Weight loss by being kind to ourselves? *title edited by MNHQ*

[millifiori]

Holidays over. I have had my body weight in ice-creams, chips, pasties, burgers etc and though we walked about 5-10 miles most days, I'm heaviest ever.

I know I am useless at diets - they make me dizzy and weak and grumpy.

Does anyone fancy trying to lose weight with a shift of mindset? Doing loads of treat-like things that aren't food based. Eating really healthy foods we also happen to love, Being nice to ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally and socially etc. Taking exercise because it's good self care etc?

If anyone wants to try this, join in here for chat.

Today I walked back from shops with (superfit and skinny) DS1. 3 miles. This afternoon, I'm going for a walk with DS2. Going to have some salad for lunch now because I like salad, not because it's rabbit food.

Anyone else?

Well done lasttime it's so hard to stop a binge so you've done really well.

I'm really enjoying following these principles at the moment. It feels nice to be nourishing my body.

We went out for dinner last night as a little celebration for something and I chose mac and cheese which was nice but very stodgy and by the time I'd finished I wished I'd have gone for something a bit lighter or at least not finished the whole thing when I wasn't enjoying it!

Anyway, healthy breakfast today. I actually set my alarm 15 minutes earlier and did Leslie Sansone's walking workout on YouTube. It's a start and I feel quite energised for the day now.

For my 'treat' today I'm going to have my hair cut. I haven't had it done in about 6 months and boy is it overgrown! A few inches and thinned out and I'm hoping I'll feel like a new woman.

Have a good day all.

What a coincidence - I just did that same walking workout and I feel so much more optimistic and energised than I did when I woke (tough work situation at the moment).

The thing I notice is that I think chocolate will give me a mood lift and energy boost - it didn't at all yesterday, but doing the walking workout really did. I suppose that eating chocolate while you work is very acceptable in the office, whereas pausing and doing a 15 min workout is not!

Is anyone up for doing next week's treats?

Some great tips here. Off to Google the walking workout and succulent plantings on pinterest. Had a very stressful day so far today. My neck's in knots. Need something to help me unwind, as I've already cracked and had a small bar of very dark chocolate on purpose to cheer me up.

I'll do next week's treats - when do I need to post them?

Succulent plantings are the best!

Thanks Travelling - anytime over the weekend or Monday morning would be great.

Sounds as if everyone I see doing well. Another pound down for me, a hard fight cause I'm not in a great place at the moment. On the subject of doing things for others. That's life are doing a knicker donation campaign for women in Mpongwe in Africa. See this week's issue of That's Life for further details. Off to buy pants now

I've bought some face masks as a treat item. That could really be my way to go.
I find that while I stopped bingeing my eating remains a bit disordered compared to pre-binge. Before that I had my appetite znd energy really nicely tapped into. Working to reestablish that feeling but being patient with myself about it.

Face masks sound a good idea. I haven't done one in ages so may get some next time I'm anywhere that sells them.

I'm doing ok over here. Food wise I haven't been a saint at all but I've been trying to add things into my diet instead of taking them out. E.g. I still had my Saturday glass of wine and a bit of chocolate but made sure I had fruit and veg at every meal and added extra veg on where possible to fill me up. It's a work in progress!

Today I actually did the first couch to 5k workout in my garden as I was too apprehensive and embarrassed to go out on the open road. Luckily my garden isn't too overlooked so didn't look too crazy to the neighbours hopefully! I feel good now I've done it.

Okay everyone, here are this week's treats, themed around the natural world.

1. Spend 10 minutes outside, just soaking up the natural environment. Not reading, listening to music etc, just being in nature. Maybe that's walking in a park, taking a diversion down a tree-lined street on your walk to the shops, sitting in your garden with a cup of tea, or opening your windows early one morning and listening to the dawn chorus. How does it make you feel?
2. Treat yourself to a new houseplant! Something beautiful and different like a succulent, or an old favourite from your childhood like a spider plant. Cherish your plant like you are cherishing yourself.
3. Add nature photograph accounts to your social media. There are lots on instagram (you can follow me if you like). If you're on Facebook, add a photograph of you in nature to your feed and encourage other friends to do so.
4. Bring something from the outside into your house - maybe a simple round pebble, or a feather. Maybe create a tiny posy of one or two flowers and some foliage from your garden. Put it on your bedside table and enjoy it.
5. When you're out in nature this week, take time to experience it with your 5 senses. Notice smells, sensations (crunching leaves?), sights and sounds (birds? Dogs? Wind in the leaves?).

Reflect on which of these activities feel rewarding to you, and try to re-incorporate them in your weekly routine.

I love that list. Thank you.

I'm so into being outdoors but I don't actually have any house plants! I'll get one this week.

I've not been posting much but still following. I've been quite good with food but I don't have any scales at the moment so I don't know if I've lost any weight but my clothes are feeling a bit roomier. Just a bit, mind!

I've been having a lot of lentil, chickpea or kidney beans based foods (soups, curried and veg chilli). I've cut right back on processed carbs and I feel so much better.

I've been lurking on this thread and found it brilliant.

There's a great book called 'Have Your Cake and Your Skinny Jeans Too' which I think some of you might be interested to read.

Love the treat lists!

That book sounds good. Haven't eaten very well over the weekend, ate pizza on Saturday night and went out for drinks and food last night. TBH not in a great place mentally st the moment, but back on track with food today

Hi everyone

Hope you don't me mind me joining you. I have been linked to the thread after I posted a plea for help.

I am trying very hard to lose weight due to a medical issue and am calorie counting loosly but will keep that from this thread.

I am however also aiming to change my mindset and improve my self care. I am trying to eat healthy, delicious and nourishing food and not beat myself up if I have a slip up.

I love the idea of non food treats as so many of my treats are food. I love eating out with my family and I want that to continue but I need to make better choices and savour things I really want to eat rather than wolf down a massive plateful and the regret it.

I am off for 3 days at a work event which is fully catered and very rural so no other options. It will put my new mindset to the test!

Hi Hurry and welcome. Don't worry about calorie counting - doesn't matter on this thread if you'redieting or not, the focus is to look after yourself, make treats non-food items and to eat to take care of yourself, not to starve or binge.

MumBod Hi and welcome. Thanks for that book recommendation

Could you make it a game of the work event to chose the catered foods that are healthiest and most nutritious to you?

Travelling - I love that list. Thank you. Had already done one, by chance - brought some lovely red and bronze foliage in from the garden to go with some cheery sunflowers. I'm really looking forward to buying a house plant. Where do you get spider plants? I used to love them as a kid and grew loads of them in my bedroom in macrame hangers

Colonel well done on doing the first couch to 5k session!
I finally got my kettle bell out of hiding today, after two weeks of post-viral fatigue. It felt good but I am so unfit in comparison with earlier in the year.

I haven't set a challenge yet for this week. Here are two:

1. keep on top of the basics: drink 8 big glasses of water a day (herb/fruit teas count)

2.) Buy and try a veg or fruit you've never tasted before and let us know what you think of it. Let's widen our diet of healthy foods.

Thanks Milli, definitely going to do your challenges this week and have started today with a mint tea.

I have also going to do some outdoor challenges from travelling's list. DD and I have been walking to her dance class instead of jumping in the car so that is a start.

Travelling - I had a lovely walk today. Not had a walk for days, due to virus, but dragged myself out into the country. Was just chatting with a horse when an old friend I'd not seen in ages power-walked by so we ended up walking together and catching up. It was so nice.

And brought some bronze foliage in from the garden. I like these treats.

That sounds lovely!

I'm going to do my best to try a new fruit or veg as soon as I see one.

I was at a training course today, so went for a walk around the site at lunchtime, cleared my head a bit and got a break from quite an intense topic.

Hello,

Anyone still on board with this? I've managed three lovely walks this week and hope to squeeze in a fourth this weekend.

I'm still here. I've got a dreadful cold which has messed up my eating. My outdoor treats have been more walking when I could have taken the car. I walked to gp twice which is something I generally take the car for.
On the different veg challenge I madden a butternut squash soup.
Feel a bit despondent about it all but I'm ill.

last poor you. I had flu for a couple of weeks after starting this and barely got out of bed so it was very hard to be healthy and do lots of self care. Just getting back into it now.

I’m here! But of a fed up week... but going to kick it! taking the kids to the local duck pond later, will collect leaves for autumn crafts! Found the nature post very inspirational thanks!!!!

I WILL DO MY 10,000 STEPS!

I seem to have zero willpower. Can’t even make myself drink a pint of water at them moment! Ridiculous

I am still here, work conference was good. I generally made good choices with a few wines and small desserts so not perfect but I enjoyed it and I am not going to beat myself up about not being 100%. That is what I would have done and it is hard to get out of that mindset.

Going to try and get out for a walk today although it is very heavy rain just now so will wait and hope that passes. If not then I will aim for tomorrow. I have had a stressful morning trying to sort out some financial stuff so a walk would be good.

Weigh in on Monday so I will see how I have got on this week.