Long term calorie counting/exercise diet. Starting Monday 17th August. Anyone care to join me?

[surprise]

Had no luck with posting this in chat! Must be a skinny bunch in there. Seriously need to shed some weight. After lots of failed attempts over the past few years I'm determined to stick to a long-term plan, reducing calorie intake by a small amount and doing more exercise.

My plan is this - I'm reducing my calorie intake to 1600 per day (to maintain weight I should have 2100) and aim to do a 20 min brisk walk 3 times a week, plus 20-30 mins aerobic exercise 3 times a week (fitness video or Wii fit or swimming).

If anyone is interested in joining in, with maybe a weekly weigh-in then I'd be very glad of the company and support!

Bought some body fat measuring scales yesterday and my body fat percentage is almost 39% which I don't think is good somehow.

S'me Bumdiddley -thought I'd change my name to something that meant something (sing Morning Town Ride to dcs)

Just thought I'd say: bloody periods!!!! I have got PMT. Bloated, crabby and I made the mistake of weighing myself after lunch at a pharmacy...

Dh bought me some scales. I really thought I could do the no weighing thing. My clothes feel less tight but I can't see anything happening. So I'll weigh myself tomorrow morning.

tibni - FoodFocus is an eye opener eh?

Ah romy7, you've put my petty moaning into perspective. I ran out of peppermint tea. I'm trying so hard not to drink in the evening. I was going to take a valium (I have them for muscle problems) to 'take the edge off

Jeez we're having a rough one aren't we?

Romy - sounds like it's a nightmare at the moment. If you need it I hereby give you permission to say "feck it 'til Monday".

MTR - same goes for you. I wouldn't even bother with the weigh in tomorrow as if you're bloated you'll be heavier anyway. But if you're anything like me you'll do it anyway. Just try not to be too disheartened if it's not what you expect, there may be a reason..

tibni, you are doing so well - don't have the chocolates and spoil it, send them here instead

Forgot to say:

well done birdinatent and muthahubbard, brilliant results!

MABS - don't be too hard on yourself - far better to maintain than gain (hey, I did a rhyme!)

And where is surprise?

Am I a sad fecker for feeling bettr that I'm not the only one struggling? But I do wish the rest of you weren't finding it so hard - romy, so sorry things aren't getting better yet.

I currently have the world's biggest crop of fresh mint - they love the rain - so am inpsired by all of you and will be drinking mint tea all weekend.

eating large sandwich right now. I am so so bad.

i've just posted on a camping thread she started, so she might remember this one! if not, ah well, we're here. sort of!

my jeans do feel a tad looser though... or maybe they are just due a wash

LOL Romy - totally understand the washed jeans effect!

Doesn't sound like this is going to be the best week for any of us; but this is real life and often something pops up that knocks us or puts us back. It's at these tough times we stick together and don't give up! Right???? It's the way we will get long term results.

So good luck; remember we have till Monday until weigh in.

medogs, Romy, everyone having shitty weeks: really hope things improve. It's set to rain all weekend, so we'll probably all have to resort to chocolate by Monday! Oh, ok, I'll fess up, I had 3 squares of dairy milk this morning. The the boys nicked my ryvita and cottage cheese and actually enjoyed eating it . There's no accounting for tastes!

hear hear tibni - let's just put this down to a crappy week and not let this group fizzle completely - let's just keep chanting "long-term, long-term, long-term".

2happy - while we're confessing - I made scones with DD today and of course I haven't managed to leave them alone - had 1 (oh, alright, 1 and a half).

And you're right about the rain - cold miserable weather is just made for sitting indoors, watching films and scoffing comfort food. I haven't had much apart from the scone and a half though today.

spag bol for tea - low fat garlic bread of course...

crap week here, father diagnosed with lung cancer, v stressed so havent eaten or drunk. But am out for dins tnite with girlies and mn meet up tmro lunch - will defo be messy and v calorific

Oh MABS, I'm so sorry, that's awful .

Sorry to hear your news MABS.

Hope your evening out gives you a little chance de- stress a little.

I lost my dad to lung disease 5 years ago; i'm about if you need to talk or unload.

many thanks

oh, MABS - that's really rough. love to all your family x

MABS, so sorry...

Good luck for Monday's weigh in everyone.

well, i put two pounds back on, but am still lighter than when we started, so not too considering...
intending to get a grip properly this week, as hopefully school at least will provide some sort of routine...
hope you all fare better...

surprise, are you there???

I've managed to lose another 3lb (12lb in total so far) so I am . When I "fell on the scales" mid week I hadn't lost anything so I am really pleased.

Romy you are still lighter than you were a month ago which was the intention when we started. I do think its easier with school back. Hope you have a good week this week.

MABS - so sorry to hear your news!

I gained another 100g. Not unexpected. But still. Need to be better focused. Last week just collapsed in that we were so busy in the evenings and work was an absolute nightmare - I worked a 60 hour week so unsurprisingly collapsed on saturday.

Am not down. Have very quiet week planned. DP and I have already done big batch of mince for eating at work in small portions during week with salad and brown rice. Am going to go to gym at least once and see how I get on.

I'm nothing if not an optimist.

Tibni - as ever, you remain the queen!

Tibni! I bow to you, fantastic!

Bling & Romy - sorry you've gained. It certainly was a strange week last week.

Well, a mixed day for me so far.

The bad news: I've not lost anything this week. Although, I had thought I was going to put on so it's kind of an achievement I suppose.

The good news: I've been to the hospital and had a thorough examination this morning, also had the results of my blood test and there is nothing wrong with me! Consultant this morning said it wasn't a TIA - probably just a faint that I somehow managed to stop

I'm going to see my doctor tomorrow to ask him what else it could have been and get some help with migraines and stuff.

So - I'm well and truly back on the weight loss wagon now. I'm renewing my efforts and I am determined to lose something by next Monday!

tibni - you are a star! we're never going to catch up now! i'll have to be content with slow and steady i think...

medogs - that's fab news! i wonder if the gp will suggest bppv for you as well?! i'm still not convinced that's what mine was, but i know how relieved i was to be told there was nothing sinister going on! what a relief - don't be cracking a bottle to celelbrate though eh?

bling, you and i had better knuckle down now!

MABS - hope you managed to take some time out at the weekend - best wishes xx

i did catch up with surprise - i think she's going to weigh in today...

delighted medogs, good news.

Well done to all the rest of you, tibni - amazing!!

I have sadly not lost, but not gained either, which is amazing as i think i drank more booze this w/e than the rest of the year put together .. today I feel toxic

tibni - that's brilliant, so impressed (and a bit !!)
medogs - great news! What a relief.
Romy, Bling - we must all be getting fitter/healthier, regardless of the scales

I've lost a little this week, not quite back to what I was after the first week, but at least I've lost what I put on last week! dh keeps saying he thinks I look thinner, but I think he's just trying to make me feel better! I don't think my clothes are any loser and haven't been able to get out for a run because of the weather, thank goodness for Davina

Medogs - brilliant news. Really pleased for you.

Went to the gym today and was talking to one of the trainers. Thought i'd share something that I had never thought about. When you exercise you burn calories and the best fat burning exercise is low intensity but for long periods of time. When you have dense muscle (rather than fat) you actually burn far more calories in your daily life - even when you are resting your calorie use will increase.

Thought it was good motivation for us all to exercise more.

Just checking in - how's it going with everyone?

Weighed in - have lost 300g. Which considering i had a cold last week, I feel pretty good about. Am off to gym this evening! Whoo hoo!