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

I am pretty sure that's what she does. I hae to say the low cal meals imc the ratatouille are really gorgeous. Mushroom soup is another. Lots of eggs too. She eats anything and everything on the weekend, and includes Fri evening! I've logged for the day, just under 1200, nice food. I see fitbit says I've only burned 1560. I used to eat anything I wanted l, the trouble was the bingeing which can't be good even if there was.no.weight gain. Started moreso during the tired, baby years as a comfort and a pick me up. I can nearly taste it at mo, as hormonal as I am! Love cranberry/cashew mix as a snack.

I am finally on the way home after a very long day at work. 970 calories so far so about 500 left for dinner. Ate lots of veg today, need to keep that up, it definitely fills me up.

Patchwork those basa fillets sound great. Today have had:
Breakfast - 2 oatcakes, 7 almonds
Lunch - Crust of seeded bread with 1 mini babybel light
1 caramel miniture hero
Snack - 1 pack of Salt & Vinegar Golden wonder + 1 Raspberry Gin with Lemonade (unfortunately they didn't have diet)
Dinner - 1 Soulful post (think it was West African peanut and something) + 1 large apple

I’ve had another really long day too. Starving now but I’m going to try not eat anymore as I need to retrench after the last week..!

Today:

B - actimel (27), overnight oats (201)
L - Tesco mushroom risotto (339), muller corner (176)
D - sandwich thin with Philadelphia (174)

S - banana (81), half a blueberry muffin (125), half a cup of tea (20)

Total 1132. Going to have to have something else though! Might try and make do with an apple!

Heygirl I was the same - bingeing for a ‘treat’ started during the baby years...!

Had some yogurt and ended on 1259! Now I’m going to bed!

I blame the baby years too! My son was an absolutely terrible sleeper and that is definitely when I started feeling like I deserved treats throughout the day. Some days were so bleak that cake was practically all that got me through them!

WellErr it's only Indian food and spag bol that I can see in tesco here (Ireland) I don't think I can get risotto! Sounds like lovely menu and cals low!

Same Hounds. I had 3 under 3 and a husband who works away and genuinely nearly had a nervous breakdown.
The thought of a pizza and cake and custard after they went to bed was sometimes all that saw me through.

Heygirl that’s a shame!! Keep looking - the risotto today was AMAZING!

I’ve come in at just over 1300 today but did a power walk to talk me under 1200. Off to bed now feeling hungry which is always a good sign I think. Might do a fast day tomorrow although I’m going through a stressful time at work so fasting might break me completely!

Well after a whole day of sticking to my 1500 calorie limit.... I have lost a pound and a half!! I had been a bit stuck for a whiand definitely feel leaner so at least some of it is actual fat loss although, as we all know well, fluctuations are normal and it will probably partly reverse tomorrow. But I can see more muscle emerging on my legs and abs so I am making progress. Another on plan day today!!

I am getting quite tired with work being very busy, kids, training hard etc, I think I will keep the weekend very free and try to get some rest.

Well done @everycowandagain !

@Wineloffa hope work improves soon.

Seems like lots of us have a lot going on at the moment, I think it's great to be here being supported to lose weight, but I've also decided that I'm happy to lose weight more slowly and take the time to make some great new habits, but also important to take care of myself at the same time

@everycowandagain that’s brilliant - well done! Agree re the support on this thread, I couldn’t do it on my own either. I’m back to 9st this morning which is good ahead of another party weekend! Hoping to not totally derail myself....plan on being an absolute saint for the rest of the month after that.

Making new habits and good choices is key to long term success I think. I try and make sure that the food I’m eating is nutritious as well as low calorie, I also take a multi vitamin to make sure I’m getting what I need. After 5 weeks of this, it almost doesn’t feel like diet anymore? Just a healthy way of eating..

I’m down another 0.5 kg so 1.3kg down since we started!
And I am the small, quite sedentary, menopausal person described above.
Doing a happy 💃

@DontFundHate absolutely agree, it needs to be manageable alongside general life, not the major focus. Great reminder, thank you.

I do need to get away from the 'all or nothing' mentality, otherwise I end up exhausted.

Nice one @Canklesforankles

Well done losers!!

You're right DontFundHate that's the important thing. The change in my sleep, energy and skin is a massive gift to myself. Life is pretty tough at the moment for me in a number of ways and as WellErr says the promise of a binge can seem like a well deserved reward. Tbh I thought the weight would drop off so I'm being v mindful of how inactive I had become, by necessity in some ways as different priorities have taken over but I'm really determined this time and I hope by the summer I'll be lighter of mind and body!! Today's menu is new and improved ONO ;) winter veg soup, homemade, chicken and veg stirfry with noodles and an apple and mandarin plus a half hour walk.

@DontFundHate that's a positive outlook.

Weighed 0.5kg lighter than last week. Its within my natural fluctuation but have stopped getting heavier so that's a positive :)

Those of you not calorie counting, how do you decide whether to have pudding/cake etc? I was hoping to moderate rather than cut out altogether, I'd really like to be balanced. But then end up feeling really uncertain whether to have it or not, and not really enjoying it as I feel guilty.

@Heygirlheyboy that menu sound amazing :)

Well done losers! It's a birthday at work today and they've brought in the most amazing cake, I've just had a piece, anyone got any very low cal but hopefully filling meals for lunch ideas? I can nip home to make something quick at lunch time

@DontFundHate boiled or scrambled eggs are quick, low cal and filling. Your post has made me crave cake!

Well done every and Cankles ! And everyone else for just keeping going!
Porpoises If I'm on a non-fast day and I really want a piece of cake or some chocolate, I just have it and enjoy it.
I have realised that I don't do well with trying to cut out anything, so am definitely not doing no-sugar Feb. The moment I feel that something is about to be banned it is literally all that I can think of. I think it's one reason why intermittent fasting suits me so well - I'm only ever a day away from being able to have whatever I fancy and that seems to mean that I can moderate myself much better.

Wine I would have an omelette!

Sorry... that should have said Dont ! But you could have an omelette too Wine ...