The long and winding road to weight loss...

[yoyo-nono]

So, so far I lost 1.5 kilos/3.3 pounds. I have decided to post my weigh-ins on here just as an extra incentive to keep me on track. I did go a little overboard this weekend because I have been feeling a little deprived if I am honest...but I dont see this as a setback, rather I think this is a wake up call for me that I need to change my entire outlook on food. The plan is a good plan, because it focuses on establishing habits. That is where my focus lies. I try to drink enough water and eat enough fruit and veg. I find that if I eat enough of the good stuff then my cravings for the sweet, fatty stuff goes. Also, before mealtimes I fill myself up with veg first (cucumber sticks and a low cal dip) and water before I eat the heavy carb stuff. The hardest part for me is changing my opinions on what is 'a treat' or 'delicious' when it comes to food.. If I can manage to use the power of my brain to convince myself that fresh strawberries and greek jogurt is also just as nice (if not nicer) than a chocolate bar then I can be successful...but I struggle to stay focused and so often my motivation just goes...I need to think that eating healthy is fun and not a chore. I am not calorie counting because I try to be very active so I just listen to my body and when I am hungry I eat. One thing that really makes losing weight hard for me is the stupid TV and all those late night adverts filled with chocolate and all those high calorie stuff that I should not eat too much of!! I have declared war on live TV watching and have resorted to the Iplayer instead. In the afternoons I tend to want to snack just because I'm bored...so now, I am chewing gum instead. I must say, eating healthy has made my shop a little more expensive than it would have been otherwise because I have to fill up with fruit 3-4 times a week more than previously...but, its worth it for the long haul..I hope you guys will let me know how its going with all of you and if you have any tips to keep me going...that would be great! I dont see this as a diet, but rather a change in lifestyle.

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Hi Yoyo-nono,

Enjoyed reading your post, and it's great that you've lost that weight. Really good. I was going to write a bit more, but I am cooking my dinner right now, so I must dash off.

Hope you have a great week.

Lowcal

[elliebath Maintainer]

I agree with you. Your idea of a low cal 'starter ' works for me too. I like the mini pots of low fat humus (tesco, waitrose, m&s all do them) which are about 160cals so if im really hungry while cooking dinner , one of those with a big raw carrot staves off my hunger so then I am happy with a much smaller portion of main meal.... and for dessert fresh raspberries with a dollop of low fat creme fraiche (my one sin, much nicer than fat free yoghurt) and if you really crave sweetness add a mini meringue ... You seem to have it sussed yoyo, good luck!,

[yoyo-nono]

Thanks Ellie,

Mmmm...I love meringues...I would buy them, but the problem is I cant have them in my house, I start with one and then end up eating the whole box. Last night I had blueberries...they are my favourite. I think I will get some creme fraiche...I think that is a much better idea than fat free yoghurt. Good luck to you too!!!

[Prin in reply to yoyo-nono]

If you can try fromage frais much less naughty

[elliebath Maintainer in reply to Prin]

Thanks Prin I'll take a closer look at that

[elliebath Maintainer]

Having said all that, I was not so righteous today..... went shopping with my mum-in-law, no lunch but had a cake and cuppa later. I avoided the rich fruit cake, cuz I thought a toasted teacake might be safer , but now I've just calculated todays total and I seem to be 229cals over.... oh well, roll on tomorrow!

[yoyo-nono in reply to elliebath]

Dont worry...its only 229 cals...you can just offset it slowly by tweaking your calories for the next couple of days or just do some gardening or something. Today was super hard for me...I ended up having a biscuit and some low cal hot choc...which made me feel a bit better...( and took me over my calorie intake too!) but I think I am going to treat myself with something really nice (non-food) if I stay focused...I dont know what non food reward to choose though...All I can think of is chocolate cheesecake! Why does it have to be so hard? I am sure it will become easier as the time passes.

[elliebath Maintainer in reply to yoyo-nono]

I hope you're right, I think I was more disciplined at the beginning, I only ate at home and cut out all alcohol for the first 2 wks. Now I'm eating out, socialising more , so trying to allow for that and keep within my 1200-1300 is not easy.... so far only 8lbs in 6 wks but its happening slowly. When ive lost 10lbs my treat is going to be a facial.

[yoyo-nono in reply to elliebath]

Well, what can you do if you have social obligations...eat to live and enjoy life dont live to eat! As long as the weight is moving in the right direction...you'll get there! I think my treat will be a movie...but next week I am eating out with friends and then I am just going to enjoy myself.

[Prin in reply to elliebath]

Have a read of this!

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

[elliebath Maintainer in reply to Prin]

Thank you.. . Some interesting points there. The Garibaldi biscuit was a bit of a surprise, but then I've never liked them , even as a child when they were the only ones left in my granny's biscuit tin !!

[yoyo-nono]

Thanks Prin! Got some ideas there. Might get some Garibaldi's...better than nothing. Another great snack that has been on a BBC documentary is whole raw almonds. Apparently we dont ingest all of the almond...so its a great filler and much of the calories wont get absorbed in the body plus it has some other nutrients too. I keep some at hand for when Im really hungry and fruit wont cut it...