Woo, 2 more pounds lost! Initially I'd hoped for more after last week's 5lbs, but it's not been an easy week and was looking like it'd be a 1lb loss, so I'm chuffed with the 2lb. That's half a stone in two weeks, without really doing any exercise other than aiming for a 45 min walk every day.

Good luck everyone for your next weigh-in!

Hello Fellow-UKers!!

I'm living in Japan at the moment, but am returning to the UK for good in the summer - hopefully looking fab!

I just had a 2 week break back in UK for Christmas and put on 5kgs eating all the foods I can't get in Japan. I'm now doing the Dukan Diet and hopefully will shed that weight.

Hope everyone is back on the wagon now the festive period is over!

Good evening chicks

Hope you're all well and have had a good day. I thought about having a rant to let off some steam but now I've sat down to do it, I've realised that actually, I have nothing to be miserable about so no idea where this bad mood has come from!!! Had a really healthy day today. A colleague offered me hot chocolate and a biscuit and I turned them down, then someone else offered me a sweet and that was also refused!!! I think I surprised everyone, including myself.

Recent weigh-in (at my house, with my partner!) revealed I've now lost 7 lbs in my first 10 days or so, so I am over the moon... Clearly doing something right, eh? Hopefully making a return to Zumba on Friday and if not, (the weather up here has been terrible... don't fancy risking it all just to wiggle my bum!) I've got the Zumba DVD all ready to play! Takingcontrol you should definitely give Zumba a go... doesn't matter if you have two left feet. Just don't stand near anyone :P

Cofa sounds like it's working well for you. Are you following Slimming World / WeightWatchers or something? We're aiming for the same kind of target weight I notice

Purplekitten how is the drinking water going?! I completely agree with what you say about not being able to talk to skinny friends about losing weight. The second I mention wanting to lose a few stone, little miss so slim she'd get knocked over by a gust of wind pipes up 'oh yeah, I'm on a diet, too'. WHAT?! Oh dear!

Stay positive everyone and keep up the good work

Hi PinkWaterfall - welcome to the boards! And good luck...

I made yoghurt and chilli chicken salad tonight, yum - four chicken breasts, 200g natural or Greek yoghurt, couple of tablespoons of chilli powder and a handful of coriander (makes four portions). Had one portion, one for tomorrow and two to freeze. Had it with a 'ploughman's salad' - salad leaves, 10 grapes, 4 pickled onions, about 15g cheddar, and an apple, all chopped up and mixed together, and together with the chicken, it only comes out at 289 calories.

Anyone else have any fab tasty recipes?

Edited to add - mix the chilli, yoghurt and chopped coriander, pour this over the chicken breasts, and then cook for 30 minutes at about gas mark 6

KatDuckie - I'm using the My Fitness Pal app to calorie count...the main advantage being that it's free! And this forum is the equivalent of going to a class...it does seem to be working at the minute! Well done you for resisting work temptation

That recipe sounds lovely... May have to give that a go. And this My Fitness Pal sounds like a good plan too as it certainly sounds like it's working for you I used this (rather bizarre) equation to work out how many calories I should be eating per day to maintain the weight I am (based on weight and height) and, as far as I can work out, I'm eating below that. But I think having something to help me with the calories would be helpful.

Yeah, MFP works out how many calories you should be on depending on how much weight you would like to lose each week, and then it's just about how you want to fill your plate to add up to those calories (and it tells you off for not eating enough if you are too far under your allowance!). You can also log exercise and it'll adjust your daily allowance accordingly.

I like lists and spreadsheets so it appeals to my anal nature to log all I'm eating! But if your approach is working then that's all good!

I've found it helps to make a list of everything I'm eating, too. May have something to do with my slightly anal obsession with lists, too..?!?! I tried to make a list of everything I ate before starting this healthy eating kick, but got very upset when I filled a full A5 page eeeek!

Hi Pinkwaterfall, I'm doing Dukan too .... I've been on it for 2 weeks and I'm down 8 lbs .... was hoping to be down a bit more but saying that I'm feeling so much better in myself

Cofatree, that recipe sounds delicious and something I can have on Dukan .... mmmm ..... (except for the fruit in the Ploughman's salad, will substitute with eggies).

Onwards and inwards

Hi Allimac, is tomorrow casual day at work again? Have you decided what you are going to wear to wow them this time?! 8lbs lost is fab...if you hadn't decide to change your habits just two weeks ago, then you'd still be lugging that around with you!

Aw thank's Cofa Tree .... yeah, casual day today at work .... I bought a top last week in a smaller size than usual and picked up a pair of trousers yesterday in Wallis (as in NOT A PAIR OF LEGGINGS) .... I'm feeling very brave, won't be wowing anyone soon though!!!! The scales aren't moving this week and apart from a slight hic-up yesterday I am back on track.

Hope everyone is doing ok?????

Hi guys. NE England here. Got about half a stone to loose. I calorie count and work out (spinning, step aerobics and weights). I also have a nasty habit of binging. Oh dear.

Hurrah for Allimac's new found confidence showing in her clothing choices! And a top in a smaller size than usual must feel good. It must be coming off even if the scales aren't showing it.

Hi Crunchy Pip - welcome! Wow, you do a lot of exercise...hopefully that half a stone will be off in no time.

Thanks Cofa. I've got spinning tonight. It really bruises the bones of your arse. lol

How's your weight loss journey going?

So many new people! New year's resolutions to get in shape, I'm guessing? Makes a nice change, it was getting ever so quiet around here before Christmas.

Sharelle - barrel-photo is actually a Very Good Thing, because it's a record of where you're starting. Hang on to it, and look back at it a few months down the line, and take another in the same pose to compare, and then be very pleased with the difference between the two.

Purplekitten - it is indeed a bugger when you're trying to lose weight and your partner's trying to gain it. When I got with mine he weighed less than half what I did. I managed to lose four stone while he's gained one, but it's a bit difficult at the moment because he's doing all the cooking, and he thinks meals should be 50% meat, 50% carbs, with a vegetable garnish. Starting a family was my motivation too - due in seven weeks, and really looking forward to getting back to the healthy eating afterwards!

*waves* to TC and MW, glad to see you're both getting on well. How's the snow, MW?

I'm trying hard not to let the number on the scales bother me at the moment. It's two stone more than it was six months ago. But on the plus side, it's two stone less than it was a year ago, and that's worth celebrating, right?