Hello! Nice to see you back! I'm a struggler myself, so can't make any claim to having a secret or anything like that. I'd yo-yo dieted for years, never really managed to stick to a diet for more than six months, mainly because I wanted all the weight gone too quickly and tried to do too much, like cutting down too low and exercising at the same time. Just left me demoralised!
I started off slow and steady after once again falling off the wagon over 2 years ago. For the past 14 months I've been just concentrating on healthy eating and finding ways to feel full without binging on my old nemesis - chocolate. I used to eat at least 20-30 bars of chocolate a day at my lowest point. Shocking, I know!
I started out on around 1400 calories and I've gradually trimmed that down over the months to 1250 now. I plateaued for a good few months after shifting the first 5 stone, but I didn't want to cut down on calories too much (or do exercise!) so I stopped having my beloved coco pops in the morning and I've been recently focusing on either having protein rich breakfasts and lunches, or choosing cereals that are low in sugar, so I don't get that rush that leaves me hungry soon after.
I don't drink - I know, Irish and not a drinker, my parents have disowned me!
But I'm a snacker and a compulsive grazer, so I nibble on fruit, alpen light cereal bars, cherry tomatoes, mini milks, ryvita and low cal popcorn throughout the day. I think making sure you're well stocked up with yummy but relatively low calorie foods that you can nibble on without too much guilt really helps you avoid binging. Letting yourself get too hungry is very dangerous, especially when you couple that with heavy exercise, because your body eventually just rebels! It's not your brain that gives up, it's your body that snaps and just reaches out and takes what it feels it needs. Fruit and vegetables have been my heroes, really. I bulk out all my meals with loads of veggies and eat a pound of strawberries and raspberries a day, with a pint of Hartley's sugarfree jelly!
If you're anything like me and you love your food (and dislike exercise!) then just know that you *can* eat loads of food and still lose weight! Just a question of going for the low cal options and spending some time stocking up so you're prepared for weak moments. I think you could factor in a glass of wine easily if you like a tipple.
I hope you're feeling positive about it all today... I'm not much help, it's all so personal and what works for one person may not be another's cuppa tea, but I think a lot of people can get caught in a trap of thinking that they have to be perfect to lose weight... you know, that they have to do a strict diet AND exercise AND never have treats. That's a giant myth, really, it doesn't have to be penance or misery or purgatory! In fact, I think you've only got a hope of sticking at it long term if it's something you can live with and happily sustain forever.
Good luck, and well done on getting back in the saddle!!
