PCO - Letting go off the fat - Join me for the next six months

[womanlytales]

Hi,
I am 34 yrs old, with PCO and have two stones to lose by 2011. I have been overweight for the better part of my life - with school folks calling me baby elephant amongst other things. I am terrified about losing weight even though I've read most of the books, am physically active when necessary and have a sense of all the tools that I need - and still I am terrified in that I can't seem to get any plan to work. So will you join me here and help support one another letting go of the fat?

Nectarines weren't enough. Went for 70% cocoa solids chocolate (drool!) and a sandwich. Bad me. Now feel over full, but contented, and have managed to bash three horrible jobs off my to do list, so perhaps I needed an energy pick me up?

I am off out with best mate and goddaughter this weekend to do some shopping for hubby's upcoming 40th birthday. We might squeeze in some gratuitous clothes shopping as well!! And defo a lunch out somewhere too. Her DH is working and my DH has been tasked with the ironing!! Mwaahahahahahaha!

Have a fab weekend ladies. See you on Monday.

Evening all.

Well I have been semi-good today...

Breakfast was the asda version of special k berries.
Lunch was a wholemeal roll with chicken, sweetcorn, myo and lettuce = not so good
On our way out for dinner now but I'll be going for a salad I think. Too hot for much else in this weather which is a distinct advantage when trying to lose the pounds.

Gratuitous clothes shopping sounds lovely. I am self-denying at the mo as we are desperate for a new kitchen. Savings are halfway there.
We were hoping to have it done for Christmas but I think it is more likely to be done in Feb now. Not a bad thing as we can buy in the January sales but frustrating.

Ooh I'm liking being a graduate, but I have got 16lbs to lose again (baby weight). I'm on 30 WW points as I'm breastfeeding, but this weekend is a write-off already as we're preparing mountains of food for DD's Christening. I'm giving myself until Dec to lose the weight.

well Monday is here and weekend was a kind of success. I had a thumping hormonal migraine for most of Saturday and Sunday, so felt like death warmed up for most of the time. I managed to get hubby's party decorations (hoorah!) and see my goddaughter, but bascially I felt so rubbish I came home pretty early.

One of the upsides of feeling like your head is about to explode is no desire for food. Not sure that will make an impact in the weight department though cos my body is weird like that!

Today so far have had a cinnamon and raisin bagel and some coffee. Num. Lunch is tuna mayo salad and i have a nectarine and an apple to munch on during the day. Dinner tonight is pea and mint risotto. The peas and the mint are both fresh from the garden

Hope everyone has a wonderful day. Take care all of you.

Hello all - and Happy Monday to you too.
The weekend was a great success - only for me to ruin it this morning with a croissant and cupcake!!! No, I really have no control or will power or even just common sense. Will try and save the rest of the day with some healthy eating a la weekend.

Woohoo! Despite my evil food weekend I haven't put on any weight (must be the miracle of breastfeeding!) and am currently 11st 6lbs. At my heaviest I was 12st 10lbs and am aiming for 10st 3lbs,my pre-pregnancy weight, to start off with.

Going to shred for the first time today [nervous emoticon]

Quick hello from Crete - Am on holiday - returning on July 23.
Did measure as per our weekly promise and am down 1 1/4 pounds - Yippie.
How are the rest of you doing? Hope you remembered to weigh in.

Hi all - can I join please? I have 2 stone to lose. I'm on day two of a low carb diet. I love low carbing if I can stick to it, and this time I'm feeling really determined!

Has any one read this book? I'm half way through it and finding it quite good (although I don't agree with everything she suggests, but it's definitely a very positive and empowering approach).

I've also found this book really very helpful in getting me motivated to lose weight. It forces you to be very honest about things, and has really helped me focus on why I want to lose weight.

Looking forward to progressing with you all!

Anybody out there?

Hello ladies,
Apologies for the delay in responding to this thread - - that has gone quite quiet recently. Let's all mentally dust ourselves off and climb right back on to this conversation please -- I am doing so as I type.

Time to measure and see how you're doing: So use the list below and add your net loss target in brackets next to your initial target. If you've lost weight, reward yourself by bolding your new target. If you have gained weight, use the strike out symbol on your new target to reinforce the fact that you are going to get there. Have added you Beachtent to the list - welcome and best of luck with the low carb diet. I am on a low gi/gl diet so have tried to reduce the whites, yellows and browns.
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Wednesday, July 28 -- PCO six month challenge list:

WomanlyTales #1[13kg]#2[12.1kg]
Desiretochange #1[2st]
Oiteach #1[10lb]
ClareMaggieE #1 [5st]
Beachtent #1[2st]

Graduates:
TartyMcFarty [2.5st]

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As you can see from my holiday I've lost 900gms all thanks to my dh who really ensured I ate healthy So unbelievably I have now been chocolate [browns] free for 2 weeks and hope to continue being off chocolate till I reach my target. My earlier approach of giving myself treats was so NOT working because I kept over-indulging.
It does get hard - sometimes really hard - but I am also trying to not let my emotional need be fed by food...

I need your support and so do jump in and let's help each other succeed
PS - I switched from stones to kilos - since it's easier to track the loss..instead of doing the math between pounds and stones...to get a small end result...

Afternoon all, was on a week's holiday with no access to internet, unfortunately during that week managed to eat everything in sight so reckon I have put on half a stone (no exaggeration). Was at a party on Sunday and went back to work Monday with major hangover so no energy to even think about food. Started afresh yesterday morning and so far so good, will weigh in on Friday and scare myself skinny with the results

Sounds like a plan desire

Morning ladies - Happy Monday to you all
Hope you had a good weekend I had a lovely one - - Watched Ruth Wilson at the Almeida Theatre and then tried the Boris bike the new cycle scheme -- fun, fun, fun.
Another week goes by - so get on those scales and tell me how you've done.
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PCO Six Month Challenge list:
Week #3: Aug 24-31

WomanlyTales #1[14kg]#2[13.1kg]#3[12kg]
Desiretochange #1[2st]
Oiteach #1[10lb]
ClareMaggieE #1 [5st]
Beachtent #1[2st]

Graduates:
TartyMcFarty [2.5st]
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I continue to lose weight - Staying of the three colors - White, Yellow and Brown is helping me. I am also petrified that this dream run is not going to continue for long. Six months is such a long time - - And since I've never been in the normal BMI range -- I really fear that I might not get there..that this week or the next will bounce me back up to where I was earlier.
Help!

Hey all, can I join your club? I'm not definitely a PCOS sufferer (is that the right word?), but the doctor thinks it is possible/likely. I'm currently trying to get pregnant for the first time, and have not got my cycles back to normal yet despite coming off the pill six months ago. I need to lose weight anyway, and with any luck doing so will help with conceiving as well.

The doctor has suggested I try to lose 10kg by Christmas, which is about two stones. I think this is do-able, and with any luck I will set a trend for myself and carry on and lose some more after that as three stones will take me down into the "normal" range.

I don't believe that I comfort eat, per se, but I DO eat chocolate and crisps just because I like them, and because they are easily available from the work canteen. If I can stop myself from just giving in to that then that will be a big help. I may have to rope in my colleagues to help me - certainly a couple of them have no social boundaries and will happily say "oi, don't buy the kitkat, you fatty", if I ask them to!

I am lucky that DH is also a bit on the porky side, so he is going to join me in the weightloss regime of eating less and exercising more. In general I think we eat quite well - our meals are ok. Just need to cut down portion sizes a bit, and make ourselves stop buying the easy delicious snacks at tea break and similar.

I will join the weight tracking next week, I think - this week we are on holiday with my parents, and there are no scales in their house. However, when the doctor weighed me last week I was 12st 8lb - pretty bad for a shortarse like me, but in January 2009 I was 13st 3lb, so I'm glad I haven't got back up to that point. I do actually feel a bit less ashamed of myself now as I know that I have lost half a stone in the least eighteen months, and it hasn't come back even though I have been doing next to no exercise - if I can keep that off without trying too hard then surely I can lose some more? Bring it on, I am ready to face the challenge!

Oh, and womanly? You will be strong, I know it. Thank you so much for your long and helpful message over on the frolickers thread, it has made me feel all empowered and hopeful. Come on, we'll do it together.

Welcome evilgiraffe -Thank you for joining Interestingly my DH is very slim and tall -- so while he's been exercising with me he has managed to lose 2kgs and that's alarming me...lol
Let's do it together. I am now weighing myself over the weekend.. so go ahead and weigh urself and update the list below with your new target goal. That way we're only focused on our target goal and following the trend..as it plumets to zero

PCO Six Month Challenge list:
Week #3: Aug 24-31

WomanlyTales #1[14kg]#2[13.1kg]#3[12kg]
Desiretochange #1[2st]
Oiteach #1[10lb]
ClareMaggieE #1 [5st]
Beachtent #1[2st]
EvilGiraffe #3[10kg]

Graduates:
TartyMcFarty [2.5st]
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Hi ya,

Can I join? I have PCOS & struggling to understand what I can eat with the low GI milarky! I need a BMI of 29 at least to get IVF help (been TTC for 2 1/2 years).

I need HELP!!!!!

x

Welcome Fairy. We'd love to have u. How much wd u like to lose by 2011? I will post the updated list tonight when I get home. Another week has flown by and I am learning firsthand how challenging written loss is. Went for a movie last night and did not succumb to snacks or dessert. Strangely enuf didn't feel starved. Ie, I now am recognizing when I am not hungry. Yuppie. Portioning is my current challenge. As typical I can't control it so I have opted to go very light with dinner... ie a handful of grapes. Hope this helps me keep me on my path. I feel quite determined ladies, and I know we're all going to make it to a healthier, slimmer 2011. Do update the list with ur weight goals if u can.

GI options: my endocrinogist said this: fill ur plate with veggies then lean protein and then only good sugar like brown bread or rice. So instead of a sandwich, have an open one so that halves ur sugar right away. I got some excellent books fm my local library too. Hope this gets u started. Good luck.

Thank you for warm welcome.

I need to lose a stone asap. My weight has fluctuated back up to 14st 7 so really need to get it down for IVF!

My bible at the mo is PCOS for Dummies. Can you recommend any others to do with GI food?

x

Happy Monday ladies,
My lesson from the weekend was this: I am my worst enemy. I had a fabulous weekend in terms of food all up until Sunday evening when I was tired, alone and decided to eat despite KNOWING that I was not hungry. What did I have? A packet of crutons, a sandwich and two handfulls of peanuts.
HOWEVER instead of going into a 'why, why, why' vicious cycle of more eating... I've discovered that it's really important for each of us to be awe-inspiring for motivation with ourselves first and one another. And then this morning I read the same in this article - www.guardianeatright.co.uk/news/article.cfm?code=27101&article_id=2105
This is a fabulous newsletter to subscribe to - it's free and always has at least one article and/or day plan that is helpful.

PCO Six Month Challenge list:
Week #4: Aug 1-7

WomanlyTales #1(14kg)#2(13.1kg)#3(12kg)#4(12.5kg)
Desiretochange #1[2st]
Oiteach #1[10lb]
ClareMaggieE #1 [5st]
Beachtent #1[2st]
EvilGiraffe #3[10kg]
Fairygodmother1 #4(1st)

Graduates:
TartyMcFarty [2.5st]
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fairy Here's a really excellent book for PCOS: Elsheikh M, Murphy C, Polycystic ovary syndrome: The Facts, Oxford University Press, 2008
ISBN 978-0-19-921368-9

About shifting weights: I measure myself everyday - I feel that if I don't do that, I will slip up. In doing so I've realized that my weight does a lot of shifting around... IE - about 200 - 500 gms one way or the other. Have you experienced the same?

Today's measure read that I was 500gms heavier than last week. It made me more guilty about my 'slip up' last night...and doubly so because I had a really good weekend!!

Hi Womanly Thanks for the book tip. Yeah I tend to go up and down about 1lb every day (approx 400g)!!! But apparently thats natural for everyone!!!

x

Well, today I brought goodies to work (it's traditional to bring stuff back with you when you've been on holiday), and I managed to restrict myself to one piece of fudge and one piece of shortbread and NO MORE. It is a small victory, but a victory nonetheless! Me and DH also went for a walk when we got home, which was a bit slow due to the hideous blister I have on my left foot. However, it is more than I usually do when I get home. DH also took the GPS with us and mapped and timed our route, so we can try to beat our times and go further as the days and weeks go on.

Generally I think it is exercise rather than food that is my big problem, but I have shared my troubles with a couple of my colleagues which may make things easier. With any luck I may be going swimming with one of my colleagues if we can get ourselves organised!

I am feeling hopeful at the start of my first proper week of trying to lose weight

Good for you giraffe on the victory :) Every little counts (though I don't like that slogan for Tesco!!!). Going for swimming sounds great - I would love to go once/twice a week -- but am terribly at executing.
Am feeling really really blue. And eating a lot more than normal... oh dear...

Hello ladies,
It's weighing time -- Here's our list.
PCO Six Month Challenge list:
Week #4: Aug 8-15

WomanlyTales #1(14kg)#2(13.1kg)#3(12kg)#4(12.5kg)#(11.7kg)
Desiretochange #1[2st]
Oiteach #1[10lb]
ClareMaggieE #1 [5st]
Beachtent #1[2st]
EvilGiraffe #3[10kg]
Fairygodmother1 #4(1st)

Graduates:
TartyMcFarty [2.5st]

It's now 1st 1lb as I put on a lb this week!!!