My New Healthy Lifestyle

Badenkate look on it as a long-term project. You'll have set backs, I expect, but that's all they are. Just pick your self, dust yourself down ...well you know the rest of the song.

Good luck everyone

What a good idea for a post, and great to join in for support and ideas, and also to give support to our fellow members.
KatyK your post is pretty much a blueprint of what I would like to achieve too.
Would like to get back on the healthy weight of the BMI scale.

Hi MissAdventure, I'm with you on the 'stop smoking'. I'm finding it very difficult to even get started, even though I've got the patches and chewing gum in the drawer ready, I keep putting it off for one reason or another! My cough is getting worse too, especially in the mornings.

Great thread WOT don't give up on trying to stop smoking you had a blip it's same with dieting a blip doesn't have to ruin everything good luck everyone .

What a good idea to have a snack-free February. I am a non-drinker, so can't do the 'dry January'. Perhaps fate has decided that I should start today. On my daily walk I decided to treat myself to a cheese and Marmite loaf from the bakery, but they have stopped making them. I then decided to instead buy a Star Bar from Costcutter, only to find they were closed for the day due to a bereavement.
I exercise and eat fairly healthily, trying to eat less on alternate days, but do tend to snack when not hungry. You never know, I might even stick to cutting out the extras for good.
Well done Ruby, you are doing so well! Let us all support each other.

Being 5 ft 4 inches and weighing around 9 stone I have no need to lose weight, but in recent years I have felt uncomfortable around the waistline and would like to lose a few inches from there. Having had my first chemo session for bladder cancer last Tuesday I was doing ok and had a reduced appetite as I was told to expect ( I usually eat choc, biscuits and sometimes cake every day!!!) and I thought 'great, perhaps some of this waistline will go'. Unfortunately though I have also been afflicted with chronic constipation so have now got an even bigger waist!! Taking Senna, laxido and docusate but nothing is helping, any ideas?

No snack February sounds a good plan..... I am with you. Well done Ruby, hang in there.

Hi Badenkate, I am also doing slimming World, I have been going just over a year to a lovely group who are fun and supportive, I have lost 3 and a half stones so far, although I still have a few more stones to lose, however I feel so much better for it already, climbing the stairs is so much easier, and I have reduced by at least 3 dress sizes, weirdly my shoe size has even gone down! I would love it if you keep us in touch with how you are doing, good luck, and keep at it!

Missdeke. Sorry to hear you are having chemo. Hope all goes well. Try drinking plenty of fluids and try nibbling nuts or dried fruit to get your bowels going again. Do you like raw carrots? They are also good. Wishing you well.x

Well done Ruby for your weight loss and for starting this thread which I think is about Healthy Lifestyle overall not just weight loss. I on a big push now through probably till Easter to lose the last half stone having shed almost five stone over the last six years - some off, some on but a determined downwards now to save my knees, hips , back etc. I am doing the NHS Choices Healthy Lifestyle plan i.e. 1400 calories a day plus at least 150 minutes of exercise a week. I had my first 18 holes of golf yesterday which was great especially when the sun came out. My big excitement is that I am going back to tennis after not playing for over 20 years. A new group is starting her for the oldies and I'm in - I'll let you know how I get on- not wearing little white skirts though!!

Great idea, trying to lose half stone. I'm 3 stone heavier than when I married, 51 years ago. I was 7 1/2 stone, that's unrealistic so just to stay in size 14 will do. Size 16 is too big, why don't 'they' make half sizes ? I hope this post will concentrate my mind. My husband can't eat much due to his condition so I tend to have a poor eating pattern, we always ate healthy meals. Thanks Rubylady

Mumofmadboys, Drinking at least 2 litres a day, and am fond of dry dates so will give that a go, raw carrots I love but they tend to give me a bit, sorry a lot, of wind so may not be the way to go. Will get my dates out though. thanks for the good wishes, always much appreciated.x

Rubylady, and all the other lovely GNers, thank you so much for your support and encouragement!! Especially when you've got troubles of your own. We can do this!! Let's keep strong and look forward to the Spring....slimmer and non smoking!!!!

Wendy4,
I have an e-cig, all the liquids, all ready to go
The ridiculous thing is, I gave up for 2 years, then went back to smoking.
I too, cough - every time I light up.
I'm planning to start on Monday..

Little steps. I'm going to start drinking more water and being more active just around the house - house needs a spring clean that's for sure. This thread is a great inspiration.

NanKate - you could always have a low cal hot chocolate drink (eg Options). I find that satisfies my chocolate craving. I, too, am a Slimming World member. I've lost 1 stone 7.5 ponds since last October but still have a long way to go to get to target.

What a great way this is of supporting each other.

I'm in the middle of making some Slimming World toffee-flavoured yoghurt. My aim is to have it with strawberries for a pud this evening. I'll let you know how it goes and whether it's worth the effort!

DH is very supportive, bless him, although he doesn't need to lose any weight. Elder DS is also losing weight, although he finds it easier as he goes running and to the gym, so we do encourage each other. But it is lovely to have this thread. Thanks again Ruby

No it's not yoghurt - it's ice-cream I'm making

This couldn't have come at a better time for me. Out of the blue I had an angina attack last weekend. I know that I was feeling stressed so must calm down. I have about 4 lbs to come off and intend to lose it by eating healthily. I had tried the high fat low carb diet for 2 weeks but common sense told me it wasn't good for me. The weight I lost on the hflc was put back on within a few days.
Thank you all for sharing your hopes and ideas.

I'd love to join too. Trying not to think about how much weight I've to lose, but really want to get fitter and healthier this year before milestone birthday in November. Have treated myself to Fitbit and managing 10,000 steps most days though hard to fit in on days I work and am involved in lots of things in the evenings. Trying to leave the car at home though it's tempting to use it to save time. Will give No Snack Feb a go, great idea Rubylady and well done for getting us all on board!

I'm on the 'slow but sure' waggon. If I'm lunching out, I thoroughly enjoy it BUT that's my total consumption for the day. At home I tend to snack little and 'often'. I do try to walk every day. Now, I'm talking brisk to the shops: nothing as virtuous as a marathon. Amazingly I've managed to wean myself off a favourite sugar drink I've regularly consumed since teenage years BUT, there again, I do keep a bottle available in case I ever get the urge. I find prohibition a challenge, sad person! Tried water so often but hated it. However fizzy water has done the trick. My latest conversion is to plain Greek yoghurt. NOT low cal or any adulteration. Wish somebody could explain this to me but I started out by 'making an effort' and now I absolutely love it. Overall I have lost a steady 1&1/2 every month and it's been staying off. Never seemed to cope with fierce deprivation and massive losses. ALWAYS put it back on again. Slowly but surely I'm getting and staying there but I've no illusions that it's an ongoing piece of work until the beneficial practices become my norm (if ever!). I'm fitter, happier and healthier. Nobody ever notices my weight loss nor comments on it because it has been gradual. Interesting........ Anyway good luck to all of us triers It's a never ending challenge. Amen!

Snack free February such a good idea. Will also start smaller portions with walking a mile a day. Want to lose 3 stone. Remember every journey starts with the first step.

Last summer I started having a glass of water whilst I waited for the kettle to boil for my coffee.
Sounds silly, but sometimes I decided I didn't need the coffee after all. (Didn't stick to it though - story of my life!)

So pleased to see this thread as I need to lose three stone for my health.I am going to start by cutting out cakes and biscuits.In the past I have said to myself "I'll just buy a pkt for when the grandchildren visit", but of course I end up eating most of them.So from now on there will be no cakes and biscuits in the house! Wish me luck, I'll let you know how I get on !

Right here goes confession time. I started weight watchers just over 2 weeks ago and weighed in at 19 stone 1lb. How bad is that. I have so far lost 6lbs and next weigh in is Tuesday. I have just been diagnosed with arthritis in my lower back which is a pain but it coukd be worse. I'm not a positive person by nature but I am really trying to change my outlook and think more positive and so far so good. My goal is that by the end of the year I will be able to walk into M&S and buy some jeans and a top that will fit me
Great thread Ruby, I will post my weight loss on Tuesday. Only 8 stone to lose...that''s a whole person