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!

Well, if we’re sharing recipes, here’s the dinner I made yesterday:

www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/tomato-dill-olive-and-feta-orzo/

It’s really nice, but I only add about half the feta and have some veggie meatballs as well to up the protein.

I have quite a busy week this week and didn’t have time to exercise yesterday. Not sure today is going to be much better as I’ll be working through my lunch break, so won’t even have my usual walk at lunch time 😐

I’m keeping my meals simple, as DH and DS will be cooking. They’re always more than happy to cook, but really struggle with more complex recipes. So it will be a simple stir fry for dinner and a veggie wrap for lunch.

Thanks for the recipe @PurpleDaisies - it looks delicious! I do love Jamie's recipes.

I have decided to weigh myself once a week just to make sure I'm overall heading the right way for the wedding - but won't record the numbers here to avoid driving myself crazy!

Did an all-body circuit this morning - a Nike Training Club one, I am getting really bored of the Kayla Itsine's programme and focusing on just one part of the body at a time. Sometimes I want full body work!

Brekkie was my usual, lunch will be a big salad featuring squeaky bean tikka pieces, avocado and the usual salad things and oil/balsamic dressing, and dinner will be a steamed sweet potato with cottage cheese and stirfried broccoli and mushrooms. And hopefully a big walk in the evening - I have lots of Zoom meetings today so most of the day will be spent sitting down! Calorie intake totted up is 1,165 today, I have a Tony Chocolonely bar and some bread awaiting if I feel hungry!

@Crazzzycat that recipe looks amazing! Sometimes simple is best, especially when so busy. Hope you have a nice restful week as things sound busy at work!

Gratuitous food photo-it was very nice indeed! Actually three tubes of cannelloni was enough in the end. Next time I’ll do the full recipe and freeze some.

I’m currently freezing outside a cafe with a coffee waiting for the bank to open. They’ve got a power cut. I’ve had my eyebrows shaped which has cheered me up enormously though.

It was toast for breakfast (avocado was part it-sad times), veg soup for lunch again, Thai veg curry for dinner tonight with either sweet potato or tofu as the main thing.

I’m putting orzo on my shopping list now-that delicious recipe looks delicious. I’m very envious of the chocoloney bar-they’re my favourite!

That's firmed my resolve to make that cannelloni in the very near future!

Morning everyone!

Skipped a 6am workout for the first time this morning, I felt I needed more sleep. Will do 30 mins on the crosstrainer and a little circuit after work.

My meals are basically the same as yesterday as they were pretty delicious - but brekkie will be caramelised onion hummus on toast with a poached egg. Mm!

Definitely feeling the benefit of more consistent exercise :)

Morning! Sounds like you needed that lie in @BrimfulOfBaba . I stayed up too late watching the new episodes of Glow Up and All that Glitters (love an arty crafty competition programme!) and feel like a zombie this morning. There’s no houmous or butter (the horror) so I’ve had cheese on toast for breakfast. Not exactly the healthiest but it was a nice treat. Also no coffee. I need a food shop urgently...

Hiit coming soon, and then a wet walk somewhere. I feel very grumpy that it’s raining. For food, it’s going to be some sort of leftovers for lunch, probably a small portion of last night’s sweet potato curry which was really good. The Green Thai paste was mouldy so used a rendang one instead, plus had actual coriander and roasted cashews for extra protein. Dinner is breakfast for tea (some combo of hash browns, veggie sausages, baked beans, egg, mushrooms, asparagus, tomatoes etc). Going to try limiting the snacks a bit today-they’re creeping up again. I did a sneaky weigh in and I’ve lost a bit which is nice though.

Oh @PurpleDaisies your food today sounds amazing. LOVE breakfast food as dinner! Hope your wet walk went OK :) oooh if the weight is going down snack away, I say!!

You've reminded me great british sewing bee is back on so I must catch up.

I talked myself into some exercise after work. Had a square of my favourite Tony's chocolonely as encouragement.

I am really loving the squeaky bean tikka pieces. Chicken is something I have completely cut out but miss, and this really satisfies. I just need a nice ham replacement now - I really don't like the quorn slices!

I have to admit, it has been a top quality day for eating. Ended up with macaroni cheese for lunch using up the leftover cheese sauce from the cannelloni. Normally I’d have just chucked it all in on Monday but it was a good decision to cut the portion then and have an easy meal today.

Dinner was super-I was gutted (actually nearly cried-ridiculous!) to find we’d run out of baked beans. To compensate I just cooked a tin of tomatoes on the hob for ages with balsamic vinegar and dried herbs until it made a really thick sauce. In the oven-hash browns, veggie sausages and big mushrooms with a little bit of butter and garlic mix on. Plus grilled asparagus. Super easy and actually good calorie wise as a bonus.

I haven’t tried those tikka pieces-they’re going on my to try list. I like smoky tofurkey slices in a sandwich. I’m not so taken by their ham style slices though and I also don’t like those quorn chicken slices. If I come across anything nice I’ll let you know!

Morning all. I went off plan in a spectacular way on Tuesday and spent yesterday picking myself back up again. I feel a bit more positive now and determined that a single day won’t escalate into a week/ month long binge.

I measured myself this morning and I lost almost an inch from my waist since the start of April. It’s a nice bit of extra motivation!

My plan for today is spicy bean wraps for lunch and a “chicken and olive stew”. It’s a BBC Good Food recipe, but I’ve made so many adjustments to it that I’m not sure what to call it anymore. There’s definitely no chicken in it!

For exercise, I’m planning to back to the hill that almost floored me at the weekend. I’ll try to go a bit slower this time! 😅

Sometime we all need a day or two like that @Crazzzycat, well done for getting back on it.

I’ve had leftover tomato sauce and asparagus on toast for breakfast, a packet of twiglets and a popcorn bar thing for a naughty double snack and a Caffè Nero veggie sausage roll for lunch. I’m trying to buy new gym trainers without much success. Dinner will be leftover curry after Zumba. Thinking early lunch might have been an error. Having one of those days where I’m just starving all the time!

Your baked bean alternative actually sounds yummier @PurpleDaisies! Thanks for the tofurkey suggestion - I will keep an eye out next shop. Really miss a deli meat sandwich!

Good going @Crazzzycat - we all have days where we go off plan and that's totally normal :) sounds like you have been making great progress, too!

Did 30 mins on the cross trainer this morning but they were very slow so I may do a circuit this evening. Today is back to back with meetings so I'm also not moving as much as I normally would.

Usual skyr brekkie today. Lunch was a slice of Jackson's wholemeal (oh it's so malty and good!) with caramelised onion hummus, tikka vegan chicken and black olives. Oh it was good! I boredom ate a single-serve bar of Tony's chocolonely during a particularly dire meeting (sea salt caramel and milk chocolate...mmm) so I'm going to try and make dinner lighter. Perhaps a veggie and cottage cheese omelette :) will chuck in a sweet potato if I work out/am raving hungry.

I just realised maybe the above didn't sound like much food? But I promise it is and that I'm eating whenever hungry. Also not going to bother with an extra workout tonight. An early night in my lovely bed is calling me like a siren after meeting-palooza!

Don’t worry @BrimfulOfBaba, you seem like you’re being sensible. I’m assuming (like me!) there are a few food bits that don’t always make it on to the thread and you’ve got good portions.

I finally found some trainers. I wanted plainish black and white but these have bright orange bits on. They’re super comfy and I’ve had a similar style before so I know they’ll do the job. Debuting at Zumba this evening. I’ve also bought summer shorts in a smaller size than usual. They’re fat face denim (I think they’re a vanity sizing shop but I don’t care!!). They’re a tiny bit tight but I think they’ll stretch. It’s the classic denim gamble!

Ooh how did the trainers do at Zumba? Yay about the shorts!! Looking forward to buying some denim when my hips are just a little less squishy :)

I was a raging hungry woman last night, ate some buttered toast after dinner and then went for a lovely long walk.

No morning workout tonight but I have a 45 minute dumbbell workout this evening and hopefully a nice lunchtime walk. Today I've got skyr, granola and berries for brekkie, a leek and potato soup for lunch and dinner is a mystery - probably a sweet potato with cottage cheese and some stir fried veg. And a gin and slim tonic :)

Hope you have lovely Fridays!! Yay for a bank holiday!

The trainers are lovely and bouncy but the “pitch” (I don’t know if that’s the technical term!) is a tiny bit different so I felt a bit off balance. I’ll get used to them. My hip isn’t sore at all which has been a problem recently so that’s promising. Hiit this morning so we’ll see how they go with squats and lunges...

I can relate to the raging hungry women thing. I felt like that all yesterday. Toast is a wonderful invention.

Breakfast was toast, butter and marmite. Lunch is the last of the veggie soup with something added to make it more exciting. Dinner will be frozen pizza, posh olives and salad. Maybe some wedges on the side. I’m meeting a friend for coffee so I’m also expecting there will be cake!

Happy bank holiday weekend! ☀️

The new trainers sound exciting @PurpleDaisies! Always nice to get some new fitness gear that you know is actually going to get some use.

This thread has reminded me of how much I used to love Skyr! Sadly my family were never as enthusiastic. They used to joke that you need Scandinavian roots to be able to enjoy it 😕

Anyway, I’m going to add some to next week’s shop, especially the sour cherry flavour. I remember that one being particularly delicious! I also have some Squeaky Bean Pastrami in the fridge (inspired by this thread!). I have yet to try it, but might do so this weekend. Exciting times!

My meal plan for today is the same as yesterday. DH will be making curry, which I can’t eat because I have an onion intolerance, so it’s leftovers for me.

If the weather clears up I may go for another long walk. I love this time of the year when everything comes back to life. It’s the best time to go for a hike ☺️

Have a good weekend everyone!

Woo the new trainers sound ace @PurpleDaisies. My planned dinner was scrapped in favour of a lovely pizza which DP and I shared with salad and a but of cheesy flatbread. And some wine!

@Crazzzycat I'm a bit of a wimp with Skyr - I get the Arla flavoured versions! Though I may try to transition to some of the tangier varieties to shake things up. That cherry flavour sounds lovely, what brand is it?

I'm also buying squeaky bean pastrami and sauerkraut this week, inspired by this thread!

Thank you both, this thread has really been helping my headspace :)

Sore all over from my circuit yesterday so gonna take it easy most of today- have a zoom wedding for a friend. Have meals similar to the ones I've had all week planned and hoping to have a nice long walk later - totally agree Crazzzycat, this time of year is just the most heartening to go and experience via a hike!

Thanks both, trainers are from Asics which just seem to fit my feet nicely. The foam sold is so comfy and it was so nice to be jumping around on the floor without worrying about sliding everywhere. The instructor was on one yesterday so my legs are pretty achy today. Hoping the weather stays dry enough for a walk to stretch them out a bit. I’ve realised wearing nice workout kit really helps with going for it. I might try and pick up a couple of new t shirts or vest tops-some old ones are very tired now.

We also had pizza last night (just Aldi frozen plant based arrabiata which was very nice) with garlic bread, salad, olives, houmous, wine... Not the healthiest but it was lovely!

This morning it’s been Saturday brunch which Richmond veggie sausage sandwiches and posh coffee from the local shop. I’ve got a big bag of reduced parsnips to turn into soup for lunch and dinner is going to be a tofu stir fry with noodles and maybe a spring roll. I’m also hoping for an ice cream later on the walk. Totally agree that this is a gorgeous time of year to be out and about.

Enjoy the bank holiday!

I can see the appeal of nice work out gear. I’m sure at the very least it sends a massive signal to your brain that you’re taking this exercise stuff seriously. I’m still working out in stuff that’s more than a decade old, so there’s some room for improvement on my end 🙈

Saying that, I did do my first 30 minute session on the cross trainer yesterday. When I started a few weeks ago, I could barely finish 15 minutes! Yesterday my FitBit also upgraded my cardio-fitness score by two points, so I’m definitely getting fitter 💪

The Sour Cherry Skyr is from Arla @BrimfulOfBaba, but I think they only sell it in those ridiculously priced little pots. It’s still worth it in my opinion, although I do resent spending £1 on a tiny pot, when I can get a big pot for £1.25!

I don’t really have much of a plan for today. I’m still waiting for a walk to materialise, so may set off on my own this afternoon. DH made enough curry for two meals, which means I have to find an alternative for myself for tonight. I’m not very good at cooking for one, but I’m sure I’ll come up with something

How’s everyone doing? I had a look at last week’s FitBit stats and concluded there’s room for improvement. I missed quite a few exercise sessions and went over my calories twice. It was a pretty stressful week though, so perhaps not that surprising. I’m determined to do better this week and will be hitting the cross-trainer later today 💪

Hi everyone! Hope you had lovely bank holiday weekends.

Yay @Crazzzycat, love when the FitBit cardio fitness points is upgraded! I've been upgraded from 'average to good' to 'good to very good' over the last week, delighted! Ah, it's a shame Arla don't include some of their more exciting flavours in their range of bigger pots.

So...I was pretty active over the long weekend but I also overate every day quite significantly. Burgers one day at a pub garden, an Indian takeaway last night to soak up the aftermath of our first trip to a pub garden...! I mostly don't regret this as it was nice to socialise with friends outside the context of a walk, but I do feel bad when I remember my temporary strictness is for my upcoming wedding. I will feel sad if I feel I've not done everything I can (while staying sane) to feel my best so will use that to motivate me this week.

I've just had a delivery of fancy porridge (carrot cake flavoured! No sugar added! Sensible calories per 40g portion!) which I'm excited to have tomorrow.

Normal skyr and granola brekkie today, my tummy feels a bit dodgy today so probably buttery toast for lunch, and pasta puttanesca for dinner. Aiming to work through lunch so I can finish early and do a HIIT circuit - didn't wake up for an early workout today!

Hope you all have great starts to this week :)! Sorry for the essay!

Ooh, fancy porridge?! That does sound nice @BrimfulOfBaba. I’m sure that having a few days off plan won’t make much of a difference to your overall weightloss. But after the year we all had, I’m sure it made a big difference to your mental health, so I think it can be easily argued that you spent the weekend in the best way possible for your overall well-being 😇

I went for a few walks over the weekend, but they were all leisurely flat walks, so I didn’t exactly feel the burn! I get very disappointed these days if I don’t break a sweat 😅

Today’s plan is spicy bean wraps for lunch and roasted vegetable bulgur with feta & harissa for dinner. I’ll also do a 30 minute session on the exercise bike. The weather is appalling here at the moment, so no walk for me today.

And well done on improving your fitness score too Brimful. “Good to very good” is what I’m aiming for, which should be achievable, especially if I manage to shift some more weight!

You'll get to that bracket in no time @Crazzzycat from the looks of things! Your food today sounds amazing. Doing the weekly shop today so will make a note to stock up on harissa.

Will report back tomorrow re: fancy oats . Yes overall wellbeing wise I'm in a great place so no real regrets here!