Every Monday!

[LilaBeaumont]

Every week I seem to make an excuse as to why I can’t start my diet! Last weekend I had a hen do and this weekend I have Ascot Races and then Monday I will start properly! Must keep motivated.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

What is your motivation? i.e. why do you want to lose weight? You don't have to answer me but it's worth thinking about for yourself. Is it more or less important to you than the other things that keep making you postpone your start? Maybe it's less important right now.

Your life will always have celebrations and "dos" (at least I hope it will). Finding ways of enjoying them without undermining your efforts is part of developing a healthy lifestyle and new eating habits.

[IvanTheHorrible Maintainer in reply to BridgeGirl]

Have to agree. Unless this is actually important to you, it can't happen. Reminds me of this:

How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?

Only one, but the light bulb must want to change.

There's no reason you can't enjoy "dos" while eating proper food. I do, and I know there are several others here who do. One of the most pernicious myths about eating right is that it's all about deprivation. It isn't, and making yourself miserable with po-faced "diet food" is never sustainable.

[PandQs Maintainer 3st 7lbs in reply to IvanTheHorrible]

I’ve just come back from a long weekend in Krakow. Hotel breakfast then eating out twice a day, I thought I would have to either not fully enjoy the holiday, or blow the diet. Instead I found every restaurant had something I really liked, that fitted with the plan - roast duck served with lentils, meatballs with groats (barley), salmon with celeriac, pork with roast beetroot. Made me think that local restaurants at home could do with a greater variety of options instead of just rice, chips or baked potatoes!

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to PandQs]

Too true! I'm just looking at menus for somewhere I'm eating tonight and there's not one main that doesn't have either potatoes, pasta or bread. I know it doesn't matter on the odd occasion but it does make me aware of how much UK meals are built on a foundation of carbs

[PandQs Maintainer 3st 7lbs in reply to BridgeGirl]

“built on a foundation of carbs”, a bit like myself then :))

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to PandQs]

Hahaha! Another one here

[IvanTheHorrible Maintainer in reply to PandQs]

>> Made me think that local restaurants at home could do with a greater variety of options instead of just rice, chips or baked potatoes!

You can say that again. Every time I go back to the UK I'm astounded by the volume of potatoes or rice or pasta or pastry they want to serve me. Of course we all know the reason: it's cheap. It makes people think they've had a filling meal. Which they have, in the narrow sense. It's also making them fat and ill.

I just got back from Vietnam, where I've been stuffing my face with abandon at the all-you-can-eat hotel buffet and at various restaurants. The Vietnamese do not seem to be big on either rice or sweets (although they do like their noodles). I had a great time, most of my meals being vegetables, meat, and fruit. My waistline appears completely unaffected.

[13Valerie]

There'll always be an event coming up... You don't have to throw the whole week away because of one event or night out.

This is a lifestyle change. Go to your event, and ENJOY it. Then back to healthy eating the next time you eat.

Sounds simple? I'm not saying it's easy but we'll be here to support you!

Best wishes... Keep us posted.

[LilaBeaumont 4lbs]

Thanks everyone! Yeah I think my problem is that I eat crap and slip up and then because I’ve done that I then can’t get back into eating healthy! So I just need to have treats but then go back to dieting rather than just giving up when I slip up!

I need to realise my motivation is for my own personal gain, to feel comfortable and happy in my own body rather than to please anyone else

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to LilaBeaumont]

Do you know, saying you'll eat treats then go back to dieting sounds like yoyoing to me. Take your time looking at how you eat now and what changes you'd like to make. Eating healthily can be really enjoyable. Once you start enjoying proper food and not eating crap, that urge for "treats" may well reduce.

Good luck

[LilaBeaumont 4lbs in reply to BridgeGirl]

I hope so thanks for the support!

[Gourmet]

So sorry, but I fully understand your frustration. I'm the same and wish I could get rid of the excuses... no help I know, but sympathy nevertheless. I did find Slimming World helpful a couple of years ago as it involved meeting other people with the same aim. It did seem to help me feel 'accountable' and you do feel supported. Just a couple of thoughts. I wish you every success anyway ☺