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.

Heya Plucked! I love seeing new faces pop in. I adore pasta too! What sort of videos do you do, any recommendations?

Stress again! Part of the ceiling at my student house that's been leaking on and off for three years has finally fallen in! Thankfully I'm not living there anymore, but it's technically mine until the end of the month, and I could have done without the hassle.

Oh bugger af - will it delay your return to uni?

I had a brilliant weekend (and despite feeling lazy did do quite a lot of walking), plus amazing salad inspiration in a cafe so will share...

Green lentils, chunks of roasted carrot and celeriac, herb-marinated feta, toasted hazelnuts and a fig dressing. Bloody lovely.

Hope everyone’s doing ok.

Verbena Thankfully not! For the new semester I'm moving into a gorgeous newly built studio flat 😍

My weekend has been good thanks - went to the Wildlife Park with my family which was lovely. That does sound really nice but I've never made lentils before - are they difficult?

No they’re not: I rinse them then cover with water and simmer til soft with a bay leaf if I’m feeling fancy

You can also buy ready-to-eat tins or sachets which aren’t quite as cheap but great for quick protein with no fuss.

How are we getting on lovelies? I've been doing fairly well on the healthier lifestyle, but also made a number of new habits/decisions that are making me happier in general too, which I think is really important! Finally found a dry shampoo that doesn't make me feel weird, so feel like that's one adult thing ticked off the list 😂

Oh good for you with making happy choices. Any tips? I’m desperate to avoid my normal winter blues this year and so far am thinking vitamin d and iron are a bright idea, but I’m open to all suggestions.

I’ve got a terrifying pessary to try and jam my wayward organs back where they belong while running, so will give that a bash once I’ve got a bit more competent at inserting the thing (it’s big. It’s slippery. It pops unfolded and whacks your nethers at unpredictable moments. Oh joy.)

Verbena That made me internally cringe, I feel sorry for you but I hope it works and you can run run run!!

So far my favourites are:

Airing my bedroom every morning by folding the duvet back and opening the window.
Naice perfume.
Having a bath and not even going on my phone.
Finding new recipes.
Sending people I love cards and little gifts.
Painting my nails.
Reading! I haven't read and enjoyed it for ages, but this year's reading list is much more enjoyable for being ahead of time and relaxed.

Those sound good af - think I need to re-start putting my phone down 2 hours before bedtime and leaving it downstairs overnight: really helps with decent sleep but I’m crap at sticking to it.

Been focusing on getting out for a walk each day and keeping a good number of steps up, and have been doing some weights workouts at home. Feeling stronger already! Verbena your lentil recipe sounds lush.

verbena I am on my phone alllll the time 😳 made worse by the fact that in term time I live out of just one room - it's so hard to hide anything from yourself, phone, chocolate biscuits, the laptop that enables you to play the Sims at 4am 😂 but I am also trying to kick the habit of being on it quite so much, so we can motivate each other!

That's really good news kalinka! I've found even the little bit of strength stuff that I do has really made a big difference.

kalinka that all sounds good. Walking is great for a clear head. Going to add it to my ‘get through autumn/winter sane’ list.

af I’m really addicted and it’s such a waste of time. I’m going to try and stop it.

Hi ladies. Hope you’re all having a lovely weekend. I’ve got in to the habit of leaving my phone behind when I go walking as I like the idea that it signals a break from social media etc and return to nature. DH usually takes his though in case of emergencies. I use mine as an alarm otherwise I wouldn’t have it in the bedroom either. It can be difficult to switch off though!

Hi everyone, hope you're all well.

Hope you don't mind me sharing this but yesterday someone told me that I had lost weight! And this person didn't know I've been changing to a healthier lifestyle. I was really surprised because I thought nothing was changing but hey ho, there you go!

It has been five months since I started on this journey so it looks like the slow and steady approach really works. I just wanted to share this so that anyone here who might be in a negative mind-set knows that things DO change .

Also since this is a gentle approach to weight loss, I really recommend yoga as exercise. It's the only exercise I've been doing and my body has really transformed since I started. I started off doing one class a week (beginner's class) and after a month or two I increased that to two classes a week etc. I've also cut down on processed foods slowly, like 15%-20% less crap a month. I've found it to be a really sustainable way of changing my diet. Sorry for the essay!

Thank you for that Liquorice, that's genuinely really what I needed to hear, I'm finding it hard seeing no progress! But I'm sure I'm getting there slowly and steadily. I do love yoga too, I try to do about an hour a week over various length sessions at home. Thinking of joining a class just to push myself a bit more!

licquorice that’s fab; nothing wrong with enjoying a bit of recognition and realising how far you’ve come.

af definitely try a class, it’s motivating but also great having someone check your technique and explain the breathing in person. When I was at uni students got discounted swimming and some classes in the uni gym (the university i was at is big on sports science so had great facilities), so that might be worth checking.

I have been for a run. The pessary is not a complete fix but it was so much better than previous times since becoming a mum and the bastard turbo trainer has noticeably improved my stamina, so I am totally failing to remain calm and take it one day at a time, and instead getting really excited and tentatively googling races. Going to book a 1:1 session with my Pilates instructor to try and design a daily practise I can do to keep working on my pelvic floor and get better at recruiting my glutes (always seem to use my thighs and back instead and I think if I can sort that it’ll help as well), as I won’t be able to make weekly classes once I’m back at work next week.

How is everyone else?

Yesss Verbena I'm so glad for you! I definitely need to start recruiting the booty more, my poor back does most of the work in yoga and doesn't appreciate it! I do get really heavily discounted classes and swims so will try to take advantage of that whilst I can!

I'm feeling really happy this bank holiday. Had lots of wholesome wintry food and a really nice recharge and lots of long works to work on stamina rather than the high intensity stuff I normally do. Got a mini break in my uni city Thursday-Saturday next week, going to be a total splurge on all the food I've missed over summer, so looking forward to it 😂

Morning all. I’m back from a much needed Cornish holiday in our new camper!!

Ready to really focus on this now and DH has gone back to work so I don’t feel pushed in all directions for a change.

Hasn’t the weather turned? I put the fire on last night as I was chilly!

Oh camel sounds great! And I’ve been wishing we had logs in the last few nights, but need the chimney sweeping which is normally a September job. Might arrange fir them to come out sooner!

I am really enjoying it being chillier!

Could do with a boost today if you lovelies don't mind. Usually I've been doing about 30 minutes of aerobics videos per week but this week I really don't feel up to it. I'm trying to do much more walking and keep up the yoga, but somehow I feel like I'm really failing for not doing anything more high energy. I'll probably get back to it in a week or so but it is making me feel really down today.

Ok, 2 options:

1. do something really absorbing (and rewarding), so bit of gardening, sorting your stuff for uni, cooking something fancy, pick blackberries and make bramble jelly, close-read one of your set texts and annotate, do something else creative (draw/paint/knit/sew/write/whatever), tidy and organise.

2. try just 2 minutes of aerobics and see how it feels. Set a timer and tell yourself you’ll stop after 2 minutes and either abandon it if it feels shit, or carry on for another 2 minutes.

Good luck. I think it’s just a bit of a blue time of year.

Thank you so much Verbena! 💕 I think I'll be coming back to that list of things to do quite often!

What're everyone else's plans for today?

I’m deep cleaning my lounge

And I feel a bit like you Af. Slow process...

Anyway. I am doing that. I’m not going to CrossFit today because I cannot be arsed to sort the kids out and go.

AF gear yourself up for September? That’s my plan... Though diet starts today

I’m also trying to declutter and am surrounded by charity/recycling/bin bags! I think it’s something about the changing seasons.

I also really want to try and have a winter of decent mental health - really struggle with keeping the black dog at bay when the days are short so I’m trying to get stuff in place (tidy house that’s nice to be in, habitual exercise so I manage to keep going etc) now that’ll help as the autumn kicks in.

I did ten minutes! Agree with Camel it'll definitely be easier for me come September. A gorgeous lake at uni to walk round, really discounted swimming, and I'm gonna try indoor cycling and of course burlesque!

Be kind to yourself Camel and keep checking in with us 💕 I also really struggle with low moods in winter Verbena so we can have a little self care mission going on here as well as healthiness! I changed my sheets and did some laundry yesterday which has made me feel much better. Got lots of desk organisation and storage stuff for my new flat too which should help. Tidy desk tidy mind! 😂