BOOT CAMP - Slim again in 6 months - No More Excuses!

[ColumboWearsControlPants]

Starting this following the discussion on AIBU last night...

Have you slowly let yourself slide into weight gain over several years and are unhappy about it but feel powerless to change?

Are you avoiding going out and seeing people because you don't want them to see how you've let yourself go, or because you can't fit into your clothes? Are you living in (DP's) T shirts and jeans or tracky bottoms?(you can call them yoga pants if it makes you feel better)

Is your family album decidedly lacking in photos of you with your DCs because you camera dodge?

Are you tired all the time and a bit secretly down about it all, but coping on the surface?

If so, then this is the thread for you! All welcome!

We're going to be working on our self esteem issues and create new habits that will take us, one step at a time, to feeling much better physically and mentally. We will be building up to taking more conscious exercise and trying to change our dietary habits that got us in this sorry state to start with.

I think it was Starbear that mentioned trying to do something similar to the FLY threads on Good Housekeeping.

Perhaps we could post each day our plans (whether it be exercise, food, motivation, water intake, giving up something or whatever) and then see how we did each day.

I should really lose 2 stone to be in the middle of the healthy recommended weight for my height and build. Personally I'm low carbing - been trying it on and off for a while, hoping I can stick to it this time.

OK so today I'm going to eat just breakfast lunch and dinner and 1 snack, drink 8 250ml glasses of water, and do 30 mins either walking or on my stationary bike.

Good luck.

Have had a not bad day. Not really exercised although did go for long walk. Haven't snacked but did drink 2 coke zeros. I must stop this. What's the story about 8 glasses of water? Does it make you lose weight or is it just good for you? I drink water during the day but can't say I drink anywhere near eight.

Wanted to go swimming tomorrow but am now doing a favour for a friend so can't - bit peeved.

evening all

just been for my weigh in and lost 2 lbs which i am very pleased about

walked to and from the meeting as well so just moving that little bit more

hope everyone else is doing ok

hi to nina

Hi guys.

I didn't come back to this..

I started yesterdya but haven't got on the scales yet so don't actually knwo how much I weigh.

I walked 2miles yesterday and ate structured meals.

Today has not started well but will try and run later

Hi all, good start to the day - but then it is only 10!
Just wondering whether anyone has any tips for the sweet tooths amongst us, I know for me the chocolate, biscuits etc are the hardest to give up.

Going swimming today but have a cold too, so maybe won't do much.

How is everyone else doing?

Nina - do you like raisins and grapes? I was advised these are far better (in moderation) than the quick hit of a biscuit etc.

Hello all!
Would like to join. Am 11st 3lbs this morning - have lost baby weight, this is just what I was carrying before I got pregnant Would like to get to 9st

Have signed up to food focus and really want this to work...my weight has ruled my life for far too long now! Will check in as often as I can and will weigh in weekly but work FT and have 8 month old so probably won't be able to contribute daily - hope that's ok!?

Oh well, here goes......

Hi putm, do like those things and I eat them most days, I just find the lure of M&Ms etc hard to resist sometimes.
I have heard that chromatin supplements help but just need to exercise my willpower really, of which there is little

Hi all - a good day today foodwise - even managed to resist having a hot chocolate in Starbucks when my friend was having one. Went to London and took nuts for snacks, had lunch out but it was diet friendly.

No exercise as too busy but I walked back from the station (about 45 mins brisk walk).

I have a sweet tooth - terribly so - so the only thing I've found works is pretty much cold turkey. I'm talking abstinence here not poultry! You do suffer at first with cravings (feeling very resentful and brattish and that it is impossible) but they pass and after a couple of days you feel better for not being on the sugar high/crash cycle.

I think sugar is very addictive, when I started to give it up I really missed the little lifts it would give to the day. Now I don't really miss it.

Chromium supplements are supposed to help with sugar cravings. B vitamins too IIRC.

To be honest I keep telling myself that such a high level of sugar is totally unnatural and I don't want to get late onset diabetes due to sugar overconsumption. Also a lot of junk food is stuffed with sugar because it is cheap and it's moreish, people will eat more and more not feel sated.

Good luck with it.

Columbo good tips. I must try harder. I will tell you all how I do tomorrow. Very hard today as I had to up at 5am this morning for a real difficult day at work. Not a brilliant start Crunch nut cornflakes but that's the end of the packet and I won't be buying more. Lait grabbed on the way into work as I need a treat to cope with the coming day. Brought some biscuits but didn't eat them.
Lunch toast and Pate, as did not have time to eat anything else. No Exercise as I was driving or arguing or doing paper work. Work day turned out better than I thought. Had 1/2 lager with 2 other Mums as the kids wanted to play longer in the garden at nursery. Didn't even think when I had tea and 1 biscuit at 6pm. Now going to have spag bol with DH. Will have a small portion (should have some salad with it but I don't have the stuff.) Up at 6am tomorrow so not as bad. I will think before I eat tomorrow.

BTW well done on your 2lb loss this week RubySlippers!

Am I too late to join? I could really do with losing at least 4 or 5 stone. I just stepped on the scales and almost cried at the result (16st5lb)!! I have always been big, but since my dd was born 9 months ago, I have gained almost 2 stone. I struggled with PND quite badly and ate my way through boxes of chocolate rather than bars. I have absolutely zero will power, but I will do my best. My main issue is exercise. I work three days a week so it's really unlikely I will do anything on those days but I can aim to get out for a walk with my dd every day that I am off.

I need help though...anyone ever succeeded in losing LOTS of weight?

hello everyone and thanks for the congrats Columbo

quite a few of us with sweet teeth it seems - my downfall is savoury stuff

give me fresh bread, butter and cheese and i am in heaven! Or crisps

have been good so far this wek

something has "clicked" in my head about my eating - am really focused - lets hope it lasts

also, i am not drinking enough water - still too much fizzy pop

hope you all have good days and hello summerc

Well done Rubyslippers
SummerC I was 14st 4lbs in June '07 and am now around 11st 6lbs so have lost around 3 stone. I would like to lose a little more but am more concerned about gaining it all again. I changed my eating habits - less snacking - or at least snacking on better things, I always have dried fruit to hand and a well stocked fruit bowl! I do allow myself a little of what I fancy but try to be sensible about it. I eat earlier in the evening with the kids rather than wait and eat late with dh (often not home till 8/9pm) And I drink water before reaching for a snack as I'm sure I often mistake thirst for hunger.

I had an OK day yesterday. Remembered to weigh myself and am 11st 6lbs. I'm not sure what my aim is in some ways, but I guess it's mostly not to gain again and perhaps get down to around 11st.

I have both kids off school sick today so doubt I'll feel much like eating anything all day anyway the way things are going....

Morning everyone.
Hope everyone is well today!

I had my first weigh-in on Monday and was pleased to have lost 4lbs. I realise it's easy to lose a bit extra the first week and that next week will be a more realistic figure- but hey ,it feels good!

Like Rubyslippers said, something has clicked and I feel really motivated about what I'm eating.

I've given up eating bread and cheese, and anything sweet. I'm hopeless at eating these things in moderation and know that if I'm to be successful I can't have them in the house. I swear that a fresh, white, crusty loaf of bread would sit in the cupboard door saying 'eat me, eat me'!

Anyway, I'm planning to go for a walk this afternoon, before collecting Ds from school.

How about everyone else? What are your plans for a healthy day?

4 lbs - that is great constant

hello again.

I still haven't got on the scales

I'm going for a run shortly I will weigh in soon.. I am burying my head in the sand aren't I.

evening all

have just done my yoga which amazingly does work up a sweat!

MOH - hope your run went ok

Well I'm ditching the low carb. I keep trying with it because the science of it convinces me totally, but I don't like the feeling of being in ketosis. I end up feeling really tired and horrible.

I'm now following The Food Doctor Diet which is sort of low carb is little or no wheat and no sugar for eg but allows all fruit and veg and has less dairy and more healthy fats.

Hope you all had a good day!

Late post - I am still REALLY motivated. Walked all the way through M&S food today without buying a single thing - normally buy far too many goodies. DOwnside was I had a big cheese sandwich for lunch. However, my first plan of action is to cut out all snack and sugary things and then tackle my 'healthy' diet.

SummerC I totally feel for you. I stood on the scales on Monday and I was genuinely horrified - could have wept. I had managed to put on a further 0.5lbs from my worse ever weight. Like you I have 4.5/5 to go and it looks like a long haul BUT it can be done.

Hi everybody!

Well done to everybody has lost this week.

I have let myself down by not doing enough exercise this week. It has been very busy and I haven't had much time to start a new routine now both DSs are at school full time. Too many birthdays and too many visitors this time of year. Next week will be better but I am definitely cutting back on the snacks so you never know, I might have .

My other problem is evidenced by the time of this post. I keep reading about the link between lack of sleep and obesity and I am living proof I think. I never go to bed early enough any more and I think it has to be a cause of my problems now. I get the munchies late at night and it is never for healthy things. Having children has messed up my sleep patterns completely.

So that is something for me to work on. At the very least, if you aren't awake you can't eat, can you?

Hi everyone. Can I join you guys? I am still struggling to lose all the weight I put on while pregnant (and my DS is 15 months old ) I put on about 4 stone and have lost nearly two of those so just over another two to go.
The reason I haven't lost more is because I get motivated, eat well, go to the gym...then I don't lose much weight after the first week or so and I get down about it and binge on all the things I shouldn't. It's an exhausting cycle so I am really going to try to stick to my guns this time. I am only 31. Way too young to look this bad. I want to get back to being a hottie again
I am low carbing and have done really well this week. I have lost 4lbs in 3 days (but I know this rate won't keep up). I have been to the gym every day, done body pump and pilates and man am I feeling the effects of it! Ouch.
Hope you're all going well.

Hi Oceana

Feel free to join in. We only really got started last week.

You sound really motivated. Good luck!

Hi Everyone,

Still struggling with a cold, finding it hard to do exercise now as I just feel so tired.

Eating hasn't been too bad - bought a juicer yesterday so am going to give that a crack tonight. Am going to go cold turkey on the sweet food front - wish me luck!

Wow 4lbs constant that's amazing!

Welcome oceana

My Billy Blank Tae Bo DVDs arrived today. Hope to try one when DS had gone to bed.

Niecie I am totally with you on the sleep thing. What happens is I get tired at about 10pm, but I have only just finished all the necessary stuff for the day so I put off going to bed so I can have "me" time - either reading, pootering about on the internet or watching TV or just pottering, and I'm rarely asleep by 1am - then I'm really tired in the morning and eat stuff that gives me a buzz to keep me going and the cycle starts all over again. I keep thinking I really should get more sleep.

Nina try carrot beetroot and apple in your juicer it is delicious! Hope your cold gets better soon.