MFP Thread 8

[Not2bObvious]

New thread for those using mfp to lose/maintain weight

Morning
Good motto Need
Been absent a few days as just too much else going on, and haven't been focusing on me or food. Haven't weighed myself yet either as I feel completely bloated and (Tmi warning) am a bit bunged up as well. Had a healthy breakfast this morning of egg on toast with spinach. The 10 portions of fruit and veg a day is interesting - my dad was a really big guy and a bit overweight and to look at him you'd expect high cholesterol, but the doctors were always amazed at how low it was - but he ate absolutely loads of fruit and veg. I'm at the GPs now as although I feel a lot better my lungs still hurt and my throat is still swollen, so going back to see what else can be done. I'm necking vitamins, going to bed at 8.30pm several days etc so doing my best to look after myself. Had some crappy news, which is probably quite outing but I don't care - my work have extended my probation period because I've been off sick too much. It's been extended by a month so i can't afford to be ill again at all if I stand any chance of them making me permanent. It was done in a really shitty way as well, which hasn't helped me want to focus on losing weight this week. I'm mostly over it, but it's making me a bit unconfident at work because I feel like everything is being scrutinised. Anyway, it's Friday, which is always good news 😁

Aww jonty, that sucks. Nothing like a bit of shitty under the counter plotting to drag you down. It's such bad luck you had such a run of illness. Here's hoping you're seeing the back of the illness and you've the weekend to try get shot of the last of it. I'm scale dodging as am also bunged and quite honestly the last couple of days have been too eatey. I'll be trying the water thing need New work project landed and I've calls after 9 so no way of sneaking off to the gym, considering my dodgy stomach I'm probably safer not doing too much jumping about with other folk, could get unpleasant!

Morning! I've been MIA all week sorry. My wonky brain has played up for the first time in months and I'm desperately trying not to have a lumbar puncture for high cerebral pressure so luckily I'd already booked time off work and literally slept. No exercise (the longest I've gone without doing anything in months), just sleep. It's helped a bit but I suspect I'm just putting off the inevitable.
As DH is on afternoons I've lived on porridge so I can't remember who posted the lovely receipes (with wonky brain symptoms come short term memory loss, they will pass) and they've helped, thank you.
So I'm still here if a little fragile.

Jonty . Poor you. You've had such a bad run of illness and now the work stress, which can't be helping with the illness. Try to remember that you are more than capable of doing your job, you have the skill set, or they wouldn't have employed you. Keep showing it. Not great by the sound of it how they extended the probation period, does it make you wonder about the job?

Off for a 6 mile run in the sunshine with my friend now before cracking on with the day.

And it's the weekend, what's the plans?

Oh Loli there's some perspective, so sorry you're so unwell. I shall shut my whingy face, my issues are minor in comparison. Hope you keep feeling better today

loli I've never heard of such a condition, you poor thing. Keep resting, hoping you can avoid the lumbar puncture, have you had to have it done often? Never a truer saying is there that "your health is your wealth"

Thanks Not and Jonty (and jonty a cough is so horrible).
I had extensive blood clots in my brain 2 years ago. I'm incredibly lucky but it's left little annoying reminders. Most of the time it doesn't affect my day to day life but I did 'lose' some memories. Now every now and again my CSP builds up (that's not a rare thing) and with it comes headaches, tiredness, ringing in my ears and my short term memory seems worse (that could be due to the headache and tiredness).
I've managed to go since last March since my last lumbar puncture which is great and is because of the weight loss and exercise. I was having them every couple of months before. They aren't awful it's the hassle of getting them arranged and coming off blood thinners which is the stressful bit. I'm hoping that more self-care and sleep and it'll all magically go away. Hummmmm.
I'm feeling very sorry for myself today so I definitely need a bit of my own kick up the backside medicine please?

Loli I think a hug is more in order than a kick up the back side. Snuggle in on the sofa, snooze and think up lovely healthy yummy food to cook and enjoy.

I second jontys prescription loli, you take it v easy. It's great that losing weight has helped, nearly a year without this happening is some huge improvement.
I'm thinking I may need to wire my jaw, honestly I'm a disaster yesterday & today but I'm not getting in a bind about it. I'll get back on it, just need a little break

Gosh Loli. You really have had it tough. Poor you. We don't always see the health benefits of losing weight in such a tangible way, and focus on the vanity aspects, but you are an example of probably the more important reasons. You should be proud.

Had a lovely run in the sun this morning with my friend. 6 miles done. And then my nails/toes and eyebrows done so feel tons better. Just prepping tea. Think the rest of the family would rather have a Friday takeout but they can forget it. Been hungry today but eaten good healthy stuff.

B - Bircher muesli, mango, blueberries.
L - rocket salad, falafels, cheese, avocado.
D - JO healthy fish fingers, (made with salmon from scratch), sweet potato baked wedges and veg.
S - graze box, slice of seeded wholemeal bread, carrot sticks, Nak'd bar (hungry day!).
S - Wine

All that is still covered by calories including the run due to maintenance.

Happy Friday everyone.

I got behind on the thread again, sorry. Have had my head down with work all week and not had time to catch up. Hasn't stopped me from dipping into S&B to plan some retail therapy tho ....

I've been reasonably good all week, now af's buggered off, keeping to just a smidgen over 2000 most days. Weighing in at 9st8 too, which is ok would quite to see 9st7 now....

Going to read back a bit more now.

Morning all
Hi Sesame good to see you back
Loli I hope your head is better today
Got a pleasant surprise when I finally got the guts to get on the scales today, no gain! Sat at 10.6, which after the last week is frankly a miracle (hopefully it's not on a time lag 😱). Been up since 4.30am working as got a big workshop thing to run next week and needs loads of data ready for it. Have had a big breakfast as a result - granola with raspberries and blueberries and a slice of seeded toast with peanut butter. Off to DS's toddler rugby shortly, then horse, then Tesco run and then round to my mums for chippy dinner tonight, so will try to keep lunch as light as possible. Actually I've got homemade chicken soup in the freezer, I'll get that out. Have a good one!

Quote of the day.

I have a positive attitude about what I eat, how I eat and when I eat.

Hi Sesame.

Good news re the weight Jonty. I get those early morning wake ups too sometimes. Sounds like a busy day for you. How you feeling now? What did the doctor say?

My weight have been 0.2 lbs per day down since Monday, pleasant if you like nice even numbers and routine!

Having a busy chores day today but no exercise as I have a 10 mile race tomorrow.

B - mango, then egg on toast.
L - carrot and orange soup, crusty bread.
D - Chicken and coconut curry with sweet potato, rice.
S - wine.

manic few days here too - juggling kids half-term & work. But just caught up on thread.

loli. Take it easy on yourself. The last 6-months you have completely pulled yourself (and your DD) up in the most positive way. You will always have your health issues, sadly, by the sounds of things. And it is OK to feel glum. But don't underestimate how amazing you are, and what you have achieved.

Crikey jonty - as if you need more pressure on you at the moment. I can only speculate that in the need to prove yourself at work you will continue to bend backwards for everyone, when your health is still vulnerable. Do take care. Yes, sock it to them, but look after yourself too.

Ha ha - I should really take my own advice sometimes too

Glad you are doing so well Can't ! More delicious food from you & need to ponder over. Red thai chicken curry here last night, with more peppers / baby sweetcorn / sugar snaps than chicken. Yum.

You OK not? You sound a bit de-energised. Hope you have some nice things planned this weekend. It's all too easy to reach for food as a quick pick-me-up isn't it? I'm still there myself tbh. Oh well.

Am visiting DP tomorrow for lunch, & my DM's life revolves around food, so will get scowled-at if I dare decline anything. So funny - she will happily comment on my weight, but god forbid I mention hers (she's a size 20+, & in quite bad health with it). But she sees having an appetite as healthy. I guess it comes from growing-up in rural Ireland where food was so scarse. I will be the good daughter and bite my tongue. So grateful that the DC still have 4 DGP.

Was going to have toasted hot-cross-buns with butter for breakfast, 2 intact. But I won't now. Berries, spoon yoghurt & spoon muesli.

Keep strong today everyone

And great maintaining Sesame. Help me please & remind me on your starting weight, timings, goals etc? Am in dire need of motivation.

Loving the quotes but they're not really doing it for me. Sometimes i have a positive attitude - and by goodness I love it when it happens - but it's lost temporarily at the moment. Looking very hard. I actually feel like hibernating.

Morning all- weigh in this morning and really happy with 1.4lb off . That's 3 weeks of consistent losses since I increased my cals from 1300 a day to 1600 a day, and I am far happier eating more in exchange for losing half a pound less each week!

Weekends are always savoury breakfasts- so it's a sausage, egg and cheese bagel thin for 334 cals.

We're off to London shortly, and DH has booked into some American BBQ place, so will need to choose carefully. We always eat out on Saturday so generally have loads more cals then, and reduce the other 6 days to stick to a weekly average.

Hope everyone has a good day

Bit lost too bath, hopefully we both find some "get up & get back on it" potion soon. Just a lull hopefully. Completely scale dodging, I think my fall this week came after trying on "the dress" and with that came the bitter truth that I need another 2 months to get rid of my gut, I think I have about 6 weeks when I started. Minor progress made (whoop de doo - around 3lb loss over that time) Made it feel a bit hard & pointless, stupid I know. It's hardly the end of the world if I have to wear something else. Just kinda had my heart set on it (and my diamond shoes are too tight..joke) I think my body is determined to stick to 11.4-11.7 and without some sort of crazy deprivation I'm not getting under that for some time.
Off for a day of browsing with the young 'uns, had egg and wholemeal toast with butter. With luck it'll keep me on the right path til lunch. Going to take today 1 meal at a time, instead of meal, snack, snack, meal, snack, snack...seeing a pattern here?!?
Anywayyyy...today's a fresh day, let's make it as good as possible. Hope you're feeling a bit better loli - let us know you're ok.

Jonty, Not, Need, Bath. You're all lovely. I've slept more and am feeling human again. Thank fully it looks like I won't now need a LP as the headaches have subsided (yeahhhhh!). Lesson learnt I've also been doing too much so I still need to find that exercise/diet balance. I'm obviously rubbish so far.
Hope everyone is ok.

Loli that's great news - and at least you knew when to stop in time to avoid the LP. So glad you're feeling better. Learning not to do too much is a hard lesson for most of us I think.

That's great news loli, moderate exercise & good clean nutrition for you

What a huge relief loli - glad you have slept, and thanks for the update. jonty - you were right - about learning to not do too much. I think most of us here are particularly guilty of that too!

Keep strolling around not, yes, it keeps away from the snacks. Enjoy your steak this evening. Yum. I love peppercorn sauce with mine, or a ton of horseradish if it's proper roast beef.

Hi, newbie here, I've been using MFP for about 3 weeks now and I'm slightly concerned to say that I'm not finding it difficult to stick under 1200 calories a day! I thought it was going to be super hard. In fact I'm getting to the end of the day and often coming in under 1000. I see a few people saying that they're making the calories up because they're not getting enough. I understand that you can't exist on tiny amounts of calories but if I'm feeling ok and not hungry do I really need to be topping up purposely? My sister has talked to me about zigzagging calories and apparently it can be beneficial to vary your intake a bit so I've been noting if I've had a couple of very low days, and not exactly going overboard for a day, but certainly letting myself have a bit of a treat eg. today I had 2 slices of gorgonzola on toast for my breakfast, but my average over the week has still been coming well under 1200 calories. Husband has asked me to make lasagne for tea today so I might have smashed my allowance by this evening

That's brilliant Can't, consistent losses. 1.4 this week. Keep going, enjoy London. I agree, looking at diet as a whole rather than daily energy intake is the way to go.

Bath. The red thai curry sounds super, plus all those veggies. Funny, the sugar snaps, baby sweetcorn etc are the nicest ones aren't they in that type of dish. LOVE both, shame they are the more expensive ones eh?!

smd Hi, welcome. I reckon it depends on what you eat for those calories iyswim? if those 1200 were 4 Mars bars you might be more hungry than 1200 of veggies and fruit! Maybe you are making good choices? We are having lasagne tomorrow, probably with garlic bread and salad and so what? It's good wholesome home made food. You know what, I might not be that hungry Monday, it all balances out if you listen to appetite.

I'm so glad you feel more human Loli, that's great news.

Not You've been doing brilliantly and you have lost 3lbs, please focus on that, and get back to your classes next week as you will have made fabulous fitness gains in the last week that you shouldn't lose. Would it help if your goal was less linked to an asthetic outcome? It's bound to end in disappointment. Mine was never specifically (and still isn't) about weight loss or fitting into a size 6/8/10/12 whatever, it was about making better, more healthy choices food wise and getting fit again. The fact I have dropped tons of weight and am really toned up is fab obviously but it was never the goal.

Now it's a positive cycle, I am now really fit and it feels amazing, so I don't want to eat crap. Or alternatively, I eat well and then have more energy to get fitter. Win win. But it's not linked to looking in the mirror. However, when I do look in the mirror now I am a bit surprised at how much I have changed and I do want to wear more fitted clothes, cos I have worked fucking hard for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've dropped from 8st 9 lbs in September to 7st 4lb today, which is probably a lot percentage wise, but I'm not great at maths kind of being focused and determined to run well.

I might be rambling, and way off the mark, so sorry if I am and ignore. It's all meant with kindness anyway xxx

Anyway, I have Nigella's banana bread with drunken sultanas in the oven, and I am overloading a bit with food today as I am racing in the morning. Just a massive smoothie with mango, blueberries, almond butter, milk, and pomegranite as well as lunch, and I did lick the bowl from my bread he he.

Thanks need, it's just a slump, it'll pass. I'll get back into next week, maybe even do something tomorrow. Having childcare issues this week led to no real opportunity to do anything, coupled with feeling a bit blue led to bad eating. Himself is away with work, meant to be home tonight but it's looking unlikely, so not bothered to have steak on my own. Bacon, sausage & egg now on the menu, comfort food but not too bad, brinner! I don't think I'm cut out to be a single parent, hats off to those in that situation. I'm desperate for adult company.
One things for sure, all this crappy food is murder on the system, guts in bits. With regards to aesthetics as a goal, well I'm right shallow me - a paddling pool in fact lol. I'm as fit as I want to be...now I want to be proper slim & slink about in fitted dresses lol. Oh f*ck it, there are other dresses
Welcome smd, congrats on finding 1000-1200 manageable - would love to know what you're eating, I struggle with that few calories.

Yes need I'm eating lots of salads and veg. I was really worried that I'd be feeling constantly hungry all the time as I've reduced my intake quite a bit as I was really eating quite a lot before (It's not until looking at calorie that I've realised how much!)
Not I am currently eating some homemade banana and oat cookies for breakfast. I got the recipe off the MFP blog and it says you can have 2 for 80something calories, I tweaked the recipe a bit and I'm having 3 for 148 calories, but if I don't feel very hungry I just have 2. (I am much less hungry in the mornings since I've stopped eating much in the evenings) They're only small but surprisingly filling and I can generally go till lunch without anything else. Lunch is usually salad - a big pile of leaves with some combination of grated carrot, tomatoes, cucumber, celery, spring onions, radishes etc etc with either cottage cheese or a boiled egg. Sometimes I add avocado or sweetcorn but these are higher in calories weight for weight then your usual salad ingredients. You can have a lot of carrot for very few calories. I have a teaspoon of olive or sesame oil and have balsamic vinegar or lime or lemon juice with it. Because it's weekend today I've had breakfast late and no lunch but I had a banana cookie mid afternoon. For an evening meal I'm eating what we always eat as a family just paying a bit more attention to how much oil I use in cooking and having more veg on my plate and a bit less of the carbs. Lasagne is tomorrow now because I found some chicken breasts with leek and bacon in M & S for a quid. That will come in at 239 calories. I've just chopped 800g of spuds and coated them in a tablespoon of oil and chucked them in the oven. They'll get divided between 4 of us and I'll have less than everyone else. There will be carrots, mange tout and maybe sweetcorn and I'll have more of that than everyone else! For snacks I might have a 100ish calorie yoghurt, a small handful of pretzels, some fruit or home popped popcorn.
I basically started out looking for the highest volume foods with the lowest calories because I was really worried about feeling hungry all the time, and the answer is vegetables! We had a frozen pizza last night because I'd been gardening all day and couldn't be bothered cooking. I made a big bowl of coleslaw with a mayo and yoghurt dressing and it was lovely and filled me up beautifully. I'm trying to drink lots of water throughout the day, I'm not very good at remembering but I think you do feel fuller if you have water with your meals.