TTC after loss penguins get fit & healthy in 2020

[BunnytheBlueWhale]

This is the thread for those of us in the TTC after loss penguin huddle who want to try to eat a more healthy diet, exercise more, lose weight or just feel better physically this year
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@MrsMGE @Avocuddles @MissSparkles81 @SunshineCrocodile @Mumlili8 @VenusStarr @SunStruck

If I’ve missed anyone please tag them

How about we start by saying what our goals are whether that he the number on the scale, doing more exercise or just feeling better about ourselves?

I’m BunnytheBlueWhale (NC recently - see TTC thread). I’m 35 and probably weigh about a stone more than I’d like since I had my stillborn daughter in February. I don’t need to lose weight massively but having post-baby weight and no baby is a bit rubbish!

I’d like to lose a bit of a weight all over and also target my belly with brushing, moisturising and maybe microneedling at home...

I eat a lot of sugary snacks so want to massively reduce those and also try to take a healthy lunch to work to stop me spending so much money on food!

Just saw on Instagram one of the love islanders at Rudding Park 😆

😂 well if it's good enough for Love Island it's good enough for Mumsnet!

My DH can't cook to save his life (I can count on one hand the times he's cooked for me in six years) but decided to give himself the challenge of cooking a 'proper' (not just shove it in the oven) meal 20 times this year. Tonight was meal number one and although he was faffing in the kitchen for hours the end result was worth the wait and very healthy too!
Meatballs made with lean beef and laksa paste (an alternative use for yours @BunnytheBlueWhale!) served with pickled vegetables and naked noodles. I was a bit apprehensive about what he'd make given he's really not the greatest of cooks but he's done himself proud!

@MrsMGE enjoy your spa trip! Look forward to hearing about it.....

@Seahawk80 look after yourself, we've all got our fingers crossed for you.

Good effort form your DH @Avocuddles!

Thanks @BunnytheBlueWhale and well done to you too!

I find eating healthy and exercising regularly very challenging when work gets busy and when I'm under a lot of pressure. I'm proud I kept going this week despite the circumstances. I'd normally give up but I'm really determined this time and reading your posts has kept me going. I didn't want to let the side down! This thread is so good.

Thank you @Avocuddles, I hope it's half as nice as Rudding Park!

Who's planning to watch the winter edition of Love Island? Guilty pleasure? 🏝️😁 Xxx

@MrsMGE I had a stressful week at work and was so tired as I hadn’t slept properly and yesterday I really wanted sugar but I didn’t, so that was good! I find it harder when I’m at work and busy / stressed / tired (which is much of the time!!)

🙋🏻‍♀️ I’ll be watching Love Island! 🌴💕 I love something fun and lighthearted after a stressful day at work. I might be quiet for a few weeks. You’ll find me on the Love Island thread!

I got out early for yoga so I could do a bit of cardio first so I might keep that up. I just weighed myself (because I can’t find our scales at home since we started decorating) and I don’t seem to have lost any weight since I last weighed myself a couple of months ago but I look and feel like I’ve lost weight (and my jeans are getting more loose) so going to focus on that! Hope everyone is having a new weekend

Hey @BunnytheBlueWhale well done, girl! Remember your weight will depend on where you are in your cycle so you may well have lost. Besides, your body composition may have changed which is very likely considering you're seeing the change. I put a top on today which was rather loose comparing to when I wore it last and I'm surprised!

4lbs down since I've started my health mission so far 😊 It feels like more though and I'm noticing it now, even DH noticed 🙌.

I'm off shopping with DH today so lots of walking and will do HIIT later as well.

I went to Zumba last night and omg, it's changed since I last went years ago 😱 All those new songs and it feels more like a salsa/rumba/jazz class these days, am I right or is it just my instructor?!

Happy Saturday girls, keep it healthy ❤️ xxx

Hi all, hope everyone is well. I had a lovely spa day with my friend yesterday. She lives about an hour and a half away and has three kids so I don't see her as much as I'd like but she has been fantastic support to us and it was nice to see her yesterday and just chill all day long. I had my nails done and we had a joint scrub, wax and massage treatment. My skin feels lovely today.

Weighed myself this morning and lost a pound which I am pleased about because I came on yesterday and I am so bloated today. I forgot how painful AF can be. It's only my second since having Isla and my body is still all over the place but I'm glad things are getting back to normal a bit. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

@MrsMGE Yes you’re right. I am just at the end of AF so probably carrying a bit of water and I like to think it’s probably all muscle 😂 I might just weigh myself on a Saturday although that isn’t my focus as I have a low BMI so don’t need to lose but am not at my best and would like to lose a stone actually. Well done you one losing! Salsa is v different depending on the instructor but seems to be a mix!

@Shefliesonherownwings Your spa day sounds lovely- probably just what you needed! Well done on losing a lb too. I think AF is more horrendous after having a baby. It might just be heavier / more painful for a bit or a periods can simply change after having a baby

@Shefliesonherownwings glad you enjoyed your spa day and catch up with your friend. Well done on losing a pound, I'm pretty sure most people are at their heaviest when AF arrives so that's great!

I weighed myself yesterday and have lost two pounds in my first weight watchers week which I'm very happy with. Had a very unhealthy treat this morning as met some friends and their kids as an amazing doughnut and coffee place that has recently opened near us. The doughnuts are all vegan but incredibly naughty (see photo!), it was overflowing with hipster types queuing out of the door but worth the wait - and the calories..... Followed it up with a game of bowling and then tonight we're going round our friends for a healthy tea so a packed but fun day.

@MrsMGE I haven't been to Zumba in about a year but am planning on going to a class this coming Wednesday so will prepare myself for not having a clue what is going on! I have two left feet but do enjoy it. I bought a new sports bra in the sales so need to actually get some use out of it!!!

@BunnytheBlueWhale unless you're overweight (which I gather you're not) then weighing yourself regularly isn't necessarily the best measure - how you feel in yourself - and your jeans - is probably the best thing to focus on and it sounds like you're going in the right direction as far as that is concerned so well done!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. I was definitely ready for it after a long week!

@Avocuddles I'm drooling!

@Shefliesonherownwings Glad you had a lovely time with your friend, and a well deserved pamper session 😘

I'm having peanut butter, banana and blueberries on wholemeal toast for lunch. Not a very lunch-y meal, but I fancied it and it's delicious. What's everyone having today? Xxx

Also @Avocuddles @Shefliesonherownwings well done on your weight loss! This thread is now at least 7lbs lighter altogether, as far as we know 😁

@Avocuddles Those doughnuts look amazing! 🍩 Yes I think that’s right. It’s not so much about weight for me but I am curious as to whether my weight is going down at all as I weighed less than 9stone when I first got pregnant (weighed less than that in years prior) and now I’m nearly 10 Stone so I have it in my head I weight a lot more than I used to... I don’t want to get hung up on numbers though as it is not about that for me really. Well done you for losing some weight x

Evening all! I am overjoyed to report that I have returned from skiing with all limbs intact and just two blisters and a few bruises (thankfully not dinner plate sized ones on my bottom either @LASandOtto! )

@BunnytheBlueWhale I am glad you enjoyed the chicken laksa! I will def have to make it again. Thank you for the meditation / mindfulness tips - I will look into these.

That sounds a yummy lunch @MrsMGE. We had homemade oxtail soup for lunch and this evening I will be having oven baked salmon with roast vegetables.

@Seahawk80 thinking of you in the run up to Tuesday and hoping you are OK.

The latest posts have inspired me to step on the scales - I am down 1lb from my pre-Christmas weigh in. It doesn't sound a lot but goodness knows how much I put on during the festive period (I couldn't pluck up the courage to weigh myself then!) so I think that is a success. A lot of this is down to the support on this thread - thank you ladies. It is amazing to have something so positive to focus on instead of the obsession with TTC that I had throughout the last half of 2019 xx

@Avocuddles I want a donut now. Very very badly. I am going to go and weigh out my 70g of pasta instead!

@tortiecat The laksa was lovely but there seems to be another chicken laksa in a couple of weeks which looks slightly different from the pic so interested to see whether it’s the same or different but this could become a dish we make a lot! Well done on losing a lb especially over Christmas!

I think this thread is really good for focussing on our general health and food etc rather than TTC!

Wow ladies - amazing work on the weight! And in general, feeling happier and healthier! That's what this thread has really helped us all with.

@tortiecat, glad you're back in one piece girl!
Your dinner sounds lovely!

I had a shop bought soup for lunch today (not unhealthy, checked ingredients, it was a veggie one anyway) and tonight's dinner will be seabass, kale and butter beans with smoked pepper sauce. No idea how to make any of it so might be a disaster 😉

Haven't had any scales to step on, but feel good at the moment.

Not going to exercising too much like I said, but currently doing a lot of walking and actually looking to do a hike or something next weekend if the weather is nice!

@BunnytheBlueWhale well done on your run, any distance is a good achievement when you're starting out. In my very active days I used to run home from work (about 10k), but that's long ago. Now I can do 5k more or less ok-ish in about 30 mins.

Hope everyone else is good too!

Thanks @tortiecat, it was delicious. I'm glad to hear you've returned in one piece and had a good time, we're delighted to have you back 🙌 And we're now 8lbs lighter, wooo! 😊

HIIT done, girls! Did another harder one & I'm feeling it! Currently making beef, bean & rice burritos from scratch 😊 DH and I love them and the smell is making me hungry, mmm!

DH treated me today to a couple of body mists and lotions from Victoria's Secret, I'll keep them for our holiday 😊 £22 for 2, bargain. I also bought a pair of joggers from VS on sale last month and I LOVE them. If you're looking for some lounge pants, I can't recommend them enough (and they don't look chavtastic!). Overall, a really nice, chilled out day. Following our earlier discussion, I haven't actually bought any clothes today. I didn't take my purse not to be tempted 😂. I'll lose more weight first and then buy some nice stuff, sense and sustainability! Xxx

Hi ladies how are you doing?

This weekend I've been quite relaxed, I've had healthy stuff (like a poke bowl with prawns for lunch yesterday, Vietnamese bun (glass noodle salad) with prawns and chicken for lunch on Friday and some home cooked meals other than this. We did go out for a posh brekkie after our gym session (me and DH) on Friday morning when I had an omelette and then a sinful blueberry pancake to share, but I'm not trying to diet now in 2ww so it's fine 😁😁😁

Been using the slow cooker lots this weekend to food prep for whole of next week (dinner and lunch).

@avocuddles congrats on the weight loss!! 😄 that is great! Good way to start 2020!

@MrsMGE well done on your HIIT sessions! I hate HIIT 😅😅 but it's so effective I do try to do it sometimes haha! Nice with VS stuff, I do love their body mists! You smell nice without smelling perfumey, I really like it. Never tried their bottoms, I have to have a look! I use their underwear (the everyday stuff, like t-shit bra's) and they're so comfy and good quality. Expensive but worth it. Also their knickers that look like hipsters in a really soft microfiber material, shows no VPL (I hate VPL). Highly recommend.

Ladies can i please ask a more than likely stupid question but what is a HIIT session?

@Mumlil not stupid at all! High Intensity Interval Training :) check Joe Wicks our, he's championing this type of training!

@Mumlili8 Not a stupid question at all. As @SunStruck said it's Joe Wicks, a PT. If you go on YouTube and search for Joe Wicks HIIT you'll see a number of his sessions. Great stuff, you don't need anything at all, 15 mins, you can do it all at home. You exercise for 30-40 seconds depending on the workout, then rest for 20-30 seconds and again. If you've never tried, I recommend his beginners sessions, then the intermediate ones etc. These consist of 3x repeat of the same exercises (most of them). I'm currently doing various sets of his 15 exercises in 15 minutes HIIT and Fat Burner sessions (also on YT) which are great, but personally I think they're harder than the repeat exercise sessions.

HIIT improves your blood circulation, speeds up fat burning & metabolism and "pumps you up", even though it's only 15 mins, I feel a lot better, physically and mentally. The benefits are equivalent to a much longer workout at the gym.

Hope that helps, ask any questions that you wish! Also I'm sure @SunshineCrocodile will know more than me as a professional PT 😊 xxx

Morning ladies. I am pleased to report I went to vinyasa yoga this morning-just getting the train home now, have a 15m uphill walk at the end. Determined to lose that remaining 13lb!

@Mumlili8 @MrsMGE @SunStruck I think I will try HIIT workouts when I am a little fitter. I can just about get through a spin class at the minute as that involves literally having my feet locked into the pedals and the door shut so I can't run away, I take my hat off to you for finding the motivation to do these

By the way a friend sent me Mr Wicks' chicken pie recipe, DH and I really like this so I thought I would share it with you all:

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.hellomagazine.com/cuisine/2019091877897/the-body-coach-joe-wicks-chicken-pie-recipe-to-try/%3fviewas=amp

We put in more onion, garlic and green veg if we have it and serve with green beans/ peas

@tortiecat This chicken pie is our all time favourite! Good shout!

PS I love your name, one of my cats is a tortie, I was going to say that earlier 😊 She does squats (I hold her)and press ups/planks (she goes underneath me) with me, she's mesmerized when I do my exercise 😂 xxx

Morning all, it's been a very lazy weekend for me. AF cramps have knocked me for six. I just about managed the food shop with DH yesterday but spent the rest of yesterday on the couch with a hot water bottle. Looks like the same today except our cat has joined me which is nice as he rarely cuddles up to me, he's more DHs cat than mine. No doubt he's just trying to soak up some heat from the hot water bottle but it's nice. I've had to attach a photo as it is so rare that I get any affection from this little munchkin.

DH cooked tofu again last night but this time with loads of chillies, spring onions, garlic and some buffalo sauce. We had that with salad and it was delish. We did also have garlic bread but I only had two bits as a treat. I'm pretty pleased with my restraint as I'd normally devour half.