5 days of dieting and...

[hannahhh]

OMG I feel a massive difference!

I've cut out all processed foods and sugar from my diet and am only consuming:

Breakfast: Bowl of fruit - (an apple and banana) or (banana, museli and yoghurt)

Lunch: Bowl of peas or a corn on the cob or lentil soup

Dinner: (Quorn) Chicken breast and a bowl of peas (frozen mix with carrots n broccoli)

Snacks: If I feel peckish throughout the day, I have a carrot, drink water or a herbal tea.

In just a few days:

- I feel less fatigued and have more energy, I haven't EVER felt this way. I tend to always be miserable and tired.

- My skin is literally glowing and feels healthier.

- My sleep pattern has sorted itself out; wake up around 8-9am.

- I feel the need to exercise rather than find excuses.

I do get sugar cravings atm but I put that down to my living conditions (all my younger siblings munching on junk around me ) but the fact that I feel this great is really strengthening my will power (which is something I lacked before)!

I feel great, hopefully my journey to losing weight will be a successful one.

[Hidden]

I'm eating a very similar 'menu' to you and have been losing weight on it. In terms of having too much sugar unawares you need to be careful about museli, as most brands have lots of added sugar. Alpen do a 'no added sugar' version, although even this has relatively high sugar levels. Might be better to switch to porridge with skimmed milk.

[hannahhh in reply to Hidden]

Hey Anthony, it's great isn't it! Although I haven't weighed myself yet...

Thanks for the heads up, I've been using Myfitnesspal to monitor what I've been eating (there's also a bar code scanner to get all the right info). No red lights have appeared on the muesli I've been eating, just certain yogurts which I've stopped eating

But yeah, porridge is a better substitute thanks, I only drink soya or almond milk, so I guess that's healthier; I would say I'm borderline vegan, but still have honey and eat foods with added milk.

I've decided to order a pill supplement that aids with weight loss too, I know they don't work for everyone (or at all?) but I though to give it a go. I tried them before but wasn't dieting, so hopefully I will see some differences; apparently they make you feel fuller and stops cravings. Raspberry ketone's and green coffee beans capsules.

[Hidden]

Hi hannahhh. Your menu seems very extreme, although healthy. I think you could have a little more and still lose weight, up to 1400cals as recommended in the NHS 12 week plan. But if you're finding this sustainable then that's good too.

Your four changes sound really motivating: reduced fatigue, clearer skin, better sleep pattern, motivation to exercise. What's the next step? If you're finding you have clearer skin, perhaps a reward could be a new hairstyle. Re exercise - what's the next step there - have you looked at couch to 5k? It's a good gradual way into developing a regular exercising habit. Now you're getting up earlier you will find you can go for an early morning run.

You mentioned in a previous post about alcohol. I found doing the couch to 5k I faced some hard truths about the effect alcohol had on me if I drank the night before a run. Eventually I've managed to get into the habit of not drinking the night before. All these little things add up and help sustain the weight loss process. Good luck

[hannahhh in reply to Hidden]

It's a little extreme aye, my friend said she did this strict regime for 9 months and she shed alot of weight. I wanna do this, then not be as strict on myself if i lose a few stones, and from then on eat more of a range but make sure the fat intake on the label is 3%.. My calorie limit is 1700, but I've been taking atleast 1000-1500 a day.

Yeah the changes make me feel a bit better about myself; nope haven't heard of couch to 5k, i'll look into it now thanks. Once I feel abit fitter, I will start to go out in public a bit more, atm I'm exercising around the house by jogging for half an hour to an hour a day, it's fun and gets a sweat on, so I'm happy with my routine atm

Yeah I'm scared to move back to my flat once the summer is over (live in Hereford for uni) because all I do is drink, so hopefully one-two bottles of wine a week will be fine???? eh, i'll see, but I don't want to stop drinking, I enjoy the feelings of confidence..do you know if gin n tonic would be a better alternative to wine?

[Hidden in reply to hannahhh]

Gin and tonic has a lot less calories, if you have it with slim-line tonic water. I went from drinking white wine, to drinking gin and tonics, to stopping drinking alcohol altogether, for health reasons. Which university are you studying at? I'm in the county above you (Shropshire). I didn't think they had a uni in Hereford.

[hannahhh in reply to Hidden]

Rightyo, recommend any good g&t's?

Everyone says that haha, it's the college of arts, they do BA's and some MA's, it's small and lovely.

[Hidden in reply to hannahhh]

I just made my own with a bottle of Smirnoff vodka (red label as there is nothing added) and a bottle of Schweppes slim-line tonic. The tonic is sugar free, although there are sweetners in it. Plus ice cubes. I stopped adding the slice of lime as I wanted to limit the amount of natural sugar I was getting from fruit. Here in Shrewsbury we are now getting a branch of Chester University in the town, which is annoying because I like going to the theatre in Shrewsbury and its very convenient for parking for the theatre as there is a huge carpark next door to the theatre, but it looks like the university might end up building on the carpark.

[hannahhh in reply to Hidden]

Ohhhh that sounds like a plan from now on haha thanks!

How come you stopped lime, does it have THAT much sugar? or what?

Yeah ours is a branch from a welsh uni but aw haha, that sucks ><

[Hidden in reply to hannahhh]

I have completely stopped buying wine now because once a bottle is open it's so easy to keep going. I rarely have wine now - only when I'm out. If this is the same for you then don't go the gin and tonic route either because then you'll just have a bottle of gin sitting around to keep drinking from too which is just as bad. I just get a 500ml bottle of cider now and try to have half (pouring a quarter of a pint at a time into a small glass). There are 200-250cals in a bottle of cider which is okay but still a lot if you have a whole bottle everyday.

I really recommend looking at other places to get your confidence from. Doing couch to 5k did a lot to help my confidence. Some people do start it at home, as it's only 1 minute runs to begin with so you can kind of run on the spot or up and down the hall. I used to go out really early before anyone else was around. If you can get your body clock so you're waking up at 7am this might work for you too? Imagine going back to uni telling people you can run 5k, they'll be gobsmacked. It still feels amazing when I see a friend for the first time in ages and tell them.

[hannahhh in reply to Hidden]

Oh right, nah with me, I just drink to get drunk; don't drink any other times with meals like that. Just predrink before leaving the flat which is only once someone's twice a week.

And nah I have realllllllly bad social anxiety and paranoia..I can't even walk past a certain point in my garden incase of being seen by humans other than my family if I haven't got makeup on, let alone to sweat and excersise..I'd rather be fat and die, so doing home stuff is enough for me right now.

Hahaw it does sound good though

[Hidden in reply to hannahhh]

If you're mostly drinking when you're out then look at alternating between alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, e.g. having a vodka and tonic, then just a tonic on its own. Your body carries on feeling the effect of the alcohol as it's still metabolising it while you drink the non-alcoholic drink. The annoying thing about alcohol is the more you drink, the more you get used to it and the more you need to drink to feel drunk. If you start drinking less, your body will eventually adapt and you'll feel drunk on less. I now have to drink less because of getting gastro-enteritis after a night out about three years ago, which my stomach never fully recovered from. It can happen to anyone, and also any type of alcohol is calorific when you start having a lot, and can be a main cause of weight gain. Try entering different drink combinations in here nhs.uk/change4life/Pages/un...

I do understand about the social anxiety although it sounds like your case is quite severe. I was going to suggest getting one of your siblings to run with you, as that might be a way of keeping control over how you see yourself. But maybe exercising outdoors is just better tackled at a later date. Jogging round the house sounds good for now! Have you looked at getting a pedometer or a fitbit to monitor your steps too?

[hannahhh in reply to Hidden]

ohhhhh I hadn't thought of that, but yeah I will try that out thank you. Thanks for the link. Hmph, I've not heard of gastro-enteritis....I'll google it, but what was it like??

I need to get back to therapy for my anxiety. I can't exercise around my family either, I get really embarrassed and paranoid; I even find it hard on my own tbh, I'm pretty sure I'm being watched but I have to really try ignore that cause I'm sick of not being active cause of the paranoia.

OH YEAH, thanks for reminding me, I was suppose to buy one off eBay or something but totally forgot, thank you <3

[Hidden in reply to hannahhh]

It was painful and embarrassing, ended up in a&e from drinking too much, stomach ulcers, etc. Still not fully recovered 3 yrs later. Don't recommend it! At your age I was also studying art and drinking to get drunk, but it catches up on you. You need to chase those docs or see if you can find therapy you pay for on a sliding scale payment thing, you might find something for £5 a session or less. Fix the problems don't mask them. Good luck

[hannahhh in reply to Hidden]

Hmph sounds horrible..

Do you still do art?

[Hidden in reply to hannahhh]

Yes along with a load of badly paid jobs and attempting to become a lecturer. It's not a well paid or particularly easy career path! But I guess you know that

[Hidden in reply to hannahhh]

Hi Hannahhh I just thought of this mind.org.uk/about-us/local-... If there is one near you, there may be a once a week drop in. They can often give you free or low cost therapy too, just to bridge the gap while you wait for the referral via your GP. Maybe find the nearest one and go there just once to talk through your options - see if there's one near where you study too. Hope this helps

[andrewleeone in reply to Hidden]

Good advice, Ruth! Hannah, not everyone at Uni drinks - As you are learning about nutrition and fitness why not learn about confidence at the same time? Get yourself running regularly and you'll feel amazing! If you want confidence then just fake it until you make it! Think about what you want to do plan it and then go and do it! I know what its like to be dependant on a glass or two to manage and guess what - it easier without the alcohol. Haven't touched wine since Christmas, had 12 bottles of beer in 12 weeks and I don't miss it! It is without doubt the fastest way I put weight on!

You've done brilliantly with your current nutrition - just relish it, Keep posting on here and let us know how you are doing!

[hannahhh in reply to andrewleeone]

I've been faking confidence since I can remember, it doesn't work. Nah I know not everyone drinks, I didn't before uni, same as my flatmate but I really love it, even if it's an illusion. But yeah, sucks that it's been my main contributor to gaining weight.

But yeah this forum helps alot, thanks!

[andrewleeone in reply to hannahhh]

Watch Amy Cuddy on Ted.com -its good science and I use it with my clients all the time - never fails.

[Hidden in reply to hannahhh]

nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/...

[Jay86]

Glad to hear you are doing well! I hope you continue to feel better and better and make some progress! Stay positive!

[hannahhh in reply to Jay86]

Me tooooooooo!! YAY :3

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Hi Hannahhh,

It's lovely to hear that you're feeling so much healthier with the changes you've made to your eating plan. Really inspiring to hear.

Wishing you another great week ahead.

Lowcal

[hannahhh in reply to Zest]

Yay me too, and thank you so much!!

Hope you have a great week too :3

[Jo4950]

Well done, Fantastic that you have had such a great week keep it up.

[hannahhh in reply to Jo4950]

Thank you <3

[Hidden]

Look on ebay for walk at home dvds they come with resistance bands and various walking regimes you can do in private. The resistance bands up the workout and thus calories burned and muscles toned

[hannahhh in reply to Hidden]

on it! thank you.

I need something to tone muscles whilst burning fat yeah x