Health: Lose Weight

Okay, the holidays are (nearly) over, I can try to get back to a routine (although I loathe routines!), and try this time to keep up the good steps I started before.

When I first started this, my goal date (our 25th wedding anniversary, June 13th 2006) was well over a year away. Now it’s only 9 months away, so perhaps I’ll find it easier to focus, and it’s not so close that I have to choose between weight and more important things.

I was doing not too badly with no extras and reduced added salt and some extra exercise, but then things sort of fell apart! (a hurt foot didn’t help!)

So – my weight this morning was 15st 6lb – more or less where I started (so that’s a bit of a plus – it hasn’t gone up!) I have noticed, though, that it swings between 15 st 9 and 15 st 3 in a normal week.

I’ve made what I feel is a big step forward – I’ve managed to get back to planning meals based on our weekly activities, so when there’s a night (especially on one of my working days) that one child comes in, 2nd child comes in, 1st child goes out (driven by me), husband comes in, husband goes out, 1st child comes in, 2nd child goes out (driven by me) – you get the idea! – I plan in advance a simple meal that can cook before or while I’m out, and can be eaten as and when people need to.

I’ve planned the meals until next Sunday (they’re not rigid, they can change) and it helps me not nibble while I stand in the kitchen, exhausted, trying to put a meal together! It also helps me feel more in control, which again means less nibbling…!

So – I’m not setting a weight loss goal, but my goals are to stop the extras, drink more water, and to try to post regularly here!

Well done to all who have lost weight, and to all those who have tried!

On Saturday, just before we went away for a few days, we bought some new scales (very much needed as the old ones lost or gained us almost a stone depending on where we stood.)

The bad news? I’m not 14st12, I’m 15st6.

I’m ridiculously bothered by this, becsuse the ‘new’ weight does not take away from my small steps forward, but it feels as if it does.

1) No nibbling while doing evening meal – success so far, except for some cucumber and carrot one night. That’s not a problem in itself, but still made me feel even hungrier! Very pleased – one night we had omelettes with mushrooms, cheese, chicken etc. in, and I managed not to eat a single bit of the fillings until I sat down to my own – unheard of for me!

2) Walk tall – managing to do this much more often.

3) Walking a bit faster, climbing tower, swimming with children – frequently walking faster, no tower climbing but self-defence class, no swimming but walking round Legoland. I feel this is progress.

Additional – I’ve managed to eat no ‘extras’ (except 1 packet of crisps today as part of a hastily grabbed picnic lunch.)

So, so far, I’m feeling pleased. They are only small steps, but that’s my plan, and the important thing is that they are already becoming more of a habit.

I’ll have no access to a computer for a few days, so won’t be posting Monday, but will do so when I can.

Using this site, especially as part of the team, is definitely helping me to remember and stick to what I’ve publicly said I’ll do!

Good luck to everyone else!

Currently at 14 stone 12lb, BMI 30.7, size 20.

Long term goal: size 16 or less in just over a year (silver wedding anniversary) but with keeping the weight off (so small lifestyle changes rather than just a diet.)

This week’s goals:

1) do not nibble when doing dinner (or, if I can’t resist, at least nibble on carrot/cue etc. not cheese and crisps!)

2) walk tall – stand up straight, pull my shoulders back and pull my tummy in! Makes me feel better, look less bulgy, and strengthens the muscles.

3) walk a little faster at work and to & from school, climb the tower at least once (22 metres), climb the stairs at work and home more often, dog walk or swim with children or Aquarobics with older daughter at least once this week.

I had a good start this morning, in that I was actually 2lb lighter than expected – I did an hour’s self-defence last Thursday which started with running on the spot, and walked the children to Guides (and me back – approx 1 mile.) – I think that’s why! But the scales are not very accurate and I can easily lose half a stone by shifting where I stand, so I’m going to go with the heaviest weight I can make them produce!

Later today I shall also measure my waist, hips, arms etc. – I’ve found that very useful before.

Good luck everyone!

Incentive – helping daughter too

Our older daughter started secondary school September 2004, and is just creeping into a trouser size larger. Contributing factors are, I think, developing early, able to choose any food at all for break and lunch (and an extra breakfast!), no longer swimming regularly at formal lessons.

She does know all about healthy eating, and we have always practised it (more or less!) at home, but when she’s cold, tired and hungry, those chocolate muffins for break or cheese and onion pies for lunch look very tempting…!

I would not even mention the word diet for her at her age – she’s still a child although she doesn’t look it – so we’re encouraging a reasonable breakfast (to stop the hunger pangs later), taking break with her, and especially more everyday exercise. She cycles/walks roughly a mile each way, is involved in Judo, Guides, netball/rounders, was at trampolining club at school but swapped when juggling club started.

I feel it’s far better (and only fair!) if I do the ‘sensible things’ too, so hopefully we’ll both benefit, and I do think that my joining Helen’s team is going to help us both (I am on the team in spirit, honest, just having a minor difficulty being recognised as a member!)

I am also more likely to stick to my own targets if I know it’s helping her!

Current plan:

1) She’s decided herself to alternate juggling and trampolining club

2) I’m going to take us all either swimming or dog-walking every Monday after school no matter how tired we are/what the weather is

3) I plan to buy myself a bike and start cycling again, so we can go out together (she loves cycling)

4) Just she and I will go to Aquarobics an evening a week – it’s quite late for her, but she loves water too, and enjoys this more than the thought of land-based exercise classes.

I’ve had the last 2 things in mind for a while now, especially the bike, but just haven’t managed to put the energy into doing them. Hopefully writing them here, and by doing so making my reasons much clearer in my own mind, will encourage me to make them happen.

June 13th 2006 is our silver wedding anniversary. I’d like to fit comfortably into some lovely clothes at least 2 sizes smaller than I can now, and to have fewer bulges…!

I also want to achieve the ‘normal’ range for BMI (I’m horrified to find that I’m just into the obese range!)

so I’m not going to diet as such – in the past, I’ve found that as soon as I’m unable to keep on with the diet, the lost weight plus more tends to come back.

So this time, I plan just to be ‘sensible’ about eating and to make other small changes which I believe will contribute to weight loss.

I’ve so far identified the following:

1) avoid wherever possible the crisps! (and other ‘extras’)

2) eat more fruit

3) drink more water (a separate goal of mine)

4) gradually reduce the amount of salt I add to food on my plate

5) find ways of building more exercise into my everyday life

I’ve also realised that there are two particular times when I eat more than I need:

1) about 4ish in the afternoon – I’m home from work and the children from school, and I’m starting to do dinner (I’m tired, hungry and raid the cheese and leftovers etc.). This is linked to the next one:

2) when I’m tired and need to keep going

The plan is that if I manage to make these fairly small changes become a habit, and learn how to handle those ‘awkward’ times, I will lose weight and it won’t come back!