MFP Thread 7

[Not2bObvious]

Continued chat for those using MFP as a weight loss tool

I didn't get time to post later-on yesterday, but sending your way Daw. Not a great state for you two to be left in, and I am certainly no expert at these matters, but please take strength from the fact that you realise there is a problem, and you are brave and courageous enough to have addressed it, and that you are now seeing professional help. The far easier option would have been to keep in denial / head buried in the sand, with things not right, and the deep unhappiness turning sour, into resentment, anger, upset, depression, comfort eating, whatever. You are amazing to have taken the initial step. I really hope things are a bit better for you both this weekend, and you're not tip-toeing around each other. Do let us know.

Good girlfriends are amazing at times like that. Yes, I was disappointed to have not met up with one pal yesterday, but I managed to catch-up with another yesterday evening, on a DC pick-up (sadly not in a pub with a bottle of wine between us!). And even that short time was enough to reconfirm that life is tough at times, but it is important to make sure you build-in the good times too, to laugh, and to share with those that you feel you are able to.

On to far more serious matters my food-diary for yesterday was impeccable, until I had a huge slice of chocolate brownie that DS made on playdate. And the 2nd glass wine too! But hey ho. At least I didn't adopt the "I've had the one, so I may as well just finish the lot" attitude. Huge progress.

Sorry you are on taxi service today Not. It gets worse when Saturday party pick-ups are 10 pm or later. No wine or social life! My turn last week!

You are very adventurous with your cooking Need. Same old here. I do all the cooking, it all gets eaten, but with little gratitude it seems. So beyond the basic level of effort warrants be to be in an extra specially good mood!!!

Stick to your guns Loli, & that loss will be real, and still there tomorrow!

WE CAN DO IT!

For a Friday a bit of cake & a couple of Vinos is v good. And better still your stop when done attitude. You've inspired me to stop grazing, I've been very nibbly the last couple of hours, turning it around now though. Oh lord, the thoughts of evening pickups! It's all ahead of me😩

I'm having a nibble day here too. Was woken a few times overnight and tiredness definitely makes me nibble. Have had far too many nuts and just had some 85% dark chocolate to try knock the craving on the head.

Bath, my DC are really brilliant at trying things. I honestly think it's age though, at 17 and nearly 16. We've gotten past all the faddy, picky eating stage. DD doesn't love anything amazingly hot but that's about it.

Been a busy day doing all the running around but I've managed to clean out the car too and do 6 wash loads, which really gets me on top for the week, for once!!!

It's looking amazing the lasagne, but took some cooking. Always does take longer first time round. I love cooking though, so it's no trouble.

I'll be finishing the day on par, give or take 100 calories either way.

When I'm having a nibbly day I leave out those really sweet cherry tomatoes and grape, as they feel naughty, but they aren't

Crikey, fessed up all my munching to mfp & came in at a staggering 2500 cals! Whatever possessed me yesterday went completely loopy. On a positive note, my alcohol consumption wasn't ott so clear headed this morning. So that's something. Thanks for the snack suggestion need, I think your way of dealing with wanting something sweet perfectly explains one of the reasons why you're 4 stone lighter than me - and of course proper fuel wouldn't leave me tired so I could be more active without it killing me. I really need to address my shopping/nibbling patterns. Just cause junk is cheap doesn't mean I have to buy or eat so much of it. I'll learn eventually. I found myself exhausted yesterday, the weeks crappy sleep caught up and the even the ferrying of children around wore me out. That's just ridiculous, hardly hard labour!
Well today's a new day. I didn't really want or enjoy my drinks this weekend so I'm going to break my habit of wine on a Sunday. I'd like to adopt a 5 days free from alcohol, they won't be 5 consecutive days but I don't think that'll matter. Also if I don't drink today I have more calories to enjoy.
So that's enough about me😁 How's everyone else's weekend going? Enjoy your race this morning need

Thanks Not. I'm going in a minute, just having a pint of water. Never mind about the snacks, you'll gain some calories back next week I'm sure to compensate. Ha, I'm not 4 stone lighter, and I have more than one grape (typing error in my last post)!!!

Seriously, DD and DH are 'snackers', DS and myself aren't really. Would it help to not have bad stuff in the house at all? I've always had it in, 'cos me and DS can just ignore it, but the others can't so I've ditched it, as DH has recently been told his cholesterol level is too high. Just a thought?

I'm doing all the ferrying too, it's a PITA at the weekend with no DH.

Going to my race now. Had my porridge and coffee and a pint of water. I'm good to go!!

Lasagne was amazing. Really a hit, so I will cook that again.

Yes, definitely need to stop buying too much stuff - my children's junk consumption is within the realm of reasonable (imo) - its mine that's scandalous. I nearly bought more crisps yesterday because they were ridiculously cheap but thought better of it, a small step in the right direction. I'm the crisp fiend so that's one thing I need to buy a lot less of. No more multi bags. It's something I have to work on for sure. And at 11.6, I'm most definitely 4 stone heavier need but I'm trying to close the gap😉
Plan for the day, walk to church with the girls & then another 20 min walk to the shopping centre for a few bits. That'll get them and me out of the house for a bit. Lunch and then a bit of colouring, rock & roll!!

Anything savoury that would hit the spot as an alternative Not? You'll close the gap easy.

I'm surprised actually, DH's blood test has bothered him. He snacks a lot and buys pasties/pies/chocolate etc at work, what he eats at home is excellent, he knows this ha ha. He's not overweight to be fair but I guess that doesn't mean he's healthy, as his cholesterol has shown. Anyway, going 'cold turkey' at home in respect of crisps and chocolate hasn't been as hard as he thought, and the DC simply don't need it either. Maybe an initial adjustment perhaps.

XC was brilliant fun, lots of mud, hills, fields of sheep, stiles and a stream. I love XC, it's so hard but much more relaxed than road races. I was first lady home for our club and some fast cats turned up today to run for us, so I am pleased. I run XC pretty well, it's not about going fast, there's a technique to figuring out the undulations, mud and downhill stretches.

Anyway, my food.
Breakfast - porridge, coconut water, mango.
Post race snack - chocolate milk and a banana.
Lunch - Bagel with egg and rocket in. 2 clementines.
Dinner - Gammon, roasted sweet potato wedges, roast parsnips and carrots.
Snack - Wine, possible cherry tomatoes if peckish.

Mud....

Menu plan for the week.

Jamie Oliver drunk chicken and wraps, roasted peppers.
Veggie Bol.
Beef and Chorizo casserole.
JO pork meatballs.
Home made baked beans.
Mary Berry baked sausages, rich onion gravy, lots of veggies.
Lamb and roasted veggie tray bake.
Minestrone soup and crusty bread.

Need hope you enjoyed the mud race. Not I've been eating all weekend. Hit 2000cals each day. Nothing too bad, just too much of the good stuff really. Up all night again with DD coughing.

So my plan for the week:
Monday: tandoori chicken with Tarka dal.
Tuesday/Wednesday: chilli con carne
Thursday: beef brisket with cannellini bean mash
Friday: undecided- have guest so will decide nearer time

I think I'm too much of a princess to do a mud run, I'd cry if my lovely new runners (or even my other 2 pairs) ended up like that. I've avoided colour dashes for the same reason But well done need, glad you enjoyed it. Poor little girl sugar and poor you too, I'm sure you're not overly concerned about the cals, it's perfectly fine to eat at a maintenance level to keep the energy up after bad/disturbed sleep. Did nigh on 8000 steps today so I'm pleased with that, walking has been seriously neglected since Christmas, forgot how much I enjoy fresh air. Cold but crisp today - perfect for a stroll with the kids. Went to see Sing, v good, really enjoyed then a tasty early dinner. Sitting down relaxing, call the midwife back tonight I think? TV Horlicks lol!

Evening all! Well done on the run Need. I hope everyone else has had a good weekend. Both DH and DSS accompanied me and the dogs on our walk this morning. 13 year old started well but 9 miles later was a very grumpy teenager! I went out later to buy him chocolate for first aid purposes!
Can I ask how you all set your ultimate target weight? I'm really curious to know as I don't think I've reached mine yet but I also know I'm lost!!

Evening all
Daw sorry to hear about your counselling session, I hope you've recovered your equilibrium today
Need well done on the run, I enjoy cross country too, but like Not I don't enjoy trashing my trainers!
Loli my ideal weight is the point when I do not have to hold my stomach in at all - I know that is 9st 11, so I'm setting my target as 9st 9, to give me a couple of pounds as a cushion.
Progress towards that target is non-existent this week. DS is still having high temps and very unwell/sad in himself. Plus, the antibiotics they gave him are making him really wired (has happened before), so he won't go to bed before 10.30 at least. I caught his conjunctivitis and his cold/throat infection, which has now turned into infected strep throat, which doesn't actually hurt that much but is making my cough worse.
I haven't logged food the last couple of days, but just sat and put today's in, has come out just under 2000.
I will be attempting to make tomorrow's much closer to target, but that's largely dependent on whether DS is still sick and if i'm therefore off work with him again, as then I end up eating the first thing to hand rather than a healthy choice.
On a positive note, I did manage to complete a dressage lesson on my big old boy yesterday, and survived his five attempts to remove me (the cold weather makes him a little, err, 'sprightly'), so that was good. Hoping for a better week all round this week! 😁

I didn't know you were equine Jonty. One lively 23 y/o pony here, in full work and who still thinks he's about 7.... hope DS improves this week. Don't you worry about the weight, you have enough on and don't sound like you are exactly overeating significant amounts anyway.

Beef brisket sounds lovely Sugar

Definitely lost 7.4 this morning......

Haven't braved the scales today, will hold off until tomorrow. Do you think that's a true loss need or maybe dehydration from a tough run? If it's real you might think about why it's going that way, you could waste away at that rate, you had been consistently around 7.7-7.8 yes? "They" say the lighter you are the harder it is to lose but then you do a lot of activity & eat v clean.
jonty you are really in the wars, I so hope this week it turns around, keep yourself well fuelled & hydrated, weight loss isn't of paramount importance right now. Hope your little guy is a bit better today.
loli my ultimate dream goal is 9.11, I'm 5.4 and the weights mainly from under my boobs, heavy legs and mid section. Considering I'm a vanity 10 and a true 12 at between 11.2-11.8, I probably don't look v overweight but I'm certainty plumper than I should be. I do think 9.11 is v aspirational & probably wouldn't suit me, so a better and more sustainable number I could be thrilled with would be 10.3, I think we should always have a few pounds we can afford to lose in case of illness. One of my sisters is tiny, years & years to undereating, not anorexic but cautious and quite frankly she's forgotten hunger. She has health issues due to bad diet and really struggles to maintain 7 stone. She chose her figure over her face and it's quite sad looking at her now, looks years older. When she gets ill, it's crisis level as she has nothing to fall back on. My other sister is also very slim - again looks old for her age. Sorry for the essay but just be careful, find a weight that's good for you and you can live with. Your original goal had been just under 12 yes? And you're there now, what are you feeling about it - do you think you want to go a little more? Lots of people in WW or SW decide s goal and it seems unacheivable, so when they reach it, they often go another 7-10lb (this is from my past addiction to slimming mags)

Morning all. Rest of w'end went to pot, so won't brave scales til much later on this week. Sorry you are poorly too Jonty - but you managed a ride which is great. Naughty horse trying to throw you.

I've no food planned for the week yet - plus busy work day - so will need a frantic supermarket dash at some point today. Your menu always sounds so tasty sugar! Hope your dd is feeling a bit better, and so you managed better sleep?

Thinking of you too Dawhead. Hope you survived the weekend

I was always happy at around 10 stone so am aiming for that again long term.

Jonty sorry to hear the little man is still unwell. DD still coughing all night long here. Fine all day. Shattered. Won't finish work until late so going to eat at maintenance today to keep awake. Have visitors and meal out this weekend so just aiming not to gain this week I think!

Not I agree. . It's the running for sure. Just natural loss from extra activity. Funny, at the race yesterday there was all sorts of shapes and sizes which is brill and inclusive. However, the 'top end' runners are little sticks, both males and female. I think I am just getting that way again.

All that being said, I looked at MFP and last week, because DH is away and we didn't have a night away or takeout, I was 2000 under my weekly goal, and a touch under the week before (but not much), so that will account for the loss. Average intake was 1835, all good stuff too so I'm not depriving myself. But will be mindful.

Sorry the cough is dragging on for DD Sugar.

Considering what you have on your plate sugar, a maintenance week sounds v sensible. I'm going to the gym tonight for a new class, only 35 mins hurrah! I don't feel up to the 1 hour classes at the moment but would like to do something every day for 30-45 mins. I don't know what's going on with me, my energy levels are pants! I was zonked after my 2 x 20 minutes walks yesterday. To think I used to walk/run 5 times a week before work for up to an hour. Maybe it's the cold dark mornings. 6.5 weeks for operation dress, feels like a huge task right now. Food today:
B:poached egg, toast with chopped tomatoes
L: wholemeal bread with bacon/mushroom/tomatoes
D:chicken curry with rice
S:Apple, strawberries & mandarin

Hope you enjoy the class Not. A shorter one might be a good alternative. Last year, before deciding to get fit again and lose weight, I was always tired. Used to fall asleep on the sofa every night. No energy. Lethargic. I didn't like the process of getting fit (all the aches and pains and finding it bloody hard) but I find conversely, I have more energy for using more energy. So I know what you mean entirely. Your days meal plan sounds lovely.

I also wondered about your water intake. I always find it amazing how much having a big glass of water can re-energise a person.

Breakfast - avocado on toast.
Lunch - ham and rocket bagel, clementines.
Dinner - Jamie Oliver southern sausage stew with rice.
Snack - glass of wine.

Good point on the water need, I used to be great at getting 2-3 litres in a day. I'm not so keen these days, my kidneys never adjusted so I was never out of the bathroom! But I'll try get it back up closer to the 2 litres (going to drink a glass now😉)
I'm going to jog to the gym, around 10 minutes there and a brisk 15 min walk back. That'll get my activity level up to 1 hour.
Your meal plan sounds yummy too, I have to say I'm looking forward to my curry, no wine here but I have to admit to caving yesterday. Oh well, I still managed 4 alcohol free days

I'm back and fine.

First, thank you so much to each and every one of you for the lovely kindness and everything you said - every single bit of it rang true in its own way. Peace is restored for now. Honestly, it was a v difficult few days - not really much arguing but lots of emotional conversations and tears (from me). We made our peace on Saturday night and yesterday was fine but I still feel a bit drained and emotional. But I am wearing my body armour (thanks Bath ) and not going to let it derail me.

You all put a lot of effort into helping me, so just to reply to what you all said. Not my problem is definitely that I can't face confrontation - I just don't know how. I tend to run away and hide which I've realised doesn't help anything. PS I love Dr Phil too . Sugar you're right and I'm not quite at the decision stage yet which is half the problem. Need I do feel it was far from ideal the way the session ended and it's made me a bit wary of future sessions now which is awful. Loli you're right about the years making it hard - it's coming up on 12 for us and I guess that's part of the reason I'm hanging on to keep trying - rightly or wrongly. Bath you're a psychic and a genius. I actually met a friend on Saturday morning (it was pre-planned) and she really cheered me up and actually got me laughing about some of the stuff that happened - I'm very lucky. I do worry I've let things go on too long and that I'll never shake off all the anger I've built up. Jonty thank you too and I love the idea of equilibrium - I'm definitely feeling more balanced today.

Anyway, back to the task in hand.

Not I'm very in awe of you doing burpees! I know a few others here can do them too but I remember trying them years ago and hadn't a hope. I know a big difference for me has not been having junk in the house (ahem - Xmas excluded) but it's easy for us when it's just the 2 of us. If you love crisps, would you give the Weight Watchers ones a go? I used them when I lost weight before and Dealz often do them at 1.50 for a six-pack. Try not be overwhelmed about the dress goal - remember it's baby steps and trying a set number of dry days sounds like a really positive change. I would never have thought about water having an effect (I'm v bad at drinking enough too) but that is great advice from Need.

Sugar maintenance is more than enough considering you're so tired with poor DD. Hope she starts to be on the mend soon - a night cough is awful for both of you.

Need that photo gave me the horrors of PE class and soggy runners . And how on earth did you do 6 loads of washing - where did you dry it all . Congrats on being the first club lady home!!! So glad you enjoyed it - you mad yoke as we'd say in Ireland (it's a huge compliment I promise).

Loli I bet the scales are right - how often are you weighing? My target weight is sort of finger-in-the-air stuff. I think I've mentioned before the lightest I've ever been before was around 9st 5 but I have a big head (ha ha) so it didn't suit me. So I'm aiming for around 9st 8 and then I'm going to concentrate on getting toned. My body fat is still v high. For me it's really vanity - I want to keep liking what I see in the mirror and fit into all my old clothes.

Bath I'm so glad you were able to have a girly chat - however short - it really does work miracles. That was great resistance on Friday - you really are sounding v positive. I have no words of advice on getting appreciated for the cooking but you know you are fabulous so if the rest of them don't it's their loss. Don't give the weekend a second thought - it's a demon for most of us.

Jonty you are amazing given what's going on with all the health issues on your house - the fact that you're on here and even logging is bloody brilliant. Hope DS is on the mend - and you as well! Please don't worry about food now like Not said - you all just need to get well.

So with today included my weekly average is now at 1550, which isn't great and I don't think I'll be able to bring it down to 1400 by tomorrow. But given the week I've had, I just feel like it is what it is. Another week of maintenance isn't going to kill me in the grand scheme of things. Thing is, I haven't really snacked that much, but just been having more substantial meals - roast yesterday and big lunch today hasn't helped.

But life sure is strange sometimes. One thing that came up over the last few days (a few times - in session and at home) was how much I've changed lately - both from H and counsellor. She said she sensed more energy from me (even before I got mad ) and H said he thought things were improving because I seem so much happier in myself. It's amazing how much can be tied into weight all the same. Also, H bought himself a fitbit last week (nicer than mine grrr ) and yesterday he said he'd like me to show him how to use MFP . I'm too careful to expect miracles but at the same time it's going to be bloody amazing if he follows through.