Let's lose a bit of weight

[Two_Sheds]

Anna, you are very good.

Me, I skipped brekky & lunch (not hungry) & had a brisk 7 mile bike ride in the freezing cold.

Nothing feels looser yet, but my lower thighs (above the knee) feel just-a-little-bit tighter, stronger

[Two_Sheds]

Poundstretcher has got hardback Atkins For Life, for £1.99

[Hilary B]

Well I lost another lb today, but I don't recommend the method! I spent half the night being unwell, and all I've eaten today is a banana (plus loads of water and fruitjuice).

[Two_Sheds]

No appetite again today: yogurt - cereal bar - jkt spud & beans - 1 piece of toast, all day. 3 mile bike ride (a bit tired today, maybe I'm coming down with something)

Legs feel stronger for the dancercise DVD, but no visual difference yet

[grannysmith]

I'll join in here, if it's ok, since I have been told I have to exercise at the gym regularly for health reasons. I had to take it easy over the past year due to anemia, and so am beginning again and, although I still have a few pounds to shed, I sort of have to balance that with sensible exercise since if I get too into it, it sort of worsens the anemia thing.

It would be great to join a get-fit group like you are all doing, since what I need encouragement with is trying to take it steady and keep it going.

Good luck to everyone else in the thread!

Great idea! Nice thread!

BTW, a trick for this that I read yesterday was to take a little organic apple cyder vinegar mixed in a glass of water before meals. Apparently it encourages the liver to burn fat. Seems to work when I do it anyway, so I'm inclined to believe it helps. Also, it's fairly cheap and it's supposed to be good for your digestive balance too.

[annacruachan]

BTW, a trick for this that I read yesterday was to take a little organic apple cyder vinegar mixed in a glass of water before meals. Apparently it encourages the liver to burn fat. Seems to work when I do it anyway, so I'm inclined to believe it helps. Also, it's fairly cheap and it's supposed to be good for your digestive balance too.

I tried this once as a supposed cure for arthritis. It made the pain even worse, I'm afraid! Of course, if you don't have arthritis give it a go!

Keep up the exercise, gs. Glad you're joining us. It's the company that really makes a difference.

[Two_Sheds]

I have been told I have to exercise ... sensible exercise since if I get too into it, it sort of worsens the anemia thing.

Does your GP do subsidised gym sessions?
As for sensible, gentle exercise: have you tried Tai Chi (Flummery is the resident expert) or Pilates?

[kirsty b]

Ok well, so far this morning I have had a scotch egg and 3 weetabix. Myself and the hound are taking her for her leg stretch up the field (my warm up!), then I'm off out on an 8 miler. My time target to complete this walk is 3 hours, but may be slower as I have found a route with a couple of decent hills to practice on.
Taking 2 litres of squash and a couple of snacks with me...and an mp3 to listen to music

[OverWyreGrower]

Morning all! Shifted loads of horse-poo at the weekend, plus dog walking, which is good - however, for research purposes, I had to make and eat a chocolate bread and butter pudding, which will negate all my good work with exercise...ho hum!

I'm still drinking plenty of water (anything else hurts my kidneys) so that's got to be good! Having jacket spuds and beans for dinner this week - weigh in is tomorrow morning....

[grannysmith]

I tried this once as a supposed cure for arthritis. It made the pain even worse, I'm afraid! Of course, if you don't have arthritis give it a go!

Keep up the exercise, gs. Glad you're joining us. It's the company that really makes a difference.

Oh, Gosh, NOOOOO!!! Never use anything acidic at all if you have arthritis!!! They say you should give up tomatoes, wine and red meat too, since all that makes arthritis worse. Apparently the acid makes little crystals in your joints or something, so avoid anything acidic with arthritis and try alkalyzing foods (most veggies are good for alkalyzing but check each separately)

If you don't have arthritis, it seems to be a good way to get your system to switch to fat burning instead, although you need to combine it with a few other things, like a low-carb diet (not "NO" carbs, just "low carb" = "whole grains" and no cheating on crackers, croissants, donuts, cakes, toast, white rice, boiled potatoes etc---switch to sweet potatoes, oatmeal, cooked millet grain, cooked quinoa grain, barley and rye if you're ok with them etc. That, plus a lot of homemade veggie thick soups helps a lot.

Nice to be with you all. You're right . . . it's the company that makes it feel like it's worth keeping going with it all. Another thing that helps a bit for toning is I bought a gym ball recently and found it's very good for stretching with small toning weights. I now have proper looking arms again.

This is what happens when the winter hits and I'm not in the garden . . . everything goes flabby on me, and everything looks awful in the garden too. I hate winter.

PS Two Sheds - -- Thanks for the tip! I should look into whether the GP has a subsidized gym programme. Usually I go running and I also like swimming and the weights, so I haven't really ever asked about it, since I have always paid out of pocket as a "casual" user. In summer I can go running in our village so it is less of a problem, but I can get really cold-intolerant in winter, hence the gym idea.

Pilates really appeals to me, actually, but I haven't managed to get to a course because of time commitments with the kids etc. (My husband works very late hours and so I'm the main carer for them). I'd really like to try a course one day though, but I'm working with weights at home and own a lot of "Women and Fitness" magazines which show the exercises to try, and which have sensible recipes too. One day if the kids ever grow up I should have more time, I hope!

[janeyo]

Well I made it to dancersise again last night and managed to persuade 2 friends (ie suckers, mwah hahahahahahaaaaaaaa) to come along too. Hope they come back with me next week!
I actually hurt less than last week even though I put more into it. My back always hurts so I do less of the back hurting type excersises and am going to go see the quack about it, finally.
But seem to be hungrier this week so having to be a bit careful what i'm absentmindedly eating... And big meal out on sat.

[Glutton4...]

Well, I'm going to put a dampener on things (sorry!). I'm not at all motivated this week. It's 'sweet-craving' week, and I just gave in and ate a large portion of Mr. G's homemade chocolate cheesecake It contains sugar and a biscuit base, so definitely not low carb. I had been doing well, but my hormones are ruling me this week

Also, I go outside and it snows/sleets/blows a gale, so I freeze. I come back inside, turn on the Poota and the blimmin sun comes out - what's that all about? I think I need to get to the health food shop this week, and get the tablets/vitamins/whatever that Atkins dieters are supposed to use, as I've been told it gets rid of the sugar cravings.

I'll be better in a day or two, I know, but just seem to be on a down at the moment.

Keep up the good work though, you lot!

[Mac]

Hi All, I'm bizarrely motivated this week! I say bizarrely cos all it's been doing up here is snow which doesn't really lend itself to walking and cycling. However, managed to do 45 mins on the static bike last night, then a 3 mile walk with dogs in the dark this morning, then another 2 1/2 mile walk at lunchtime (in between sleet showers). Could eat for Britain, but am writing everything down which is puting me off guzzling! More static bike and weights planned for tonight! Hope this keeps up!!

Well done everyone who is still going....

[Two_Sheds]

Well, I did a 2 mile run/walk/run this morning, get me!

I decided to pull on my trainers before I got distracted with anything else, and just do it. That's what I used to do: run before breakfast, get it over with, otherwise I'd spend all day dreading it and putting it off.

I haven't run regularly for ... gosh, probably over a year. It wasn't too bad though, my muscles seemed to remember what to do. My legs were like lead though, really plodding. My lower back was a bit twingey and clicky (after the bike crash) but is OK. I think running realigns all my ligaments or something: it doesn't hurt as much as walking does. Weird.

After exercise, I don't feel hungry, it really blunts my appetite, but I made myself have porridge, then soup - jkt spud & beans (no bread, no booze).

I'm sleeping better with the regular exercise, it's lovely.

[Mac]

WEll done Two Sheds! I've never been able to run, not even in my fit days, something to do with squint back and hips. Wish I could sometimes, but just seem to veer off in a diagonal direction!! Maybe I'm related to a haggis!??!