2015 here I come!

Spanglymum

Gold Member
Hello! I have a longgggg history of yo-yo dieting through the years. Currently I feel mahoosive again, which after losing almost 6 stone on LL three and a bit years ago is very depressing. Anyway. After that success with vlcd I maintained well using a low carb approach until a mince pie found me about 18 months on... and on... and then I got back to goal again... maintained for about six months... and then more or less regained (I haven't weighed yet but I know it won't be good!)

vlcd isn't the right way for me this time round. I'm going to try a mixture of low carb days and fast/shake days - 4:3 (ish). I hope that having some real food will prevent me getting into a starve/binge cycle again and help me plod on for a few months without spiralling out of control. The main thing will be no grains and no sugar (both very addictive for me), and easing back into regular exercise again.

Anyway - just saying hello, really - and hoping to feel a bit better in a couple of weeks or so. Starting on Wednesday 7th (when I go back to work).
 
Hi ArtyBee, I know exactly where you are coming from. I did exactly the same thing as you. I lost 5th on LL then put it all back on plus another 5 St I have now decided that the only way to loose weight is to eat healthy and exercise. So that is what 2015 is going to be about for me.

I have also purchased a hypno-band thing. Which I listened to for 3 days a few months ago (while failing at sticking to Cambridge!!!) and I did feel a little different.

I am going to start listening to the hypno thing on Monday night and then starting back at the gym on Wednesday.

Good luck with whatever you do x x
 
Thanks, Becky. It's difficult, isn't it? Well done on coming back and trying again. What's the hypnoband you have? I tried a couple of hypnosis things last year but I think I've been so all over the place, beating myself up about the regain and then eating in defiance (if that makes sense?) that it didn't work for me. This year, I resolve to at the very least be a bit kinder to myself. Good luck with your restart! :)
 
Ok, so I listened to it for the first time last night and I fell asleep during the middle part. I remember the missing toes, vaguely remember the table, didn't hear the part about the steps and then woke up at the countdown. Not felt any different today so will be going for the second listen tonight.

Also weighed myself this morning and was so disappointed as I have put on half a stone over Christmas. So today my start weight is 21st 5 lb
 
Thanks, Becks and DietNinja! Haven't quite done as planned this morning as I skipped breakfast (first day back in the office) and then bought porridge from the canteen - but it was fruit porridge not syrup at least. And part of what I'm trying to do is to be kind to myself and not stress. It's a healthy breakfast - it's just not Paleo or low carb! I need to PLAN. I do know this really.

Anyway - as long as I have no sweets or chocolate and no alcohol, and go to bed nice and early, I will be a happy bunny. I've been staying up late most of the holidays and drinking really doesn't help my sweet tooth or self-control either - a perfect storm of weight gain ensues!

Well done on getting on the scales, Becks. I've not been that brave yet :sigh:
 
I'm pleased with myself today: gone straight from mainlining carbs and alcohol to a normal low carb day and it wasn't particularly difficult, apart from some mind games with myself just before lunch. And I'm due on. Is there a 'hero' emoticon?! Lol.

Hubby kind of wanted me to crack this eve and have some wine as it, er, relaxes me... But I stayed strong! I will emerge from this fat suit again!

I'm not trying particularly to get into ketosis this time round. I just want to get out of this terrible cycle of bingeing on sugar and carbs and feeling bloated and dreadful the next day. I'm taking a more moderate approach than before, in the hope I won't then be triggered to 'rebel' and will be able to steadily regain control... We'll see.

Nighty night!
 
Hey ArtyBee, well done on resisting the wine. I must admit I can take or leave alcohol () but food doesn't stand a chance he he

I am taking the route of not denying myself anymore. Every diet I do that restricts certain things (or everything on a vlcd) always has me cheating. So now I am ditching the diet, eating lower volumes and making healthier choices plus trying to move more.

I must admit being in ketosis is a nice feeling but I can never stay there.

Night 3 for me on the VGB. I do think it is working, def not felt no where near as hungry as usual. Here's to another day on the wagon x x
 
I totally agree with you on not "denying" yourself things - that's definitely my mindset this time around. I had a bit of a wobble yesterday lunchtime as I was tired and hungry and remembered I had some dark chocolate in my rucksack - but I said to myself I'd get lunch and take a break first, and then if I still wanted it I could have it. It totally worked (and I would have had it if I had really wanted it). For me, I find that wholegrains, refined carbs (ie white flour), mashed potato, sugar and then alcohol are all different degrees on a spectrum. If I have a drink, all bets are off and I WANT ALL THE THINGS :eek: - but the nearer I stay to the leftmost end of that continuum the lest inclined I am to have sugar or any of the other insulin-triggering foods.

Today I had pork and greens for breakfast (yes, really! leftover pulled pork I made the other day - NOM) and will be having shakes the rest of the day - and possibly for breakfast tomorrow. I feel good. I had a fantastic night's sleep (sleep is the other thing that messes me up, cravings-wise). I actually slept through instead of waking up at 4am and not being able to get back to sleep. I had passionflower tea - not sure if that was what made the difference or just having had my first day back in the office.

Onward!
 
Trying to buoy myself up today and just keep on keeping on. I'm not so much concerned about food, which is surprising. I'm more concerned about managing my anxiety levels (which is something I used to use food indirectly for a lot). I've read loads of "mindfulness" stuff last year and am trying to actually put it into practice, which isn't always easy. It's easier to start the self-talk about "ohI'msofatandsorubbishandIcan'tbelieveIletitgetthisbadandI'msuchanidiot...etcetcetc" Except the difference is that I'm managing to stop this chattering noise in my head and breathe.

Just got to get through the day.
 
You're doing really well. I'm with you on the spectrum of evil carbs. I think I'm going to go for a really low carb weekend with maybe some porridge before I go to the gym. I'm finding little and often is helping me too.

When I was doing my nutrition course, dinner leftovers were often recommended for breakfast - most 'normal' breakfast foods are just so sugary and set my day off on the wrong foot.

Well done on the mindfulness too. Need to add that back as my anxiety really gets in the way.
 
I didn't realise how much a problem anxiety was for me until the six months or so I spent in ketosis, where my anxiety levels were much reduced and I noticed the difference. I'm known for being very calm at work - but that's not the same as not being anxious - I just keep it very controlled and don't let it "spill" out onto others in the team. In any case, my anxiety is usually directed at myself!!

Yesterday I could feel myself getting twitchy so at lunchtime I went for a nice walk around the area in the sunshine. It was freeeeezing but just getting away from my desk and stretching my legs made me feel more balanced. Part of me was like "youshouldbegoingtothegymatinywalkispointless" but I ignored the voice and carried on. Gently does it, this year! :)

I had two Exante shakes yesterday and found the texture a bit weird - a bit gloopy, like there's agar in them to thicken them or something. (I had a ******* so have quite a few packs for my 4:3.) By dinner time I was really wanting food so I had some ham, eggs, mushrooms and greens. DELICIOUS. I was half-tempted by wine (!) but slapped myself about the head, had a herbal tea and went to bed. The plan is to be in bed every night by 10pm latest - which is usually fine (I'm an early riser) but over the holidays it had crept later and later. I find a base of good sleep makes a huge difference both to my anxiety levels and my self-control.

Still feeling a bit :sigh: about being so big again, and feeling bloated etc, but it's life, isn't it? And feeling bad about myself is NOT the way forward! So: random thing to feel good about, physically - I don't ever really get spots :D. (Cue for me to now have a massive breakout!)
 
I had that problem over the holidays...my bedtime was creeping later and my sleep got v disturbed. Back to 10pm for me too, and it seems to be working :)

Well done on your day yesterday :)
 
I quite like the Exante shakes. I find them more filling than the LL or slim n save ones (it may be psychological because I know they're more calories!)
 
I think I've eaten too much today but it was all low carb and at dinner time I was quite content with a small portion. Told myself I could go back for more but didn't want to. Not tempted at all by sweet things or alcohol this evening so I must be doing something right!

I feel soooooooooo fat though. It's like I've woken from a carb-fuelled trance and realised what a mess I've made of my body. It's all sortable but I'm pretty shocked I let it go this far again. I guess I have been in denial for a long time. And friends always say 'oh you're not fat', which is sweet, and kindly meant, but not true!

It's as though being slim was a blink of an eye in my 'big' life. Sigh. I will get back there. And anyway, this isn't meant to be about my size. It's meant to be about feeling healthier and stronger and more energetic. And breaking the carb addiction cycle - again.
 
Very tired last night but didn't sleep as well as the previous two nights. I went to bed at 8:30 (!) but had a very fitful night. I think that might have been TOO early lol. Feeling less bloated today though, and proud of what I've achieved the past few days. I could still be mainlining carbs and whingeing about my weight, whereas I'm sticking to plan and... Whingeing about my weight lol. Oh well, one out of two isn't bad!

Not too busy today, which is nice. Just back from church (I serve at some of the services) and off to walk the dog with the family. Then (very exciting) getting passport photos for my girls' first passports! My mum has treated us to the most amazing holiday: Disneyland Paris this Easter! We are so lucky. It's not really mine or my husband's 'thing' but we know it will be amazing for the girls. Very exciting!
 
You are doing brilliantly and sound very balanced. As my coach said on Friday it's really good to be 'in action' - changes everything else. And well done for acknowledging and dealing with the anxiety. Something I am trying to be very mindful about now but it's so easy to let those negative thoughts carry us away.

And 8.30 may possibly be too early but I think the early nights really do help.
 
Lost a huge post on the train :-(

Briefly - this is good! It seems to be working, equilibrium-wise! Back later with a proper post... Have a great day, everyone!
 
I wrote a big post yesterday and it got swallowed! I hate it when that happens. Anyway – not a huge amount to report other than that I am pootling along ok. I have been hungry at times, which I wasn’t expecting, and I think this is where I took a mis-step last time: not eating enough fat. It’s amazing how hard-wired it becomes after years of brainwashing that “fat is bad” or “fat is scary”. I don’t think I’m eating enough generally, either, at least for the beginning. Fair enough to tail off my intake once my appetite reduces but if I’m getting hungry this isn’t going to last!

So I had some chicken and mayonnaise last night with the veg soup my hubby had heated up (and writing that I know right away (as I knew at the time) the carrots probably didn’t help. I noticed them but didn’t want to offend him. He rarely cooks me dinner because of my various diets etc and his disability, so I felt it would be churlish to refuse a heated bowl of mixed veg and lentil soup. It was the right decision for our marriage but maybe not for my food plan!

I boiled up some eggs last night so I always have something available. I’ve brought a green salad, chicken and an egg for lunch today.

I was going to do a pack day tomorrow but am stressing that Exante packs have too many carbs for me at this stage. Atkins says some people need to go as low as 20g net carbs a day to get properly into ketosis – I think I would count myself in that group. Exante packs are 20g per shake!! I will have a think about that. Perhaps having them split in half might help avoid an insulin spike?

Anyway – feeling pretty good. Still quite balanced(ish). Going out at lunchtime to buy olive oil and mayo to enhance my lunchtime salad protein:fat ratio!

(I might nip over to the Atkins/Paleo boards for some tips...)
 
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