My New Healthy Lifestyle

shysal I checked out the site link you sent and ordered one straight away! I'm so desperate for relief. I know that walking is essential for health and fitness but mine is limited when I'm often in pain and walking 'through' it can leave me hobbling around for ages.
br0adwater I'm going to try the antihistamines - I know I have some somewhere!!
As to daily exercises, Anya, that's a good idea. May I ask what weight exercises you do, and which back and tummy strengthening exercises you do?
I have started aqua-aerobics - I can't really swim properly and have only in the last few weeks persuaded myself to get into a swimsuit after decades of feeling I look dreadful in one. I still do, but not a lot worse than many older people in the class, and no one cares anyway! I would like to be able to swim properly though. Thanks to all for the encouragement about the weight loss too - I'm keeping to fruit and raw veggies for snacks though I did have half a dry scone yesterday when we were out at at NT property [hmm}

Rowantree well done. As others have said slow and steady is the way to go.

Exercises...well I do 15 minutes strengthening exercises every morning and there's no jumping involved. I use weights and a dynaband to tone arms, and then take to the floor for back and tummy strengthening and stretching.

Can I ask if you have experience of exercises like these already, in the past perhaps? If so you could start by working up a little routine yourself - aiming for just 5 minutes and then add on exercises you think you might benefit from enjoy, over the weeks.

Rowantree. I have been suffering with plantar fasciitis too, which was very painful. When searching on line for help I came across the Heelease which, when used 2-3 times a day, sends shock waves through the heel. After a few weeks of using it my pain has completely gone, making it a quicker recovery than the usual whole year. It wasn't cheap, but worth every penny. If bought from the official website you can tick a box to avoid paying VAT.
heelease.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKEAiA_9nFBRCsurz7y_Px8xoSJAAUqvKC2v7GftTIE7KnpgXn6FoosgLE-xfj2e-sLGeSEEqh3BoCrVXw_wcB
Congratulations on your weight loss, hope your heel will improve soon.

Rowantree: half a stone in 4 weeks is very good. Gradual weight loss is the very best way I think so keep going as you are. Just keep telling yourself how much you are improving the plantar fasciitis with every pound you lose.

I'd suggest anti-histamines for the rash.

Do you like swimming?

Morning, people - I am four and a half weeks into a Slimming World healthy eating regime and so far am doing ok. Weight loss not brilliant, but it's steady. Have lost over half a stone so far but I'm a 5 ft monster-tub and have about 3-4 stones to lose before I'm at a weight I will be happy with. Now under 12 stones and hoping to keep going, but exercise is a struggle - I'm rubbish at exercise routines and suffer from plantar fasciitis, so walking briskly to my Pilates class at the gym yesterday has left me hobbling around in pain :-(
To make matters worse, my upper body is covered in a mysterious itchy rash which is driving me mad. DD has cats and I picked up some flea bites and the rash has appeared in the last few days since then.
Feeling tired, jaded and lacking in energy today and fed up with the itching. Don't want to bother the GP with something so trivial as it might well ease off in a few days, but it feels horrid.

Need suggestions for exercise I can do at home which doesn't involve jumping around (bad for plantar fasciitis and weak pelvic floors!) and a bit of encouragement for the weight loss. Don't know what I can do to increase the rate of loss without starving myself - I'm eating very healthily, lots of fruit and veg and restricting sugar and fat to an absolute minimum.

Am I on the wrong thread??

Had a fun weekend. Ate far more than I should. However no snacks and I was very active. Clocked up over 20000 steps each day. Did line dancing, ballet, soft shoe shuffle,curling and swimming. Back to sensible eating today.

I think that's much better than buying yourself a box of chocolates. It's certainly not a bad day - just 2 chocolates. As maggie says, you saved one and that's an achievement ?

No, that's not a bad day, KatyK, it's a very lucky one! If you had the choc after your lunch, surely it's part of the meal, not a snack (that'd be my excuse anyway).

I'd have eaten both of them before I got home, to be honest.

Bad day today. Went into Thorntons for a box of chocs for a friend. I was asked if I would like to try a chocolate smile, so I did . I bought my box of chocs and the lady gave them to me along with a pack of two delicious chocolates free of charge. I got home had my lunch, ate a choc and DH ate the other one. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Have fun Sunlover - try not to overindulge. Drinks aren't snacks as far as I'm concerned!

Off for a girls weekend away at a Warner's hotel. Hoping I can stay fairly strong and not snack. Will still eat and drink what I want as life's too short. Does a G and T count as a snack!!

Well done Badenkate. Enjoy your lunch out.

Weigh-in day today and I've now lost 5kgs or 11lbs so far. Not an astounding loss, I know, but it's been done by just tweaking what we usually eat and it hasn't really bothered me at all. I'm still on my planned loss rate to get down to where I want to be by the end of the year.

Today I'm going out for lunch with DH and eldest DS, and I have decided that I will have a starter and main course, but no dessert. This won't be a problem because DH isn't that bothered about desserts, and DS is losing weight as well. However, since life is about living and enjoying it as well, I'm going to chose things that I like as an occasional treat for my meal even though they are not conducive to losing weight, and then see how I adjust for any weight gain for the rest of the week.

Probably chocolate!!

It's muscle mumofmadboys! (Or it could be chocolate)

I went on a group cycle yesterday and cycled 34 miles. Today I weighed one and a half pounds more than yesterday morning! There is no justice!! ( Perhaps Valentine's chocs didn't help!)

Kacee, my children bought one for me for my birthday in August and it has really motivated me to move more. I can't say I've dropped loads of weight by just walking but I am 9 lbs lighter than I was. I do feel I have more energy now and have increased my walks slowly. Feeling much better.

Thanks for the replies.

I have bought a fitbit for my daughter for her birthday tomorrow and my 73 year old sister is getting one as well. Maybe I should invest in one too. I can see how it could motivate you.

Just a thought but I recently came across a healthy eating/weight loss study and an accompanying game that is being run by Exeter University, here's the link:

www.exeter.ac.uk/foodt/

I've been trying it out and I think it's having an effect. It's intended to stop food cravings and help you eat more healthily. Apologies for bursting in but I read the first page or two of this thread and then got distracted.

In an ideal world I'd like to be a stone lighter but it's getting harder and harder to shift the weight. Used to drop off now but I've tried a number of things, 5:2, carb free, calorie restriction and even if I lose a pound or two it reappears instantly I deviate. Menopause, hormones.....Sigh. Anyway, in case someone thinks the link is of use.

Yes, 10000 steps is about 5 miles. To achieve 10000 steps I find I need to go out for a walk. Usually about 40 minutes. Just pottering around the house all day would be around 4/5 thousand. Kacee , start with 4000 as a target and try and do a few more each week. I have found that I can walk for longer and faster each week. I find my fitbit has really motivated me.

Well done Kacee. Keep up the good work. Walk a short distance to begin with and steadily increase it as you get fitter. Good luck!

Yes Kacee but 10,000 steps includes walking around the house doing usual things and walking up and down stairs. It's very do-able. I do it when I put my mind to it (which isn't often enough).

Weight Watchers weigh in today, lost 2lbs that's a total of 12.5 lbs since 10th January. Only about another 7 stone to lose

Had a look at the 10,000 steps for March campaign, according to Google that equates to about 5 miles. I would love to do it but think it is too much for me

Doing well with SW, but real problems with doing any walking because of my knee. I've given in and phoned to make an appointment to see doctor to check both whether I've done anything drastic and also whether walking or not walking is best. My appointment is in 6 weeks! I'm going to try some tai chi which shouldn't involve too much stress. I know swimming would be good, but I have a real problem with water in my ears and I can't get on with earplugs. Any other suggestions for exercise would be welcome!

Well, my weight hasn't gone down but I'm walking for at least half an hour every day so I'm feeling a bit better. Will try harder with my food