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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Lose 7lbs in August

999 replies

BustedDreams · 27/07/2019 12:07

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 Grin. 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.

Lose 7lbs in August
OP posts:
Thread gallery
43
Doodleoodleday · 01/08/2019 08:11

I was doing so well but I'm going to need to cheat today. My DHs company has a big summer party and the food will be absolutely amazing and all free. I think it will be impossible to be healthy! Maybe I should just enjoy it and not feel bad. It will be a lovely day out with our 6 month old son

Slippershoes · 01/08/2019 08:30

Good morning all. I have joined loads of these mid month and never make a go of it, I'm hoping joining on the 1st will change my mindset a bit.
So weighing in at 11st7. Ideal weight is 10st7.
I have hardly any time to myself over the summer holidays so I've got 3 weeks of mainly calorie counting until they finish.

MrsJonesAndMe · 01/08/2019 08:31

Welcome @Rushka - I'm an emotional eater too. Managed a good day yesterday so now just need to build on it! Good luck.

Triceratopmeup · 01/08/2019 08:34

So starting weight for 1st Aug- 9st 11.5.

I've stuck to 1200cals daily since last Tues... not counting the bottle of wine that I somehow managed to drink at the weekend... upped the exercise & I'm pleased to see that I've lost 7lbs in a week!!

End goal is 9st... let's do this ladies!!!

DoubleshotCoffeeplease · 01/08/2019 08:35

I've really let myself going eating wise, I feel disgusting 😔 so I'm hoping posting on here daily will help me be more accountable so I can feel better and look better. I had a quick read through the thread and picked up some great recipe tips, inspired me to make the effort more with cooking. Hope everyone on here is doing well 👋

Shecanmoveinanydirection · 01/08/2019 08:57

Hello everyone. Official 1 August weigh in. Have been very on it since Monday but scales haven't shifted....11 st 9.8 this morning. Feeling much more motivated reading everyone's stories - especially the July successes. I am trying to put my meal plans into MFP the day before because that hopefully will stop me snacking which is my downfall. 30 days seems like a nice timeframe to be a bit stricter.

BustedDreams · 01/08/2019 08:58

@ohflippincrumbs a little bit of what you fancy is good for the soul. You’ve still followed OMAD principles (autophagy, balanced sugars etc) will still apply. You could be right in that you might retain salt. Perhaps have extra fluids and move more if you’re able to.

@Ihatesundays I love a Dirty Buger myself. Meat patty, salad, relish, spicy sauce, the works. I only have very occasionally from a buger place, but sometimes make a healthier chicken fillet ones at home.

@DrMadelineMaxwell quote What approaches to losing the weight are people taking? ( Late to join the thread).

I calorie count, make most things from scratch from healthy fresh/frozen foods, try to get my sleep, stay hydrated, make sure I stay in the right head space. I’m not scared of eating fat (butter, cream), it’s fine if I stay within my calorie count. I plan my meals in advance and try to ensure I have the right ingredients in. I log everything via MFP. People generally do what they know works for them. Diets, metabolisms, how food affects people, all differ from person to person. I think a main point is people doing what can be sustainable for the long haul. It’s about finding an healthy way to feel satiated and satisfied whilst not bursting a gut ... literally Grin

@Foreverlexicon that’s fantastic planning! Your diet still remains good and needs must. Well done to on your consistent running. Exercise definitely helps with toning and feeling energised. Nothing like an endorphin rush.

@MorgenMuffel. Love the sound of your planned food. I’m a fellow chocoholic. I’ve now started to try to not have it in the house as the little b@#£&*@#£ bars shout me to the cupboard and demand I eat them. The sadists!

Welcome @rushka stress and stress eating is so hard to overcome. The body under stress chucks out stress hormones that feeds the over eating cycle. Those ghrelin & cortisol hormones make you do it. You can take control of stress eating, easier said than done, but you can overcome it. Hope this helps.

@Doodleoodleday. Too right too. Good days are to be enjoyed and savoured. Making happy memories is good for the soul. Have a fantastic day!

@slippershoes jump aboard. Only you can get yourself in the right mindset but these ladies on here are a good bunch and very supportive.

@Triceratopmeup my ultimate goal is the same as yours (9st). Even that for me is in the upper end of my healthy range as I’m a shortie.

@DoubleshotCoffeePlease I’ve been there where you are. When all you can see in the future is another biscuit/cake/pie/chips (whatever’s your weakness) to fill the emotional hole or counteract boredom. You can only imagine how great the food will taste in your mouth. So you grab your chocolate, taste it, swallow it, it’s gone! Then you’re in a compulsion loop. You want to feel the rush of pleasure again. So it goes on. What I did was move my mindset. I looked beyond the next piece of chocolate, I thought of it sat in my stomach and it deciding whether to travel to my thighs or my boobs. Ultimately I was eating enough to fill out both places. So then I started to visualise how I wanted to look (healthy, svelte, & toned), how I wanted to feel (in control) and thought about what I needed to do to achieve my goals. You can do it lovie, you really can.

OP posts:
Ihatesundays · 01/08/2019 09:00

Starting at 76.7kilos which is back down to the lowest weight I was last month.
Also my first day of 18:6. Bit worried I haven’t got much in for lunch though!

Shecanmoveinanydirection · 01/08/2019 09:00

Also 7lbs in a week @Triceratopmeup!!!! Wow Envy. How much exercise are you doing?

cheesenpickles · 01/08/2019 09:02

Up a lb on the scales today but I think it's just leaks and troughs. My weight loss has slowed down a fair bit since last couple of months but I was expecting it.

Cary2012 · 01/08/2019 09:06

Good morning lovely losers! Weighed in today at 12 st. 2lb. Loss of two and a half since Tuesday of last week Can't wait to get under 12! Goal for the month: 11.7. Started 25 May @ 13.11. God, I hated writing that! Weighed less than that when I was overdue with DS! @DrMadeline, I stick to 1200 cals a day, have cut out sugar, except for two pieces of fruit. I limit carbs and only eat small amounts of complex ones. Onwards and downwards all, we've got this!

LemonBreeland · 01/08/2019 09:06

I'd love to join this. I am at my heaviest ever weight discounting pregnancy. I started calorie counting with MFP two weeks ago and have lost 6 pounds already, but another 7 in August would be great.

Current weight is 156lbs, I need to be 141 to be a healthy weight for my height. Ideally a good few pounds less than that, but aiming for there just now as it is a good starter point.

I've realised I need to be more organised in my planning of meals and getting lunch and snacks prepared for work, or I end up not eating the best stuff and am quite hungry. I weighed out pots of grapes for snacks today and tomorrow.

beenrumbled · 01/08/2019 09:22

@Triceratopmeup wow thats fantastic - until i'm back at work I think I might be happy just not putting on Grin

I definitely am an emotional eater - hopefully I'm trying to recognise this and deal with it, but its so slow.

@DrMadelineMaxwell I'm just reducing carbs(not cutting out) and trying to eat more veggies etc - and drink more water, reducing my wine intake Sad - also doing a version of the 5:2 fasting that works for me - ie more that the 800 calories but less than 1000 on the fasting days. I don't really count calories though, just try to watch portion sizes and be aware of what I'm eating. I'm also sticking to doing free weights and stretches every other day , and where I can keep my steps above 10,000. This is easier when I am working, so the next 10 days are going to be difficult.

At least today when I am out with DS2 I will hopefully get my steps up!

Ellieboolou27 · 01/08/2019 09:27

Morning all, went way off track at the end of July and gained 3lb! Total loss for July was 3.5lb.

New month and getting the big guns out Smile here's to 7lb gone forever this month.

Back to MFP at 1400/1500 per day

Triceratopmeup · 01/08/2019 10:10

@BustedDreams I'm 5'5, so not exactly amazonian!! Grin This time 3 years ago I was 9st5, the lbs have been creeping on slowly but surely over the last few years. It's all down to a love of wine & the accompanying snacks!

@Shecanmoveinanydirection I've upped the exercise big time. Since last Tues I've had six different training sessions. Mixture of running, circuits, bootcamp, kettlebells & a weight training session. The only thing that is keeping me going is the scales. I'm a daily weigher & find that this gives me the motivation to stay on track. I'm off on holidays next week, so watch this space!! Confused

suchsweetsorrow82 · 01/08/2019 10:30

@triceratopmeup wow! Well done. I’d love a loss like that. My DP has done similar. Amazes me!

@BustedDreams Spain! I’m also 5ft, I can’t believe how low our upper weight should be! I’m a stone away 😫. My lowest adult weight was 7st 10lb and I was tiny. Don’t think it’s doable now !

Started the day with tea and 2 eggs for breakfast (no yolk) so I can have a few more calories for lunch, dinner and gin! I drank gin yesterday with Fanta lemon zero. It was actually really really refreshing !

Stay motivated everyone!

Triceratopmeup · 01/08/2019 10:45

@beenrumbled @suchsweetsorrow82

I'm well aware that this is water weight, but a loss is a loss & I'm happy to count it!!

rushka · 01/08/2019 12:48

@Mrs**@MrsJonesAndMe - it's nice to know there's someone else who struggles in the same way. I do think a day at a time is a really good idea, so am going to try that. Patience is definitely something I need to cultivate, as I know I get disheartened too easily. I've bought a book called the Beck Diet Solution and that's all about trying to counter the sabotaging thoughts that make us give into cravings.

@BustedDreams - thanks for your amazing welcome and support of everyone.

It's really nice to have stumbled onto this group on the 1st day of the month and to see everyone's motivation, so hopefully together we can make some good progress!

So far today I've had an apple around 10am, and then leftover barbecued chicken with salad, half a sweet potato and a spoonful of homemade hummus, then some raspberries. I think i'm not going to calorie count as I just find it all too pressured and exacting. I'm going to try the intuitive way, and do my best to stick to 3 meals only.

rushka · 01/08/2019 12:51

@BustedDreams - and thank you for that article link. I'm going to read it several times!

BustedDreams · 01/08/2019 13:35

@suchsweetsorrow82 I think we are twins! From my teens up to my late thirties I was about 7st 7lb. I’m same height as you and have a slight frame. At that weight I wasn’t under weight although I looked slender. I was toned and fit and felt healthy and energetic. I agree we probably won’t see those weights again. Would be happy to be in upper range bmi which is just under 9stone. The lowest healthy bmi for 5ft is about 6st 12 😮

@rushka you are very welcome. I agree in finding an approach that works for you. There are too many variables that come into play. Your menu looks great!

I’ve just enjoyed a colourful and tasty salad. Later I’m having a treat. Heck gluten free sausage and cabbage & leek pan fried in butter with a dash of cream. I need to shop tomorrow so will be meal planning and making list later today.

OP posts:
MarvelMum3 · 01/08/2019 15:54

I love this thread - everyone is doing so well but also super supportive of each other!

@xJune88 I know its super hard after birth dealing with changes to your body after birth. I haven’t weighed myself yet but it was clear during pregnancy I lost weight off my face/arms (obese before pregnancy so this was fine) and everyone kept going on about how great I was going to look after having her - turns out my boobs and stomach are saggy which I’m getting used, and I lost quite a lot muscle mass off my arms and legs which has left me feeling weak. I’m taking it day by day though, I keep reminding myself that my body gave me my little girl which helps a little! Sorry to hear you had a traumatic birth though - are you getting some help/spoken to anyone about it? I suffered from nightmares and flashbacks following my labour and the hospital offered a few services to me. Something to think about maybe? Also well done on three weeks breastfeeding, I managed three days before it started giving me panic attacks so I can’t imagine the strength it takes to last longer than that!

@suchsweetsorrow82 12,500 steps on holiday - fantastic!! Enjoy it - hope you get some sunshine and relaxation!!

@Foreverlexicon What a food shop! I spend more than that a week, looks like I have some work to do!! And getting under 160 seems like a good goal for the month and well done on the running habit!

@rushka Welcome! I like the no ‘s’ plan - nice and simple and easy to follow! Have you got a game plan for what you might do instead of eating when tired and overwhelmed? What else relaxes you?

@MrsJonesAndMe You smashed it yesterday! Hope that you have a good day today!

@BustedDreams Woohoo on your milestone! Well done! Grin And that is fantastic advice - it’s so easy to think ‘I’m a failure’ and stop looking after yourself and eat the things we don’t want to and make us feel worse.

So my check in! No weigh in today - it is currently 4pm and I’ve only just sat down after waking up at 12 so I will check in tomorrow! So fasting until 12 was easy today as I only got up then and because I finished dinner at 7pm and had lunch at 1, I actually managed a 18 hour fast!

Yesterday was great until the evening. I had chicken, a few chips and vegetables for lunch and then a few raisins as a snack. And next thing I knew it was 6 and me and the OH was starving and baby didn’t want to sleep anywhere but on my chest and not in her wrap (which is fine just hard to make dinner like it! Grin) So we just ordered takeaway (again... ). But we did manage to get baby in her wrap about 8 and we went for a half hour walk in the hope to settle her (which worked!) but after she woke up at 10pm we had another unsettled night with baby and she didn’t sleep properly until 4am - which is why we all slept until 12 today) - and I didn’t eat anything and drank a litre of water! So I am taking that win!

Food today has been shoving in 4 slices of toast and banana in between 4 hours of feeding/changing/comforting a reflux-y baby and having two cases of vomit that has lead to two complete outfit changes for me and LO. She’s asleep in her wrap now so hopefully I can have a few hours to relax and try and cook an actual dinner tonight! Here’s dreaming!

rushka · 01/08/2019 16:45

@MarvelMum3 - thanks for your welcome. And that is a good question - I think one major part is that I need to not over-schedule my life, which creates the situation of being overwhelmed and exhausted. The stressful job I had has ended, and so I have an opportunity to preserve some extra time I've gained. But it will take a bit of resolve to say no!

It is also why sticking to 3 meals, no snacks, will be better for me as I won't have the constant internal debate as to whether 'this snack' is justifiable because of x,y, z, but simply know that I don't eat unless it's a mealtime.

I'm pleased with this afternoon, as I came home from a very busy day feeling shattered, but I've had two glasses of water and a cup of tea, and then made sure I have stayed out of the kitchen since then. And this group helped, as I thought I can post on here my progress so that in itself is motivating.
...I'm very impressed you're on here with such a little one, and broken nights, I'm not sure I'd feel in a position to make changes at that stage of life - so do be kind to yourself!!

MrsJonesAndMe · 01/08/2019 17:21

Oh bless you @MarvelMum3 that sounds like hard going! It does get easier.

I've done well (I think) and lots of walking today. Will fit in 1/2hr of yoga later too.

Gosh @BustedDreams that is a low low weight! But I'm a lot taller Wink

dancingmom · 01/08/2019 18:42

No weight loss for me today. But sticking to keto and finally think I'm beginning to feel better on it after first week of nausea etc. Had a day out today with kids and it was hard not having Diet Coke, ice cream and chips but I stuck yo my olives, salami and cheese and cucumber and I'm SO proud of myself for not breaking it. I'm shattered! I'm 5 foot 8 and 12,10 and would like to be 10 and a half stone if I can manage it. For August would like to get under 12...

Cary2012 · 01/08/2019 19:32

@dancingmom, I'm the same height with the same target! We can so do this! Breakfast: boiled egg with small round of wholemeal Marmite toast. Lunch: bowl of homemade veg soup, strawberries. Dinner: baked fish with loads of greens. Keep going, we're awesome!