Weight Watchers

[Preston1990]

Roll on January the 1st

[Diane65]

Roll on January the 1st

I will be with you once again
That cake isn't by any chance the Nigella one that I was watching her make last night

[Preston1990]

Happy New Year Everyone!

Well, it's the traditional time of year for reflection and taking stock......for making new plans and embarking upon new journeys......So here goes........

Last year was initially a good one for me weightwise, as had the year before been. I had really got my weight down to the lowest it had been since my twenties (I'm in my 60s now) and improved my general fitness, stamina and mobility enormously (within the constraints of my ongoing medical condition).

I had basically done this by taking a membership out for my local leisure centre and attending lots of the fitness classes that were on offer, rather than doing gym sessions. I tried loads of different ones including aquafit, kettlebells, body pump, body combat, freestyle stepper, body balance, body attack, pilates, yoga, spinning, grit, and many others. Some were enjoyable, some were akin to torture, some were well within my capabilities, some were well beyond what felt comfortable or indeed safe for me.

The ones that I ended up settling on were pretty much aquafit, spinning, pilates and yoga. I did about ten classes in all every week - although when I first started I did a mix of nearer twenty.

It was great, I was able to eat whatever I liked and as much as I wanted and the weight still just fell off me. The downside was I used to come home from the leisure centre and pretty much collapse in front of the telly or go to bed and have a nap. This was not a huge problem though as I'm retired. That said the jobs that needed doing in the house & garden and on our cars were being neglected and kept mounting up. At the start of last August I decided that I would need to take a couple of weeks break from the leisure centre to start addressing some of these. To cut a long story short I've never yet got back to my classes. Those two weeks have stretched into four months - and, more importantly, I have put about a stone and a half of unwanted weight on!!

So that's the background to where I am now. I used to be a regular on these threads and the camarederie that they provided have helped me focus on losing weight in the past. So now I'm back.....and ready to lose more once again. Hopefully I'll lose it and keep it off this time (which I know is the really tricky part.

Great to see that the lovely Diane will be joining me again this time - we've had some real good laughs together on here in the past. All the friendly support and gently humorous competitiveness really works for me. Can we tempt any of the other old regulars, and/or some new people, back onto these threads - or are you all now so svelte that you no longer need to be here.

And...If you are so svelte now - how did you do it? c'mon let's have your best tips!!

My immediate plans are:
a) update my weightloss chart thingys in my signature
b) set some realistic goals for myself
c) stop overeating
d) restart some fitness classes
e) don't give up till I get to where I want to be

[ClareBarr]

Hi all, I'll hopefully be back on this thread this new year.....really want this to be the year that I lose weight! Was looking at a photo of myself the other day from 2007, when I was around a size 12, am now around size 20, it really gets me down. I had some lovely clothes back then & ive kept most of them as I'd really love to be able to wear them again some day! Due to health condition, I can't exercise much, so it'll have to all be down to improving what I eat, getting into some kind of daily routine, regular breakfast/lunch/dinner times, & improving my body clock. You lovely people on here always motivate me.....let's make 2018 a great year for all of us with our weight loss goals! x :)

[Diane65]

Happy New Year to everyone and 2018 will be the year that we do it.

I am back to square 1 weight wise. I did get down to a size 12 but now my size 14's are too tight which is not good.
My issue is time factor so I really do need to streamline my time so that I do not skip meals and make time to exercise. I work on average 45-50 hours a week and have moved my work base so now leave at 7am to miss the traffic plus I have 2 immediate family members with dementia so need to visit 5 times (2 for 1 and 3 for my Mum) a week. I know that it sounds like I am making excuses before I start but just explaining my situation so the previous time that I really did this health kick I could fit in exercise 6 times a week which in reality will be hard to fit in now. I have joined Purgym so it's open 24 hours so I will aim for 3 times a week but twice is definitely doable.

My aim is to lose at least 35lbs so I am aiming for 7lbs by the end of January. I will weigh myself in the morning and update/restart my weight loss ticker.

Lovely to have my good friend's Preston1990 and Clarebarr embarking on the same journey and we welcome any old and new weightwatchers plus our fabulous support network

Any tips will be greatly appreciated if you can see any ways that I could improve

[Diane65]

OMG got on the scales and it was far worse than I imagined - been to so many Christmas meals etc so put on even more weight over the festive season.

Today is the first day of the new me. Even though so annoyed with myself for piling on so much weight I am still being positive as it is only me along with lots of encouragement that can change it. I am going to count calories like last time (it works for me - I know that loads of people hate counting calories). So far today I have had porridge, a banana, a yoghurt, a gammon sandwich (bread roll) and quorn cottage pie with beetroot and 3 cups of black coffee. I have only worked 9 until 4 today so had breakfast at home. As soon as I have digested my food I am heading to the gym . Writing it down I can see the severe lack of vegetables plus no water.

How has everyone else got on with the first day of the new us?

[Preston1990]

Wow Diane, your schedule is really full on

Even so, you've put me to shame by bringing your weightloss chart up to date - I haven't done mine yet

I'm going to follow your lead and try and aim for a loss of 7lb by the end of January, which will be a good start. I need to lose at least 3 to, preferably, 4 times that amount before I'll feel really relaxed with my weight again.

I'm actually sitting here nervously waiting for the clock to tick round. I've packed, repacked, checked and rechecked my gym-bag a ridiculous number of times ready for tonight at 19:15. I'm booked into my first fitness class (Spinning) since August of last year and I'm feeling incredibly worried about it. Will I still be able to cope OK with it, with my current very reduced, compared to how I was, level of fitness. Will I be able to manage the full 45 mins? or, will I have to give up and suffer the indignity of leaving part way through? I really do hope that I make it to the end without drawing too much negative attention to myself. I'm assuming that the first day back after a long absence is usually the worst - so it will be nice to get it out of the way! I've got more classes booked for later on this week.

Anyhow that's where I'm at at the minute. It's great that our lovely friend ClareBarr will be joining us once again this time - we're like the three musketeers!

Let's all make a determined effort to make 2018 the year in which we get to grips with our fitness, weight-loss and general well-being goals. If anybody else feels like throwing their hat into the ring too, then please feel free to do so and join us - the more the merrier!!

[ClareBarr]

I've just had a dinner of stuff I wanted to use up from my fridge, but it turned out really healthy! Half an avocado, brown rice, scrambled egg, grated courgette (15p at Tesco reductions the other day), & a few slices of ham. Very tasty!

How did your spinning class go, Preston? Yes the 3 musketeers are back in action! :)

[ejwrank]

Afraid I am able to compete with you three musketeers but I will gladly help out on the support front.

Very happy to see Diane, Preston and ClareBarr present and accounted for.

[Preston1990]

Well done on some fantastically healthy food choices there Diane and ClareBarr

Thanks for once again being there for us all EJ and providing motivational Cheerleading support.

I completed my spinning class right to the end last night. However, I did find it extremely tough going, and wondered after 5 mins in whether I may have been better starting back to exercising with something a little gentler until I built my fitness level back up. Nevermind, its done now and it felt like it was a really good mega calorie burning workout. I've got an hours aquafit class lined up for 9:15 this morning followed by a bit of gentle swimming and then a relaxing sauna session.

I know that I shouldn't do it , and i'm bracing myself for the inevitable lectures , but I'll be skipping breakfast today

I'll be making myself my favourite quick and reasonably healthy lunch when I get back home - Grilled salmon steak with steamed broccolli and instant packet noodles. Yeah I know that the noodles part isn't the greatest choice, but they are quick and easy and I do like them.

What kind of stuff are you doing at the gym Diane?

Keep being good everyone - let's hear what you've been getting up to.

All for one and one for all