September 25 starters thread2 - gliding into autumn

[outofofficeagain]

We go (vy) again …

I’m the same I love reading everyone’s experience and try to pick up tips. Water drinking is key for me! I used to hate it, but now I manage to drink water if it’s bottled!

Well done on the NSV @Chopsy123

I am totally embracing this change of mindset & lifestyle. Previously I have been partly successful with Slimming world, but the ‘food noise’ would always beat me in the end, so I never made it to my ultimate goal. I also will admit now, that I never really understood calorie counting. I know that sounds insane, because it really is simple, but until about 2 months ago I used to wonder where I got my 2000 calories from, that I was then meant to cut to lose weight? With slimming world; they gave me a list of foods I could eat, and 15 syns to treat myself. As long as I ate the food from the list I would lose weight and didn’t need to worry about exercising. I cannot tell you how much of a fool I felt when I discovered the simplicity of calories in versus calories out; and more importantly it’s ME that generates the calories out to account for the calories in. I’m in total control! That’s been a massive penny drop moment for me!

I'm in a bit of disbelief! I tried to take some progress photos as my family have said I look smaller, but couldn't really see it in the photos. So decided to pull out my smaller size clothes that have been languishing in the wardrobe for bloody years and THEY FIT!!! The skinny jeans were a bit tight but the normal jeans looked perfect, and my old favourite jumper too! I'm so happy 😊

I’ve seen a few posts from people who’ve been worried about travel and restaurant meals out and thought I’d share my experience and what’s worked for me if that’s useful. I’m 5th week 2.5, I travel a lot for work and go to all the work dinners associated with that, and have still managed to lose steadily and not feel like I’m a social pariah! I haven’t moved jabs around unless I have to either. This week I’ll take it a day late as soon as I get back from the trip, and for longer stays I’ll bring the pen with me.

What’s worked for me has been planning to a certain extent - looking up the menu beforehand and choosing in advance last night for example ‘beef carpaccio, oil on the side’. Not eating the nuts and crisps that come with drinks that ‘old me’ would have mindlessly put away 400+ calories on that. My suppression is not super strong and I still feel hunger, but what it does do is give me the space to think - is this really what I want, or do I want something else later more that’s going to fit into my calorie count? Do I really need to finish my plate or am I satisfied?

Had one glass of red last night because I fancied it and to be honest I’ve found that these days people don’t question why you’re drinking less or not at all, they just accept you want to ‘cut down’ or ‘don’t want the headache tomorrow’. The other thing is balance - I know I’ll go out tonight, so this morning hotel breakfast is boiled eggs, ham, and a slice of brown bread. I fully intend to try a glass of the local speciality tonight!

@Ihateslugs For me, the food suppression results in loss of appetite and zero desire to eat anything inc. snack foods.

I jabbed 2.5mg on Friday afternoon and yesterday (4 days later), I had a coffee at breakfast but no food, a couple of latte coffees out, then I made myself a chicken roll at lunchtime. Lots of chicken on it and some mayo but only a small bread roll. By evening time, I made my DS his dinner but didn’t fancy eating anything so I ended up eating some fresh fruit; a bit of melon and pineapple from one of those small pots you buy in the supermarket. Usually, evenings are my downfall with me eating a normal dinner then mindless snacking on crisps and chocolate whilst reading or watching TV.

@Bugling For years, I’ve always felt ill with headaches and sickness after drinking any sugar free drinks so I steer well clear of them now and check the labels carefully.

@Atalosswhat2do Yes, I’ve never understood how people lose weight on Slimming World as the idea of ‘free food’ makes no sense when you think about it. However, I know plenty of ladies that have been successful on it so I’m guessing that a lot of us are simply eating too much junk and focussing on more veg and protein makes sense! 😂

@SoUncertain Wow, congratulations on fitting into your loved older clothes!! Isn’t it exciting?! 🤩

I’ve got a few pairs of skinny jeans that are now only a bit snug so they’ll be wearable soon. However, I’ve decided I’m going to add a triangle flared panel to a pair later at my sewing group to update them. I’ve got a mighty stash of fabric so it will be something contrasting rather than denim, I think.
I remember the original 70’s versions (!!) as a kid and never thought I’d go back there. 🤣 I do enjoy sewing but I don’t want to make any new clothes at the moment as they (hopefully) won’t fit by next summer.🤞

The last pair of elastic waist stretch denim pants I made are too loose around the waist now so I’ll need to alter them a bit to fit. Once they get far too loose, I’ll probably chop them up for the fabric. I make a lot of bags too and denim is great for bags.

I’ve been sorting out my summer clothes and putting them back into storage bags for winter and DH said I should charity shop them as they won’t fit next summer. Stupidly, I feel that if I do that, I’ll jinx my progress. 😳😩

@Chopsy123 thanks! I always think slimming world is a bit rubbish too. Many members live on absolute crap like mug shots! I did lose a lot on SW a couple of times but I hated the meetings where the first couple people talk about the bagel they ate and how it made them gain two pounds, while the last few people get really rushed through. The accountability was useful though.

I think accountability is why I've told a few family members about WLIs!

I had a completely rubbish day yesterday. Started ok with breakfast. I was working in the afternoon and then on to a buffet presentation thing in the early evening. I was looking forward to the buffet as they usually do lots of healthy choices so only had a protein bar and an apple lunchtime.
Should have known better. By the time I got to the table, it had been decimated and all that remained was cake. I had a tiny piece of lemon cake and then by the time I got home felt really ill and could only face toast. And then opened a chocolate bar later as I was starving.

However, the suppression seems to have kicked in today as I can’t even face my usual coffee.

@Chopsy123 exactly! 😂 @SoUncertain I ended up only weighing in and then not staying for the class because I genuinely felt depressed after the meetings as the ‘gainers’ would get all the ‘talking time’.

I agree with the accountability. My husband, kids & mum know what I am doing, and fully support me. My youngest is desperate for me to ‘agree to go swimming with them’. So that’s the heart strings definitely pulled to see this through!

I used to do Weight Watchers which also had increasingly large amounts of free foods over the years. I remember my Weight Watchers leader being questioned when they moved to have fruit as a zero point option fifteen-ish years ago - rather than just veg, and she said (which I found hilarious - and also probably true!) ‘well, nobody comes to weight watchers with a fruit problem now, do they?’

I think the zero points options as they were then was quite a good idea and worked pretty well for me - it’s the restriction of being on a diet that can be very crushing, and the feeling you have to write down every last cherry tomato which you get with straight calorie counting. So the feeling there would always be something ‘ok’ you could eat was very reassuring to me.

And I generally ended up eating LOADs of fruit and veg on WW and felt so healthy and always noticed I’d get less colds and bugs etc when I was doing it! You just don’t stuff fruit and veg down in the same way you do crisps and biscuits.

But when I did it most recently (last year) I found that the list of free foods had got so long that the points available for your optional foods were only equivalent to something like 450 calories a day. Which I started to find too restrictive as you could have eaten barely anything - like one fairly healthy supermarket sandwich - and all your daily points were gone!

plus I must have done it well over a dozen times over a twenty year period - and always ended back up at the same weight I started at - so I couldn’t really kid myself any more that it ‘worked’.

I love this kind of NSV... because it's so unexpected...!

Update on first week on 3.75mg - definitely noticing the difference today (jabbed Monday morning so I must be 52 hours ish post jab). I had my normal lunch of 200g pot of cottage cheese and a packet of lentil chips, and I’m absolutely stuffed, like three course meal stuffed! No breakfast, as usual. So I would definitely say that’s a difference.

I also upped to 3.75 Monday and can feel the supression today. I had a ham salad wrap and half a packet of crisps for dinner and I can still feel it sitting High up in my stomach

Yes good description! Can’t believe I’m meant to be eating baked potatoes in two hours 😂

I’ll have tea about 7.30pm can’t face my usual snack at 5pm

My 3.75 suppression has really kicked in today too! Started yesterday but today I’ve really had to force myself to eat.
Felt much better today as the day progressed too. Headache was finally gone by lunch time.
Had a really bad night sleep last night though, I kept waking up every hour and couldn’t get back to sleep.

Forgot to post my week 4 weigh in! Another 2lb loss 🥳

W1: 5.5 lb
W2: 1.5lb
W3: 3lb
W4: 2lb
Total: 12lb

Add me to the suppression at 3.75mg gang too! I was hungry yesterday but today I had to remind myself to eat a small bowl of yoghurt and fruit around lunchtime, then i was out with friends this evening and was struggling to finish my dinner. Everyone else had a massive dessert too! Pleased to feel it working so well again :)

its interesting to me that we all seem to have gone to 3.75 rather than 5mg. That jump does seem massive!

I’m coming to the end of week 3. Due to jab tomorrow.

It feels like the suppression has worn off for me. Yesterday was the first day I felt real hunger and food noise. After work, I had to pick up some dresses I’d ordered from an unfamiliar, subterranean shopping centre. It took me ages to find it and then ages to find the shop I needed and at 6:30 I found myself stressed, grumpy, hungry and lost in the food court! I had a “sod it” moment and went to Nando’s for my dinner. However, I chose sensibly and only just strayed over my calorie limit, but still didn’t feel massively satisfied afterwards and it just felt like a tough day foodwise. Hopefully today will be better.

I’m due a period, so that could be a factor. Or maybe I’m just ready to go up to a higher dose.

thats brilliant

Wow, 12lb in your first month! Well done!

I’ve been AWOL. I feel like it’s all gone horribly wrong. Away again for the weekend so difficult to keep a handle on eating. Still on 2.5g so only mild suppression.

Managed to fuck up my injection this week. Did it all but then (I was v tired) started twisting the pen back rather than plunging. Realised about half way so stopped then did it properly, but then panicked that it probably did work the first time so I’ve done too much. (3.75 a most)

And knackered my clicks for next week.

i feel a complete clutz.

However I’m 1lb down which feels like a miracle given the weekend.

Weigh in day for me. Week 5 was my 2.5mg Golden Dose. Normally I have suppression for 6 days; however this week I still have full suppression today (day 8) which is a bonus. We are in the Lake District this week with the kids for October break, so lots of walking, personal achievement over the last 3 days I have walked 59,876 steps! 🥳

SW: 12st 3lb
CW: 11st 3lb
GW: 9st 1lb

Week 1: -6lb
Week 2: -2lb
Week 3: -1lb
Week 4: -2lb
Week 5: -3lb

Total Loss: 14lb

Good luck to everyone weighing & jabbing today!

So pleased to see everyone's progress! I am also in the 'high suppression' 3.75mg club. Can barely stomach any food at the moment, but I don't think that's helped by the horrendous sciatica I've beem struggling with. My 'back pain' became beyond excrutiating yesterday and I was taken to ED in an ambulance - mortifying!! That said, I do now have many, many painkillers and they are helping. I'm now confined to bed, so embracing suppression because I'm really upset that this might undo all my hard work so far.

It's jab day for me, and I'm sticking with 3.75mg. Will weigh again on Sunday, but I'm not expecting any movement this week. Urgh.

It’s just a bump in the road, you have recognised it, and YOU CAN get yourself back on track!

If you’re struggling with self belief, you can borrow the belief I have in you to succeed until you find your own again. 🫶🏻

Oh no that sounds horrendous! I hope you are feeling better soon! Just remember this is only a temporary situation, you can’t control it, so please don’t be hard on yourself. Any gain can be easily lost when you’re back on your feet! 🫶🏻