What was your light bulb moment? I've been a real idiot and I've had my wake up call

[T1gerEye]

I've put on a lot of weight this year. An impressive 3 stone and I was a little overweight before I did that so today sees me looking at 14 stone something

The death of both my parents this year meant that for some reason I felt I could literally stuff my face with cake, Doritos and pizza. Oh and chocolate. Was eating as if sometime had told me it was calorie free

Anyway, I've had my wake up call. I got a good deal on a private blood test subscription service and thought I'd try it as just a one off as I was idly wondering what my vitamin D levels were. The fact other tests were offered too was a bonus - I didn't think too much about those. Until I got the results ..

Vitamin D low. Iron low. I have tipped myself (just) into high cholesterol. Again with the CRP test - too high. Globulin is over what it should be. On top of this, I frequently have acid reflux - which I've never had before - some back pain and I'm a bit out of breath if I walk too fast. My stomach is terrible. Just an apron of fat. I can only wear loose clothes but I kid myself they're stylish as I buy them from Hush. Nothing looks nice on me.

Amazing! what a fool I've been. I spoke to my doctor who isn't too concerned from a clinical point of view as my results are just a bit off kilter but I know this has been caused by me basically eating for England these past months. Maybe not the vitamin D - I dunno!

Anyway that's my wake up call. I have children - one still young at 12 - and I'm in my 40s. I'm hoping I've had enough of a shock to actually stick to something now

I've started the 800 calorie blood sugar thingy. I need some fairly speedy results to feel better but don't want to do any diet not nutritionally sound so this ticks the boxes for me. I'll do the 8 weeks (please god I stay the course!) and is like to see 2 stone off for Christmas which I know is achievable with dedication.

Anyone fancy chipping in? Joining me? With any diet. Or I'll just ramble to myself and see how it goes

Oh and what was your lightbulb moment?

Hello to all,

Yet to catch up on all posts.
7lbs down, wow! That's a fab start.

Last 4 days(my first 4 days), I have been around the 1100 mark calorie wise and 60g carbs wise, 45 mins walk

Today was OK, until an hour ago, when I ended up eating some apple crumble that DD and I made earlier. So, today isn't great with carbs. But, I did walk 5kms.

Tomorrow is a new day!

I am treating this first 7 days as my pre 800 week

Will aim for 800 from Wednesday onwards

Sounds like a great start @houseRefurb - and I love apple crumble so much!

Day 8 ... DONE. I've gone over the 800 but totally needed to today. Principles adhered too though and still well under 1200 cals so I'll take that

Well done @T1gerEye!! 7lb is amazing. Are you finding it easier to stick to now you're in more of a routine?

I'd be interested in the blood tests too, will have a look at the Thriva website. I know there's a private place near us that does a health check (including bloods) for around the £200 mark but I simply don't have that to spare!! And going to the GP (and then back for the results) is such a faff if I don't have anything specifically 'wrong' with me. Last time I had blood tests it was because of my ridiculously heavy periods, but they didn't find anything out of normal levels, so there was nothing the GP could do anyway.

I would love to say that I'll be down a few lb every week, but I don't think it will happen! AF started Friday and I have eaten chocolate and not much else went into town with the DC today and they were loathsome, whingy whiny moany children, and DP was hungover and in an awful mood. I ended up sobbing in a cafe when we went for lunch and only eating half of my food..... maybe that will save me a few calories?!

Oh Ruby that sounds so tough . Cut yourself some slack. Who cares if you only lose, say, 1lb every other week? As long as it’s going in the right direction overall you’re still improving your health etc.

When the kids don’t stop and your husband is being grumpy and you’re getting your period? I’d sob in a cafe too!

I have been into town today with the kids, they’re on school holidays (Australia) I took them to a cafe and a passion fruit slice was staring me in the eyes. I had half and I’ve put the other half in the fridge!

I’ve found that I can be pretty single minded with what I’m eating but I also need to be flexible!

Good luck everyone

I’m trying to get back on track after a boozy weekend 🙄 how on earth the scales can show a 5llb gain over a weekend I will never know. Water retention etc I suppose but it feels flippin depressing but also unsustainable not to allow weekends off from time to time 😬😬

Oh I hate that @thewinkingprawn - leaves you all deflated and wondering why you bothered. However it's not 5lbs of fat so it'll soon drop off

I have been craving sugar so so much today. Ugh. Stayed strong but no idea how.

Food for today

Greek yogurt
Strawberries
Pear
Protein powder

Quinoa salad
Hummus
Quorn

Clementine

Roasted veg
Marinated tofu
Spoonful of cream cheese

Cals for day .. 1096

DAY 9 ... DONE

I gave into my sugar cravings in my defence I still feel flipping awful. And just when I thought I'd have a nice relaxing evening, DTS1 wet the bed so I've had to sort all that out..... aaarrrgghhhh.

At least I haven't done any more sobbing (thank you to everyone for their sympathy!) - still trying to work out how to afford £60 for a new coat out of next month's budget as I really do need a new rain/ winter coat. Fairly sure I have one in the loft somewhere but am too fat for it

I’m a pound down today. I’m glad! I really didn’t have many carbs yesterday. I had prawns for lunch and they were lush!

I think I’m taking the kids to the park in a bit. I hope we don’t have too many squabbles!

Well done @DownUdderer and I hope the park trip wasn't too traumatic!!

Just so much rain here, I want to get the DC out in the garden, to the park etc but then the heavens open. It's manageable for short trips but for long ones we all end up soaking and miserable! (Well me more than them until I get a new raincoat!!) As soon as my cashback clears in my account I'm buying some waterproof boots, Amazon have some for about £25 which look ok.

Thriva sent me a £25 off offer @T1gerEye, which takes my recommended test package down to £54 - would you say it's worth going for? I just don't know if I can justify it when (presumably) I could get the same from the GP. Having said that my local surgery is so busy that who knows when I could get an appointment! Perhaps the results would be another light bulb moment for me?!

Aarrrgghhhhh. DTS1 has been a grumpy, bad tempered horror all day, culminating in a massive meltdown and him throwing something heavy at the TV - it is smashed beyond repair - I am so, so cross at him. We've literally only had it a month and it cost £1500, more than I wanted to pay but DP really liked this model

I am incredibly fed up with him, he's a whinger at the best of times but has surpassed himself today. I'm still feeling crap myself and could really have done without this; it looks like it's covered by our insurance but DP will need to check when he gets home as it's in his name. And of course he is (understandably) going to be furious.....

Dinner is on already here, DTS1 can have a very early bedtime and see if that helps. I can't believe that all my budgeting/ dieting plans have been thrown out by his bad temper; I was shaking afterwards and needed a bit of chocolate! I've told him he's not getting the bike he wanted for his birthday, partly because he needs to learn that he can't behave like that, and partly because we can't afford it if we now have to pay the insurance excess instead.

Hope everyone else is having a better day!

goes off to look up what age children can go to boarding school

Woman down! Woman down!

Various reasons today led to being totally off piste. Lunch out, snacks, a dinner I couldn't get out of

I'll return tomorrow

Hi, the trip to the park was pretty good thanks! I’m so sorry about your tv! I would be upset in your shoes.

It’s my TOTM and I’m not sure how I’m going to do today. Honestly I’m not sure if I feel hungry or if it’s psychological. I’m heading out in a hike in a bit so I know that’ll burn a few calories.

I think this thread is my wake up call.

My lightbulb moment was facing having to buy yet more clothes, despite only having bought some at the start of the year. And realising that going up yet another size would see me at being a size 22/24.

When I plucked up the steel required to weigh myself, I realised I was over 15 stone, which when you’re just over 5 ft is not great. I’ve been doing fast 800 for nearly 4 weeks and have lost 21 lbs so far. Must keep going and not lose focus!

Yelloworanges that’s a great loss! Well done!

I’ve done my hike it was all up a massive hill, I had forgotten what that path was like!! It was good exercise but I couldn’t get 10k steps! Only 8k. I know I’ve done plenty of too ing and fro ing today so I’m sure I’ve got a good step count over all. At the top of the path I could’ve carried on to another path down the opposite side of this massive hill, but there gets a point where I know coming back up again to retrace my steps would be too much!

That's an amazing loss @YellowOranges!

Are you recovered after your hike @DownUdderer?!

My weight loss has stalled a bit after a terrible week with DTS1's behaviour and DTS2's vomiting bug. I've been mainly living off toast and marmalade; I mean I like Paddington Bear and everything but don't exactly want his figure

I’m so sorry Ruby and T1gerEye - be kind to yourselves .

Ruby - My parents have a friend who went to boarding school aged 4. I always thought that sounded horrendous, but as I grow older I can see it has some merit ! Jokes aside, that is so so sh*t about the TV. I would be livid. How old is he? My almost 3 year old is having epic meltdowns at the moment. Funnily enough, he also assaulted our TV with a fork the other day (!)...and I’m also considering not giving him his bike for his upcoming birthday . I find it so tough and struggle not to reach for the sugary snacks when the kids are —constantly— kicking off.

DownUdderer - Well done for the hike! That’s all going to help with overall health and fitness and weight loss .

I’ve not had a great few days. Nothing horrendous, but the kids have been sleeping terribly so I’ve been getting only a few hours of broken sleep a night, then they have been constantly fighting and trying to injure themselves/destroy the place. It means I’ve eaten more sugar/snacks than I would have liked and haven’t had the energy to do even gentle exercise.

My legs are aching today!

We’ve been to the beach and it’s hot and sunny and I’m always glad to get home and relax! We were there a good couple of hours. I load up a beach cart with all our stuff and pulling that over sand should have burned a few calories!

I took breakfast with me in a cooly bag, yogurt and two babybell and I had some crackers. I’m going to wolf down some lunch in a min.

Massive congratulations on your loss, Tiger, you're doing AMAZEBALLS

I’m still sticking to 16:8, I feel like I need to acknowledge that! And just pat myself on the back! I’ve been to the supermarket this morning and I was hungry and tired and everything was jumping out at me. I reached a hand out to grab a delicious looking gourmet milkshake, but resisted. I told myself I could buy it next time if I wanted to. Lots I’d snacks that I used to gobble were prominent.

Anyway I’m rambling but I know I’ll feel better for having resisted the snacks (empty calories, that never taste as good as you think they will). I’m close to being another pound down.

How’s everyone else going?

I’m down a pound this morning! I’ve lost 10lb in 15 days. I’m happy with that. My next goal is 11st 4, that’s a stone loss.

@T1gerEye how are you going this week? Are you still doing very low calories?

I’ve had quite a good day, and I’ll have salmon and vegetables for dinner, yum.