Well I have been slim before and managed to keep it at bay for many years then all **** was let loose, i got married became a mother etc etc. I was going to be slim for the millenium then before I was forty then i needed major surgery I lost some then gained some back after surgery, then i found this site!!Ihave bad days (had one yesterday) but i just get on with it the next day, i have to....... i want to be slim fit and healthy. I don't starve and I eat everything but only up to 1500 calories per day, if i go over it is tough but I have to get over it,I don't try to starve the next day to compensate, I have learnt that I cannot do it, it makes me fail.
I don't find it easy but through reading everyone 's journals on the web and all the posts on this site I can accept that no one can help me except...ME and no one is making me eat except Me so it is up to me, the road to recovery is a long 'un but I am going to stay on it, no doubt there will be detours along the way but we aill all get there if we want to, now who is coming wityh me??

Thanks for the quick replies Sarah and TQ. I just don't know what is wrong with me, I MUST know how to lose weight as I used to be 18 and a half stone in October 1998 and now I am around 14 and a half to 14 stone 10. Its like I have this mental block and can't remember how I lost weight before. I know how to count calories and to walk regularly, I just seem to do so much comfort eating (and drinking :o at the moment). The depressing thing is that just over a year ago I was down to 11 stone something, close to my target weight. I really admire you, and Ali and Flumper and the others on here who are doing it, losing weight and sticking at even though it can be tough.

Sorry for rambling!

You posted while I was doing my last one.... Veggie - what sort of help do you need? I'm not an expert, but I'll do my best.

TQ is right though (and she's got a GREAT attitude!) - the only person that can do this for you is YOU! You have to decide that you want to do this even though sometimes you might feel hungry and tired and soooooo bored and if it does go wrong some days then you just have to start afresh immediately.

There is another option - you know, there is nothing wrong with being big as long as you are healthy - being healthy is the most important thing. If you don't feel you want to diet right now, why don't you increase the amount of exercise that you do and perhaps eat the same amount but just make healthy choices??

(Not cheese pasties.....)

This thread is moving so fast....

Phoebe {{{{ hugs }}}} - have you tried keeping a food diary (even when you aren't dieting) - try writing down what you eat AND HOW YOU FELT WHEN YOU ATE IT! You need to ask yourself why you are comfort eating and try and deal with the problem rather than add to it with the extra food - and drinking for comfort is definitely not a good idea, alcohol is a depressant and will just make things worse.

Try keeping the diary for a week to pinpoint the problem times and then sit down and develop some strategies for coping with the problems in a different way. I find taking the dog for a fast walk helps me deal with stress, but perhaps something else would be more suitable for you.

WHAT???? I posted and now everyone is criticising me :( Im doing my blooming best :(

The other thing I do is I keep a food and exercise diary and every day I scan it and send a copy of it to my diet buddy in America - and she does the same back - the deal is that we are completely and totally honest with each other and we never criticise each other - just that knowledge that someone else is going to see what we have eaten and how much or little we have exercised is enough to keep us on the straight and narrow....

This thread is moving fast!! Thanks for all the advice.

No one is criticising you Veggie! You keep us all entertained.

I'm not criticising you! You asked for help.... I am trying to help! What was criticism?? About the cheese pasty? I didn't intend that to be nasty - just saying that it wasn't the healthiest of choices.

im not even commenting on the cheese pasty:D im just sooooo jealous why didnt i think to have one of those yesterday on my day off i had all sorts of other cheese dishes too like macaroni, chees and toast .i love cheese and its something i miss a lot so i have cheese instead of chips ....ohh the sacrifices:lol:

got this in email thought it might make youse all smile , because i did

oh sheesh kebab it wouldnt upload

Sheesh Kebab??????????? :dizzy: :lol: :dizzy: :lol: :dizzy:

:dizzy: sarah its one of the words you learn to change when theres kids about , wouldnt want them picking it up now , i have a whole dictionary of things that should be sweary words :lol:

Oh! Never thought of that..... What are the rest of them - I'm going to need them! Last night I had to sign a promise never to use any kind of language which would be 'considered a swear or slang word to any section or sub-section of the community' or 'might be considered to be detrimental or defamatory to any ethnic minority or sub-section of the community'. If you think about it hard that kind of leaves me with the word 'bother' - and no doubt someone out there would object to that!

So let me have your list..... PLEASE!

weigh in report
 

Hi everyone

Phoebe, I was just reading back through the messages and spooted the one where you said it feels like you have forgotten how to diet....a couple of months ago I went through the same sort of thing...feelings wise...I still managed to be losing weight, because I stuck to my 1500 calories, it was all done by basically eating the same thing day in and day out and I found that was my problem....I had just got used to eating the same things over and over again and I was getting fed up with it...it was almost like my mind suddenly blocked out all the other food that was available and I just couldn't think what else I could have...for 2 weeks I ate a sandwich for my lunch, weightwatchers lasagne with baked potato and veg for dinner and a sandwich, chocolate biscuit and a cadbury's options drink for supper....Now I really had no excuse to get ideas of other things to cook, I must have over 200 slimming magazines in my cupboard where I could have got some recipes, but it took me 2 weeks to even think about it.
well I fanally did and had myself a mega cooking session and I filled my freezer with lots of different meals...oh yeah and I wrote the recipes of my favourite ones down so that if this ever happens again I am better armed to deal with it this time. :)

Weigh in was another good one for me again this week, I am really surprised because TOM must definitely be due to make an appearance, this has been my 5th good weigh in and this weeks I have been just so crabby and snappy with everyone it can't be far away, but still another 2lbs loss to report...the one thing that really amazed me is that now means I have lost exactly 10 stone and that is just 2lbs less than the weight I want to finally weigh...quite an overwhelming feeling to say the least :)

Ali :wave:

Oh well done Ali and Congratulations. Ten stones is no mean feat, celebrate by buying yourself ............anything!!

Apart from ww lasagne you are probably sick of them :lol:

Its very depressing for me that Ali last year weighed more than me now she is 214lbs and Im 249! WELL DONE ALI :D and to me I can only say :nono: :nono: :nono: :nono:

your right veggie I am sick of ww lasagne now, i've taken to making my own, less calories and much tastier :)

Big {{{{{hug}}}}} for Veggie, come on girl don't be depressed if I can do this you can too...I used to get so sick of hearing people who were losing weight say that, I used to think yeah they can but I can't, but it isn't true, you can do anything you set your mind too so long as you believe in yourself...you can do it :)

TQ...I was thinking about buying some new stuff but over the past month or so I have bought quite a bit and they are already starting to get baggy on me...after saying that hubby suggested earlier that I bought a personal cd player to use while I am at the gym, I think I might take him up on that one, I never even gave something like that a thought :)

TOM made its appearance this evening so I am even more surprised at my good loss this week, I can only put it down to drinking so much and getting back to the gym, but whatever it was that did it I'm not complaining :)

Have a good weekend everyone

Ali :wave:

Well done Ali. You have lost a whole person.

Can I thank everyone for the motivational tips they have given Veggie & Phoebe. Like them I am struggling big style at the moment. I know what I should be doing but can I get myself motivated to do it - no. I gained 2lbs this week and even that hasn't been enough to force me back into it.

I am having a very stressful time at the moment, mainly at work. But I should be coping with it better than this. There is a chance - all be it a slim one - that i'll be made redundant before the autumn. Even the thought of this turns me to jelly - I have told no one - not even Ray as his job is also on the line - on a more day to day basis and feel this is enough for us both to cope with. Madness I know but I just haven't found a time to sit him down and explain all the changes that are happening at my work. Nor do I have all the facts at my fingertips yet - mainly the rumour mill at work.

But I know I have to. I am eating and drinking and not working out and the only reason is the stress. The new director is coming to my office in a couple of weeks. I'd rather try and get the most uptodate version of what is going on from him before I discuss all our options with Ray. The new Director is very approachable & so far honest. They are realigning the IT department in a central location - probably Glasgow - I live well within travelling distance to commute daily - do it often enough at the moment - so I think realistically I should be fine on the job front. Its those who would need to travel from Aberdeen or Galashiels who are really in difficulty.

Anyway I think this is the real readon I am struggling. Being a stress eater I am coping in my usual way. Roll on the meeting and I can pull myself together. Stick with me everyone I am here for the duration, I have just stepped off the plan for a wee while. I am going to prove to myself that I am capable of losing this weight this time - job hassles or no job hassles

Veggie & Phoebe we can do. Only we can do it for us. Veggie as from tomorrow I'm going to join you on your food diary. Not expecting a good day until Tuesday. Seans birthday on Monday with pizza for dinner and his party tomorrow - but I have to start somewhere.

Now I've shared all that I best get back to kicking this butt, else it's only going to get bigger

Hugs to all of you who are struggling at the moment, I am arguing with myself all the time at the moment(Next stop insanity!!), I havent written in my food diary since Tuesday and I really need to, this next 2 weeks is going to be a trying time for me cos it could turn into a real choc fest if I don't watch out. We are all here for each other and we will keep picking each other up along the way we are going to do it we really are, now sing along with me
"Ain't no mountain high enough....."
" .to keep me from getting to goooooo-o -al";)

Isn't it strange that we are all struggling at the same time.... even eating a bit more like Stef told me hasn't helped at all - if anything its done the reverse and I keep wanting to eat even more. Before I added those 500 cals I wasn't feeling particularly hungry, now I am hungry ALL THE TIME again - its like going back to the beginning.

I used to be a stress eater, but I can honestly say that I haven't got any real stress at the moment (except the stress that I am sort of making happen by being irritable - which I think is caused by the diet). Maybe I'm bored... I don't know.... I don't feel very positive at the moment - in fact I feel really quite miserable. I'm still sticking to it - as revised by Stef - but only just.

I think it is the time of year , we are being hit with the first long weekend of the year, Easter goodies everywhere, changes of routine, kids at home etc.
But look outside, Spring has definetely sprung the temps are rising (albeit slowly) and the summer is just around the corner, more of our flesh is going to be on show (or should that be less!!) and we have worked hard to feel more comfortable about ourselves this year.
We are all going to be paid up members of the 'cast off cardigan' brigade this summer, sleeveless tops here we come.:cool:

No way am I baring my arms taking my coat off is as naked as Im getting outdoors in summer.

just been shoppimg with the kids and oh lordy all the shops have there summer range in so looks like no new summer clothes for me ...........walking about less than half naked just doesnt appeal to me although dh was quite looking forward to the prospect;)

Hi everyone

BPB, of course I don't mind you saying I have had a greater journey than the rest of you, I can't mind because its true.
Now how am I still sticking to it? if I am totally honest I really don't know, I have dieted on and off throughtout my life and the only time I ever really had any success was when I lost 114lbs to get pregnant...the incentive to have a baby was what made it easy the last time, but as soon as I was pregnant the motivation to carry on losing weight was gone and it took no time at all to gain back all the weight I lost and then some.
This time I have no real incentive except the fact that in september I will be 40 and I promised myself years ago I would not reach that age and still be fat, mind you I have said that about every age ever since I can remember.

This time I just got so sick of feeling depressed about my weight all the time, looking at all my slim friends, never wanting to go out with them because I was emarrassed to go out and be seen by anyone I didn't know, sick of sitting at home crying because I was fat, but comforting myself by stuffing my face with chocolate, not being able to even walk up the stairs without feeling as though I was going to have a heart attack before I had reached the 3rd step.
I felt guilty for what I was missing with my son and for what he was missing out on because of me, ok I admit he probably hasn't really missed out on very much because if he wanted to go anywhere ( baths, pictures etc ) my husband would always take him, but I knew that although he likes going out with his dad, sometimes he just wanted me to go.
I know he always wanted me to play football with him, but I just physically couldn't, last summer when I was finally able to move around without gasping for breath and I played tennis with him, the look on his face was priceless, and I really realised how much losing weight meant to me and the people I love too.

Every day I notice little differences in myself, not just physical differences, but differences in things I can do as well, even the smallest of things get noticed and although they may mean nothing to anyone else they mean a lot to me.
silly little things like suddenly realising I can eat my dinner off my lap, I could never do that before because my belly usually filled all my lap, or dropping food from my fork and finding it falls straight back onto the plate instead of covering my chest.

Apart from feeling so much better and seeing how proud of me everyone is, I have you all now watching me. I am carrying onb for myself, but I am also doing it for you all now too, to show you that I am just a normal everyday regular person, just like you and if I can make it to my goal, you can all make it too.
I know it is hard and although I look as though I am sailing through this, believe me I don't always find it so easy, I just try to stay positive when I post on here...I have really bad days when I think I will never do it and I still end up in tears feeling sorry for myself.the difference now of course is I have lost 140lbs and now only have 72lbs left to lose the hardest part for me I think is over...I know the last pounds are always the hardest ones to lose and it will probably take me longer to lose the rest of the weight, but I feel that I have totally changed my entire eating habits now, I actually don't enjoy what I used to eat ( except chocolate of course) so I don't feel as though I am in any danger of giving up, its now just a question of hanging in there and accepting the weight losses as and when they come knowing that I will reach my final goal no matter how long it takes.

I suppose after writing that little epic what I am really trying to say is that I want to be slim, fit and healthy more than I want anything else and I am prepared to do whatever I have to to be that way
hehehe if you are still awake after that I hope you found it helpful :)

Ali :wave:

I want to be slim but somehow I don't seem to have the staying power at the moment. I do want to lose this tummy, I do want to be fitter and more healthy but something keeps stopping me - what ME .

Only I can do it, only I can stop trying and put back on some of the weight. Only I can stay in bed in the morning instead of working out. Only I know how much I want it

Think what I am saying is that I know exactly where Ali is coming from. I wasn't sleeping by the end of your post at all. I just need to pull myself together and get on with it. My birthday is 2 months away and I could easily be a stone down by then if I plan and organise and work hard.

Monday is a new day and a new chapter in my weight loss book. Another new start - yes I've had a lot before but at least I haven't give up completely. So I must still want it

Well done to all you losers and big {{{{ hugs }}}} to all the gainers - we've all been there - good luck with your fresh starts this week.

This week our weight changes were .....

Me: -1lb
Ali: (19/03) -2
Ali: (23/03) -2
Carol: +2
Kizzie: -2.5
TQ: -0.75
Chris: +3.5
Kim: -3
Tracy: -3 (is this right Tracy??)

So, we lost a total of 8.75lbs which brings our total group loss up to 169.75lbs or 12st 1.75lbs!

WONDERFUL!!!

**********************************

I have got a little bit of celebrating to do this week - for the first time in years I am 12 stones something.... OK - it is a BIG something but I am still celebrating..... but - like they say at the Oscars - I couldn't do it without you guys!

My stats this week are :

(Original start weight April 01: 16st 3lbs)
Start Weight this time (02 Jan 02): 14st 10lbs
Current Weight: 12st 13lbs
Target Weight: 10st 7lbs
Lost since 02/01: 1st 11lbs
Total lost since April 01: 3st 4lbs
Remainder to be lost: 2st 6lbs
Current BMI: 28.3
Loss this week: 1lb

Hello :wave:

Thank you so much to Ali and everyone else who has posted supportive messages over the last few days. I have just been reading all the posts and they really do help, so big thanks to everyone. I too am a huge stress/comfort eater but I really have to stop using this as an excuse to binge whenever I feel tired or irritable or just a little down. I sympathise with your job worries Carol, my boyfriend (I hate that word, it seems so silly when you are 33 :o ) works for the Post Office so that's a very real worry.

I know I'm too late to be included in this week's totals - and congratulations to all the losers - but I have lost one and a quarter pounds this week.

Sarah, that is great! You must feel very very happy!

Thanks again everyone!

Congratulations Sarah Ann
 

I am so pleased for you - you are doing so well. You deserve your success - you have worked so hard for it so celebrate as much as you like!!

Well done Sarah :D

Im back up to 17 st 13 but I have made a new start since...whenever it was

Hang in there veggie
 

Hi veggie,

Dont give up I am also having a b ad time of it and have been given an ultimatum by my doctor to lose 1 stone in six weeks which is the next time I see her. She says excercise but if you are disabled there is only so muuch you can do. Theres only swimming but the kids are off now and you just get jumped on and anyway the local baths are too cold for me, and thats not just an excuse. I can only walk a very few steps so walking is out of the question.

Any bright ideas short of sewing mouth up for six weeks..!!!!!!!!
I have been told not to try any liquids diets or silly things as my kidneys wouldnt stand it.


miserable but determined.
Vivienne:(

Vivienne I wish I had the answer for you. I could pop round and eat all your food for you so you could starve it off. Believe me I am doing a power of eating at the moment. Seriously all I can suggest is you find an eating plan that suits you and stick with it. As to the exercising - is there not a pool close to you which does a ladies or adult only night ? won't help with the cold water but will mean it will be kid less. Good luck

Veggie I too am going to be posting a gain this week. I meant to stick to it all this week but had no will power. Am going to sleep tonight will powerless and am going to wake up determined. Then I will roll over and kiss the handsome prince and everything in the palace will be peachey. Just kidding about the last bit, but I am getting my act together from tomorrow. If I make one more excuse please send the boys round to kick butt.

Isn't anyone getting on the scales nowadays????

yes sarah i am!!!!!!:lol: every time im in the bathroom as i gained a lb over the weekend my own fault though but my official weigh in day is friday so i better have burnt it off by then ......blood sweat and tears springs to mind :lol:

Well I won't be getting on tonight sarah cos I am heading for the M1 as soon as I can haul my backside away from the computer. But I will report in next Wednesday regardless of the amount consumed in any way shape or form this weekend.
Hope you all have a good Easter weekend, speak to you all soon, Michelle.

Have a lovely week away michelle!

I have stayed the same this week which is only what i deserve!!

This week was supposed to be a new beginning but it didn't happen for many reasons - mainly stress at work and a really bad bout of pmt (if you want to know how bad ask DH!!!)

I have new incentive now - i have been accepted on a volunteer program with a local charity which basically involves, after a training program, befreinding a child (to whom you are matched by the charity) who is in long term care but for whatever reasons has been moved around from foster home to foster home or care homes.

You then meet up with them on a long term basis weekly or whatever and basically provide them with a freind that they can rely on and do activities with.

I would like to do activities such as swimming, skating etc but feel that, while i am this size, it could be unfair on the child to take them places like that where they may see schoolfriends etc or to have other kids in the home laugh about me to the kid so hopefully it will spur me on to do this.

I have to do a 3/4 month training course first which i imagine will be similar to the one sarah has told us about.

TRACY

Oh - Tracy - WELL DONE!!!!! These kids REALLY need friends like you, especially the teenagers. Don't worry about your weight - the most important thing is that you talk to them and listen to them. It's amazing what some of these kids have been through and talking about it is such good therapy for them.

Thanks for the encouragement Sarah - i have been thinking about this for a long, long time and finally made the decision to go for it at the weekend.

Tracy

I stood on the scales., I have to keep doing it else everything is lost. Weighed in at an amazing 15 stone 7lbs. Another pound up. But at least it was just a pound. Need to go hunt out all my stats so I can post them.

This week is going to be difficult to as I’m going away tomorrow night as soon as I leave work. I’ll be in mum & dads caravan with the boys and mum & dad, and won’t be coming home until Monday evening. We will be doing loads of walking which might help but the eating will be whatever we can get out hands on and there will be loads of drinking – although I need to be strong about that.

So my aim for this week is lose one pound but I will be over the moon if I manage to maintain – but I have to aim high else I’ll go nowhere on this journey. I need to keep my weight moving, it has moved every week – never stayed the same since January. But unfortunately 3 weeks it has moved up instead of down. But these are the breaks. I am in this journey for the long haul and if it takes me 2 years to lose it all it’ll take me two years. Nobody else can do it for me, but then nobody else force fed me all the yummy stuff which now sits on my hips. – I AM GOING TO DO THIS

Starting Weight 16st 8lbs
Current Weight 15st 7lbs
Target Weight 10st 7lbs
Loss this week +1lbs
Loss so far 1st 1lbs
Remainder to loss 5st 0lbs
BMI 36.1 Morbidly Obese
Basal Metabolism 1738
Daily Activites - Cals 175 (only counted walking as away most of the week)
Daily Cals Limit 1750