Banting and banter - making less of ourselves into February!

[WellErrr]

Banting is my favourite old fashioned word. Means slimming, and I got it from Agatha Christie

Hi Everyone, I’m back!!! Took a break from this thread last week due to having the worst period ever. I felt bloated, exhausted and emotional so not really in the right place for calorie counting, etc. I did my best with food choices though and managed to do some exercise so all is not lost. Weighed myself this morning and I’m 9st so 1 pound up since my last weigh in. Not disastrous thank goodness.

Today’s meal plan:

B - boiled egg and wheaten bread
L hummus and rice cakes
D- spaghetti bolognese

I’m doing a spin class later and will also do a big dog walk.

Well done on all your losses. It’s been lovely catching up on the thread.

Well done losers

@Octopus37 that's half a pound off right? That's good! Can't expect to lose lots every week, especially when we don't have loads to lose

I'm 1lb up which isn't too bad, going to work on maintaining. Trying to see maintaing as @everycowandagain says above, loved that advice and trying to keep it in mind

It's a very very difficult time for me at the moment, trying to be kind to myself, no head space for dieting but equally eating sensibly most of the time must be good for my mental well-being which needs to be my priority right now

Welcome back @Wineloffa that's fantastic progress after a break

Well done everyone - for either losing, maintaining or just carrying on!
I've stayed the same at 9st4 this week, but my clothes are feeling looser all the time so I'm definitely getting leaner even when the scales don't move. Everyone is starting to say how slim I'm looking now and several people have said that I really don't need to lose any more. But then people always say that don't they?!
I hope that everyone is having a good start to the week and that those of you going through tricky times are managing to be kind to yourselves.

Hello again @wineloffa. Well done you losers :)

It hasn't been going well for me, but I think I'm back in the space mentally now. I'm back up 2lbs and I'm fairly sure my gym instructor thinks I'm useless...

I think the reason I struggle is because I don't need to lose weight, I'm a regular size but I'd like to be thinner, iykwim? I have a roll on my tummy I'd like to shrink a bit and I'd like clothes to look better on me. It's just vanity if I'm honest with myself!

Plan for today is to make homemade tomato soup and then chicken and cashew nut for dinner (homemade).

I know what you mean Twixes ! It’s vanity now for me too. I‘d like to lose a bit more off my middle (2 inches off my waist would be fabulous! ) but don’t really want to lose any more from my upper body, bum, hips or legs!

Morning all! I haven't weighed in, will give it a day or two to settle after the weekend.

Took DD to mcdonalds for breakfast this morning (her choice!) and to an early film, had an egg and cheese muffin, hash brown, white coffee and a fruit bag and didn't feel deprived despite the lack of sausage in the muffin!

Just had a sugar free lollipop at the cinema and again didn't miss the sweets. Tub of three bean chilli soup for lunch, not sure what else. Need to plan in advance better I think!

I am off to the US two weeks on Wednesday, I can already see myself doing what I usually do which is having a crazy busy run up to holiday and completely abandoning all my good habits with food because I am too tired and stressed to think about it. Must stay focused and keep planning in advance!

Hi everyone!! Well done to all the losers and welcome back Wine!

I was 8st8lbs this morning - slight gain but not too bad given the week of eating I’ve had 😂🙈

Today’s plan:

B - granola and yogurtwith grapes. An eye watering 273 calories, so I won’t be doing that again, can’t afford that on breakfast!!
L - porridge pot (177) and large banana (97)
D - half chicken pizza (610) garlic mayo (46) and ketchup (15)

Total - 1218
Which leaves room for a snack if I need it! I WILL see 8st7 next week!!

DontFund, sorry you are having a bad time at the moment, try an look after yourself, was 9st4.5 last week so a pound up hence feeling a bit despondent, but I am telling myself that its ok as long as the general trend is down. Know what those of you mean about unrealistic expectations, I hanker after being the size I was when my boys were little 10 years ago, but in truth it would make me look old. I am a classic example of someone who has to choose between their arse and their face. Well done to everyone. Today's food not great for me , as I get a bad stomach I I eat too much fruit and veg and am not feeling great at the moment. Have eaten:
Usual breakfast (315 cals)
Graze nuts (256)
Twirl (228)
Spinach & Ricotta pizza (738)

Total actually 1537 which is a bit high but nevermind

Morning all. Haven't weighed in yet this week, I have my period and am sooooo bloated. Had a reasonable food day yesterday, determined to stick with what's been working for me and not get sidetracked by coffee and convenience food.

Two weeks till my hols, so I am going to stick with it. I have been far more consistent because of this thread, which had gently kept me focused. So thanks everyone for the virtual support!!

Well You're doing brilliantly!
Octopus Exactly - the general trend is all that really matters. A blip is neither here nor there!
every You can keep going for 2 more weeks!
I'm having a fast day today and am feeling determined. Come on girls, we can totally do this!

Yeah the thread's been great, I know I avoid it when I'm not feeling the diet vibes though!

Two weeks @everycowandagain, are you excited?

All going ok for me, I seem to be back down 1.5 lbs, so only a 1/2lb gain. Damn fluctuations, will I ever learn?!

I ate well yesterday, no junk and did a HIIT class and a spin class. I got another one in this morning too.

Plan for today is soup, leftover last night's dinner, muesli bar, banana, coffee.

Hi everyone. I'm struggling a bit this week due to having the kids at home and they are just hungry all the time!

@Twixes so excited, I have a long weekend in NY with DH then he flies home to wrangle the kids while I stay for a few days for work. We have theatre tickets and a reservation for an amazing restaurant, and I'm looking forward to having time to hang out and explore without small people!

Might be putting all my Christmas weight back on though...

I wish you could choose where to lose the weight ! i am aware i am getting bit scrawny up top while still feeling like my thighs are lumpy and wobbly.

That will be me wastingtimeworrying! In fact the only comment I've got all these weeks later is one person said my face looks thinner lol!

Every lucky you sounds fantastic!

I actually genuinely feel relieved I'm no longer a slave to sugar binges, it really is a frightening place feeling that I had to have some now. I'm away with dh and dc, had a no.pastry or breads breakfast and a lovely vegan chilli for lunch. Portion looked incredibly small but it did me fine. Had some almonds afterwards. I've noticed my carb and sugar loving family are hungry before I am despite their gorging at breakfast! Feeling smug ;)

@wastingtimeworrying we are body shape twins by the sound of it!

I dont think i will ever 'love' my body despite what the scales say. Am 40 and have had 4 children. Just trying to be mindful not to creep up much past 9st again as i am a short arse and it really shows.

Wouldn't it be great if you could just resculpt yourself and distribute the fat into better places I'd definitely move some from my thighs and arse up to my boobs. I am a 45 yr old, 3 kids later pear, and will never feature as Miss UK, but on the other hand I am reasonably fit and healthy and I have a lovely family, so I should be proud.

I would love to be able to result myself. Patchwork, I am the same age as you and would do just the same as you. At my heaviest my boobs were bigger, I can tell they are starting to shrink already. Wasn't very good yesterday cause I went up North to see my Dad for the day, plus I have been suffering a bit with my stomach so a bit of a balancing act. Wierdly though I was 9st4.5 this morning, back to what I was last week, could lurch up again, must try and do well the next few days.

Haha, I love the title of this thread! Adorable word, I need to remember it.
@wastingtimeworrying, don't say so. Your body has been there for you through all the difficult times, of course you do love it! The thing is just that you aren't happy with the way it looks (as far as I got it) but you just need to stay motivated. What helped me a lot when I was about to give up on working out and etc was the moment when I changed my own photo and made myself look more fit in it. I did a little digital plastic in Photoworks, haha :)Thus I looked at it and thought that this was the photo of my future self! I'm also not quite happy with my body right now but it is amazing to me how I manage to cope with the whole cardio session or power training. We don't have to be slim like some VS models. we just want to be fit and healthy, right? Go for it, forget about some stupid standards. You don't need to have a perfect body to love it.

Getting the steps in while away but feeling a bit hard done by as the others scoff tge fries and burgers!

Have tried to get back on track today, not too bad but could have done better.
Breakfast - Oatcakes and almonds
Lunch - A 6 inch Subway with the seeded bread, steak, cheese, salad and hot chilli sauce
Snack - Half of a Triple chocolate twix, not too bad, was restrained and saved the other half for my DH
Dinner - Roasted salmon with Cajun spices and noodles with beansprouts with some oyster sauce. A Muller Light Rhubarb & Custard yoghurt

Will probably have a couple of cups of tea tonight (don't have milk and sugar anyway) and maybe a hot sugar free squash if I need it.

Decided to take the two youngest away for a night, booked a train, all cancelled so 2 hrs by coach - arrived at hotel to find i have booked a lovely family room for 19th of March ! 🙈😂😭 got it sorted (felt very silly) just eaten my body weight in dinner and dessert (but did ice skate for an hour 😬) going to have to be super strict now until sunday