Originally Posted by weasel central

Chinese hooters in Shanghai?

Originally Posted by sherri

"The tragedy in life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach". Benjamin Mays

"Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can" - Unknown Author

"Always concentrate on how far you have come, rather than how far you have left to go". H. Johnson

"You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is". Ellen Degeneres

"Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling, enduring, and accomplishing". G. Sheehan

"There are many ways to fail, but only one way to succeed; NEVER GIVE UP!" J. Pangalila

All the best Cat

Originally Posted by Bahtatboy

Good on yer.

Originally Posted by Bahtatboy

Other than get on the plane in the first place, I really don't need to do anything different from what I'm doing now to enjoy it.

Originally Posted by kittycat1

There are several reasons to be honest.

My family history is shockingly bad, if I don't look after myself I would be in a high risk category for numerous illnesses- all of which my mother and father have and I have no inclination to follow in their footsteps.

I am overweight and I am not happy with my body, again for several reasons, I don't like being as unfit as I was, getting sweaty at the slightest bit of exercise and I do genuinely feel better for it. Squeezing into aeroplane seats, crying in a changing room because I cant fit in any clothes. They are all aspects of my life that I want to leave behind. I work in the fashion industry as a designer and stylist and for me not to look good in what I wear is actually a bad representation of myself- people will judge me for how I look because of what I do and I know I've not been looking my best, and also not to be able to fit into fashionable clothing is really upsetting for me(shallow I know), also, part of my job as a stylist is looking for faults in gorgeous models, if I can rip the most beautiful people to pieces jsut imagine when i look at myself naked in the mirror, if I don't like looking at myself why would anyone else want to and yes I might be super critcial of myself but I also have a realistic expectation of how I want to look, I know I'm never going to be some waif and I don't want to be, but to lose a few stone will make me look my best, which I can work with, however I know I am currently not there by quite a fair whack.

I hate the gym, I hate working out, due to my family circumstances I grew up doing no exercise as a kid apart from at school and have spent my entire life being unhappy with myself because of my weight. I know to be healthy I need to incoorperate it into my life and have a balanced lifestyle so a love hate relationship has developed. Once I get to my goal weight I can relax a bit but still need to keep an exercise routine in my life or Ill end right back where I am now. Im hoping at some point I can enjoy it and refuse to give up again and accept that im fat for life. I want to change myself, be able to look in the mirror and not feel the self loathing that I currently do and know that I have done everything i need to to stay as healthy as possible in later life. I accept that I may not enjoy the journey 100% but its a necessity to get there and i know it will be worth it for my self esteem and my health. For the first time in my life being here I have had the time and the opportunity to actually look after myself and put myself first so that is exactly what Im doing. Taking control of my exercise and eating habits is a really tough thing for me to do as I have so many issues surrounding it all, but if I don't do it now I'm letting myself down and i really dont want to die young or have a stroke or be diabetic etc etc so whilst Im still young enough to change all of that I am.

So Charismatic that is why I do the gym exercise thing.

Originally Posted by The Dean

Kittycat

At the risk of being misunderstood, I think you should separate completely the 'twin' ideals of (a) losing weight, and (b) getting fit.

Lose weight by exercising moderately but often (long brisk walks are far better than they are generally given credit for) while cutting out the starchy carbs. You don't have to go completely down the 'Atkins Diet' route (although I'm a fan of that regimen, as I saw it save my brother's life - quite literally) but lean meat, oily fish and green vegetables, plus lots of water, will take weight off you like you wouldn't believe. (NO pasta, bread, etc - not needed, and you'll only 'miss them' for about 48 hours).

When you feel more comfortable with your weight, then and only then try to get fitter.

Originally Posted by shiva

Or you could take the opposite option. Get fit and weight loss will be the by product

Originally Posted by kittycat1

Thanks Dean,

But I know what works for me- diet alone doesnt shift enough weight for me to stay motivated- Im a hard and fast kinda girl- I need to see results otherwise I struggle to stay focused. Not always the best way I know, but its what works for me mentally as well as physically. Im trying to make the exercise part of my lifestyle rather than a losing weight thing, so that i don't put the weight back on once ive lost it and Im feeling so much better for it- and started getting lots of compliments which helps too