Just saying 'hi'.

I'm not in a good place right now and have really let myself go...so not a pretty sight!

But, I do believe I have hit rock bottom and now the only way is up!

I hope everyone else is doing ok, and I am so sorry that I abandoned this place. I will try to pop in more often from now.

Keep fighting everyone!

It's great to see everyone dropping in to say hello. Gen I'm really pleased to hear the latest news about your mum.

Lindor, great to hear from you. I understand exactly where you're coming from - I've done pretty much the same thing. I'm not even going to say what the scales recorded on the weekend - I'll share when I get over the shock .

But I am on DAY THREE of my new weight loss journey. After months of saying "I'll get back on track tomorrow", I finally came to a point the other day where I was so sick of my excuses, my lies to myself, and the weight I had gained, that I looked in the mirror and said "This stops NOW!".

So I am calorie-counting, keeping a food diary, and setting goals. It might sound very familiar, but I know it works. I don't like how I feel since carrying this extra weight. I don't feel healthy, I am not as able to do my job, and I don't like seeing all the clothes I bought and not being able to fit into any of them.

My goals for this week are simple:

• Eat no more than 1750 calories a day;
• Exercise for 30 minutes/day;
• Drink 2L of water/day; and
• Write it all down.

I understand that it's going to take me three weeks or so before it becomes a habit again, so I have set up a reward system. If I achieve my goals this week I am going on a $100 spending spree at Good Sammys .

Lindor do you want to come on this journey with me? Believe me, I will understand if you're not ready… but it might be fun!

Hey Ani! Good to see you back on track!!

I'll try to join in the journey with you, but I have to say my confidence in myself is at an all time low. I have to start somewhere though right?

I am off work for a couple of weeks at the moment so no excuses I guess?

I'll check in again tomorrow, hopefully I'll be able to report something positive.

Yeah, wouldn't it be nice to find that elusive *on/off* switch. It's just so hard to get motivated, but in the end I got sick of myself and my excuses.

Even if you just start by deciding to walk for 15 minutes a day, it's a lot better than doing nothing - and it might be good for your confidence too. You know that I will support you, no matter what you do.

How is everything else going?

Just an 'off switch' would suit me fine right now.

I understand the walking thing, and that was where I was going to start too. That, and restricting my eating to regular meal times as opposed to eating 5hit all day, whether I am hungry or not!

Yep, know what you mean about restricting your eating to normal meal times. I found that I was snacking in the afternoons, and again at night while I was reading or watching TV. So this week I have planned for that, and have low-cal snacks here if I need them.

But I have challenged myself to eat proper meals that are more filling and satisfying and to drink more water - and that has made it easier to not snack. I guess that by writing everything down it makes me a little more accountable for my choices too.

Today I know exactly what I am going to eat for all of my meals, and how many calories I will consume. Planning makes such a difference, and so does waking up the stubborn, focussed side of me - don't know where SHE has been for the last 14 months or so .

I am so pathetic!

Starting tomorrow...

You're not pathetic at all! The fact that you're popping in here and talking about it means you have already started - at the very least you're thinking about things, and that's important.

I had a win today. We had a Big Morning Tea at work to raise money for cancer research. Everyone brought cake and pastry, and the tables were groaning with food. I salivated - I admit it, and then I thought about it for a minute, put some money in the donation tin - and went back to work. Yay for me .

It's only Day Four but I will take every win I can get at this stage.

Lookin Good Gen. Good luck with yr next appointment. sounds like you really are doing the right thing for you. xox

Great colour Gen - looks awesome! I had a read about your op, and I think it sounds like a really good idea. From what I read it appears less invasive/more safe than gastric banding - or am I misunderstanding what I read.

Hi Vonnie, how is your health? Have you got things sorted yet?

All good here. Got through Day Five unscathed, and have stuck to my goals every day so far. Still very early in the journey but I am feeling a lot more confident than I have done for months.

Still working on trying to achieve a successful day one!

Want some motivation? Read this girl's story: http://tiagetsfit.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html

Reminds me of me when I had the trainer etc before I stuffed my achilles. Makes me think I should be able to do it, but I know that even if I did, I'm only one injury away from putting it back on again.

Don't talk about achilles. I went to the sports medicine doctor this week - mine is torn in two places it seems, and it's an 8-12 month injury. I must say Bunnings have been very good - I am working 4 hours a day, and being paid full-time wages. Hurts though, and it certainly contributed to me gaining weight.

Day Six - all goals met.

Hoping to make tomorrow a successful day one!

I wish I had a routine! I wish I was at work!

This sux!


Ani, keep up the good work!

When I was reading about it I was struck by the fact that you don't have all those food restrictions that you would if you had a lap band. I think that's a definite point in its favour. What do you have to do to prepare?

No I'm not having surgery. Bunnings are willing to support me while it heals, and they are paying my medical bills. I am getting orthotics on Wednesday and hopefully that will take some of the pressure of my achilles while I am walking around on concrete every day.

Lindor I know it's really hard when you're outside your normal routine. When I am in that situation I try to create a different one - doesn't always work . One of the things I struggle with when I am on days off is that I tend to eat in the afternoons when I get bored. Yesterday I decided to play a 'marathon' of Tiger Woods Golf on my Wii, and even though I felt like eating, I just kept distracting myself. You'll get there - I have faith in you.

Day Seven has dawned and I have a really sore throat. It's cold here, and I have to go to work in a minute. Meals are planned, exercise is taken care of - but it's so hard to want to drink water in this weather. I have managed it every day this week, but it is something I have had to force myself to do. All the same I am determined to reach today's goals. I have my first weigh-in tomorrow, and I want to see SOME progress on the scales!