Lose lbs in September

[BustedDreams]

Following on from the previous monthly loss threads, here’s Septembers. I’ve omitted goal specifics of a certain number of lbs because as we’ve seen we are losing at different rates.

The support I’ve seen on these threads (and personally benefitted from 🙏) is awesome. I’ve not once seen any unkind or harsh posts. You’ve all been awesome 👏.

Link to August’s Thread

I will continue to:-

• follow a low carb Mediterranean diet as advocated by Dr Michael Mosley. It’s great for your heart health as well as keeping blood sugars in check.
• Intermittent Fast IF
• Calorie Count
• Eat Mindfully and address emotional blocks as and when they arise.
• Meal Planning
• Use a tracker such as MFP.
• Mantra is I’m not on a diet, nothing is banned, I do sustainable healthy eating.

How do you intend to lose/maintain?

Any tips you’d like to share?

Afternoon, just a quick check in before I get going again. Unsurprisingly, the scales have gone up a bit. Food still not great, but I ordered a new dress, shoes and bag for the inevitable interaction with the dark side next week Hope it will all make me feel a bit more confident.

More sunshine with a different friend in a different park today let's not count the muffin

Will do half an hour of yoga tonight too. Planning to go back to swimming tomorrow night too though I'd much rather sit somewhere and read drink hot chocolate while I wait for DD at her club.

Phew a pregnancy scare would not be appreciated here though I'd have loved a third! I'm done with hormonal contraception and DH hasn't taken the hint to sort things, so condoms it is!

Hope work is going well @Foreverlexicon

Thanks for the kind wishes @BustedDreams I will find my feet again and till then it's damage limitation.

Hello all, I'll need to catch up as I've missed you all for a few days and am way behind.

I feel totally stalled as well, thinking that I do need to reduce my calorie aim and really reduce treats at the weekend. I think I'm closer to a maintenance level at the moment as I'm going nowhere.

On a more positive note I got in a little bit of exercise on my days off, total of 18km cycled.

I think to make things simpler, I’m just going to have the calorie clock tick over at midnight regardless of shift. Not that it entirely matters as I’m not really setting a limit but just keeping an eye.

Today has been a funny day - got 6 hours sleep in 2 blocks which has resulted in an extra meal but that can’t be helped. I’m not the best sleeper which makes life difficult and if I’m hungry, I won’t sleep and being relatively rested for work is frankly more important.

However calories will be around 1700 for the 24 hour clock or 1200 by the ‘day’ clock. Exercise wise was just riding today.

@MrsJonesAndMe what’s your dress like? New outfits are great for motivation.

@galvantula 18km is fantastic. That would take me a week or more

@Foreverlexicon sounds like a plan. I’d be the same re:- eat to sleep to function. Have a good shift.

Had a crappy day, stress through roof. Had all my planned food and feel satiated but stress cravings were taking hold. Reached for and brought into sitting room a Kind bar (if I was under cals I would have definitely had it) It’s sat looking at me but I’m determined NOT to eat it as I know I’m not hungry, don’t need it and I’m not letting the b* who’ve stressed me out win. Painted my nails and reading a book, cleared fridge and wiped shelves and got all my ingredients out for tomorrow’s soup. Craving has now passed.

Good luck to you all in their healthy living quests. We can do this.

Guys can I please join you in losing the lb. really weird (in a good way) that I came across this. I’ve been sat here for an hour and half crying that nothing fits me. I’ve put on 3 stones since my last child. I’m going back to work soon and I feel like crap. I’ve been really depressed and haven’t really socialised for a while which is causing my anxiety to peak. Please help me lose the lb and get a little bit of confidence back. I don’t know how to do it. Tried WW, low carb and slim fast but cNf make any diet past 3 days. I’m sitting here eating chocolate n drinking red wine (kids in bed bye! Lol).

Any tips on my day 1 tomorrow?

So sorry for all the typos! Please ignore them. Any tips for tomorrow for me pls?

Welcome @Mia3456. Congratulations on your baby! (I’m assuming you’re returning to work after mat leave, apologies if wrong) There is a great group of women on this thread. Supportive and listening ears.

The ethos of this thread is that it isn’t prescriptive. No one size fits all. We all know deep down what works for us, what doesn’t etc. If you read the first post of this thread there are several useful links and also a link to the previous thread. Links cover general stuff around healthy eating, intermittent fasting, eating feelings, calorie counting, low carbing, exercise etc. One thing we all agree on is that there are no quick fixes. It’s about sustainable eating for the long haul.

What do you eat now? Would you be happy posting a typical days eating? What are your goals? Losing weight, getting healthy, feeling better in clothes, getting fitter? Naming the why will help in identifying the how and tapping into motivation to change. You will have the capacity to change your lifestyle if you really want to. It starts with self care and doing what you know works for you.

Ask any questions you like. There is usually some one passing who’ll be happy to help. Congrats on taking the first step!

One thing I would say is do not view your eating as a ‘diet’. Don’t ban anything (unless intolerant). Eat plenty of protein (eggs, beans & pulses, dairy) as it is satiating and help keep you full. Get your fibre in too (oats, brown rice, nuts) as it helps keep things moving . Plenty of water, veg, some fruit. Be mindful of portion sizes too. Hope that helps for now.

welcome mia, busted has explained what i'm doing very well. portion control and increased activity. to keep me satiated longer i add on as many veggies on my plate as the plate can hold. i'm trying to avoid sugar that has no fiber (so fresh fruit is fine).
today was market day and i was up early. i got in my 10,000 steps on totally flat ground, so snuck in a nice bike ride.
snuck a really nice bakery treat...and oh my a lovely lovely authentic chai tea from a very good indian restaurant.
but lots of healthy stuff and veggies.
sold 17 jars!!!

Well done for distracting yourself so well @BustedDreams but shame you had. That’s some will power.

I guess it’ll be a bit of voyage of exploration with the food around the shift patterns @Foreverlexicon. Sleep definitely more important!

@galvantula I think I’m in a similar position, I’ve cut back harder this week and have started seeing some progress this week. I’m sure that will help with snacking at the weekend. If I’m not seeing improvements then I sometime feel why deny myself. Which doesn’t help. I’m on the last 6 lb and I guess the balance is a little tighter now.

Fabulous sales @Knitclubchatter. Great concept on the sugar and fibre. I use fibre as a guide if I’m having wing it when I’m travelling and find it helps enormously in making good choices.

Big welcome @Mia3456. This is a fabulous thread to be on. I go for the calorie counting macro balance approach. One big shift for me is to treat it as a hobby. I enjoy the time I spend planning in MFP. Last night I actually enjoyed (who knew!) a potter round the supermarket buying some frozen veg for my new steamer.

Morning all! @Knitclubchatter 17 jars! That's brilliant! Well done on staying strong @BustedDreams, it's so easy just to say "ahhh fuck it!"

Welcome to the thread @Mia3456 and try not to be too hard on yourself. I grew up a svelte size 6/8 and then gradually crept up to an 18/20 after having my kids and focusing solely on other people. I tried slimming world, weight watchers, Exante, calorie counting and nothing worked. I sat down and worked out where my problem areas were and that was sugary drinks/milky coffee and snacking when the kids were in bed. I now follow low-carb (I try to be keto but that can be very restrictive) and intermittent fasting. I started off fasting 16 hours a day and eating in an 8 hour window and have gradually moved up to One Meal A Day known as OMAD. I switched pasta for courgetti, bread for Halloumi wraps and since the 6th June I've lost 43lbs. It's not been easy and I've fallen off the wagon a few times, but the biggest change was my mindset and getting rid of all the clothes that were too big immediately.

The threads have been key and whenever I've had a good day or a bad day, everybody is here with a kind word, a funny story and some inspo to keep going.

Welcome @Mia3456 I’m just eating less/making good choices and the odd meal replacement shake/bar and just keeping an eye on calories.

Again only managed to eat a cereal bar at work, it was a rather exciting night and even when the team did a maccers run, I just didn’t actually feel like eating.

I might hop on the scales tomorrow and see where I’m at - thinking I’ll generally weigh on the first of my rest days so every 10 days or so. Not sure.

Morning Campers 😊

I was so pleased with my self for not succumbing to the KIND bar. The craving had gone before I went to bed and I’m not even hungry this morning (normal for me).

@Knitclubchatter great sales!

@chutneypig you’re nearly there! You’ve done so well!

@cheesenpickles 43lbs 😮. That’s fantastic progress!

Today it’s glorious sunshine here. I can feel a potter in the garden coming on

Have a good day you lovely lot.

Hi everyone checking in after a period focusing on other things and not eating a healthy diet as much as I should. Still want to shift about 10lbs. This week has been better and I am feeling more focused.

Welcome @Mia3456. I use My Fitness Pal app to track calories. Iris a bit daunting at first but the more you use it the easier it gets. Good luck.

Am out and about today for work and will be resisting chocolate temptation when tired and bored and waiting for a train at the end of the day.

The sun is shining. Have a lovely day everyone.

So I've changed my MFP goal, I'm not sure how realistic it will be to knock an extra 200 Cal a day off but I'll have a go. I guess this losing weight does get harder as you get older, I'm sure this worked ok last time 😅

Morning girls. Sorry to post this but feeling really down and annoyed. Someone bashed into my car on the school run today and baby was in car too. We’re okay but just s bit shaken up. Really wanted to be positive today and start diet.

Had a lovely day planned today but now just crying and don’t think diet will go well today.

Bloody idiot he could have looked where he was going. He said sorry and that he wasn’t focusing on the road ahead but was looking on the left so didn’t see my car

So sorry to read that Mia3456, it must have been a dreadful shock.

Treat yourself to something lovely and take care

Oh my @galvantula that is an epic bike ride!

Welcome on board @Mia3456 I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling. Don't underestimate the shock. Why don't you spend a bit of time today coming up with a plan and start tomorrow?

Maybe buy a magazine as a treat instead @Jollyholibobs

Well done @BustedDreams I've said the same to myself today - I'm going to have to deal with ex for life, so if I let him get to me, that's down to me.

On that note, I'm back in the zone. 15 hours fasting. Risotto for lunch, fruit, curry for tea and swimming.

Fabulous post @cheesenpickles and well done on that weight loss!

Good luck with the last bit @chutneypig

Welcome @Mia3456 so sorry about the accident.
It sounds cliche but what's worked for me is looking at it long term, not putting unrealistic goals in place that I inevitably fail and then give up.

For me I count calories on MFP, get 10k min steps in a day, try workout everyday even if just 20 mins and do intermittent fasting to keep cal count down. But some days I do workout and I eat loads, but I just write it off and start again. This has been my approach since Feb after failing on WW. I've lost 16lbs and kept it off without missing out.

@BustedDreams well done on avoiding the kinder!! That's great

@Foreverlexicon well done avoiding the maccas! The thought it was always nicer than having it I think!

@cheesenpickles wow! That's a great loss!!

I've had a good few days. Been in cal count and worked out. Need to squeeze one in tonight before dinner if I can! Always hard with bedtime taking an unforeseen amount of time!!!

*dont workout!!

Also meant to say I workout ah home using FIIT as I've no time for the gym!!

It’s nice to read that everyone is doing something and that it’s slowly but surely working.
Mia, I hope today is okay. Often soft tissue aches and pains are more evident the next day.
Forever, I did shift work for over 25 years, retired now.
I was very shocked to see 150.5 on the scale this am. The sun is out and I’d like to fit in the express yoga at noon, I should be able to bike to it.

Just checking back with you all

That's good solid advice @ChipsAreLife

Hope you made it to yoga @Knitclubchatter and high five that number going down on the scales!

I had some water melon after swimming - in my window, so 2 meals and 2 fruit snacks result Off to brush my teeth now! Night all!

Today has ended up being somewhat off "plan" but well deserved. I had to go to (and this super outing) the Isle of Wight today. Bloody brilliantly day for jt. Ended up in a cafe waiting for an appointment and it was a lovely indie cafe who insisted I try some of their homemade vegan gingerbread. So had to break fast early but ... free biscuits don't count right?

Then being over there made me crave fish and chips so when I finally got in (honestly, I had to wait for a bus for over an hour to go two miles but there's no pavements so couldn't walk! That took more time than crossing the Solent and getting home !!!) I caved and bought me and family fish and chips. Carbs will be out of whack but I was under calories (I only ever eat a couple of chips anyway) and I've got my gym induction this week as well so that can start strong.

Anywayyyyy, just wandering the streets near my house currently to hit 10k steps then bed!