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.

lost 1 lb - moving in the right direction but am a bit disappointed... going to go all out this week and see if i can make a BIG difference!
been a bit up and down so not been around much. mum had her surgery and is at home, finds out on weds when she starts her radio.. grandad had a TIA (lol medogs...) in hospital (perhaps the latest in a series...) and so we aren't really sure what is going on there - he's been in for nearly a month and they still haven't sorted out his meds. since yesterday he's refusing food again so they are probably going to do a temp gastrostomy - he keeps pulling out the ng tube and is being a total pita for the nurses, but i guess once you get to 93 you can have a say about what tubes they stick in you! ds1 has definitely inherited that particular stubborn gene...
and i'm just all around fed up - which is why i think maxing out on the exercise this week will be a benefit in more ways than one. see if i can cheer up a bit with those endorphins or whatever they are...

wishing you all luck for the weigh-in, and hpoing you haven't all sneaked off whilst i was gone!

well done bling - and enjoy the gym

Well done BlingLovin - it is so difficult to lose weight when you don't feel well and all you want to do is comfort eat. Enjoy the gym tonight.

Done my weight; 2lb loss which takes my total to 1 stone. I have 4lb to go until I reach my original target although I may review it when I get a little closer.

tibni - you are a superstar - don't leave us here wallowing!
do you feel much different? clothes looser and more comfortable? tell me how nice it is to motivate me!

Well done Bling, that's a brilliant achievement when you've had a cold. I always feel like eating loads of biscuits washed down with tea when I'm under the weather.

Romy, again, fantastic job considering all the worry and the ups and downs - best wishes for your mum and grandad (and just think, 3 weeks ago I didn't even know what a TIA was!)

tibni - 1 stone, excellent. I feel we should have a virtual rosette to award. Again, I bow to you.

So - I've lost 2lb this week . I can't believe it. I thought I'd had a so-so week, but now I'm really really chuffed. I've got a girly weekend away this weekend so I'm going to do really well this week to prepare for any damage that could be done by weekend boozing and nibbles - although I will try to be good. We'll be doing lots of walking round York though (in and out of many shops).

I'm also starting a body conditioning class on Wednesday night. I'm bit nervous about it as I've never been to an exercise class before. My sister is taking me and she says it's friendly and there's all shapes and sizes there, so I'll see how I go...now I must remember to buy a sports bra before Wednesday...

Well, I think everyone is doing well. Romy, the fact that you're still losing weight while under such stress is amazing. I'd be stuffing my face with comfort sausage rolls and industrial size glasses of red wine!!! And Tibni, you kill me. I can't believe how we'll you've done. A stone in a few weeks? You are a goddess. I second Romy's motion that you tell us in detail how amazing it feels, how your clothes are looser and how you feel a zillion times more attractive and sexier. Puhleeeeeeeeaaaaaassse?

Medogs is good too. I'm very impressed.

Gosh, we are a positive force.

I'm still determined to go gym even though I'm not really in the mood. I thought I might try swimming - I do find I don't do a long session when I do that, but it's a bit different and I can treat myself to a sauna afterwards? DH is going for a long run with his sister tonight so it makes sense to do mine properly too.

Hey all. I'm 64.2kg so a mahoosive loss of 0.1 kg . Still, better than putting on, I guess. I've had a cold too, and I've got really sore bits just behind my ankles, weirdly. Don't know what it's about, but didn't manage a lot of exercise last week. I't less sore today so may do Dvina tonight. Was looking at exercise bikes on tinternet earlier - don't have the space, or the money, and they'd be too noisy, but can't help looking!!

Well done on all the weight loss everyone, tibni - awesome as ever! Romy - hope your mum's surgery went well. Bling - hope your cold improves soon. There's D&V going around here too, so I am just waiting to be felled by that (maybe it'll help the weight loss...)

Come on, everyone, keep it up!!

thanks all and well done 2Happy, Romy and Medogsarebarking - we have all lost this week which is great

As you asked I do feel fantastic . I'm back in clothes that I wouldn't have been able to get on a few short weeks ago and i'm wearing clothes that I know show off my shape rather than hide it. Its my birthday at the end of the month and I actually want clothes - before holiday I didn't as I didn't like what I saw in the mirror.

I am getting a real feeling of satisfaction out of the work I am doing at the gym and I have to admit to wiggling down poolside rather than hiding behind my towel. I am getting real definition and tone in my shape.

I'm at a stage that if I feel tempted to binge on rubbish I think about the fact that all my size 12 jeans are too big at the moment and I fantasise about eventually maybe being a 10 and the junk food doesn't appeal so much.

I am aware that the pounds will get harder to shift and that if I can get improved muscle that will effect my weight too.

It is so worth the effort. I am more pleased with my shape than the results on the scales. I haven't done anything special - reduced my calories and increased my exercise. However both my dcs are now at school and I have gym membership which does make it easier - I know it would have taken me much longer when my dc's were younger.

So - yes it is so worth it and it does get easier as the weight comes off. Keep going!

go shop, girl.
i'm v jealous, but a little more motivated. i want to be you!!!

Shop shop shop. Then send pictures so we can drool....

Good work. It does incentivise me. I am definitely finding in the last 10 days, that while I might not have lost loads on the scales, I feel thinner. And DP says the same. And already, it has made such a difference in how I feel about myself and how motivated I feel to continue. Which is fantastic.

I work for a bank (not Lehmans or ML) but figure I should use the gym membership while I can still afford it. Hahaha. Seriously, I'm not too worried, but it is a concern so eating carefully and partying less has benefit of both good for my waistline and for my wallet.

crap, put on a pound.

MABS

We've all been there, don't let it put you off...

Remember the chant 'long-term, long-term, long-term'

I'm sure you'll do better next week.

I had to post... I'm quite excited right now. I got dressed this morning and thought, "mmm, I look different...? Is this my imagination". So I did a quick and dirty measurement and I appear to have lost an inch on both my waist and my bust!!!

Whohooo! It's so motivating feeling like I'm making a difference. And I've been to gym twice this week and been eating well so feeling GOOD!

Stay strong!

bling - excellent! i'd have been terrified to measure in case there was no change.
you'll be on the up now - i bet that little boost will motivate you hugely!

not quite so cool here - mum has to go for CT and bone scan as her path results showed involvement in some lymph nodes after her breast cancer surgery last week... so we're all holding our breath a bit. i think it almost certainly means chemo as well as radio, but finger's crossed it hasn't gone any further...

davina has been getting a bashing anyway... although the root canal this morning means i shan't bother today

i'm feeling the need for chocolate...

Oh Roby, that's hard. I'm sorry to hear your Mum is struggling. Fingers and toes crossed. When will you hear?

No chocolate because of root canal. But I do think you should treat yourself to something - some hot chocolate maybe?

or maybe another form of liquid refreshment... but bit early yet...

You know, wine also has a disinfectant element....?

BlingLovin - wow! You must be delighted , seeing and feeling the difference is so motivating.

Romy so sorry to hear about your mum.
Root canal - think I would need spirits rather than wine.

Food / exercise stuff going ok here.

Warning winge alert; self pity mode on - I just felt like I was starting to get straight, weight coming off, house a little tidier after the holidays when a friend had a serious accident and school unexpectedly have called a multi disciplinary meeting for next week regarding my autistic son. I am trained and work to support other parents of dc's with SEN within the education system but when its my child it feels so different!
I have plenty of support and back up for my ds but it has still knocked me sick.

Bling - fantastic! Really chuffed for you..

Romy - sorry about your Mum, hope the news is positive, everything crossed here too..

Tibni - how is your friend now? Have you any idea what meeting re your ds is about? I hope it all goes ok whatever happens. You could look at it this way - the good work and positivity you've been experiencing recently could well have provided you with the strength to deal better with what's going on at the moment. I hope all goes well for you.

Well, I'm off to York - feels so good to be typing 'York' instead of 'work'. Hehe..

Have a nice weekend everyone!

tibni - hopefully they are just getting everyone together to discuss this year's support? maybe they just want to tweak a bit and need everyone to be aware? new teacher or support staff?

lol medogs - i wish i was off to york, but i am going to work tomorrow

night out tonight though, first time i've booked a babysitter in soooooo long i can't remember when. picnic and concert, so as long as i can get organised enough today to get everything ready for the kids tonight, it'll be a nice night relaxing.

have a calm weekend everyone!

Thanks for your messages .

Friend is in hospital. They are trying to save a limb and have taken her to theatre everyday so far. They are hoping to use plastic surgery as she has lost all the skin but still has a pulse. She is very frightened. I get news second hand as she is friend of friend but we all have coffee together at least every month and I usually bump into her between.

re school; I am well aware there is a political situation between head and one of his support staff. Just really worried that my little boy is being caught in the cross - fire. I have a first rate support system that will attend the meeting with me and I am trained in this field myself but it is very different when you can not be detached because it is your child involved.

I have chilled out a little now.

Medogs hope you have a great time in York

Romy hope you enjoyed your night out.

Talk to you all weigh in day

Romy - hope your mum gets her scans soon, and that the news is good. Did you have a good night out?
Tibni - your poor friend! Let us know when your meeting is, so we can all send calming viebs (or virtual glasses of wine, whichever!)
Medogs - hope you had a great time in York. I love York, dh and I got engagement/wedding rings in a wee shop there, aww.

Doubt I will have lost any weight this week. Was ludicrously busy at work for half the week and missing meals all over the shop. By friday definitely had lost weight. But that's really annoying because a) how come doing exercise doesn't do it, but skipping meals (which is totally unhealthy) does; and b) I didn't skip meals (or wine ) at the weekend and have definitely put it all back on again! Grr.

Obviously that was meant to say vibes. I'll send calming viebs if you like, though!!

Meeting is this Wednesday at noon; Head wanted it as soon as .

2Happy - know what you mean about skipping meals and results. It's not that I am skipping but when I looked at foodfocus tonight I have been consistently way under my calories and then exercised on top. I am pleased with how I am doing but know I need to keep a balance.

1 week until my birthday, dh taking me clothes shopping Saturday - really can not wait to get some clothes that fit well.

Morning. Well I have lost 2lb this week and am 2lb away from my initial goal.

Hope you have all had a good week