First week down...

[sararara]

I've been trying to increase my activity levels and eat more healthily/less for a week now (since Saturday 2nd). It hasn't been too bad. I only managed to get my 30 day gym/swim pass on Monday, but have been to the gym once for an hour and been swimming twice - 800m x 2. My appetite has somehow been satisfied quite easily, and apart from sharing a portion of chips with my mom for lunch one day, I've been eating (and drinking) quite healthily.

So, now for the weight loss...

Last Saturday (2nd August), I nipped on my cousins' scales whilst house-sitting there. I weighed about 12st and 6 or 7lbs. I weighed myself earlier today and had to ask my mom if our scales are right because the dial reached 12 stone and went no further.

I'm a little sceptical - I weighed myself at about 3pm last week and around 9pm today, using different scales. In fact, I'm just going to have a go on a different set of scales we have and see what that says...

(a few minutes later) ...ah, yes, 12st 5lbs. That sounds more believable!

I would love to have lost 6lbs in a week but was a little concerned when it came up with that amount because I had planned to shed the pounds safely, at a rate of about one (or maybe two) a week. With that in mind, I seem to have got off to the right start and have lost one or two pounds this week.

I definitely want to keep the hard work up and keep losing at least a pound a week, but it is going to be a very slow and laborious process. I can't remember if I mentioned before, but to get to my goal weight at this rate, it will take me until May 2015...

Now to stay motivated and keep up my new lifestyle.

Sara

[Autumn-Witch]

Hi Sararara,

That's a good start! I'm doing it the slow and steady way as well. It doesn't give any spectacular weight losses each week but I'm hoping that I'm building some healthy eating and exercise habits that will stay with me for life - so that once it is off it will stay off :-). Best of luck to both of us.

[sararara in reply to Autumn-Witch]

Couldn't agree more - I'd much rather do it this way and make a habit of it than lose lots in one go and put it all back on again. I vow never, ever to be this weight (or this big!) again. Best of luck

[gingernut49]

You need to weigh yourself at the same time each week for accurate results. I always weigh myself first thing in the morning, post-wee pre-tea.

Did I previously send you the details of the 5:2 Diet? youtu.be/W9Aj6hRYg4A(Not working as expected?)

That works really well and is far easier than you think it will be.

Use the free app MyFitnessPal and don't eat the calories you burn exercising (which are never as much as you think they will be) and you'll lose weight. I was 12 stone 4 pounds, and six months later I was 9 stone 4 pounds and a size 10. I've stayed the same weight since April 2013 by just 'fasting' one day a week and I make sure I weigh myself every Saturday morning so I can catch any rogue pounds before they multiply.

[HBlack]

Hi Sara

Sounds like you are doing great. Enjoy each week - I try to focus on the doing something nice - which can include cooking - some fantastic healthy recipes to practice with - and preferably be a bit more active than I have been - even a stroll at lunchtime when I would have just sat at my desk.

[sararara in reply to HBlack]

Thanks and that sounds like a good idea. I've been trying to do the same. Any healthy recipe suggestions?

[HBlack in reply to sararara]

My favourite is pistou soup - a meal in itself. Chop celery, carrot, ginger into small dice and cook down with a little oil and water until soft. If you can handle garlic and onion, add them, if not, some hot smoked paprika is a great flavour. Then really as much veg as you can handle - tomatoes (tinned fine) courgettes, sweet potato - dice again - really healthy and tasty. Top up with stock and water. Season to taste. I add a tablespoon of pesto to finish and you have an incredibly tasty and filling soup - which is almost a stew. Green beans are a good addition too. You feel you've really eaten something! I take it to work for lunch.

Then for simple but filling salads, cook quinoa with a stock cube to make a good flavour - it's great because it's protein and not a carb but is very filling. Add any sort of salad veg you want - or roasted veg is really good with it. Hot or cold is good.

Keep up the good work and don't worry if you have a bad day, there's another day tomorrow!

[sararara in reply to HBlack]

Sounds lovely! I'll try that sometime and I do love quinoa and things like bulgar wheat. Soup's a great idea actually - I've heard it's good for making you feel full for longer and like you said, you can put all sorts of veg in there.