LBD

[Sharon03]

Hi all.

Getting ready to start the programme on Monday and looking forward to shifting some weight so I can feel good at Christmas and look forward to wearing something nice. Would love to shed under 2 stone and look forward to your support.

[RMB398]

Hi Sharon

you've done the first step which is a great one by logging on here. There's loads of help and support and if you're starting on Monday and weighing yourself on Monday there's also a Monday weigh in thread (lead by a lady called Lowcal). It's great to check in with the crowd each week (or more often- or course) and see how everyone is doing. I find everyone's success is great inspiration. And if / when you have a rough week (as we all do from time to time) there's loads of support to get you back on track.

Do hope you find being on here as helpful as I have and a big 'welcome' to you.

All the bet with your journey

Ruth

[returner]

Hi Sharon03,

Oh %@~&£ Christmas! How about shifting some weight so you can feel good for the rest of your life? (And reduce your risk of lots of health problems from cancer to heart issues through to skeletal problems).

There's lots of good and free advice on the NHS live well lose weight pages which are well worth a read, if you've not done so already. There's also good stuff on the NHS Choices pages about nutrition, eating well, and other related issues.

Don't try to lose weight too quickly. Yes, I've seen all those, "lose 40 tons in 0.3 microseconds" type adverts too - but it's a load of old bunkum. Aim for a weight loss - averaged out - of 1 to 2 lbs a week. Recommended maximum is about 1 kg (2.2 lbs) a week, again averaged out. For sure, like everyone else, your weight loss journey will have it's blips and spurts - try not to fret about those.

The first thing is to look at what you're currently eating (that's what sort of foods, what quantity of food and how frequently) that has caused you to be overweight. You need to bring about some change in all that and drop your 'bad' eating habits and get into some good, healthy, sensible and nutritious ones. Basically, almost always, your body will adapt appropriately to those changes.

Upping your exercise / activity levels will help you in the process of getting your body to adapt to a new eating regime and aid your body in both not storing fat and in burning off stored fat.

If you have underlying health problems, it is prudent to ask your doctor / nurse just how your weight loss efforts might impact upon those and, indeed, vice versa.

But think how you'll feel moving around without lugging that extra two stone around with you 24/7. Just try to imagine that 'extra' weight as being a back-pack that you could just take off and take a break from.

[margrete in reply to returner]

Couldn't have put it better myself. Too often we see 'want to look good at Christmas' or 'want to get on to the beach in a bikini'. Christmases come and go but health and fitness are for the long-term. However, I suppose it's motivation, and often motivation is the hardest thing to attain, so maybe we shouldn't knock it.

With any change, you start with where you are now, so I completely agree that the first step must always be to look at what you're eating now and decide what changes must be made. I advocate the 'pencil and paper' route - just sit down and think about it! This has worked, for people that I know. Have you a 'snacking' or a 'comfort eating' habit? If so, why? This has got to change.

Take on board what the others have written, and anything you lose has got to be better than hanging on to excess weight.