I don’t even recognise myself

[Bookaholic73]

In the past year (since getting married) I’ve gained about 3 stone.
I know exactly why, we went from being quite active to sitting in front of the TV most evenings and weekends, eating shit (chocolate etc).

We went out to a friends post wedding garden party this weekend (Social distanced) and when I looked at photos on Facebook I was MORTIFIED.

I know I’ve gained weight, but how did I not know I looked like that??
I didn’t even recognise myself!

So, today is Day 1 of ‘Bookaholic Gets Buff’ and I’m looking for support, advice, fellow ‘Buffers’ who would like to join in etc

I am quite active, although you wouldn’t believe it by looking at me. So it’s mainly diet I need to improve.

I’m 13st and a size 18
I’m aiming for 10st.

Are we permitted to post before photos on this forum? Fully dressed of course..

Lockdown has not been my friend.

I need to lose between 5 and 6 stone

I started yesterday I’m going sugar free so will need loads of support when the headaches and depression kick in on Sunday. I’m also going to limit carbs after 2.30pm. There is some science to link in with this but it is split. It’s to do with the way the body processes carbs overnight when it doesn’t need the energy they give.

I’ve also downloaded a habit tracker, so i’m not focusing solely on food.
You can set 3 habits without signing up for premium so I’ve set:
No sugar
Walk dog 3 miles, this is what I always used to do but she’s a reactive dog and the rise in people and cyclists over lockdown has not been easy so our walks have got shorter.
Do hobby for half an hour. My thinking here is to try and break the trigger for my sugar habit. We eat a meal and the sweet craving immediately sets in so I’m going to try and find a different focus.

Yesterday I just checked off the no sugar habit on the app and DH was in with 2 bowls of Hagen daas. And I actually said no 😊😊😊

Good morning 😁

Now I know what a Tim tam is!

Yesterday was a mixed bag for me. Very limited carbs (one 125ml ice cream tub) while out with the dog. 3 litres of water. Lots of salad and veg. Got my steps in. But ruined it with wine last night.

I'm sticking to the 16:8 for food but I'm struggling to ditch the evening vino. Which basically means I'm not doing the 16:8. I'm down weight wise this morning but I need to ditch the booze

Hope you all have a positive day!

A habit tracker, that is a great idea, thanks billbagpuss. I'm going to do the same.

And you are dead right about the hobby. Any time I am in a state if flow doing art with my children or alone I lose the desire to eat. It is a great idea. I now leave the paints out on the table almost all the time, sit down do a bit of painting when i'd otherwise be stuffing something into my mouth over the kitchen sink. Distract, don't react..

No carbs after 2.30pm sounds good to me too.

@billybagpuss sounds like you're making positive changes. For me the crap eating and drinking is definitely poor habit. I'm single so I don't have anyone around to keep me motivated or tell me off so I need to break the habits down on my own. Well done for refusing the ice cream😁

I know it sounds ridiculous but I feel really unready for this. In a way I feel like waiting for “normal” to resume again as I ended up nailing a bag of BBQ corn kernels last night after a depressing video induction for my daughters school: all that social distancing and being unable to take her in on her first day drove me to the Merlot and snacks.

I miss the pool and I miss the gym.

No excuse I know. Might take up 16;8 again come Monday.

@infinitegerbils. I miss the pool so much, I need to swim. I get the indoor pool and gyms, but why can’t lido’s open?

@Sittingontheveranda you are me!!!
I lost 25lbs last year...now it's all back on again. So depressing when I look at all the clothes in my wardrobe I could fit into only 12 months ago.
We've done it once, we can do it again!

@InfiniteGerbils I miss the gym too!! A sentence I never thought I'd write but it's so true. Mine is a work gym (inside our office) and rumour has it we'll all be working from home til the end of the year so need to come up with a home exercise plan.... has anyone been using any online classes they'd recommend?

Day 3 of Dukan today for me so I'm in the happy phase of super fast weight loss - I even had a tiny bit of potato with dinner last night which I felt mega guilty about but doesn't seem to have slowed things, lost just over 2.5lbs in 2 days. I know it's all water but still nice to see the numbers drop so quickly...

Bekindorbequiet, have you heard of Annie Grace and This Naked Mind. She has a 30 day alcohol free experiment. It doesn't cost anything to join. She also has a book and podcast.
I was previously a very enthusiastic wine drinker (border line alcoholic?) and her book gave me the jolt to stop. I haven't stopped forever, just for now. I recommend her work.

@hotelroomforone I've started the alcohol free experiment too!

[quote Coldhandscoldheart]@SierraOscar have you tried using a side plate instead of a dinner plate? Or try to find a dinner plate from the 70s - they were much smaller!

@Dontlooktwice don’t give up! Stick about someone will have some ideas. How many calories are you taking on?[/quote]
That is an excellent idea! I will certainly try that - thank you

Good morning everyone!
Welcome to all the new people, great to have you on board.

Yesterday was good. I ate well all day and spent an hour surfing last night. When we got home at 10pm, I only ate a sandwich. Normally we’d have chips at the beach.

Today I’m having veggies and potatoes for breakfast. It’s unusual, I don’t know anyone else who has veggies and potatoes for breakfast! But it fills me up till at least 3pm.

When DH comes home from work later, we will be going out for an hour with the dogs, so that’ll be my exercise.

Good morning to you all. Do you mind if I join this thread? I don't recognise myself. I weighed myself for the first time in a couple of years, and I am 12stone. Not sure how I'm going to tackle losing three stones. Being 12 stones is my big wake up call. I'm as miserable as fuck when I see myself in the mirror. I have no clothes that fit except for one pair of jeans and a couple of tops. I refuse to buy bigger.

I'm feeling really sorry for myself but intend to pull up my big girl pants and deal with it starting right now.

I'm writing up my meal plan and shopping list today, I'll brave going to Aldi this evening to buy my new food.
I'm looking forward to trying out the new healthier food.

Meal planning is probably key isn't it.

On any normal day I wouldn't normally think about what we're having for lunch/dinner until I come to make it.

I definitely need to plan

Meal planning really helps!! Last night we had salmon, rice with pomegranate mixed in and green beans and broccoli. Also weve been trying hard to eat by 7pm, we were getting into habit of eating at like 9.30 sometimes even as late as 11! So the last few nights earlier times have been a revelation. Today I've walked the dog in the river, had a coffee and a slice of toast with almond butter. In a mo I've got a yoga video to do, then will do a bit of work on the laptop. Going to have a brunch of tomatoes, egg, avacado and more coffee, that should keep me going until dinner- not sure what that is yet but fancy fish, potatoes and salad. Might try and do an evening walk too. No wine last night but did have two vodka tonics, hoping the lesser calories in that will make some difference.

[quote KarrieKay]@hotelroomforone I've started the alcohol free experiment too![/quote]
All the best with it KarrieKay, how are you feeling without the booze? I feel good, although the desire is def still there I'm not giving into it. Life is hard enough without the after effects of the drinking!

I too have ordered The Alcohol Experiment. I need to change my drinking (wine) habits or give up forever.

Lovely to read this thread. I'm day 5 and feeling really motivated.

@Mojitomogul I'm meal planning and logging everything and it really helps.

Well I was wishing for a way to make portion control and sugar cravings pass easier... careful what you wish for! Developed a raging ear infection in both ears overnight, moving my jaw is too painful to eat and the antibiotics are making me feel quite nauseated. Lost my appetite completely, this is not what I had in mind as a dietary aid lol but maybe the ear agony will distract from my screeching sugar cravings and help me go cold turkey for the next two weeks?

Gotta find the silver linings somewhere haha

My ears are dying but maybe my waistline will thank me

Ouch @unstableunicorn hope it gets better soon. Earache & toothache are the worst.

It's Friday again which means alcohol! While I love it & welcome it & have been waiting patiently for it....when the drink's in, the wit's put.

I plan to have a couple of g&ts. My army of thoughts is, start late, schedule one program to watch & then go to bed-with lovely clean sheets currently drying on the line. And get up early to go to market.

Will have to walk later to make up my 10k steps but going to bring out a 5kg weight & do some stuff with it now. Evening time I will be painting some peg dolls & cork for earrings to distract myself from overeating!

I've got dough on now to make baps for everyone else. They will be so delicious. I'm not sure if I can resist. I should try to resist. There's broccoli ready in the garden that I could have with some chicken....

I got on the scales this morning and it said 11st8! (From 12)

I got on and off and it said the same thing - I think they may be broken but having a glass of wine to celebrate anyway!

Hi everyone, I joined this thread this morning so I thought that I would say hello to you all.

Today is my first day at the losing weight game. I'm bloody starving so I hope that my stomach adjusts to the greatly reduced portions.

I hate exercise so I am using walking my two dogs as my exercise. My dh or dd usually walk the dogs so now it is my job. I have a Fitbit from years ago and I'm so happy that it charged up and still works. I am hoping to achieve 10,000 steps per day. So far today I have managed 9,000 so hopefully will get to 10,000 steps by bed time.

Evenings in front of the tv is when I usually stuff my face with copious amounts of chocolate. This unfortunately has to stop but not sure how that will go.

Can I just quickly ask, do you have a set day to weigh in?