The Not So New Mums. Our kids are getting bigger. Christmas weight loss thread. (Edited by MNHQ)

[SolitudeSometimesIs]

It’s been 6 years since the first New Mums thread but this year will be the one where we get skinny for Christmas!

We’ve tried pretty much every diet going and have supported each other through the good times and the bad. This will be our year, motivation is high and panic has set in.

Oh Green, I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you still manage to have a good break and you're right, we need to take better care of ourselves. I'm all on for some lifestyle changes.

Rachey I am in awe of 5.5 hours of exercise a week, you are so dedicated. What classes do you do? Are you super toned? You will look amazing in the dress and it won't be because of your weight or anything else, it will be because you are having a great day. Everything else is smoke and mirrors, the excitement and happiness will make you glow.

I hope you feel better soon Pom, my DS has a rotten cough, there seem to be lots of colds and sinus infections going around. How are you getting on without carbs?

Hi Ella, yeah you need to be kinder to yourself, twins is so full on. Are they the sort of babies that will give you time to eat or are they the sort where you never really finish a meal and end up picking?

DS is still sleeping terribly. He wakes between 2 and 3 most nights and that's it, he's awake until bedtime. I am on my knees with exhaustion. He will go to DH but DH drives quite a long distance for work so I hate when he drives and is very tired. He takes over at weekends and we can split it easier, but it's been hard. DS doesn't cry or anything, he is wide awake and ready to play, I'm meeting with his specialist team to discuss it as we can't go on like this. I'm afraid I'm going to have to change my job/quit if he doesn't sleep soon. Not to be super dramatic but it's crippling.

I haven't weighed myself and my food choices have been questionable but I'm trying to stay afloat and out of the biscuit tin. Small, achievable goals are my future.

Oh Sol what a flippin nightmare. Sleep deprivation is crippling. Have his medical team considered a mild sedative? I know of children who require this. I really hope things improve soon.

How's things rachey ? I think Im probably underestimating my calories a bit. I might start writing everything down. Started to try and cut carbs again today. I'm also trying to increase the fast period by swiping bfast.

Lunch: yogurt, raspberries, granola -300 cals
Snack babybel and satsuma - 130 cals?
Dinner: chicken curry 350 cals?

sol I do 4 spin classes and 2 circuit classes. I love it. I'm not toned at all have a very flabby belly. I don't think I'm ever going to lose it no matter how much I exercise.

It's awful being so sleep deprived, I hope they are able to help you, could you take a career break for a bit? Just until ds2 sleep improves?

pom sounds like a great food plan. Do you use my fitness pal?

I'm not really getting back into it. I think I will try to stay healthy and then before the wedding get on the exante. I'm just so tired of it all.

Today:
50 min spin class burnt 604 cals.

Lunch - baked eggs in tomato with protein cheese = about 300 cals

Snack - banana = 70 cal

I also ate 1/2 of ds1 lunch which was a cheesy wrap = 120 cals

I haven't weighed myself but I think I'm back up to about 10 1/2 st

rachey you will look in your weeding dress, even if you don't lose more weight. Sounds like you need a break, well done on spin class.

Food looks good.

How are you Sol ?
Todays food:

Greek yogurt/fruit/granola - 300 cals
Cheese and apple - 120 cals
Chicken breast and salad - 250 cals
cashew nuts 100

Out tomorrow evening though....

I'm a bit on the fence about sedatives Pom, it just seems to be who he is and I'm trying to teach him to read a few books, have a drink and snack and maybe when he's older he can listen to podcasts. Sedatives seem to be a slippery slope but I know it will be inevitable if this continues for years. We've started doing loads of stretching exercises that I'm trying to segue in to yoga and maybe some meditation, DS1 does meditation and mindfulness in school and love it.

Rachey your exercise routine is amazing. Do you love working out? That has never really been me. Were you sporty in school? If you're worried about your stomach in your dress you could have a look at Spanx and those sort of things, I swear by them.

You menu sounds lovely Pom, have you managed any runs in the heat? I heard London was battered by storms today, I hope you weren't flooded.

I'm probably still fat. Well, I know I am, but I haven't weighed myself. My appetite has plummeted as the weather heats up, so maybe if I weigh in next week I won't be too disappointed.

Rachey that was meant to say you will look fab in your wedding dress !

Sol - I know what you mean about sedatives, I just want wondered as short term thing if it would help to reset body clock a bit? I do know children who have had and tolerated really well, then was reduced until off. However, your management looks really good. Love the idea of mediation and mindfulness.
Don't worry about your weight, you've enough on. Just try and be healthy and strong

So I did 2 days of the fast diet, and seemed to have lost weight. I'm off plan today and Saturday but will do the 16/8 fast Sunday/ Monday and will weigh in on Tuesday. Haven't managed any runs since Monday but hope to fit one in tomorrow. I'm working on speed now !

Is 3 bottles of wine between 2 people very bad ?????

As long as its not for breakfast it'll be grand Pom

I had dry toast peanuts for dinner last night, I'm self sabotaging again. I'm stuck in a bad cycle of wanting to eat healthily, not having the energy to cook, eating something easy and crap and then feeling bad about myself. I went to my GP and she said she will sign me off for a week if DS2's sleep doesn't improve in a week, she wants me to keep a diary etc so that week I plan to eat better, fill the freezer with healthy meals and really try and get organised.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

Sol Your GP sounds understanding, you are being so positive.

Peanuts aren't so bad, I had a lot of wine

Did you have a great night Pom? Lots of wine can be lots of fun.

My GP is ace, but I look like roadkill so I suspect she knows she has to do something. DH and I had a chat and I think I might look for a different job/hand in my notice and take some time off, I don't really like my job and if I take the Summer off it will save us a fortune in childcare (plus there are loads of school Mums looking for their kids to be minded over the Summer so I could make some money that way). I can't continue going on 3 hours of broken sleep a night, something has to give.

I'm going to do some cooking today while DH takes the kids to MIL's, if I have a freezer full I have no excuse. So I'm making chilli, chickpea curry and veggie lasagna. Yum!

Hi all sorry been mia, been busy with the boys over half term.

Diet out the window but I don't care at the moment. I'm still exercising which is the main thing.

sol glad your gp is offering to help, no sleep is soul destroying. It's great dh is taking the kids to mil, aswell as cooking would you be able to have a nap?

pom wow you sound so focus, I wish I had some of your motivation right now. No 3 bottles between 2 isn't bad. That's what me and my sister did last Saturday

It's beautiful sunshine in London today, boys are running in the garden naked and the paddling pool is up. I've done my 60 min spin this morning and burnt 692 cals. Well chuffed.

Hope you all have a great day xx

I have just eaten fish and chips from the chippy I'm go by down in style.

I've just had a McD's!!!

What did you have pom? When drunk I love nothing more than a double cheese burger

Ha! I had chicken filets and chips, we'd been out all day, so was quick and easy !
Fasting today. My weekend of shame has probably undone my good work from last week but I'll weigh in tomorrow anyway.

Well done on your spin class. I didn't manage any running this weekend but will go tomorrow.

Sol sounds like you have a good summer plan. The child minders round here make a fortune! Your posts about DS are all so child focused and lovely, you're such a great mum.

Oh thanks Pom , I really love my kids (desperately tries not to sound like Peter Andre) and I will change as much as I can to make their lives better, but it's bloody exhausting isn't it? We had the paddling pool up yesterday too, we put the boys slide in to it and they spent the whole day zooming in to the water.

Rachey how are you exercising in this heat? I'd be fainting everywhere. Fish and chips from a proper chipper, heaven! I hope your boys enjoyed the pool.

And you'll be back on track in no time Pom, I wouldn't say you did too much damage. And it's so good to cut loose every once in a while and live life.

I had the beetroot burgers from Aldi yesterday, they are super healthy and absolutely gorgeous. A little bit stodgy in the middle so if you buy them, roll them a bit flatter before you cook them. But definitely worth picking up.

It's a bank holiday here so we have another day of paddling pool fun ahead of us.

Have a good day everyone.

OK. So I spent the morning having a massive declutter and making up loads of healthy dinners for the week. I'm going to try propoints for now, as I feel I need the flexibility and access to toast

So I have 11 dinners that add up to 15 points, well they will when I add on the salad and stuff. And my plan is to stop picking at food in the evening. Here's hoping I don't screw it up!

I hope everyone has a great day!

Super organised Sol. Your long weekend sounded fab.

I haven't lost the extra weight from Easter yet (plus an additional lb).
I fasted yesterday and my plan is to fast wed/thurs too.

I love toast

Thanks Pom. I am determined to shift the podge. How is it so easy to put weight on and so hard to lose it???

I had a salad for dinner tonight and still had enough for a bag of crisps. Result! I'm thinking this might be a slow and steady loss scenario, I'm OK with that though.

How many calories do you have on a fast day? I think that might be a bit down the line for me.

Good plan Sol- slow but steady. Maybe we should keep the thread title for next Christmas
800 on a fast day. Normally enough for yogurt and fruit, soup, chicken & salad/veg.

Need to tackle holiday podge (still!) then work on last 9-12 lbs....

Thankfully we didn't say which Christmas we would be skinny by

You get quite a bit for 800 cals. Maybe I could try it in a few weeks.

I'm handing in my notice in work today. No other job to go to as such, but I have been approached by a load of school Mums wondering if I'd mind their kids over the Summer, they will pay me, so I'm going to do that. I will be earning pretty much what I earn now but I won't have to pay for travel, lunches, childcare etc. DS has been up since 1.05am and now I have to get ready to go to work, it's impossible. So at 4.30 this morning I typed up a letter and have emailed it in to my boss. The relief I feel is incredible.

I'm going to stick to my points today and try to turn this day in to a good one.

sol you are doing so well. And handing your notice must feel like such a relief. And will all your meal plans sound really focused.

I've tried them burgers there are nice, I eat a lot of veggie stuff. Lidl have a lot of gosh in at the moment. Huge fan of the sweet potato and chilli bites also Aldi do really nice bean burgers.

Not sure if you know but Aldi do really good tins of mixed beans which are only 39p which I think we a lot of for my mixed bean chilli. And mixed bean tacos. (Can you tell we like Mexican)

pom I wish I had an ounce of your will power. Can you share some times to avoid snacking? Do you use anything to track your run? How's your food diary going?

green how's was the holiday ? I cannot wait to hear all about it. Did you wear the Minnie Mouse ears?

I promised myself I would post what I ate but it's so shameful

I'm doing badly here, not even eating meals just picking and snacking I'm not motivated enough which is crazy considering I get married in 5 months.

I'm trying more dresses on Saturday, with my friends and mum. I'm dreading it as I've gone back up to a 12 and I've let my self down/go

It's also my mums 60th birthday party on Saturday so going to be lots of cake and food. I won't drink much as will have dcs with us. Then on Sunday going to see kasabian which I'm really excited about

Booked to go Lego land in a couple of weeks but totally forgot we have peppa pig the week after oops!

Food plan:
Blueberries and banana with Greek yogurt
Cucumber, carrot and pepper.
Prawn and egg stir fry

I promise I will post my exact food diary tonight

I've just tried a dress on that I wore last year and it's tight.

Why can I not stop eating

Oh thanks for the food tips Rachey. I love aldi's bean burgers. What are gosh that Lidl have? They had loads of cut price organic tofu in Lidl last month and I bought tons of it.

That's exciting that you're going dress shopping! Don't you dare beat yourself up about being a size 12, you are going to be a different size/weight to what you were before you had kids and sometimes a big weight loss isn't possible due to the fact your body has irreparably changed post-kids. Honestly, unless you throw a load of money at it and have cosmetic surgery, I think you may need to stop pressuring yourself.

Could you maybe switch up your workouts to incorporate more weights so you can tone up? Have a chat to a knowledgeable fit person at your gym to see what they say. You are your own worst critic, we all are. You looked beautiful in the pics you posted above, I know I'm a stranger on the internet so you can take or leave my advice, but I think you need to come at this from a different angle.

Well, I handed in my notice today. I have two weeks of work left and then I'm free (and broke) but it will be fine. I wasn't even sad at the thought of leaving, I know I will practically dance out of there on my last day.