My top tips which worked for me are:
1. Stick a note on the fridge door - I have lost x lbs this week and x lbs in total. Then whenever I felt a snackattack coming on, I could read this and think before eating
2. Stick another note on the fridge door - I am losing weight because........(visualise the new you, the kids, I'll be fitter etc etc). Maybe set a goal - I wanted to run a 5km (did it - fab!) and get fit so I do Body Pump x3 times a week - (excellent way of toning up).
3. Stock up on tons of fruit, veg (do veggie sticks if you feel the urge to snack). Ditch the cakes/biscuits if you can or get ones that you can have as a "healthy snack" - Alpen lights if you have a sweet tooth.
4. Plan, plan, plan your meals weekly. Then you won't get to lunch/dinner time and think what am I going to have? Also you can then extend the catering to cover the rest of the family and you're not catering for individuals.
5. Another note on the fridge - plan your rewards (v. important!). When I have lost xlbs I will.....(manicure, new shoes, smellies, but not chocolate etc). Good for every half stone or so. Will eventually get to buying lots of new clothes too, but hold off buying too much as you'll end up having to buy smaller sizes.

Good Idea.
Also from my past experience, I have to get rid of everything in the house that is detrimental to my diet, Chocolate, biscuits etc because when that week moment hits and there are many of them, I will find them! if they are not there I will settle for the healthy alternative.

I also made this website my homepage,
So whenever i come onto the internet its there in my face!
It will remind me of why i started going on here!

This sound like a good idea Emma. I need help with making realistic aims for myself about how much I should try to lose in a week. I liked Jan's ideas about the planning and I will do this for the coming week and see how it goes. I think one of the problems for me is the food in the house like Lynn said. I have a family so it's not so easy to get rid of everything detrimental to losing weight. What I need help with is how to avoid temtation. Has anyone got any ideas?
Have a great day!

hi everyone

i too think the planning idea is great, as is the note on the fridge door reminding yourself why you are doing it.

however, i think that if you get rid of every treat you are going to want one more than ever, so my tactic is to stock up with alternatives.
cadbury's 99 cal bars, skinny cows ice lollies these are fab cos i can't bite them so they take ages to eat, pink n white wafer biscuits etc etc.
i put everything (apart from the frozen stuff) in a drawer so out of sight but available if needed. now i would really never think to look in biscuit tin, just my drawer.
also ww choc eclairs are fab, fab, fab. really taste indulgent.

good luck

oh and emma, have you got any photo's from when you were slimmer? if so put them on your weak spots eg fridge, biscuit tin etc they will constatnly remind you of what you are aiming for.

looby

I gave up chocolate and most 'bad' sweet things 3 years ago and believe me it gets easier! I rarely miss them at all now, but at the time I found having a meaningful starting point is useful and it helps you keep track of how long you are exercising/eating healthier etc. For me it was Lent, but I'm currently using New Year to help me get rid of my belly!
Fruit is always good if you fancy snacking, also having a glass of water or cup of coffee/tea normally helps combat those snacking temptations...
Good luck to everyone hoping to get a little healthier over the next few months,

David

Removing temptation - I got my hubbie to hide his stock of biscuits & chocolate away from the kitchen so I can't backslide in a moment of weakness. I'd have to search the place and as it's his stash and not mine, it wouldn't be fair. And after 10 mins or so, the temptation moment usually passes - especially if you have a piece of fruit and a glass of water to fill you up a little.

My tip for staying motivated (in a weight management sense) is to use a blog and if you're comfortable with it record your weight and if not record the weight loss as per Slimming World ethos of not disclosing weight. The reason why it works for me is that it's a sort of commitment to disclose my progress and if I stop recording it on the blog it would mean I'm failing and I don't like that so I haven't!!

Some cracking ideas though, I've just turned forty and our house has loads of alcohol in it which used to be my downfall but I'm on day six now of no-alcohol and it's going fine - I did 99 days of consecutive no-alcohol last year and if it hadn't been for Derby County winning at Wembley to get promoted it could have been more!!!

So have done as per Penny's suggestion and hidden all the booze away until next Xmas!

Like the idea of having a list of 'good food' staples too.

I try to encourage my partner to buy treats for himself that I can't eat, as I suffer from IBS and can't eat dairy. This might work if they were things that the rest of the family like but you don't?

My motivational tip is to move your fruit bowl so it's the first thing you see when you walk into the kitchen. I did that a while ago and it's made a real difference, not only for me but my children as well. When you go to the kitchen for a snack it's there so mybrain goes. oh right yeah fruit!! Quite often stops me getting as far as the cupboard.

Wendy

My tip - find a competitive sport you can play and enjoy. (see SQUASH) - and forget the diets.

Book 2-3 games a week (squash - 40 mins max each) and after a little while you will know when you are eating food that slows you down and makes you feel sluggish (bad food). Not only will you feel it but you will lose to people you shouldn't. You will feel brighter, lighter and be able to eat mostly what you like!

But, don't take it too seriously - have fun.

This week I'm sending all the chocolates, sweets, biscuts etc that we received at Christmas to the troops out in Afghanistan and Iraq. My son has just come back from 6 months in Iraq, so I know how much the squaddies appreciate a parcel of goodies from home - and it stops me eating them. I also get my husband to only buy dark chocolate (which he likes but I don't!) But it is hard to resist that sweet buiscit or chocolate sitting on the shelf! I really have no willpower - but I'm hoping with all this help we are going to get from Times Online, I will develop a savoury rather than a sweet tooth!

Great idea Elaine. Can you give any more info? Where to send stuff if you don't personally know anyone out there. I have some Christmas goodies in the fridge that I'm quite pleased that I currently have no inclination to eat, but maybe not enough to make a worthwhile parcel, so is there anything else I could send that would be useful or appreciated.

I find keeping chocolate in the freezer helps - it takes a long time to eat! Also, putting non-perishable snack food, if others in the house want it, as far away as possible from where you spend most of your time - i.e. perhaps on a top shelf of a cupboard in the spare bedroom , or in the garage - then if you do get cravings, at least you`re "exercising" going to get it , or else you can`t be bothered to go and get it at all! Other members of the family might just begin to have similar thoughts!!

Re sending all the chocolate, sweets and biscuits to our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq - The Royal Mail agreed, over Christmas, to send parcels of less than 2kg to Afghanistan and Iraq for free, and due to its popularity, have agreed to continue this offer indefinitely. Copy this URL into your browser for details: http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/print?catId=400 144&mediaId=9300097#37800262 and send a parcel of all the chocolate which is currently tempting you! Even if its only a chocolate bar, they probably need it a hell of a lot more than us...

Sending chocolates to the troops is a grand idea. Definitely going to suggest it to the wife when I get home!

PS Jennifer - other things which might be useful or appreciated... any types of food, as rations are notoriously inedible, and they're probably hideously bored of the same food every day by now, so send supernoodles, nuts, crisps, etc. And remember there are girls there too - think of anything you would want if you were living in a tent far away from home. Magazines, sweets, deodorant, cotton socks, sudoku books, lipsalve, any powdered flavourings, vitamins etc which might make water a bit more interesting. Sign it with your Christian name only, (and without your address so they don't feel guilty about not writing thank you letters!) .
Value of the parcel can't be more than £10, less than 2kg, addressed to 'a serviceman' or 'a servicewoman'.

Finally, send to:

(For parcels to AFGHANISTAN)
A British Soldier
c/o Capt. S Beattie MBE
HQ Task Force Helmand
Lashkar Gah
BFPO 715

(For parcels to IRAQ)
A British Soldier
c/o JI Branch
HQ MND (SE)
Op Telic
BFPO 641.

That's a great idea everyone.
As someone who has spent time away from home in the Services ,I can tell you that such gifts would be VERY welcome.
Any small thing that connects you to home is a great morale booster.
My wife even used to send me small bags of kid's sweets (like jelly tots, jelly babies etc.)
Remember that chocolate doesn't fare too well in hot climates , though.

Thanks for the info.

Hi. I have been on a "diet" for a year now and have lost 4 stone but the motivation is dwindling due to a sweet tooth and christmas!! I'm also getting a bit bored with the same old recipes stir fries, chicken etc. Does anybody have any suggestions to help with motivation and know of any good cookery books with not too difficult healthy recipes.

Sue,

101 Low Fat Feasts (BBC Good Food) is great, and a good price too.

You can also search for recipes by calorie number on the website.

www.bbcgoodfood.com

It's a great website and breaks down the amount ot calories, fat, fibre and saturated fat etc. in all of the recipes. I use this website whenever i feel i want to try something new but also easy.

Good Luck

Harriet, that sounds brilliant. But having checked on latest Royal Mail advice : http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/print?catId=588 00706&mediaId=58800704
it seems that you have to name the recipient; be a genuine relative; and there are restrictions on what you can send and the size of the parcel.
Shame. I was going to post all the crisps and sweeties out of my cupboards.

Royal Mail - you miserable lot! What possible justification?