1.5st off by September. Who is with me?

[Mondkind]

So the time has come when facing the scales means that I have given in to no longer fitting into my clothes, work or otherwise.

I'm about 2st over my ideal weight and, being a little height challenged, it shows. I now have the choice between losing weight or buying a whole new wardrobe full of clothes and I really cannot afford the latter.

My principle relies on eating less and moving more. I don't want to calorie count (bad obsession in the past), but just be more mindful. And post food plans and food swaps here.

Today I have replaced 30% of the potato for mash with carrots. Not amazing, but I'm officially starting tomorrow anyway.

Kaykay, I know what you mean, I am also very much height challenged!

I've been rather quiet the last few days as my new eating regime hasn't gone off to the best start. A combination of resudual tiredness and steroids I am taking has made me crave far too much crap food and still drink far too many sugary caffeinated drinks.

But it needs to stop now! I used to be so good at this, eating like a thin person, just having small portions etc... I don't know why my willpower to do all this is practically zero. Actually, I do - it's lack of momentum. Once in the swing it'll be easy to keep up, it's the initial steps.

So, no alcohol today. Small portions of everything. It's bacon sandwich day, so instead of 2 slices of bread and 3 rashers, I'll have 1 slice and 2 rashers. I really want all this to be small changes as I cannot handle the big diet stuff or exclusionary diets.

Also sorting my old work clothes out today - I need a more professional wardrobe for my new job in September and some of my old, slim clothes wouldn't do anymore, even if when I get back to my slim self.

Bloody hell, I've just weighed myself and I am the heaviest I've been since my student days (and as heavy as I was at the end of each of my pregnancies).

This has got to stop.

@Kaykay06 well done for what you've lost so far! It must be so difficult doing long shifts. I found my willpower got better after I lost a bit of weight, as I could see the benefit of my hard work.

I'm only 5ft and last spring I weighed 12stone 4lbs. I'm down to approx 10 stone 8lbs (I don't have scales). My motivation last year was knowing that I looked awful in photographs and I was going to a wedding. My motivation now is a holiday, but also knowing that I've done well to get to where I am now and I don't want to undo all of that.

Aw mondkind, just refresh your efforts today and see how you get on, it’s so hard changing your mindset. My biscuit issue has been wiped out as I’m not buying anything I can have with tea as I can’t control myself. Luckily the kids don’t eat biccies I like. But feel I have nothing nice to look forward to. So will set myself a treat for the weekend.

curbisdeprophet, well done on your weight loss, def need that loss to spur me on, I’m quite focussed until I’m tired or at work and hungry - because it’s so active I feel more hungry than at home so need to try and make food to fill me up and give me energy so I don’t eat the sweets etc we get as thank yous on the ward. Def good to have something to look forward to like your wedding and now holiday. Mine is my 40th in January nothing planned as such but I want the pics over Christmas to look nice and to feel great and move forward feeling healthy and being able to wear some lovely clothes for a change.

Mondkind could you try having a "cheat day", so that you're not cutting out completely all the nice stuff? I only have fizzy drinks at the weekend and find that's easier than not having any at all, so I'm less likely to crack and give up. You're so right in that once you've started the momentum keeps you going.

Well done for the loss, Curbside!

A goal is nice to work towards; I thought the start of term at a new place might help, but actually, going off clothes shopping as I have very little that actually fits me and seeing how (admittedly, cheap - I'm not hoping to wear them for long!) awful shop-bought clothes hang off my body has given me the kick up the backside I needed.

Yesterday was a good start with less alcohol, much smaller portions and only 2 cans of energy drink. My scales this morning rewarded me by showing 2lb less . I know it's not a real loss of fat, of course, but it was nice to see such an instant result.

Cheat days don't work for me; I'm an all-or-nothing person and while I'm on the loss, couldn't cope with relaxing that even for one day.

Definitely is good to see instant results! Well done!

It's taken me 15 months to lose that weight when a lot of people would probably take less than half that amount of time but I've been trying to change my lifestyle, as that will hopefully last longer. I've managed to just about get my "emotional snacking" under control, though I'm due on my period and inhaled 2 weight watchers wafer bars in 30 seconds

Down to 1 energy drink per day as of today. I'm dreading it; I didn't know just how addicted I was to the instant caffeine/ sugar hit until I tried going cold turkey at the start of the holidays and couldn't move off the sofa for being so tired.

Curbside, I'm definitely going for the lifestyle change, too. I've done the whole restrictive diet and then putting it all back on far too many times in my 20s to think it's worth it in the long term.

Portion sizes are getting better. I've managed not to have seconds at dinner time every day for the last week, which is a huge achievement for me. I'm sticking to smaller portions in general, too.

The next few weeks will involve quite a bit of eating out; that will be a big challenge as I naturally tend to go for the higher calorie options like skinny fries over chunky chips, ribs over lean steak, fried over grilled. This is where I need to make big changes as, realistically, we eat out quite a bit anyway.

Time to take up exercise again as well. Since I've stopped I have noticed my mood swings coming back and my skin being a disaster again. That should replace some of the energy I'll have lost from my daily caffeine hit, too.

Last Tuesday I was 11st 2 lb and today I'm 10 st 11 lb so that's another 5lbs I've lost. It's been a lot harder this week and I've done too much walking.

It's difficult planning around what everyone else is eating and putting up with everyone's comments. I'm really pushing myself and I'm struggling with insensitive comments. Dieting is hard.

Another family member is also dieting yet I feel like it's a competition between us that I'm winning. It is not supportive at all.

Mondkind I found buying smaller plates made a huge difference with better portion control. My old dinner plates were ridiculous.

Can I join in this thread, please? Just back from having my blood pressure taken to get a repeat pill prescription and the nurse told me that I need to lose weight in order to stay on the pill.
Mortified.
I knew that some weight had crept on, but kept assuring myself that I could just sort it out next week/when the weather cools down/when BBQ season ended...
So I am 12 st 6lbs, and need to be a good half stone lighter by September (and then another two stone lighter eventually, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it).

Plan is more exercise, smaller portions, less wine. I already eat pretty well, and don't really snack, but my portions are huge and I am a bit of a wine bag.

Hi @CryHavoc I envy your lack of snacking
@MyShinyWhiteTeeth that's a really good tip!

I made it ro Body Combat today! Very pleased with myself! I find that the more often I go the more motivation I have to keep going. As soon as I'm out of the habit I really struggle to force myself to go. You would think paying monthly would be motivation enough

Thanks.
No need for snacks with my massive meals. But all that changes today. Smaller portions, and the dog will be walked so far he won't know what's hit him.

Body combat sounds fun. I've signed up for a kickboxing class, but that doesn't start until September. I need something I can do at home until school starts again - I think I'll search for workouts on YouTube.

I follow Emily Skye, The Betty Rocker, and Jillian Michaels in Facebook. Even though they all have programmes you have to pay to access they all regularly put free videos up. Emily Skye and The Betty Rocker are especially good for creating vidoes that don't require any equipment.

I've got really bad period pain and just want to lie on the sofa with chocolate. I'm working at home and struggling to concentrate. Starving hungry even though I only had breakfast at 8.30am!

I cracked and bought a packet of Maryland cookies

Count me in

I'm 10 stone 13. I've put on 2 lbs so a bit disappointed.

I've kept up with the exercise but can't make myself believe the weight gain is muscle. This last week I've eaten less healthily and binged on biscuits, chocolate and crisps.

I've got 13lbs to lose.

Hello all, I'm back from our big holiday.

Some good news on the diet front: I have finally kicked the energy drink habit. Went down to 1 a day over the holiday and now none at all. It was hard-going at first, but it should make a difference long-term as each can is just over 110kcal and at previously 3 a day that's almost a meal.

On the other hand there was food - a lot of it.

Well done on kicking the energy drink habit Mondkind!

Thank you, CurbsideProphet. How is everyone else getting on?

So I've weighed myself this morning and am on 10st 9lbs Started my exercise regime again and did 20min cardio this morning. Aiming for just under 10st by the end of the holiday now and for the 2st to come off by Christmas instead.

I have, however, given in and will buy a new set of work clothes in my current size. There is just no way I can fit into decent ones by the end of the holiday.

Must resist my husband, who seems hell-bent on manipulating my every step in the dieting process by constantly wanting fast food and to go out for drinks. Any ideas on the drink side? What is pretty safe and low cal?

Anybody thinking about doing the keto diet should give this a read.
www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1001446/diabetes-type-2-diet-keto-plan-weight-loss

I think I've lost 0.5 inches from my waist which is positive. I go on hols in 3 weeks, so I'm not expecting miracles before then but I'm still logging everything on My Fitness Pal and that has inspired me to be more active. I'm also using Headspace and find that the less stressed and more positive I feel in myself the less likely I am to eat rubbish / not exercise. Small victories!

11 stone - I've put on 1 lbs.

I'm really hacked off. I'd put on 2 lbs the last time as well but had been binging a bit then. I've really pushed myself the last few days but put on 1 lb.

Since Thursday I've been eating small amounts and no snacking. Plenty of exercise. Could it be muscle?

MyShinyWhiteTeeth that's why I'm going on waist and hip measuring. Weight fluctuates depending on time of day / time of the month. I used the expensive scales at my gym and the kgs didn't even match up with the stones/lbs!

I might try that. CurbsideProphet I feel so gutted to have been so resistant and tried so hard yet gained a lb. I've had a binge again tonight but tomorrow is anew day.