Aiding Affirming April

[Octopus37]

Hi, here is the new thread. Without stating the obvious, think that in such difficult times, the emphasis is going to be on staying on an even keel as best we can and supporting each other. I weighed in at 9st0.5 this morning, I'm the first to admit that all I want to eat is carbs at the moment but I'm finding the accountability good. I'm aiming for 8st12.5 this month. Take care all

Hi @monster my go to if I need a low calorie lunch is salad, lump of protein and a really nice dressing. I make sure the salad is really big (serving bowl size) and include leaves, root veg like shaved carrots, radishes etc... And also stuff like tomatoes, peppers, spring onions.... Treat/ flavour things like olives, gerkins, capers, avocado, leftover roasted veg etc...
Then add protein chicken breast, tin of tuna, egg, couple of ounces of cheese, left over bit of salmon.
Then dressing (lemon and herb, tahini, miso, soy etc...)
I make sure it's really big, but I don't put carbs in, usually comes to about 400 calories, but you can go down from that.

Today's food (for accountability)
B. Two coffees
L. Avo toast with fried egg & spinach
D. Spag bol with a sprinkle of cheese
S. Raspberries, grapes, halo top ice-cream

Total Cal's 1500

I love omlette, ratatouille and anything with feta plus loads of salad!

Ok, so I stayed within my calorie goal but....I couldn't eat the Rosti (accidentally made it too spicy) and I won't admit how I replaced that meal....
Tomorrow I won't make the same mistake!

Yesterday I ate:
1 and a half cereal bars
Asda Jamaican Chicken Soup
Some Easter egg
Sausage sandwich made with the Chicken Heck sausages and fried onions
Weighed 9st0.75 this morning.
Feeling a bit out of sorts and upset today cause its the anniversary of a very good friend of mine dying, 6 years. Its the first year I'm not able to see the family, it will pass though

Sorry to hear that @octopus (((hugs)))

I'm sorry too Octopus, they say that time is a healer but it doesn't go away x

Big hugs @Octopus37.

Sorry @Octopus37, that's really sad. Hope you manage to have a nice day. Thanks for the lunch ideas! I'm always looking for inspiration for lunches that don't involve bread/sandwiches. Might try and fit in making a vegetable and lentil soup today. I find homemade soup with rice cakes or ryvitas with a bit of cheese or something really filling and not too calorific. I've been out for a run this morning, something I'd never normally be able to squeeze in on a week day morning! But dh is on furlough so we have a bit more flexibility at the mo. How's everyone else doing?

It feels like a good day today for me. I feel a bit guilty though because husband did some proper exercise this morning and I haven't done anything like that for a couple of weeks. I do make sure that we go for a walk each evening, usually around 1 hour long, it's probably not good enough though I know.

I would love to recommend my favourite lunch. I don't much like bread so sandwiches are never on the menu personally. It's a leftovers recipe from the Canary islands, I actually pressure cook a whole chicken at the weekend to make enough for the rest of the week for my lunch. It costs me 320 cals for a big bowl full and it's absolutely delicious.

Ropa Vieja

Ingredients:
1 Diced onion
1 or 2 Sliced peppers
1 Diced carrot
1 or 2 Diced potatoes
Shredded chicken
1 tin Chickpeas
1 Tin chopped tomatoes
1 glass of white wine
Chicken stock
Paprika - pimenton
In a pestle and mortar crush up a lot of garlic (10 cloves!!), parsley and a lot of salt.

Method:
Fry diced onion, potato, carrots until browned/ translucent. Add peppers and soften.
Add tinned chopped tomatoes.
Add smoked paprika (shake a load in) and white wine. Let it reduce.
Add the chicken and garlic, parsley and salt mixture.
Add the chickpeas and potatoes.
Add salt and chicken stock to taste/ consistency preference. Make sure it simmers long enough to cook the potato.

(it's also really nice to add a Tbsp or two of lemon juice)

Can I ask, how people determine their goal weight? I wish someone would just tell me "you should weigh X amount". I guess I just have to wait until I give up or (maybe? One day?) reach a point where I feel happy with my body.

An hour walk is great, once brisk it burns the same as an hour's run!

Octopus I'm very sorry to hear that, we lost a friend here 4 years ago, the loss and the future loss doesn't go away Be kind to yourself today.

I am 9 st 8 so hopefully slowly slowly catching monkey. Up to 4.8k on my 28min run now and have my 10k step done. I am doing a really quick 13min pilates with Lottie Murphy on youtube every second day. Makes me feel less lazy on my rest day. Felt tempted yesterday but nothing in the house plus quarantine meant I survived! Tbh my willpower is low!! Hope everyone has a good day, working for rest of afternoon here but will build in some snacks to avoid the temptation of a binge.

Well done Heygirl.

That sounds lovely @MonsteraCheeseplant I'll try it next time I have left over chicken.

My goal weight is 12 stone, that's 4lbs lower than the highest I can be and have a healthy BMI. There's loads of BMI calculators online. I'm naturally quite a big person and I like that, I don't want to be in the low end of the BMI healthy weight range and tbh, not sure I could manage it.

I also have interim goals. The next one is to have lost a stone from my starting weight (I'm 3lbs away from that), then 20lbs from my start weight etc...

I have to say I'm finding it hard today. I've got loads of work on and that plus homeschooling (loosely) plus period, plus being literally very dizzy all day has made me a bit too susceptible to easy junk food.
B. Yoghurt & granola & coffee
L. Slice of reheated pizza & salad
D. Chicken nuggets, potato waffles, beans
S. 3 cream crackers with peanut butter and jam & a pot of tea.
Total cals (1700)
This thread does help though, keeps me focused. I might do a yoga video tonight.

@Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket I've had one of those days too. The kids were playing up big time and couldn't find it in me to be super mum. So the house is a tip, I've overeaten (1500cal) and homeschool was the bare minimum but hey ho. I needed it I think. I'm working tomorrow so a busy day and hopefully I'll get my steps in as well.

Hit 11k plus steps today though.

Well done @Heygirlheyboy!

@MonsteraCheeseplant I am going for BMI 23 as that is what the NHS BMI checker recommends for someone with my risk of diabetes. I've never been overly overweight but I've not been 8st 9 for about 8 years. I'm determined though. This COVID outbreak has reminded me that I need to be as healthy as I can be. I too am breaking it down into mini goals but I am at the hard slog bit which is just boring.
My next goal is BMI 24 which I think is the next pound or two. My clothes are fitting nicely now so I'm happy with the way I look but then I was before I lost weight.

Thanks @winterisstillcoming it helps to know everyone has bad days

Winters sorry to hear you had a bad day with your kids, I'm finding the whole home schooling thing really hard with my 10 year old DS, had some technical problems yesterday which we have managed to sort, so hopefully a bit easier today. Weighed 9st0.75 this morning, no exercise apart from Tesco as I got really behind on my work due to home schooling problems. Up earlier today but feeling a bit rough, sore throat really hoping it isn't the virus and that it will go away.

Meant to say on my post before, thanks for your thoughts yesterday. Have a good day all

Parents have a super tough job lately, be kind to yourselves!

DH and I did some skipping this morning. It's fun because I feel like a little girl, barely feels like exercise. I did more than him which was a bit of a surprise but i'm lighter than he so maybe it is easier for me. Still, I feel happy that i've done some 'proper' exercise today. And I could do it again 'cos it was fun.

I'm making Lasagne tonight. I haven't calculated how calorific it will be. I imagine a lot so we might have to reduce portion size accordingly . And no garlic bread with it for sure!

Thanks for sharing how you figure your goal weight. I'm 5'9.5" and for years (in my twenties, i'm now 34) I was around 10 stone 10. So that was my initial goal when I started (at 11 stone 7). I'll stick with it and see how I go. If I hit a plateau i'll do well to get there but if I continue losing steadily I might see if I can get to nearer 10 stone.

Sorry I've been a bit awol - have been avoiding the internet a bit. But, I am back now and have enjoyed catching up with everyone's news. I actually feel like I'm doing a bit better again now that we've instilled a proper routine for the week. just need to stick to it I'm going back to my 5:2 routine as of next week.
It's quite hard to decide on a goal, I think. There's a fine balance to be had between feeling at your best and making life too hard and unsustainable for yourself. I'm finding my current weight quite easy to maintain, so I'm going to try for another 7lbs. But, I do keep having a very weird feeling of sort of forgetting how much weight I've lost. My BMI is now 22, but in my head I'm still 3 stones heavier. It's very strange....

As a Psychologist, I do wonder if dieting until you feel "right" or good about your body, especially as women, is potentially a dangerous concept. Or just futile. I don't know maybe I will like my body one day but I'm not confident of that! And BMI isn't helpful either I think. My BMI is 23 but I'm around the heaviest I've ever been, have love handles and a flabby tummy.

I think you're probably right there Monstera ! But what's the answer? For me, it's always been mostly about getting into old clothes. But, even then, they'll undoubtedly still be something that I'm not happy with - namely flabby midriff!

But what's the answer? probably acceptance and making peace with our bodies. But if that's too hard, eat chocolate to console ourselves then continue the dissatisfaction cycle? [Grin]

I think you are right @MonsteraCheeseplant feeling good about your body is more of a psychological thing than a physical one. I'm mostly fine with my body, I've never hated it persay, but I don't think you can exist in Western culture and not get the message that there's something wrong with your female body.
I try to think about it more as a good and functional thing: this body gets me around, grew my kids, has good orgasms, enjoys food etc... i.e. what it does for me, rather than what it looks like to everyone else. Especially as most people are just looking at their phones anyway 😂