Healthy weight loss without weighing ourselves

[BrimfulOfBaba]

Weighing myself is driving me crazy! I know what works for me and that's managing my calorie intake and exercising regularly. Whether or not I have the drive to stick to it consistently is another story entirely...

It doesn't help me to see the fluctuations in weight on the scales anymore. All it does is demoralise me if it's up, or make me compete with myself to get it even lower. Not healthy!

My wedding is in July and I want just enough fat loss to feel comfortable. I can monitor this via how clothes fit and photos rather than the scale, for now.

I'm going to use this thread to record my activities for the day as it keeps me motivated. Please feel free to join me!

Thanks for the welcome! Sounds like you had a great day yesterday PurpleDaisies. Always nice to have something to look forward to at the end of a long walk. I did half the distance you did yesterday, so I’m impressed with your 8 miles!

The weather is terrible here at the moment. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will improve so that I can go for a long walk later today. Otherwise I may have to dust off the dreaded cross trainer. It’s been months since I used it, as even on the lowest setting the muscle pain it gives me is pretty awful 😬 May be I’ll just start very very slowly!

Today’s meal plan is pretty much the same as yesterday’s as I made far too much. So spicy Mexican bean wraps for lunch and Roasted vegetables & bulgur salad with halloumi. I’m also planning to try a new recipe for a harissa bean dip. I love anything with harissa in it, so I reckon that could be a winner!

Have a good day everyone 🙂

Ahhh that sounds like a gorgeous day @PurpleDaisies! Oh god, aloo tikki! Send some over please!

@Crazzzycat our cross trainer has been a real boon over lockdown, but I do go slower than I could as I can't handle the muscle pain! Must try to work my way up.

I ordered a McDonald's yesterday...and had a normal dinner after. Not pleased with myself but not going to dwell on it. I really enjoyed it!

Today is Vietnamese tofu noodle salad for lunch and a paneer curry for dinner. I forgot to grab breakfast before a workman came, and now I have no access to the kitchen...I think I'll just eat my lunch now and figure it out later!

Sometimes a dirty McDonalds really hits the spot! We’re off for the Easter holidays and usually have one. I’m really craving one now! I’m loving the sound of your food again. Same for you @Crazzzycat. I bought a posh jar of harissa from our local zero waste shop recently and I’m eating it with everything.

It’s a weird day today-we’re meeting family in a park with a costa lunch. I did a Hiit class this morning which was vile. I’m not sure I’m going to feel like cooking so it’s most likely freezer pizza and salad for dinner. Maybe veggie sausage pasta bake if I can be bothered. Will squeeze a short walk in to keep up my streak.

Well you managed to encourage me to get on the crosstrainer @BrimfulOfBaba. Easiest programme, easiest setting...OMG I didn’t even manage to finish the short 20 minute session I had planned to do 😂

Haha @Crazzzycat well done! Getting on is genuinely the hardest bit. Any time on it is better than no time and if you aim to just be on it a minute more each time until you get to 20 mins, then hurrah!

Hope you had a nice Easter break away @PurpleDaisies! Why was the class vile? Mm your food sounds great!

I had a VERY relaxed weekend. Celebrated the weekend with one or two glasses of wine too many on Friday, so was extremely worse for wear most of the weekend. We went to a friends BBQ and had gorgeous food on Saturday, and a lovely big Indian last night. I didn't count calories and only worked out on Friday, and I feel completely fine about it.

Had a bit of a reality check moment when a fitness Instagrammer I follow shared that she has realised she had an eating disorder. I wasn't completely surprised as it was clear she just wasn't eating certain food groups, but at the same time, there were other aspects of her lifestyle I had found motivating. That, compounded with Nikki Grahame's really tragic passing, has reinforced to me I want to focus on reaching realistic goals in a healthy way. So I may relax some of my calorie counting but still focus on balance.

Overall I am happy with my figure, there is some fat I would like to reduce, but I am happy to do that slowly - and also nothing bad will happen if I don't!

Sorry about that essay! Needed to get it off my chest. Anyway, today's plan:

B: Onken's mango, passion, papaya yoghurt (150g) with 30g of granola, coffee with semi-skimmed.

L: Leftover curry with brown rice

D: Hopefully a butternut squash risotto if I can chop the butternut myself! If it is v hardy, tofu and cabbage stir fry with noodles.

I'd like 20 mins on the cross trainer today and a full body circuit - a whole weekend of sitting/lying down has made my body really crave movement!!

Why was the class vile?

Loads and loads of lunges. Yuck. I’ve got slightly dodgy knees and no balance so they’re my nemesis. Plus a hideous abs finisher that was effectively three minutes of sit ups without putting shoulders down. The PT was really on one! I’ve done this morning’s class and it was bloody hard but not quite as bad.

I’ve had a very relaxed weekend for eating. Dh made veggie spaghetti bol which was supposed to generate leftovers but we ate the lot. Saturday night was roasted cauliflower enchiladas with refried beans which are definitely going on the regular meal plan. There’s also been a lot of crisps, crackers, wine etc...

The veg box has just arrived so I’m going for a focus on loads of colourful things this week. I’m percolating a cold so really going to have to fight the can’t be bothered to cook vibe I’ve got at the moment.

So sad about Nikki Grahame. She seemed like a lovely person. I know exactly what you mean about staying the right side of healthy and not getting too drawn into unhelpful patterns of thinking in relation to eating and body image. I know this is a officially a calorie counting thread but I’ve had to totally stay away from MFP to stop getting obsessed with logging every tiny spoonful of food and every tiny movement of exercise. I know that others can do that healthily and I’m absolutely not judging-I just know what’s good for me and me what isn’t.

There’s one tortilla wrap left for lunch with refried beans, spicy tomato sauce and maybe grilled courgette. I’ve also got a butternut squash so I might do a risotto too. You’ve inspired me!

Sorry, this has turned out to be an epic post as well...

I managed to get a lot of exercise over the weekend. Basically I’ve been desperate to prove to myself that I’m not as unfit as my session on the cross trainer would have me believe! I went for some very brisk hill walks. So brisk that my legs are still hurting today!

I’m totally with you when it comes to keeping things healthy. Eating disorders are such a horrible thing and it’s remarkably easy to fall into unhealthy ways of thinking about food. While I do count calories, my main focus on overall health and fitness. I get more satisfaction out of being able to climb a steep hill, without stopping to catch my breath, than I do out of sticking to my calorie limit!

I must confess that I did break the rules of this thread and actually weighed myself over the weekend. As expected, the result didn’t exactly fill my heart with joy, but it is what it is and at least I’m doing something about it! I’ve put the scales back where they belong and don’t intend to stand on them for a good few months, so please don’t kick me off this thread quite yet 😂

My update is turning into a bit of an epic as well! Anyway, here’s today’s plan - spicy bean wraps for lunch and a veggie chilli for dinner + some healthy snacks to make sure I eat enough. I’m also planning to go for a brisk walk at lunchtime and a 30 minute session on the exercise bike after work. I’m saving the cross-trainer until tomorrow!

No worries @Crazzzycat we'll forgive you !

I do like to track calories too but can see how easily it can get dark/all-consuming. It's just not worth overshadowing the enjoyment of life! So I'll try and think of other ways of measuring things too. Ace on the exercise front!!

@PurpleDaisies Ahhh, lunges and knees definitely don't get along!! Those enchiladas sound AMAZING! Completely understand not wanting to count calories, I quite enjoyed my break from it this weekend. I'd like to shift to a more intuitive mindset myself.

I found myself with no time to get a workout in yesterday, going to try and do some this lunchtime and am going to try to get up in the morning to fit workouts in before work...I am a night owl so I'm not optimistic.

Today's meal plan is very rough, need to do a shop tonight!

B: same as yesterday, fruity yoghurt with granola and coffee with semi-skimmed
L: Potentially a stir fry of pretend chicken, cabbage and carrot
D: Orzo with harissa and pomegranate dressing, peas and goats cheese

Your dinner sounds delicious BrimfulofBaba!

My meal plan for today is a lot less exciting. It will be the usual spicy bean wrap for lunch and a stir fry with homemade satay sauce for dinner. I doubt anyone would describe satay sauce as diet food, but I’m sure I can fit it into my calorie allowance!

I’ve already had a brisk walk earlier today and will brave the dreaded cross trainer again this afternoon. I’m getting my COVID-jab tomorrow, so I’ve been cramming in the exercise over the past few days as I expect to be a lot less active in the second half of the week. I’ve even preprepared my healthy lunches and dinners for the next few days. I will not be tempted to eat rubbish, just because I’m not feeling 100%...or at least that’s the theory 😄

I hope you managed to fit in that exercise today Brimful

I met a friend today for lunch and shopping. It was so nice not to have to be on zoom. I felt super virtuous for walking from the park and ride car park into town saving the bus fare and adding an hour’s exercise there and back to our wandering around the city centre.

Last night’s risotto turned into quorn scampi, chips and beans so we’re having that tonight instead. Breakfast was toast and cream cheese. Lunch was an amazing onion bhaji and cauliflower Cornish pasty in a cafe. I also had a packet of crisps and half a packet of soft mints. Not too bad a day today.

You sound super organised @Crazzzycat. Good luck with the jab tomorrow. That orzo dish sounds amazing @BrimfulOfBaba. Do you follow a recipe?

That is organisation goals, @Crazzzycat! Hope the jab went well :) Ah @PurpleDaisies, that sounds lovely! I have a shopping and dinner day booked in with a friend next week, really cannot wait!

I think I made that orzo dish sound better than it perhaps was, ha! It was a rush job to us up things we had as there was no food in. The dressing was a (lovely) salad dressing you can get from Sainsbury's! Really recommend it, though.

I finally exercised yesterday and feel amazing EXCEPT just as I was walking out of the room, the ankle I had sprained last week stumbled and I sprained it again! And somehow I sprained my wrist (probably over enthusiastic burpees) and my knee now hurts too. Argh!

Today:

B: yoghurt, granola, blueberries, coffee with semi skimmed. Moving on to new flavours of yoghurt and granola tomorrow which is as exciting as it gets!

L: Shop-bought sweet potato and coconut soup and a buttered slice of bread. I'm not totally sure why a serving size is half the pot - that's less than 200 calories which is never going to keep me going. Having the whole pot thank you very much!

D: Oven-baked daal topped with cashews and pomegranate, with brown basmati.

If I think my stupid ankle and wrist can handle it, a gentle go on the cross trainer.

Oh no Brimful, your poor ankle! Exercise is clearly dangerous! Sounds like you had a lovely time with your friend Purple. Hopefully there will be lots more days like that!

I arrived way too early for my jab, so unexpectedly had time to go for a walk beforehand. The vaccination centre is in a seaside resort, so I made the most of the beautiful seafront and watched terns and cormorants dive for fish, while I was working up a sweat. I arrived at the vaccination centre in a pretty chilled state!

Now it’s just a case of waiting for my immune system to wake up. I made a huge pan of vegetable, bean and pasta soup, which I’ll have for dinner and the usual bean wraps for lunch. I sometimes feel like may be I should have a bit of variation in my lunches, but those bean wraps are really tasty, quick and healthy so I just keep making them!

Sending sympathy for the ankle pain @BrimfulOfBaba, that’s so miserable. In a strange coincidence, I’ve got a new baked daal recipe ready to try. I’ve never cooked it that way before. We’ll have to review each of our efforts.

@Crazzzycat if you’ve got something you enjoy for lunch, I don’t think it matters too much about variety. I often do a big batch of soup on a Monday and eat it every day that week. Those bean wraps sound really lovely. Good luck with the vaccine side effects. I can’t wait for my jab.

Today-sourdough toast in bed (thank you dh!). Small packet of crisps after hiit. I’ve got a small portion of left of risotto for lunch and some sort of stir fry for dinner I think. There’s a meal plan but I don’t fancy what’s on it!

I’m meeting more friends tomorrow and I’m planning on wearing a new fat face jumpsuit I bought yesterday. Outside socialising is tricky for wardrobe!

Exercise is being a bit of a villain at the moment for sure! But I really feel so much better for having done some :) @Crazzzycat that walk sounds like the perfect de-stressor! And it's great you have found a convenient meal that you enjoy. It looks like you have lots of variation otherwise, too.

@PurpleDaisies ah yes, lets! I am tempted to at least start the onion base on the hob as I like them quite caramelised in daals and curries. And yay for DH bringing you breakfast in bed! Hope you have a lovely day tomorrow. I'm not ready for normal socialising clothes yet!! Proper shoes...jeans...ugh no.

How was your daal @PurpleDaisies? Mine was from one of Rukmini Iyer's books. I've got to say I wasn't impressed, although DP loves it. I like the depth of flavour you get from frying off aromatics and spices in oil, on the hob. I had to add lots of salt to get any flavour out, and I realise now the pretty topping of pomegranate, toasted cashews and coriander is to eke out any taste! Consoled myself with maybe too generous a slice of Vienetta - which, to be fair, I had after totting up the day's calories and realising it only came up to about 1,100!

I didn't exercise yesterday, I was too tired after getting errands done. Hoping for some cross training today now my ankle feels better and maybe some upper body work.

B: new nutty granola, honey skyr, blueberries, coffee with semi skimmed.

L: I let DP have all the leftover daal, so I'll have to make something up out of things that need using in the fridge. So, pretend chicken stir fry or pretend chicken salad.

D: A lovely looking leek, asparagus, rocket and hazelnut 'orzotto' from the same Rukmini Iyer book. The daal is the only dud I have had so far so I'm hopeful.

It’s so frustrating when a recipe turns out to be a disappointment, especially when you’re calorie counting. Can’t say I blame you for having that extra slice of Vienetta!

I was absolutely starving yesterday after my jab, so had a few more calories than usual, but I’m not going to lose sleep over that.

Most of it was down to these absolutely delicious crackers I found. They’re 50% seeds and the rest is whole grains. Healthy, but they do come in at a hefty 100 kcal per slice. I got them because I’m trying to up my protein intake a little bit, as that can be pretty low some days. They may not be the safest thing to have in the house though 🙈

My plan for today is spicy bean wraps for lunch and the same vegetable, bean and pasta soup I had yesterday with a few of those delicious crackers!

If I have the energy, I’ll go on the exercise bike after work, but I’m still waiting to see if I’m going to get more of a reaction to the jab. Nothing much happening so far, apart from the increase in appetite and a tender arm.

Dh came home from food shopping with reduced veggie sushi so we ended up having that for dinner with stir fried courgette and broccoli and miso soup. It was a proper treat, although I realised after I had risotto followed by sushi so rice on rice!

This is the daal recipe I’ve got lined up...hopefully it will be ok. It’s a shame yours was disappointing @BrimfulOfBaba. I always get disproportionately grumpy when a recipe is bad. That vienetta was entirely justified and it sounds like you had a good day for calories anyway. Those crackers sound delicious @Crazzzycat. I’m a sucker for a cracker!

annajones.co.uk/recipe/baked-dhal-with-tamarind-glazed-sweet-potato

Today I’m feeling a bit grotty with period pain. Sourdough toast for breakfast again but made by me this time. I’ve had a lovely walk with a friend plus a massive brownie and a sit in the garden. I’m currently making a quorn chicken nugget sarnie for lunch . All bets are off on a day like this. Dinner might be daal, or maybe a jacket spud with chilli from the freezer if I’m still feeling sorry for myself. Dh is out all day so I’m planning a nap and some trashy tv.

Those crackers sound lovely @Crazzzycat! Interesting that the jab has had an effect on your appetite. Good on you for listening to your body.

Ooh what did you go for in the end @PurpleDaisies? That recipe looks lovely - the tamarind would definitely add punch.

My DP came home with burgers and waffle fries last night. I really enjoyed them and I feel fine today. I didn't work out though and don't trust myself to do it in the evening so I am having a slightly longer lunch break today to get some exercise in :) 20 mins crosstrainer and a little HIT session, I think.

Today's brekkie was my usual skyr, granola, berries, coffee. Lunch will be the orzotto I was meant to have yesterday. Dinner will be either stuffed peppers if I can be bothered to cook, pre-made ravioli and sauce if I can't!

I do feel/look 'smaller' despite not exercising and not really denying myself things which is nice.

Yesterday’s dinner was an expected triumph. I didn’t have enough time to cook jackets and the sweet potatoes were mouldy so ready steady cook plan b. I sautéed an onion, added the leftover spicy tomato sauce from the enchiladas, dried red lentils, roasted peppers from a jar and a sad leek plus some water then simmered until the lentils were cooked. Chopped up the potatoes and roasted them with garlic salt. Put it all together and it was like a patatas bravas daal thing. Salad on the side. Very nice indeed. Anna jones’ daal will be next week.

Today I’ve had houmous on toast. I’ve got one portion of leftover daal stuff from last night for lunch. Dinner will either be Bosh cauliflower wings or Wagamama recipe Katsu curry with veggie chicken nuggets (frys breaded ones). Can’t wait!

Any dinner that tastes like patatas bravas is a winner in my book PurpleDaisies. Great you’re seeing results Brimful! I’m sure I lost some weight too, as my jeans are definitely looser, but the main difference I’m seeing from all this exercise is that I’ve been sleeping a lot better than usual. I’m very pleased with that, as I’m a bit of an insomniac!

My meal plan for today is the usual spicy bean wraps for lunch and a pasta puttanesca for dinner. I may add some veggie meatballs to that to up the protein content. We’ll see...

I have another session planned with the dreaded cross trainer for this afternoon. I managed to complete 20 minutes last time, which felt like a triumph. I was barely moving towards the end, but at least I got to the end! It will be interesting to see how much progress I can make over the next few weeks or months. At the moment it doesn’t feel like the programme I’m doing will ever feel easy, but who knows!

I’m also planning a brisk walk at lunchtime. That’s always a good, quick way to de-stress from work ☺️

That dinner sounds delish @PurpleDaisies! You're also inspiring me to put hummus on toast on the menu for next week's breakfasts. Ahh both your dinner options also sound amazing!

@Crazzzycat better sleep is the best bonus!! Amazing to get to 20 mins on the crosstrainer too.

I am glad I did my lunchtime session, I feel much more energised. I did 30 mins on the crosstrainer - slowed down lots for the last 10 but the goal was to move for 30 mins so that's done. Followed that with a 20 min kettlebell circuit, a Joe Wickes YouTube thingybob. Downside is once showered it really cut into my work time. Will keep trying to do early morning workouts, that really seems the only logical option!

Happy Monday everyone!

I finally woke up early for a pre-work workout!! It feels crazy to think I can spend my evening doing whatever I please. Really hope I can repeat this! Did a 30 minute legs circuit.

However my brekkie was 2 slices of leftover Papa John's! Haha...balance? Lunch will maybe be what I should have had for brekkie (skyr, granola, berries) but I may wander out and buy a salad for a change. Dinner is leftover miso aubergines and tofu with rice.

I've put hummus on the shopping list so I can copy @PurpleDaisies breakfasts from tomorrow!