Getting back to healthy eating and giving up alcohol.

[Little-t38]

I am getting back to grips with healthy eating, have been keeping my food diary so that I know exactly what I'm eating, have also given up the wine at the weekends. I have also been making sure I take homemade food to take to work. I work in a supermarket so it's easy to just pick up crisps and sandwiches. So tonight I have made veg and lentil curry for dinner and have leftovers for work tomorrow night. Just need to get back to exercise and I should be well on my way. Three stone lighter in no time hopefully.

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Well done, Little-t, you're doing a grand job! Keep it up, every little helps!

[Little-t38 in reply to moreless]

See I know what to do and like many people I always have its just doing it and not falling off the wagon that's the problem. I'm lucky that I have a supportive husband and family to help me along.

[Hidden]

You sound like you know what you're doing, good luck on the wine cold turkey😆 I still have an odd glass but add soda water makes it last longer 😆

What exercise do you enjoy doing? I've found if I'm not enjoying it I give up 😟 so this time I'm swimming which I really like 💪😀 xx

[Little-t38 in reply to Hidden]

I'm a bit like you used to go to the gym but hated it, I did tae kwon do with my boys for a couple of years an loved it but gave up when they did as its a bit expensive. I do yoga in the house and I love swimming was going to the pool again then got the cold so I haven't done any exercise for a couple of weeks. But as of Tuesday will be going back. My mum needs to get fit and drop a few pounds so we will go together hopefully 3 times a week I also like weight training. YouTube has some great workouts on yoga weights hiit and lots of other things and its free. The hard part is finding something you like and sticking to it. Good luck.

[Smellthedaisies in reply to Little-t38]

I'm the same, I need to find one thing that I enjoy doing - swimming is good & I ride sometimes but that's expensive too! I'd like to bike but think the roads are so dangerous these days.... motorists just don't care about horse riders or cyclists!

[Smellthedaisies in reply to Smellthedaisies]

A friend of mine got fit by putting music on every day and dancing for half an hour... she looks great now and boy does it improve your mood!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

How did it make you feel when you did cut the wine?

[Little-t38 in reply to Hidden]

I find it hard but much better for it. Last time I did it for 6 months and lost a lot of weight. I had more energy and got a lovely dress for Christmas. But Christmas was when I put it back on and haven't got it back off and that was 2 years ago. But I know that that bottle of wine at the weekend is the problem so it has to go because when I drink I snack I think this also makes you feel rubbish.

[Hidden in reply to Little-t38]

Did drinking the wine make you feel relaxed, was it an escape from everything?

[Little-t38 in reply to Hidden]

Not an escape just habit I suppose like many people. I have three boys and we don't get out anymore so I suppose you just think after work on a Saturday night you will have a couple. I guess it did relax me, but doing without isn't a problem. I am going to save the money I would have spent and when I lose the weight will buy new clothes. And as for relaxing I go for an Epsom salts bath and listen to music. It has the same effect but is far better for me.

[Hidden in reply to Little-t38]

So its really just for chilling then, but you have better ways to chill I see.

[Little-t38 in reply to Hidden]

Most definitely right now I am chilling to AC/DC.

[Hidden in reply to Little-t38]

How can you chill to ac/dc lol

[Little-t38 in reply to Hidden]

easy! always loved a bit of rock.

[Hidden in reply to Little-t38]

I was joking, I like a bit of punk rock myself.

[YellowRose55]

Hi Little-t38

Sounds like you have it all well planed out with the food diary, well done. Onwards and downwards.

[elliebath Maintainer]

People have different views on whether to drink or not when losing weight. By all means cut it out completely if you want to, but it sounds as if your Saturday night in with a bottle of wine is your social relaxation time. Very important.

Personally, I'd keep it in but plan it better. For example, if you usually have a takeaway or buy pizza or lots of crisps with the wine, then cook your own curry or pizza using a less calorific recipe, or do a tasty stir fry . Try mini breadsticks instead of crisps ( less fattening and you wont gorge them) . And if your husband is having a drink, then you too can still enjoy your wine, but COUNT it into your calorie allowance for that day/week.

I do speak from experience. This needs to be a sustainable journey for life - some new habits, and reducing old habits. Yes make healthy options 80% of the time but still have old favourites occasionally and ENJOY LIFE ! Losing weight should not feel like a prison sentence.

When I was fat I used to drink several nights a week. When I was losing, I had just 2- 3 glasses at weekends counted into my calorie allowance. Then once I reached target I had become so used to having less, so now I'm maintaining I really do find that a couple per week is enough. Better for my size and my health.

Good luck with your journey 😊

[Little-t38 in reply to elliebath]

I am not giving it up forever just for a couple of months to kick start my weight loss and then I will start to introduce it back in and keep track but to be honest my skin looks better and the older I get even a couple makes me a bit hungover so am feeling better in morning's.

[elliebath Maintainer in reply to Little-t38]

I know what you mean about hangovers. 😕 I had 3 glasses on Saturday night after the rugby and felt rubbish yesterday, and just wanted cups of tea all day!