New Life (hopefully)!

After last year's attempts at losing weight (which worked) and keeping it off (which failed miserably), Tim and I have come to the conclusion that we need some help in achieving our goals.

My daughter Kerry has had so much success with her personal trainer, Martin, that we have decided to use him too. He is not only a 'gym' trainer, but a qualified nutritionist, dietician etc etc. He knows his stuff!

Our first meeting with him was last week and he came to our house. He discussed what we wanted to achieve, target weight, clothes size, fitness levels and such like and we asked him questions too. Then yesterday, he came back for our scond session, armed with a very basic nutrition sheet, which he went on to explain in great detail.

Basically, we will be reducing our carbohydate intake, probably by around a half of the amount we eat now. Our aim is to eat, per day, around 75% protein and 25% carbs.

The reasoning behind this, is that the body burns stuff in a certain order, beginning with carbs, followed by fats and lastly, protein. Therefore, if you reduce your intake of carbs, the body quickly burns this up, then immediately gets on to the important burning, namely FAT!

Makes sense, doesn't it!

We have to try to eat only unrefined carbs though - brown pasta, brown rice, homemade soups, organic fruit and veg etc. Once again, this is because the body burns it up far more quickly than refined carbs. Like carbs, there is good protein and bad protein ..... bad being things like sausage rolls, pies, fish fingers and (believe it or not) skimmed milk! He will be explaining more of he science behind this in the weeks to come.

He also weighed and measured us yesterday. Yikes!

Although it's embarrassing to admit my weight, there's no point keeping a diary like this without it, so ..........

I am 17st 13lbs.

Martin took measurements from various parts of our bodies and worked out out body fat index. Mine is 40% and my ideal should be somehwere between 25 - 30%, so I have to lose a minimum of 10% body fat.

I don't want to look like a body-builder, but I want to be toned, so we will work towards that too in the months ahead. My toe is a big stumbling block towards excercise just now. Just the thought of trying to get a trainer on makes my eyes water!

So anyway ...... Martin will measure us every month to see how we're progressing and I will keep writing in here too! Don't expect a weekly weight loss report though, because I am not going to weigh myself at all. I shall leave that to Martin.

Wish us luck!

good luck with it bobs !!
did he say why skimmed milk is a baddie , thats what i use , thinking it was better for you and in the end i cant stand any other

Very, very well done Bobs because I just know how it was getting you down that you put the weight back on. Mia has done exceptionally well by eating sensibly these days and has lost 1.5 stone and looks sensational these days (and that's not just her mother talking!!) She also seems to be so much happier with herself too - it's even harder for her because Twiz is like a tall thin stick-insect so he is always wanting to put weight ON. I think the personal trainer will soon get you motivated and Mia and I are both abslutely delighted for you. I shall expect a picture of the finished object later!!! (Tim's pic that is, not necessarily yours!!!! Don't want him to forget he's my toy-boy, do we?)

great job bobs. i wish i could get a "personal trainer" although at the moment i can't do any exercise (or not much) until or if my xray results come in. i took the xray in may and still haven't heard anything. i filed a complaint.

why don't you and dh apply for the biggest loser show? here is the link for the application. i would like to but they want partners and i don't have anyone to sign up with.

http://apply.shinelimited.com/biggestloser

Wish you all the best with your new regime Bobs and Tim.
I feel loads better for losing lots of weight and have to make sure I
don't start putting it back on.
It will be easier with both of you following it.
Have you looked for another job yet Bobs ?? Is the job situation your end
as bad as itis down here. It seems your BIL got out at the right time. Did you
have any inking or was it a total shock.

Yes Bobs that all sounds sensible. I have been on slimming worlds regime and that basically has meant for me, eating MUCH less bread, less carbs in general (potato intake has been more than halved) and the change to wholemeal rice, pasta etc whcih has been a bit tricky because I cant get alot of it, I am actually eating MORE food than I used to, but much less carbs and hardly any fat. Notwithstanding that, the last few pounds took ages and now I have to maintain(ive been a pound either side of target for 4 weeks)

I do feel so much better and it is so nice to fit in my clothes again and I have more energy too. I wish you luck with it all and I know it will make you feel empowered and the need to come in here and write it down will help too.

Well done Bobs!

I must admit I am not going to WW at the moment; the house move stress meant I fell off the wagon, and put all my weight back on. Now I'm kind of waiting until we are in wales. Apart from anything else, I cancelled my gym membership in anticipation of the move!

Thanks for all the positive reactions, girls!
I am going to be rummaging through my store cupboards soon to get rid of all the high carb foods. They won't go to waste though as I'll be giving them all to Jodie, who could do with a bit of fattening up! Lol

Steph - there were whisperings in the office that all was not well, so it didn't come as a complete shock, but it's never nice being made redundant. The job situation up here is appalling. There's just nothing to be had at all. I'm going to have to sign on at the JobCentre, so at least I'll get a few £'s per week.


As for pics ....... well, yes I really need to take some. It's not going to be pretty, that's for sure, but hopefully they will be another source of motivation and if I eventually reach my targets, I'm sure the 'before' and 'after' pics will be even more satisying!

Way to go, Bobs.

That's brilliant and I KNOW you can do it. You'll look fabulous again in no time.

(you can exercise your hands with crafting and get back to being OUR Bobs )

Yay for you!!!

Good for you Bobs and Tim this sounds excellent, with you both following the diet it should be great motivation with the bonus of the personal trainer too. I'll keep reading how you get on and hope it's infectious I could do with losing some weight.

Good luck to both of you, will be interesting to follow your progress.

well i should say i will join you in the weight loss campaign cos heaven knows i could do with it and my health may / will be a whole better for it but im allergic to exercise and lots of veggies and fruit ,,,its been medically confirmed !!!

Well done Bob's hope it all work out good for you both, like Kim I also am allergic to exercise, but not fruit and veg but I do have withdrawel symptoms if I have to go to long without cream cakes joking apart, did he say why the organic F&V cant see there is any difference diet wise, what ideal weight did he say you should be for your height.

Bobs - I found a photo of the fat self on the front of the fridge - in fact the most unbecoming one I could find - worked absolute wonders when I was dieting. Needless to say, with all that has been happening here I don't exactly need a diet!!!! (Well, only a diet of red wine and chocolate iykwim!!!) xxx

And another thing ........ it is SO good to have you back Bobs darling one!! xx

i was wondering why it has to be organic ,,, dont believe half the rubbish about all this stuff do you , i dont think they taste any nicer though but saying that i ahve only tasted tesco organic stuff ,i wonder if a farm fresh organic veg would be any different

Patty! xxxx

I'm not really that bothered about buying organic, to tell the truth. So long as it's lean and fat-free, I don't really think it matters.

I'm absolutely cringing with embarrassment at these photos, but it has to be done. How else can I see if I actually make any progress?

So, this is me today - 13th August 2009.

Hope it doesn't put anyone off their supper!




And yes, my belly really is that big. I do in fact, look pregnant.

Good for you both and good luck with it. I'm sure you will do it no bother.

Well you are still our Bobs and you can only feel better as you get stuck into it all. I for one am rooting for you!!! Go for it gel xxx

well Bobs, I am sure that taking the steps you are will lead to a new slimmer, fitter and healthier you before long and then you can do the before and after layouts.

Oh my....I didn't realise your hair was that long, Bobs.

Great idea with the pics, I'm sure it will help you stay on track. Anyway, even if you don't, (but you will) it's what's inside that counts, hun.

Ok. so here's the pics of Tim that I took a few days ago. He's given his permission to put them on here, so I'm ok!

He wants to get rid of his belly and his man-boobs - and just generally tone up a bit.

I'm finding it harder than I thought to actually eat only 25% carbs. We're brought up to think that loads of veggies on your plate, is good for you, so it's going against a lifetime's learning NOT to do that!
We can load up our plate with protein - chicken, beef or fish - to make up 75% of our meal, but then only have half a tattie and a spoon of peas (for example) to make up the 25% carbs.
I've no doubt it will become second nature, but for now, it's really difficult.

It'll get easier, I am sure Bobs - keep at it. Lovely pics of my toy boy!!!

it does get easier and you learn to substitute things like butternut squash and swede (not that I can get either of those in France!)

All sounds terrific, I don't think I could cope though never tried butternut squash and don't like swede, or turnip or parsnip.
I must say though I came home from the gym ( pilates) class a few pounds heavier tonight and I'm delighted! It turns out we can get membership cheaper for being council employees, wish I'd know when I joined well over a year ago!

You're very brave putting up your weight and pics, not that I think either are too scary, I just kow I couldn't do that, so top marks from me there, I must say you have lovely legs even if one toe is a bit poorly.

You have me confused Bob's, I did not think that green vegetables were carbs, I got told by the hospital diet person that I could eat as much green veg as I could manage, same with certain fruits.

Tim's looking OK to me too.

Good luck to both of you, but I've gotta be honest Bobs, that sounds like one strange way of eating.

Good Luck both of you I'm rooting for you. Can you eat fruit?