if you sign up we can be virtual training buddies.

ps re the numbers dwindling on here, I think it normally happens on diet threads as people lose their motivation after a while and then when they're ready to have a fresh start they often join a new thread. I was most surprised by the loss of Kitty though as she was such a constant presence and then just dropped off the face of the earth. I really hope she's ok.

MrP - Your post about your daughter made me laugh. What are teenage girls like?! It doesn't feel so long ago that it was me with the lotions and potions. My parents used to go crazy! So jealous of your daughter getting another few weeks in Spain. I don't think I know anyone with their own place abroad, certainly not that I'm close to. I should have chosen my friends more wisely .

Ahhh you're a fellow Yorkshire Lass! Amazing! I love it here. I've done the Great North Run a few times but won't be ready to run a half by September, so I'm hoping May next year is more achievable. Do you run competitively? You seem to know what you're doing!

How has Mrs Boasty got it out there on FB that she has a secret admirer? Did she have a status about it? That's pathetic.

I agree that's probably why there are dwindling numbers. It's such a shame. I agree about Kitty. I'm just worried incase something has happened. She was such a supportive, kind poster and helped keep the thread alive! I really hope she is ok wherever she is.

Row - It sounds like you're doing really well! Soon close to the 13s now . Keep up the good work.

I reckon it's not long until your daughter takes over the bathroom. Is she still in junior school, or is she now in senior school? I think that makes a difference and they suddenly grow up .

I agree that it's sad about WW lady. We've all been there and it's not a fun place to be .

Things are good here. 12 stone 5 today but bang in the middle of another awful TOTM. I have managed quite a few gym sessions over the past 10 days so I'm feeling pleased. Just need to keep going!

Biked home with Wwlady today and she came clean. We both started at 98.5 kilo. I'm 94.5 today. Wwlady is 101 kilo.

Oh the poor lady. I think we've all been in her position and it's a horrible feeling.

too hot here ladies!
Not moving far from the sofa-even the fridge is safe.

I'm definitely thinner as people are noticing. And I bought lots of junk on Fri as I normally do and hardly touched it. I don't need it all I can only pick one thing. I've always struggled with that and I seem to be getting the hang of it!

How are you two doing? Wonder if chicken is getting ready for Britney?

Seriously Row, why would you mention Britney? You know I'm still gutted right?

That's an amazing achievement Row. Well done! That's great that people are noticing the weight loss too. Are you feeling better for it?

How are you getting on MrP? Enjoying this amazing sunshine?

I'm very boring here. Same weight. Crappy week (the kids have been acting up so I'm literally getting 2-3 hours of broken sleep a night; we can't go away to a wedding of one of our best friends in a few weeks as my DD just won't take a bottle; I've done something to my foot and am struggling to put any weight on it etc). To make myself feel better though I've booked a spray tan for the end of the week (I tan really well usually, but have grown up a lot the past few years and am now really worried about skin cancer so I've been sticking to factor 50 this summer!). I joined a thread in Style & Beauty in an effort to be less of a frump . Just need to lose these pesky lbs!!!

Coffee I sincerely apologise for my Britney slip!

Have strayed into style and beauty once or twice. Scary place.

I dress like a uni student. Currently wearing yellow giraffe t shirt,denim shorts,blue socks with yellow ducks and pink and black trainers. About to dye my rapidly greying hair ginger. Or so the box thinks.

Bought some faded black jeans for a tenner in the sale yesterday. Bargain I thought. And in a 20. Forgot I'm a 16/18.

Weigh in Sunday!

Enjoy your weekend ladies!

14st 1lb. So close. If I lose 2lb this week I'll be under the magic 14 !

Hi Coffee and Row,
Hope all well and that your foot is on the mend Coffee. Row how did the weigh in go - did you manage to get under 14 yet?
All good here and have got back into exercise in the last week as the weather is more conducive. I've also tried to cut back on the booze a bit the last few days so will pop on the scales tomorrow and see if it's made any difference.

In other news I also veered into Style and Beauty and in particular one thread about how to look expensive in autumn. Before I knew it I was sucked in to the recommendations and ended up buying an expensive (for me) coat. It was too big when it came but they didn't have any smaller sizes online but when I took it back to a store they managed to track a smaller size down for me in another branch so I am picking it up tomorrow. I am very excited as it's a lovely coat - will report back on it. The trouble with those threads is when people start getting excited about products and clothing I end up buying things I don't need. I bought a uniqulo dress everyone was raving about and haven't worn it yet but I think it will be nice for work in Autum.

ps Row if you're still in touch with Chicken can you get an update on how britney went especially the meet n greet bit!

For some reason I haven’t had any notifications that there were updates 😭. How are you both doing? Did you get under 14 stone Row? I really hope you’re doing well!

Oooo how lovely MrP. What’s the coat like? Amazing about the clothes size! I’m very jealous. Sadly I have bought clothes lately and the size I thought would be big on me is far too tight 😢. It’s a horrible feeling.

I bet Britney was amazing! Although some reports I read said she wasn’t great because she “didn’t acknowledge the crowd” 🤣.

MrP, haven't heard from chicken in a whole. She sounded really busy last time she was in touch.

Coffee, no. Stuck at 14st 1. Still trying to be good.

How are you both?

I'm sorry. That sucks. Hopefully it'll just take another week or two and you'll get under 14 stone.

I'm ok. Still losing the same 1-2lbs then regaining it. I'm 12 stone 4.5 today . I really want to get under 12 stone. It feels so close yet so far! I've been to the gym a few times but it's just not going very well, mostly due to complete exhaustion from the lack of sleep. Hopefully I'll get a bit of exercise in this weekend to counteract the pizza we're having with friends tomorrow night .

Hope you both have a lovely weekend x

Scales this morning couldn't decide between 13 13 and 14 0.

I'll take either 😆

Yay! That’s amazing news. Hope you can stick at that weight over the next few weeks, or even lose a little more .

I am down another pound. Small small small improvements. I’ve also knocked 3 mins of my 5k time compared with a month ago, so hopefully my fitness is improving. It still takes me 12 mins longer than pre-pregnancy though !

Hi both, glad you're both losers this week! I am still fighting the good fight but a very boozy bank holiday weekend has scuppered any losses for me this week.
I haven't done much exercise either but will get back into the swing of it all next week hopefully.
My coat is lovely - a trench coat with lovely detailing. Can't wait until it turns a bit colder and I can start wearing it without feeling silly.
Feel a bit sad that summer is nearly over and I wish I'd had more time off. Going to see if I can take a day off next week and do something nice.

Hi both! Hope you’re doing well. The coat sounds lovely MrP. Sadly it will be winter before we know it and you’ll get to wear the coat (not sad that you get to wear the coat, obviously, I’m just gutted that summer is over ). Did you manage to take a day off?

Very little to report here. My weight suddenly shot up one day but has since come back down a little. It was just really odd because it was after a few days of eating well, gyming and not TOTM. I just have such a long way to go, it’s disheartening to stay in the same place (I.e. around 12-5 give or take). I’m panic buying work clothes that I can actually fit into .

Hello 😆

Good to hear from you both.

MrP like the sound of your new coat and very pleased you'll get a chance to wear it soon. I'm not summers biggest fan and am loving the start of autumn. Did you manage to get a day booked off?

Coffee, my weight gets to a certain point now then just stalls. I know that's the point I need to put extra effort in, then I don't, then I get cross with myself. My little ninja started secondary school this week so technically I have more time to myself to do stuff. Only problem is I get up at 4am for work, half hour bike there, eight hours on my feet in a manual job then half hour bike ride home at two. By then I can't be bothered!

Oo! I have news from chicken!
She met Britney, who said hi! She's following this thread and says to say hello to everyone and sent me a picture to share.

Awww wow. So lovely to see a picture of Chicken Waves at Chicken. What a total babe! Hope Britney was Ah-mazing! Also hope diet, fitness, money saving and all that stuff is going well .

Row - I totally understand how tough it is to do more when you have a physically demanding job. I imagine it’s going to get even harder when winter comes! Keep plodding along though, as small losses over time will add up.

Hope you’re doing well MrP x