Who's up for the 7lbs in September challenge?

[ponygirlcurtis]

Following on from June, July and August's threads, we're aiming to lose 7lbs.
(Posting as Rshard is still on holiday - hope you had a great time!)

All regimes welcome. Support and encouragement guaranteed!

My starting weight for September is 11st 5.25lbs. (I actually ended yesterday at 6.5lbs but the scales have jumped down again so I am having it!). That means I lost 5lbs in August. I found having this thread helped my focus and determination, if it helps anyone else, fantastic!

Good luck everyone!

[NapQueen]

Is it possible to prep the stuff and freeze it in Sandwich bags and in the morning empty a sandwich bag into it and leave on?

There's a slow cooker in argos for 20quid, 5ltr which seems to have excellent reviews so I may well test it out today.

[ponygirlcurtis]

I have read a lot of debate about whether it's advisable to cook stuff straight from frozen, I probably wouldn't, but you could certainly prep and freeze and then defrost the night before. £20 for a 5l one sounds good value, you can do a whole joint or roast chicken in one that size! Mine isn't big enough, it's just a weeny 1.5l (which is still big enough to make enough to feed 4 people).

[NapQueen]

Ahh ok defrost the night before seems do able. I work shifts and so some nights could just leave a half bag for dh in the cooker for his tea.

[Dyrne]

Pony i've got an apple watch which sets me a calorie target to meet. It counts walking, general movement as well. During the week I walk to and from work, plus go for a walk at lunch time, which usually hits the goal. At weekends I have to jump on the exercise bike as well otherwise I tend to miss it. I'm huge as well so burn more calories than a skinny person

Imve got a slow cooker bur have really used it at all recently. I suppose I associate it with stews, casseroles etc which are more of a winter thing? I might have to dig it out and start prepping - it could stop the "cant be arsed to cook tonight, sod it let's have pasta" mentality DP and I have been having recently!

[Skala123]

I need to get the slow cooker out too - but agree I do associate it with winter food. Plus DH says everything tastes the same when cooked in it

[ponygirlcurtis]

Dyrne, pulled pork works really well in a slow cooker, I have that with homemade coleslaw. I also do curries, chicken thighs, bolognaise, all sorts. I joined a Facebook slow cooker group for recipe inspirations.

[Dyrne]

Pony mmm, pulled pork, that's a great idea! I think a lot of my problem is I really don't have a creative side at all so tend to stick to the same meals - maybe looking at some recipes would get me cooking outside of my comfort zone!

[Helloheyhi]

So many lovely posts to read and good to see how everyone is doing, really encouraging to have so many people on board.

Just want to update my weight at 63.5kg. slowly getting there!

quim a bit late but huge congrats on the wedding, hope you have a long happy marriage

nap I started similar to your weight on April and I am slowly losing so hang in there and you will get to your goal.

pony kudos to you for resisting pizza! It's one of my weaknesses. I can eat a super large all by myself Enjoy your day out with your family.

Hope everyone is having a good day!

[NapQueen]

Slow cooker purchased, I've chucked in potatoes a red pepper two carrots an onion and two sticks of celery. Some diced beef, stock, and paprika. Oh and a bay leaf.

Time will tell!

[MsHeffalump]

Dyrne really, 211 calories per bottle? Well, damn. On the plus side, scales say 276.2lbs this morning. Mmm, dehydration...

[QuimReaper]

I. Am. So. Hung. Over.

Got delayed on the way to a wedding reception yesterday, so I missed the meal - good on the food front but bad on the nothing-to-soak-up-the-wine front!

I also lost my train ticket, paid a fortune for another, missed the train in so doing, and have been delayed by almost an hour and a half, and had a truly beastly bagel for my breakfast. Waaaaah!

Thank you Hello and welcome to BitOutOfPractice, NapQueen Holly and summer!

[QuimReaper]

Sounds good Nap - we haven't had an oven for months so I've got very good at slow cooking, took me a few gos to get the hang of it but it's a breeze once you know what you're doing. I've heard very good things about the Freezer Dump Bag thing, such a time-saver.

[NapQueen]

What's your favourite recipes for the slow cooker?

[PikachuSayBoo]

I rarely drink booze, maybe some wine once a month so no hardship for me to stop completely.....though obviously I won't notice a difference from doing so!

Spent two hours in the gym this morning. 400 calories burnt doing cardio and then weights. Sadly the fancy gym scales weren't working so can't Weigh myself Until Tues now!

[CarrieLouise25]

Written off yesterday! Fresh start today.

Doing nicely with calories, and exercise bike is my saviour - can be on mumsnet keep eye on baby DS, chat to DD etc whilst burning calories!

Might have to checkout this slow cooker thing!

[seekingthesunlight]

Today's been a good day for me on the food and temptation front! Feeling inspired by the talk of slow cooking - might try and have a go myself in the next fortnight. After that I'm moving to university halls where most of my meals will be catered, so I won't have as much opportunity to try things out.

[user1471524896]

Three good (ish) days here despite holiday. How do you all keep Motivated? This is quite common for me, X number of good days then a few 'bad' ones on the food front and its bank to square one again. My number one thing to stop is evening snacking /sweet stuff so any tips on that would be fab!!

[Skala123]

User my best tips for the evening munchies are low cal hot chocolates and ice pops! Both under 50 cals but give you the sweet hit you need

[leesmum]

Like the sound of a low cal hot chocolate, I normally go and brush my teeth about 6.30 and that sometimes stopped me from scoffing!! I've had a really good day but I always seem to blow it on Saturday nights
Well Done to those of you who are having loses!

[MegBusset]

Mini milks are also great for a quick sweet fix and only about 40 cals!

[ponygirlcurtis]

What about some popcorn? Filling and sweet, around 100cals for 20g which would be a bowlful.

I had a nice meal out but (ironically) I haven't really eaten nearly enough today - didn't want to have too much before going out but my meal turned out to be less calories than expected when I put it into MFP. I am hungry now but too tired to do anything about it. Sod's law.

[Dyrne]

Sadly yes, Heffalump - i've decided to just accept that the booze I like is calorific, and plan accordingly, rather than try and have a night out drinking something less calorie laden but I wont enjoy as much.

Hope the hangover's retreated a bit, Quim. Sounds like you had a bit of a 'mare on the way home!

Good work getting back into it today, Carrie, hopefully you finished off well?

Seeking Hopefully uni halls will mean you get at least some variety with meals - I think I lived off pasta, bacon, and strongbow for my entire three years at uni!

User I agree with others recommending low cal hot chocolate to deal with sweet cravings - takes a while to drink so should help cut down the mindless snacking. Also second popcorn. I've tried just not having anything in the house at all. How well that works depends on whether DP's bought anything in!

Sucks that you're still peckish, Pony - maybe have a hot chocolaye or something if you have any?

I've finished the day off well - over 500kcals burned, and have come in under 1200kcals eaten. Have actually planned ahead to tomorrow and dug some chicken out of the freezer for tomorrow evening; plus made my lunch. Weighing in tomorrow morning, i'm not expecting much though since I havent been dieting for an entire week yet.

[CarrieLouise25]

Done well today, 1500 calories and 300 burnt exercising

Meg - I have mini milks too as a treat! Popcorn is great too. Evening munchies are what made me put on so much in the first place, so any low calorie snack ideas welcome!

MFP definitely motivates me, checked in for 47 days in a row now.

[MsHeffalump]

I'm finding chocolate flavour juice in my e-cig helps with the need for something sweet of an evening! Tastes good, zero calories.

[Helloheyhi]

I am a terrible crisp muncher especially after dinner. I make a cauliflower muffin which I eat with a really nice mayonnaise which I find help takes the edge and fill me up. I also make a two ingredient pancake which takes the edge off having something sugary which thankfully is rare as I don't have a sweet tooth.

Shout if anyone wants to know how to make them not that it's very exciting as I just wing it

Terrible exhaustion here. Constantly on the go on my feet as my son is crawling all over the place and bumping into things! He has also taken to waking up at 4.30 and pulling my hair to wake me up!!!!!

Wishing everyone a good day!. Dark, raining and winter in the air yet. I need to buy a coat but holding on to fit to my old ones!