Giving Up

[mofette]

Losing weight is so tough.

I've been eating rice for dinner, with fish or chicken, or turkey with new potatoes, or home made sushi for AGES now.

Today I had salad for lunch.

I'm just fed up of not being able to eat like 'normal' people. On Saturday night Milf and I had iicatsii round with miss_behave. We ate pretzels and played Wii together, then watched "Fat Girls and Feeders". That one is usually a deterrent for me to not eat crap for a while, but I was there, drinking cider, same as always.

Cider is so easy to drink, and it doesn't taste like calories. It's hard not to do. When I want a quiet night in with Milf, which is often now, considering how little I see him at the moment, I drink cider. It's hard to make do with water.

My Assistant Manager Paul, has given up cigarettes. We're all so proud of him at work - he's done really well. Last time I checked with him, he'd not even been missing them. I've never had to give up something cold turkey, I don't know if it's easier to give up something and know you'll never do it again. It's also hard to will him on with it - you want to see how he's doing, but you don't want to seem like you're nagging. He's doing great though, so I'm sure he'll be ok this far in.

I'm just convinced that stopping eating junk is harder - people all around you are doing it, you don't have much time or money for lunch breaks, so you give in and get something from boots, or if you've only got 30 minutes, maybe the bagel stand or subway. I've never quit smoking, so to tell you the truth I have no idea, but it just seems like that to me. The thing is moderation, with smoking you quit and never do it again, but with eating you have to do it, it's just moderation that matters.

I've lost 2.5 stone, I can do another 1.5, surely?

Comments

[medusa.livejournal.com]

I would agree with that. I found giving up smoking really easy. I basically had a cigarette and thought to myself: 'This is rank' before stubbing it out. I have never had another one from that moment on and didn't miss it at all and still don't. It was really weird. I mean, I thought it was meant to be harder than that?

[mofette.livejournal.com]

I think it's easy when you're ready, and you were :)

I don't doubt that it's hard for some people - on of my best friends Anna gave up a year ago, and it took 7 months for the cravings to go.

[medusa.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think there is a massive difference between 'needing' to give up (but not necessarily wanting to) and just 'wanting' to. :)

[drreagan.livejournal.com]

I found a great meal that fills you up and doesn't put on cals is some vegetable stirfry, with some Amoy straight-to-wok noodles, and about 100g (no more) of chicken or quorn pieces. A bit of soy sauce (not the sharmans type stirfry sauces)

Get a full filling meal for about 300-400 kCal.

Considering that the swiss seem to have full cooked meals for lunch (and hence, thats whats available in the staff canteen/restaurant) it balances things out well for me without leaving me hungry. And then there's room for the occasional bit of junk.

[mofette.livejournal.com]

That sounds good - shall get some amoy noodles next month, I've already bought all the pasta in sauce and instant rice for this one ;)

thanks for the tip!

[redcountess]

There's your problem right there - instant foods are laden with refined carbs, which are cheap bulkers. And cider is high in sugar, it's basically fermented apple juice. Could you switch to something like g&t? Not that I can talk mind, I've fallen heavily off the wagon since Christmas :(

[mofette.livejournal.com]

On Slimming World I lost 2.5 stone eating these, so I think I'll be fine.

G&T is a no-no. it's all or nothing with my beer and me.

[drreagan.livejournal.com]

given that i'm a) lazy, and b) not a particularly fussy eater, it means that this is something i'm happy to eat 3 or 4 times per weak - its easy to prepare - about 10 minutes total (including chopping)

[mofette.livejournal.com]

I may have to start wiiing more. It's so much fun and my arm certainly does FEEL better :)

[reddragdiva]

Yep. If you get 30-40 minutes of increased heart rate a day, this increases your metabolism. Good, that.

[aidan-skinner.livejournal.com]

I'm finding beer the hardest part of losing weight. Beer and salty snacky things. I like salty things in my mouth.

Giving up fags was hard, but I just did a set of situps or pushups or something until the craving went away, which is not something I can do when I want foods.

Really I should just get my arse down the gym and eat reasonably healthily but... nah...

[mofette.livejournal.com]

mmm salty... ;)

[wanderlusty.livejournal.com]

I am not trying to lose weight or anything, but I suspect that this meal I came up with would be a good one for losing weight, which is steamed rice, a can of black beans, a can of diced/stewed tomatoes, cut up chicken breast, and spicy tasty seasonings. It's cheap and healthy and low-fat and pretty much all the ingredients are non perishable and it's fast and easy to make. Oh and it is also delicious, mmmm. Maybe you'd like it :)

[mofette.livejournal.com]

It would be awesome if I liked tomatoes. I just can't stomach the damn things. I'm trying to wean myself onto them, so I'll thank you if I ever eat this :D

[miss-behave.livejournal.com]

Yes you can do it! If you can cut down on the cider it will make a big difference. Once you've broken the habit of doing it it'll be easier. One of my ladies lost a lot of weight through diet and exercise but then got stuck and when I questioned her it turned out she was drinking a bottle of wine a night. She cut it down to half a bottle then 2 small glasses and finally just had he occasional glass and the weight started to come off again.

Was lovely to see you the other night. Sorry I was a bit quiet, I was enjoying myself honest! I just bought the kids Rayman so I can wet myself watching them do it!

[mamfa.livejournal.com]

2.5 stone is something to be proud of. i'm impressed anyway :)
and i agree that other people are bad for willpower/motivation etc etc.

dont even get me started on how the cheapest food is usually junk. and the government are surprised theres a link between poverty and obesity?!! *steams* being on a tight budget is very hard when youre trying to lose weight - you can either buy stuff thats filling and bad, or buy a tiny amount of good stuff. no amount of feeling virtuous over what you ate is going to stop you feeling hungry.

good luck with it - you'll get there, and youre still a fox while youre on your way there! *squish* x

[verte.livejournal.com]

Have you tried eating soup for lunch? If, indeed, you like soup. A pot from Pret, or the amazing organic sandwich shop across from the infirmary is only about 200 calories, and it's genuinely filling! I usually eat it with a ryvita and low low fat philly. Also, porridge for breakfast is really low fat, low gi, low cal... But I'm sure you know this.

But yeah, I always discount booze calories. It's really dumb of me. Or else I skip meals to compensate. :(

However, 2.5 stone is f-ing amazing!

[bikerfaerie.livejournal.com]

I don't see a break in a diet as a bad thing, so long as it's not too frequent. You go mad trying to keep it up all the time. Also my sister was telling me about this plateau idea. You loose a lot of weight and your metabolism gets used to the lower intake so the loss flattens off. She recons that you have to stop dieting for a bit, just try to keep the same, and let your body get used to things again. Then pick it back up later to try and do the last 1.5 stone.
Two and a half stone is bloody good though so you have done well so far and i know that keeping it up can be a real strain.

[bigmoma.livejournal.com]

You make me feel so bad! Two and a half stone is soooooooooooo good, I need you here to help me :-( I'm really not in the mood for doing anything right now, especially not dieting but I've at least got to lose the 5lbs I put on over Christmas. I am trying though. xxxx

plz watch

[iicatsii.livejournal.com]

http://www.eveningservice.com/Video

[kissmeforlonger.livejournal.com]

2 1/2 stone is fantastic progress - you're doing SO well!

I find what helps with lunch is to plan and take something healthy in with me that can be heated up or eaten cold. It avoids having to go out and queue. So it's usually chilled soup or if I'm in town a subway sandwich with loads of veg will do.

I'm also wondering whether having to give up cider would make you go off your diet completely, and if you feel it would be a piece of self-discipline to far, maybe you could try to cut down or drink a dryer (lower calorie) version. Or have a pint half cider half soda water.

[fakethearoma.livejournal.com]

Aww congratulations on 2.5 stone that's amazing! I kind of fell off the wagon over christmas ... not to bad though as 3lb gain in one week was cough syrup - i've had the warning about it and it hit me like a brick wall but i've lost 2lbs since Thursday (weighin) so I'm back on track!

You're an inspiration to us all! <3

[viktoria33.livejournal.com]

Well done!! 2 1/2 stone is fantastic!!

*Envious* :-)