Well, I might join too. I am currently on a lifestyle change, but I feel like I'm starting to get myself under control. To date, I have lost 59lbs (27kg). I started in Aug/Sept and except for weighing myself before I started and every now and again in between (usually at the gym) I have kept strict records on my weight loss. I have also been much more interested in my fat percentage/muscle percentage. I have lost two dress sizes (close enough to three very soon) so even though I haven't been strictly measuring except for at gym review, I know I have lost.
I've really just been doing the following -
Aiming for 5+ serves of veges per day
Aiming for 2 serves of fruit per day (sometimes I end up with a bit more)
Eating wholegrains instead of refined grains. I have cut back on my carb intake overall, but I've not eliminated them completely.
Lean protein from a variety of sources and upping my omega 3 intake (not hard for me, I love fish)
Not eating bakery food anywhere near as much (I work at a bakery)
Trying to just face my emotions head on instead of eating through them.
Cutting out mindless snacking
Including treats
I decided that I didn't want to go on a crash diet to lose my weight, as I'd just put it all back on again. It had to be done by just making better food choices that would become habits and I would stick by. I had to be realistic about things, BUT I was ready for weight loss this time (had a few false starts in the past) so I was ready to cut some of the not so good stuff out of my life. It helped that I already like and eat fruit/vege and wholegrains.
The other really big change is my activity levels. I work on my feet all day and I have always parked further away from my destination to get some walking in. But I was so unfit and I didn't do enough exercise. I started at the gym, did some circuit/interval training (into my second program now) and once I had lost a fair bit of weight, I started Couch25k because I have always wanted to run. Always. I'm due for Week 4 Day 2 tomorrow and things have gotten so much easier than the first day of week 1 lol. It's not that I don't feel it, but it also feels good. I think I'm addicted, I'd go every day if I could instead of doing gym on alternate day but, a) I need the extra strength training
b) I'll injure myself
I'm hoping to get to the end of the program by the first week of April and after that I'm not sure how I'll approach my training but I have some time to research and figure out the best approach for me.
The weight loss itself has slowed down because I guess I have less to lose (but still at least 10-15kgs) but I'm feeling better and the scales honestly don't seem to matter as much anymore because I'm feeling fitter, eating better, sleeping better etc. I've still go my goals in mind, but I'm not feeling the pressure to get it off quickly at all.
The one thing I have notice is in the last week I've been feeling hungrier. Whereas before I haven't been hungry, I've felt perfectly satisfied. I'm hoping it's a phase or a sign I have to eat a little more (please let it be this!! lol) Being hungry, especially at work is a trigger for me to pick at food, so I need to take some kind of healthy snack to work just in case. I actually don't usually snack, except for maybe at 3pm. In the mornings I don't feel the need to snack. Anyway, sorry about the novel!
