Ok I’m here, tent pitched and cunning food plans afoot. Turns out there is a fish smokery here so I was forced to eat smoked salmon for lunch! No rain yet but v v windy, which made pitching the tent at least twice as much exercise as normal.

I have 4 cans of g&t with me at 68 cals each. I have got wholegrain instant porridge for breakfasts – not the syrup flavoured stuff! And bbq is lit. Chicken on skewers brushed with olive oil for me. Also pepper and mushroom kebabs, Portobello mushrooms and masses of salad stuff. Others are having burgers and sausages and rolls.

I have decided to have about 900 calories a day for these two days as I think I need a tiny bit of ballast when I’m drinking. It’s gone straight to my head… going to update MFP before I keel over!

Sounds like you’re having a ball Amazing. Food sounds good and getting exercise into the bargain plus all that ‘fresh air.’ Win win situation plus change of scenery. Not sure if you can read this or has that G&T gone to your head 😀

Well that was a monumental fuck up.

I managed to stick with it until about half an hour after my last post. I had a packet of plain hula hoops as the alcohol has gone straight to my head. And then I succumbed to the carb cravings that caused. And I ate lots. And the next day I ate lots. But mostly only when I was hungry. But no-one needs marshmallows in quite that quantity. Lots of roasted veg and the chicken skewers were lovely but had sausages and white bread too. Porridge for breakfast Saturday and today which was really good and filling and I’ll definitely do next week when we go again.

It made me feel awful. Really, really awful. Bloated and gassy (no fun in a tent!) and actually a bit depressed. I slept worse than I usually do while camping.

So I’m trying to move on. Lesson learned, straight back on plan today. I am feeling much more positive about our next camping trip as I know what worked and when the tricky bits were. Definitely no more drinking for the rest of the 8 weeks.

It’s been surprisingly easy to get back on it today. I have logged everything on MFP and have a good plan for supper. I feel relieved to be feeling hunger again.

Anyway, sorry for the epic post. Tried to log on for support a few times over the weekend but coverage was patchy. Next campsite has WiFi so you won’t be able to get rid of me at all!

I’ve been 100% on plan today. Very proud of myself. Trying to be realistic about what happened at the weekend but very scared to get on the scales. I was only off plan for 28 hours for goodness sake!

It’s felt very easy to get back on track. I was expecting it to be like the first week again.

2lb on. Really not too bad!

Have just got back home from…drumroll please…the gym! I went for a free trial and joined. I ran on the treadmill and it felt good! Only for one minute bursts but you’ve got to start somewhere.

Hey there tasw – 2lb on is not a disaster! And given you are straight back on track, I’m sure you’ll see that disappear quickly. We all transgress occasionally – we’re human and that’s life – the important thing is to do what you are doing, get straight back to it.

I’d personally rethink the porridge breakfasts, as they are quite carbie – why not have a bit of bacon or smoked salmon and scrambled egg instead?

Well done on the gym membership – exercise is my bete noire, really struggle to get that side of things sorted. Every little helps though and even if it is in one minute bursts, at least you are doing something positive.

Keep going!

Thank you! Porridge seems to work for camping – eggs do not agree with me in the morning and I think the lure of buttery bread with the bacon would be too much…

Exercise is a very difficult habit to start. Do you do anything at all? Have you found anything you particularly like?

Yes and no – I start various things, like exercise ball routines, Davina McCall 6min regime, walking, indoor rowing, etc. It’s getting something to stick that is the issue for me – complete lack of motivation!

Hi Amazing – apologies for not being around – been making an outfit for a wedding I am going to and it’s getting me proper frazzled. Camping trip seems to have been s success – that 2 pounds is probably waterweight and will go quickly.
One minute bursts of exercise is actually better for you – it counts as high intensity intermittent exercise which research shows is better at burning fat. I’m very bad at exercise – trying to walk more – sometimes I do sometimes I don’t – haven’t been since this sewing lark. I read a book on habit forming – basically -promise yourself you’ll take one small step every day even if that means just getting your trainers on. The premise is that, once you get that far you may well end up doing a lot more. Even if you don’t , at least you have kept your promise to yourself to take a minimum step.
SunnyB – That is a very impressive variety of exercise – again research shows variety is the spice of life so you’re probs doing the right thing instead of sticking with the one thing. I’ll start next week once the wedding is over. Bought a couple of yogalates dvd’s – keen to get started on them- not holding out much hope i’ll be able to do them what with my big stomach getting in the way! 😀 We’ll see.

Was working today – really stressed out – plus side – never actually had time to eat 😀 Stick in there everyone! We’ll get there.

Out for a long day with 3 extra kids today. Absolutely exhausted but stayed on track. Have got picnic sussed now and spent the whole drive home planning my supper. Part of the day was visiting a kitchen garden where my cousin is working so I left with an armful of rainbow chard (amongst other stuff). Sauteed it with butter and cream cheese and black pepper – it went from growing to being eaten in 90 minutes. Yum.

Off to a bar to meet a friend now – sparkling water with a slice I think! Don’t think I have had enough water today.

Breakfast this morning – 2 rashers of bacon, 2 eggs, Portobello mushroom, 2 plum tomatoes. 304 calories of deliciousness!

Because of various commitments today I had breakfast earlier than normal. Shattered after yesterday so we’re off to the kids club at the cinema (£18 for me and 6 kids to see something slightly rubbish!). I’ll be unable to access food in the cinema. Taking no money so kids will have to accept that they won’t dehydrate or fall into a coma in 2 hours. Won’t get back until 12.30 so will see how hungry I am then. Going to make a chicken curry to serve with cauliflower mushroom rice, creamed chard and homemade bhaji for supper. Might save my other 500 calories for that!

Oh my good god that was the best supper ever. So tasty and satisfying.

I realised I forgot to do last week’s meals so here goes:

Mon – 887
B – Greek yoghurt and apple
L – chicken stir fry
S – chicken stir fry leftovers!

Snacks – square of dark choc, 2 parmesan crackers (huge error!)

Tue – 865
B – Greek yoghurt and apple
L – ham & egg salad, Clementine
S – chicken, bacon and bean stew

Snacks – dark choc, almonds

Wed – 849
B – Greek yoghurt and apple
L – ham, cheese, apple, almonds
S – same again but with an oatcake!

Thu – 770
B – Greek yoghurt, raisins and apple
L – oatcakes with tuna mayo and cucumber
S – chicken and bacon stew

Fri – 2000?
B – Greek yoghurt, banana and apple
L – smoked salmon
S – everything on the campsite

Sat – 1000000
The less said about this the better

Sun – 782
B – instant porridge stuff
L – oat cakes, cream cheese and sweetcorn
S – beef chilli and quinoa

Weight on Monday 31st was 205 lbs or 14 stone 9lb. Total loss 7lb in first two weeks.

14 stone 6 lb today! Feeling good.

Been to the gym and did more than last time. That is my very simple target. A tiny bit more each time. I’m only using the treadmill at the moment as I am most comfortable with that but would like to do a bit of strength training after I’ve got a little bit fitter.

Another pound off! 201lbs – tantilisingly close to being in the 100lbs.

Tentative camping suppers plan –

Mon – courgetti Bolognese
Tue – bbq chicken and veg kebabs
Wed – bbq fish and salad
Thu – bbq lamb and quinoa

Lunches will be ham/eggs/tuna and salad. Breakfasts will be porridge or greek yoghurt.

Start your strength training immediately but with things just lying around the house, I often use tins or jars or even shopping bags to do a few bicep curls or do a few standing press ups against a wall. Every little helps, and when you get to doing it in a gym setting it won’t be quite so daunting as it will seem familiar.

Good idea! I do have some small hand weights and ankle weights. I’ve been browsing the MFP forums and lots of people saying they wish they had started strength training straight away.

Theamazing….. dont use ankle weights, they have been proven to cause damage by putting pressure on the hips and knees. Look it up. Also, according to new studies the practice of stretching before exercise is not good as the muscles are cold and not flexible to withstand stretching. Before exercise do a light jog on the spot and a few low impact versions of your normal exercises. Light stretching after exercise allows the muscles to relax back gently. Source: http://www.sparkpeople.com.

Thank you for that! I’ve never used the ankle weights they just came in the pack with the hand weights. I shall bin them. Cold stretching is a definite no. Makes me wince when I see people doing it!

Just had supper – courgetti Bolognese. I didn’t add it all up first as I’m starting to get the hang of roughly what it will look like. I must have overestimated a bit as I had a pleasant surprise when I updated MFP after – enough calories left for Greek yoghurt and an apple for pudding!

Gym session number 3 this morning – another improvement. Really enjoyed it.

Another day ticked off. Going to a wedding evening do tonight but have volunteered to drive so will not be tempted by alcohol.

Batch cooked some meals yesterday – ratatouille, beef stew and Bolognese. All calorie counted and when I get to the shop for zip lock freezer bags they’ll all be helpful ready meals in my freezer.

Massive energy slump out of nowhere. Could easily go to bed for the night.

Ok I’m back. I started camping trip well, sticking to BSD for whole of first day and breakfast and lunch on second day. Supper on second day started to go a bit wrong. Third day massively wrong culminating in 5 pints of cider. Then haven’t bothered for 3 days. Back on today but away Tuesday – Thursday staying with friends so will have little to no control of what I eat but determined to make good choices.

Feel appalling. Bloated, gassy, exhausted. Asthma is flaring up and stomach misbehaving. About to go and weigh myself and assess the damage.

Put it behind you. And remember how awful you feel for the next time a relapse is beckoning. I find living in the real world is a challenge but, as others have shown, it is achievable. Keep being honest – That is important. I find when I delude myself, it all goes belly up.
Good luck.

I do apologise Amazing – that reads really bad and abrupt – I really did not mean it like that. I know that I try to learn from my relapses – sometimes it works – sometimes it doesn’t. It’s all a huge learning curve. Unfortunately I continue to make mistakes on a daily basis and the only thing I can do is move onto the next day. Wishing you continued success – because this time next year you WILL be there.

No worries, not abrupt at all. I realise I can’t change what has happened but I can change how I react to it.

I’ve done pretty well today. Weighed myself, 14 stone 11, then instead of crying went to the gym. Had a fairly busy day and had friends round for Sunday lunch. Think I did okay but not perfect! Just had chicken, carrots, broccoli, mashed swede and a bit of gravy. Turned down cheesey leeks, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding. Had some crumble with greek yoghurt for pudding. Haven’t had anything else so just the one meal for the day.

Away Tuesday to Thursday this week. Will try to go to the gym tomorrow and Friday.

Cheesey leeks are okay, don’t fear the fat !

Don’t ever cry – it is what it is! Be proud of yourself! The way I look at it – 2 steps forward, 1 step back. This challenge is never going to be linear. And as Verano said – it’s not a race. These are our lives now. Nothing is going to change when we get there. We will exercise the same (haven’t actally started yet – ready to do so now – this week Tuesday- got a plan)and we will eat the same. So there is no rush. Amazing, we shouldn’t stress about this, we have enough stress in our lives. I’m picking up that you have 3 children (might be wrong). That’s a challenge in itself. But we’ll get there – we really will!

Cheesy leeks! Mixnmatch, you’ve got me drooling! Amazing, go indulge yourself!

I’m back – lots of excuses for not being here but the main one being that DH started a new job just after we came back from last trip away. This meant a bit of adjustment for the whole family – the kids and I now have to be out of the house by 7.30 which is a shocker and means no gym time for me. On the up side I have bought a bike and been cycling to work three days a week.

Have just read back through this thread for inspiration and I’m starting the 8 weeks again today. MFP loaded on to new phone and I’m not at work today so going to try to do an 8 week meal plan. I have no social engagements and no excuses for the next 8 weeks.

I weighed in at 206lb yesterday so only 5lb gain from when I went off plan.

Onwards and downwards!

Boom. 2 days done and down to 202lb.