Lost 5 stone last year, gained back two - starting fresh today! Anyone want to join?

[zeromango]

I lost 5 stone last year through calorie counting and 16:8 (eating in an 8 hour window). I went from 16st 9lbs to 11st 5. Unfortunately the back end of last year was very stressful and adding Christmas to the mix I'm now 13st 5lbs

Does anybody want to join me in calorie counting? I'm aiming for 1,200 cals a day, plenty of walking and a treat day every Tuesday (I ate a large dominoes each week which kept me on track and didn't hinder my loss at all)

It's funny, I think I'm on a bit of a watershed phase at the moment. I kept looking back at what I used to be able to do physically and then had a bit of a lightbulb moment. I not only realised I wasn't that young fit person anymore but also accepted it. I thought actually it's okay to be me at this age and that I needed to find what worked now, not what used to work.

Yoga has been a big part of this actually, I've been doing the 'Yoga with Adrienne' sessions on YouTube and definitely recommend them. She is a good teacher with lots of sound advice.

I want to go back to surfing and take up kayaking so I want functional fitness as well as aesthetic. I met a woman in a swimsuit on the beach the other day, she was so inspirational. She said she was fed up with the wobbly bits and had taken up ocean swimming to tackle them. She had just done her first solo session and was feeling great. She was stood talking to me in only a swimming cossie!! I told her I'd like to surf again and she told me no excuses, just get back in the water. She really inspired me as she didn't care what anyone thought and was doing it purely for herself.

I'm here to say not a good day on the scales - thank you takeaway!
Day 21
SW:151
CW:143
GW:132
1.25lbs+
8lbs in 21 days
I'll be back tomorrow with an update...

bootsie sounds like you’ve been active, I’ve always been lazy and unfit and would periodically start to exercise because I want to be thinner. I do want to be healthier and apart from when covid has closed the gyms this has been the longest time I’ve actually stuck to an exercise and noticed a difference. I also got out of my comfort zone and did stuff with the dc like rollerskating, indoor climbing and ice skating. Maybe I will look at Adrienne later, I just find when I’m at home there’s always something to do - housework or diy and now homeschooling so I don’t make enough time for me.

ANyway last night we had a wagamamas takeaway. I couldn’t find the vegan noodles dish on my fitness pal so entered a mushroom dish. I was under my daily target but chose not to weigh myself. I am going to see Igbo I can maybe last til Wednesday before I weigh myself as hopefully by then it’ll be a nice big loss (well id be happy with 4lbs in two weeks so not that big.)

132orbust overall that’s still a great loss. I hope you enjoyed your takeaway.

Had a Chinese last night and really regret it. After a couple of weeks of clean eating its really made me feel awful. Thirsty, acidy and bloated.

@stealthninjamum I used to be in military so it was a way of life really. Now I'm not in anymore and had 2 kids all that great self discipline has gone to pot!

bootsie I think Chinese food can do that, I think it’s the salt or msg. I’m feeling a bit crap myself, wondering if it’s because of my takeaway last night. I’ve been craving chocolate and crisps today so it’s a good job I haven’t left the house. Salad and fruit now so hopefully that’ll make me feel better.

Hi ladies, I could do with talking to others who want to loose weight. I'm ashamed of my self. I'm 18 stone 2 at the moment. I had my first baby in April and actually lost weight during my pregnancy! I was so sick and had geastional diabetes so really stuck to the GD diet plan and got used to not having carbs.
I weighed 17 stone 1 after giving birth but felt really good and was determined to loose more weight. I think because of lockdown I have been board so been guilty of baking and ordering takeaways due to being tired from looking after my son without much help! I try and walk each day. I looked at a photo just after I gave birth and I looked great. As I'm not having a check up any time soon I've allowed myself to eat cake! I'm gutted as I'll be going back to work soon so want to loose the weight to look half decent again. I've always been overweight and really need to sort myself out.

I'm thinking of doing the same breakfast - porridge and lunch poached eggs on toast = 586 cals

Drink lots of water (not a fan of hot drinks) the odd can of diet coke

Then try and have a meal I'd really enjoy for my evening meal like homemade chicken curry, pizza wraps, fake nandos etc.... Can see it being tricky but I know I can do it as I did when I was pregnant. Stuck in a circle!

Really pleased at weigh in this morning:

18/01: 12.5.7
25/01: 12.05lb

Nearly through that 12 stone barrier... at bracket I only reached at Christmas and is a place I never want to be!

Biggest changes for me have been no snacking! 2 big meals and pudding a day or 3 meals (small lunch and breakfast and normal dinner) averaging 1500 cals but very active.

chickennugget hello and congratulations on having your baby, he is still really young and changing all the time and I completely get why you’d be tired and order takeaways. I did that a lot myself over lockdown.

We’re all different and have different reasons for eating and need different ways of losing weight. I would say having the same dinner and lunch is a good approach if it takes two decisions away from you and I know that starting to lose weight can be confusing. I think that the time I lost nearly 5 stones I lived off omelettes, soup and salads for about a year with a hairy bikers diet dinner with my husband. I’m no expert on nutrients but my only comment was whether you’d like to either add fruit to your porridge (I buy packs of frozen fruit from Sainsbury’s) or spinach to the poached eggs.

When do you go back to work? Do you have any sort of target? Hopefully you can lose a small amount of weight which will motivate you to carry on. Btw when I was losing weight the first time I used to buy bnwt dresses from eBay as a treat and when I grew too small for them I didn’t feel I’d wasted money on a transition wardrobe. Dresses are great when you’re losing weight as they look good and fit for ages and also it’s one decision in the morning about what to wear.

I haven’t weighed myself today, I can’t cope with the constant yoyoing. I’m about to have my usual breakfast of fruit and yogurt while watching dc homeschool.

Quick check in to keep me focused and honest
Day 22
SW:151
CW:142.5
GW:132
0.5lb off but still 0.75lb to get back to Saturday's weight
8.5lbs in 22 days
A focused day coming up as very busy workwise. Blasted takeaway was delicious but served with cauliflower rice and a tiny bit of nan and half a popadam I just do not know how it had such an impact. Oh well it will be gone tomorrow🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

stealthninjamum - thanks, my son is a terrible sleeper so I'm quite sleep deprived at the moment. Take aways or ready meals have been the easy option. I think because of the strict GD diet I felt like I needed to treat myself to cake afterwards. I was craving it during pregnancy so missed it. Made the mistake of joining a baking recipe group on fb so keep trying them out for something to do!

The main reason I want to loose weight is that I'm 30 now and have eaten terribly in my 20s not looked after my body. My mum died young from a heart attack, she was only 42 and I'm worried that will happen to me and want to be here for my son. I am fed up of looking in the mirror at my tummy and want to be fitter.

Ideally I'd like to loose 5 stone and be a size 14. I go back to work in middle of April. Understand its going to take a while to achieve a big weight loss. One positive though is that I'm doing a 3 mile walk each day with the pram....normally I wouldn't ever walk!

Normally I wouldn't eat breakfast but need to get back into the habit. Always had sandwiches or wraps, crisps, yogurt etc... for lunch, get a bit sick of it. When I go back to work it will be hard to do poached eggs. I just thought I'd do simple breakfast and lunch so I have an idea of kcals. That's a good point about fruit, might be nice to add some strawberrys to the porridge. I do like fruit smoothies but not sure if that's a good idea. I've never really done a proper diet before. When I followed the guidence from the diabetic team I felt sick and had terrible headaches for a few days but I actually got used to it. I really missed carbs though!

Hope everyone has a good week x

Hello everyone, thought I would join the thread. I went down to 10.4 last summer and felt amazing but have gained quite a bit and currently weighing in at 11.12. I have started logging my calories on the lose it app and walking when I can but I seem to go over on my calories daily 🤦‍♀️ I need some help/motivation to get back on track!

Day 23
SW:151
CW:141.5
GW:132
1lb off so really pleased with that
9lbs in 23 days.
Takeaway weight gain gone and taken another 0.25lb with it.
Onwards and inwards.

chickennugget hopefully your son will get better at sleeping and it’ll get easier. I don’t think ready meals are always bad but I think it’s about controlled portions and having food around for when you would otherwise reach for a takeaway. For example I prefer making my own soup but I have some tinned soup for when I’m too tired. I have stocked up on things like that to cut down on dominos. I think I’ve read that smoothies aren’t great but I can’t remember why - maybe too much sugar? Lunches are hard, I don’t think sandwiches or crisps are particularly filling or nutritious but you have a couple of months to find something filling for lunch.

Welcome miss kick I’m about 11st 9, until the weekend is found it quite easy to stick to 1000 to 1200 calories but I’m finding it hard now. I’d better see some results tomorrow to make it worthwhile.

Today I went over by 60 so not too bad, considering I eat a pork pie while cooking 🤦‍♀️ but I'm lay in bed trying to get to sleep as hunger strikes again! Have you been meal prepping the days you are doing well as I find thats when I snack more if I haven't planned out my meals. Also I need to walk a bit more and do some classes on you tube!

Keeping my finger crossed for you today @stealthninjamum We are a bit of a slave to the scales at the moment...
@ChickenNugget86Chicken I sometimes have porridge for lunch if I need something quick, tasty and filling. I have a variety of flavours and eat it with a banana, pear (or some tinned ones/peaches) and a chopped apple or a few raspberries or plums.
@misskick I had the same last night when my tummy started to feel empty at 10.40 but to fit in with 16:8 the kitchen was closed.
Day 24
SW:151
CW:140.5
GW:132
Another 1lb off this morning that's 10.5bs in 23 days.
I expect a bit of a gain tomorrow as we have a family meal tonight chosen by the teens and even watching my portion and adding veg I expect an upward movement.
Hope everyones's day goes well.

60 calories extra is great, you’re trying to undo decades of habits so it does take time.

I don’t tend to meal prep for me as such because my meals are fairly similar. I do sort of meal prep for dc and often have my meal around what they’re eating. So for breakfast I always have yogurt, a banana and either frozen cherries or nectarines. On a weekend I might have porridge.

Lunch is usually a salad or soup or less carby version of what dc have. Dc eat loads of veg but like wraps and bagels for lunch. I prepare Tupperwares of things like red onions, black lentils, tomatoes, grated cheese to add to my salads so I don’t spend too long making a salad. Last night’s leftover peas will go in a salad today.

Today for lunch we’re having falafels, pita, halloumi, hummus so I will have a salad, one pita, one falafel and maybe a small spoon of hummus and one piece of Halloumi. Dc are girls and I haven’t even told them I’m on a diet as I don’t them to think about body image and dieting so they won’t notice that I have lots of vegetables and less of the high calorie stuff. So when we have fajitas they won’t notice that I will just have one wrap and a teaspoon of guacamole and sour cream but I will mainly fill up on the chicken and peppers mix.

Again dinner tends to be a less carby / calorie version of what dc eat if it’s meaty or if I’ve made them pasta or pizza then I’ll have soup or salad or eggs or jacket potato and tuna.

I weighed myself today and I haven’t lost anything since Friday! I’m 162.9 - starting weight was 166 two weeks ago. I do tend to lose weight slowly but I hadn’t expected it to be this slow. I’m blaming it on the menopause / lack of exercise. It’ll be worth it when I can fit into my clothes again.

132orbust thanks, cross posted. As you can see I stayed the bloody same! It’s annoying but I know I’m eating well so it’s just going to take time.

I think I may have a go at the 16:8 diet. Il have to have a little read on it. Do you eat the same set times daily?
Really like the idea of Tupperware with stuff prepared in it to add to foods. May make it allot easier on days when it's just so easy to go for the bad/easy option! My downfall is carbs I love bread, pastries etc. Your lunch sounds lovely. I'm also having pittas but going to do chicken skewers and salad. Home made shish!
Well done on your weight loss so far even if it's only a small amount it is a loss and it's the right direction. I am going to weigh On a Friday.

I lost 1.5 pounds! Finally!

Sw: 166lbs
Day 15: 161.4 lbs

It feels like I’ve been doing it forever but nearly 5lbs is actually good. I think I said before I want to be 11st by Easter (early April). That’s 1/2 stone - about 1lb a week.

That's amazing well done 👏 it's a great motivator to keep going when you can see it coming off!

Yay @stealthninjamum well done!
Day 25
SW:151
CW:141
GW:132
+0.5lb as expected after teens choice of pasta carbonara for dinner.
Pasta always seems to do that to me, it will be gone by tomorrow🤞🏻🤞🏻

Day 26
SW:151
CW:140.75
GW:132
Down 0.25lb
10.25lbs in 26 days
Didn't quite manage to get rid of the 0.5lb pasta gain.
Onwards and inwards.

Day 27
SW:151
CW:140.75
GW:132
The same!
10.25lbs in 27 days
Still didn't manage to get rid of the 0.25lb pasta gain and I had really hoped it would be gone today as I ate carefully yesterday. angry
Anyway.... another day and we trudge onwards and inwards

Hello can I join? I’ve been calorie counting since 2nd Jan, logging it on my Fitbit. I’ve cut out unhealthy snacks, trying to eat healthily and walk 5000 steps a day. I had spinal surgery in December so I’m still building my strength. I had severe sciatica from a slipped disc which left me unable to walk last year so I piled on even more weight (was already overweight since having my children) but I am determined to lose it now. I’ve lost 4kg so far and not finding it too hard or feeling too hungry. My stats are-

SW- 86.4kg
CW- 81.9kg
GW- 63kg