Please Join Me for a Monday Weigh-in (2nd December 2013).

[Zest]

Hello everyone!

After several weeks of weight-gain, I am pleased to be able to finally report a loss (albeit slight) - of 0.6 pounds. I am happy because I found this week to be quite challenging in many ways - partly due to the fact that we have decorated our Christmas tree with lots of chocolate treats. Not the best idea really, when trying to lose weight, as they are constant temptations, but I am going to restrict myself to one a day, instead of the 10 in a row that I managed to eat on Saturday!

I hope everyone is having a good week. My aim this week is to have another loss in weight. The positives of this week were that I managed to have a couple of long walks (between 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours each), and this week I plan to re-start attending the gym - setting myself the goal to go at least twice this week. I've not been there for several weeks now, and it feels a bit daunting to return, but hopefully once I'm there it will feel better.

Good luck to everyone for your goals this week.

Lowcal

[albionjen]

Hi Lowcal,

Well done on restarting the weight loss! That's a really good achievement to manage even with all the Christmas temptations. I'm also enjoying the odd choc here and there

My weight today was 63.9kg. So that means I have now officially made my original target to get my BMI under 25. Of course I'm still planning to lose a little more in order to be well within the healthy range. My new final goal is to get to around 60kg before I switch to maintaining weight instead of trying to lose. So, I'll still be around the forum checking in to keep on track.

My main focus now is keeping in shape rather than weight loss. So with that in mind I'll say my target for the week is to get out for at least 1 run - haven't been out for over a week due to a cold

Have a good week everyone!

[bispers in reply to albionjen]

Hi albionjen

Brilliant news on getting to your original target. Hope the cold is getting better so you can get that run in.

Have a good week.

Bispers

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to albionjen]

Hi Albionjen,

Congratulations on achieving your healthy BMI - that's brilliant news. I am really pleased for you! I hope your cold feels better soon as well - so you can get out for that run you have planned.

Have a great week.

Lowcal

[Uzma111 in reply to albionjen]

Wonderful .plz give some tips

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Uzma111]

Hi Uzma111,

How are you doing this week? One tip I would suggest is to set yourself a personal goal - what you'd like to achieve over the week, and then think about what steps you need to achieve that goal. I've been struggling over the past few weeks, so I don't think my tips would necessarily help you - but there are lots on the NHS weight loss site, and also the other people on the site have lots of suggestions that they have found helpful.

I have found that keeping up my exercise helps me, as well as having protein like salmon or chicken or prawns, with lots of vegetables and a sweet potatoe or a small portion of ordinary potatoes. I also like stir-fries (again with either prawns or chicken), and also soups are filling and satisfying too.

Hope you have a good week.

Lowcal

[albionjen in reply to Uzma111]

Hi Uzma111

I did not make one big goal to get to a healthy BMI, rather that was my "dream goal" which at the start of this year I would never have believed it was possible to reach. My first realistic minigoal was to be no longer obese, then when I managed that I made a new goal to be able fit in to a pair of jeans from a few years back, then to get back to the weight I was when I left Uni, etc.

What has worked for me was to change my lifestyle in a sustainable way, switching from habits that made me overweight to new habits that hopefully will enable me to keep to a healthy weight in the future. Little changes here and there add up to big results in the end. I've lost about 0.5kg per week, so it has been slow but steady for me

The key thing for me was to plan meals properly and start weighing and measuring food and drink. A sensible size portion of some high calorie foods (e.g. cheese, pasta) was much smaller than I was used to eating. It took a little while to get used to, but now I actually wonder how I managed to eat a double portion in the past.

As well as changing my diet, I've cut down on drinking alcohol. I now have a rule not to drink on a week day (unless I am at a party), but still enjoy a couple of glasses of wine over the weekend if I want. As well as drinking too much being bad generally for my health, I was horrified at how many calories are in beer and wine.

My final major change was to get more active. I have a desk job, so I don't get much exercise unless I make time for it in my day. I started with exercise games on the Wii, but now I go running and go to the gym for a swim and stength training. I walk from the station to work instead of getting the bus and go up the stairs instead of taking the lift.

I would totally agree with Lowcal that getting enough protein is really important. I also try to avoid products labelled "diet" or "low-fat" as when you read the label they are often high in sugar and/or salt and may not have any fewer calories than the standard version.

Sorry for the essay !!

Hope this helped

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to albionjen]

Hi Albionjen,

Just read your tips, and I think they are really good. Hope you are having a good week this week.

Lowcal

[OlsBean]

Congratulations, to both of you.

Glad to see you moving in the right direction again Lowcal.

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to OlsBean]

Hi OlsBean,

Thank you! It does feel good to have lost some weight instead of gaining. I was beginning to lose hope - but it helps a lot to stick to doing regular weekly weigh-ins publicly here, and that does give me some incentive!

Have a good week.

Lowcal

[bispers]

Well done Lowcal - heading in the right direction again! It does sound as though the week has been challenging so a good achievement and good goals set up for the coming week.

Keep at it! Have a good week.

Bispers

[bispers]

Pleased to say that this week I achieved my goal from last week of losing 3lbs - that takes me back to my pre holiday weight (which was Sept 23rd!). Finally got back there.

The revksed goal is still to be 14st at Christmas - so 4lbs to go. A couple of meals out this week, so will be very happy if I don't put any weight on - I aim to lose 1lb, just need to stay focussed! Longer term goal is 12 st 7 lbs by end July 2014.

Have a good week everyone.

Bispers

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to bispers]

Hi Bispers,

Congratulations on losing your 3 lbs, that's really good. Wow, I think we are very similar weights, and have very similar goals - because I am currently 14 stone 4.4 pounds, and I would love to be under 14 stone by Christmas too. I also would like to be 12 stone 7 pounds eventually! That would be my ultimate goal, but it has felt so elusive for so many years - I seem to struggle to get below 14 stone. It was good to hear you have set your goal for July 2014, as that does seem like something achievable, and I must try to gain inspiration from that, and hope that I too might manage it!

I have been for another walk today, and am thinking that I will do one gym session in the week and one at the weekend, as well as other walks. Having a stir-fry with prawns for dinner tonight, and have managed to eat fairly healthily so far today - so feeling better about things.

Have a good week!

Lowcal

[bispers in reply to Zest]

Hi Lowcal

That's really good to know of someone going for the same goal. I managed to get to around 13 stone around 4 years ago but didn't maintain (never yet managed to that so that will be a big challenge for me). I then put the weight back on .. and more of course.

My date is picked because my Son gets married on August 2nd, so I do have a big reason to do it - some people won't have seen me since I last lost the weight LOL.

Hope the date gives you inspiration - you are very welcome to share it!!!!!!!! It will be great being able to continue supporting each other whilst aiming for the same goal.

Have a brilliant week (I already don't like my scales this morning )

Bispers

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to bispers]

Hi Bispers,

I haven't been 12 stone 7 pounds for about 17 years, and the lowest I managed to get in recent years was about 13 stone 9 pounds, and that was the middle of this year. I did get much larger (18 stone 6 pounds) about 8 years ago, so being 14 stone 4.4 pounds currently feels like a much better weight. But I'd love to be 12 stone 7 pounds again, and I do feel it is achievable.

Yes, I'd like to share your goal date of 2nd August, as that sounds like a good aim. Like you say, really good to be able to try to support each other whilst aiming for the same goal. Have you chosen an outfit yet to wear for your son's Wedding? Maybe you'd better wait till nearer the time, as I suspect you'll be a few sizes smaller by then!

Have a great week. Hope your scales are nicer to you as the week goes on - I know you don't like them this morning!

Lowcal

[OlsBean in reply to bispers]

Well done, that's an excellent result!

[albionjen in reply to bispers]

Congrats bispers! That's a good loss this week. Enjoy your meals out

[suzybenj]

So looks like we are all having a good week - and going in the right direction. I had a very good week - and then a completely over the top indulgent weekend. But still managed a pound off. So 12 st and half a pound. So if I lose a pound I will be back to where I was few weeks ago. Happy days.

I had set myself a target -of being closer to 11stone than 12 stone by xmas. But I have rescaled to be 11 st 10 by xmas - this will mean a stone lost in total.

Have a good week everyone

[bispers in reply to suzybenj]

Great stuff suzybenj. Well done. Moving in the right direction.

Bispers

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to suzybenj]

Hi Suzybenj,

Well done on your weight loss this week. Glad to hear you had a very good week, and you also enjoyed your weekend. You're doing great, and best of luck with your Christmas goal.

Have a great week.

Lowcal

[Prin]

Hi all we have all come into December with positive results well done all, and special congrats and hugs to Lowcal.

I am sure most of you know how reliant I am on this thread to keep me in check!

11st and half a pound today despite two Christmas "dos" last week, so hoping to maintain only one do this week but set for Thursday and will miss two gym classes

seem to have lost 1.5lb last week happy days

[bispers in reply to Prin]

Hi Prin

Well done and like you, I am reliant on this thread to keep me in check. It's great isn't it.

Good luck with your goal this week - and I love your positivity.

Bispers

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Prin]

Hi Prin,

Congratulations on your weight loss, and hugs back to you! Glad you enjoyed your Christmas Do's. Hope you have another good week.

Lowcal

[suzybenj in reply to Prin]

Prin - thanks for your support -as you say December has been a good start for us

[Windswept1]

Well done all. This has inspired me to do a pre Christmas push as well.

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Windswept1]

Hi Windswept1,

Great to hear you're inspired to do a pre-Christmas push as well - let's hope we all lose something in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Good luck!

Lowcal