CelticTiger
Here to help :-)
Greetings and welcome to the ramblings of a man who has struggled with his weight for the past 2 decades. Up until I was 25, I could eat & drink for Ireland and never put on a pound. Then, I turned 25, it was like someone turned on a switch and the weight crept up gradually.
I compensated by smoking very heavily indeed, but to my credit, after smoking for 27 years, I kicked that habit almost 3 years ago. It was the best decision I have ever made. If there was one piece of advice I would like to offer, please do yourself a favour and kick the habit. If you haven't started smoking, DON"T!!! If you fail, keep trying, you will succeed.... (rant over)
So here I find myself, 47, going on 48, and carrying way too much weight. I dress well, buy expensive shirts & suits, so I hide it well. However, I find I have little or no energy to get active with my teenage sons who are FULL-ON. Deep down I know, I'm missing out so much on life. More importantly, I have set my sons a bad example, lounging around, falling asleep after dinner, emotional eating, "rewarding" myself with food or drink or vast amounts of both!
I found Minimins totally by accident 3 weeks ago, and it has been a total revelation. I have read numerous threads on various weigh loss programmes and the results have been phenomenal!!! I have considered SW (it seems to be the most popular) but I have been going it alone on the WW PP's and am doing ok. In just over 3 weeks, I have shed 10 lbs, so I am very pleased with that. I was a devil for carbs, rice, pasta, breads & potatoes, I'd eat a 6 pack of Walkers Ready Salted crisps at a go! I have cut out all potatoe, bread & dairy and I feel so much the better for it. I now use Soya milk, a litre lasts me a week. I am down to one coffee a day, ( I used to drink about 10 a day) and I am now drinking water, pints & pints of the stuff (Thank God Robinsons Lemon Barley!!) I got rid of the frying pan & am using an electric wok. Since starting this diet, I am making stir frys, Chinese, Thai & Indian meals, loading them with veggies, and the lads & I love them. The added bonus is I am getting the boys to eat the veg too, so it's a Win,Win so far.
I know its early days yet, but its a small step along a long but satisfying road. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed every morsel & pint of Carlsberg that has got me to this state/weight. But when the beer high wears off, I know I'm hiding in an unhealthy lifestyle. We are now embarking on a daunting but exciting time in our lives. Hopefully, being lighter, healthier & fitter will add to making us happier.
Finally, I'd like to wish each and every reader the very best of luck with your own personal endeavours. I realise that it takes courage to face our personal devils, to figure out Why we are eating as well as What we are eating. It's a steep learning curve, but by supporting each other in more difficult times, we will all get there, eventually. At the end of the day, it's not about a number on a weighing scales that will make us happy, but the feeling that we are taking control of our own lives and that we can all make a difference in our own quiet way. Best of luck one and all, and welcome to my journey.
Please feel free to offer any advice or (constructive) criticism you feel is appropriate. I'm a big boy, I can take it, but be warned, I've a wicked sense of humour, so I give as good as I get!!! :flirt2:
I compensated by smoking very heavily indeed, but to my credit, after smoking for 27 years, I kicked that habit almost 3 years ago. It was the best decision I have ever made. If there was one piece of advice I would like to offer, please do yourself a favour and kick the habit. If you haven't started smoking, DON"T!!! If you fail, keep trying, you will succeed.... (rant over)
So here I find myself, 47, going on 48, and carrying way too much weight. I dress well, buy expensive shirts & suits, so I hide it well. However, I find I have little or no energy to get active with my teenage sons who are FULL-ON. Deep down I know, I'm missing out so much on life. More importantly, I have set my sons a bad example, lounging around, falling asleep after dinner, emotional eating, "rewarding" myself with food or drink or vast amounts of both!
I found Minimins totally by accident 3 weeks ago, and it has been a total revelation. I have read numerous threads on various weigh loss programmes and the results have been phenomenal!!! I have considered SW (it seems to be the most popular) but I have been going it alone on the WW PP's and am doing ok. In just over 3 weeks, I have shed 10 lbs, so I am very pleased with that. I was a devil for carbs, rice, pasta, breads & potatoes, I'd eat a 6 pack of Walkers Ready Salted crisps at a go! I have cut out all potatoe, bread & dairy and I feel so much the better for it. I now use Soya milk, a litre lasts me a week. I am down to one coffee a day, ( I used to drink about 10 a day) and I am now drinking water, pints & pints of the stuff (Thank God Robinsons Lemon Barley!!) I got rid of the frying pan & am using an electric wok. Since starting this diet, I am making stir frys, Chinese, Thai & Indian meals, loading them with veggies, and the lads & I love them. The added bonus is I am getting the boys to eat the veg too, so it's a Win,Win so far.
I know its early days yet, but its a small step along a long but satisfying road. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed every morsel & pint of Carlsberg that has got me to this state/weight. But when the beer high wears off, I know I'm hiding in an unhealthy lifestyle. We are now embarking on a daunting but exciting time in our lives. Hopefully, being lighter, healthier & fitter will add to making us happier.
Finally, I'd like to wish each and every reader the very best of luck with your own personal endeavours. I realise that it takes courage to face our personal devils, to figure out Why we are eating as well as What we are eating. It's a steep learning curve, but by supporting each other in more difficult times, we will all get there, eventually. At the end of the day, it's not about a number on a weighing scales that will make us happy, but the feeling that we are taking control of our own lives and that we can all make a difference in our own quiet way. Best of luck one and all, and welcome to my journey.
Please feel free to offer any advice or (constructive) criticism you feel is appropriate. I'm a big boy, I can take it, but be warned, I've a wicked sense of humour, so I give as good as I get!!! :flirt2: