Just starting ...

Hello everybody, I am here to share my weight loss journey and to offer and receive support at those times it might be needed. I was always quite slim until a period of bullying set me back and an addiction to Ben and Jerrys ice-cream set in (terrible stuff!). I ended up eating nothing in the evenings but a tub of ice-cream and soon put on 2 stone and pretty soon another 2 stone. Perhaps in that respect, my problem hasn't necessarily been overeating, but an addiction to ice-cream/fat, and it has taken me months to reach this point - I opened up to family and friends and said - I have a problem here and I need to deal with it. Just taking ownership of the issue and talking about it has been wonderfully cathartic for me and I have received great support from my closest friends and family members. I have joined this site today after having lost my first 9lbs. I gave up sugar, ice-cream and wheat 3 weeks ago and the difference is just amazing. I suffer from allergies and for any of you out there who also suffer from food allergies, the interesting fact is that you become addicted to the very foods that are bad for you (that you are allergic to). Anyway, I just feel so positive. I have a way to go, but it's a start. I am walking about 19/20 miles every week. I wanted an exercise I could do anywhere at any time and it's free! I walk 5 times a week, 3 times a week 3.5miles and 2 times a week 5 miles. I have 2 days off - Tuesday and Saturday, to allow my body recovery time. I invested in some MBTs and they are amazing - despite still having 64lbs to lose - my body is toning up and I am starting to see my shape albeit hidden underneath now unwanted ice-cream layers of fat. Good luck to you all. My advice, for what it is worth is stay away from refined sugar and wheat and walk daily for 30 minutes and build up. I was 14st9 3 weeks ago. I am 14st1 today. I hope to be 9st7 by the Autumn, all being well, but if it takes longer so be it. I want to do this sustainably. I have not starved myself at all. I am eating millet flakes for breakfast with apple juice, delicious meals of mainly fish, poulty and game with fresh veggies and/or salad. I don't drink alcohol or coffee which helps and I have had a few slips/treats - but because I am now much more active, they are not affecting me. It really is about moderation! Well, GOOD LUCK and look forward to hearing about everyone's progress. :-)

Congratulations on facing your problem and working to improve your health!

I, too, have major issues with ice cream. After a few months of having absolutely none, I can finally enjoy a single serving with my kids. I do not keep it in the house, though. It is too much temptation for me.

Thanks Meg. I hope one day I can return to having a single serving of ice-cream. For now, I am so happy that I haven't touched any for 3 weekks, I just don't want to. I also hope to just eat good ice-cream one day in the future. Well done you too! It must be much harder with children in the house also. I am single, so I don't have that .... yet ;-) Keep up the good work yourself. :-)

Please tell this uninformed person what a stone is.

Welcome aboard raimunda. This is a fine place to be, lots of cool people, and everybody rooting for everybody else.

Last summer I started eating ice cream everyday.  Alot of it actually.  I would eat it straight out of the carton and go through a carton in a day or two.  I progressed from store bought to Coldstone creamery.  Ever tried that place??  Its truly addictive.  I was getting take home cartons everyday after work.  Some days all I would eat was a carton of ice cream.  I felt horrible physically.  Anyway, just wanted to say that I get where you are coming from.  It is hard to overcome, but I am so happy I did.  Good luck to you!!!

Just want to say, be careful not to restrict yourself TOO much.  Not allowing yourself sugar or ice cream or wheat EVER is bound to make you binge on it sometime down the road.  Remember the golden rule.. everything in moderation! 

My husband and I used to have a big bowl of ice cream every night.  Now, I've switched to having a fudgesicle.  Only 80 cals, and it's a fixed size, so my eyes don't decide how much I should have.  He now has an italian ice, which I think is even better than my fudgesicle.

humorpam--a stone is 14 pounds

Thanks for all your comments and support. Oh, by the way - a stone is 14lbs (that's for humorpam). It's good to know I'm not alone with the whole ice-cream thing. It was really clogging me up too and I really can't believe the difference. Hello prkushan - you are absolutely right. The whole wheat thing is because I have discovered I am allergic to wheat. After eliminating it from my diet, I found that when i reintroduced it I got IBS and rashes on my skin. I have found wheat-free bread alternatives that I try and stick to nowadays, though I am not a big bread eater anyway. The sugar was affecting my energy levels and blood sugar levels and I believe causing my legs to involuntarily twitch (not sure how you call that really) - anyway, I noticed it was particularly bad when I consumed too much sugar and also my urine smelled sweet. As my grandfather was a diabetic, I was advised by my doctor to cut right down, othewise could end up developing diabetes and urine smelling sweet is a sign that there is too much in your system. They are my actual reasons for cutting these items out, though sugar I now consume through fruits and natural fresh produce. I am totally trying to stick to 'everything in moderation' - it really is the only way I think, otherwise I will put all the weight back on as soon as I lose it all. Thanks again everyone, and sorry if I don't always respond straightaway to you, I am in different time zone to most of you I believe, as I am in Northern Ireland. :-)

Thank you didoslament and raimuda for clarifying for me the meaning of stone. I've heard it a number of times on here, and had no idea.

hehe. No problem. It's a bit old-fashioned to say stones I guess. In fact, most folk in UK/Ireland, Europe use kgs nowadays. I like the lbs thing though - though the triple numbers are kinda scary ;-)
Well again, thank you all for all your support and for sharing. I am so excited for this journey and to reach the end - yay - what a day that will be!!

:-)

I just wanted to say good for you!  Its a really excited thing to see  and admit to your faults and know that you are capable of overcoming them.
I actually just joined this site today and I am PUMPED about the resourses it has to offer.  Another site I REALLY like is www.exercise.about.com (it has a GREAT variety of exercises and motivational tips.)  I would check that out, so that you have more options as far as exercise.

Thanks Amanda. I will definitely check out that exercise site. And hey - good luck to you too. I also think this site is really great, and I have only just joined and not had time to utilise everything yet. Yeah, I can't believe how excited and positive I feel. I feel like the mountain isn't too high anymore and I just keep thinking in bite-size chunks which really really helps. I plan to weigh myself fortnightly and use one pair of jeans to check my progress. That way, I don't drive myself insane. Good luck with your journey too!!