Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, you can't have any - you're a Slenderista! Join us to lose 7lbs of February flab

[BitOutOfPractice]

Welcome to the new Valentine's edition of the best thread on MN™ where we encourage and support each other to lose 7lbs in a month (though that happens so rarely maybe we need to change our USP!)

Link to the January thread here

Everyone welcome, new and old

Thank you for kind words both.

I just cant be bothered again.

Not been on my bike due to bad weather. Not doing too badly with the gym but have been eating crap and now have pre menstrual bloating so feel like a fat cow.

not2be that's great advice. I love it. I've said it before but what I love about this thread is the positive vibe. No guilt or fat-shaming.

Ofthread (great name btw) 10 7 is my current target weight, having started at 11 11. I know what you mean about carrying weight though. I think I carry it quite well, but on the flipside I am already looking more haggard in my face because I lose it there first.

I need to join you all on the physio couch today. I've got a mystery calf injury that's stopping me from walking far, let alone run or gym. I saw a doctor at OOH yesterday but she was mainly ruling out a blood clot. I'm relieved it isn't but would quite like to know what it is!

I can walk on it and it gets a bit better as I walk but then gets much worse afterwards. I think I'll end up back at the doctor this week.

last well done on the half marathon.

How did the half go, LastQueen? I love hearing about other people's races even though I can't currently run, it makes me feel involved somehow.

I signed up for Emily Skye today. Not going to do the diet plan just the exercises. DH said at £15 per month, that was fine. I might have forgot to mention the £45 I spent on weights

Thanks for going through the questions keep
Ok, if I’m honest and this is a bit like the hulk saying you wouldn’t like me if I’m angry, you probably won’t like me being honest. It might be you’re eating to maintenance level judging by the way you answered the questions. Now that does not mean 1200-1270 is maintenance but with mis logging, days with extras you could, and I say only say could, be eating on average 1400-1600 and burning on average 1400-1600. If I do a standard potter about day, max I burn is 1600 and I’m 5.4’ish, if I do 10,000 steps, I burn 1900-2000.
With regard to scales, yeah if the weight went up/down half a stone it could be batteries, staying the same is probably just that - you haven’t maintained a big enough deficit. I know I’m always suggesting things but if you could humour me?

1. Cheap pedometer, keep your phone on you whatever - get 7,000 steps min, aim for 10,000 - no magic steps, bopping around the house, housework, dancing about with the kids
2. Drink 1 litre of water, 4 glasses throughout that day, increase gradually to 5 and up to 8 eventually
3. Eat a minimum of 1500 and log/weigh everything. If you go overboard don’t think about it, just get it logged but really try to stick to 1500 every day for the next 10 days. Eat food you can live with. Cause when you lose your weight you need to be able to eat in a way you can live with. No point losing it and then piling it back on cause you lost it on diet food
4. Weigh everyday, write it down, forget it
5. Lastly 1-2lb a week on average is real and sustainable

If that wasn’t helpful or I upset you, I’m very sorry but something is going right. And I know from my long and ongoing experience when I am not losing weight it’s because I eat more calories over time than I burn off. It sucks cause I know you’re trying really hard, there’s just a bit of tweaking needed and what I suggested is much less painful than shakes and 1200. Best of luck and pls don’t be mad at me (ducks)

Managed into shave in in about 1:55 despite knee dept puddles and hail... I loved it

Ah, good job! I've never actually done a half, I was entered for Royal Parks, and did all the training, but it ended up clashing with our IVF cycle so I didn't do it. One day, one day...

I have no idea at all on today's calories - we went to a friend's house for lunch (I had completely forgotten about it) and she had done a mezze table. I really struggled to keep track of what I ate, except I know it was too much because I'm still stuffed now. I'm hoping skipping dinner (not punishing myself, I just won't need it!) will balance it out. A bit, anyway.

In another life (many years ago) I was aiming to run one in under 1:30...
oh to be that lean and well looked after again.

Not a great weekend for me food wise. Did see a low weight on Friday morning though so know I can get back to that with a couple of good days! Enjoyed my weekend which is the main thing I suppose!

 to @keeponkeepinon

Aww keep you sound so sad, and it’s not surprising- it is bloody hard and it can feel so insurmountable. Maybe take a step back for a few days, take the focus off it. Try eating food you like and be mindful about it, listen to your body’s signals. Chin up chicken

I have learnt that one takeaway sets me back 2 or 3 weeks minimum. I envy anyone who can get away with it.

Last time I had a Chinese, I was up 4lb and it took 4 days to return to my pre-Chinese weight. What the hell is in them? Must be 90% salt! Dreading work this morning, at least I’m only in for a few hours. Very cold & icy here

Fell off the wagon in a somewhat spectacular fashion. 10.6

DP surprised me with a trip on the Eurostar to Bruge on Friday night afterwork, I had literally no idea!

Met me at the train station with two packed bags and our passports at 3ish on Friday and we were there for about 9ish! Then we came back on Sunday night, got into bed just before 1am - so am currently tired....

Had I known we were going I would have show some sort of restraint at the buffet on Friday, as it stands I have gained 6lbs this weekend.... but we did have a lovely time, I will give a breakdown of food later!

Back on it today and planning on re-doing the egg diet as it worked so well last week. DP has promised there are no more secret european trips in the offing so maybe this time I will be able to keep it off?

That's so lovely, @HairsprayBabe! Top marks to your OH.

@keeponkeepinon - how about taking it one meal at a time? Don't focus on the big picture just get through the next meal. And make good choices at each meal?

Aww that's lovely hairspray!

Back now seems ok, though I'll re-evaluate that after a day at the office. Got to try and work out how to not put more weight on while not really exercising this week. I could run but I cannot face this awful weather at the moment.

So back to daily yoga I think. Tricky in half term with the huge teens taking up the house but I can clear them out the living room for half an hour.

Morning all. I seriously need to get my head back in it properly. I don't have anything like as exciting a reason as Hairspray though - what a fab surprise!

keepon - on the days you are having 1200 cals do you feel hungry or are you thinking about food (in a longing way) a lot?

Awww hairspray that's so lovely

Morning, all!

Hair, that is so lovely! I’m so pleased you had a good time.

I’m back up 1lb this morning, which isn’t surprising – it’s the weekend’s wine catching up with me. Alcohol always causes me to retain fluid and it is usually worst 2 days after I drank it. Hoping to be back down again tomorrow/Wednesday. And I’m still 1lb down on this time last week, 3lb for the month, which is the main thing.

Overall, I’m feeling pretty positive, I had a really good diet-week last week. There were a couple of slips, but nothing major. And I did my first day of Emily Skye yesterday. It was listed as a rest day, which I thought was hilarious – until I read what a rest day actually entails and it is NOT what I call resting! There are lots of stretches I struggled to hold, and foam roller work that was pretty tough on my (admittedly puny) upper body. I’m now slightly scared by the prospect of tonight’s first real actual workout! Still, it feels good to have a plan to do some exercise that won’t a) hurt my achilles or b) mean I have to go outside in the nasty cold weather!

Have you tried batch cooking for your family at the weekend and then they can just reheat in the week and you have have whatever fits to your plan?

Or take on some of the better SW rules, e.g 1/2 a plate of green veg with lean protein and lower fat options? My mother lost a lot of weight when I was a kid on Weight Watchers, and that seemed to fit into family life pretty well.

Yes it was a lovely treat I am very lucky and spoiled didn't stop me being annoyed at gaining 6lbs though

What a fab surprise @hairspray.

Well done on the half marathon @last

I shall be hitting the gym hard after work today as I fly to London tomorrow for 3 days and that will mean lots of eating out

Oh KOKO I'm sad you're feeling so down. It does just all seem like an enormous grind doesn't it? I sometimes feel just like that too, if that's any consolation

I think the batch cooking idea is great. Either for you or the family. If you could make 5 big curries, or whatever for yourself, portion them up and you've got 5 weeks worth of week night dinners there for you.

Or how about finding an online meal plan and get everyone to agree to trying it for a week.

I hope you can find your mojo soon

And is there nobody else in the family that can cook? Does it ALWAYS have to be your job?