Hi, I'm brand new to this site - and to forums/blogging generally. I am 24 years old, 5'5". I have never, ever been skinny, even as a child, and although at times I've been slim by my own reckoning I think that I'm one of those people who will never be skinny - and for the record, I really wouldn't want to be. It wouldn't suit me. However, I've been a little uncomfortable about my size for a while. I compensate(d) by trusting that my personality would distract people, which has always worked...but unfortunately that just allowed me to keep gaining weight without anyone noticing. I'm also a person who gains weight very very evenly across my body, I'm an hourglass shape so I tend to look lighter than I am and the weight gain isn't very obvious - which is also a disadvantage because if it were obvious I'd probably have dealt with it sooner! Anyway, in spite of a hatred of the scale, I weighed myself on January 1st 2011 (new year's resolution style) and I was pretty horrified to discover that I weighed 194lbs. That was the shock I needed - no way was I going over 200lbs at my height - so I decided to take control of things.
I have never dieted before and had no idea what to expect or whether I could handle it. I'm a real foodie, I love to cook and I love to eat, and I didn't want to feel like I was denying myself. So I took a few simple steps: 1) I started a food diary. I record everything I put in my mouth every day. I was amazed to find that this is a very powerful tool to stop me eating when I'm not hungry/overeating. I also record my exercise and daily weight in there which is motivating for me. 2) I began weighing myself daily, every morning, after the loo, before the shower, naked - controversial, I know, but it works for me. It keeps my goals in the forefront of my mind. 3) I bought a cook's measure and started measuring my portion sizes. It turns out overeating was my biggest problem and I've really got it in hand now. I measure my carbs and protein, keep the fat unsaturated but eat olive oil and avocados and nuts quite regularly, and eat whatever veg/fruit I like. I eat 4 - 5 times a day and I don't go hungry. 4) I exercise - a lot. I'm a bit of an addict now. I swim 5 - 7 times/week, gym 5 - 7 times a week and use the cross trainer, treadmill, weighted resistance machines etc, I bellydance weekly, I have taken up jogging which, to my great surprise, I actually like, and I play squash.
So now, 7 weeks on, I have lost 21lbs and am currently weighing in at 173lbs. I would like to be between 140-150lbs which would be healthy for my height. So I have joined this forum for support, encouragement and to give advice if anyone thinks I could teach them something!
Thanks for reading!
xx
I have never dieted before and had no idea what to expect or whether I could handle it. I'm a real foodie, I love to cook and I love to eat, and I didn't want to feel like I was denying myself. So I took a few simple steps: 1) I started a food diary. I record everything I put in my mouth every day. I was amazed to find that this is a very powerful tool to stop me eating when I'm not hungry/overeating. I also record my exercise and daily weight in there which is motivating for me. 2) I began weighing myself daily, every morning, after the loo, before the shower, naked - controversial, I know, but it works for me. It keeps my goals in the forefront of my mind. 3) I bought a cook's measure and started measuring my portion sizes. It turns out overeating was my biggest problem and I've really got it in hand now. I measure my carbs and protein, keep the fat unsaturated but eat olive oil and avocados and nuts quite regularly, and eat whatever veg/fruit I like. I eat 4 - 5 times a day and I don't go hungry. 4) I exercise - a lot. I'm a bit of an addict now. I swim 5 - 7 times/week, gym 5 - 7 times a week and use the cross trainer, treadmill, weighted resistance machines etc, I bellydance weekly, I have taken up jogging which, to my great surprise, I actually like, and I play squash.
So now, 7 weeks on, I have lost 21lbs and am currently weighing in at 173lbs. I would like to be between 140-150lbs which would be healthy for my height. So I have joined this forum for support, encouragement and to give advice if anyone thinks I could teach them something!
Thanks for reading!
xx
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