Anyone interested in an 8 week challenge??

[Gemi33]

Hi everyone

I have a lot of weight to lose and really really struggling. Have been on so many diets I have lost count and never seem to be able to stick to anything. I have realised that today it is exactly 8 weeks until I go on holiday and I had really wanted to lose weight and feel better about myself before then and suddenly it's coming round so quickly so I'm hoping that will help motivate me. Is anyone else interested in challenging themselves to lose as much as they can in that time??

xx

I did my first run in about 4 years today. It wasn't fast but I ran the whole way, really enjoyed it and definitely could have gone further. I thought I'd better not go too mad on my first time out! I'm looking forward to going again. Mostly I just feel happy that I can still do it and that I'm starting to feel more like my old self after dedicating 4 years completely to being pregnant and raising babies. I've entered a half in March and I'm really looking forward to training for it and running it.

Well doen Oyster! On the day of the London marathon too, good omen!!

Well done @Oysterbabe that's fantastic. How did you find it? How far did you go? Do you do any other exercise?

I'd love to get back into running, I've had brief dalliances with it and completed C25K a few times but always end up letting it slip. I'm only any good at running with other people as not mentally strong enough to push myself to keep running when alone which sounds really pathetic. Keep looking at my running trainers trying to convince myself to go out but I don't want to come back beating myself up for being crap.

65.5kg this morning and off to 6:30am CrossFit 😵

Everyone is doing brilliantly! How fantastic!?

oyster that is amazing! Well done! I know what you mean about getting yourself back. I've only had one baby but we've had a lot of change and turmoil and stress in the last 2.6 years (not because of him, he's a delight!) and I finally feel with this diet and the gym that I'm finding myself a bit more, feels good!

It doesn't sound pathetic bodge I need my sister or my husband to be my exercise pusher or I wouldn't have the confidence to get to the gym at all.

Woohooo well done FrazzledCareerWoman 6:30 session!
that's awesome!

Well done @Oysterbabe that's fantastic. How did you find it? How far did you go? Do you do any other exercise?

I only did just under 3 miles and I felt really good, like I'd been away 4 months rather than 4 years. I settled into a comfortable rhythm really quickly. I don't do any other formal exercise but I do lots of walking. I walk to and from work which is a brisk 40 minutes each way. I'm also often pushing a buggy with a baby and heavy toddler on a buggy board. I think I've retained some CV fitness. You should definitely get out, I really enjoy the peace.

Hi everyone well done! We should all choose rewards for ourselves. I haven’t bought clothes for ages (because of being wrong shape) so might treat myself to something when I reach my next milestone.

I’m down to 11st 5 so lost 3lb last week - I did slightly relax the GI rules at the weekend by having one bottle of beer fri and sat, but that’s nothing compared the glasses of wine i’d usually have. We had people over for dinner both nights and I seemed to have no problem having different food like 0% yoghurt instead of the cheesecake.. Somehow I am finally learning to say no. X

Well done Parrot!
I've just bought myself some new jeans because I was so fed up of all of mine being too big.

Well done deadparrot 3lb is incredible!! I'm made up for you!

Yay for shopping oyster I bet that was a real boost.

I've got a few things in a h&m shopping basket waiting for me to press buy but I can't do it yet. I'm going to allow it when I get to 10 stone, 4 lbs to go

Phillippe, Oyster thank you for being such supportive cheerleaders Great idea to have shopping basket ready to go - I'm going to copy you and click "buy" when I get to 11st.

Just updated the spreadsheet and it's such an interesting record of the highs and lows of this journey we're on, I see someone's weight has gone up and think "oh poor them, I know how that feels", then you see they've done well and I think 'Yay'!

Don't forget to update it, everyone!

I find buying shoes a good way to treat yourself if you're worried about spending money on clothes that won't fit for long. I just bought myself some saltwater sandals and I love them so much, they definitely spark joy.

Oyster swoon! They are truly joyful!

OMG those sandals!! LOVE!!

I am buying little "interim" clothing from charity shops.... and looking longingly at my old size 8 clothes and looking forward to the moment I am getting back into it... (not long now, I fit in my size 10s at the moment - they used to hang loos on me and I fill them to the brim now but going in the right direction....)

Such a good feeling isn't it, I'm not yet back into my pre pregnancy jeans (who are these people who are back in them 6 weeks after giving birth and what are their secrets?!) but have lost 12kg over the last 9 months and I am just one jeans size away so not far! I did manage to squeeze into some stretchy ones and very happy with that.

Just a quick check in to day that this morning I have seen the weight 59.9 kg flickering on my scale... target for this challenge for me was 59 kg by May 22 so I am reasonably optimistic that I will get there by the deadline!

OMG Viva that is completely amazing! You must feel great!

I think I pushed the GI approach to the limit yesterday - my calorie calculations have tailed off as I've been eating all these little bits and pieces of salads with lentils etc and it's really time consuming to work it all out. So I'm not sure but I think I probably had too much. Also after a mammoth 2-hour session getting my hyper DS into bed I had a glass and a half of white wine which is definitely not on the programme. Still that's hardly a binge is it. So no weight shift for me, but I'm feeling pretty happy with things and will have a really focused few days now. Onwards!

Viva that's amazing!! Well done! You must be so proud of yourself! And rightly so!
deadparrot that's definitely not a binge! And my (very fit and healthy) dh always says it's much better to allow yourself the odd treat. And long bedtime sessions can be utterly soul destroying.

oyster I love those sandals!!

FrazzledCareerWoman pregnancy /postpartum unicorns are the worst. I looked like an angry sack of spuds wearing a tablecloth my friend looked like a snake who'd swallowed a beach ball and was all floaty and lovely

And 12K is INCREDIBLE FrazzledCareerWoman

Thanks @PhillipeFellope I just can't be friends with people like that 

@VivaFrida amazing work! Sub 60 must feel so good!

Down to 11’4 💪

Yaaaasss deadparrot Well done you!

Amazing, well done

It's my wedding anniversary today and I was 11st 3 this morning, which was my goal by this date. I was 11st 3 when we had our first date. I now need to get to 10st, which was about what I was when we got married 4 years ago! My weigh in day is tomorrow but we're both off work, we're sticking the kids in nursery and going to the cinema and out for lunch. I might record today's weight which is a tiny loss 0.2lbs.

Sorry I've disappeared for a while - hello all and well done on all your brilliant losses!

Happy anniversary @Oysterbabe

I've been Slim Fast-ing for just over a week now. Down to 9stone 12.6! First time I've seen a number starting with a 9 on the scales for a long time and I'm really pleased. Hopefully still on track to make 9.10 by the end of the challenge (is it 21st May?)

Hopefully some of us will be up for another 8 week challenge afterwards? You guys have really been great at keeping me keeping on, thank you all.

Thank you phillippe and oyster and very happy anniversary. bodger it took me 4 weeks to make any progress at all so I will definitely be needing another 8 weeks! X