Hi everyone

However much I agree with Sanji, I NEED the strictness of weighing myself. It helps me. I may be disappointed on a regular basis but this does give me the incentive to try harder the following week (honest !). As for exercise, once I get going, I enjoy it. It gives me more energy and even though you may ache the next day, the results long term are more than rewarding. About 8 weeks before I went on holiday last year, I really buckled down and lost nearly a stone (and dropped a dress size). I was still disappointed because there was one pair of trousers I really wanted to wear and still couldn't, but I was pleased that I had lost that weight and had a better holiday for it.

Ive got 8 months to lose the weight this time and I am feeling confident that I can reach my personal goal(s) and get in to those trousers (maybe even a few more things that are tucked away in the dark depths of my wardrobe. The ones that I refuse to get rid of ). I'm back to the exercise. Hopefully start swimming again in the next couple of weeks. I don't follow a strict diet. Never have. I do eat healthy and instead of reaching for that packet of crisps (which is a personal demon for me) I go for the piece of fruit instead. I don't deprive myself. If I want something then I have it and cut down the following day. Whatever works for you is the best and a bit of encouragement and/or sympathy when needed from the kind people on this thread more than help. Thanks.

Anyway, enough rambling . I have lost 1lb this week and over 2 inches again from my waist, tummy and hips. Result as far as I'm concerned and I am pleased .

Good luck all
Sarah

Being honest sometimes gets me into trouble, but moderation really is the key to success and depriving yourself of certain foods is bound to make you irritable and fail.

I have spent most of my life working shifts, I could work earlies, lates and nights all in one week and half the time I didn't know what day it was.
My 2 boys and hubby all left the house at 8.30 am for work and school, and being 10 years between the two boys, plus the hubby around in the morning, then some days they went off and I was still in bed.

I'd have my breakfast at 11am and then think about going to work for the late shift.
The hubby and kids had a dinner at work and school, so I'd bring in fish n chips at 9.30 pm and then go to bed on a full stomach because I couldn't be bothered with cooking at that time of night.
My lifestyle contributed to my previous failures.

I started making headway with the weight problem when I got a transfer that meant I worked 8.30 am to 5pm I could then somehow get more organised especially if I was in the area, I could pop home and make myself a sandwich, but I still had to resist the biscuits, cakes etc etc.

Previously in the hospital dining room, I'd end up having sausage, chips and beans because we didn't have all that much money and whilst the meals were subsidised, the cost mounted up over a month
The weight would steadily creep on, then I'd get more disillusioned and back on the strict yo yo dieting lose it, gain it back, lose it, gain even more back.

When I retired and found myself at home all day long then I really could have ate all day long, it was very easy to slip back into old habits, but by this time, the boys had left home and I had no excuse "¦I was what I ate.!
I stopped buying biscuits altogether, my hubby never ate them anyway, and the boys would moan when they came to visit me"¦"what no biscuits in the house"?

I bought a George Forman when they first came out and we (me & hubby) started to actually sit down and eat a balanced meal together before 7 pm.

I never deprived myself of anything... but did I need that bar of chocolate sat watching the TV, when I had, had a balanced meal at 7pm ?"¦
The answer is no, and this is where self control and breaking the habit comes into the scenario I'd get up and grab an apple instead and slowly but surely the desire for the chocolate wanes away.

I still eat chocolate, but I'd be sick if I ate a bar of the stuff now....just a couple of squares once or twice a week is OK for me.....

Your palate changes in time, you might not believe me, but it does.
I always have had a sweet tooth from being a child....I'd eat the puddings and sod the dinners, and now when we go abroad and the hotel has all these synthetic cream gateau's, trifle and jelly etc....
I can honestly say that they do not interest me anymore and I don't even have to think about it either.

Previously, I'd know I shouldn't have them, but "what the hell" I'm gonna have some.... then go on the guilt trip after I had eaten whatever.
Now, if I really really fancy a bit of trifle, then I have some, I just don't eat it everyday and have a portion that would feed the British Army.
That's where the word "moderation" becomes the key to success.!

HTH's
Sanji x

Im the opposite, Sanji. The sweet stuff has never bothered me. I not ashamed to admit that I would rather eat two savoury meals, or reach for a packet of crisps than eat dessert or a bar of chocolate.

Trust me, I know all about dieting. My mum is an expert. It has only been the last few years that she has said stuff it and has finally accepted herself to be what she is. We have never eaten unhealthily but portion size has a lot to do with it. I also have a sister-in-law that is the opposite end of the spectrum. Is a size 4-6, painfully thin and it isn't a good look. Personally, I think she is borderline anorexic but she wont admit having an eating problem and thinks she is ok. Always dieting because she is "fat" and lives on muesli. Even knowing what she is doing to herself, I still feel like an elephant standing next to her and my self-confidence goes to pieces. Everything in moderation is ok if you have the will power to do it.

You dont get into trouble for expressing your opinions and experience. Every comment helps in different ways. Personally, I find it helpful reading about the opinions and experiences of others.

Its lovely debating with you even if it is slightly :offtop. Sorry mods. It does kind of have to do with summer holiday dieting though.

Sarah

Thanks Sarah.
I'm just trying to give whoever is reading this, a bit of encouragement.
We are individuals and have to face and tackle our demons in the way that suits us.
I would never have thought that I would win the weight battle, but with a little bit of self-restraint and sensible eating, then I can keep that demon away.

I personally had to find a way to make myself feel happy and content, and when I was overweight, chose how many times I tried to kid myself that I was happy, I knew deep down inside, that I was not.

I never wanted to be a stick insect or have the "ideal" figure, I just wanted to lose the self consciousness that I had over my weight and I desperately wanted to get into a pair of designer jeans, that was always what I wanted ..to wear a pair of jeans and feel good.

It didn't help the situation when I had a total hysterectomy at the age of 46 and had to go on HRT, I'd lost my "womanhood" and it put 10 years on me overnight.
There were periods where I gave up completely, both physically and physiologically"¦ I just let myself go"¦then it was a catch 22 scenario.

If you're happy and you're truthful with yourself, then just be happy, life is too short to try and mould yourself into something that society says is the "ideal""¦and I never thought I would ever say that either.
But everything in life comes at a price, you have to want it badly enough to find the will power to get it"¦"¦
I wanted it more than anything.
Now. I'll bow out of this...thankyou Sarah for your debate.

Sanji

Sanjii, o wise woman that you are.... what you have written is just so true. Up until about 2 to 3 years ago, i was a size 8/10 everywhere and 7stone wringing wet. i could eat what i wanted and never gain an ounce of weight...but looking back, i probably looked terrible. I smoked anywhere from 5 to 20 a day and i too worked shifts in a stressful job where i was on my feet constantly, sometimes for up to 15 hours a day. I would then get home and be too knackered to eat and would have a bag of crisps and just go to bed to start over again the next day. Rob seriously thought i never ate and many people accused me of being anorexic..but i never was..i could eat like a horse if i had the time to sit down and relax and enjoy it and then relax afterwards.. ( which was once a year on holiday..)
I used to get quite alot of exercise coaching a local football team and run the local school football teams..not to mention just tearing around in day to day life...anyway, life changed in 2005 when i got promoted and became more office based and spent an hour and half driving to work
( each way!!), I gave up smoking and also found i had no time to run the football teams as i was working 13 hours a day and then on call every night..so i ended up piling on 3 stone in the last 2 years.
To start with, i actually felt better in myself for having an extra stone or so on me and everyone said i looked better for having a little more "meat" on me..but eventually, i got a bit of a belly on me and am now heavier than i have ever been ( including the day i gave birth) as i am 11 stone. I am only 5 ft 5 and i do not look good with a belly and a huge bum! I still have a small waist , i am very small boned and sometimes i feel i look pregnant!

I decided myself that i have to lose the weight as i am not reaping the benefits of quitting smoking and exercising...I don't want to be as scrawny as i was before, but i would happily settle for 8 1/2 to 9 stone so i can fit into all my wonderful clothes that i used to wear. I fall off the wagon usually every weekend.. i very rarely touch chocolate, never eat biscuits, very rarely eat crisps..but i still do not have time to exercise like i want to..and all the good work in the week is undone when i go out drinking on a saturday night and have half a dozen voddy's with coke or tonic...

The key is exercise and also to stop remembering how i used to be and accept that as i approach 40, there is no way ever am i going to be the size i was a couple of years ago. Then, and only then, i might succeed in shifting this couple of stone..

There endeth my full and frank confession. ( see what you have started sanjiiiiii)

Yep, you really have started something Sanji. I agree with what you say but sometimes it is so frustrating. I was always a normal weight for my height, no real food issues, moderate exercise and also a busy ward nurse. In my early 30,s I had 2 children in quick succesion, never lost the weight in between and ended up huge. Did a bit of yoyo dieting but eventually knuckled down to a sensible regieme. 3years ago I was a size 10 top and 12 bottoms and , to be fair, a bit scrawny (I am 5'9"). Then things started to go wrong and the weight started to creep on - went into management so not so active and some horrible home problems. The weight was still ok (as I said I was a bit scrawny) but then I had a really freak accident which put me out of action for 4 monthes- crushed neck vertebra, clavicle and rib injuries, pelvic injuries etc. So no exercise, no work amd a dose of the poor me's led to the weight going back.
I know the answer to my problems is sensible eating etc but I so want to lose that first stone FAST
I feel better now!!

Hey, Hey, Hey it was weigh day yesterday Never got chance to report as was working. Lost 0 but I'm not desolate as my clothes feel better on me already. I don't seem to be able to break the habit of my ritual, weekly weigh no matter how much I curse my scales.

Great to read all the new posts. Got the dentist later so hopefully that will put my gob out of action for a few hours

Hey all
I really need some support
I'm 5ft 4 and Im starting my diet with weight watchers next Tuesday and im 16 st and I look like a complete elephant
Im going on holiday the second week of July and I want to be a size 12-14 at the moment I am a size 18 and I get embarrassed and I feel unattractive
Any tips would be a help thanks
Sian x xx x

Hi Sian and welcome. Im also doing weightwatchers, I'm sure you'll manage fine. Its a really flexible diet, I follow the point plan and have lost 8lb in the last 2 weeks. The weightwatchers website is really good as well, the community boards are great, really friendly with great tips and ideas.
Anyway good luck, I'm sure you'll do well.
Gillian.

thanks thats a help my moms doing it with me to for support just gotta work really hard will let you know how i get on

If you can, stay for meetings even if you've had a bad week, it really will help inspire you. So many people just get weighed and then leave.

i will do thanks
just a bit scared i look like a big fat balloon
cnt fit in anythink and my legs are like tree trunks its embarrising
but i will let u know how i get on every week

Don't worry, once you get there you'll find everyone really friendly and realise how many others are in the same position.

Thanks your really understanding
You're like my diet councillor lol
You're a real help as I said I will keep you up to date
Just cant wait to be slim for my holiday in July

Welcome Sian (Triviumgoddess)

We all need a bit of support sometimes and I think you have found a really good place to start. You have taken a massive step by joining a slimming group. Dont be embarrassed about joining weight watchers. There will be plenty of others there who are in the same position as you. Noone is looking at you. They are probably feeling just as conscious! It might be worth thinking about doing a bit of swimming in a few weeks time. Its a brilliant form of exercise. Your local pool might do women only classes and you might not feel so conspicuous with other ladies around. If not swimming then perhaps another form of light exercise to begin with like walking. I do know how you feel, i'm a size 16/18 myself and sometimes I too feel like a elephant. Try and be positive.

Let us know how you get on at your first class and stay positive. It might not happen overnight but if you really want something badly, you can do it.

Sarah

Thanks Sarah (Srhjnmgn) its nice to have support i really appriciate it. I just hate the way i am i can't fit in nice clothes and im constantly binge eating to make myself feel better but i end up feeling worse but if any one else has any advice please let me know
thanks

Sian

Welcome!

Well, you've made the first big step in joining weightwatchers. I'm sure that the diet plus all the other members will give you more willpower than trying to do it all on your own.

Aside from that I would say that go little by little. The major thing, if you do have a blow out, forget it and get back on track again. After all, what's done is done so don't allow it to set you back. After a while it will become a lot easier I'm sure.

For me what I've found is that cutting out things gradually so you barely notice does work. Once you've stopped eating one thing (maybe all it is is butter or you've swapped a choccy biccy for plain), then try something else. That way you won't feel like you're missing out completely as is often the case when you feel like you should be eliminating all the bad stuff - a bit overwhelming isn't it?

But hopefully weightwatchers will help with this. Not that I've tried it, but I gather you can eat what you want but you must add the points up. The temptation might be to use your points eating the 'nice' stuff but I'm sure that won't help your appetite much and you'll settle into a routine where the 'bad/nice' stuff becomes less and less.

Jeez, can't beleive this, the 5 pound i lost a few weeks ago, well i got weighed and I've put three back on. Think the scales MUST be broke.
15 weeks to lose as many pounds................hope i get there

CazzMicknTom. You will.

I think it must be the time of the year. I really dont like January. Its cold and the comfort eating is still larger than life. All that mashed potato. Still, 1st February tomorrow. New month, new start.

Good luck for next week.

Sarah