Hello! Signing up and signing in. I lurked in May, June and early July and found this thread a huge help in losing around 8kg, but after a really challenging July/August, I've put 4 of them back on again and I really want to reverse that.
DH and I are in the midst of a separation, and the stress of it initially meant lots of weight loss. But the last six weeks have been comfort eating central, and between the separation and school holidays I've been totally out of my normal routine, eating late and snacking loads. So today is day one of getting my diet, at least, back on track, even if everything else is still a little insane.
I'm planning to use a combination of 18:6 (I find the extra couple of hours more effective than 16:8, although I do allow myself milk in tea) and meal/snack planning to include protein, good fats, fruits and veg and as little processed food as possible, plus alternating daily yoga and running. I really really hate the chore of calorie counting, and I've managed to lose without it before, but I'll start it in a week or two if I absolutely have to.
My period is due any day and I'm (sorry, TMI!) really bloated at the moment, so I'm (I hope!) at my absolute heaviest possible start date for the month at 67.8kg, which I find infuriating having been 63.7kg less than a couple of months ago. But I am where I am and I need to reverse the trend and get my weight loss back on track today.
Current weight: 67.8kg
- Starting weight in April: 72.4kg
- Ultimate goal weight: 60kg
- Goal for September: 63.8kg (4kg loss)
I also have some non-scale goals:
- Run 10k (I was running it 8 weeks ago, but distances have slid and with my poor eating choices I'm finding even 5k a bit challenging at times).
- 3x per week full yoga practice (around an hour, and naturally includes some strength training as it's Ashtanga yoga).
- 15k steps per day on average (I use the Pacer app). I've managed it for the past four days. I find keeping my step count up an incredibly most useful weight loss tool, for some reason it seems really effective for me.
- Increased strength - I'm going to try to incorporate some natural strength training into each day, especially the ones that I don't do yoga on, either moving stuff around (we've separated midway through an extension on top of everything else, so there is always stuff to clear, unpack, the skip to keep loading etc), or adding in a few pull ups and press ups while I'm waiting for the kettle the boil or whatever.
- A healthy feeling gut (I swear, my gut shuts down at the first sign of processed food or an irregular eating routine, and I'm feeling really uncomfortable and bloated at the moment).
- Feeling energised instead of sluggish! That means enough whole food, and enough sleep (another huge issue right now!).
I've been fasting since 7pm yesterday, so my plan for today is:
12pm turmeric latte with oat milk (a bit early to break fast, but will work with my schedule for today)
1pm apple breakfast bowl (stewed apples with a butter and a little maple syrup, with some chopped nuts on top)
4pm homemade cashew and apricot granola bar
6pm eggs Benedict on a massive warm spinach, roast sweet potato and tomato salad instead of a muffin (the DC and exH will have muffins with theirs)
7pm CLOSE THE KITCHEN!
I'd like to get back to closing the kitchen at 6pm after eating with the DC and exH at 5:30, but meals crept later over the summer, which is another massive factor in the weight gain. I had dinner at 10pm last Friday!
Really looking forward to sharing motivation and keeping on track with you all.