Countdown to Easter

[ItRainsItPours]

All welcome!

Supportive thread for setting goals including self care and fasting, and chat in between.

I love the way you write about your life, @StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans Your children must know (or will come to realise one day) that they hit the jackpot belonging to you ❤️

As for me, ANY of those things would be more interesting than the truth, which is that I walked somewhere because I didn't know how to get there in the car and didn't know if I'd be able to park, so I walked as a kind of incompetence/embarrassment tax 🫣

@StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans Yes, GW is goal weight... for ages it's been 11.2, knowing that I enjoy being that weight, my curves have come back, my body feels light and I can wear my favourite clothes.

But now my body seems happy to hover around the 10.13/11.0 mark which feels extraordinary.

My bad cholesterol (LDL) is a bit elevated - my GP is clear she thinks I won't get it down with diet/lifestyle alone but I'm going to give it a go. Looking at my records on line, I see that it was really high when I weighed 14.2 - no one told me at the time! But it did come shooting down with the 3 stone weight loss.

@StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans and @ItRainsItPours ... I don't think it's a coincidence that I weigh the least I have in over 20 years at a time when DC is at uni, and there are less unpredictable demands on my life.

I do think that losing weight for many of us takes serious time and effort, and that there are times in our lives when other things have to be the priority.

So I increasingly think we need to work on being generous to ourselves, reassuring and kind, while being clear what one can do at any one time. Looking back on my life, the biggest time waster (and emotional de-energiser) has been the huge chunks of my life dedicated to unsuccessful weight loss... not a pleasant way to live!

WOW!!!! You have achieved SO much @StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans

I hope you can truly celebrate how far you've come with your mental and physical health in the last year, and use those formidable strengths in helping adapt your life in the light of ADHD.

It's fabulous to read your LONG list of accomplishments ... and your waist is TINY!! I don't really think there is much scope for much of a muffin top at 28 inches (yup, I'm still old school).... unless you wear your trousers seductively tight??

Embedding those habits - which it sounds as if you are already a long way towards - is so impressive, and is going to pay dividends for your health in coming years - and hopefully now too.

Maintaining is a magnificent goal - we'll keep on cheering you on and hope you come on here regularly to celebrate doing this, and to maintaining that 6kg weight loss.

I've just measured my waist @StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans ... I'm still an hourglass but it is 30 inches, not the 25/26 inches of my 20s.... how on earth did you shrink yours so much?!?!?!?! Yes, you are definitely slinky at that measurement....Enjoy it!!

Though to me the secret to not having a muffin top is just to buy high waisted trousers and jeans... the low slung ones feel like they're for teens and 20s, or real gym bunnies.... or am I being unambitious here?? I loved it when my DD bought Mom jeans aged 14 or so... and I bought a pair too, they were great!!

Loving the light side of you that is bubbling up powered by your biome!! Adore the image of a very perplexed DCat watching the verbal pingpong going on over his head .... I knew our healthy gut achieved many things!!

@StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans Hey hey 40 hours - you go girl! You'll feel so fab when you've done it - and so enjoy your Saturday lunch.

I've no desire to do one at the moment, I'm just marvelling that eating gorgeous food in 3-8 hour windows seems to be working for me at the moment

Anyone else inclined to a longer fast at the moment??

Good morning all. How is Friday looking for you? How do you feel about the week we've just had, and what are your plans/ambitions for the next 7 days? Are there any cherishing things you might do for yourself?

I'm feeling good: I went to my first dance class for 3 years yesterday, one I love and used to go to regularly. As you know I have an autoimmune condition, so currently only have the stamina to do about 10% of the dancing, and sat for a bit of it, but mainly just moved on the spot while others danced around me. Everyone understanding and I was so glad to be there. I am looking forward to being able to do more and more of it each week, and hopefully to being able to dance the full class within 6 months or so.

And a nice surprise on the weight front:
SW: 14.2
CW: 10.12.6 so another pound down...
GW: Was 11.2 ... not quite ready to commit to 10.7.....

This week, I am going to focus on getting better sleep (yes, perennial, I seem to be so close to nailing it but not quite there yet) and to celebrating that gradually building exercise that I enjoy, rather than what I eat is now my number one priority. This feels quite extraordinary and like a real first for me!

And to cherish myself... and help with sleep... having my outrageously expensive Jo Malone Red Roses bath stuff every night this coming week if I fancy it, rather than just very very occasionally.... and I get maximum value by leaving some of the bathwater in overnight so I walk into a bathroom smelling of roses in the morning!!!

Friday weigh in time.

SW 1/1 13 st 9
CW 7/3 13st 2

So half a stone off this year which I’m happy with considering I’ve been unwell. I am getting back on track with fasting but probably eating too much to lose at the moment. Time will tell. As well as my stomach pain I seem to have had one cold after another as has DH. The first one even floored the teens in my house who don’t normally catch things. I’m hoping as the weather warms up all the viruses will bugger off.

Congrats @ItRainsItPours - half a stone off this year given all you have coped with is very impressive!!

I so get the drudgery of ongoing illness and never feeling on top of stuff... good luck!

What might you do to cherish yourself this week?

@StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans it sounds like you’ve been very good so your body probably got quite a shock. If you don’t drink regularly though I think it’s fine to enjoy one every now and then, we’re not nuns 🤣 On the MIL issue I have found the older ladies in my life have become more child like as they have aged. Less likely to try to sort things out unaided and more likely to throw a strop if they are not happy with something. I know it doesn’t make it any nicer to hear but perhaps putting it down to her age might help you brush it off as not relevant or logical.
Cherishing is hard @loveyouradvice but I am leaving DH to do sort the dc out today and going for lunch with friends. I guess that counts as I am normally taxi and lunch maker.

Hi sorry not to post in a while - I told myself I wasn’t allowed to post until i got back under 200 and it has taken a lot longer than I expected although slowly going down. I did an 18 hour fast yesterday with no dinner and finally got to 199! Feels a bit pants to be celebrating that. Flipping yo yo dieting!

@StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans i am definitely a case in point for how important maintaining is - and it’s even more to be celebrated when there is stress. My husband is non contact with his pare so I have been er had to deal with parents in law. I hope your mil was at least helpful when your dc were little - but guessing probably not. My daughter is also taking a levels this year. To be honest she also sounds like your son @ItRainsItPours and she is clever but happy to take it easy and get average grades.

@loveyouradvice your bath stuff sounds amazing! I had a spa day recently and it was bliss - particularly where there were nice smells; so lovely bath stuff is definitely a great way to treat yourself to some self care!

@Clearingaspace Firstly HUGE CONGRATS, that's a big achievement... Secondly, we've missed you! Hoping you will come on here and post whether its a rough time or you're celebrating... we're keen to hear from you whatever space you are in

And yes, I think I get triple value from the bath stuff... looking forward to it... enjoying it, luxuriating in the smell and texture... and then walking into a rose scented bathroom in the morning, as I've left a little water in to perfume the air!

Help definitely needed, I've never had a problem with my weight and could eat anything at any time, I'm now in a wheelchair and looking at a piece of chocolate puts 10lbs on my chin! 😩😩

I've heard about all different fasting styles but do these work alone or do they only work alongside exercise?

My mobility is restricted from the right leg/hip, it's completely paralysed. I've put so much weight on since it happened I've had to have surgery on my left knee and it's now started to affect my mental health. Any help/advice would be massively appreciated ☺️

@StealthilyEmbraceTheSilkyBeans neat rum on ice sounds utterly desirable in that scenario.... I've never had a really good rum. And I love the gentle caring in a warm milky coffee with dark chocolate... dark chocolate is magic on so many levels.

I rather agree with @ItRainsItPours ... that said, can you think about the many many people who truly appreciate the wonderfulness of you (including all of us on here): she's just one drop in an ocean....

And congrats on having a lunch with friends @ItRainsItPours, leaving DH in charge - that utterly counts and something we could all benefit from having more of in our lives!!

@Spuggz - absolutely fasting like any kind of dieting works without exercise... exercise plays such a tiny part in weight loss.

There are lots of wonderful threads on here so have a good old read and just decide what you want to try first.

I aim for high protein, fairly low carb, masses of veggies and berries (and yes dark chocolate) in a 3-8hour window most of the time - and have had to calorie count sometimes as well but the fasting definitely makes the difference for me

And @Spuggz welcome ... good to have you on the journey

Welcome @Spuggz i would definitely try fasting. I do it in combination with calorie counting as it so easy to overeat. Once you are used to your eating window the fasting helps with hunger. Drink plenty of water whilst fasting and give it a go. Also let us know how you get on 😀

Thanx everyone, as a newbie what is the best fasting to do to get me started? I don't want to jump into something and fail straight away because I've not been prepared properly!

( not jump really, I'd look abit stupid jumping in a wheelchair) 🫤🫤