Fat, unfit, lazy, unmotivated. Anyone else fancy a mental, diet and fitness overhaul?

[JustStandingInTheRain]

I've just done something stupid. I reserved a place at the Manchester Marathon next year - April 2019.

Yesterday: I ate 2 chip barmcakes for my lunch. I had two burgers for my dinner. Last night I drank a bottle of wine. According to government guidelines that makes me a binge drinker.

My skin is blotchy. I've got pimples on my chest. My mouth tastes revolting. I've got zero energy - I feel so rough this morning I doubt I can get down the stairs without my heart pounding.

I'm 45 years old. Overweight, unfit, eating badly, fundamentally very lazy. Heading for diabetes and heart disease I imagine.

So the marathon. I'm not going to tell anyone in real life (because they'd kill themselves laughing) and I'm not going to think about it just yet. It's 50 weeks away And I need a much better frame of mind than the self-destructive lazy way of thinking that I have right now. I'm vaguely thinking I'll start with some beginners yoga (YouTube Yoga with Adrienne) and meditation (Headspace app).

And sort out my diet. I like Michael Mosley's books and I like Mediterranean-style food, so that lends itself to things like vegetables, good fats, meat, fish, lentils, beans. That's doable - it has to be tasty and realistic.

Then I'll download the couch to 5k app I guess. Then maybe do some of the 5k park runs. Then think about 5k to 10k.

I might not do the marathon in 50 weeks time. I might not even like running. The point is the end goal and the deadline and having something to work towards. I've also fancied trying dance classes or ice skating, but have been too lazy to do them.

Anyone up for joining me in a mental, diet and fitness overhaul? You don't need to sign up to anything stupid like I have We can share motivation tips for when we don't feel like exercising or recipes.

Signed up for Manchester half today.

I am planning on walking and jogging

Doing with a friend who is very slender, can do a 5k and will have had a baby 6 weeks before

Ooh excellent Mrsfloss. Will be rooting for you! I'm tempted myself but I'm not sure couch to half marathon in six months is achievable.

I took my dog out tonight for the first trial of the dog-running belt/lead and we did the first couch to 5k session. Surprisingly, during the running bits of the session, my dog trotted along beside me quite sensibly (well apart from the first 1 minute where she thought I was playing a game and she jumped up at me all excited). After that she saved her sniffing for the walking sections. I enjoyed it and didn't find it too difficult, but I wouldn't have been able to run for more than the 1 minute blocks.

Good diet day today, and I also did a Headspace session.

Not the best day today - I've snacked a bit too much: plain popcorn, dark chocolate, roasted chickpeas. Not too unhealthy, but a lot of them

No exercise or Headspace today either, so I've declared today a "rest day"

Me neither. Im just far too occupied with coursework to spend time thinking about food as well. I think i will lurk for a while, then come back with my full focus once damn essays are done.

Although i will try to keep eating salad every day, but a sugar and carb withdrawal on top of uni stress might break me 😢

Hi ladies . Got the sign off from the doctor yesterday to start exercising again so did 10 mins of 30 day shred to test the waters and feel great. How is everyone else doing ?

Hi guys can I join?
Really your positive outlooks will help keep me motivated.

I'm not fat or particularly overweight to look at but I have found since xmas I've gone up a dress size! I'm only 5ft tall and find I can't carry excess weight well. My ideal weight is 8.5 stone and I'm currently 9.4 usually hanging around 9 st.

I'm calorie counting ( the best way for me by far and I'm a bit of an expert at it now!) and exercising every day.

I kick started myself this week and have managed to eat 1000 cals a day and walked or cycled at least 4 miles with my dog. Cycled 8 miles yesterday- my bum hurts today!
My Fitbit is my best at the mo but god I'm so hungry today.
Looking forward to to my tea later.

Ooooooh i weighed myself this morning. Lost 2lbs!! My yogurt breakfast and a protein with salad lunch plan is working so far despite the full pizza i ate for dinner followed by crisps need to stick to this for now. Off to do more essay writing. Woe is me! Have a good day everyone

Hi guys, can I play too? I might be shit at updating on the thread but I'll try. Have so much weight to lose - lost tonnes before but has crept back on. Same old song and dance eh?

Have just signed up for the Nuffield Healthy Weight Programme. Anyone tried it?

Wow congratulations Comeagain - that's a good loss isn't it with the salad strategy.

Welcome new people I'm impressed with the 8 mile bike ride.

I did the 2nd session of C25K yesterday with the dog. Again she trotted along next to me all sensible and not lunging off to the side - she's like a different animal! I do like having my little running partner

I run with my dog off the lead. She's a Fab running partner and a good excuse to stop to look for lost tennis balls!

I've stuck to 1000 cals all week. It's been tough and I'm very hungry.
Walked the dog at least 3 miles every day and plan on running as far as my runners knee will allow tomorrow.

Out of interest what kinds of things are you eating in that 1000 calories?

My food diary mon and tues

Wednesday

Today. I aim for 1000 but don't panic if I go over slightly.
I'm a non fussy vegetarian which helps keep the cals down. But boy I can drink like a fish and have only had 1.5 glasses of wine all week!

Feel free to ask for explanations about my food diary.

I think I'll start a food plan/diary - it's too easy for the extras to creep in otherwise. It's interesting to see what others are eating.

No exercise for me today, apart from the usual dog walks that is. Diet was pretty good today but I did cave and have a small glass of wine this evening after a particularly busy day at work. Still, I resisted a takeaway and/or chocolate so I'll forgive myself the wine!

Can I join?
I am feeling motivated cos my uncle has just retired, is super fit, and couldn't be happier traveling around and relaxing. I want to retire and be healthy and fit to enjoy those years. I have started walking and cutting down on eating crap. Been having salads and snacking less. Started on Sunday and I am terrible for loosing the will power in less than two weeks...
so I'll be popping round here to support and be supported!

Oh yes, I am terrible with wine, specially at the weekend. And cider if its sunny!

yikes! I have a small glass of hmmm vimto or was it ribena! Only 70 cals tho and (according to fitbit here) I've used 1900 cals today and consumed 1093 win win or should i say wine wine!

the food diary is ace. I find it helps keep me on track and motivated throughout the day. If i plan at breakfast whats for tea I can work out how many calories I can either eat or save (for tea) throughout the day.
If I want to go over I make sure I add an extra mile to the dog walk.
It's no big deal. PLUS - there's nothing wrong with being hungry. It's shit but its not forever.

Weekends are hardest when the family are about and the impromptu suggestions of calorie high temptations are floating about. Oh and the wine and gin, oh gin, and wine!!

Please can I join? OP you have just described me (without the marathon bit!). I used to be quite active but then got very anaemic and have lost all motivation to exercise and eat healthily- need to do something! Thanks for the kick to get going.

How you doing op? I do keto based plan so low carb. I loose consistently and am loosing a bit much through running so add lentils and oats on tracing days then back to strict keto if feel I have over indulged.

Where you up to with excercise

Really loving the MFP, it's made a huge difference to my snacking. Will do a weigh- in on Monday. Feeling a bit sore from the 30 day shred, but onwards and upwards

Hello. Do you mind if I join? Just spent a small fortune on new 'fat' clothes because most of the existing ones look awful. I've lost count of how many times I've said I'd do something about my weight but not managed to stick to it. I did 2 weeks of Couch 2 5K in the Easter hols but lost my motivation when term started.

Op, so impressed about the marathon place - that's an amazing target to have!

Ooh get started again. It's a long slow process of getting healthy and loosing weight.
I'm obsessing about chips this weekend. Resisting yesterday and today have decided to not have chips but have a day off calorie counting and planning to go to our local Turkish place for an evening meal later.
I've 'saved' a good 4000 cals this week! It's been hard but will attack next week with the same motivation.
Might add a few more cals to my daily allowance (but not eat chips!) in exchange for walking an extra mile each day!
I didn't get out to run on Friday. The weather was far to rubbish!

Welcome new people

Purplemissy, I've got clothes ranging in about six different dress sizes - representing how much I've gained/lost/gained over the years!

So after my first week, I've had a 4lb weight loss and an inch off my waist. I'm pleased with that as I've not really felt that deprived food wise. I started keeping a food diary and have been mostly eating meals from the 8-week blood sugar book, but more calories. Totting it up, it's averaging about 1000-1300 calories a day, but I'm not planning to count calories going forward - I was just interested what it worked out at over the week.

I didn't do the three runs that I should have for week one of C25K. Hmm does that mean there's no way I'd stick to a proper training plan for a marathon if I can't even do 1 week of C25K!

Enjoy the rest of your [healthy] weekends everyone

I have a quorn pie in the oven and a large red wine. Don't know how many calories I'm going to consume and I don't care either!
Weigh in day tomorrow!