Lose 7lbs in August

[BustedDreams]

Following on from the July thread for those who wish to carry on and for new joiners alike.

Ive been inspired by the ladies who posted on the July thread. There have been some awesome losses.

Not quite the end of the month and I’ve achieved my July goal of getting below the elusive 140lbs. As of this morning I was 139.6lbs, bmi 27.3. Down from 145.9lbs, bmi 28.5.

I’m doing a lower carb Mediterranean diet. Plenty of veg, some berries, salad, olive oil, butter, cream, fish, chicken and some red meat. Occasionally I will have whole grain rice and gluten free pasta (good for my micro biome). I rarely drink alcohol. Chocolate can be my downfall . I naturally only want to eat twice a day. I’ve read that intermittent fasting can be beneficial in the battle of the bulge as well as keeping blood sugars in check.

How do you intend to lose?

Any tips you’d like to share?

My tips are drink plenty of water and be mindful of portion sizes.

Welcome @SunshineCake, come on in!

With the amount of exercise you do @ForeverLexicon I’d say you need to stick to that sort of level. I know I feel quite peculiar if I don’t adjust on run days, never mind with the riding!

I’m hoping for maintenance really this month or a small loss. I’m not doing my normal amounts of exercise this week with my kids here, although my steps are OK. The group last month really helped me 5ink about how many calories I am burning at base and I think that’ll help enormously this month. Also I had to go a buy trousers a size down at the weekend as they were all falling off me. That wasn’t a huge boost and I haven’t worn that size ever.

Hope everything eases up today @DrMadelineMaxwell and you can get on the treadmill.

Hi everyone! I was in the July thread but fell off in rather spectacular fashion with a big birthday and a holiday. So I now have 11lb to lose rather than 7 Not very repentant though as I had a nice time, but now back to it, I feel. We are in Turkey next week and there’s always lots of lovely fresh fruit so hopefully I can stay on track.

I am off to read the thread now!

Amazing news @chutneypig!

Scales are still moving downwards, so I'm happy

Welcome to August @DrDiva

I got back from holiday yesterday and I’m too afraid to step on the scales. 😭

Rip the plaster off @RiddleyW as then you can deal with it. Managed to lose the 1.5lb I put on yesterday. Knew it was just dehydration! Not sure what my one meal will be today, thinking maybe fajitas with halloumi wraps (basically a tortilla hack). Got a range of jeans arriving today in different sizes and styles so will have a little try on party lol.

Ok 0.3 lb gain not too bad.

I need to not turn this into a spiral of giving up the whole thing as pointless. I’ll have a good day today and keep trying.

Considering you've been on holiday that's pretty good going! I gained nearly 2lbs on one night away the other week.

Ack I'm really hovering this week which is really annoying me. I'm being so good. But TOTM so I guess normal. However my scales tell me body fat has decreased (a bit) since 31 December so not all bad news. Gym kit is on. Let's see if I can actually do some exercise today.

Good morning you lovely lot 😊

How’s everyone doing? Not easy is it! That’s why we are here, to help and support each other. Sometimes life gets in the way, sometimes we eat what we’re given (my oh does this, prepares food thinking he’s helping, which he is really) as we don’t want to offend, or we want to fit in and not buck the trend. Sometimes we just aren’t prepared, finish work feeling starving and just raid the fridge or order take away. The main thing is not not let a bad meal spoil the day, let a day turn into a few days/weeks/months. And above all not to berate ourselves as that just fuels the cycle where we want to sooth and comfort with food. Break the cycle, reduce sugar and Carbs Tame your Appetite

Sorry I wasn’t around yesterday I was otherwise engaged with work people. Same again today. I will read thread in between and respond if any required. I really do enjoy reading everyone’s contributions, comments and achievements! Here’s a picture of a kitten until normal service resumes

Awwww kitty. I keep reminding myself it wasn't one bad meal/day that got me to this weight and equally one bad meal/day won't do it again.

Husband is at home today so we'll be taking this kids out a bit later to a museum and will probably go for a nice wander.

Bit late to the party but hopefully i can still join. I have a stone to lose that has crept back up on me, although in the long run would like to lose more than that i am happy at my weight minus a stone! Currently trying for a baby with no success so would like something else to focus on. I am going to track calories on MFP and start exercising again as i have let that slip over the last 8 months and am now back where i started fitness wise

Welcome @MrsD0147

I've just had a HUGE non-scale victory. Ordered a load of jeans from ASOS and Topshop etc. ASOS parcel just arrived with a 34" waist and a 32" inch waist, no stretch in them at all and high waisted. The 32" pair fit like a dream!!! I've been wearing size 18/20 stretch jeggings for years and wouldn't have dared try anything 100% cotton because they never do up. What's even better they are recycled material (so no guilt sustainability-wise) and only £20 in the sale.

Welcome @MrsD0147 It’s never to late. 1st isn’t much to lose, but the last stone is always the hardest. MFP is a useful tool to keep on track. Wishing you success on conceiving 😊

Exactly @cheesenpickles. It’s never just the one meal that makes us over weight. That’s just a blip that can be accommodated by eating less at other times that day/following day. Damage limitation. Have a great day at the museum!

@dancingmom yes totm can appear to thwart our good intentions, but if you’re like me I hold on to water/waste at totm then would have a mini whoosh in the days following. Have a good exercise session! ACV will affect different people in different ways. It doesn’t give me heartburn, but I hate the taste!

@RiddleyW step away from the spiral! Small gains are disappointing, a bigger gain would sabotage all your efforts. Don’t go near the spiral

@DrDiva welcome back. Better now with 11 to lose, rather than when you’ve got 15 or 18 to lose.

@Foreverlexicon great exercise that horse riding malarkey. Well done on your 5k. 12lbs 😮. Well deserved!

@SunshineCake Welcome, hop on board :)

@rushka Seeing wild life i find so uplifting. Awe inspiring.

@StepAwayFromTheChoc yes sleep deprivation is the sabotager of good intentions. It’s the ghrelin & leptin

@Alaimo I try to get on the mat daily. Even if it’s for 5 minutes. It has so many benefits.

I hope I haven’t kissed any one!! Welcome to all newcomers.

@cheesenpickles 👏👏👏👏👏👏🌟. Fabulous darling!!

Just seen this, thought I’d share it. Eat your way to perfect skin

Well done @cheesenpickles that is great and what a lovely feeling!

Thanks @BustedDreams i know 1st isn't too much but it does put me back into a 'happy place' while i work on losing the rest!

Thanks Busted, you’re quite right!

I’m trying to really recognise what usually foils me and avoid it.

Hi everyone! As @BustedDreams said, I'm not going to let one 'blip' turn into a bad month! So, onwards!
Today has started fine - I had cereal that I weighed out for breakfast, and will have lunch in a bit, which will be a salad of some description.
I haven't actually planned what we're eating for dinner yet - I do so much meal planning in term time, it's quite hard to keep it up in the holidays! But that's not the issue for me, it's the mindless snacking, so I think it'll be fine to be a bit spontaneous.
I think last night my snacking was down to having lowered my intake for a few days and that catching up on me in terms of hunger levels, so I feel much better today. It's quite a fine balance to get right isn't it?!
I'm about to go and do a strength workout, before getting lunch for the troops.
Hope you all have good days!

1 tip I’d like to share again, it might help the waverers and tumblers (off wagon). I always try to have protein at each meal too. Helps keep you full and satiated.

@rushka 👍

Thank you for the welcome .

I'm stuck with what to do. I put a lot of weight on and it took a while to work out why. I was diagnosed with lots of food intolerances so once I stopped eating those things I lost 1.5 stone. I kept a stone off for quite a few months but then was struggling again with what to eat and emotional things and half a stone has gone back on.

I walk the dog at least once a day for at least an hour but most days I go twice. I rarely sit down in the day but I'm also guilty of missing breakfast some days and being an emotional eater.

I'd love to lose two stone but have no clue. I've been told to have carbs, protein and good fats in each meal but then just read on another thread to not mix carbs and protein at the same meal. Daughter just keeps saying it's calorie deficit mother. MFP is too time consuming as I cook from scratch nearly everything. Then when I think I can't or shouldn't eat I get panicky (throw back to abusive childhood) then eat too much and ten hate myself even more.

I'm heartened that my new jeans are a 12 but I still weigh too much and I also weigh myself too much but in my defence I put two stone on and didn't realise .

Aaarrghhh.

@SunshineCake different methods work for different people. I agree with your daughter in so much as ultimately you have to create a calorie deficit in order to shift the weight.

I utilise a number of ways in which to lose weight.

• First and foremost no foods are banned.
• I naturally only want to eat post noon, so inadvertently I’m IF/TRE each day 17/7. Meaning I eat in a 7 hour window.
• I found out (via online) what my TDEE is and eat about 500 calories a day under that. 3500 calorie deficit = 1lb lost.
• I try to have protein at each meal.
• I’ve reduced sugar and carbs. I still have carbs in the form of brown rice, gluten free breads & pasta (not everyday).
• Drink plenty of water, tea, coffee.
• Rarely drink alcohol.
• I use MFP, Fitbit and Happy Scale apps.
• I weight myself regularly. This can be daily, weekly. Whatever you prefer.
• Partake in online support (such as this thread and I’m also in a WhatsApp group)

The secret is implementing what you’ll find easy to maintain. I’m a geek so I like researching, recording, seeing graphs move, researching recipes etc. It’s no good changing loads of stuff, to then fail to implement them. 1 consistent change (calorie counting for example) is better than the scattergun approach where you fail after a couple of weeks (or even less)

There are numerous links to various supportive topics on this thread and Julys thread. When I’ve more time I will collate them all together.

I love how active this thread is but it does mean if I miss a day there are far too many messages to reply to! However, I have sat and read them all with a lovely cup of tea... and as usual, you are all amazing and motivating in your commitment, even if you eat something off plan!!

Yesterday was a crappy day. I didn't get any sleep after my afternoon caffeine but neither did my OH or baby. For some reason we were all waking up lots, and obviously not at the same time. So cue all three of us being over tired and grumpy yesterday (and I may have been a little hormonal ). And we had lunch at my mum's, which was lovely. But lots of unsolicited sleep advice for baby that wound both me and OH up - so of course we ended up massively snapping at each other when we got home.... And then I just ended up comfort eating.

But I had bran flakes for breakfast with banana and raisins (yummy and healthy); burgers, chips and ice cream at my mums (a lovely treat!) and the comfort eating toast and jam and chocolate digestives. We chicken, rice and veggies for dinner (healthy but I ate enough for three people). So could have been better, could have been worse.

Today has been MUCH better so far. I didn't snack last night (easy when baby only wants to sleep in your arms ). And I had toast, banana and raisins for breakfast. And I've had a banana for lunch, probably will get a coffee when we're out today (registering baby's birth at last!!!) and then we have a friend for dinner and I'm making fakeaway KFC from Pinch of Nom. Looking forward to that one!

Also I think my scales are broken. I weighed myself today (a day early) just to see damage control from yesterday and it said 115kg. Now I've been pretty good but I'm sure it's impossible to lose 6kgs in a week. But we shall see at 'official' weigh in tomorrow

hi all.

Yesterday was A Good Day.

I was well under my MFP aim and didn't even feel too hungry.

I guess being back at work away from cupboards full of snacks has it's benefits.

Today is looking good too, so far.

Weight hasn't gone up any more this week, I am convinced it will be on it's way down by the end of the week.

Hi all. Just had a quick read of all the posts. Som great losses and determination.

Some interesting reads @BustedDreams. Thank you.

Ended up in McDonalds last night as couldn’t get seated anywhere and kids were so hungry. I had a chicken wrap and small fries. Not the healthiest I know but only went 100 calories over my daily allowance as I’d had a good day otherwise. Still running every day and steps have been between 15,000-20,000 every day.

Farewell lunch with my parents today before they head home so treated myself to a glass of wine. Eating in tonight which is salmon and salad. No more alcohol. Kids need an early night !

Keep going everyone !