After spending most of yesterday in tears, i have finally had the wake up call I so badly needed and am now on a very strict diet!

Went shopping yesterday morning and whilst at the checkout, saw one of my daughters mums go by and boy did she look stunning!  She came over to speak to me and I felt really awkward and ashamed of the way I looked, it was horrible.  I mustered all the energy I had not to cry in front of her but as soon as I got to the car, the floodgates opened :(.

I have struggled with my weight since leaving the forces (in 1999) and having 4 children probably didn't help (especially with the added skin ;)).  I left my job at the beginning of December but managed to stop the anymore weight creeping on but since the end of January I have put on almost 2 stone!  My eating habits haven't changed - in fact, I think I eat better now than i did then.  But I feel awful.  The only way I could describe it to my OH was that I actually felt 8 months pregnant in the way I looked and felt, ie bloated, uncomfortable, awkward in movement etc etc.

So ........ I need to lose weight and just wondered if all you CD'ers out there would encourage me on the way!  I have decided that instead of aiming for a particular weight as I have before, I am going to aim for small steps at a time, ie, first goal is to lose 8lb, second goal 6lb and so on with a treat at each step until I am happy with the way I feel.

I need to do this for myself.......
Kerri x

Hi Kerri,

I know how you feel. Two years ago I joined Weight Watchers and was almost 14st - I'm only 5' 3". I was absolutely devastated but it was the shock that I needed. I became obsessed with weight loss and hardly ate anything but lost 4st in 6 months..............Totally the wrong way to go about it and unfortunately, because I lost it all so fast, as soon as I began eating - albeit healthly, the weight crept back on. I'm almost back to square one and so unhappy with my body but I just can't get into the correct frame of mind at the moment to do something about it. You obviously are in that correct frame of mind and you have made a huge positive step by realising enough is enough, so well done you! Weight Watchers have fantasticly supportive message boards (when the trolls aren't spoiling things) You don't have to be a member to join and its free - I found the support superb. Good luck and please let us know how your getting on.

Snap, lost 5 1/2 stone and have put it all back on in the last two years

I will support you all the way, I struggle with my weight, but it is self-inflicted, I eat too much of the wrong stuff.  How simple is that for me to say very, but to do anything about it hard, although not impossible.  Keep up the positive attitude and when you start to think chocolate/crisps/chips or whatever is your vice think of the moment that made you decide to lose weight.  I am back at Slimming world and lost 4.5 lbs last week. weigh in on  a wednesday for me.  I went to daughters Saturday evening and i was putting her make up on for her and granddaughter was messing around on my phone taking pictures of mummy and I have never been so embarrassed of how i look, i've kept these pictures on my phone and i will look at them whenever i feel like straying away from my healthy eating plan (not alllowed to say diet!).  Feel free to PM me or email we can do this! I have 12 weeks before daughter gets married and 14 weeks before I go to Crete! 

I'm another yoyo dieter, at my heaviest 15 1/2 st, so know how you feel. So I decided to give it another go in Frbruary, but this time, I have increased the exercise and stopped weighing myself every 5 minutes. Instead I have only allowed myself near the scales once a month. if I fancy chocolate, crisps or whatever then I go for it and don't beat myself up about it and , because I'm not weighing myself all time, I have avoided that " well I'm a greedy pig and  haven't lost any weight for 3 hours" mentality.

It is really working well for me and I feel that at last I have found a way of controlling my eating that I will be able to sustain.

My tip of the day is to only weigh yourself once a month!!

I need to loose weight. Ok I am not fat but need to loose about 1/2 stone to a stone before I run the Great North Run for Jazzywoo in September, but I havnt the motivation at all :( :( :( I eat all the wrong things, Like currently finishing my sons Pizza!!!!!!
Excercise is a good way to go :D Isnt it Lesley ;)
Good Luck, as long as you are in the right frame of mind you can do it :D :D :D :D
Lea :)

Yea Lea!  says Lesley eating Tuc biscuits!  and B eating popcorn! 

Now Now as your coach I will tell the head coach!!!!!
Just remember a Pint of Beer is Better for you l;) ;) ;)
Lea :)

Have pm'ed you
x

I'm sending you positive thoughts and encouragement!

Good luck.  Don't forget exercise is a big thing to encourage in loosing of weight to keep the skin toned so if you can join a gym, go swmming or the similar. :)

Whatever diet you choose good luck, if it doesn't work then stand tall and try another one :)

GO GIRL GO!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D

Kerry best of luck, like you i have struggled with my weight since having my 3 children and giving up smoking, i to yo-yo diet but am trying so hard to be good:rolleyes:

Good luck Kerry. I have just typed out a programme for a friend of mine. It has meal ideas etc which are healthy if your interested? I've lost 3 stone at ww by following it. Just let me know if you want it. :)

Yes please!  she says biting your hand off! LOL  I would appreciate all the help you can give me at the moment so yes please to the meal ideas. 

Thank you!
x

Please could I have it too??!!!!

And kerrib I will support you all the way if you promise to support me too!!! I need to lose loads of weight for my self confidence to build back up!!

Have PM'd you both :)

Thank you I got that, I have also forwarded it to another friend. I couldn't believe how much choice there was, am definately going to give it a bash.:-D

Its information Ive gathered over the years and kind of put together myself. Obviously you need to not over indulge with portion sizes but you can eat a lot if its the right kind of thing!!

Also make up some of the soup and keep some in the freezer and if you ever feel peckish you can have that without damaging any diet!

I forgot to put on the desserts meringue nests, topped with fruit and then topped with yogurt. Thats a really low fat dessert! :)

I found not only watching what I eat but I also took up a sport to encourage my exercising.
I mean I walk about 4 miles a day with taking kids to school and walking my dogs, but needed to do something that I had to go to and be instructed to do exercise! I had no motivation at home to keep the exercise up at all.
I searched around and found that American Kick Boxing was the way to go, as it consisted of more 'exercises' then actually boxing.
A typical lesson is (on done with music playing):
Skipping for 3 minutes then stretching for 1 minute
Skipping again for 3 minutes.
Then pair up and hit the pads for about 30 minutes.
After this we then do 3 mins of: sprinting, sit ups, press ups, knee jumps etc:
And to end we stretch again.
It does sound like hard work but it is great fun and we all have a good laugh! :D and its not just fit people that take part, as I go as well! We have several women and men that just come to do the exercises to reduce their weight.
You do not have to 'fight' in Kick Boxing, it is an option.  It is great and has given me alot of confidence and is a useful martial art. :P

My advice (not that you asked for any so feel free to ignore :P ) would be to join Weightwatchers, the reason being that if you stick to their fab. points system, you can eat chocolate as well as more sensible food and still lose weight. You know you will lose if you stick to your allocated points, it's that simple :)

I've tried several other "diets" or methods,  and I'd only ever recommend WWs. unless you have oodles of time and can perhaps casually lose weight by eating healthily, but I find that harder and long for chocolate :D

Good luck - and keep in touch about things!

Lindsay
x

Lots of positive thoughts heading your way...
Psycologically saying you are on a strict diet could be self defeating... try to think positively ALL the time, have three meals a day as usual, and carry bottled water with you everywhere, if you keep taking sips throughout the day it will ward off any hunger pangs between meals (its also very good for you ;-) )
Also try to exercise, even if it is just walking the dogs, do it, go father, try to walk everywhere you would normally drive.
You can do this... think positive.
Also as someone else said do NOT become obsessed with your weight, just be happy when your clothes are a little looser - it will soon be noticable.
Good Luck

Since Christmas my husband has lost the three stone he'd gradually gained over the past 20 years. It was done by eating more fruit and veg and less in the way of cake or biscuits, and having slightly smaller portions. We'd always eaten pretty healthily, but the portions were too big. Now that those are more reasonable it hasn't been very difficult - I've lost 10lb without trying, but just by sharing the regime with him.

Go for it - you'll feel so much happier in yourself, and that's what really matters. We're with you all the way!

On January 17th this year I had a 'lightbulb moment' thanks to a throwaway remark I heard on the radio that you don't see old fat people.  How true is that?  I was very overweight (or obese according to my GP) and realised that I couldn't go on being that weight.  :rolleyes:

I vowed then to change the way I ate.  For me, that is the only way to do things as I have never been a dieter and I so love food.  I immediately cut down my portion size and took to weighing my food.  No wonder I was putting on weight as my portion sizes were two or three times the recommended amount.  Since 17th Jan I've lost two stone.   I now eat less (although the same things which have always been healthy), don't snack at all, walk further each morning with the dogs and faster.  One regular walk used to take me 50 mins, I can now do that in under 40 as I push myself; I also walk further.

So no dieting, just sensible eating and more exercise after all weight loss isn't rocket science.  Eat 3,5000 calories too much and you gain a pound in weight.

Dieting = Bad
Lifestyle change = Good
Less food + more exercise = weight loss

It's not rocket science that if you eat too much and don't exercise enough then you'll weigh too much. A little re-balancing can do the trick.

Easy does it is the best way; reduce portion sizes, cut out snacks and biscuits with your tea, and all those unnecessary bars of chocolate, walk a bit further, faster and more regularly and you'll see the benefit.

If you lose 1lb per week, that's approx 4 stone in a year. 8oz per week is 2 stone. Long term aims are best.

If you lose 1lb per week, that's approx 4 stone in a year. 8oz per week is 2 stone. Long term aims are best.
I had never actually thought about losing weight like that before.

You are not on your own Kerry, I am going to be one of those people in life who has to watch my weight, in Feb 2006 I joined a Rosemary Connelly class topping the scales at 14 stone - 12 months on I have lost three stone of it and just trying to maintain it week in week out.

I am a very nevous person and found going to class really scary but it was the best thing I did, I have made some great friends along the way and the encouragement has been great.

My best tip is to lose a little each week ie 1 to 2 lb and if you have a bad day like munching on sweets don't worry just start again the next day. Like the CD posters said I looked at it as a life style change rather than a diet. I cut out alot of rubbish, I felt better in myself not so worn out and my PMT is not so bad much to the relief of the OH.

I wish you all the luck in the world it just takes time

Kerri, go for it, you can do it!!!

Try to get into a good healthy eating regime rather than a diet - otherwise you'll be constantly thinking of food.  And, the most important thing is EXERCISE  - it'll help burn calories and in turn you'll find you have lots more energy!

Good luck :)

Hi Kerri, I understand how you feel as I feel exactly the same way myself at the moment. I have been to Slimming World in the past and twice I have lost 4 stones only to put it all back on. I am a comforter eater and the minute I feel stressed I reach for chocolate or just feel the need to binge eat. I booked a holiday back in January for August with the intention of losing weight, I have not lost any and I am so mad with myself. I don't want to attend diet meetings all my life so recently I decided that healthy eating and cutting out cakes etc. is the way to go. Little changes and little weight losses are easier to maintain. I have good and bad days but I do feel in control, I can say yes or no to what I eat. I am with you all the way. I personally think weight loss needs to start in the mind. Being mentally focused is important. Have a plan, but a flexible plan that fits in with your lifestyle. Maybe we should have a CD diet club to exchange ideas, recipes and to support and encourage one another. I wish you lots of luck, you CAN do it.
jane

Hi....

If you want a "buddy" give me shout....I am going to WW as I was nearly 4 stone over weight.......at 14st 4.5lbs...I have lost 2 st 4.5 lbs and I feel great....I still have a bit to go and this time I am determined to get it off and keep it off......I am a keen motorbike enthusiast along with my hubby....we are plannind on touring Ireland in 9 days time for a week and then in august we and 2 other couple are off to Europe, I would never have done a tour to Europe last year.....I looked like the michelin man in my gear!! When I say pictures of my holiday from Egypt in September I nearly died.......bless my hubby he has never said anything about my weight, but now he like the new " trimmer" me :)  and he is very good he eats what I eat only bigger portions and we agree, we def eat much much better now.  Also the variety that we eat has changes tremendously....we still have the odd take away and we usually eat out 2-3 times a month so it can be done.......I find the nights when I am on my own are the most dangerous...cause I eat when I am bored or on my own ....which is a lot as hubby is long distance HGV driver...so now I visit people and I take Sky with me so that she gets to see her " aunties and Uncles" .......my house has also taken on a "clean" and "shiney" appearance as cleaning keeps me out of the fridge and from cupboard surfing.. :)..

Come on girl you can do it.... :)

Maintaining weight is like training dogs - what works for me might not work for you. But, when I was at my fittest I ate a good balanced diet. Lots of lean meat, veg and complex carbs such as rice rather than pasta. I exercised every day both aerobic and weight lifting. The biggest help for me to maintain that lifestyle was to have a "see-it, eat-it" day. I love my food and I really love my sweets. So Fridays I ate everything in whatever quantity I wanted. All the cakes, pizza, lasagna, fat, sugar... you get the idea. Total denial forever does not work for me. By limiting my bad food to 1 day I stayed a healthy 8 stone, 15% body fat even when I ate all that garbage.

You will feel better. Don't feel self-loathing because you had a cake. So what, tomorrow have an apple. Aim for slow and you will not be so disappointed. Two pounds a month doesn't sound like much but this time next year you'll be 2 stone lighter! Build up your muscle tone to increase your metabolic rate, eat less garbage and walk those dogs! You can do it girl!! :-D

Sounds like you have a few friends on here Kerri! You can do it!

CRUMBS!

I feel really overwhelmed with all your responses and you lot have just set me off again.  Thank you!  There are so many posts but I will try to reply to some later but just thought I would give some more info.

I have always been a yoyo dieter and my weight generally varies by +- 2/3 lb.  I have to agree with JG and say yes portion size has a lot to do with it in our household:rolleyes:  Doesn't help that we have quite big dinner plates and they always look empty so we just keep adding.  The children aside (who are not overweight at all, probably more the other way), until I can find some other plates, I am now using my bestest dinner set for the plates as they are a lot smaller and psycologically (sp) the plate looks a lot fuller. 

With everything that has been going on lately with OH and his work, moving, not moving, promotion, being discharged, being reinstated (the list goes on and on) we have been very stressed out and like a couple of you mentioned, I am also a comfort eater.  Big style!  I have been known to scrape together the ingredients together to make buns just so I can have one as I have a very sweet tooth.  Chocolate obviously is the big one!  Also I am a sucker for bread especially if it has just been baked.

I dont drink (last one was probably a glass of bubbly at New Year) or smoke (never have).  I dont eat crisps or snack/cereal bars or drink tea or coffee, or like curries/chinese etc - I am a very plain eater.  I usually drink Robinsons F&B squash, water or diet coke.  I do eat fruit (probably 2/3 a day) and veg although I cant stand it undercooked or raw.  Unfortunately I don't like any salad so I do struggle to bulk out a meal without this so I tend to have bread instead.

A lot of my problems is the portion size, sweet things and bread.  So I have to train myself onto a new way of thinking and a new lifestyle.  Portions sizes have now been reduced with no second helpings, cutting out cakes completely with the occassional chocolate treat if I have been good for a few days, reducing the amount of diet coke I drink (probably drink too much which wont help the bloatedness) and cutting down on my bread intake.

I have started using our running machine again (in the garage with one of those exercise/weight stations that i bought OH).  It is uncomfortable running at the minute due to my ummm ...... how shall I put it ......  saggy skin :rolleyes: so am just power walking but I will increase to running as I start to lose a little weight.  I take Misty out every day for about an hour (OH takes her out first thing for a quickie before going to work).  I used to swim quite a lot so will be going into town next week to buy myself a new cossy and will be going to the late evening sessions (so noone can see me).

Its hard to think that 8 years ago, I played squash 4/5 times a week, run 3/4 times and swam 4 times a week and played/trained rugby twice a week.  I am 5'4 and was a size 8/10 but I was actually still 11 stone!  This is why I never say I want to get to a particular weight.  I know that I will never be that slim/fit again but I have a rough idea of what size I would like to be and I want to feel healthier.  Also I have been complaining since my twins were born that I hated my stomach and my OH has said he would pay for me to have surgery which is what I have wanted for a long time (major confidence issues there) but obviously I need to lose weight before I could so that is my long term goal!!

OH has done WW in the past and so we still have the points calculator/books etc etc so I am going to follow that for a while to see how I get one and Harry has said that he is going to join me as an added incentive (doesn't need to lose any at all but I just had to hug him and say thank you). 

Thank you again for all of you taking time to reply.  I wish I could meet each and everyone of you to give a hug and thank you!
Kerri xx

Best of luck and Iam sure you will do it- making it a whole family thing helps as well- smaller plates thats a great idea- healthier meals- snacks ect is a great way to start too...

My one friends when she stopped smoking gained alot of weight- she started the calorie diet and within the year lost a great deal and looked great- there was many times she felt like stopping but stuck to it and now wow she looks fab... She stopped drinking pop ect, she had alot of water and milk (1%-2%) with her meals... I know drinking alot of water helps plus makes ur skin look better too...

I personally had to stop drinking pop, juice due to a hiatus hernia (I have it on occasions) it just causes heart burn and have turned to water and have found I even shed off some pounds in doing this- since Iam at work I only have milk with my supper and water the rest of the time... I do have one cup of coffee in the morning- just gotta...

cheers!!! :)

Not sure if you would want this but this is the site my friend went on http://www.calorie-count.com/

Good luck Kerri.  I had a moment just like you when it hit me that I was 'fat' and not just a bit overweight.  I found myself a diet that worked for me, I read a few diet books and just like India Knight (I think that's her name) I found that carbs were my problem.  I now follow a healthy low GI diet and lost 2 stone - slowly.  I have managed to maintain my weight (give or take 4-5 lbs - no one is an angel :) ) for over 4 years.  Everyone has a key to dieting success, what works for one does not work for another, I hope you find what works for you. 

Good luck.

I'm currently on a 'lifestyle change' & have lost 1 stone of the 6 I need to lose.

I need to loose at least 7 stone before I have an operation that I need and help is always greatfully accepted.

You've got my support all the way, kerrib :)

My hot tip for exercising - short burts of intense exercise are more effective than long training sessions!  Scientifically proven too, I'll have a hunt around for an article tonight.  It's in a New Scientist kicking about somewhere :D

For diet - I'm a huge fan of the Diet Doctors (ch 5 prog), I bought their book a while back when I was having major mood issues - everyone here was so supportive, and I know they will be for you too :) Anyhoo, I digress... what made me buy it was that instead of saying "this is wrong, eat that" it says "you've got this symptom (say, circles under the eyes, white spots on fingernails), it means this, so you need more of that" and so on.  It's made the world of difference to me, and hopefully permanently too!

Good luck, remember CD is here if you need help fighting the choccy biscuits :D

Oh Kerri!!!
I was soo upset to read about your experience... ((Gert big HUG))
Tons of support from me too, Atta girl :D
If you feel tempted... here's a novel way of dealing with unwanted food, should keep your fingers busy ;)
Click on the cow for a quite gross deterrent :D ;)
Lots of love and luck from me x

That was fun  and have a look at my score on the Cow Quiz :)

who'd have thought a cow site would be so busy!?
your scores not there anymore Isabel (Im not a fully fledged cow ;) Only got 5/10 in the quiz)

Got 7 so clearly more bovine :)

Yiphee 8!  Can't believe i am getting excited about cow splatting!!! :D :D

Thanks HG!    It has just really surprised me by the response of everyone!  No turning back now!  Had no bread today which is a first in my household and no chocolate!!!!

Kerri

How you getting on Kerrib ? 

Hi.  As you can tell from my siggie, I had a very slow start - mainly due to a 4 day visit to MIL's where anything remotely healthy is strictly forbidden! :rolleyes:  It took a couple of days after getting back to start again so I didn't actually lose anything but in the last week I have now lost 3.5 lb!  (the .5 is very important! :D :D).  Also our garage is now cleared of rubbish - some very nice men came and took all it all away yesterday so I can go on the treadmill again so hopefully this weight will drop off!  Only another 4.5 lb to go to my first goal and then my treat - a trip to the cinema probably.  After that I will set a new goal so slowly but surely I WILL GET THERE! LOL :D :D :D

I agree the half means everything, that is really good weight loss well done you, keep up the good work and have fun on the threadmill x

Well done Kerrib! They say that when you lose 10 pounds its a dress size so your definately on your way!!! How are you finding it?

I think they should ban those cadbury adverts before and after corro cos thats when I crave chocolate the most! Damn those adverts!!!

Well done.  It might seem a little but it's a huge step really.  As long as you continue it will very soon just drop off.

Also even though you didn't loose anything in your first week, it's better then gaining :)

Keep up the great work!

Just an update!

Weighed myself this morning - I'VE LOST ANOTHER 5.5lb!!!!!!!!

This means that I have reached and PASSED my first goal by 1 lb!   Total loss so far of 9lb!!  I am really chuffed!  *cant you tell";)

It was a very slow start to the diet and the first week I didn't lose anything BUT didn't put on either, however, I am most definitely on the right tracks now!  All thanks to you....... :D

My new 2nd goal is again 8lb.  Now running again (did 1/2 mile on the treadmill last night without stopping - might not sound very far but it felt good afterwards) so hopefully this will help the weight drop off.

I have to say one thing and that is I never realised you could do so many things with fish!
:D :D :D

Wow well done! Thats brilliant!! :D

Well done- :) Your doing great!!!

Awesome news keep it up