AIBU to want a gentler health/weight discussion

[argumentativefeminist]

Want to interact with others and get support/motivation for getting healthier and active, and in the process losing weight. But I absolutely don't want to hear any "diet culture", calorie counting or unhealthy disordered eating promotion. Surely I can't be the only one? Sometimes it seems like every thread I click on is just full of upsetting, unhelpful comments that sound like they could have been lifted from a thinspo website.

Lego If you had a fun time that's the most important thing though! I don't think most people like how they look in photos they haven't taken, so try not to dwell on it 💕 that dinner sounds nice! I can't wait until autumn 🌟

Have eaten like a woman on holiday today because of a family birthday - pancakes for breakfast, BLT (with addition of freshly laid fried egg, which I can recommend) for lunch, big wedge of chocolate fudge cake, pizza chips and salad for tea then surprise homemade lemon meringue pie! Oooooft!

Great swim though: soupy sea all murky with stirred up seaweed after another choppy day. Iodine-smelling and surprisingly not-too-bone-crackingly-cold. View of the headland all purple with heather; wheeling gulls and a flat grey sky.

Couple of short-but-sweet walks too.

Gosh Verbena, that sounds amazing! I admire your confidence - one of my biggest phobias is seaweed touching me, and sea creatures generally - annoying because sea swimming is so invigorating and clears up my problem skin like nothing else, but I'm out like a shot as soon as something touches me

I had planned to do some food prep tonight but I'm shattered so off to bed shortly with my book, then I'll have to cobble together a rushed work lunch first thing tomorrow, then make some meatballs before heading off to zumba in the evening.

Proud of you Verbena!

Currently very out of breath sitting outside to cool down. Remember the Jessica Smith 30 minute HIIT cardio video I could only do 15 minutes of 2 weeks ago? I just did it. Had to stop at 15 again to catch my breath and have water, but I went back! The second half was much slower and towards the end I was hardly doing the proper moves, just tiny adjusted versions with less reaching and jumping, but I finished it! Feeling immensely proud that I even went back and pressed play again. I would never ever have gone back to something I found hard like that before.

That’s brilliant @argumentativefeminist Well done you! It’s hard to keep going when it feels tough, but you feel so much better for it.

@Verbena your descriptions of swimming in the sea sound lovely. Maybe i’ll brave it at some point this week. Like Lego though, I do freak out at what might be in the water, especially if jellyfish are around!

I really do feel amazing Pixie! More proud of myself for the mental act of going back in there and starting again, than achieving the actual exercise!

Hope you all have lovely days 🌟

Morning all.

Well done to AF and Verbena for the impressive body-moving work. I'm starting hula hooping, aiming for 10 mins a day. Who knows if it actually does anything but surely moving something has to be better than moving nothing?

Hula hooping sounds great fun.

I had 2 glasses of wine last night and no snacks with it! It was a little triumph.

Also had a very big lunch out so had nothing for the rest of the day but a sandwich later on. I didn't need another proper meal. Now I feel that the sandwich itself was a bit crap - ham and cheese on white bread - but it's a lesson that I need to actually think about sandwich options because I just default to my old ones. I also need to always keep wraps in the house as I do love them and it's less fattening than 2 slices of white bread. All a learning curve!

Today for lunch I had Quinoa for the first time. Its actually not bad at all! I paired it with a WW Tuna Mayo tin and it was actually pretty satisfying, who knew??!

Moving something is always good Agatha! It sounds fun too, I hope you enjoy it! I dont mind quinoa either Elspeth but I prefer it mixed with rice! It sounds like you're on your way to being more mindful about your food 💕

I'm having some trouble with headaches after exercise - not straight after, maybe like 3/4 hours after. I always eat plenty and have a sugary drinks after exercise. Blood pressure and blood tests fine, no anaemia or anything. Any ideas?

Not sure about the headaches. Maybe make sure you’re drinking enough water during & after exercise in case you’re dehydrated? I would avoid the sugary drink too. Not sure what else to suggest.... hope it sorts itself out.

I was thwarted from having another pasty as the bakery had sold out. Probably a good thing as I ended up making a feta cheese, beetroot, tomato & pepper salad - with a tiny bit of potato. It was actually really yummy & much better for me too!

Sounds scrummy Pixie! It might just have been coincidence the past few times I've exercised and had a headache, or it might be something muscular. Some yoga tomorrow might help it out hopefully. But thank you for your well wishes 🌟 Agree r.e. cutting out the post exercise orange squash but it's a small remnant of the times not so long ago that I'd need a glass of coke to get enough energy to walk to the shop! 😳

Sorry lovely - hope I didn’t offend about sugary drinks. Think I read that to mean cans of coke rather than orange squash 😳 Not that it’s any of my business anyway. You’ve done really well to cut out coke - it’s so addictive! Hope you’re feeling better tomorrow. I’m planning another exercise session too x

Nooo Pixie I wasn't offended! Just wanted a small humble brag about giving up fizzy tbh 😂 Off to Tesco now and think I'll get myself a treat - no reason other than because I'll enjoy it! And still feeling a bit under the weather generally, a bit virusy. So healthy eating is in moderation (always!) but especially until I'm feeling a bit physically and mentally better.

Two little rice puddings from Tesco, reduced to 50p, I'm feeling like a lucky gal 😂

af well bloody done! I think headaches usually mean you need more water, and maybe also to replace some of the salt you sweated out. Whole milk with ice and a good pinch of salt is disgusting, except after a long run when suddenly it was absolutely bliss when I was training - maybe try upping your water and having a small amount of extra salt after a workout (no need to go mad; couple of olives maybe if you’re into them?) Anyway, well done for getting back to it with the hard stuff - now you’ve seen an improvement you’ll start getting hooked

lego and pixie I used to share the horror of seaweed and then one day I just suddenly didn’t give a toss anymore. It was when I was working near the sea and swimming (nervously!) every day, so maybe the secret is to keep getting in the water and each time you don’t get eaten by a monster/dragged to a watery grave by a weedy-haired sea-witch, you’ll gain a tiny bit more confidence and eventually you’ll stop fretting? Still not a fan of jellyfish though (don’t wear a wetsuit so I feel that’s a logical fear), and I’m also careful about being informed re tides and currents. The sea itself is scary and worthy of respect; seaweed just makes the water a bit warmer.

elspeth quinoa is also good where you’d normally use couscous, so with tagine or in salads.

agatha amen to fitting in more movement. If you worry too much about ‘maybe it won’t help’ you never do anything, and that definitely doesn’t give you a strong body or a balanced brain - whereas doing even a bit more than normal will build up over time to make real positive changes.

No swim today but loads of walking, and am slightly inspired to try and swim a bit more at home after seeing my arms in the mirror today and thinking “dear lord, that right there is actual muscle!” (my arms normally look like bits of spaghetti, so this is very exciting indeed). Heading home tomorrow so will try and get one last dose of Atlantic Ocean before we leave the coast. Will miss it so much - washes all the cobwebs away and makes my mind feel fresh.

Thank you Verbena! I'll give the olives a go I think. I'm glad you've had such an amazing time swimming - it's not the same in a pool but hopefully you can fit in a little bit still when you come home!

Not too sure what I'll get up to today - will have some breakfast and then decide what I feel like!

Upper body strength yoga again! I'm getting better but today was harder as everything was sore from yesterday. Rest day tomorrow!

Hoping to pop to the nearest Costa later to get some work done in peace. It's right next to the library which I've never been in (😳) as I prefer a bit of quiet hustle and bustle when I'm working - but I might pop my head in and check it out if I'm not feeling too anxious. Working on a healthier happier more active mind as well as body!

Just leaving this bit of sanity here

I love that Verbena, thank you! 💕

How did everyone get on today? Good days, bad days (regardless of exercise)?

That’s brilliant @Verbena87. Puts things into perspective.

I’ve had a lovely day today. Went for a beach walk & bike ride and just had a lovely meal of sweet chilli salmon, broccoli, mange tout & chippy chips

That sounds lovely Pixie! I had sweet chilli salmon for lunch and it was delicious.

Hello all, I’m at centre parcs!

In bed coz it’s warmer and super comfy, I am feeling good though eating LOADS and drinking a fair few cocktails too.

My mum feel in a pond yesterday with my mobile phone in her pocket. Oops

So now that’s destroyed... I am sort of apathetic about it but gutted I won’t be able to take any family photos for the summer

Working tomorrow night annoyingly, but then coming straight back here.

Hope everyone is good. After this holiday I’m going to really focus on my eating and drinking

Hey Camel! Sounds like you're having a great time which is lovely! Sorry to hear about your phone though 😣 could you take some old style cheap disposable cameras on other summer trips and make a scrapbook with the kids?

I felt really poorly last night, not sure what's up with me this week! My brother is coming back from 5 weeks in Australia today so going to be a relaxed day, can't wait to see him! What are everyone else's plans?

Hello all.

Urgh! I have failed, feel like proper shite today. Like I am spiralling out of control. I just don't know how to pull myself up out of it