Hi all. I'm a noob to this place but I'm loving it already. I'm 25 from Wales in the UK, I've just finished University and I've just decided to do something about my weight.

I think this diary thing is a great idea - having to write a bit about our progress every now and then will spur us on to want to achieve something to write about!! Also, I think by making a point of coming to this site regularly and reading tips and seeing those amazing before and after pictures will keep in my mind what it is I really want to achieve.

I've lost weight before, but surprise surprise it all came back on again! SO, I'm saying 'no more' (after seeing some photos taken of me recently and realizing my jeans leave imprints on my skin after I wear them and really are far too tight!).

It's going to be a bit tricky for me losing the weight as I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (or M.E) which makes it difficult to exercise. However, I am doing a graded exercise programme (which is basically a short walk every day, going a few steps further each time) which is supposed to help with the CFS. I have no doubt that losing weight will help my illness as I'm carrying all that excess weight around is bound to make me much more tired.

So, mostly I'll have to change my eating habits. I can recall times relatively recently when I ate seven or eight packets of cheesy poofs in a day along with chocolate and biscuits etc. I didn't even register the food going in sometimes, i'd just shovel it in! I'm sure food can be a kind of addiction - and of course, unlike other addictions we can't stop it altogether as we need it for survival!!!

I started to put on the weight when I became ill with M.E. I used to be bedbound and it was something I COULD do ... it relieved boredom, reduced stress, let me forget about things for a bit and helped to distract me from the pain I was in. But of course, I kept on eating like this for years and years and now it's become a habit that'll be tough to break!

Well, I started my healthy eating (I'm not going to call it a diet as I intend to eat like this pretty much for the rest of my life!) on Wednesday and I've lost two pounds so far so I'm happy that it's going in the right direction!

I would really love to lose enough in 3 weeks to be able to comfortably wear my size 16(uk) jeans again before I jet off to see my brother in New Zealand for a month. I have size 18 jeans which are a bit loose on me so I think it's do-able as I'm a size 17 at the moment which doesn't exist!!

Well, I guess that's enough of my ramblings. I'm thinking that if I write all this down and post it (even if no one reads it) then there's no backing out, as I certainly don't want to enter a post telling people I've put on weight. The key here I think is to be competitive. If I get my competitive streak fired up I'll do it!

Well, wish me luck! Good luck to you all, too! Over and out!

Good luck, Cathiedee! Sounds like you have some special challenges to overcome, what with the M.E. and all, but good for you that you are willing to do what it takes to lose the weight!

I know what you mean about committing yourself by writing your goals down here...accountability is what everyone needs, at some point or another.

Keep up the great work!

Well, it's been a week since I started my healthy eating and so far I've lost 4 pounds. I'm pretty happy with that but hope it doesn't slow down next week!! I've basically been eating:
a bran cereal breakfast with skimmed milk,
ham and light philadeliphia on light crackers for lunch
meat/fish with lots of salad/vegetables in the evening
lots of fruit when I'm peckish
green tea when I'm tired

I haven't been able to exercise, so in view of that 4 pounds isn't too bad My jeans are still tight, so no change there.....yet! Can't wait to lose enough for people to notice - it must be great when people ask if you've lost weight!

P.S Thanks for your comments and encouragement, takingcontrol, much appreciated

Ahem.. ok so it's been a loooong time since I last posted on here ... but at least I weigh less now than I did then!

I've decided.. ahem.. once again to try and lose weight!

Back then I was in size 18uk jeans, now i'm in 16uk and I sooo want to be 14uk by May when I'm off to a friend's wedding in Sweden. I'd love to shock my old friends from university and be able to wear a pretty dress and not feel like a heffalump next to everyone else!!

I have PCOS and have read that those with PCOS who are overweight are roughly 7 times more likely to develop diabetes in the future than normal people, eep! So that's enough to make me buck up my ideas hopefully!!

I've decided to try a low GI diet as it's supposed to be good for ppl with PCOS.
Let's hope I stick with it this time! It's supposed to make you feel full for longer too, which would be FAB! On the downside no easy meals like baked potatoes or stuff on white bread anymore!


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Welcome back! I wish I had the statistics on how often weddings serve as the catalyst for weight loss.

It sounds like you have a real opportunity to make some positive changes before the wedding in May. I’m looking forward to following your progress. Any chance you’ll post some of the pics from the wedding when you reach your goal?