Onwards & Downwards January 2016

[AB Editor]

Good morning everyone!

Sorry to be sort-of-late again :)

Here's last month's thread: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Weight-Loss-and-Dieting/Question1462706.html

I'm glad some of you stayed the course over Christmas (and secretly even happier for those who strayed with me!)

How is 2016 faring so far? Did you bin the nibbles?

Here's me:

You wouldn't believe how fat I was after Christmas. I don't think I've ever been so heavy.

It's a good motivator though! I've been running every day, sometimes twice a day, this year - and I've cut back my calorie intake to between 900-1400 a day.

I don't particularly feel hungry and I've dropped 4kg/8.8lbs already. Some of that is obviously salt and water from January 2nd.

Anyway, I feel like I'm on track.

One helpful thing I'm doing is redefining what a treat is, and what "off the rails" is.

Oh, and no beer.

What are your rules? What do you do to keep yourself on the slimming track?

[Old_Geezer]

Thanks Ed

[Old_Geezer]

What do I do ? I track the reasons why I'm not making progress and wonder how to stop feeling hungry and it being on my mind between meals. Bigger meals don't really seem to help. Plus I try not to eat up all the Xmas stuff immediately but space out eating it all until.... well probably next Xmas I suspect.

[AB Editor]

I think one key idea I've taken to is to shrink your stomach. Reduce calories and portion size hard and learn to ignore the hunger pangs. The pangs aren't that strong and the better you get at dismissing them the better you'll feel overall.

I feel so much less sluggish and useless after a meal now, which is great. My evenings are more productive.

As for the Xmas stuff. Maybe you need to just say goodbye to it. It's horrible to bin nice things, but maybe you just have to accept that pain?

[AB Editor]

I realise I sound like a diet-monk here, which isn't for everyone - obviously.

[Old_Geezer]

Nice in theory but with me only being in control of what I eat on some days (unless I become rude and refuse to eat what's cooked for/given to me) then I see the good work being reset regularly. I think I need to find something palatable, filling, and low calorie. Usually it's choose any two out of three.

[xstitcher]

Thanks ed, gosh you are doing well. Our only rule is that we don't judge. I would say that common sense is the key word. We like to write down our menus and shop after them. What you DO have in the house to tempt you WILL BE EATEN! We weigh ourselves on Wednesdays and if necessary go to the naughty step.......it was overflowing with people right after New Years. lol

We go in for healthy eating and shun any form of diet because we know they don't work.

We help each other with tips and support. Most of us have been around a few years now and are managing to keep our weight pretty much under control although we do fall off the wagon now and then.

I have admitted that after a Christmas of self indulgence I'm still waiting for the first downwards sign even though I am back on track.

Anyway ed that's about it. If I've forgotten something I'm sure that Wendilla will pick up on it.

[xstitcher]

You're so right about shrinking your stomach. It's a winner!

[bednobs]

yay, i lost 3.5 pounds tomnight. I have not been feeling very motivated as i had a 0.5 pound, 1 pound then 1 pound loss over the lat 3 weeks, but this has made me feel good, As a bonus, i got my 1.5 stone award tonight, and my "club 10" ( which means i lost 10% of my originl body weight)

[seekeerz]

Hi all ....several months back i decided to cut most of the bread out of my diet and though I've yet to weigh myself I know I have lost weight.

Eating salads for lunch has me wondering if I'm getting sufficient fibre so any ideas on a good source would be appreciated ....I've done some googling and only confused myself ....much of the recommended veggies etc come in cup measurements ....I couldn't eat that much in a meal.

I know it would vary but roughly what is a recommended daily intake for fibre ?

[xstitcher]

Good for you bed knobs. I can feel you elation! Don't put down the small losses because as you proceed they will get smaller. Just remember that ANY loss is positive and proves that you are going in the right direction, but I do agree that the larger losses give us more to crow about lol.

[xstitcher]

I goggled your fibre question seekers and there was a mine of information available..too much to go into here, but I would suggest you and anyone else interested try googling "What is the recommended daily intake of fibre"

[AB Editor]

"unless I become rude and refuse to eat what's cooked for/given to me"

I actually have no idea about your general situation, so I don't know who you're being rude to, but you could just ask to go veggie for a week, or vegan - as that would cut out a lot of high fat stuff?

I guess this is the same as redefining what's "off the rails" i.e. let people know you're not happy with your weight, and that you consider 4 slices of toast with butter in the morning to be unreasonable, or that you don't need a pound of potatoes with every meal?

It would help if your staff were on board :)

[Old_Geezer]

I'd be being rude to my woman who cooks for us both most weekends. It's hard enough not to agree we both have another Xmas chocolate as if I don't she's unhappy and doesn't either so it's still there. And if she comes in with a bowl of dessert I should refuse it ? In fairness I don't mind a little excess at weekends but these days the weekends are longer and my days in control of my diet, fewer.

[Marijn]

OG would she let you, if you offered to cook one of the weekend meals?

[Old_Geezer]

Possibly, but in her house I'd probably be provided with the stuff she's already got in, and has to use now before it goes off, in the quantities she has, and we'd end up with the same thing. Strange you suggest it, she's wanting me to make omelettes sometime this weekend. Still that's not too high cal. Still I had two good days Thursday and Friday so I'm hoping that'll show results come Wednesday.

[xstitcher]

OG my suggestion is that you have a little heart to heart and explain that you would like to loose a bit of weight and ask her if she will help you by finding easy recipies that you can make at home and perhaps try out a couple at hers the next time you come so that you can watch her make so that you can do it at home when you're on your own.

[Old_Geezer]

Oh she well knows I'm wanting to lose weight. Apparently I wasn't required to make the omelettes after all. But I've just had a pleasant but excessive dinner which included about three large potatoes' worth of carrot/potato mash.

[Old_Geezer]

Not to mention unexpected ice cream & raspberries.

[xstitcher]

Ha ha OG that meal sounds like she likes you just the way you are!

[Marijn]

OG, are you saying she is trying to sabotage your diet? Or do you secretly like to be given all the lovely stuff at her house?