Weight Watchers

[Diane65]

Looks like we're going to be leading parallel lives Preston1990 as we have similar amounts to lose and different challenges yours being your sciatica and mine being time but we did it together the other year so no reason why we can't do it again along with lots of encouragement. Lets get posting recipes, meal plans and exercise regimes - that is to everyone and please feel free to advice me on where I can improve.

Menu of the day:
All bran with a banana and milk
Sundried tomato and feta pasta salad (it was reduced to 70p in Tesco this morning hence a day for pasta).
Meatballs with tomato and sweet pepper sauce with tagliatelle. I will make up the recipe as I go along but will just use fresh produce and do it healthy (got a ton of tomatoes and peppers).

What is everyone else up to today?

[Preston1990]

Looks like we're going to be leading parallel lives Preston1990 as we have similar amounts to lose and different challenges yours being your sciatica and mine being time but we did it together the other year so no reason why we can't do it again along with lots of encouragement. ...........

Absolutely Diane. We've (literally) been together though thick and thin haven't we. We just need to get back to thin again now don't we

First day of my diet (yesterday) ended up a right shambles with me demolishing masses of Roses chocolates just before (and after) bedtime. I got up another twice in the night to make further raids on the tub, taking handfuls each time. Even though I was so annoyed with myself for doing it I still couldn't stop myself. I'll have to do better this week otherwise I'll be putting weight on rather than losing it. It's so blooming hard dieting when there's still Christmas chocolate and other festive goodies around.

Today has been slightly better as I had a nice piece of salmon fillet for my evening meal tonight so that was quite good. However the half a family sized packet of cheesy triangle nibbles I ate watching the telly later on was not so good. Once all these holiday snacks are used up I'll be so relieved. I'm intending to stock up on some porridge for breakfasts and b*y some less calorific salady things (celery, carrots, etc) to snack on instead of chocolates in case hunger pangs strike again this week. I'm also determined to start taking a 20 min walk each day, back pain permitting.

Try and be good everyone

[asamaic]

Back at my folks for a few days, so the bad eating continues, although I'm making an effort to not snack and instead focus on proper meals. Have continued to b*y clothes in the smaller size - I can just about get away with wearing them, but they'll look better when I shift the weight. I tend to b*y quite forgiving styles which can cope with a bit of fluctuation either way!

I now have a wardrobe of new clothes (well, I will when the rest arrive) to keep me motivated.

Dodgy ankle continues to heal - thought I might get away with leaving the house without a stick today - managed a few metres before I realised that had been overoptimistic. However, at least I'm putting less pressure on the stick; I'm not better but I'm getting there.

For someone who hates running so much, I really want to go running again...! Anyone not tried running yet? It's hard at first, but (assuming you have two functioning legs unlike me right now!) it's a good way to stay fit and burn off calories. You do need to b*y a pair of proper running shoes and a proper sports bra (for the ladies) but you can get away without any other specialist kit when you're just getting started. Cheap and cheerful.

The milkshakes and homemade soup sound delicious - maybe I need to invest in a blender?

[Diane65]

Absolutely Diane. We've (literally) been together though thick and thin haven't we. We just need to get back to thin again now don't we

First day of my diet (yesterday) ended up a right shambles with me demolishing masses of Roses chocolates just before (and after) bedtime. I got up another twice in the night to make further raids on the tub, taking handfuls each time.

Try and be good everyone

Now Mr Preston1990 if you keep on indulging in those chocolates I know which camp you'll be in Some of us stayed in bed even though their stomach was rumbling

You'll be looking hot in your new wardrobe asamaic I just want to be able to fit in my clothes again

Menu of the day:
Porridge with honey (the squirt of honey was 50 calories and the porridge 150 - need to curb the honey)
Bruschetta and 2 clementines (400 calories - it is a large bread roll)
Meatballs with chilli salad (hot dry fried chillies on the salad) and yoghurt dressing (yoghurt, lemon and cucumber) on a roll followed by a peach yoghurt (500 calories).

I can a 100 calorie treat later.

Just reading this now and it is carb heavy.

I will fit in a walk today - I have plenty of time so just need to move my body.

Good luck everyone today and keep posting

[Diane65]

Where is everyone? I assume busy preparing healthy food or off exercising.

Menu of the day:
Special K (300 calories)
Superfood Pasta at Weatherspoons (471 calories) Massive thanks to Yogi and his OH for treating me to my lunch just because they are kind
2 Poached eggs on 2 slices of toast (350 claories) plus a chocolate mousse (70 calories).
I'm drinking loads of water but need to get into the exercise zone once I have got used to fewer calories as still at the feeling hungry stage.

I've decided that is easier if I plan my meals for the week ahead so that the days I'm going straight from work to hospital I'm sorted and not go for my usual 1 Snickers bar or 2 as too hungry. Even though I'm only on day 4 my skin feels cleaner (I do wash) probably due to all the water I'm drinking.

Good luck everyone and keep posting as I'm a bit of a Billie no mates at the moment.

[ejwrank]

Well I'm here and reading your menus Diane and sorry I cannot add any of my own. I have been quite busy making soup recently (leek and potato last week and today watercress) which I'm not making in order to lose weight but to use up turkey stock but I still consider that to be healthy eating and certainly a lot cheaper than b*ying Covent Garden!

So what I can do is offer encouragement to you, Preston, asamaic and others on your 2015 journey! I think you have all had really difficult times in the past year so shouldn't be too hard on yourselves. And I wish you all the best in the New Year.

[andrews]

Well, I am here and have now got rid of the house full of visitors and friends. It's been non-stop eating and drinking since Christmas Eve. Of course we still have all the leftovers in the fridge and half a Christmas Cake, so we I am dreading stepping onto the scales! I don't quite know how - or when - I will be able to take myself in hand. I need to give myself a good talking to.

I am not prepared to divulge how much food I have had to eat today. I'll try to be better tomorrow. Promise!

[asamaic]

Starting to reign it in. Today was:

Big bowl of Special K and some sneaky Christmas chocolates (480)

Shredded duck, cucumber and pancakes, satsumas and grapes (360)

Butternut squash risotto and low calorie hot choc (370)

Plus lots of tea. I do live in England, after all.

Can't say I loved the risotto much (it was one of those My Goodness pots from Sainsbury's - they look like Innocent veg pots) but it did fill me up and counted as one of my five-a-day. Must explore alternatives.

The hot chocolate helped take the edge off the cravings, and it was only 40 calories. I'd recommend it to anyone else with a sweet tooth.

The freezer broke when I was away, so I've thrown everything out. Including the Häagen-Dazs. Probably a blessing in disguise...

I think I should be up to walking like a normal human being again tomorrow. Fingers crossed. Not sure how long I'll have to wait until it's safe to run - but if I can manage a normal day without a stick, maybe I can at least incorporate some gentle walking soon.

I'm not going to b*y pizza from my favourite takeaway anymore. It's back to the low calorie Pizza Express ones...

Andrews, it's like ripping off a plaster. Just do it. I was horrified by how much I'd put on, but at least now I know and I feel better for it.

Ejwrank, your encouragement is always much appreciated.

Going to try for an early-ish night later, mainly because it'll stop me from eating. But also because apparently a lack of sleep makes it more difficult to lose weight.

As Diane65 says, keep posting! We just all need to get the right attitude again, and the rest will follow.

[andrews]

Andrews, it's like ripping off a plaster. Just do it. I was horrified by how much I'd put on, but at least now I know and I feel better for it.

Going to try for an early-ish night later, mainly because it'll stop me from eating. But also because apparently a lack of sleep makes it more difficult to lose weight.

I have been on the scales and it's not good news - as expected. I was interested to read your comment about lack of sleep. I think I could agree with that.

[Preston1990]

Well yet another very disappointing day for me dietwise yesterday.

My meals included mueseli with semi skimmed milk for breakfast. Not a bad start, but the Wetherspoons steak and kidney pudding with chips and gravy I had for lunch could in no way be considered typical diet fayre. Very tasty and good value it was though and because I was driving afterwards I did not partake in any alcoholic beverages, so that would limit the damage. I'm bracing for another ticking off from Diane obviously though.

The 300 mile car trip to Lincoln and back, to return our eldest daughter to uni, played havoc with my sciatica which is always made much worse by prolonged sitting. So it was early to bed for rest once home with a hastily prepared ham and "luxury" coleslaw sandwich in lieu of a proper evening meal. Oh, and did I mention the Belgian chocolate biscuits. No ......., well err....I finished off our tin of those as well as I lay there feeling sorry for myself.

As my good friend Andrews has pointed out, Christmas and/or New Year has got to be the worst time to embark on a diet - there's just too much tempting stuff laying around.

I must seriously remind myself that there's more to this diet lark than drawing up a nice looking weight loss chart. You're actually supposed to eat less calories and take more exercise. On the positive side of things, after yesterday's indiscretions with the biscuits there are now even less naughty chocolatey high calorie things laying around the house. That's got to be a good thing right?

So what I can do is offer encouragement to you, Preston, asamaic and others on your 2015 journey! I think you have all had really difficult times in the past year so shouldn't be too hard on yourselves. And I wish you all the best in the New Year.

Many thanks for those kind and encouraging words EJ - much appreciated! I'm going to follow your example and try my hand at some soup making too!

Oh yes, and I'm going to get my vegetable steamer out, from the back of the cupboard, and start doing veggies with a drizzle of balsamic. Must get back on track with my first weigh-day looming.

I hope that your ankle continues to improve Asamaic and you'll be back out there tearing up the tarmac soon! Oh yes, and I like your idea of not neglecting tea drinking - I'm going to replace my daily cappuccinos with nice cups of earl grey with lemon.