Newbie...

[Garden31081702]

Hi, I'm Shelly and I'm new here. I'm a mum of two wonderful little people and a cat and dog. I have a wonderful supportive husband.

I'm going to change the way I eat; I'm 32 and since starting a family I feel a huge sense of responsibility to stay healthy for my family. I'm also scared that after 10+ years of bouts of binge eating and overeating that I'm causing serious damage to my body and my mind.

I would like to make small and manageable changes; making huge changes all at once has never really worked for me.

I'd like to feel healthy and be within a recommended healthy weight range for my height and build. I'd also like to be free of my sugar addiction.

Thats me!

[Garden31081702]

I'm not very good at anything other than typing on the iPad but like to try things hence I've a huge mugshot posted upside down!

[Hidden]

You can go in and edit it if you go to the little down arrow at the bottom of your post, maybe remove the pic and add again to see if it posts the right way up?

Anyway welcome! Gradual changes is def the way to go. Have you looked at the NHS 12 week plan? Or what is your general plan? Do you have a goal in mind?

[Garden31081702 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you.

Yes, I'm just looking at the NHS 12 week plan now and really like the sound of it; less daunting and feels more manageable.

I'm not really sure about a goal other than to be healthy and fitter, do you think a specific weight goal can improve chances of success in all areas of weight loss?

[Hidden in reply to Garden31081702]

I found it good to have a goal weight in mind. If you look at losing 1-2lb per week over the 12 weeks, then you might aim for a weight 18lbs less than you are now as your first goal. But I'm certainly no expert on what leads to success in all areas of weight loss! Good luck if you decide to follow the 12 week plan

[sueper]

Hi Shelly & welcome. Small manageable changes is a great way forward and try and make those changes for life. Portion size is one problem most of us need to overcome so cutting down gradually will pay off.

Good luck

[Dave1961 25kg]

Hey Shelly lovely to have you here.

I see you and Ruth have been chatting about a goal weight and I also think its great to have a weight in mind to aim for. Personally I am sure I will be happy to get close to mine and then maintain from there...its just good to have something to aim for.

If you can also come up with another goal which is related to your getting healthy it can always help. I plan to run in the Sydney City To Surf in August 2016. Its a big ask from where I am at at the moment but I a poster on the wall, the logo on my phone and I even have a sticker on a cupboard in the bathroom that I look at every time I pee. TMI?

I love Myfitnesspal app - its free, easy to use, you can scan barcodes and import recipes from the web and it calculates the nutrients and calories...its a great little app BUT you have to do what feels comfortable for you of course.

I committed myself to exercising and being active every day for 30 days no excuses. Despite a couple of minor setbacks I have stuck to that commitment and 27 days later I am looking forward to my daily pound of the pavement - 4 weeks ago that would have been unthinkable lol. Find your own way to get the exercise and activity in but commit to it for 20 days.

If you want to you can also join the Monday weigh in that is run by @Lowcal one of the members. @Lowcal posts it early Monday morning and we all just reply with our stats.

Or you can let us know how you are doing in any way you want.

See you round

[Jo4950]

Well done for making the commitment to change.

With sugar for me I have tried to withdraw slowly as I felt so bad when I gave it all up at once that my family suffered.

Get out with the kids and hubby and start doing things together, this will be exercise but you'll barely notice it. It will be fantastic for your kids diets as well if you make some changes and you will be setting them up for a healthy lifestyle.

Have a fab week.

[andrewleeone]

Every journey starts with a first step. And you've done that by standing up here! As you can see there are loads of really lovely helpful people here who will give you all the help, support and encouragement you will ever need.

You've already met some of those lovely peeps here! There is some great advice here. Its all about learning about diet, nutrition, our behaviour, our psychology. When you set targets and then work out how to change them into daily behaviours you give yourself an advantage.

Here's something that helped me. I assumed I was eating a healthy diet. Plenty of good quality food. Freshly made, carefully put together. Nutritious, balanced, healthy and enough for three healthy adults! I had no idea of the actual amount of calories I was eating, so for a couple of weeks - and now and again even now - I got the kitchen scales out and weighted out portions to make up healthy size meals of the same stuff. You'll need a magnifying glass! 50g muesli or 40g pasta - its tiny! but its right and its been the best thing I've learned.

Like others have said there are lots of little things we can do every day that make a difference.

Well done for getting on here! Keep posting especially if things get tough!

[Nsky24 in reply to andrewleeone]

I was weighing stuff with balance scales, bought digital ( now I have kitchen and bathroom digital ones!) and found they weigh much better!

Amazing how much you can get if certain foods too

[Portlandprincess]

Hi Shelley, welcome! There are some wonderful top tips On the NHS website. One that I like is shop around the outside of the supermarket. That's where the fresh produce is. good luck!

[Nsky24]

Welcome, small steps and changes are vital, love my herbal tea and help prevent snacking in the evenings!