Starting Now!

[matets]

I have been on the weight loss journey since November, 2013 with a target to lose 42kgs. I managed to shed off 20kgs through green smoothie challenges, portion control and little exercise here and there. In 2016, I stagnated/plateaued but I am determined to finally shed off the remaining 22kgs here, following the 12Week NHS guide. My work is sedentary, hence I really have to deliberately plan for early morning/late evening walks and hopefully jog with time. I intended to keep my daily calorie intake at 1,700 as I start out and reduce as weeks go by

Please share your experiences and tips to push me forward.

Thanks!

[IgaT]

Do you work far away from your home? You can walk / cycle to work, or at least park further or get out of bus 1-2 stops earlier and walk the rest. It depends how good you are with waking up. I am terrible, so for me it was always easier to schedule my activity straight after work, so you can do this walking on the way back home, or even better and do both

I tend to go for a walk with my dog, good necessity first thing after work. After my dog is relieved, I'm heading back home, changing clothes and do some exercises (walk-jog C25K NHS programme; or earlier some home-based exercises: I like Fitness Blender, but there are a lot out there on youtube).

It is normal to have some plateau with weight loss. It is always good to exercise, but alter what you're doing every few weeks: pick new exercises, new routine, new video to follow, new running / walking path, maybe try something completely new: swimming, dancing, pilates, yoga, kickboxing, crossfit, squash... Very good way to push your body more is HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) - you can find some workouts on google and youtube, high- and low-impact, based on different activities. Whatever you're into, or what your body can handle and try something new, even if it will be only once in your lifetime to decide to never do it again Challenge your body. I guess it is the same with food: try new veggies or fruits, new recipe.

[matets in reply to IgaT]

Thank you IgaT for your detailed response and tips to follow for better achievement. I will start walking immediately i get home home to avoid settling into some comfort. I appreciate your advice.

[Elke516]

Hi matets, congrats on losing 20 kg! Great to have you hear. Good luck!

[matets in reply to Elke516]

Thank you!

[IndigoBlue61]

Hello matets and welcome to the weight loss forum 😊 Well done on your weight loss so far, and for keeping it off which is a task in itself 😊

Here are a few suggestions for getting the most out of the forum. (Please note some of these suggestions are not available if you are using the HU App so I suggest you use the full website.)

The first place to look is at the Pinned posts section to the right of your screen (bottom if you're using a mobile), read the Welcome Newbie thread first and move through to the challenges, where we hope you'll find at least one that will appeal to you 😊

Move down to the Topics, to find a variety of threads, collated into specific topics for ease of access and we ask that you also 'file' your own threads, so that others won't miss your important news 😊

I'm glad you have found the NHS 12 week plan, as many people have had success with it. Also use the BMI checker to find your target calories, it's important to eat enough. This was a major turning point for me, realising I could eat anything I wanted as long as the calories are accounted for 😊

Don't forget to take your starting measurements and a 'before' picture, as they can be very motivating on days that the scales refuse to co-operate 😊

The forum also have group weigh-ins every day if you wish to take part. The posts can always be found in the Events section on the 'home' page 😊

You'll notice a grey box next to people's names, these are achievement badges, and as a new member you may have a 'Newbie' badge. If you have any questions or would like a Newbie badge please just ask 😊

We've found that to get the best out of this community, we need to be active on the forum, as it's where we exchange information, get motivation and inspiration and make friends. We hope that you'll join us here, regularly, too 😊

Best wishes

Anna

[matets in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Thank you IndigoBlue61 ! I am glad and happy to be here. I am loving the accountability in posting. Thank you for the tidbits.