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!

I keep forgetting to add those squeaky bean tikka pieces to my shop 🤦‍♀️ I really must try them some time!

I’m glad your jab went well @PurpleDaisies. I found it such a relief to get vaccinated, even if I’ve only had my first one. I hope you managed to stay side-effect free.

I thought I had a major food triumph yesterday when I had a rare trip to Waitrose and managed to resist all the treats I’d normally buy. Unfortunately the healthy food I bought instead really set off my IBS, so I kind of wish I’d bought a big bag of PopChips instead 😂

As a result, I’m having a pretty weird food day food today. I’m just eating what my body say it wants, which seems to be mainly olives, dark chocolate and strawberries! I might try a session on the exercise bike later

Thanks both, apart from the slightly sore arm I think I’m ok. I did Zumba this evening and wad definitely a bit lop sided (more than usual!) but it was great fun.

It’s been a weird day for eating due to having brunch with a friend (avocado on sourdough-lovely) and the late exercise class. Lots of toast with various things on top at regular intervals! Dinner was a load of stuff from lidl greek week tins with salad, houmous and pitta. My goodness it was nice!

Hope you're feeling better @Crazzzycat! Sorry your lovely waitrose shop was spoiled.

Ooh, Greek week! May have to wander to Lidl, that meal sounds lovely @PurpleDaisies!

I'm really pleased with myself for resisting the temptation to have a Pot Noodle (I know...!) after dinner yesterday. I checked my Fitbit before going for it and saw I was so close to my deficit! And I wasn't actually hungry, I just wanted it because it was there :)

I've just bought this dress for my hen do as I got a hefty discount on it www.karenmillen.com/chain-embellishment-detail-halter-dress/AKK00615.html so now I have a nice incentive to keep on track (and focus on my arms and shoulders!)

Today's breakfast was two crumpets with butter and marmite and a semi skimmed milk coffee. Lunch will be a squeaky bean salad (if I can resist the siren song of the pot noodle another day) and dinner is going to be an udon and omelette stir fry with tenderstem broccoli and spring onion.

We are off to a friends for a bbq and drink tomorrow. I want to enjoy myself but sensibly - these friends are big drinkers and always have lovely snacks on hand so I'll need to strategise!

That dress is absolutely gorgeous @BrimfulOfBaba. I’m now desperately trying to think if I’ve got any occasion to wear one so I’ve got an excuse for one too! Hope your IBS is settling down @Crazzzycat, it’s really miserable.

Today I’ve got Hiit this morning and some boring work stuff to do later. It’s properly grey and miserable here so I’ll have to force myself out for a walk. Usually it’s fine when I’m out there, even if it’s raining. For food, it’s been houmous on toast with coffee for breakfast, lunch will be more greek things in tins with salad, pizza with something on the side for dinner. I’m undecided about making it verses getting one out of the freezer at the moment.

Happy Friday everyone!

That’s a lovely dress @BrimfulOfBaba. I think having an outfit, or piece of clothing, to focus on can be hugely motivational. Mine’s an old pair of jeans I’d like to get back into. Not quite as glamorous as this lovely dress 😄

The weather is pretty grey here too @PurpleDaisies. It makes it so much harder to motivate myself to move. I couldn’t even get my step count over 4000 yesterday 😬

My plan for today is spicy bean wraps for lunch and aubergine lasagna for dinner. No plans for the weekend yet. It looks like it will be one of those grey weekends that’s perfect for baking cakes, but I better avoid that for obvious reasons!

Thank you, I'm so excited to wear the dress! I think I like it more than my actual wedding dress...!

I've eaten the bloody Pot Noodle for lunch so I had better do a circuit and a cross training session before having my planned dinner...woops!

Hope everybody has a lovely weekend - and hope you feel better soon @Crazzzycat!

Hi everyone! I was a stupidly lax over the weekend, didn't track anything either. Far too much alcohol and food, some of it to celebrate DP's best friends birthday.

I wouldn't have minded if I'd had a nice time, but it's very much a crowd I don't fit in with, so a lot of the eating/drinking was to give my face and mouth something to do while I smiled and nodded amongst in-jokes and workplace banter...

Off to a good start this week exercise wise, actually woke up for a pre-work tabata circuit. Breakfast however was leftover Indian takeaway . I'd like to get some cardio in around lunchtime as I am craving movement after this weekend. Lunch will be a squeaky bean salad, dinner will be ricotta and spinach ravioli.

I've got my jab booked for tomorrow, fingers crossed it doesn't knock me off my feet too much.

Hope you all had nice weekends?

Sounds like your weekend was quite stressful @BrimfulOfBaba? Or may be I’m just projecting my own feelings here, as hanging out with a crowd of people I don’t really fit in with sounds like my idea of hell. But I know most people have better social skills than me 🙈

I had a really good weekend. Lots of walks in spite of the rain and I did pretty well on the food front too. My FitBit upgraded my cardio fitness score by a whole point, which was very exciting 🥳 It really feels like all that hard work is paying off!

My plan for today is spicy bean wraps for lunch and veggie burgers & homemade buns for dinner. Possibly not the most well balanced, nutritious day, but until I get my online shop delivered later tonight, I’m basically scraping the fridge & freezer.

For exercise I’m planning a 30 minute session on the exercise bike and may be a walk later today. I recently increased the resistance on the exercise bike and, my goodness, I can feel my thighs for days afterwards! Hopefully it will soon become a bit easier

No projection in this case @Crazzzycat, it was stressful! I like to think I have ok social skills but alllll my energy went into making it look like I was having a good time. Am still knackered from it!

Your dinner sounds delicious as well as nutritious :) I have had crisps for lunch, giving myself a pass today as I still feel tired.

Oooh the exercise bike sounds intense! Hope it starts to feel better soon.

It’s felt like a Monday today! Busy with some nice things, some boring stuff and some exercise. I don’t often have a glass of wine on a school night but this evening, I am very much enjoying one.

Food has been constant grazing today to fit in with getting everything done. I had a veggie burger, chips and coleslaw for lunch. This evening’s quorn chicken nugget, lettuce and hot sauce mayo wraps properly hit the spot. Plus three (!!!) pieces of white toast throughout the day, a whole pack of squeaky bean pastrami post hiit and some raspberry and white chocolate cake. I’m definitely way over on what I’d normally eat but hey ho. Tomorrow is a better day (I hope!)

@BrimfulOfBaba I only had a sore arm after mine. Hopefully it’ll be the same for you. Great to get it done. @Crazzzycat I also did some wet walks this weekend. One was essentially a storm and I was so soaked I had to literally put everything I was wearing in the wash when I got home and put me straight in the shower to warm up. I did feel like a hero for going though!

Hope my slightly embarrassing food day yesterday didn’t put people off. I’ve woken up in a good mood today and there’s sunshine so going to try a walk somewhere different and some yoga today. Plus dealing with dandelions in the garden which is a full body work out.

The food plan is (was!) toast for breakfast, sad broccoli and something or other soup for lunch and tofu stir fry noodles with the last of the job lot of Kung pao sauce I made ages ago. The aim is going to be minimum five a day for the rest of the week and limited toast!!!

I’m sure we all have slightly embarrassing food days @PurpleDaisies. I managed to make a whole bag of Candy Kittens disappear last week. I don’t even like sweets and I definitely did not have a good reason for doing this, unlike you!

I hope your jab went/ goes ok @BrimfulOfBaba and that you’ve recovered from your weekend!

I had another intense session on the exercise bike yesterday, but my legs don’t feel anywhere near as bad as they did the previous two times. It’s amazing how fast your body gets used to more intense exercise.

My plan for today is bean wraps for lunch and bean & halloumi stew for dinner. I seem to be eating that a lot! 🤔

For exercise, I have two walks planned. One will be my usual lunch time walk. For the second one, I’m planning to go to a woodland I discovered only a few months ago. It’s on a really steep hill, but once you get to the top, there are amazing views across mountains and sea. The woodland itself is pretty nice too. Lots of bird song and small mammals scuttling around and only the occasional dog walker. Just thinking about it makes me happy! ☺️

Ah we all have food days we sort of wish had gone differently! For example after a very impressive (for me) 1.5 hour walk to get my jab yesterday and looking great calorie-wise, I had a burger and chips meal for dinner.

Thank you both - just a sore arm now so feel quite lucky! @Crazzzycat that woodland view sounds gorgeous. Are you based in the UK? @PurpleDaisies a 5-a-day aim is a good idea...might copy that off you, I need vitamins after a week of junk.

I want to be on track from today! I'd like to get a circuit or crosstrainer session in at some point today. I actually missed breakfast due to morning meetings/not being hungry yet, so am going to have a big lunch. Not sure what yet. Dinner is also unplanned - both meals will be some combo of pretend chicken, salad, spicy rice, pasta, cottage cheese.

Had a good 30 minute workout on the crosstrainer yesterday - was really hard to do, it always strikes me how much harder it is after even a short break!

I've adjusted my calorie deficit target - a 1,000 calorie deficit is sort of doable but not worth it for me right now. I've not been achieving that at all and it makes me think negatively about an otherwise stellar day of balanced eating. I've adjusted it to a 750 calorie deficit but if that also makes me feel bad, I know a 500 calorie deficit is fine for me. I have stopped fixating on looking like someone I don't usually look like for my wedding (...I say that now but hopefully that'll be the overarching attitude).

Similarly to yesterday, woke up too late to have brekkie before meetings. I had a semi-skimmed milk coffee and a handful of squeaky bean tikka pieces. I am going to do a lunchtime circuit followed by 2 scrambled eggs on toast with ketchup and a side salad. Dinner is wholegrain pitta which I'll be stuffing with falafel, salad, pickles and sort of tzatziki made of Greek yoghurt and a bit of cottage cheese.

For me there is such a big psychological component to losing weight. So I think you are absolutely doing the right thing by adjusting your calorie deficit. You are so much more likely to succeed that way (and not feel miserable!), I’m sure you’ll look great on your wedding day!

My plan for today is spicy bean wrap for lunch and a harissa and aubergine pie for dinner. I was really excited by that pie when I found the recipe, as it has all the things in it that I love. But now that I’m getting closer to making it, I’m worried it might be a bit mushy. May be I should have thought this through better, before I got seduced by the individual ingredients 😄

For exercise I’m planning to go on the cross trainer after work and then a walk after dinner. The weather is gorgeous here, so it seems a shame not to make use of that

That pie sounds lovely @Crazzzycat, I'd be curious to know how it turns out!

There's definitely a huge psychological part of weight loss for me too, and a lot of the women in my family have disordered relationships with food. I'm keen to avoid that! Thank you Crazzzycat - it's coming closer and closer!!

How did the pie turn out? I had leftover aubergine chilli and rice for lunch. I might try that pie next time. Love an aubergine!

It’s been a much better couple of days for eating and exercise here. I went out for a run last night and actually enjoyed it (unheard of!) and today it’s been a walk and Zumba today. I’ve hit five a day as well so feeling good.

Hope you’ve both enjoyed the sun ☀️

Well done on hitting your 5 a day @PurpleDaisies ⭐️

The aubergine pie was interesting. Not as mushy as I thought it would be, but I can’t say it blew up away. I’m a fussy eater though 😄

My plan for today is a veggie burger wrap for lunch and feta & dill orzo for dinner. For exercise I’ll be hitting the exercise bike.

Does anyone have any exciting plans for the weekend? I’ve only just realised it’s a bank holiday weekend. So I guess I better come up with a plan of some sort 🙈 On the plus side, not realising it’s a bank holiday weekend does mean I haven’t stocked up on exciting snacks either, so that’s a bonus!

Have a good weekend!

I am very confused about what day it is. Monday or Tuesday? My brain hurts.

We had a fab bank holiday Monday having a bbq. I ate more than a normal day but not ridiculously so that felt good. I’ve met a friend today and walked from the park and ride so will rack up about eight miles. That will cover the accidental extra meal...I’ve had breakfast, brunch and lunch! Oops. Never mind! Houmous on toast, avocado brunch and a vegan meatball panini at Caffè Nero so it could be worse. Tonight’s dinner is a hello fresh aubergine curry. We got a box as a half term treat.

How’s everyone doing? This sunshine is doing wonders for my mood and my vitamin D!

The sunshine really is doing amazing things for my mood and outlook! Glad you've been enjoying it @PurpleDaisies - sounds lovely! I saw my parents for the first time since before corona happened, so that was lovely.

I've eaten far more than is advisable under any circumstances and don't feel 100% comfortable in my body at the moment. Luckily now I know a week or so of eating more vegetables and fruit and less processed stuff will make me feel miles better.

Today will be skyr and granola for brekkie, leftover lamb biriyani my mother sent me home with (how can I not!) And some ravioli for dinner. I did 2 circuits yesterday (yay) and want to get some time on the cross trainer today.

Looks like another gorgeous day today!

@Crazzzycat did you come up with a good plan? Mine involved going to the big smoke to see my family and trying to de-mothify the house!

Sounds like you both had great weekends! I’m sure that will all that walking you needed at least some of the extra calories @PurpleDaisies!

I spent a lot of time going for walks and visiting nature reserves with DH and DS2. Both of them are autistic and don’t enjoy a lot of social stuff, so we tend to gravitate towards quiet, calm places where we know we’re not going to come across many people. God, that makes us sound like hermits! I promise we’re not 😂 Your much more social weekends do sound lovely to me!

Anyway, food wise I did ok. I stuck to my calories, but I can’t say that the food I ate was the healthiest. It probably didn’t help that I made a big batch of muffins to take with us on our walks. Quite a few of them were consumed along the way 😳

Even though my going off plan was relatively minor, I know exactly what you mean about how it affects how you feel @BrimfulOfBaba. I’m just not used to eating that much sugar anymore and just two (fairly low sugar) muffins made me feel really sluggish. It’s amazing how big the impact was and to think that I used to eat a hell of a lot more than that on a daily basis, while no doubt thinking I felt ok!

My plan for today is spicy bean wraps for lunch, and roasted vegetables & halloumi for dinner. It’s going to rain here later today, so I will try to squeeze in a walk at lunch time and may be some time on the cross trainer later.

I tried doing some yoga yesterday. “Tried” being the operative word here...but anyway, in spite of my efforts being quite hilarious, I’d really like to incorporate a bit more of that into my life. No idea how yet, but will give it some thought.

Sorry, that was so long 🙈

I’m sure I wrote a post yesterday but I can’t see it! How odd.

Half term here. We’d planned to go away but dh has injured himself (not too badly) and we’re stuck at home. Slightly disappointing but we’re having some treats with the money we’re saving. This afternoon was sitting in a cafe garden with the crossword and bottomless coffee. I’m now over caffeinated but full of sunshine and probably vitamin D!

I’ve got an in person Pilates class tomorrow and I’m very excited. @Crazzzycat I was once kicked out of a yoga class because I couldn’t stop giggling as something that really shouldn’t have been funny. Oops. Today it’s a walk later and I’m taking my SLR so I bet there’ll be no interesting wildlife.
Glad you had a nice bank holiday @BrimfulOfBaba and I’m very envious of your biryani. I love a biryani, especially a home made one.

Food today: houmous on toast, small veggie sausage roll and monster salad, small piece of blueberry frangipan cake, small bag of paprika oatcakes. Later it will be some sort of mushroom pasta

Phew I thought I’d killed the thread with my long post 😅 An actual Pilates class sounds good @PurpleDaisies! That’s so frustrating that you had to change your plans. I hope you’re managing to make the most of your break at home?

I’m off for a short city break tomorrow. I’m usually not too bad when I’m away, mainly because of various food intolerances which mean that I can’t eat 95% of what’s on the menu anyway 🤷‍♀️ It’s a bit of a challenge, but DH has booked a Syrian restaurant, so I’m expecting a lot of hummus, baba ganoush, feta and all other kinds of delicious Middle Eastern foods 😋

Today I had a “chicken” noodle salad (veggie of course) and will be having roasted vegetables, halloumi and bulgur later. I might go on the exercise bike later, but I also have some vague plans to go to a local seabird colony and admire the puffins. I don’t have time to do both, so we’ll have to see if it’s the exercise bike or the puffins that win today 🤔