Now I know I know, I used to laugh at my parents when they would say 'we are dieting using slim fast or something!
Well the time has come, I can no longer eat what I want and stay a nice size 12.
No one tells me the truth, I feel I am putting on weight I ask my family and no one tells the truth!
I need a really easy 'diet' to follow please.
I am a sort of big eater but thats not junk food might I add!
I haven't been to my kick boxing classes for a few months either which isn't helping, I do hope to soon return to complete my gradings, but in the mean time some suggestions would be greatly received! :D :(

We found that the best thing was smaller helpings and drinking more water. My husband lost 3 stone in 4 months that way, painlessly. :)

Thanks JG, I will try that I am getting a little depressed with the way i think I look, maybe its me just getting older (31)
I have friends that have been size 12 when we was teenagers then we have kids (I had two kids) and then my friends seem to go back to a size 12 again!!!

If you eat 'proper' food rather than ready-meals (vastly expensive) and junk food, then smaller portions, more fruit and veg, and more water to drink, is the best way forward. Not only is it cheaper because you don't have to buy any special foods, it's something you can live with. Weight gain creeps up slowly, so needs to be lost slowly. Aim to lose no more than 2lb a week, then it won't be too much of a shock to the system and your skin is less likely to go all saggy because it'll be shrinking gradually.

And if you're depressed (a genuine condition; been there, got the tee-shirt) try to be outside in the daylight and fresh air more. It really does work better than prescription drugs. Walking the dog can literally save your sanity.

Oh yes - a gentle toning exercises (yoga, or Callanetics-type stuff) tightens the muscles and trims the figure.

Hope this helps. :)

Thanks again JG, I will give it a go, xxxx

For what it's worth, about getting depressed abut the way you look -my ultimate dream is to be a size 16 again! But I haven't been that small since I was aged 22!

I don't know why I feel a little depressed, I am sure it is down to my body, have been through a lot of sadness losing my boy (mika) and also my girl having Pyo and all.
I still fit into my size 14 clothes but feel my tummy and chin are getting a tad bigger.
I don't eat much fatty foods, love my veg, chicken, salad etc
And I do like rice
I will try the cutting red meats out and drinking more water, I do like the odd glass of coke that doesn't help i suppose! :D
if I stick to the water, veg, chicken, fish etc diet how soon should I see a difference? (i know, how long is a peace of string!)

I find writing down what I eat helped me because if your a snacker you can eat far more than you actually realise!

Low fat treats can be things like: meringue nest with yoghurt and summer fruits, solero ice creams, skinny cow ice creams, low fat muller yoghurts, etc

Good luck! :)

When I've got time, in the next few days, I'll type down one that came with an item of exercise equipment I bought :d  In lots of ways it's very similar to the one that the heart foundation gives to patients who need to lose weight before surgery.  It's plenty of meals and a really good variation for the day.  I've just started it in the last few days.  Like you I'm a size 14 but was always skinny and I mean skinny as a youngster.  I'm down to 11 stone now, had crept up to 11 and a half but managed just in a couple of weeks to lose half a stone, but I've been exercising also.

My main problem is my stomach too.  When I was using the AB Lounger I started noticing within a week that my waist was appearing, unfortunately I've stopped using it but will be doing it again shortly.  I've also just signed up to start doing Cani-Cross with my dogs.

I feel ya Gemini,i'm 5"8 and have always hovered around 58kg's,size 7-8. I know exactly what has triggered my weight gain(25kg in 2 years),poor eating schedules! I used to eat breakfast,lunch and dinner with maybe a small snack inbetween.I dont know what or why it happened,but i havnt eaten breakfast or lunch in years,i will instead have umpteen bags of those snack size popcorn packs during the day and a handful of jelly beans when i walk past the pantry,i do eat dinner which usually isnt till around 8pm,which is too late IMO for a large meal.

I think the key is  small regular meals,some say 5-6 smaller healthy meals a day,rather than 3 large ones which will keep the metabolism working and drink loads of water.Dont deprive yourself of the things you love,like chocolate or whatever it may be,have a bit every now and then.
Start walking your dogs more and choose hilly locations and pick up the pace :)

Don't be so hard on yourself.........................and please, ignore size labels in clothes. Keep a check on your weight instead. If your clothes size sometimes changes its probably more to do with where the item is made than you !.
Our bodies do change as we get older and as others have said, keeping to a good diet with exercise is the best way.

Val (somebody who needs to practise what she preaches !).

[iOur bodies do change as we get older ]

I have found that as time goes on we are no longer able to fight the pull of gravity which could explain why so many elderly ladies have very thin necks and rather large ankles :D

Very true :D  and lets not even think about what gravity does inside :D

Very good reliable weight loss can be achieved if you eat about as much lean protein as will fit in your hand (thinking about one boneless, skinless chicken breast, yoghurt, couple fo eggs) and twice the amount of veg or about the same amout of complex carbohydrate (rice, whole grain bread). (old fashioned meals recently renamed The Zone Diet) Keep some fat; you need a few grams a day to keep yourself healthy. Works out to 40% carbo, 30% protein and 30% fat.  When I gained weight after moving here I lost about 2 lbs a week following those simple guidelines. I would eat three meals a day that were like that plus an afternoon snack like half an apple and a slice of cheese.

You can get loads more complicated about it but that's a simple rule that's easy to follow.

Thank you to everyone with your replys.
Well I have had my fair share of exercise today! :D
Took dogs out then helped OH take everything out of our shed (12ft by 8ft) chucked out all the rubbish and cut the shed in half as we do not need such a big shed anymore!
Called a rubbish collector to come out and take all the rubbish, he turned up in a tipper truck and we filled it up to the brim!

Gave myself a small but plentyful portion of dinner tonight, Chicken curry and rice (home made) now relaxing going to relax on the sofa with a glass of water and an apple.

I am about 5ft 8, and believe I weigh about 11 1/2 stone, so would like to loose some weight!

Thanks again to all of you xxxxxxx