Just wanted to share - lost 9 pounds in 4 weeks - this is really working for me!

[kettlechip]

So last month I realised that I have a wardrobe full of lovely size 10 and 12 summer clothes, many with labels still on, barely any of which fit after dc2. I was 22 pounds over my pre pregnancy weight and was at the stage where I was wearing baggy tops and control knickers over my regular ones (nice) to stop the bulge over my jeans showing.

Was just about to join Weightwatchers online when I saw on here that someone had recommended this free website - www.foodfocus.co.uk which basically tracks your calorie intake and exercise, and gives you a daily target to work towards a long term weight loss plan.

I love it, and once you get going, it's not faffy at all, it takes a few minutes per day. It's really opened my eyes as to how many calories are in the things I was eating - I was eating 650 calories just for lunch with cream of veg soup and a large chunk of bread, for example - no wonder I was putting on weight!

I've started doing 20 units of exercise a week - 1 unit generally equals 10 mins, so an aerobics dvd is usually 5 units, for example. 10000 steps a day is another 3 units. I've found a circuit near home to jog round, and joined a step class. After the first week, my fitness started slowly improving and I felt much less tired.

So far I can feel the spare tyre around my hips has all but gone, my legs have toned up, and I feel as if I have far more energy. I haven't been hungry at all either, I've been eating lots of stir fries with plain rice and jacket potatoes with salad. I've also had chocolate most days when there's been calories spare!

Just wanted to share what's worked for me, as I was getting really down about feeling heavy and it took me ages to get the motivation to start this. Am so glad I did though. I'm going to keep going and get another 10 pounds off and then just work to maintain it.

That's it changed, my bmi is 24 so technically I'm not overweight now but I know my clothes would fit a lot better with another 10 pounds off.

And yes, missylea the Charlie Brooks dvd is really hard (was for me anyway, but I'm not the most coordinated!!) until you get used to it, but it does really work. It's 50 mins long and you'd need to do it about 2-3 times a week to see results. It's split into 10 min sections so you can do 2 or 3 at a time if that suits you better though..

thanks kc think that will be my next little purchase!!
I totally agree cn as you know yourself what you feel better in and to be honest i think my clothes fit me better when ive lost a few pounds, cause im quite self conscious of my better so im loving the fashion at the minute with the loose t-shirt and leggings, they hide a multitude of sins

that was meant to be self conscious of my belly.... typing in the dark isnt the best idea

I tend to find that if I exercise I find it easier to be good food-wise, because eating junk just feels like undoing the good I've done with exercise, iyswim.

I have a crosstrainer and a treadmill in my garage and have been out there for the past couple of days. Also still have a few cals left today as I managed to burn 257 calories during my exercise.

Well done wannabe! After my skipping exercise yesterday, the old joints arent very good today its tough on the ankles and knees.
Gonna go for the charlie brook dvd though, probably will die after the first 5 minutes.

I've just joined too. Did SW last year and lost 2 stone but then called target as I was happy with getting to a size 14 (was an 18).

Now i've kept it off for a year I've decided that I want to lose another 1/2 stone so that I can get into most size 12 clothes rather than a selected few. I'm aiming for 11 1/2 stone which sounds heavy but I m a big girl. 5ft9 with size 9 feet

At the moment i'm 300 cals under target for the day which is good but then I did do 590cal of exercise at the gym today.

flip me!!! am i the only person that is so unfit here. Everyone is doing brilliant with the exercising! As i said before im a size 8 but it nearly kills me doing any form of exercise.

you have to start slowly and gradually build up. And once you have a fitness level you will keep that level - when I first started on the cross trainer 5 minutes used to almost finish me off. But I built up to 20/30 mins over time and now even if I stop doing it I can go back to that.

So start with 5 mins of exercise, and gradually build it up - even if it's only a couple of minutes at a time.

I'll second Wannabe in reccomending starting slowly and building up on exercise. I joined the gym 3 years ago and was hot and sweaty after 5 minutes walking on the treadmill. Doing a class for a whole hour was out of the question!

Now I do 3 body pump classes a week, 3 spin sessions and 3 sessions of 30 mins of cardio circuit training evrey week. But it has taken 3 years for me to reach that level. Even now I cannot run on a treadmill for more than 10 minutes without my heartrate going up into the 170's which is too high.

If you start small and keep adding on time & intensity you reach a point where exercise becomes enjoyable and part of your day. In the end I stopped thinking 'oh god, better exercise but would rather sit on the sofa watching crap telly'

I signed up for this yesterday.

I have never counted a calorie oe weighed food in my life so it's quite a challenge, but I feel very motivated by it.

It says my current bmi is 22.9 which sounds OK but I feel quite lardy.

Yesterday my net calories was 611 and my net calorie goal was 1193.

Bit confused by that - did I not eat enough?!

Regarding exercise - I can thoroughly recommend the Wii-Fit for those times when you just don't want to go out of the house to exercise.

It tracks your bmi too, and the more you do,the more exercises it unlocks.

It eventually unlocks a step class which you can do while watching tv, and you can increase the intensity of it as you get fitter.

I wouldn't want it to be my only form of exercise, but it's been great fun.

Elsie - those calories sound very low - you'd need to be careful you get enough to eat otherwise you'll make yourself ill.

I've found the site useful to balance the calories throughout the day - so at least 300 calories per meal with a bit more either added to each meal or made up with snacks in between.

Changednam, I ate breakfast lunch and dinner plus a ryvita in the afternoon - but I did a 45 min spinning class so maybe thats why the net figure was low?!

I've actually just discovered the software has some bugs in it, so that might explain your total Elsie.

I added in an 84 calorie cereal bar, but that put me over my daily allowance by 300 or so calories.

But when I take it out, it says I have 570 calories in credit for the day which obviously isn't right.

So take a look at your totals for the day and add them up roughly, then work out the spinning class - it might be the site isn't adding it up properly...I guess if it's a free resource it isn't going to be perfect

Believe it or not Ruby, I go to the gym 5 flipping times a week! And I work really hard!

I have just put weight on my belly over the last year. If you saw me, you'd think I was slim but I have a hideous muffin top. Maybe it's just getting older, (am 38).

i can't believe thsi site is free! it is nice having a target date.

thanks for posting the link. looking forward to teh new slimmer me!

I've just logged onto FF & I'm trying to work out the 'catch'!

It seems to be the answer I need to keep going with this weight loss business.

I'm totally new to MN weightloss pages, but I'll be joining in now with my loss updates - hopefully!

Can we start a brand new thread for it, or am I barging in and throwing my weight around!?

There is no catch, some of us started in January doing it and then it just disappeared about half way through the month before coming back at the beginning of February, just to warn you.

Ok, will look out for disappearing FF site

And drown my fears in melted chocolate when/if it does!

I use

this site

you do have to pay for it but imo it is great.

have just signed up for it too ..bmi 25 , @ 9 stones 10 [eeck] cant keep saying the scales are wonky, and the tumble keeps shrinking my clothes ,need to shift the baby belly.... the twins are nearly 4 so no excuse now.

Thanks for putting the link on, I'd seen FF mentioned on other threads but didn't know what it stood for!

I signed up on Monday and am finding it a revelation (if slightly addictive!). I want to lose half a stone, which might not sound all that much but as others have said I know I'll feel/look a lot better if I shift it, and I seem to have been trying half-heartedly to lose these 7lbs for years! I'm finding the site really helps to stop me mindlessly snacking in the afternoon and I too have cut out my evening glass of wine!

Good luck everyone - I hope the site doesn't just vanish one day as FiveGoMad said- not sure how I'd cope (actually I'd probably crack open a family sized bar of Dairy Milk!)

Ooh am so pleased all of you have replied to this thread, can we motivate each other please? Had a real munchy day today, couldn't leave the easter eggs alone and kept breaking off little bits to eat. Have declared it all on Food Focus and just stayed within calorie limit.

Today I did the 30 min Davina pump workout and walked quickly for 30 mins so I think that's saved me. Tomorrow I have a pub dinner out, which I'm looking forward to but also dreading as I don't want to be tempted by chips. Am thinking I might eat light food all day, and do a 60 min workout dvd and then hopefully I'll have enough if the only veggie thing on the menu is lasagne or something lardy..

I hope I've lost another pound tomorrow, have been stuck on 10.13.0 for the past three days!!!