Yes we STILL Canuary! The Lose 7lbs in a Month Thread #2

[BitOutOfPractice]

Hello Slenderistas. Gather round and worship the goddess Linda as we shed the pounds

#1 Canuary thread here

Oh KOKO, I feel for you. I honestly think the only reason I'm managing OK is because I'm not really working at the mo (self employed). If I was in the office I sometimes work at, I'd be mainlining scones.

KOKO, how much have you lost overall? Would thinking about that help you keep motivated?

Sorry to bang on about it, but cutting breakfast has been a revelation for me, it's definitely decreased the sugar cravings. It's like my system doesn't now wake up until about 11, then all I have to do is hang on until 12 and I can have lunch, whereas otherwise I'd be buying biscuits at 9am.

arsey - I have taken your advice and am having a no breakfast day, just a couple of coffees. Pretty hungry but holding out until lunch.

I am back up 2.5lbs, but I was very bad at the weekend and I didn't weigh until after I had exercised and drunk some water, so I'm waiting until tomorrow (after my fast day) to weigh again.

New plan for February - BSD! I want to get as much weight as possible off quickly, and we don't have much planned for Feb, whereas in March there's DD's birthday, my grandad's 80th and my 10th wedding anniversary, all occasions when there will be much bad food. So 4 weeks BSD followed by 5:2 in March around all the events/celebrations. I'm starting on Saturday because I've got a night out on Thursday.

Blimey TV, I feel terrible for making you hungry!

My disclaimer is that I have no idea whether not eating breakfast is a recognised 'thing', although of course it falls into the 16:8 pattern. It just seems to work for me because one of my biggest problems was eating loads of sweet stuff in the morning.

Squiffy I'm a bit like Arsey with breakfast, I hardly ever eat before 11 at the absolute earliest, I genuinely gag on anything except tea when I'ver just woken up, but what are you like? Can you handle strong flavours early in the morning / can you hold off on eating until you're ready to face something quite savoury? Because my suggestion is to go totally off-piste and eat anything for breakfast - I think we're quite conditioned about what is Breakfast Food but if you're not looking for something Breakfasty you can really have anything from soup to leftovers! I do a lovely beef and chorizo slow-cooked stew and I swear it's a heavenly brunch

A few more breakfasty suggestions:

• Eggs - obviously scrambled is the fastest, but if you're short on time you can boil a couple the night before
• Frittata - I used to make one most Sundays and just grab a slice whenever I was hungry, whatever the meal. It's great because I'd just chuck in anything that was languishing in the veg drawer, any leftover fish or meat, whatever cheese was looking like it needed using (even stilton a couple of times), etc. so you can adapt it to whatever suits you
• Avocado. Just slice up a whole one and have it with a couple of slices of Prosciutto and / or some cherry toms, it's one of my favourite meals
• Smoothie. I got a Nutribullet thingy for my birthday last year and am always surprised at how satisfying smoothies can be! I use it as an excuse to get a load of veg in me, so I buy frozen spinach from Waitrose and chuck it in there with fresh kale, frozen berries, sometimes a banana and a handful of oats depending on how virtuous I'm being, a bit of yoghurt, etc.

Other people also do clever things like low-carb make-ahead muffins as suggested above, I'm sure people will be happy to share and I'll keep thinking.

I find once you have skipped breakfast a few times it is a struggle to go back to being able to eat in the mornings.
Sometimes I am still off food by the time lunch rolls around, I always make sure I have something then though as I get a headache from hunger by about 2:30 otherwise.

TV just to echo what I said to Squiffy, another way to do it might be to just have a couple of coffees in the morning but then a small savoury snack - some cheese and an apple, say - mid-morning. You're less likely to gorge on lunch that way too, and you skip the carb trap of breakfast.

Koko I wouldn't last 20 mins on low carb!

Really aiming for a golden day today and so far doing alright.

quim - got your message too late.........made it to lunchtime but sandwiches provided at a meeting today so totally over ate instead of my usual soup and fruit

Will certainly give it another try tomorrow though and would love to develop it into a habit where I only eat a normal lunch and dinner

Hello! Back in Blighty. Cold grey wet Blighty. I feel as fat as a tunky pig

Oh dear claire freely provided sandwiches would make anyone fall off the wagon! As you say, just give it another go tomorrow. You need to try out a few things to figure out what works for you and let it bed in a bit, so go easy on yourself.

WELCOME BAAAAACK BOOP! Was it marvellous? Are you burnished and bushy-eyed and all that?

I'm hungover and knackered to be honest. Why do we always think it's s great idea to have a skinful on the last night and then have to get to the airport early

Welcome back Boop!

I did that when me and DP went away last year... The flight with a crying baby and a hangover that felt like I'd been run over was not ok

at BOOP. Time honoured tradition, my dear! and a fine one

Welcome back BOOP.

For the lower carbers amongst our number, DP has just bought the Tom Kerridge Dopamine Diet book, and it seems to have some tasty options in it.

Fast Day.
56 lengths.
About 13,500 steps.

I can only be golden today and tomorrow this week as I'm having a wee mini break Weds-Fri, so weighing in Weds morning - am anticipating the same weight, but if I can shift even 200g I'll at least start Feb in a different kg bracket, which would make me feel like I achieved something this month...

koko that's absolutely fine! Is that your target more or less?

Arsey sounds interesting, do report back on what dishes are a hit.

BOOP I did that on the way back from my Honeymoon. We had to spend hours and hours and hours delayed in Brunei and in suspended animation, and it was like the hangover was never ever going to end.

I'll totally do it again next time though

I need a big virtual slap from you all ladies!

I was perfectly behaved goodwise this weekend and stuck to low carb and only one meal a day, but drank a lot of wine! I was +1lb this morning, unsurprisingly.

But tonight I stuck to low carb but ate too much (am stuffed now) and somehow just stuffed about 4 smarties into my mouth followed by 4 squares of 85% Lindt. Wtf is wrong with me??? Apart from wine that's my first food screw up (sugary stuff) since 3rd. Grrrrrrrrr!!! I'm so full my tummy feels uncomfortable

Morning my lovlies.

I've just weighed myself and have lost another 700gms which takes me to a loss of 8lbs ish for January or 4kgs. I am beyond stoked and am so grateful to you girls and chaps for the support.

Teaping don't beat yourself up about it. Just focus on the feeling of being uncomfortably full and remember it for next time.