Please help me :(

[nicolle93]

I am 15st and in desperate need to lose weight, due to work times etc it's difficult to get out and exercise... and I'm finding it difficult to stop eating junk, anyone having the same issue.. any success stories? I am starting to get depressed.. I really want to have a beautiful figure

[Hidden]

Hi nicolle,

I'm sure you are a beautiful person inside. I don't know how far you live from your workplace, or how you travel there. But if you could manage to fit 15 minutes of walking into your day, for at least 3 days a week, that's one of the best exercises there is. I'm afraid I too have a problem eating junk (chocolate, cakes, biscuits etc.) I will have to sharpen my self control a bit. Maybe we ought to replace some of our snacks with fruit. They used to say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. That has been found to be true. Don't try and do too much at once nicolle, set yourself small goals that you are more likely to achieve. Wishing you all the best

poemsgalore xx

[mots1965]

Hi I am just starting my journey as well but I am at 18 stone, so I am not giving up until I get to my goal weight, to do it right is never a quick journey , we all have hiccups on the way but not giving up is the main thing, not being too hard on yourself on the bad days. Hope this helps

[victoria-plum]

About the junk...don't buy it! Clear your cupboards and only buy what's on your shopping list (obviously, don't put biscuits on your shopping list!)

Try and think 'health', rather than 'weight loss', that's what made the difference for me. I've lost nearly three stone(over two years, so really gradually) - only about 7lbs to go, but if I've got crunchy peanut butter, or crisps, or even Dorset seriously nutty cereal in the store cupboard, it calls to me...

Once I'm happy with my weight I hope I will be able to buy these foods (as they're not really BAD junk) but as I'm on the 5:2 Fast Diet I can experiment with how much of them I can eat.

Oh, and yes to walking - I try to fit in 20 minutes, 4 times a week. I know it doesn't burn a great number of calories, but I just feel so much better and it has massive health benefits - cardio, improving bone density (I'm menopausal), and a great mood lifter if you're feeling a bit blue. And it's free.

The very best of luck. And do remember, being beautiful comes from inside - I know that sounds really naff and trite, but keep telling yourself all the things you like about you, and don't focus on the negatives - the weight will go resulting in a healthier, happier you.

[yvette303]

I completely agree with poemsgalore. I park my car a long way from work (where I don't have to pay!) and walk in to work. I really enjoy the walk there and back, arriving at work with a refreshed mind and shaking off any work worries on the way back. I am also saving lbs and £s!!

[gingernut49]

I can thoroughly recommend Leslie Sansone's walking videos on YouTube. They're free of course and she's very motivating - and they start at only 15 minutes for one mile and go up to five miles. They're really great - especially when the weather is so vile outside!

I lost three stone in six months on the 5:2 Diet and have kept it off since last April. Please watch this brilliant BBC Horizon programme, "Eat, Fast and Live Longer" vimeo.com/54089463 which will change your life - it did mine!

[pinkymoo in reply to gingernut49]

I tried one of the Leslie Sansone videos earlier this week. I was surprised how easy it was to follow and even though I'm 14st something I didn't feel like I was having to go twice as fast to keep up or feel like I'm a complete useless blob. I shall be giving it another go over the weekend. .

[gingernut49 in reply to pinkymoo]

That's what I like: those in some of the groups are all shapes, sizes and abilities - and there are no floor exercises, hooray!

[Fatboyslim99]

hi nicolle I work full time nights and iam a personal trainer so I know how you feeling please feel free to get in touch..

[Windswept1]

I agree with the others. My downfall is savoury stuff like cheeses & crisps, so I don't have them in the house. I have the occasional bag of crisps if I am out & about. Previously it would have been 3!

I followed the 12 week plan and changed my tastes & habits through it. nhs.uk/livewell/loseweight/... These are useful.

My advice is plan, plan & plan, meals & snacks & shopping lists. Use a smaller plate, don't get too hungry and don't beat yourself up if you have a bad eating day, just make up for it the next day.

I have lost about 22lb and have about 7 to go. Exercise has changed my body shape dramatically for the better and I feel fitter and stronger. Go for it!!!!

good luck on your weight loss journey

[pinkymoo]

In terms of snacking I've discovered that if I replace them with healthy choices like fruit that a) they're better gor me and my calorie count and I feel less guilty about esting them and/ or b) I'm less likely to snack on them when I'm not actually hungry because they don't hsce the same pulling power as sweet and fatty.

[Diana in reply to pinkymoo]

Veg are less sugary and easier to buy cheaply , going sugar free so low sugar fruit is great for me, like pink grapefruits, yum!

[Hidden]

Hi nicolle93,

I'd say start by reading through the NHS live well lose weight web-pages. They contain lots of good and free advice.

If you decide to start on a weight loss regime (e.g. the free 12 week plan) do remember that it's a process of change.

As you eat less fatty and sweet foods and get into the habit of eating less of them, you will find them less appealing. Now that won't happen overnight, and like any habit, you'll have to figure out what's best for you, to wean yourself off of them, or to go "cold turkey".

Ongoingly you will need to substitute the junk for better and healthier choices, but perhaps at first, try substituting for less calorific junk - e.g. a couple of lower calorie biscuits, eaten very slowly. I've seen recently that there are increasing numbers of biscuits on the market that have are about 38 - 40 kcal a biscuit (Lotus Biscoff / Foxes Caffe Thins - I'm sure there must be others) and that's going to be a lot less than a Chocolate Digestive, or a Twix or KitKat

(And they're pretty nice with a tea or coffee - that's with no sugar and skimmed milk)

BUT just one or two at a time - that's biscuits not packs!

It might not be perfect, but if it helps you make a start on the process, why not?

Good luck with your weight loss efforts.

[Diana]

When I worked shifts, I cooked and boxed my food up for work, all sorted the night before, I did spend a small fortune on boxed salads at one point, soon stopped.

Plan a bit to help you cook and plan, I used to take breakfast/ lunch or dinner depending on my shift, got it sorted to a fine art, used to be yoghurt and toast, rice ,risotto or something for lunch and pre cooked dinner to reheat.

I live on my own so would cook about two portions a meal and then freeze or chill one, which seemed easy.

Drink plenty of herbal tea and clear fluids in the evenings, to stop the muchie monster striking, hardly ever do it, unless I'm hungry these days.

[Blanket]

Hi Nicolle93,

I bet you have a fabulous figure, you just don't like it! Find something about yourself that you can love or learn to love and focus on that, beautiful lips, sexy hips, great chest??? It'll help boost your confidence while you're making other changes to your diet and lifestyle. Firstly, I'd like to suggest you stop punishing yourself, you sound really down which will only make you want to eat junk food all the more. Treat yourself to a pamper session, maybe a facial if you feel uncomfortable getting undressed for a massage. Then make yourself a realistic plan of a few small changes you can achieve, e.g. I deserve to spend a few minutes focussing on myself during the day (try a YouTube yoga/exercise video if you can't get out of the house for long). Tell yourself that you deserve to eat good food and that you are allowed to indulge in planning for that. Look at some healthy recipes, write yourself a new shopping list and enjoy purchasing new foods that you can experiment with.

Sorry if I sound like I'm preaching, ignore everything if it doesn't 'fit' with you. It's just that your story sounds similar to mine and my journey has been one of diet/healthy eating etc as well as a journey of improved mental health. I really can't separate the two. I also was around 15 stone and I'm now nearly 3 stone lighter. I learned that you have complete power and control over your own life and it's really invigorating!! I eat junk food because I want to (even when I don't want to!); I know that sounds absurd but what I mean is I had a choice and I could have chosen a different option. When you realise you have that power you are more able to use it in a way that will achieve your goals. (I'm not saying I've mastered this yet but I know that I am in charge of what I eat/what exercise I do). I have found loads of new confidence through my journey, firstly I have been confident enough to start exercising outside (ok, in the dark but it's still nicer than being cooped up inside trying to hide away from the world because I'm a bit podgy!!). Secondly, I have improved my confidence because I have made choices and stuck to them and therefore I have reinforced to myself that I am a powerful and wonderful person in my own world. Thirdly, people have commented that I look healthier and my clothes now fit so I have felt rewarded by things other than food. I have also tried to reward myself with non-food things like having a facial when I meet my next weight target etc. When you find a pamper thing that you like it can be really motivating. I really believe that the best rewards are those you give yourself as no-one can validate who you are as well as your own mind!

Good luck with everything. :o)