Slimmer Me

Kayjay1809

Full Member
Well this is my diary of me going from Morbidly Obese Me to Slimmer Me. I have spent the last eleven years - since the birth of my son - eating my way up to over 18 st and I'm now feeling the negative effects. It's hard carrying this extra weight around. My legs and feet swell in hot weather, I sweat - a lot - and have no energy whatsoever. I also have Fibromyalgia which affects my ability to get enough exercise but I can't use that as an excuse, I eat way too much for someone of my height and exercise levels. So a few weeks ago I made the decision to lose weight - for real this time. I have tried SW for a few weeks but it's not really addressing my overeating and a friend of mine is having a lot of success with counting calories on the Boots diet so I have decided to do this.

I find reading other people's successes - and struggles - very motivating and I hope that in time I can be a motivator for someone else, if I can lose weight, believe me anyone can ;)

I've decided I need to regulate my eating habits as I tend to snack all day long so will try to plan my meals around eating regularly at 4 hourly intervals - 8am, 12pm, 4pm and 7 pm ie breakfast/lunch/afternoon snacktime/dinner.

I've lost 1lb over the past couple of weeks which I guess is better than nothing.... I've set an initial target of 2 st weight loss and according to the Boots website I should be able to achieve that by November, which would be good as we go on holiday at the end of October and it would be fab to be able to have a bit more energy to walk around with my husband and son. My ultimate target is 6 stone off by the end of 2012.
 
Good luck :) Look forward to reading your diary!
 
Hi I'm Sarah, you will find them all very helpful on here they are a lovely bunch, good luck with your weight loss journey.x
 
Hello! Welcome aboard! :D We're only a small group over here (sometimes it feels like we're a little corner) but in my opinion we're the best corner (shhh! don't tell those SW people though :) )
If you've got any questions just ask away - that's what we're here for! And don't worry about asking 'dumb' questions - you only need to look at some of my posts to realise that 'silly' questions are the norm for me (and the questions that ultimately shift those pounds!) :)

Firstly, I recommend reading Fattack's sticky http://www.minimins.com/calorie-counting-diaries/calorie-coun...uld-i-eat.html (The answer to "How Many Calories Should I Eat?") where she shows you how to work out how many calories you should be eating.

Calorie counting is really really easy, basically everything you eat has a number behind it (ie. the calories) and you can eat however much as you like, as long as it doesn't go over your calorie limit (usually around the 1200-1800 mark). To work out your calorie limit the sticky linked above is invaluable ^^

The problems come when, like any diet, temptations get in the way. However, if you've got a little bit of willpower, which I'm sure you have, then you WILL lose weight on calorie counting. It's basic physics.

Have a gander at some food diaries for a little inspiration. You should also consider starting one yourself, and that way we can all see what you're up to and offer a helping hand where need be
Calorie Counting Diaries - MiniMins.com - Weight Loss Support Forum

Remember, if you've got any questions just ask :) We're all here to help each other. :) xx
 
Hi Kayjay, I've just started CC myself and was doing SW before. I found the same problem with SW, my portion sizes :rolleyes:. I've found it easy to change over tho so fingers crossed, you'll find it just as easy. You've got the right idea with having something to eat every four hours - I try to do this when I'm working to make sure I've got enough energy to exercise etc. It does help IMO. All the best for your journeyxx
 
Hey Kayjay, I'm Sam welcome to the CC side of life! I am an ex SW loser, I've lost 2 stone with SW 3 times and I LOVE LOVE my food.

I used to think people who Cal Counted were nuts when they could be having sooo much food on SW but given that I kept putting the weight back on I realised that SW is too yo-yo for me and that wasn't really healthy for my body. I want to lose the wait and REALLY maintain it.

I have accepted that a CC lifestyle will mean a slower weightloss but of course I know that that is healthy and there is always a downside to making that change.

I lost 3 pounds my first week and nothing the 2nd and I was sooo disheartened but I stuck it out and carried on and now I'm 6 down in 4 weeks. My portion size is so more realistic and my snacking is pretty much under control. I struggle if my meals are too big now.

I really recommend CC and from someone who just loved to eat a lot and I mean a lot of food probably nearly 3,000 cals most days so going to 1200 for the first 2 weeks and not losing a lot of weight was hard for me because I was expecting like on SW a BIG first loss and I didn't get it but I was so glad I was motivated, mostly by some great people on here, to keep at it..... I know it will be a long road but I think in the long run that will be better for me so I get to know that I have done as much as I can to live longer x

Lots of luck with your weight loss and well done for choosing Calorie Counting.
 
Samalama said:
Hey Kayjay, I'm Sam welcome to the CC side of life! I am an ex SW loser, I've lost 2 stone with SW 3 times and I LOVE LOVE my food.

I used to think people who Cal Counted were nuts when they could be having sooo much food on SW but given that I kept putting the weight back on I realised that SW is too yo-yo for me and that wasn't really healthy for my body. I want to lose the wait and REALLY maintain it.

I have accepted that a CC lifestyle will mean a slower weightloss but of course I know that that is healthy and there is always a downside to making that change.

I lost 3 pounds my first week and nothing the 2nd and I was sooo disheartened but I stuck it out and carried on and now I'm 6 down in 4 weeks. My portion size is so more realistic and my snacking is pretty much under control. I struggle if my meals are too big now.

I really recommend CC and from someone who just loved to eat a lot and I mean a lot of food probably nearly 3,000 cals most days so going to 1200 for the first 2 weeks and not losing a lot of weight was hard for me because I was expecting like on SW a BIG first loss and I didn't get it but I was so glad I was motivated, mostly by some great people on here, to keep at it..... I know it will be a long road but I think in the long run that will be better for me so I get to know that I have done as much as I can to live longer x

Lots of luck with your weight loss and well done for choosing Calorie Counting.

I honestly find the opposite, my losses on sw were soooo slow compared to when id done ww in the past (which used to be similar to cc). I could never understand how all these people had massive losses!!!
 
Hi Kayjay,

welcome to calorie counting.

I think Happyhealthy pretty much said everything I would have. (I hate it when she gets in first!!! LOL)

Im looking forward to reading your diary.

Best wishes hun :D xxx
 
Thanks for the welcome, it's really nice to see people who are doing well at their weight loss. I weighed myself today and have put on the 1lb I lost :cry: but hopefully a new plan to follow will help to shift some weight. My body is weird in that it seems to hold on to its weight for ages regardless of what I eat, I stay the same. Then all of a sudden I jump half a stone up without even noticing it creeping up. So if I don't lose weight quickly I am determined to stick at it, assuming the same will happen but in the opposite direction ;)

The Boots site calculates the calories for you and has set 1700 a day for me which does sound quite a bit. But saying that years ago when I was about 11st and went on a diet I was on 1500 only dropping as I got closer to target. I'll try the 1700 and see how I go. It's going to be a challenge sticking to that as like Sam I'm probably eating more like 3000 a day at the moment :eek:

Today's plan so far looks like this, I'll update later

Milk for tea/coffee (152)
8.30 - 40g cereal with milk and half tsp sugar (213), 1 slice toast & butter (144)
12.30 - 2 toast, 2 eggs scrambled with 5g butter, 2 rashes bacon (454)
4.00 - Apple, Cereal bar (190)
6.15 - Pasta and tomato/basil sauce (420)
 
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Hi Kayjay

Ack on the pound but you'll get that off soon enough :)

What milk are you using just out of interest? Also have you tried Splenda for your cereal? We have the sachets at work and I literally use one sachet for my bran flakes which I have gotten used to as well as just 30g of cereal, at first I thought it wasn't enough but I've gotten used to that portion size as well.

Oh man 1700 cals I am sooo jealous, I think my starting weight is about the same as your good self but I don't do any exercise anyway currently My Fitness Plan has me on 1240 a day but I do alright on it... but I'm still just a little jealous of you 1700 ;)
 
Sam I don't do any exercise either, but you put that in to the Boots site and you choose if you want to aim to lose 1lb, 1.5lb or 2lb a week (I said 1.5) and it allows for you to exercise 200cals worth a day which can be housework or walking etc. The only problem I see with your calorie allowance is that it doesn't allow for you to go much lower as your weight reduces. As I said the only successful diet I've ever done was when I lost 2.5 stone on 1500 cals a day, reducing to 1200 as I lost weight. If I don't lose weight I'll have to reduce the cals accordingly.

Re the milk, I use the semi skimmed Lacto-free milk and have fructose as sugar, I only use a teeny amount of sugar (strangely for a chocolate/biscuit/cake addict I hate sugar on its own!!)

I go most mornings to the local cafe with a friend - as I am at home all day it's the only 'human contact' I get all day! - and was having a yummy bacon and egg sandwich or bacon and toast most days. So I've reduced it to having cereal before I go and just one slice of toast. Pass the halo ;) My friend sat this morning with gorgeous grilled bacon and another had eggs but I'm having some bacon and scrambled egg for lunch so I did well resisting.

Have you checked the Boots site? It is very easy to use and you just input your food and it deducts the calories accordingly. And you can have a week free to try it and it's not expensive thereafter. My friend Heather - who I met at WW a few years back (we've both got fatter since!!) has been following it for 15 weeks and has lost 2 stone already! I'm meeting her for a carvery meal next Weds as she says some meat and veg is fine, we just need to resist the roasties ;)

Am getting hungry now, and it's only 11.40am - how do you deal with the hunger pangs?
 
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Hi KayJay,

Welcome! I think everyone picks up a few tips and tricks as they go along trying to keep those hunger pangs at bay! Mine are:

1) Drink water! I'm sure this is at the top of everyone's tips. Hunger can often be confused with thirst.

2) Do some exercise! An unusual one, granted. But if I'm ever hungry and I do a little work out, it kills my appetite for another half an hour, AND it burns cals!

3) No snacks or naughty food at home! If it's not there, you can't eat it!

4) The "20 minutes more" rule! If I'm hungry I tell myself "Just wait 20 minutes and see how you feel then." 9/10 once that time has passed, so has the hunger, or at least decreased.

5) Diet coke! (or fizzy water) Okay, I know this is a bit cheeky and unhealthy, but those bubbles really fill me up when I'm feeling desperate.

Hope this helps :)
 
Oooo great tips there by CherryPie :)

Thanks for the information on the Boots site, looks good for you :) and yes you deffo deserve your halo for your cafe breakfast visit :)

I have found that I haven't had hunger pains at all which I was surprised about I am drinking more water now - I was lucky if I drank a litre a day and now I am at 2 litres finally!

Nibbles help me a lot and I signed up at Graze.com for the boxes and they are a life saver for me.

I was doing the fizzy drink bit just to fill myself up so I wouldn't feel hungry but the bubbles were causing me a lot of bloating so I haven't had any bubbles fat ones or thin ones in 2 weeks and I feel great for it!
 
Ooh 1700!! Jealous!!!

Watch out for that carvery! I thought it would be a good option as I can control everything etc but it was really really high!!! There's calories listed online for Toby carvery things to get a rough idea :) they even managed to make broccoli an carrots high cal!! I was horrified!

Sent from my iPhone using MiniMins
 
Hi KayJay,

Welcome! I think everyone picks up a few tips and tricks as they go along trying to keep those hunger pangs at bay! Mine are:

1) Drink water! I'm sure this is at the top of everyone's tips. Hunger can often be confused with thirst.

2) Do some exercise! An unusual one, granted. But if I'm ever hungry and I do a little work out, it kills my appetite for another half an hour, AND it burns cals!

3) No snacks or naughty food at home! If it's not there, you can't eat it!

4) The "20 minutes more" rule! If I'm hungry I tell myself "Just wait 20 minutes and see how you feel then." 9/10 once that time has passed, so has the hunger, or at least decreased.

5) Diet coke! (or fizzy water) Okay, I know this is a bit cheeky and unhealthy, but those bubbles really fill me up when I'm feeling desperate.

Hope this helps :)

Thanks cherry pie! Great tip to follow :)
 
Ooh 1700!! Jealous!!!

Watch out for that carvery! I thought it would be a good option as I can control everything etc but it was really really high!!! There's calories listed online for Toby carvery things to get a rough idea :) they even managed to make broccoli an carrots high cal!! I was horrified!

Sent from my iPhone using MiniMins

Really?.......broccoli and carrots high cal?

I too thought a carvery would be easy to do! Damn you Toby carvery!!!
 
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