Joined today, But its my Birthday on Monday so think I should start on Tuesday ?

[holly1402]

Family have plans for Sunday and Monday, would I be best to weigh in on Tuesday and start then. I do need to lose 5 Stone and desperate to start.

Thanks

Joy

[Hidden]

Hi holly1402,

My Mum would have said "Don't put off unto tomorrow what you can do today" - though I'd probably put it as "procrastination is the thief of time".

Have a good read around the NHS live well lose weight pages.

And remember, big social events can be quite a challenge for those on a weight loss regime - so perhaps use that to practice how to handle them.

Here's a few tips for starters.

Eat less and use any mechanism to do that. So, share a dessert, skip the starter, take smaller portions of especially anything particularly fatty, sugary or high-calorie.

Watch out for the gravies / sauces and custards, ice-creams, toppings - they often have lots of calories, sometime even more than the main course itself or the dessert they're topping. If possible go for a tomato-based sauce, rather than a creamy one.

If you really can't avoid something high calorie, then only eat a little of it.

Be very aware of the alcohol, both because of the number of calories and because it will weaken your will to avoid the worst of the rubbish.

Be very very very generous with those chocolates / cakes / edible "treats" that you are given. Even, if necessary, thank the person profusely and save them for later, and then later give them to someone else for their birthday / leaving do / whatever.

(My other half is allergic to chocolate, rarely drinks wine, and doesn't really do sweet things like cake. You'll be amazed at how expert it is possible to become in the art of "re-cycling" high-calorie edibles!)

Good luck with your weight loss efforts. Enjoy the weight loss journey. Enjoy finding the slimmer, lighter you that is there waiting to be set free.

And Happy Birthday.

[pinkymoo]

I agree with concerned and Doiksop.

Start now. You don't have to go hell for leather to start off with. If you're calorie counting then use the first few days to get an idea of just how much you're consuming and exactly what is in that food (eg sugar, fat, processed stuff, e numbers). Go to the nhs' bmi calculator and put your details in to find out what you calorie intake should be.

Also Doiksop's advice for eating out is excellent. Going for a meal out (as long as it's not frequent) shouldn't have an effect on your weight loss as long as you eat reasonably. I know this is hard to think about, it was for me. Going out for a meal was my excuse to pig out. Since I've started my healthy living regime I've cut right back on going out.

Now when I go out I plan ahead. For example my mates abd I are going out later this week for lunch. We're going to a harvester pub. So I've gone and downloaded their menu. I'm happy because they put calories next to their menu choices which makes it so much easier but if you type the name of chain restaurants followed by nutrion information then most chains have a breakdown of what's in their food.

I have already chosen what I'm having based on my calorie allowance (grilled chicken and a jacket spud) staying away from my usual burger and chips. Not because I don't want myself to enjoy my meal, far from it. It's because if I give in to temptation and have a burger I know I will add extra toppings, then sauces and then blow it lets have fries no a jacket and I'll do that main dessert cimbo meal deal thing as well. Before I know it I've sleep walked myself into unheakthy habbits again.

Instead I'm trying to encourage myself to eat things I wouldn't normally have gone for, to try new foods. So far it's working and I'm really enjoying all these new foods I've discovered.

I shall also be having on of the harvesters salad bowls alongside my meal as it comes free with the meal. However I will only be choosing actual salad veg. Nothing coated I mayo, no bread and no pasta as it will all add significantly to my carb calories. Fresh naked salad has so few calories and is so good for you.

[Knotty]

I would start on my birthday - marking a new phase in your life, one where your eating is more controlled by you. That doesn't mean not sampling anything special that your family have prepared but it does mean not eating or drinking excessively. This may mean having more than 1400 calories (or whatever would be your normal reducing diet intake) but it should be that you feel able to say no to large portions. It's practice for what is ahead.

How supportive would your family be in helping your weight reduction programme? Are they also overweight/obese? How do they feel about weight and its effect on their health?

[GRUMPYA]

I agree with pinkymoo. You can get the menu for most chain store restaurants on line even some smaller ones so you can look up what is available and make good choices.

I would also suggest you don't say too much about it to everyone, people love telling you why you should or are entitled to eat loads of fattening foods. Just like smokers like to undermine people who are trying to give up.

Me and my husband always share cake or puds you never get a funny look if you ask for a pud and 2 spoons they have heard it all before. Non creamy soups are a good way of filling up before a meal I always try to do that, you can in most restaurants ask for a starter as a main course too.

Drink loads of water before you eat too. That helps reduce food and alcohol consumption.

Download a good calorie counter or buy a book and use it. I use my meal mate because it's English rather than American. It is not interactive while some of the American ones have a lot of psychobabble fad diets and rubbish talked on them. If you won't be distracted or confused or put off by that then some of them do the job ok.

good luck