Hi Jane, I like to shake things up!!! You are another inspirational calorie counter, how long have you been on the weight loss wagon? X
*cough*.... years!

Been a yo-yo dieter with SW for the past 10 or so.
BUT... THIS time..... here's my story and why things are finally different:
I turned 50 in June and on May 11th I looked in the mirror and didn't like what I saw. Made the decision there and then that I wanted to be fifty and fit, not fifty and fat. So, I dug out my old trainers and decided to take up running for the first time in my life. Found the Couch to 5K programme and started training sensibly. Signed up for a 5K Race for Life in July which was timed to be completed as I had finished the course so I was motiviated and determined to run the whole fun run. (A minor hip injury stopped me running two weeks before R4L so I rested my body and completed the fun run in just under 36 mins!) I also reviewed my diet as I'd been a complete carboholic before and hadn't realised how bloated and sluggish I was because of them... I'd put my symptoms down to the menopause. So I switched to green tea, dropped all white carbs (bread, pasta, rice, potatoes) and started being more adventurous with foods I'd avoided because I'd always assumed I'd dislike them

Now I am a total cauliflower "rice", courgette "spaghetti" and swede or celeriac "mash" convert - they are far tastier than their white-carb equivalents and I don't think I'll ever revert.
I'm still running and loving it, who'd have thought. I'm currently doing the "Move a Mile for 30 days" challenge so I'm out running a mile every morning. I figure that to be able to run, you have to eat healthily and running helps you lose weight, so they are mutually beneficial.
At the beginning of July I started 5:2 fasting, having watched the Horizon programme and I like the potential health implications that offers.
I allow myself 1200 calories per day, but spread over a week. So 1200 x 7 = 8400. I'm allowed 500 calories on my fasting days so that leaves 7400, divided by my 5 normal eating days = 1480. My TDEE is around 1848 so I'm not a huge amount under that and it is working well for me. I'm steadily losing 2lbs a week (no loose skin!!). I like facts and figures and I'm sensible so I log everything I eat, all the exercise I do and my weight every morning. It helps me keep a track. So far, since 11th May I have lost 34lbs and I have 11 to go to reach my first target. When I get there I will then decide how I look - I'm very conscious of not getting too gaunt looking and I've told my husband that if I start to look old and saggy, he's to tell me straightaway! I'm 10st 10lbs at the moment and whilst my target is 9st 13lbs, if I had to stop at 10:7 to look healthy, it wouldn't be the end of the world. I'm a classic pear shape with all my weight being carried below my waist and above my knees!!! But I'm fitting a size 12 jeans now instead of 16's and that pleases me.
I'm just being sensible about it all and realistic. Having yo-yo'd for years, I've never had the mindset that I have right now and I really don't think things will change as I've shaken up my eating habits so much this time. Whether it is the running, or my age, feeling so much better or a combination of all three, what I CAN tell you is that I intend to live the rest of my life in the same vein as it is at the moment
