Hello Everyone,

Just thought I would say hi - this is day one of my diary.
I currently weigh about 160lbs and I am embarking on a 3 month regime to get down to my target weight 120lbs. Although inch-loss is actually more important to me as I have always suffered from a big belly and I am determined to get a flat stomach!!!

I aim to lose 3-4 lbs a week. I will doing so with the help of a nice clean healthy diet, and increasing the amount of exercise I do.

I have done a lot of research into nutrition and exercise, and have a sturdy plan in place for the next 12 weeks, details of which will follow.

Anyway, I have had a good day today. Long may it continue!

Thanks for reading x Louise

Welcome to the forum! It's good to hear you have a plan; can't wait to see it.

Welcome and look forward to watching your progress. As an aside, 3-4 lbs per week for someone your size seems like a lot of weight loss to expect. You said you've done a lot of research. Unless you are doing something like PSMF, I would re-examine your approach.

I am sure you hate me already for speaking my mind, and if you want me out, I'll leave.

Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Steve,
Thanks for your comment. All advice is appreciated.
I must clarify, that my main aim is to lose inches rather than the weight itself, so taking into account the fact that muscle apparently weighs more than fat, for arguments sake, lets say that I aim to lose at least 2lbs a week!

Louise

Just making sure you have your goals in check.

I know many people that would set that as a goal and actually achieve it. But guess what? They won't retain their weight loss for long. This is due to the fact that unless you have a lot of weight to lose, losing 3-4 lbs per week on a consistent basis can only be triggered by eating far too little and the result would be as much muscle loss as fat.

Look forward to watching your progress.

Hi Guys,
Here is an outline of my meal plans for the next few weeks. I have tried to keep to similar meal formations so that they are quick and simple to make up and keep in the fridge, but at the same time tried to include a few variations so that I don't get too bored. I have not yet worked out the breakdowns of weight ratios or calorific values etc as I don't really want to get bogged down with all of that. I do have a life after all! To put it simply, I have tried to keep my proteins high but keep unnessesary fats low. Lots of fresh fruit and veg (we eat organically anyway) hardest thing for me will be to ensure I have good breakfast as I'm usually in a bit of a rush in the mornings, but aiming to get up half and hour earlier - all part of the new lifestyle.

Some of you may be suprised to see I am lacking in Gym Work-outs, but I have a bit of a hectic lifestyle and have therefore had to fit the exercise around my other commitments e.g. dance classes on Tues and Thurs. so on those days I will be doing a nice little 2k run! To be honest with you, I've never really been a big fan of the gym, so I am starting of with forms of exercise that I do enjoy like. I hope to get into the gym a bit more but at the moment time doesn't really permit. But I will keep you posted.

Any comments welcomed


Monday
07.00 Porridge Oats or Natural Muesli with Organic Semi Skimmed Milk.
10.30 Fresh Fruit & Low Fat Cottage Cheese on Ryvita
13.00 Half Jacket Potato, Tuna, Salad
15.00 Food Doctor Wholemeal Pitta & Low Fat Humous
17.00 Fruit Smoothie
TRAINING – 1 hour Gym programme followed by 30 minute swim
19.00 Small Chicken Fillet, Steamed Vegetables, Small portion Brown Rice
21.30 Low Fat Cottage Cheese & Tuna

Tuesday
07.00 Scrambled Egg on dry Granary Toast
09.00 Fresh Fruit Smoothie
11.00 Tuna & Cottage Cheese on Ryvita
13.00 Food Doctor Wholemeal Pitta, Small Chicken Fillet, Salad
15.00 Vegetable Crudites & Low Fat Humous
17.00 Organic Low Fat Plain Natural Yoghurt
TRAINING – 2k run (interval speed) & 1 hour Dance Class
19.00 Steamed Salmon, Vegetables, Wholemeal Pasta
21.30 Low Fat Cottage Cheese

Wednesday
07.00 Porridge Oats with Organic Semi Skimmed Milk.
TRAINING - 2k run (interval speed)
09.00 Fresh Fruit & Low Fat Cottage Cheese on Ryvita
11.00 Half Jacket Potato, Tuna, Salad
13.00 Food Doctor Wholemeal Pitta & Low Fat Humous
15.00 Fruit Smoothie
17.00 Low Fat Cottage Cheese on Ryvita
TRAINING – 1 hour Yoga followed by 30 minute swim
19.00 Chicken Fillet, Steamed Vegetables, Small portion Brown Rice
21.30 Low Fat Cottage Cheese & Tuna

Thursday
07.00 Scrambled Egg on dry Granary Toast
09.00 Fresh Fruit Smoothie
11.00 Tuna & Cottage Cheese on Ryvita
13.00 Food Doctor Wholemeal Pitta, Small Chicken Fillet, Salad
15.00 Vegetable Crudites & Low Fat Humous
17.00 Organic Low Fat Plain Natural Yoghurt
TRAINING – 2k run (interval speed) & 1 hour Dance Class
19.00 Chicken Fillet, Sweet Potato Mash, Vegetables
21.30 Low Fat Cottage Cheese on Ryvita

Friday
07.00 Porridge Oats with Organic Semi Skimmed Milk.
09.00 Banana and Apple
11.00 Vegetable Juice
13.00 Jacket Potato, Tuna, Salad (No Dressing)
15.00 Cottage Cheese and Ryvita
17.00 Fruit Smoothie
TRAINING – 1 hour Gym programme followed by 30 minute swim
19.00 Lean Steak, Small portion New Potatoes , Salad
21.30 Muesli and Organic Low Fat Plain Natural Yoghurt

Saturday
08.00 Scrambled Egg on dry Granary Toast
TRAINING -1 hour Gym programme followed by 30 minute swim
11.00 Fruit Smoothie
12.00 Toasted wholemeal pitta, tomatoes and low fat goats cheese
15.00 Vegetable Crudites & Low Fat Humous
17.00 Organic Low Fat Plain Natural Yoghurt and Banana
19.00 Prawns, Stir Fry Greens, Beansprouts, Vegetables etc., Brown Rice
21.30 Cottage Cheese and Pineapple

Sunday – Rest Day
08.00 Scrambled Egg and grilled bacon on dry Granary Toast
10.00 Fruit Smoothie
TRAINING – 1 hour slow swim followed by Sauna and Steam Room – Relax!
12.00 Salmon, Wholemeal Pasta, Ratatouille
15.00 Crudites and Homous
17.00 Organic Low Fat Plain Natural Yoghurt
19.00 Tuna Salad with leftover Wholemeal Pasta
21.30 Smoothie

Hi, I'm pretty new here too, and I'm not sure that I can offer much in the way of advice at the moment, but I noticed something in your last post that I think is important.

I've already had it pointed out to me here (and I'm starting to understand for myself) how important it is to focus on forms of exercise that you enjoy. It's the easiest way to ensure that you stay motivated and keep exercising. If there's some kind of exercise that I really don't like doing, I don't do it. I find something that I do enjoy instead.

Hi and thanks Alibran.
This is how I mean to start out, but having read so many threads and also the links from Steve and others, I understand that if I want to really change the physical appearance of my body i.e. more lean with good muscle tone, then training in the gym is probably the way forward as the other forms of exercise will only do so much.
I will keep you updated!