Buddy needed - and advice please...

[dixia]

Post-Christmas resolution - Not a new year resolution because they have never ever worked for me before.

I am desperate to lose some weight. I have been steadily (not rapidly) getting bigger since the birth of my first child 7.5 years ago. For me the weight gain is never rapid, but it is continual. I find it really, really hard to change my habits and change my food.

I know that I need to do something that I can stick to permanently. That is why I know that most of the diets out there are really not for me. I want help and encouragement to change the way I feel about food and to motivate me to exercise more. I don't want to do anything that will make me feel deprived as I know I will just give up and binge and put on more than I started at.

I have a desk job and work from home so I don't get much exercise unless I force myself to do it. I want to build exercise into my routine so that it becomes a habit not a chore. I enjoy walking, dancing and swimming.

I know that this is a pretty common story but it really scares me. I feel out of control and I am worried that I will be another half stone heavier every year until I collapse.

So I want to properly plan what I am doing now. I would really love some advice about long-term weight loss. I am not looking for a quick fix and I couldn't bear any food replacement diets or really calorie restricted diets.

I would also really love to find a buddy that is also just starting out that I could share progress with and get support from.

Any advice about planning my new habits would be most welcome.

How much do you need / want to lose?

I want to lose about 3 stone.

hi id like to buddy with you??? i want to loose about 3 stone too. I had ds1 (3.8) and gained loads of wieght finally lost a couple of stone and then got pg with ds2 (4 months) and now need to loose it all over again i was thinking of the slim fast diet though so if i wouldnt be a good buddy thats ok i will just follow your thread! im starting jan 1st though

i have 5 dc....managed to lose it easily after first 4 ,but with the 5th (and turning forty) just not managed

i need to lose 3 stone,possibly 4

starting in new year,but i find only way with me is to almost starve myself! that,and keep out of the house,as i hate eating out with dc. i also have to increase activity. lost 10 pounds before xmas...put it back now i guess

some more people with 3 stone to lose here

we should join forces. actually feeling a bit excited about it now

If food restriction isn't your thing, I suggest you have a look at the Harcombe Diet. I lost 5lbs in the first five days! Have been away at my mum's over xmas, stuck to most of the 'rules' (there are v few) and can't wait to get on the scales in the morning.

Hi all - thanks for the support!

Lilac - can you tell me what you have to do in the Harcombe diet? I have had a look at the webpage, but it seems you have to buy the book to find out how the diet works.

It looks good at first glance, but I need to know a bit more.

I am considering slimming world, but really want to steer clear of slimfast - so Knickknack - not sure if we would be good buddies? I feel fairly strongly that starving yourself is only a short term benefit but that it all goes back on again - does for me anyway. Maybe it will work for you. I wish you loads of luck though

Have checked the other thread and will post on that too privet

Hi Dixia, I lost 1/2 stone last year just by changing from my normal soft drinks - juice etc. and just had water. It's amazing how many calories you can clock up by having a couple of glasses of juice, and then a coke in the pub etc. Just always having water (even when out etc.) felt a bit boring for 2 weeks and then I never looked back and all drinks taste far too sugary now. I still have tea and coffee as well, but for me it was the easiest thing I ever did and it could be a really simple first step for you.

Good idea about the water prinnie. It is one of those things that I know I should be doing. Will use it as a mini-target.

Thanks privet. Don't really do restrictive! I know I have to do something to lose weight, but don't fancy shocking my system into starvation. So I think I have decided on Slimming World. My local group meets tonight, so I guess I will just bite the bullet and go there.

www.amazon.com/You-are-What-Eat-Energised/dp/0753513757

I follow this book. I have done since September and i have lost 1.5 stone doing it.
It isn't restricting, but it has 2 28 day mal plans you follow and then you mixx and match after that, or just do what i do and follow the plans continuolsy!

I struggled with it when i first started as i found it too much food to consume in a day!

I feel so much better for it and continue to follow it for a long time. I just keep steadily loosing (about 3lLbs a week).

I have PCOS and have doen for years and have never really been able to shift all of the 6 stone i put on whilst pregnant with ds 7 years ago. This has really helped me. My gynae told me i probably would never loose enough wieght to be treated for condition. I am telling you this so you know i REALLY struggle with weight lose and know what a struggle it can be.

Slimming world didn't personally work when i tried it as i found it had too much freedom on food and therfore i would go into starvation, with this book they tell you what to eat and when to eat it, (and it only costs you£12.99 + food which is normal day to day stuff!)

Whats more the evenig meals rarely take more then 30 mins to complete so really eadsy to follow when tired after a long day.

I hope this helps you, anmd i wish you good luck with your weight loss, if i can do it anybody can! .

The Harcombe Diet aims to tackle the main reasons for overeating - food intolerance, candida and hypoglycaemia. The last one was my problem, because I have always had a taste for sweet things and I could eat WAY too much unhealthy food very easily. Of course, half an hour later you want more...

It's about real food, but healthy food. I am vegetarian and it works well for me, although if you don't eat eggs the first few days would be difficult. I have stopped craving sugary foods, and although I have loads of chocolate in the house I look at it now and I don't want to eat it. I never thought that would happen, ever!

I've been eating cr*p because the last year has been very stressful and I am waiting to move house, which is taking far longer than I'd hoped. In the meantime, I thought I would get started on taking control of my eating and I feel so much better for it. Avoiding processed food isn't hard if you are prepared to make a bit of an effort (and I'm not really into cooking) and most veggie meals are carb meals so I'm having an omelette or cheese and salad to try and keep a few fat meals in there too.

I'm not hungry, I'm not craving sugary carbs and I AM losing weight.

Hi lilac - how long have you been doing harcombe for? I read the book properly at the weekend and started phase 1 on monday. Not too bad so far, but I am looking forward to some cheese at the weekend

How much did you lose over christmas (if you don't mind me asking!)