Newbie saying Hi.

[Stevo5585]

New to the site, finally accepted the reality that tighter fitter clothes and not being able to keep up with my 10 yr. old son was not a situation I wanted to be in.

Although fairly active I've been steadily gaining weight over the years, a new job position last year really affected me and I need to get back in control.

My challenge is to try and do that with limited choices, I work overseas on a 5 week on 5 week off rota, so when at home I tend to over indulge in treats I just can't get at work, and at work I have very little choice of what I can eat as the food is pre-prepared and sent to our remote working location. I am going to have to cherry pick the healthier options and watch the portion sizes. A little more difficult than being able to plan and cook healthy and tasty meals but I am committed to making this change, not just for myself but for my wife and son. I don't enjoy looking the way I do and the way it affects my life and I am worried about the health implications, high blood pressure, heart problems etc.

It will be hard but hopefully I can get some help along the way when I am feeling like destroying a box of chocolate digestives!

[YellowRose55]

Morning Stevo5585

Welcome to the weight loss forum.

If while you are at home you can work out your portion sizes then when your away working as you don't have the same choices just go by the portion sizes that you have started to eat.

Take a look at the Welcome Newbie post in the Pinned post section at the right hand side or at the bottom if your on a mobile. Have a look at the nhs 12 week plan, many members have had success following this plan. Use the BMI checker to work out your daily calorie allowance.

Below the Pinned posts are the Topics where members share a range of weight related subjects.

Take your measurements at the start together with a photo so you can see the changes on the days the scales don't move.

We have daily weigh ins so why not come along and join us. You can find the weigh ins on the Home page in the Events section on the right. Just click on the post in Events and record your start weight and any loss/gain or maintain for the week.

To get the most of the forum be active, share tips, recipes and experiences. Read some of the posts they are very motivating.

Have a good first week.

Rose

[Stevo5585 7lbs in reply to YellowRose55]

Hi YellowRose55,

Been having a search around the site already to get familiarized and have the first week printed out and started. Am trying to figure out how to weigh myself as there aren't any scales here but will start with measurements and try and solve that later.

I have a ways to go but am happy to be biting the bullet and making the first steps.

Steve

[YellowRose55 in reply to Stevo5585]

Hi Stevo5585

If you can't weigh yourself at the moment then measurements are the next best thing to record.

My weight loss journey is a long one too so I set myself little goals along the way, like 7lbs or to the stone below and then reward myself with a non-food reward such as new trainers or a hair cut. It just helps to keep you motivated as you go.

Have a good week.

Rose

[Hidden in reply to Stevo5585]

I am maintaining at goal weight by measuring rather than weighing, and am finding it quite effective. I suggest taking multiple measurements as waist can fluctuate whereas the others may show more steady progress: neck, upper arm, chest, waist, hips, upper thigh. Draw out a graph like you would if you were weighing, maybe alongside your weigh-in graph even though the weigh-ins will be less frequent. Or you can use something like the myfitnesspal app and enter the measurements on there, which then automatically generates a graph. My best tip for easy measuring is to use string then lay the string along the tape. It's a little bit less fiddly Good luck

[Stevo5585 7lbs in reply to Hidden]

Well done for reaching your goal Ruth, I did get quite a few measurements on day one, all as above except for upper arm, and used a roll of PTFE tape instead of string, great minds think alike eh!

[Hidden in reply to Stevo5585]

Maintaining that loss is my challenge right now... Not so much great minds as I learned the hard way after dropping the measuring tape and having to re-roll it several times! Also anyone else would have bought new scales when mine broke, but I thought I'd try to just do measuring, and only once a month too... However I found inch loss one of the most motivating parts of the weight loss journey as it's hard to 'believe' anything is happening without visual evidence that your body is changing... Noting things like belt holes is good too

[AnnTandy]

Bless you, hubby works away, often for months at a time - I'm very familiar with that glazed "must have a bacon sandwich, must have a gallon of beer" look in his eyes when he gets home! I imagine for you it's going to be portion size and exercise that will help when you're away (even if it's a hot country you work in, you can exercise at night). You may well find that a little is enough when you get home, too. When you come to terms with the fact that you are only over-indulging because you CAN (not because you have to) then little treats when you're home will become exactly that - treats. And there's nothing wrong with treating yourself, especially if you can learn to really enjoy the moment rather than not even tasting it, which probably happens now! Good luck!

[Stevo5585 7lbs in reply to AnnTandy]

The glazed look, that made me laugh. Yes, I know it all too well, as does my wife. If there isn't any bacon in the fridge when I get home there's trouble brewing! You've pretty much got it spot on, indulging because I can rather than because I need it. I'm hoping this plan will work as it's more a lifestyle regime rather than telling you what you can and can't eat (I don't respond well to that!).

Wise words AnnTandy, I'll be sure to think about them through the coming weeks.