Diet advice needed please

[Sonnet]

Oh I do hope there is somebody out there who can help me!
I am fed up about my weight, I may not sound overweight to some people on here but for me I am. I am 5ft 1 and weigh 9st 7lbs. To put it into perspective I weighed less 6 weeks after the birth of DD2. My weight has crept on over two years - a lack of time ment I stopped excercising and I also upped my alcohol intake to cope with the stress of 2 children, work and a lack of sleep.
The children are older now (dd1 is 8 and DD2 is 4) and I have been unhappy about my weightof rthe last 2 years. Last summer I did diet, found it hard, but lost a few pounds. 4 weeks ago I started again: I am trying to eat healthily, and for the most part am sucessful, I have stopped drinking wine (onlythe occassional glass at the weekend). I have been swimming about 4 times per week, running/brisk walking a couple of times per week AND I HAVE ONLY LOST 3lbs!!!

Can anyone shed any light on what I am doing wrong??

Ment to clarify - 3 weeeks ago I weighed in at 9st 10lbs and am now 9st 7lbs.
My ideal weight is 8st 4lbs but would be happy at 8st 7lbs

I think because you have relatively little to lose, it will take longer.

Also depends on what you are eating. Are you eating enough? If you don't take in enough calories, your body hangs on to it all the more. Make sure you're drinking lots of water too.

Hi Gillian,
Don't think I am drinking enough water - trying to remidy that as we speak.
A typical day would be:
Breakfast: porridge (made with half semi skimmed milk and half water) OR Muslei with low fat yog
Snack: Special K cereal bar OR fruit
Lunch: wholemeal roll with tuna or ham, fruit, yog
Snack: fruit
Supper: Chicken, fish or pasta dish with salad, limited carbs in evening (unless pasta meal)
Does it sound OK?

Sounds good to me. Try drinking about 2 litres of water a day. Buy a bottle and keep it in the fridge. Try to finish it each day and fill it up for the next day before you go to bed.

less than a 1lb a week is so so demoralising

I know. If you drink the water and aim for 1lb a week I think you'd be doing OK. Chin up

slow and steady is the only way. Any diet I have ever done starts off with big weight losses but I cant substain that and put it back on again.

Think about it a 1lb a week isnt bad a all. In 4 months you would be at your ideal weight! That is not long at all

And to add some perspective to this-I am 5 ft 2 and weigh just under eleven stone so I bet you look fab!

I know that 1lb a week is sustainable - you are both so right! .
I am going on holiday in 6 weeks time and would have so loved to be 8st 7lbs - as it is if I keep it up I will be 9st 1lb - well better than 9st 10 I suppose
SO - I conclude from this advice that 1lb a week is "normal" IYKWIM!!!!

dropinthe - I don't feel it - "chunky and frumpy" sums up how I feel! - oh and as pale as snow and the sun is out and i cannot wear short sleeved tops!!

if you could actually see as well what 1lb of fat looks like you would be amazed!

I am so determined to keep at it - I keep repeating "slowly but surely" to myself whan I stand on the scales!

Bump for the afternoon crowd

any takers?

Message withdrawn

Sonnet

I am only calorie controlled diet, fab really as I can have what I want as long as I count it

My intake is 1500 calories a day, 1st week I lost 5 lb and steadily 1-3lb loss in a week

Good luck