Anyone looking to lose 100lbs plus in 2017-18 - Part 3

[NoTractorsAtTheTable]

Hello, welcome to the third instalment of the ‘Anyone looking to lose 100lbs plus in 2017’ thread. As we’re getting closer to the end of 2017, I’ve added 2018 for good measure

If you want to read them (but by no means feel obliged!), the first and second threads are here: Part 1 and here: Part 2

We’re a very friendly, supportive group, and I think we’re all seeing some real changes in ourselves and our attitudes to food. It’s a long old road, but it helps to chat along the way Collectively, we’ve lost 612 lbs since the start of the first thread, which is pretty amazing

We tend to weigh in on Fridays or Saturdays, but feel free to join in at any time, with whatever weight loss method you think works best for you. Some of us have lost more than others, but we're all in this together, so if you're losing, gaining or staying the same, it's nice to have some inspiration to keep going.

We’re always welcoming to newcomers, but as with the previous thread, I will make one caveat - we’re all here because we are trying to lose a LOT of weight. If you’re looking to lose the last half stone, or even two or three stone, this might not be the thread for you. Good luck with your goals, but you may find more support with in threads with people who have similar goals.

And with that, I'm off to spam our old thread to fill it up

That's the spirit Lego - I'm joining you in renewing my efforts!

Well done notanurse, you're doing so well!

Breaking I'm the same as you and have STS - it's a glorious day here, but cold, so I'm cosied up on the sofa for now, and will have a big walk later on and maybe a mulled wine as a treat

Welcome mooey and congratulations on your engagement!

have a good weekend!

Welcome @mooey and congratulations

Finally stepped on the scales
Total to lose 91lb
Loss this week 4lb
Loss to date 22lb
Left to lose 69lb

Well done to Notanurse, and Boredonmaternity

Breakingsad and Notractors am sure the loss will show up soon. NoTractors! That sounds like a sensible explanation for a collective dip, it's flipping disruptive all this clock changing.

Welcome a congratulations Mooey

Lego hang in there. Maybe keep a written log of what you have eaten, seeing it written down is supposed to act as a bit of a check.

Went to Parkrun on my own this morning as DH and friend couldn't come. Got a new personal best so was pleased with myself. I did think wtf am I doing driving there on a rainy November day on my own resembling an oversized satsuma in my highly visible raincoat on . Parkrun a great concept and very inclusive, walkers as well as runners and everything in between, all ages and sizes. Glad I got my arse out of bed in the end. Still think it is highly hilarious that I am a person who now does this, sorry to say this every week I might be used to the idea in about another year.

Week 19
Starting weight 100kg
current weight 89.3kg
this fortnight's gain 1 kg

Hi everyone, sorry I've been awol. It's just coming to the end of half term and the week before was a flipping nightmare with DS and school. My carb control has been slipping a bit, mostly due to not having enough non-carb stuff around for me to eat. However they are back to school next week so hopefully my routine will get back to where it should be.

Loss this week - 1lb 8oz
Total lost- 46lb 8oz
To lose- 53lb 8oz

Starting weight: 17st3/241lb
Current weight: 13st1.6/183.6lb
Loss this week: 3.4lb
Total loss: 57.4lb

Seriously cut down the salt this week. I was eating huge amounts and I have high blood pressure. I'd paid lip service to the idea of 'water fluctuations' with weight due to changes in salt but really see it now. Reached the 4 stone off mark which I was unreasonably pleased about. In fact, I was unreasonably pleased all week with my daily weigh ins dropping down each time. I think I put too much value on the scales going down as it gives me a big lift. But then when I STS, I am down and frustrated. Need to be more realistic and not let a number (amount of salt and water!) dictate my mood.

Welcome Mooey and congratulations on your engagement

Really well done with the parkruns, Post. I'm not brave enough to try and attempt to run in public so I'm very impressed.

Well done to all who are KOKO

Changes in routine are difficult BlackAmericano, that gain will come off again.

Chesty you are approaching the halfway mark then, well done !

Will be interesting to see at end of the year what we have collectively lost. Maybe to get us through the slump we could think about changes we feel now and what advice we could give to anyone else joining us now or next year?

I have found I can move more easily
Stopped wheezing and snoring
Don't have to worry about fitting on chairs or breaking them!
Feel more in control
An enjoyment of running I didn't think I would ever have which keeps appetite regulated a bit and regulates perimenopausal ups and downs
Much easier to get clothes and feel ok in them
Feel I don't stand out in a crowd as much
I'm proud at what achieved so far though know big challenges ahead

Things I have learned - there will be ups and downs , most important thing is KOKO (keep on keeping on)
Some days do not go to plan, this does not mean you have failed
The thing about a smaller plate works
Gluten is not my friend and I do better without it
I try and minimise insulin spikes so keep sweet things to meal times if possible but no disaster if not
This is something for life and you need to think about how you will maintain at the end well in advance
People can be weird about weight loss and is can change dynamics of friendships
Following on from above people say you look skinny whilst you are clinically obese
Eating at maintenance a really useful tool to navigate tricky times, good practice for maintenance and possibly helps leptin levels
It will be a long process and there is never 'a good time to start' as life happens, just start and don't overthink it
Do what you feel appeals to you, never mind what worked for someone else. You can always change things, just start.
Weight loss is not linear
Fluctuations in weight are normal as are stalls.
You won't always lose a lot in your first week even if you have stacks to lose (1lb loss for me)
Quarter of a pound here, half there all add up over time.
Measure yourself at the start.

AnotherOtter I spent so long think you appeared meanwhile! Well done - I think 4 stone most definitely something to be proud of ! I had to watch my salt too as at one point it was too high and blood pressure wasn't coming down . Hoping to come off tablets in the future . Can totally relate to thevscales thing. I'm a bit better now which is good as I seem to be losing it in a chunk every few weeks at moment.

When I started runnung it was early in the morning in the woods when no one was around . I never in a million years thought I would own running gear and do it in public I have made DH stand behind me and promise my arse doesn't wobble too much though! Some stuff is more supportive than others and I have a great sports bra now.

That's a really great post Post - agree with every point!

From my experiences, I have a few things I have learned:

Eat when you're hungry - not when you think you're hungry, but are actually thirsty, tired, angry, stressed or lonely. Food doesn't help any of those things.
You probably need to drink more water than you are drinking.
Podcasts are fantastic for long walks - find something gripping and you'll easily spend an hour engrossed.
Alcohol can sabotage you in a variety of ways - it is empty calories, and weakens resolve around food, and the next day too if you're hungover and in desperate need of a cheese toastie
With every meal, thinking 'how can I add more veg' really helps me too.

This sounds utterly bonkers - but I've started thinking about my internal organs, and what they would like to be given to work with. For example, my kidneys have enough to do without processing extra crap from processed food - they'd probably appreciate a salad instead. My heart would prefer not to be clogged with fat, so I'll cut the cheese from this recipe... etc. Bonkers, I tell you, but it seems to have kicked a 'guardian' instinct into me - I spent hours choosing the food for the cat, based on its nutritional value, so I realised I should do that for the things that keep me alive, and not just the furry bed warmer! Similarly for the DCs - I've kept a careful eye on what they are eating, but shoveled food into myself, because it was just fuel, and it was just me. Suppose that's a long-winded way of saying I need to take more care of myself!

That's become quite a ramble, so I'm going to shut up now

I'm definitely struggling without a way to track my food and I've no motivation without my Fitbit!!

But I took lunch to work today, admittedly it wasn't hugely healthy-minty lamb burger, Greek sausage and tomato rice...last nights leftovers!

But my normal rule of execution for lunch is a ready meal, some crisps, some chocolate and maybe a pastry or muller yogurt and also snacking in the morning so the fact that I brought my lunch and stuck to it is quite something! I have a pitta bread that I was going to eat with it but decided to save it for mid afternoon to have with some peanut butter rather then reaching for the biscuits...or cakes....or chocolate....or a sandwich

I am struggling at about 6pm.

I work until 630/7 and am a nanny so eat lunch when the baby goes down for a nap at 12 (11.30 today!) then when I feed the kids dinner I inevitably eat the leftovers, anything in the pan when I've cooked too much and biscuits from the cupboard....or I end up picking up a sandwich on the way home then eating my dinner as I don't get in until 8....I'm not sure how to combat the hunger at about 5pm

I need to join you guys. I went to the doctor last week for a pill check and she said that I weighed the same as I did the year before - I had been trying to be good and go to the gym but obviously nothing has worked.

I've realised though that I haven't been good with my food - I keep reaching for the chocolate when stressed / upset/ happy / sad.

My DH and I want to start TTC soon (I've given myself until March to lose a bit).

Starting Loss Required: 126lb

I keep meaning to ask, my fitbit says after 1.5 miles of walking ive burnt 1800 calories...if I put the same distance into MFP it says ive burnt 200/300. What ibe dp I go by?

Im guessing the fitbit says so much as it knows how heavy I am and how unfit I am but I dont want to take it as gospel so some advicd would be really appreciated

thabks you

Welcome Moonlight Sorry to hear your efforts haven't worked. Have you a plan about what you're going to do?

Lego is that on the main interface if your Fitbit? If so that figure is how much you have burned during the rest of the day as well . I think MFP tells you what you have burned over and Above what you would have done by just being alive for that time. The calories for the walk itself should be listed against the exercise itself when you click on the weekly exercise bit with the blue man in.

For the 5pm hunger I'd have a small meal, soup or something proteiny maybe to tide you over.

1800 calories sounds a bit high but I would have thought a Fitbit should be more accurate

200/300 sounds about right for my weight at 17 stone 6 walking a mile and a half

My fitbit goals are 10,000 steps, 10 flights of stairs, 30mins active and 3000 calories which if I hit 10k steps and the 10 flights then I generallt hit the calories but I dont feel I can take it seriously as its so much. Which is why im never sure how much to put into MFP!

Im 24.5st (I didnt want to write that but better to admit it and move on!)

What happens if you synch your Fitbit now - what's the total calories currently on the main page?

1903/3000 for 4412 steps

I think that 3000 calories does sound about right for a day at 10k steps and 30 active minutes. I don't know how tall you are but have used 5ft 5 in a TDEE calaculator, have attached the results showing you BMR and various activity levels.

I don't know exactly what MFP does with activity but it is a question that comes up on their forum fairly regularly so maybe worth looking there.

I wrote a big post earlier and lost it - I'll post the condensed version now!

Welcome moonlight!

Lego I'm agreeing with Post with the TDEE - I think that looks about right for a day and that activity.

I learned a valuable lesson today - my body does not like synthetic sweet things! I had a low-cal hot chocolate at work (wanted something other than coffee) and it has properly put me off my stride. Felt like I could eat ALL OF THE FOOD, and feeling all itchy-teeth and generally a bit urgh. Definitely the hot chocolate - and looking at the ingredients, I'm not overly surprised. Serves me right, I'll stick to water in the afternoons from now on! Hope you've all had more productive days than me

Thanks for the welcome, I think the plan is as follows:

1. Do MFP and do it properly rather than guessing at what I've ate that day!
2. Head to the gym a bit more often, I get home an hour and a half before my DH so could definitely do an hour at the gym.
3. Find snacks that are not chocolate - I've started today by bringing an apple, small pot of hummus and red pepper to work for a snack.

Sounds like a plan Moonlight, how's it going ?

Has your stomach settled down NoTractors?

How are you all doing ?

Great tips, Post and Tractors I second the one about listening to podcasts when out a walk as it makes me feel like I am being doubly productive. However, I occasionally talk back out loud to them if I am getting really in to the subject and that is just embarrassing. Your thinking about your internal organs needing good nutrition makes sense to me, Tractors. One of the reasons I try to eat enough vegetables and healthy fats, etc, is to create a good biochemical environment for my brain cells. That sounds odd but if I don't give all the right chemicals from food to my brain cells, how can they create a stable mood and coherent thoughts. It made sense when the doctor said it anyway! Moods and thoughts are the bane of my life so anything is worth a try.

Lego, have you tried a planned snack at around 5pm? Something with lots of protein and fibre to keep you full and some healthy fat to satisfy your hunger maybe? I have planned afternoon and evening snacks though I know a lot of dieters frown on snacking. Smaller meals and planned snacks works for me as if I get too hungry, I risk binging. Plus it doesn't feel very nice. Half a medium avocado with lemon juice and loads of salt pepper eaten out of the skin with a teaspoon is easy and about 100 calories. Or a hard boiled egg or one of those supermarket cooked chicken snack packs.

Welcome moonlight Your plan sounds great.

Can someone help a technophobe know how to listen to podcasts?
I have a smart phone but do you have to pay a subscription like audio books on amazon?

I have my phone back! MFP here I come!!

I stupidly didn’t even think of an early evening snack! I like the idea of an avocado! —I really love avocados— thank you!

Sausage, almost all podcasts are free. If you want to listen to them on your smartphone then you need an app. If you have an iphone then there is an inbuilt app called Podcasts but it's a bit rubbish. Here is a review of apps on both iOS (Apple iphones) and Android (Samsung, Sony, LG, etc): www.tomsguide.com/us/pictures-story/555-best-podcast-apps.html

I use Overcast which you have to create an account with an email address but I've never had spam. Then you search for podcasts either by name or subject, download them (they are files like songs from a CD) and press play. There are other options to customise but you can learn as you go.