DIET FAILED AGAIN? Me too. Join me in a friendly, easy going diet thread where we can take our time and see results no matter how long it takes with positive encouragement along the way.

[poorpaws]

My story so far:
I started a thread “Lockdown stones to lose” in early June last year. I had nearly 3 stones to lose and was very determined. At times I did very well and at one point had lost over 1.5 stones.

Loads of people joined and then left and I think only four of us remained at the end. I kept plodding on. Just after Christmas I became ill for seven weeks (Covid related). I couldn’t do much or go out so my weight ballooned. I still kept plodding on. Then one of my dogs suffered an horrendous attack and whilst nursing her I just about lived on chocolate.

So here I am nearly 11 months later, most likely very nearly back to square one. I keep reminding myself that last time I said I would not give up no matter what! Will you join me tomorrow morning? I would love some company.

Oh gosh. Meant to post ages ago to say thank you to everyone for your kind replies, then was foiled by a combination of a sick DTS2 and MN being down every time I tried to get on it! I can't post at all on the app since the 'upgrade' so I'm very much dependent on having to find time on the PC...

No change here, still tired, still fat! In all the motivational stuff it says 'make time for yourself' but how?! I'm up early, couple of hours to run round/ get the kids ready before school, work solidly whilst they're at school, pick them up, take them to activities - then it's home/ dinner/ bed. By the time that's done it's usually 9pm and I have a good hour of tidying/ cleaning/ sorting to do, so 10.30pm before I (may!) have a bit of time to send emails, etc. If I want to go for a run at the weekend I have to get up at 6am to fit it in. I know/ hope it'll get a bit easier as the DC get older and less dependent, but for now it's non stop

Sending good wishes to everyone, well done to anyone who's managed to lose any weight as I'm fairly sure I haven't!

@Theredjellybean thank you so much for the idea of mini goals, I'll definitely look at that - I just cannot see the wood for the trees, I think. My metabolism has definitely slowed down but it's also never getting time to sit and eat a proper meal, grabbing food on the go etc.

@NatMoz I hope your running is still going well? Have a look at the MUTU system as it definitely helped me after my C section - they often do special offers, which is useful!

@Jconnais1chansonquivavsenerver that's helpful to know about your hypnotherapy, it did work and possibly would have continued to do so if not for the dietary restrictions! I wonder why they picked such an odd diet plan when you told them it wasn't practical?! You'd have thought it would be much better to work with you to figure out something sustainable!

Welcome to @LotsOfTrees, I hope everything is going ok for you!

@ClinkeyMonkey I also only run one route, the other ways I can go are too busy/ hilly. Means I plod along the same places but that's fine, when I was better at running it also helped me pace myself. I wish we lived near a nice running-friendly park but sadly not! My DC love dinosaurs so we generally end up watching dinosaur movies - or when they were smaller we watched the Gruffalo approximately 5000 times...

@BeyondMyWits I need a more sensible attitude to treats! I think because I so often end up picking at food (no time to eat properly) I 'treat' myself with a biscuit or something because I'm still hungry. I've resorted to buying biscuits I don't like for the DC so I'm not tempted

@Bigbus we are pretty much the same weight now, I was 13st 13 on Monday (very unlucky for some, ie me!) - you have done amazingly well getting down from almost 18st though! It's ironic isn't it, the time when I could do with most energy - running around after small DC - is when I have the least time/ motivation to deal with my excess weight, so I reach for the chocolate for a boost, and then the pounds pile on...

I am soooo a hungry caterpillar sometimes @Mumstheword2022 don't even want to list what I can eat my way through!

Thank you for your thoughts about my DM @triplecheeese - when I was younger mine definitely used my weight as a 'stick to beat me with', I think she was trying to make herself feel better but made me utterly miserable! When I had a long period of normal weight, fit and healthy, she was putting on a lot of weight due to health issues. Now she's registered disabled and has pretty much given up any attempts at eating healthily! We just bear the brunt of the spikiness/ sulks when we have to suggest making any changes for her own health

Sending very best wishes and lots of hugs to @poorpaws - we hope to see you again soon, when you're ready to rejoin us!

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl thanks for thinking of us all! I really am glad I’m not nearly 18 stone anymore but sometimes I think that’s what keeps me in the rut - I feel much better than I did then, but then I also know that I felt even better when I was less than this. I have huge comedy boobs so there’s a limit to how low I can go and I think the last time I was aiming too low and never made it so have up. 12 stone is my target this time. I hope you are feeling ok. DMs are a challenge!

good luck to everyone else. I’m talking at a conference today and feel very anxious!!! It’s not my comfort zone. Another thing I think would be easier if I was thinner!

Hi everyone

First of all thank you so much for your kind wishes, you are all so lovely.

I'm back! I feel so silly for all the drama but the tears were real. I've put my big girl pants on as I can't change anything so am having to live with it.

I feel I owe you all an explanation but don't want to bore you to tears so will do it as succinctly as I am able.

The first and most important thing to say (so you don't think I'm completely insane) is how little my family is. I have DD (she has no partner now) 2 young grandchildren, SIL (brother died 6 years ago) and one nephew (who lives right over the other side of the country and I never see), that's it!

20 years ago, DD, bro, SIL and I moved to the south west, all very exciting. Long story short, bro sadly died, SIL lonely and now she's decided to move back to her large family 300 miles away. I am heartbroken. She nursed me through pneumonia for six weeks when I nearly died, was there when my property got flooded, took me to important appointments and to pick up my puppy, the list is endless!

Anyway that's it and I know how ridiculous I sound but I'd rather lose my arm than her ☹️. Obviously her happiness is important to me.

I'll shut up about it now! In diet news I started again on Monday and I'm doing okay. Gained a little bit of weight last week but I'm also keeping myself extremely busy (did nearly 24,000 steps yesterday). I cleared the shed which took a very long time and I'm starting the store. I'm still on the diet wagon and I'm still very determined although not getting very far at the moment.

Well done to everyone, you all seem to be doing so well. Welcome to the new people that I wasn't here to welcome before, stay with us, there are some amazing people on here.

Finally thank you all so much for the care you've shown. Back to the diet ...

Lovely to see you again @poorpaws! You are most certainly not being ridiculous. It's such a huge adjustment when someone who features so strongly in your life leaves, even if it isn't for negative reasons. Your SIL sounds wonderful and I can imagine also that the continuing link she forms with your brother must be very precious. I know everyone says 'aw sure, you can keep in touch with all the technology nowadays' - but it's not the same. You need time to adjust to such a big change in your life.

Thank you so much for your kind words and understanding @ClinkeyMonkey . It feels like a bereavement, it really does. I've cried for a whole week but I want what's best for her. She is totally lost without my brother and she needs her own family which is huge.

I drive very little now and my old car wouldn't make the journey anyway and I'd never leave my dogs so I know I'll never go to see her (definitely won't do public transport). She's older than me and has just started with health issues (I think that's a big factor in her leaving) so I most likely will never (or very rarely) see her again. We will have FaceTime so I'll have to be satisfied with that.

I've done a long dog walk (still keeping very busy) and I'm having salad for lunch so I'm back on the diet.

Have a lovely Wednesday everyone.

Lovely to see you back @poorpaws.

I've not been very good food wise these last couple of weeks. I'm feeling sluggish and clothes feel tighter. Usually the warmer weather spurs me on with salad and water intake.
I don't want gain what I've lost so need to have a kind word with myself.

@poorpaws I’m so sorry to hear about your SIL. Just after my brother had his first child he moved 200 miles away. I’m so sad I can’t be a nearby aunty to my niece and nephew (my own kids are a bit older so I’ve got time and patience) and that my kids only see their cousins twice a year, but I can’t tell him that because it was the right thing for him. It’s hard xx

Thank you @Bigbus I keep telling myself she'll be happier but I know I won't be. I must not be selfish though.

I'm exhausted after cleaning the store and I didn't get it finished. It's not full head height so it's very difficult and there's a lot of rubbish in there. I seem to have more rubbish than anyone else, I just don't know how I do it.

Food hasn't been too bad today and exercise was good so I'm hoping to see a loss on Monday.

I hope everyone else is doing okay. I'm going to bed early so I don't eat

Oh @poorpaws , what a sad situation. As you say, you know your SIL is doing what's right for her, but it will leave a big hole in your life! My family live a similar distance away and it's tough, I do envy people who can 'pop round' to see their relatives when I'd need at least a weekend to be able to spend time with them. Would there be any chance of you meeting up half way any time - London/ Bristol/ Birmingham, for example - and spending a lovely weekend together?

@endlesswashing I quite like a salad, but making sure I have all the fresh ingredients can be such a pain... plus DP will then moan about 'rabbit food' - the same rabbit food that his GP has told him to eat loads more of

@ClinkeyMonkey hope it went well at the conference? I have huge comedy boobs too - if I get much bigger I will be a dead ringer for Hattie Jacques I've tried one of the M&S Flexifit bras that many Mumsnetters rave about, but kept thinking it was going to cut off my circulation, their sizing may not be generous enough for me!

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl I would love to say I enjoyed the conference accompanied by my giant knockers, but I think that must be another poster🤣🤣 My boobs are, sadly, rather small (unlike the rest of me) and the closest I get to a conference is standing in the queue at Tesco. I was quite excited by my new life for a minute though!!

@ClinkeyMonkey and @ClaraTheImpossibleGirl the conference was me! It went well and I managed not to overdo the buffet which was torture because I love a buffet!

@Bigbus... I love a buffet too... it's all the variety! I find if I eat boring same old stuff every day it is easier to eat less... so buffets are a challenge

@poorpaws ... Good to see you back. It is a difficult situation, having to wave them off with your best wishes whilst screaming "don't go" inside.

Thank you @ClaraTheImpossibleGirl for the welcome. I had a very wobbly start but am more properly on it and have now lost 2lbs. Not much but feels like I’ve started which is the hardest bit for me.

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl sadly no meet up for us half way. My car wouldn't make it, it's really old and no chance of a newer one, I wouldn't drive that far, I don't like public transport and I wouldn't leave my dogs overnight. 🥴 Atm the estate agents are typing her bungalow details out, taking photos etc and it's going on the market on the 20th. It's a beautiful place, everything is band new, it's secluded and I think will sell quickly.

I've always wanted big boobs, sadly mine are very small although I'm not! Boys used to tease me at school as other girls had boobs and I didn't. I think we often want the opposite to what we've got but at least with bigger ones you don't look like a boy.

I did too much yesterday and was shattered by 4 pm. I had to leave the store, I just couldn't find the energy to finish it. Because it's not full head height it really hurts my back and I've no idea how I collect so much rubbish. Everything seems to get dumped in it and then you can't move to find anything. I'm taking the dogs out later when it's cooler and hope to get it finished this morning.

I did ok with food and exercise yesterday so I'm hoping to repeat that today. We're going to the moors tomorrow and there will be chips and possibly ice cream so I have to be careful today.

Have a lovely day everyone. The weather is glorious and I'm so happy I no longer have to sit in a boiling office typing all day 😀 (oops so sorry if you have to).

@LotsOfTrees welcome and well done. 2 lbs off is a really good amount and it's so difficult losing weight. Lovely to have you here, this group is so supportive so stay with us even if you have a few bad days (like I do).

Thank you @poorpaws! The encouragement means a lot. A friend just sent me a photo of me from her wedding just gone and I look so much bigger than I realise from looking in the mirror. I feel embarrassed because I lost it all last year (3 stone!) but here I am a year later back at almost exactly the same weight again 😭

Hiya all... just got one thing to say today... IT'S TOO HOT... I'm done.

@BeyondMyWits there's no such thing as too hot. Too cold definitely, too hot nooo! It's going to get much cooler tomorrow. I hope you're okay.

I've had a lovely day today. We went out for the day in glorious weather (not too hot!), we sat by a reservoir for hours with very friendly, tame ducks who came very close and pecked my feet and hands, it was lovely.

My day out did come with chips as anticipated but I did refuse ice cream which I thought was pretty good for me.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

I just want to give a special shout out to @Bjarnum, a lovely lady who was on my original thread. I hope you are ok and when you feel up to it do join us again, I miss your stories so much. Sending you a big hug.

Hiya all... thank goodness it cooled down here... menopause and hot weather do not mix! Trouble is the hot weather makes me want to graze rather than eat "properly ", so am not hopeful for Monday's weigh in. But it is what it is...

Hope everyone is feeling well, and motivated... my "oomph" has wilted... just seems to come and go.

Ha! Apologies @ClinkeyMonkey , serves me right for posting late at night when my concentration has gone glad the conference went well and you were able to avoid buffet temptation @Bigbus !

We have an annoying store like yours @poorpaws , it would be a great space if it wasn't for the beams jutting in at every angle, making it pretty much impossible to stand upright in! I'm sorry that it sounds like it'll be really difficult to see your SIL once she's moved; it's the little things that I miss about being near family sometimes, last time I saw them my DF said "you're looking tired Clara, didn't you sleep well?" and I actually got a bit teary thinking that no-one else cares about me enough to say things like that!

Sending lots of good wishes to @Bjarnum , would be lovely to hear from her again when she's ready