Countdown to CHRISTMAS and thriving TOGETHER through the festive season - WE CAN DO IT!!!

[loveyouradvice]

Hello lovely people

Wow - how did that happen so fast?

Come and share your plans on here for December - some of us are aiming to lose a few pounds and then relaxing over the Christmas period.... All of us are creating strategies and plans that we believe will work for us.

Come and join us!! We’re a friendly group that uses Fasting in one form or another to lose weight or maintain our weight loss. We all have our ups and downs, and welcome insights from others and laughter along the way.... pirates and dachshunds will pop their heads up, we're in awe of those shredding with Jillian and lifting significant weights (beyond our own!) and impressed when we get our steps in.

Fridays are our informal day for weighing-in (optional) and reflecting on the week – often with ideas for self-care and new goals for the coming week.
We cheer each other on, and commiserate when things don't go to plan.
If you’re new to this group, do introduce yourself and share your hopes and plans.

Some of us find daily posting helpful for accountability - others just pop in every now and then

I for one will be posting everyday from 20 December and know the accountability and encouragement from you all really helps. Meanwhile, I'm aiming to stay at 10.12 AND enjoy parties and festive meals... mainly by balancing indulgent days with lowish-calorie/low carb fasting days. And my Christmas approach is to Eat consciously... and enjoy EVERY mouthful. As soon as I notice myself eating unconsciously, I'm having a few quiet minutes by myself - even if midst cooking Christmas dinner!!

Just a flying visit to record a couple of things so I don't forget, but will catch up properly soon.

Starting weight for December is 61.9kg, BMI of 24.2 iirc. I'm tracking calories in/out consistently and planning a daily deficit of at least 350 calories which should give me a fighting chance of losing around a kilo before the Christmas food shop arrives on the 23rd!

Here goes - Friday check-in.

SW 14.2
TW 10.12
CW 10.12 so up 2lbs on last week

I'm happy with this ... my goal now is to keep my weight at 10.12 (with small ups, followed hopefully by small downs) until early January ... and then probably lose a few more pounds...

It feels fabulous to have a BMI below 24... not seen that for a while!!

How's everyone else doing? @ProfessorIDareSay that sounds good - and you and I are almost identical BMIs!! And might I enquire whether the addition of Professor signifies anything??

@RickertyRocker I so agree - a nice clear plan for the day helps me so much - it's the unexpected that knocks me over!!

And wow @StealthSightHound that is very illuminating... what do you believe will rebalance your metabolic health beyong fasting, and help you regain insulin sensitivity? And what sort of timescales are you hoping for?? And fascinating about oestrogen being a glucose regulator, I didn't know that. How long do you think you'll wear your CGM for? It sounds like a brilliant constant reminder.

@thenewaveragebear1983 Oooh I am fascinated by functional mushrooms and think there is amazing evidence - which are you taking? And do post a link. Did they work the first day you took them? Like you my goal is to have the things I want in moderation - and to not absently eat the things I don't want.... that is my challenging goal, including truly relishing everything I eat. And yes, I like the having a few special things early in December - I bought some outrageously expensive and very elegant macarons with my husband and am enjoying those with him over the next couple of days (after protein and veg, so it doesnt spike my blood sugar)....Cheese is a far healthier option!!

Love to hear how 16:8 goes for you with festive meal @tiredwitless - Ill be trying that next week... and well done on the not buying, not eating

I failed in my mission today because I was hungover and I ate a whole box of florentines. They were so delicious but I ate so many I actually have that burned feeling in my mouth from all the sugar. The combination of tiredness, crazy week, shit weather and just availability of delicious treats, did not end well.

for those who asked, I have used the ankhway brand mushrooms gummies. They do have sugar but they are like eating one haribo. They taste nice, not earthy in anyway. Like I said the dose is 2 but I took 1 only and yes, I felt it within a few hours. Just a very clear, cool feeling like I had been on a bracing walk. It’s an odd feeling but not unpleasant. I have actually only taken them alternate days, so twice in 4 days and I definitely noticed the difference on the days I took them. I think they were about £20 for a one month supply, you do have to ‘subscribe’ but I just set a reminder to cancel after 3 weeks. I am going to continue with one a day for the next few days and see how I feel.

Oooh why did Mumsnet hide my post?!

Slept in this morning till my alarm at 7am. Normally I wake earlier than that for the bathroom, then putter and tidy upstairs until 7am and time to start the planned day.

Kitchen closed for me today at 6pm, which works out well. Yesterday evening was difficult, with two drop-offs and pick-ups, and I fell for a very tempting corner shop once I was on my own.

I hate being a secret eater. It feels so childish. I like it when I can share and enjoy a treat, but it takes practice.

Thanks @thenewaveragebear1983 for mushroom info - Im off to explore

@2Early4Breakfast I so agree... it does take practice and I think people underestimate this. I'm trying to learn - not there yet, but definitely progress.

You're right @StealthSightHound - I find this utterly fascinating so thank you for posting full detail. and think I might give it a go. Where do you get a CGM and is it very easy to set up? It would help me enormously over Christmas I believe....

Okay - I'm going to use you as accountability buddies this week.

My first full on festive week - a good trial run, as I then have an utterly unfestive six days until 20 Dec so can hopefully correct any lurches... but even better, I hope to eat, enjoy and relish in moderation over coming days and not see the scales soar.

So: strategising:

1. I will weigh myself every morning, and take corrective action if I need to
2. I'll remind myself of my twin goals - to be able to enjoy the very delicious food Im anticipating on Tuesday and Saturday (by not having put on weight beforehand) - and to feel absolutely fabulous as I dance with mates on Saturday in my slinky jumpsuit.
3. To remind myself on other nights to eat minimally so I can truly relish no 2.
4. to tell my DH (boring I know but he seems to cope!) what my eating plan is as we go into each event - or when i head off without him

I;m not sure how this has happened .. this is so not my usual lifestyle:
Tonight - sups before theatre
Sunday - Xmas party
Monday - Xmas party
Tuesday - Xmas party
Wednesday - sups with friends
Thursday - sups with friends
Friday - making a large birthday cake... very dangerous as it is super yummy at every stage!!
Saturday - birthday party with lots of food (and dancing)

Hmm...so eating healthy sups focussed on protein and veg and no to carbs... and not large portions.... and either no pud or tiniest portion
At Christmas parties, prioritise being able to eat at seriously delicious ones and much less at others... almost no carbs and unlimited olives if they have!!
On Monday I might do a "not eating" party - I did two last year, not eating and not drinking and was surprised how much I enjoyed them.... I'm eating in 8-9 hour window on other days so would be good to eat in a 3 hour window to balance (and again on Friday - can I really make the cake without sampling???Interesting experiment....).

This morning - 10.12.2... I'll post briefly each day - Helps me hugely - please ignore if too much - and please do the same during an "at risk" period for you!!

@StealthSightHound I’m also curious about the CGM, thank you for sharing the info it sounds really helpful. Would also love to know how to get one. Had a Quick Look on Amazon and there are a couple of types on there which seem to last 15 days then it sounds like they are discarded.. but maybe that’s long enough to learn a lot about individual response to foods.

After an ok week I weighed this morning
CW 11. 7
TW still 11 for now, to be reviewed when I get there!
SW was 13. 5 back in March
Have stayed the same for November but happy that it’s been a good year overall.
I’m aiming to have stayed the same by beginning of January… will be fasting and feasting on alternate days mostly, but at minimum 16:8 which can handle most days..

@loveyouradvice wow you do have a busy week!

I weighed this morning and despite having had a really excessive week I have maintained, and am still hovering just over 11stone. I have hardly exercised all week, I did a run and 1 hiit class. I am being very careful this year not to burn myself out, not forcing myself out in the cold and dark to exercise, and just being generally kinder to myself. I have drunk more alcohol than I really should and I feel tired, grouchy, anxious and generally in a bit of a shitty mood.

Food wise, I had brunch of bacon, egg, potato waffle and grilled toms and mushrooms, cleaned my house and did a few jobs. Made some pea soup. Dh is out tonight, and I am secretly glad- trashy tv, bath, early night. I don’t think I’m going to have anything fancy for tea, just cheese and biscuits and a bit of green Tom chutney that I made last month.

thank you for encouragement. Yesterday and today I stuck to my window. Both days have had their stresses, and I ate off-plan. I’ll train myself not to eat while out of the house. I’ll allow myself a coffee between errands in the meantime.

Today I realised I haven’t eaten bread for nearly a week. I’ve been less bloated and more alert.

Today - same weight - 10.12.2....despite not eating remotely modestly in Turkish restaurant - but only protein and veg

Plan tonight - to eat 4-8 canapés depending on deliciousness and calories.... low carb...

Tomorrow - thinking/expectig to eat 500 cals in 1 hr...or a bit more in 4hrs... I'll decide in morning

I feel like a newborn lamb taking their first tottering steps... and may fall over at any moment.

Yesterday a success - only ate one cheese biscuit and a smoked salmon thing, alongside crudities...

Weight down today to 10.11.2. Plan for today, eat modestly in 4-8h window: tbc

Coming on here really helps - thank you!!

Well done @loveyouradvice

i am 1/2 lb down this week, to be honest I do not deserve that, I was expecting a 3lb gain! I’ve not exercised much and I have eaten a lot of sugar and junk. I’m now 11.1, and that really does motivate me to keep on it a little longer, I could be a 10 number by Christmas (or by break up at least!)

I am going out with dh today to do our Christmas shopping, but to be honest we don’t do a lot of shopping, we’ll mooch round the shops and get a coffee and it’s actually quite nice to just spend a rare day together without kids or dog. But other than today, our week looks pretty normal, busy, dh away Thursday for Xmas do so I can have a super healthy day and early bed.

In terms of pre-Christmas strategy I'm on the same page as @tiredwitless
No treats in the house until the food delivery on the 23rd. Last year was ridiculous; as fast as I bought them (when on offer, to save money, ha!) we ate them so only having them delivered on the 23rd is saving time and calories.

On the subject of calories, I know we mainly talk about fasting here and I do still follow 16:8 but for me calorie counting is working so I am sticking to my Nutracheck logging and being very honest with myself; every bite goes on there and gets counted. I am running a decent deficit of 353 per day in December so far, which is what I am aiming for.

My Apple watch seems to do a pretty good job of calculating my calorie output. I have been tracking my output religiously since I started exercising regularly and the in/out equation does closely correlate with my weight loss; not in a linear way, but over a few weeks. I know there is a lot of discussion over what type of food we eat (and I do see weight spikes the next day after carb heavy meals) but for me the simple (and some feel old-fashioned) equation of calories in/out does work and appeals to my maths geekery 😊
I don't seem to have insulin resistance issues but I now find myself tempted by a CGR. And also by functional mushrooms 🤓

My baseline TDEE over the last 3 months has been 1380 calories (interestingly to me it is dropping slight month by month as I get lighter, even though I am building muscle) and my exercise output (over and above lying still and breathing, so any movement not just actually exercising) averages around 500 to 600 calories per day. So average daily output over last 3 months has been around 1950 calories.

I aim to create a deficit every day, ideally 500 calories, but even 100 is a deficit.

I'm almost 2kg down since start of October and according to my spreadsheet (how did you guess I would have a spreadsheet 😁) that does match up with my calorie deficit of around 14000 since 1st October. So it's working for me @StealthSightHound but you do have to enjoy the maths!

I recorded my lowest weight for this year on Saturday and hope it sticks.

As to now being a professor @loveyouradvice that is due to hanging out on the dangerous feminism board 😈 Many of us have been following various employment tribunals and one member of one of the judging panels was calling herself a professor even though she is not, so some of us have given ourselves lots of lovely titles seeing as no actual proof of eligibility is required 😁
Never come to the attention of the Mumsnet sleuths, they are fierce! I fancy I may even become a Dame in the New Year Honours list 😂

@ProfessorIDareSay - looking forward to welcoming a Dame to this board in the New Year!! Yes, I hang out there a fair bit too - sporadically - I can find time vanishing as I get engrossed.

Calories - yes, I've stopped counting but like you @StealthSightHound I have a rough idea, and limit nuts (of which I could eat a mountain) and cheese (ditto!! and have done so in the past....)

@StealthSightHound Positive and patient - what a great place to be!!

And me today - 10.11.6. 6 hour fasting window yesterday - bar a mouthful of mulled cider. Somehow I found it easy to ignore the pigs-in-blankets (which I adore) and the mince pies (which I dont).... I don't really feel safe though as I know how deceptively easy this can feel for a while... until it isn't, and I suddenly find myself hoovering up everything without restraint.

I need to keep reminding myself I'm practising - yes, it takes up a lot of headspace, but with time it will come easier - and how fab it is wearing clothes I enjoy feeling good in.

Tonight is a "delicious" one, or at least anticipated to be so ... allowing myself 8 (or maybe 10) canapés, only 4 (or 6) of which can be carby.... My motto going in, eat consciously and practise saying no! (And remember that I want to look fab midst old friends on Saturday night)

After a few weeks of recovery I did my fast day yesterday! No dizzy spells just ready for bed at 8 (didn’t happen but was ready for it). So hoping to get back under 160 by end of year. I can see some weeks I’ll need to shuffle my fast day, but ought to make 2 days/week.

Sounds like a good plan @Dliplop

And me yesterday... I'm not sure I can really believe it, but so far going to plan. But wow does it take a lot of mental effort. I'm so looking forward to when I can just maintain my weight without lots of work - maybe by next Christmas? Gently hopeful, and know I need to keep practising for it to start to become easier.

So 10.11.4 this morning - and yes, did have 10 canapés yesterday - only 3 carby, and 4 of them nice little cubes of rare beef with a blob of horseradish.
Eating in 10 hour window

Today - supper at friends - I've warned them I'll only have 2 mouthfuls of pudding and not to be offended (and yes, I will enjoy it and not just say no). So my plan: small portions of everything except veg/salad and only carbs in the pudding. Eating window 10 hours again.

Been getting on well with the window most days. Yesterday I ate earlier than usual and ended up feeling hungry all day. Got the window closed at 6.30, so I’m happy with that.

Mornings are much pleasanter all round with getting up by 6.30 at the latest. One day I slept in and got edgy and grumpy. This routine is working out well for me.

Oh that is good news @2Early4Breakfast , routines that work so help me with eating well... they calm the part of me that is calmed by eating

@StealthSightHound - wow all that energy - how amazing!! And you created that by changing how you ate... I am in awe! Love the gently feeling your way forward... that's how I see myself at the moment... edging forward, feeling rather uncertain and as if I'm about to fall through thin ice at any moment with my eating/weight soaring...

So last night with friends ... half went well, half didn't... I'm proud of myself for having literally 2 spoonfuls of the most delicious homemade tarte tatin, and of eating just one roast almond in chocolate and one chocolate ginger, and only olives before we sat down: That felt great and my way forward for the future. But small portions for main was less successful - I could have easily asked for half the lamb, and helped myself to half the amount of bean casserole and wish I had done ... lots of broccoli and no gratin dauphinoise was a success.

I weighed 10.11.6 this morning so still seems to be working... supper this evening, cake baking tomorrow and Saturday evening party when I intend to eat lots of deliciousness to come. Then a rebalancing Sunday eating in a 3-4 hours window