Where to start

[Sunshineseeker80]

So I joined on Monday and now I feel totally overwhelmed with everything and don't know where to start! I have done WW before so understand the concept of the points system, if not the value of everything under the new system.

I decided to join because I have put on a huge amount of weight since having my baby 14 months ago. I need to lose 20kg just to get down to pre pregnancy weight and another 20kg after that to get to the lower end of a healthy BMI.

I've also just returned to work after mat leave except it's a new job, new company, new country in fact! After a day at work and putting baby to bed I just want to collapse and watch meaningless TV all evening. I know I NEED to do something but I can't quite get my mind in the right place, and I know I won't be successful unless it is. Has anyone else experienced this??

As well as any general advice as to how to get some motivations and energy going, I could do with some help on some specifics.

• how to you get organised? Weekly shops? Meal plans? How long does it take to do them?
• if you have a toddler what kind of meals work for you all?
• how do you stick to the plan when you are tired and cooking seems like a lot of effort?
• if you have a lot of weight to lose like me, how do you look at it so it isn't overwhelming? It feels like I will never get to lose 40kg or at least it will take a year and I don't want to wait that long :)

Any comments gratefully received!!

Hi, I've got a lot to lose too. I rejoined about six weeks ago and have lost 13lbs so far. I'm feeling happy.

I tried to break it down into stones. I'm taking my hubby away for his 50th in a weeks or so and thought that would be a good target for the first stone. I'm almost there and feeling happy that I've achieved that much. Then we are going camping in early June, so that's the goal for the next stone, and after that there is a family wedding in August, so that will be target no 3...

This time I've tried to change how I am doing it (I've also done it many times before, once very successfully, many times not fully committed). So I've dug out a lot of my old recipe books and made new things. I've done huge veg soups, which I then freeze in portion size containers (Chinese takeaway containers are perfect). I also do that for some everyday meals, I make healthy bolognaises, curries, ratatouille and chillies, then freeze them in individual portions (I usually do 9/10 portions at a time) and freeze them, so there is always something healthy that I can defrost quickly when I don't have much time.

I've also been walking the dogs more, and trying to make their walks hilly. Could you do pushchair runs?

Hope that's of some help.

Batch cooking is definitely the way to go.

I do a weekly shop. If you are working the last thing you want is to have to go food shopping on the way home. Meal planning is worth it as you get the right food in. Choose things that are quick to cook