Time to do something!

[Genie80]

I've been ill since 2009 being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and CFS/ME along with Asthma and IBS. I've piled on the weight and gone from a UK size 8 to a UK size 16 - Needless to say I'm not a happy bunny!

I'm lucky in that my boyfriend loves me no matter what size I am and he has no impact on me wanting to lose weight, I'm doing this for Me!!
I hate the way I look and feel and hate the constant battle of finding clothes that fit - much prefering my PJ's to any other clothes I own.

I've dieted on and off for the past 18 months, lose a bit then something happens, a bad Fibro flare or something totally out of control and I go back to snacking and eating everything I shouldn't.

At my last Rheumatologist appointment he suggested I set goals, not weight loss goals but aims to do something giving me motivation to have lost weight by then (If that makes sense?)

So.... At the end of June I am doing the Cancer Research Race for Life in Temple Newsam, Leeds. It's only 5km and I will be walking it (with my Mum) but considering at the beginning of this year I was struggling to walk 5 minutes down the road without being in a great deal of pain even using crutches a lot of the time it will be a Massive acheivement.

I've also booked in for another tattoo (I have quite a few already!) this is to be a half sleeve starting at the back of my neck, going around onto my collar bone, round my upper arm ending just inside my elbow it will be flowers and swirls around the quote "It's not about waiting for the storm to pass but learning to dance in the rain" - I've booked in for the end of July & I want to have lost about 2 stone (24lbs) by then.

So here goes.....

[Genie80]

Day 5 had massive cravings for a bowl of cereal last night but managed to avoid it and stay strong. Rewarded when i got on the scales this morning - I've lost 7lbs since Monday!! I'm over the moon

Now just need to resist the urge to have a chocolate bar as a reward!!

[Genie80]

Monday Morning (well Afternoon if you're gonna be picky!) Blues!
Have managed to yoyo 2lbs up and down over the weekend - possibly because I gave in to the bowl of cereal???

Need some ideas for snacks, when you're sat watching TV in an evening something to eat instead of cereal or reaching for the fated chocolate or crisps!! x

[zipp2play]

Originally Posted by Genie80

I'm lucky in that my boyfriend loves me no matter what size I am and he has no impact on me wanting to lose weight, I'm doing this for Me!!

Doing it for YOU is the best thing! I can't wait to get to know you through your journal and through the challenge thread!

[zipp2play]

WHen I did lc, I would microwave pepperoni slices. They get crispy like chips and dip them in cheese. Just a thought!

[zipp2play]

How goes it girl???

[Genie80]

Oooh I like the pepperoni idea!
I still can't shift the 2lbs I put on at the weekend
Oh well... keeping at it and do feel so much better even though I'm only on my second week.
We're at a festival (Mockfest organised by a local radio station which is a load of cover bands) on 4th May so want to have made good headway by then so I can have a 'slip up' day and have a few beers without feeling too bad about it! xx

[Genie80]

My motivation - my Fridge photo: Summer 2008!

[Genie80]

Lost the 2lbs that I managed to put on over the weekend
Struggling with rubbish sleep & headaches at the moment though x

[Genie80]

Bad move this morning - bag of doritos so will hang my head in shame when the scales go up instead of down tomorrow!

I've decided I'm going to have a monthly goal... so:
April - 182
May - 168
June - 154
July - 140

I figure having smaller targets should make it easier - fingers crossed!!

[Genie80]

I think I may have a long way to go to meet my April goal!

Got home from work last night to a big bag of chocolate biscuits in the fridge, my MIL had bought one of the boxes of broken biscuits whilst she'd been out grocery shopping and when she got home & found most of them were chocolate she brought them over so after those and the Doritos I'm in a bit of a bad carb place right now.

Oh well.... will weigh in tomorrow and see how bad I've done.

Then a fresh new start! .... again!

I.WILL.NOT.BE.DEFEATED!!!!

[Emmaline78]

Originally Posted by Genie80

Bad move this morning - bag of doritos so will hang my head in shame when the scales go up instead of down tomorrow!

I've decided I'm going to have a monthly goal... so:
April - 182
May - 168
June - 154
July - 140

I figure having smaller targets should make it easier - fingers crossed!!

Good idea to have some goals to work towards.
I have the same problem with chocolate in particular and any cakes..
Very hard to resist!!

Your photo of 2008 looks beautiful.. get back there girl a.s.a.p... your too young to waste your life being too big to do what you want! IYKWIM!

[DesertGurl]

Hi Gina! Didn't realize you had a journal until today, so I'm here to cheer you on!

Chocolate, that's a dangerous place for me!

You're doing great so far, keep on keeping on, girly!! Can't wait to see that tattoo all done!

[Genie80]

Thanks for the encouragement ladies... the chocolate biscuits put that pesky 2lbs back on so going to be super strict with myself over the weekend and not weigh in again until Monday then fingers crossed I should be back on track!

I'm finding that meal times are easy it's when I'm chilling in an evening I'd normally reach for a bowl of cereal or something. Got our grocery order delivered yesterday though with pepperoni slices so going to try Monicas idea.

I've also found somewhere I can order flax meal from so going to attempt the 1 minute muffin... so determined to reach my goal this time.

Went out on my boyfriends motorbike yesterday and it's the first time I've been on it for about 9 months... my bike clothes were tight, if that's not motivation to lose the weight I don't know what is!

Love & hugs xx

[Aleina]

Have a good day in Manchester! I stayed there for 6 weeks in my younger youth.
My advice would be (if you are asking ) to up your water intake, just water not tea or diet drinks and no ridiculous amounts either.Your 2 lbs could well be retained water. After all you would have needed to consume 7000 extra calories to what your body requires in order to put them on. Don't count cals though.I am just saying this to illustrate that you may not have done as much damage as you may think you have.

[Genie80]

Thank you Aleina,
I find drinking water so hard, I manage about 2-3 500ml bottles a day
However drink about 5-6 cups of tea (very strong, harldy any milk)

So determined to lose the weight though, I.WILL.DO.THIS. lol x

[DesertGurl]

The riding clothes will be an awesome gauge to your success. How awesome it will be to watch yourself shrink and watch them get bigger!

Pepperoni slices are YUM.. also "cheese chips" with salsa are another fave of mine..it will definitely help with the water consumption

[Genie80]

Lovin' the pepperoni slices!!!
Weighed in today and total loss over 2 weeks is 6lbs.... so 187 :/

On the plus side I am feeling very positive and can see my tummy shrinking x

[Genie80]

Ok so it's all been going well. Down to 186 now.
Decided to actually start recording the carbs I'm eating, yesterday was approximately 15 gms total.

Today however a much loved colleague is leaving on maternity leave and there was cake... and i've had a piece... I've been feeling bloated all day but now I feel worse!

Oh well..... instead of caving completely and going and buying doritos
That's it...
Drawn a line under it.
I will continue with this no matter what - if I f**k up - I'll just get back on the waggon and start again. I'm not gonna lose this weight sat here p**sing & moaning about it xx

[Genie80]

Wooop! The scales didn't go back up! Stayed the same as yesterday.

My boyfriend and his Mum are in the kitchen making Irish Sodabread.... I'm sure they're doing it on purpose to see if they can break me!

G x

[zipp2play]

Stay strong girl!!!!!!! RESIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Genie80]

I didn't and gained 1 lb on the scales this morning but I reckon after sodabread & chocolate cake I probably deserve it!

I'm in a bad head place today, W still out of work and getting to the time of the month when rent and all the other bills need to be paid so think I'm doing that over-thinking thing which isn't doing me much good!

Seriously considering moving over to JUDDD - I've been reading about alternate day fasting and about the health benefits. I've already got my grocery shopping for next week so would have to start week after... will see how I go this next week xx

[zipp2play]

Let me know girl. I can help with JUDDD! I am sorry there is so much stress in your life right now. That certainly does NOT make things easy! What type of work does your BF do?

[Genie80]

I also had a massive arguement with my Mum over the phone last night she couldn't understand why people are offering me food like chocolate cake and the soda bread to which I pointed out I've spent the last year telling people I'm on a diet then breaking it time and time again!

He was working in a distribution centre in stock control, he's applying for jobs left right and centre but it's certainly not a good time to be looking for work at the moment. There's a couple of irons in the fire so fingers crossed xxx

[Genie80]

I think the decision has been made.
My first DD will be Saturday.... I'm going to enjoy Pizza & a few beers with W tomorrow night: it's much needed for both of us xx

[DesertGurl]

Enjoy your pizza and beer! I miss beer!!!

Crossing my fingers for W and the job prospects. something will pop soon, I just know it!

JUDDD is wonderful and one thing I learned, it's crucial to just trust the process. In the beginning I thought there was NO way I'd get thru DD's ever...I mean, 500 calories, really???? ....well, turns out that towards the end before I switched back to lc..I was well below 300 on most DD's if not at 0. I really hope you like it and have a wonderful experience with it!

[Genie80]

Had a long talk with W last night, he's so good to me bless him he made me steak & eggs for tea then we sat and talked about my weight loss and food issues.

I eat when I'm bored and I'm a total gluton... I can't have just one of something, that's why diets like WeighWatchers don't work because I can have anything.. so I do. I tried the 5:2 diet through February and lost quite a bit but then had a health slump.. as I'm feeling miles better in myself I'm hoping this is the way forward!

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement ladies!
Some friends of ours are getting married in Cuba next August (2014) I will have my bikini body by then xxx

[zipp2play]

Gina , sounds like you have a plan and W is set to help where he can. I am just like you, except, I eat when bored, happy, sad, overwelmed....YOU NAME IT! Any emotion I tie to the need to eat. I love food!

Beach bod by then INDEED!

[Genie80]

Hard to believe I hardly ate as a kid!
I even had to be put on the nutrition shakes by my doc when I was about 15 because I just wasn't interested in eating...
Then I worked in hotels and got lots of chances to experiment with food when the chefs tried out new menus
Then I got married... to a w****r.... no more needs to be said!
lol.. x

[DesertGurl]

Wonderful when the guys/gals in our life can be so supportive!

Exciting news about your trip to Cuba!! Beach body here you come!!!

OMG, had to laugh about the w****r comment...I so wish I could hear you talk! Always a sucker for an English or Australian accent.

Have a great weekend Gina! Remember, we are all here with ya.