Sitting on the fence, almost ready to commit ...

[Beckipeg]

Hello, I've been lurking but think I need to get off the fence and get started - printed out the sheets, went and bought some hummus and skinny milk and have kept track of what I've eaten today. Problem is it's my daughter's birthday tomorrow (going out for breakfast) and we'll be recreating Christmas (her favourite time of year) for the day. We're going away to grandparents over the weekend with no control over what we eat and I daren't step on the scales. Monday will need to be weigh in day but I've around 1.5 stone to lose to get near a healthy weight. I did the couch to 5 k last year but had to stop with dodgy knees but it was definitely achievable and I'm hoping this Weight Loss program will work as well.

Need to work out how to join in and use #s

[LadyP33]

Hi Beckipeg,

Come and join in! I think a lot of people are like yourself and dread starting healthy eating when events are forthcoming.

The reason for this? Put simply, many of us associate celebrations, get togethers, and indeed sad occasions with food and drink. We then fall off the healthy eating wagon or indeed feel that we cannot eat healthily because of these events.

The secret coping strategies we need to develop are:

1) Identify and choose healthy options- for example grilled tomatoes, a poached/ scrambled egg, a lean bacon slice, grilled mushrooms together with a slice of toast is actually a relatively healthy breakfast.

2) Enjoy the social aspect of talking to people and fill up on water, no sugar soft drinks and ask the host/ hostess for a smaller portion if needed. Try not to let food be the centre stage.

3) Avoid alcohol as it removes our self control and as a result we are tempted to eat what we want, and regret it!

4) Finally, you have to really want to be slimmer. My overriding motivation is not for me what I am missing out on, but rather what I will gain when I am slimmer.

Hope this helps, I lost over 4.5 stone following a very old weightwatchers diet some years ago. Sadly over the last 7 years I have put 3 stone back on, but I know these simple guidelines helped me previously and are doing so now!

[Beckipeg 6lbs in reply to LadyP33]

Thank you! I just needed to know someone was out there to nudge me off the fence. Count me in as of now. Eaten too many calories today according to MyFitnessPal - snuck an extra croissant but avoided the bag of roasted pistachios and the chocolate eclair, ate plenty of vegetables but didn't realise just how far the pigs in blankets would push me over the limit. I'll brave the scales and measuring tape on Monday.

[LadyP33 in reply to Beckipeg]

Yeah.... Slow but steady wins the race, so never be frightened of the scales. See it as a long term plan! Hope you have a great weekend !

[GoogleMe]

Watch out for that hummus! Lovely stuff and much goodness in it but very easy to derail a low calorie day with it (unless you've bought little single portion tubs?). I've lost count of the times that something that psychologically seemed to fit really neatly was actually more of a budget buster.

One of the reasons I now work with a 1200 calorie budget is to give me a better chance of averaging out at a weight losing intake because life happens.