Podgy and poor

Hax

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I'd hazard a guess that it has something to do with consuming less calories.

I wouldn't say that my calorie intake is greatly reduced though - not to the point where it feels like I'm "dieting" anyway! :P

Some of it I feel may be down to me taking the time to have something for breakfast (which partly counteracts the reduced calories at lunchtime).

Crisp_£_note

Thank you everybody for your advice / help. Thinking about what has been said there are some excuses yes I can see them now and other issues I cant sort right now but I am going to try, one step at a time back to basics. As for the signature I did say Make positive actions not negative thoughts. Very often easier said than done!

belfastgirl23

Actually I have put on nearly a stone and a half in the last year just did the math. I really need to take my own advice!!

Crisp_£_note

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

Actually I have put on nearly a stone and a half in the last year just did the math. I really need to take my own advice!!

Well lets make a difference and walk that path together ? Back to basics we go !

belfastgirl23

Crisp_£_note wrote: »

Well lets make a difference and walk that path together ? Back to basics we go !

The really awful thing is that I am exercising a reasonable amount so OMG I must be eating like a hog :eek: but yes let's make a pact. No more excuses.

ViolaLass

When I was trying to lose some weight earlier this year, I didn't so much change what I ate as cut down the portions (I now weigh my pasta again, rather than doing it by eye). Some days I try eating until I'm not hungry, rather than eating until I'm full.

I'm not saying this is 'the' way to do it but it's another idea.

JoJoB

Maybe try this site for a bit of inspiration, the forums have good advice on various eating plans: http://www.minimins.com/

To avoid wasting fruit/veg get stuff that keeps a while in the fridge - apples and butternut squash keep for ages for example. You can make lovely chips with butternut squash for very few calories! Veg can be made into veggie chilli with quorn mince and frozen, or soup and frozen.

But I think you need a diet "buddy" or two so it might help to join some weightloss forums and think about an eating plan to follow. I do weightwatchers - went to a couple of meetings and then decided to go it alone rather than spend the money. Found a weightwatchers support thread on mumsnet forums and use that to keep me motivated and on track.

I also make sure I get out every day when weather allows and make small changes like walking to a supermarket further away then my usual one. Or doing a wii fit workout first thing in the morning so it's over with and energised me for the day - makes me less likely to eat rubbish too. How far away is the leisure centre for swimming? Mine is half hour walk away which is a pain but I still go now and then and just look t the walk as a bonus extra exercise.

It is hard, and I have bad weeks - trick is to not let the bad week get you down, just start afresh and keep plugging away at it.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Something I'm finding out for the first time for many years, is that the feeling of not having an overstuffed, bloated stomach at all times isn't actually a bad thing.

Part of my issues are that I feel more 'secure' with a full stomach, having been in situations in the past where I didn't have money for food for days on end (my first ex spent all our money on cheese, sweets and cakes as he didn't like fruit, vegetables or meat). So I guess subconsciously, I have felt compelled to build up reserves in case that ever happens again - it won't (kicked him into touch many years ago - and he is huge now), but I suppose I still need convincing of that.

I can only tell you how I feel about it, but whereas feeling a bit hungry (or not already full to the brim) would make me very anxious and feel ill, I'm now thinking I'll have something to eat in a bit, but it's not a big deal if it has to wait a little longer. Whether this acceptance continues or I end up throwing myself into the fridge headfirst for dinner by the end of the week remains to be seen

Whilst exercise makes losing weight easier, if you look at the tiny amount of calories burned in an hour's exercise, you'll realise that, with the best will in the world, you will have to eat fewer calories to make a noticeable difference. And doing that means you will experience different sensations, which you may find initially unpleasant as they are new, but are actually just different.

SandC

Bear in mind that to lose 1lb of weight if you're looking at exercise for this that means burning 3500 calories, which is 7 hours of quite intensive exercise such as non stop swimming or aerobics/zumba. So it's right to say the quickest way is diet combined with exercise but just be careful not to make too many changes to your current lifestyle.

We all want to see quick results but most of us didn't get fat quickly so why should we expect to lose fat quickly? Change things in small ways and be patient. Every little thing counts and the small things become second nature so you start to live a lifestyle like a slim person. Remember, we can eat and exercise like a slim person WHEN we are slim. Until then we have to put more effort in and to lessen the liklihood of not getting there we should not jump into things that we won't be able to maintain. It's not easy to find that balancing point where we 'keep up the good work' if we've never known any different to binging and purging, in a dietary or exercising sense.

nzmegs

As SandC just said, exercise is not the be all and end all of weightloss. in fact it does very little towards losing weight. Think about it - you have to run (fast) for an hour to burn 500 calories. having said that - exercise is very good for you, but just don't think you can exercise and then eat whatever you want. YOU CAN'T!

You absolutely must start counting your calories and stick to the number of calories you personally need to lose around 1 or 2 pounds a week. you will very quickly work out what this level is. Just experiment for a few weeks until you work it out. But generally less than 1500 calories is a good start.

As far as types of food go. it really doesn't matter as long as you stick to the calories. But think about how much bang for your buck you get from what you eat. For example if you eat two biscuits you could be looking at 200 calories. But you could eat 4 pieces of fruit for that. Which would leave you satisfied?

Please don't think that spending your money on a gym or weightloss classes will make you do this. the only person or thing who can make you lose weight is you. All i would spend money on is a book for calorie counting and maybe some trainers for some nice long walks.

Another thing i have learned is that it is best to keep your weightloss journey to yourself - at least at first. You need to do this for yourself and noone else. it is none of your husbands business. Don't let his bad habits pull you down, just quietly make changes to your own life and let him get on with his own. Once he starts to see the changes in you he might start to ask if he can come along for the ride. other people are great at putting doubt in your mind about your weight loss jpourney and mostly it is because they don't want to see you succeed. this is particularly true if they themselves are overweight. Just do this for you and keep it to yourself. of course you can get motivation and advice here!