Lose Weight 23

beanielou

Cant hope to follow victorys post but can only thankyou all so much for all your support.

x_raphael_xx

I gained 1.5 lbs this week, not entirely a surprise (this included a my works do at a Chinese all you can eat, handfulls of chocs brought into the office by drivers, and 4 jam donuts in 1 day!! :eek:) Not like me at all, but it is xmas and I expected to gain before New Year.
So far I've gotten off lightly, as long as I don't go back over 12 st I'll be happy

katiepoppycat

hmmm, do i dare weigh in tomorrow? had a manic night last night but now done all the visiting. I get to finish work at lunch tomorrow too which is ace! Was more sensible yesterday than in last week, so thats a mini step forward. SW just wasn't working for me. I'd plan a green day, stuff myself with free food like potatoes and spaghetti, and then eat enoguh of something else to shove right up over my syns - at which point, i really think if you're doing it regularly, free food stops being free food. So i'm going to try and just be sensible, time to start watching the portion sizes. I'm enjoying having interesting cereal again, which i am weighing to keep under control; plus having fruit juice again is nice too!

victory

Morning:D this may help someone but I have surrounded myself with fruit, satsumas, apples, rhubarb, raspberries,bananas and when the kids yet again get another mince pie, more quality street,more nuts, more biscuits, OH gets more double cream I reach for a piece of fruit,good job most of the stuff I can't have anyway , have bought loads of different crackers to put the hummus on,bought dips I don't like, no breadsticks, going to slice peppers and cucumbers for the dips,bought brown bread not white as that is a button presser for me, trying really hard to stay focused in a sea of food , getting weighed today but then again have not started munching yet, allowing xmas eve, day and boxing day as my 3 eating days:D

bails

Your post yesterday was lovely Vic, sentiments I echo entirely too. To me this is all of us sharing the load and helping each other out; having a supportive community like this means there's always someone around when you need them who understands.

I really feel the struggle in your post this morning. I'm so glad you're allowing yourself to ease up for 3 days. This may sound glib, and of course I don't mean it like that at all, but what about trying to think 'It's just food'? Focus on the happiness of your family and yourself and not what they or you are putting into your mouths (again not a glib comment but something to experiment with maybe) xx

If that doesn't work, this may help [anyone of a sensitve nature skip this bit] I lost another half a pound this morning...entirely in pus I would imagine :eek::rotfl:Yes, my leg exploded last night (so much for there not being anything to drain :rolleyes:). See how helpful I am, noone's going to want to eat for the rest of the day now. I could even post a photo...:eek::rotfl:(only joking)

Intergalactic_Floozie

Hiya all, I think I am going to join you from Saturday 27th but I'm sure this is just setting myself up to fail. (sorry, this has turned out to be really long, and a cry for help)

I really desperately need to lose weight and keep it off but I have a big willpower and psychological problem with food. The only time a diet has worked for me, was when I did Lighter Life between June and September 2007 and I lost 3st 2lbs. I loved the feeling of not having to eat and food not controlling me for once in my life. However, fifteen months later and I am now 4st heavier so I put all my weight back on and more for good measure.

I have tried my own calorie controlled diet (not much control goes on), I have been to Weight watchers, Slimming World and tried Cambridge Diet (like LL but slightly cheaper and you don't need to drink as much water) but it's all failed. I haven't tried Rosemary Conley because there isn't a class nearby and I don't want to have to fork out £50 on something upfront (for online).

I went to my GP's before I joined LIghter Life because I wanted to try Xenical or Reductil. I expected her to say I could have them, but I would have to lose 5lbs off my own bat (which is what I had heard other people say) however she listened to my dieting tale and refused point blank saying my problems with food were psychological and I knew how to eat healthily, and as I ate even when I wasn't hungry, Reductil wasn't going to do me any good. She said she would refer me to the in-house counsellor for some counselling.

The counsellor wrote me a letter a few weeks later saying that they didn't feel my problems with food were within their remit and I should join Weight Watchers or Slimming World!!!!!! (even though she had put in her letter that I knew HOW to lose weight and eat healthily however the problems with food were all 'in my head')

I have even been to see a hypnotist who made me a tape to listen to, but I didn't feel that helpful. Ditto, I have even listened to Paul McKenna and read/listened to his "I can make you thin" CD/book, which I found useful but couldn't stick to.

When I am not eating I have a voice in my head constantly telling me to go and get something to eat, I am not kidding, it is torture. Even after I have eaten and I feel full, I still have thoughts of food flashing into my head. Add that to the fact I am a major boredom eater too and it's just impossible. I've forgotten how to eat normally. I have a huge appetite and it takes a lot to fill me up so if I have a 'calorie controlled meal' it never seems to be enough.

I also dislike fruit - well no, that's not true, I like grapes, melons, bananas, berries - all the really expensive stuff, but I hate the cheaper fruits like satsumas and apples. I do, however, love vegetables and can eat them til they are coming out of my ears.

I don't do much exercise (well, none at all). I start work at 6am and don't get home til 3:45pm after the school run. My DH works 11-7pm, so he doesn't get home til 7:30pm and I like to be in bed for 9:30pm as I am up quite early. I can't afford to join a gym (even paying per session costs £25 yearly membership + £5 per session), and I have two kids and no one to babysit them. (by the way I HATE swimming with a passion, before anyone suggests that)

I have plenty of exercise DVDs but I don't get the chance to use them. Our house isn't very big (living room and kitchen downstairs) and we have just one TV and with two boys they are on the TV all the time, whether it is on the Wii, or just watching TV and the moaning I get when I chuck them off just isn't worth it. Also, they're sat there watching me, which puts me off. I do love walking but when I'm out walking it just doesn't feel like it's exercise (if you know what I mean? No breathlessness or being sweaty like when you go to the gym). But - as an aside, there's no time I can go out walking because I can't leave the kids on their own. I have asked them to come out with me, but the oldest wont, and the youngest doesn't walk very fast so it feels like I am definitely NOT exercising.

I keep thinking to myself (they wont be young forever and soon the oldest will be old enough to legally leave with the youngest - even though they will end up killing each other, if they are anything like what they are now) but seriously I could have put on another two stone by then!

So, the long and the short of it is, that I know how to lose weight, but what do I do about the voice in my head?

Well done if you get this far!

bails

Intergalactic Floozie, firstly a big welcome to the thread and yes, I did read your whole post Thankyou for sharing your story; now sit back and let us help you to help yourself.

My immediate thoughts as I was reading is that you would really benefit from counselling. And then I read about the experience you've had with that :mad: My advice is don't let that put you off. Any counsellor who can put those two statements in the same letter would, I suggest, not have a clue what they're talking about!! I had a GP cousellor once who I went to see about my eating - she asked me how much I weighed and then said 'Wow, that is heavy!' (I was 11 stone) :mad: It took me several attempts to find the right person for me - sadly there are some people out there who want to make a fast buck at your expense - but I now have a wonderful counsellor who I've been with for more than 2 years. It was hard to persevere after several negative experiences but I'm so glad I did. I see her about many things - the main push was to help me deal with a longterm illness I have, but we also talk around food etc.

No doubt your first thought will be 'but I can't afford that'. Again, I was the same - it seemed such a phenomenal amount of money to shell out. On the other hand I thought, can I afford NOT to? What it has brought me is unquantifiable in monetary terms, and has enabled me to deal with a very difficult stage in my life. Another way of looking at the cost is this - you have clearly been desperate enough (and I mean that kindly) to try all sorts of other methods for your WL, which will have cost you a lot over time. There is also your food bill to think about. But more important than all of this is how much you value yourself to get the help you deserve and need.

Okay, enough of sounding like an advert for counselling (and no, I'm not a counsellor ). There are options you can try first. I have a friend who can access a counsellor for free because she is studying; I also have another friend who could do the same even though she only did an evening class once a week, so this may be a route to look into if you really can't find the money? The important thing is that you find someone who you feel happy to work with and that you can stick with it for as long as you need to (I never dreamed I'd still be seeing mine now). Finally, if you really want something, there's always a way. I'm currently on benefits (because of my illness) and yet I have prioritised this above everything, 'because I'm worth it!'

Sorry for the long post! I'm sure others will be along with good advice soon too. In the meantime, the best advice I can offer you is NOT to try and change your eating habits but simply to 'observe' them, as if you were watching another person doing what you're doing. Avoid any judgmental thoughts and just think 'that's interesting, I wonder why that's happening?'. It may sound crazy but I promise you it's not. And those walks you love doing are a great thing to do too.

Good luck and stick around here for plenty of support x

fredsnail

Welcome Intergalactic Floozie, :T

You've taken a huge step posting all that - keep checking in here regularly for support it really will help.:j

I don't go to a gym, or weightloss classes as it's not financially possible for me to do and they don't fit into my day in a suitable way - and like you don't want to pay upfront for an online class.

I do exercise videos in the front room - I have a little square of about 2 ft by 2ft where I do it - there is no room elsewhere - Davina is pretty good as you get a work out but don't travel too far accross the floor.

At lunchtime I make sure I get out of the office and walk - anywhere, up the road, up a hill and back again - it helps a little.

Vegetables are great - and better then fruit too as they're more versatile.

Don't let these so called "professionals" put you off - I had a free health check at work and was given some very dodgy advice by a supposed expert. You know what you should be doing - but like all of us you want some help, support and encouragement. Telling people they're fat, heavy or whatever is just stating the obvious and most of us already know that without being told and patronised.

fs

Brighton_belle

right, I need a quick catch up here:
missy - thanks for your stats, I never tire of them and I see them as part of who you are. They may go right over my head at times (:D )but that doesn't matter a jot. I'm just delighted that you are now able to eat more at keep at the level of weight that suits you. I always appreciate your imput to the forum.
Marion - thanks for the sw tip. Haven't heard back from the teacher yet but I'm still thinking this is the way to go.
Vix - it's great to hear how now you are abe to be more in contriol of what you eat and when, it is having a natural, effort free result:T .
kpc - sounds like you are enjoying your new job. It must be difficult to love food and have to do tastings and yet want to lose weight too! I'm so glad you have stuck with, and therefore us! I totally agree with you about women who go from one relationship to another without breathing space or getting to now themselves by themselves. However, I would also add that as someone who was on the own for a decade+ that I got to know myself very well and could be content in my own company, totally got on with making a life for myself etc etc, but it is also possible to be very lonely at times and that its an entirely normal ,human reaction.
bails - that was a lovely post yesterday - thanks for sharing so much of yourself.
Victory - thanks also for your post. The level of trust for support here is fantastic I agree.
Lois... 6 days and counting:D
Intergalactic Floosie - thank you very much for sharing your story. I can only echo bails response. Don't give up on counselling - as she says, finding the right person makes such a difference. And keep up the walknig - it will be keeping your joints supple. Perhaps when you are next out, get a feel for your average pace and then consciously up it just a little. Walking is my main form of exercise too.

EDIT: bails, thanks for the abcess detail. That's my over eating today sorted then...

katiepoppycat

1/2 a lb is 1/2 a lb bails! Bebelle you are absolutely right about loneliness being normal. I guess I was referring to the difference between wanting someone and needing someone - i'm glad you clarified that.

floosie, i really feel for you. I have similar issues with never really wanting to stop eating, and you have done well to admit that to yourself and to a lot of strangers! It's just too easy to promise that you will rein things in, and then you second you slip slightly over the line, self restraint goes entirely out of the window and you really go to town. I wish there was a solution for both of us! I found that sw really worked for me - i lost 2 stone becuase it allowed me to binge. Eventually though, familiarity bred contempt and I was right back to where i started. I'm taking baby steps right now to control my intake - some examples being 1 sandwich not 2; a happy meal instead of an extra value meal; 2 finger kitkat instead of 4 etc. Drinking a lot of water can really help as well - it makes you feel full. I'm starting afresh in the new year, and looking to not go totally mental over christmas and the new year. It's really hard to find time to exercise, especially if you don't really like it, and i too hate being watched. My solution has been to get up 40 minutes before OH ( no kids!) and do 30 minutes a day on my wii fit. It's not much, but it's something and does help to offset any other damage you might do.

bails is right, counselling may help too?