Slim Down Sunday - week 1

Goal: to lose weight!

Pounds lost: nothing yet, I'm just starting

Approach to losing weight: I don't plan to follow a specific diet plan (like Weightwatchers or Slimming World).  I've tried them before and although they work up to a point, I found them too restrictive to continue.  Mainly because I am allergic to beef and all dairy products so I have a fairly restricted diet anyway and don't find it easy to keep to the rules of not being able to eat certain foods together, etc.

The thing that has worked best in the past, and makes more sense to me, is to increase my exercise and decrease the intake of calories. I know it works and I simply have to keep going!! I stand more chance of succeeding if I stick to my current diet and eat the sort of meals I enjoy - I don't eat lots of the wrong things anyway, just too much of the right things. Also, as well as overeating I don't exercise at all to the point where I spend most of my time (unless I'm teaching) sitting down. 

I have a massive amount of weight to lose.  I don't even know my starting weight because the thing that defeated me on my previous attempt was the sheer scale of the problem.  I was weighed during my last visit to the doctor but I didn't get to know the weight - to start with I plan to go by how I feel (clothes getting looser, visible results, possibly by measurements) until I've reached a weight where it seems achieveable.  I see my doctor regularly so I can ask him to check my weight and confirm the weight loss (thinking positively there, did you notice!).

Plan for this week:

• aim for a short walk every day (see my 3 in 30 challenge). 
• monitor my fluid intake and make sure I am drinking enough.
• try to include the 5-a-day fruit and vegetable in my diet.
• eat smaller portions
• generally be more active

To see how others are getting on, or to join in yourself, visit Slim Down Sunday at this site.