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.

How's every one doing today? I had a massive food craving earlier but got through it. Feeling a bit guilty though as had a slice of cheese in my salad sandwich.

LisaJane - That all sounds really positive. Just tackle the debt (and everything else) in small chunks and try not to get too overwhelmed/disheartened. I'm afraid I have no idea about alcohol. I would imagine it would take a good few weeks for the real benefits to kick in and feel noticeable, but from what I have heard people feel SO MUCH better at that point. It's definitely worth sticking to things right now .

KittyCat - Well done on resisting the food cravings. Good work! I wouldn't think twice about the cheese slice to be honest. Of course you shouldn't make excuses all the time and constantly say "Oh this only has x calories so it doesn't count", but here and there the odd little treat (and I'm loathe to describe a sole cheese slice in a salad sandwich as a "treat") won't do you any harm. Well done on missing out the mocha. That will make a huge difference! If you can cut those out daily then that WILL add up. I'm really bad for drinking my calories (I'm addicted to ice coffees, hot chocolates, mochas things like that).

That programme sounds right up my street. I'll see if I can find it. It'll be interesting to see what the outcome is! I wonder if the fitter person will find it easier to lose the weight? I may be totally wrong and this is all very unscientific, but I can't help thinking that someone who's been body confident all their life and suddenly has to find the motivation to drop some weight should find it easier than someone who has spent years eating rubbish and unsuccessfully dieting and is already worn down by the process. I remember Katie Hopkins did a similar programme a few years ago before it became apparent what a nasty piece of work she actually is. She gained something like 3 or 4 stone to prove how "easy" it is for bigger people to lose the weight.

Hi Coffee , how are you doing today? I watched that Katie Hopkins programme too. I agree with your point about someone being fit all their life will find it so much easier to loose weight.
You like your drinks too ah? I drink Sainsburys flavoured fizzy water. Only 20 calories per litre. For a treat I get to drink two Pepsi Max a day. I can't drink more because of the caffeine (Not good for anxiety.). I know people say it isn't good for you but it's my calorie free treat. I did try the caffeine free diet Pepsi (TMI alert.) but it gave me the runs!

I'm doing ok thanks , how are you doing?

I've been trying to make my millions by selling old textbooks, books and DVDs on "We buy any book". So far I've offered 17 books/DVDs and they're offering to pay me a total of £7.16 . I can pay off the mortgage now and buy that super yacht...

I've managed to do ok diet-wise today. Not perfect (some chocolate and a few jelly babies), but made a good smoothie with lots of spinach and healthy stuff in and am having tuna steak and vegetables for dinner (not so great for the bank balance that one!).

Ha ha, that's crazy that the caff-free one gave you the runs. You would have thought the ones with caffeine in are worse in that respect?! I know diet drinks like that aren't great, but I'm sure two a day is fine...especially if you're having them in lieu of other sugary/fatty/"bad" foods. I used to be addicted to Pepsi Max and flavoured Diet Cokes (especially the cherry flavoured one!). I weaned myself off them a few years ago when I was super healthy, but over the years I've just started eating more unhealthy snacks or drinking other bad drinks in their place.

I've set the TV to record Fit to Fat to Fit .

I hope your day is going well!

I hope everyone else is having a good week too x

Hi Bored. Yes, best not to open the box of biscuits or have them in the house, just regift! In terms of class recommendations I think you just have to find one similar. There's bound to be some sort of dance class. I myself like step, aerobics or yoga. I don't like anything that requires much co-ordination as I have none.

Hi Coffee. Good idea to add chia seeds to smoothies. I certainly add them to muesli. I store all my nuts and seeds in lovely labelled jars! Makes me feel very virtuous! Glad to hear pregnancy progressing well - when are you actually due?

For progs re weight loss, I like Fat Families or Fat Doctor (on Youtube channel OnlyHuman)

Wrong: I think you get the gold star! Incredible amount of exercise and good progress too on the money and alcohol fronts!

Hi Lisa, Great to hear that thing went well with StepChange. When you say "feel better" after stopping alcohol - well alcohol is a depressant so it takes a few days for the fog to lift. It then depends. If you're like me, I was just happy and relieved I'd made the decision to quit. Some people struggle more with cravings. Physically, you will notice some changes over a number of weeks - your skin will be less dry and less red (if these have been issues). You will get some healthy colour back. You will lose weight (unless you compensate with more food). You will get up more easily in the morning...keep a diary of how you feel and you will see!

Haha like the sounds of your Fat/Food Porn, Kitty! Yeah reminded me too of the Katie Hopkins prog. And a bit of cheese or other fat is good at mealtimes! Stops you getting hungry. And by the way I drink 2 litres of Pepsi Max every day and am living to tell the tale!

Coffee - anyone eating spinach must be serious about their health! Good work!

I'm just trundling on...had my period and my bowels have been a little unusual due to the increased fruit and veg...

Hello all kitty I wouldn’t worry about a slice of cheese, you need some fat in a healthy diet.
The tv show sounds amazing but we don’t have Lifestyle, I wonder if it’s online....
I’m also on dry Jan and not feeling any benefits yet!
I’ve had an okay day: had a smoothie for breakfast (oats, blueberries, banana, kale and cherries with a small scoop of nuts) and a small portion of vegan butternut squash risotto with olives and fresh tomatoes for lunch, added some vegan bacon for protein. Dinner will be sweet potato and lentil stew, DH will have lots of crusty bread with his and I shall try to resist!!
Snack was the leftover smoothie I didn’t drink for breakfast and three crackers with broad bean hummus on.
I’m back down two pounds, still higher than I started tho.

My first weigh-in, and a bit of a failure My goal was to be at the same weight I was on Christmas Day, which was 14st. Scales showed 14st2 this morning, so I have put on 2lbs over the hols. But it's not a lot, considering how relaxed I was about food - I kept up my gym sessions, which must have helped. Goal for the end of January is just for the scales to say 13 something. But I'm hoping for 13st10.

Chicken - How are things going today? I'm sorry about your period and weird bowels. Hopefully it will all get better soon! The bowels may not be a bad thing if the fruit and veg is making you more regular.

Ha ha, yes I feel very virtuous having the spinach . When I can face eating salads I tend to make them with spinach leaves rather than lettuce, as I hate most lettuce. Can't say I've eaten a salad for a while though .

I'm due Valentine' Day, so just under 5 weeks to go. Really hope the time passes quickly, but I have a feeling it will keep dragging.

Peonies - Good work with the smoothie! Sounds lush! The meals also sound really nice too, and very healthy! Are you following a vegan diet? Or just taking inspiration from vegan recipes?

Well done with the 2lb loss too. Just keep at it .

Do - I'm sorry about the small gain. I know how disheartening it can be. At least it is a VERY small gain and will hopefully come off easily. I think aiming to be 13 stone something by the end of January is a good target. Best of luck!

I'm trying to have another goodish day diet-wise and then get a little more exercise. Nothing adventurous, just keeping moving and going for a short walk. It's amazing how much of a struggle even that is!

Hi, I'm hoping to join. Money and weight are the two things that I need to get a grip on once and for all. A change in work means my income has dropped significantly and I was already in debt, so need to get my head in the frugal game and start sorting myself out. I'm also a yo-yo dieter currently back to a BMI of 32 and needing to lose about 4 st.

Food and spending are the two things that I have binged on all my life and I want to try and finally get myself in order. I turn 40 in 2019 and I feel like I've already wasted the last two decades worrying about this stuff. I want it fixed once and for all.

In spite of lower income, I've booked counselling on the insistence of long-suffering DH. I've also bought my first dog in a bid to get out and about as I love walking, I just need the motivation.

Hoping for a brighter 2018. I'm feeling daunted, but begin in the morning.

Welcome kinky sounds like you’ve made some great changes already!

I’ve changed my step goal on my Fitbit to 20000 per day. This has already forced me to go for a couple of evening walks to hit the target. It was inspired by an Instagram weight loss person who transformed herself by doing3 workouts per week plus walking a minimum of 20000 steps a day.

Hello all, could I please join? I've resolved to sort my shit out this year, especially my eating habits. For the last two weeks I've managed to stick to three healthyish meals a day with no snacking in between and no alcohol on weeknights. The first two weeks of a diet are always relatively easy though and I really really want this to be a way of eating that I stick to for the rest of my life so similarly to kinky I'm feeling quite daunted.

Thanks peonies . We're on puppy quarantine until he's cleared to go out, so I'm lucky to be doing 100 steps a day! I need to move more in the house next week. 20000 steps should certainly have a fast impact! Isn't that about 8 miles a day?

blat it is unnerving. I've had yet another difficult few months and food really is my crutch. Finding healthy coping mechanisms has eluded me these past 3 and a bit decades, so that's what I have to try and train myself to change. I'm going to crack out the crochet as that helps me to avoid snacking to an extent. 3 meals a day is my aim too and well done on managing that so far!

Welcome Kinky! Congratulations on your new dog! Hopefully the counselling will prove to be a sound investment. You're in good company, many of us here struggle with food and money. (And some of us are struggling or have struggled with alcohol too). And re "wasting" past 2 decades - it's only too late if you don't start now. And sounds like you're ready to start chipping away at the issues.

Peonies - well done on the 20k steps - that's v impressive! Is that about 10 miles a day?!!

Welcome Blat! You are in the right place. We all here are sorting our shit out. And keeping it sorted for the rest of our lives. One day at a time and all that.

Well, I went on my first outing with the ramblers today! 3.3 miles only but was uphill and stuff! Felt tired when I got back and I think I will sleep well tonight! My weight is stuck at 11stone exactly so I am in the process of shaking things up a bit to get it moving again. Had my big delivery of meat from MuscleFoods so have a well stocked fridge and freezer.

Hope you are all keeping up the good work!

Thanks chicken The rambling sounds like fun.

Kinky - I'm sure playing with a puppy burns some calories, right? What breed is he?

I didn't have a great day yesterday tbh. Was ravenous all afternoon and ended up nibbling on a few bits before and then after tea. Nothing hugely unhealthy but it wasn't necessary and I'm annoyed with myself. The culprits are pretty easy to identify though: not eating enough lunch plus an alcoholic drink in the afternoon
. Need to avoid both in the future.

Thanks Chicken. It's going to take some real fighting to get myself sorted, but my health is now so bad I really don't have a choice. If I want to continue to function, I have to sort myself out. I've always fancied trying the ramblers, although now I have the puppy (who is a ball of energy that will not tire out) I'm sure I will start upping the steps and getting out more. That's why I wanted him - to be able to walk around the countryside with some company.

blat cockapoo - posh mongrel!! Although really he is a crocopoo as he's all teeth and biting at the moment. At least you understand what's triggered you. I find evenings hard, that's why I want to start doing crochet again. I learned when my DD was really ill to give me something to occupy me during long hospital stays rather than just drinking too many coffees and eating lots of Costa cakes. I'd stopped a job where I was working 70-80 hour weeks and literally had no hobbies, so I used YouTube and, with a lot of swearing, managed to get it down. It does help as your hands are occupied, but it doesn't stop you thinking about what you fancy to eat .

Your dog sounds really cute kinky

20,000 steps is about 8.5 miles according to my Fitbit. I am trying to do that and also spin class 2-3 times per week and a lunchtime session lifting heavy free weights with a PT.
still same weight ... 11 pounds from where I want to be. Ah well, persistence!!

Talking of dogs, I went out walking with a friend and his new puppy today! Puppy has only just started going outside now that it's 16 weeks old and had all the jabs and stuff. Then I did a massive tesco shop and am at home now catching up on laundry and organisation. Will be having a shower and doing some food prep and try and get an early night. I think I'll sleep well with all that fresh air!

One thing I am finding about puppy ownership is it costs £££. There's so many bits! It does feel like having a baby. I think I finally have everything so the serious belt tightening starts here. 3 days of healthy eating and so far, so good. I rejoined SW, but just online, as I need the structure.

Hey everyone, hope you're surviving in the snow.

Yesterday (Monday) I was 10st 13 and today I was 10st 12. It's great to be back in the 10s especially after being stuck at 11st for so long.

Mind you, back in the day I would have been HORRIFIED!!!! to be much over 9stone so there's still a way to go. Nearly 11st at my height is too much. I thought I looked ok in the mirror the other day but I saw myself on a video taken today and I still have a right tummy to get rid of! I feel I still look a bit frumpy rather than elegant or, even, sexy!

Founds an even better high protein ice-cream than Whey-Hey...it's called Halo Top and sold by Tesco. Comes in bigger tubs though so you have to be more disciplined with portion control. Better flavours tho.

How's everyone else doing?!

Hi chicken is halo top made with dairy or is it dairy-free?
I’m stuck at the same weight too, although last night I worked until 1130pm and there was pizza and cake in the common room, ate 3 slices of veggie pizza and two piece of shortbread :(
Did 45 min spinning class today after work and made my 20000 steps. Have circuits tomorrow 7-745am and then PT session at lunch 1-2pm. Breakfast will be a green smoothie with oats and small handful of nuts in and lunch will be roast veggies, hummus and a corn wrap.

Well done Chicken!

Thanks Row! - How are you getting on?

Peonies - a game of 2 halves for you then! Just forget it and move on. You've more than made up for it. Maybe keep some healthy snacks at work so you don't get caught short again.

The Halo Top has dairy in it. I think the non-dairy ones have sugar. I guess if it was dairy free and sugar free it would be vile!

Done lots of meal prep tonight - green smoothies (celery, cucumber, apple) plus low fat sausages, bacon and baked beans and wholemeal bagels and tuna & sweetcorn. That's breakfast and lunch until the end of the week. Dinner just need chucked together - meat and veg basically.

Hello all, and well done to peonies for the exercise, chicken for all the meal prep and kinky for sticking with the healthy eating

I've been doing OK, all things considered (stupid hours and lots of stress at work). My plan was to stick to three meals and no snacks every day, and no alcohol on school nights and I've stuck to that, more or less. The thing I've been falling down on is milky drinks at night which I've been having to relax me and help me sleep but I should really count them as a snack.. tbf they are better than the glass of wine or whisky o was having before but I'm going to try to avoid them and stuck to herbal tea for the next few days at least.

Hi everyone, just checking in. Still plodding along! I had a few bad days since I posted (pizza one night, shop-bought curry another night and generally lots of chocolate) but I have now had two good days where I have eaten less sugar and have just had veggie meals for lunch/dinner (home made cauliflower, potato and pea curry then veggie chilli). I find it hard when I'm home all day getting bored!

Welcome to the newbies .

Kinky - Exciting about the puppy! How lovely. I am sure he will help get you out and about walking more. I'm really sorry to hear your DD was so poorly. It must have been so stressful for you .

Peonies - I'm sorry you still have 11lbs to go. At least it's not too much to lose if you're realistic about timeframes. As you say, persistence will be the key!

Chicken - Wahoo on getting to 10 stone 12. That's fab! I am very jealous. I totally get where you're coming from about your previous self being horrified, as back in the day I would have been disgusted with myself for getting to double figures. I actually struggled with eating disorders many many years ago (15 - 19 years ago!) and I was half the weight I am now. Madness. You just have to focus on your highest weight and how much you have achieved since then, because you have done so well. I'm really sorry that you still don't feel happy, having seen the video of yourself .

Blat - Cut yourself some slack. You are doing so well to have cut down on the alcohol. A few milky drinks to get you through all that is understandable .