week 1

well i,ve got my week one food and activity chart, can t find a tape measure......what a shame(will have to buy one) takeaway tonight and start monday. is the first week the hardest?

[scottishmarje]

Hi and welcome !

I think any week can be hard depending on what you are coping with. But yes getting your head round the type of eating plan and exercise that suits you can take time.

You don't need a tape measure unless you want numbers. Just use a piece of string and mark it with permapen or felt tip when you measure yourself or a belt. Another way is to use your clothes to tell you when they are getting loose that you are losing weight.

Good luck !!

[Hidden in reply to scottishmarje]

hello

thanks for that, yes i will get a piece of string and luckily a piece of string doesnt have numbers on it. i have my exercise and eating plan more or less sussed so let this begin, lol.

[FatbellyGutbucket]

Sadly, the first week (for me) was - possibly - the easiest. That's when I was getting rid of excess fluid having just started on diuretics for fluid retention and BP. Step up your resolve. You'll get there.

I can live without a tape measure. I'm happy knowing I'm using belt holes that used to be just for decoration. I can get away with clown trousers for a little while longer but will have to replace them eventually. Got to be careful, though. If my belt snaps I'll be caught with my trousers round my ankles.

[Hidden in reply to FatbellyGutbucket]

lol cant wait for monday.........sure will enjoy my last takeaway tonight, gonna have a healthy option tho.......me a good girl.

[scottishmarje in reply to FatbellyGutbucket]

That's interesting regarding trousers !!! My daughter informed me that my trousers are loose on me. My retort was that they must have stretched in the wash as I can't see any difference. Luckily my trousers have elasticated waistbands, you don't have that luxury !!

Maybe others see changes in us better than we do !!

The first week is easier as you are usually filled with enthusiasm and well motivated ,after that life plays a part. It really is a case of just persevering even when we have blips and big bumps along the way.

[FatbellyGutbucket in reply to scottishmarje]

We live with ourselves 24/7/365 and our partners) about 16/7/365. It's easy to not notice gradual changes. I think that's why I never noticed the weight piling on over the years.

Our friends and neighbours don't usually see us anywhere near that often, so they notice changes that we wouldn't unless we're regularly weighing, measuring and looking out for changes in measurements.

If your daughter's still at home she's very observant. Whether at home, or not, she sounds like a good friend.

[scottishmarje in reply to FatbellyGutbucket]

She is a straight talker, no b......t

She is at uni but comes home often. She is proud of my loss and tries to support me bless her.

I now have an exercise regime :- Fall out of bed in the morning and end up on the treadmill, waken up gradually while on that !

Late morning, dog walk with husband and daughter if here. In this weather that wakens me up !!

Early evening husband does his exercises while I pedal on my exercise bike and imagine I am cycling along a path in some foreign land !!

I have to admit I'm only on the treadmill and bike for 15 mins but it's a start.

How about you ??

[fibronfedup]

Getting your head round tracking everything can be an adjustment same as not grabbing for junk food when in a rush or snacking. Well worth the effort though. Good luck and let us know how you get on

[elliebath Maintainer]

Yes first week isnt easy but you're motivated and may lose water, so its not too hard to get through it smiling. However, DO be prepared for some days along the way when you feel hopeless, the scales don't move at all ( or go UP) . Such times are normal, all of us get them. But the secret is to forget the bad day and get back on with your healthy plan asap, and plough on. Very soon the healthy way becomes your 'normal ' eating pattern, and the binge days are the exception....not the other way round. I was 28lbs overweight last april. I have slowly lost weight. Some weeks I stayed the same weight, and some weeks I went UP by 2lbs. Its been slow but steady and Ive lost 26lbs with 2 more to go to my target. This week I've not even lost 1 ounce !!...

YOU CAN DO THIS TOO. GOOD LUCK

[Judywood in reply to elliebath]

Very well done! You are brilliant! Only 2 to go! Yeh!

[Hidden]

wow you,ve done r eally well and sound very positive, thankyou for your words of wisdom x

[elliebath Maintainer]

And what I didnt mention is that Im a young 62 😊 and my basal metabolic rate is MUCH lower than it was at 30, 40, 50! Its worth using the online tool to find out your BMR and TDEE (maintenance level ) . This is the approx number of calories your body needs to stay the same weight. You then need to reduce this by 500 a day (3500 per week) to lose 1 pound. Before I started losing, I always thought my maintenance figure was 2000 cals a day....turns out that for my AGE its now only 1740 cals a day! So you see how easy it can be to overeat over a period of time without even realising. PS these are NETcalories after deducting exercise calories burned. The site myfitnesspal has been my saviour throughout , and even when I get to target I will still use it to help me maintain.