Moving down in May

[Octopus37]

So here's the new thread for tomorrow, excuse the boring title. Unless a miracle happens by tomorrow, I will be starting the month heavier than I started April. Weigh 9st1.5. Aiming for 8st13. Hopefully things might start to change in May. even if its only slightly, which will lift our spirits.

[Octopus37]

Welcome TheHoneyBadger. Well done Iggle, sounds as if you are having really good days. Doing so so here, food yesterday:
Cereal bar
2 oat cakes
Yorkie Bar
Sausage sandwich made with 3 sausages, fried onions, white crusty bread (not too much) and some Nandos medium sauce
However, due to time I didn't manage a big walk yesterday, only a smaller walk to go shopping. I know people say that exercise doesn't make a difference but for me it does seem to. Weighed 9st1.5 today. Didn't have very much sleep last night, DH unwell and stressed (not CV, earache). older DS playing up, v tired tbh., need to look after DH but hope ok to moan on here. Both DS's up late so wont be starting school work for a while, haven't got a scrap of energy to do Joe Wickes, can hardly move. Lots to do today, need to do it without eating my body weight in chocolate, tall order.

[twobambinos]

@Octopus37 hope dh feels better soon.
No dcs here for school yet either. Still in bed. Exhausted from all the disruption to the routine.
We managed Joe wickes one morning. Could not walk for a few days after it and I would have thought I was reasonably fit.
Will try and get a walk in tonight when dh finishes.

Weetabix for breakfast again.

[TheHoneyBadger]

Thanks iggle glad to know others have sizeable losses to achieve too. Scales haven’t reacted as much as I’d like but trying to remember I lost 4lbs last week so I’ll try to be happy with just consolidating that loss this week itms.

Ds threatening to come on a bike ride with me later which may help and GP has put up my thyroid meds a little bit as my levels were a bit low.

Hope everyone has a good day.

[TheHoundsofLove]

Honey You'll get there! I've lost 3 stones with intermittent fasting and haven't counted a single calorie. It is slow, but I find it fits so well with family life and it really seems to suit me.
Well, I feel as though I'm back in the zone - had a pleasant 8.5km run and then did Joe's PE with my son. Have made hummus and a new batch of garlic and herb flatbreads for lunch - the flatbreads freeze really well so I wrap them in single portions and then they're super easy to take out when needed.
I hope that everyone is having a good Tuesday. We can totally do this!

[Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket]

Sorry to hear about your DH @Octopus37 that and dealing with kids acting up is stressful and it's hard to look after yourself as well. Remember you are worth it!
Can you post the flatbread recipe @TheHoundsofLove? Sounds good.
@TheHoneyBadger just think of your total loss it's more motivating!

[Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket]

Today's food:
B. Mushrooms, bacon, toast
L. Apple, hard boiled egg, hummus, crudités
D. Fish fingers chips and peas. Halo top ice-cream if there are any spare calories

[TheHoundsofLove]

This is the recipe I use: Flatbreads .

[MonsteraCheeseplant]

I miss yesterday's Huevos Rotos.

Today's food:
B: Yoghurt
L: Chicken noodle soup
D: Leek and potted shrimp risotto
S: A couple of choc digestive thins and a Nutella B-ready.

Managed to do a bit of skipping this morning but it hurt my back which is annoying. Am very cautiously considering adding a little bit of jogging to my daily walk. I say cautiously because I've tried jogging in the past including couch to 5k and hated it. I wish I was good at it but am no natural. I just remember my lungs burning. Still, the walking doesn't quite feel enough so we might try to introduce a little jog in the middle of the walk and see how that goes.

[Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket]

Thanks hounds!

[TheHoneyBadger]

We are having takeaway tonight. Obviously not ideal for a person who wants to lose weight but this has been ds and i's fortnightly treat since going into lockdown. We stopped school etc a week before they closed and it's our little bit of treat.

Not ideal obviously but I did do a bit of a bike ride to drop things off at parents. Having a cheeseburger and curly fries.

thanks hounds of love - IF works for me because it doesn't require daily calorie counting and deprivation. If it is a bit slower so be it - sustainability outweighs speed.

[Octopus37]

The Honey Badger , four pounds in a week and then still loosing the week after is fantastic. Hope you enjoyed your takeaway, we need some treats. Did so so yesterday, ate too many oven chips with my dinner though, but didn't manage to go completely crazy overall considering I was so tired. 9st1.5 still this morning. Just eaten my cereal bar. Joe Wickes time shortly.

[Twilbury]

I lost 3 pounds last week and I reckon I have put it back on in the last two days. Does anyone know of any good books on emotional eating ?
Between stress of home schooling a teen (he is able but anxious and I have to sit with him while he procrastinates and struggles with the whole concept)
I have 2 deadlines this week and extra work to do for my actual job.
When this happens I definitely head to the carbs and booze as a coping mechanism which of course just makes me feel worse.

Any ideas (or even a kick) would be really appreciated.

[MonsteraCheeseplant]

I don't know of books on emotional eating actually which surprises me (as a Psychologist...). But I wonder if you have any other ways of managing your emotions that you could try before reaching for food? You may have your own that you could re-visit or we could all think about ways that might be helpful? I know you aren't alone in doing it.

I am a wee bit proud of myself for introducing a few short jogs into my and DHs walk yesterday. They were only short and few but it was a start and I realise that if I do it my way, it won't be an awful experience and i might want to do it again. As it happens I really do so we're wearing some slightly more exercise friendly clothing for our walk tonight. I have developed a bad back over the last week or so which didn't help so I did a 10 minute yoga practice for back pain this morning. I'll try to remember to do it most mornings if I can now.

[MonsteraCheeseplant]

I've just had a search of professional forums i'm a member of and they recommend these resources (please note I haven't read them myself but the books are by professionals I know of and trust):
Emotional Eating article
The Weight Escape by Russ Harris
The Compassionate Mind Approach to Beating Overeating by Kenneth Goss
On Eating by Susie Orbach
Mindful eating as a concept generally

[Twilbury]

Thank you @MonsteraCheeseplant
It is so frustrating , I have the insight to know that I am doing it but I still find myself pushing the Fuck it button all the time.
I finally managed to buy a swingball so maybe instead of reaching for the bread I can go into the garden and whack that for 5 minutes. Exercising definitely helps doesn't it ?
In my clearer moments I try and think of it in the same way I did when I stopped smoking years ago. I knew that the craving would appear again , the act of smoking doesn't get rid of the craving it just pushes it away for 15 mins.

I am going to have a look on amazon and see if I can find any with good reviews.

[Twilbury]

Thank you that is really kind of you. I will have a look .

[Hangoverstruggles]

Morning! Just seen this thread pop up in active. Can I join please?

I started 3 weeks ago at 11st 2, and set myself a challenge to be really good until my birthday this week.

I've lost 7lb!! But birthday week is upon me and I know I'll find it hard to get back on the wagon after cake, wine and take away!

Aiming to get straight back on the wagon on Monday:

Low cal (1200)
Only eating between 12 - 8pm
Couch 2 5k

Really want to get to 10st 3, maybe 10st! I'm 5'8"

Would love some moral support!

[MonsteraCheeseplant]

I think it's a really positive sign that you are looking into reading up on it etc.

This may seem quite random but hey, it's the area that I work in so it's what I know. I say to clients who self-harm to make themselves a self-soothing box, full of things they love, photos of people who love them, favourite quotes, soothing enjoyable activities etc. and put it in an obvious place e.g. on top of the kitchen drawer where the sharps are. When they feel the urge to self-harm, postpone it for a second and pick up the box and look in it. Usually something in there takes their fancy for a short while and then the urge has passed.

You could do this in a way. Create a little resource with distraction ideas, motivational quotes etc. Just postpone the craving for a bit and try something else.

On a personal note, when I quit sugar for 7 months, I found it really helpful not to deny myself something forever but to say, i'll have it at the weekend or at this party or whatever thing. Then when the time came, I didn't always want it but if I did, I was totally allowed.

[MonsteraCheeseplant]

Welcome Hangover And congratulations on your loss so far! I am also 5'8" (and an all important half). I started at 11 stone 7 and last weigh in was 10 stone 12. Aiming for 10 stone 10 then perhaps 10 stone 5. 10 stone dead on might be unsustainably low for me, although would be nice i'm sure. We'll see how it goes. I am also doing 1200 cal but no IF, some exercise as I fancy, nothing structured.

Did anyone see Adele's most recent instagram post? She looks unrecognisable.

[Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket]

Hi all,
Welcome @Hangoverstruggles
Today I'm in danger of going over my calories. Food so far:
B. Toast & marmalade coffee
L. That nice chorizo/ potato/ egg thing you recommended monster (was lovely & filling thanks!)
Total Cal's so far about 1000
Not sure what to have for tea. Should be fine if I reign in the carbs

[TheHoneyBadger]

"I am a wee bit proud of myself for introducing a few short jogs into my and DHs walk yesterday. They were only short and few but it was a start and I realise that if I do it my way, it won't be an awful experience and i might want to do it again." Well done Monster. Getting started is half the battle with everything. At least now you know I won't die or smack myself in the face with my boobs if I break into a jog Getting back on a bicycle yesterday was a bit of a revelation - err yes I can still ride a bike.

Do you like yoga Twilbury? I have always loved yoga but easily fall out of the habit and then struggle to get back in. For emotional overload/stress I quite like just doing 'legs up the wall'. You literally put your bottom against the wall and your legs up and sit there and breath, a few minutes of that helps me to change state. Whacking the swingball probably burns more calories though.

Hi hangover. I'm 5'7 and for me (at 44) 10st would be too light because it would be so hard to sustain. I spent most of my post motherhood life between 10 and 11 stone. I've recently piled on a lot after surgery. I'd be happy to get to 11 again and sustain it for quite a while and then 'see' if I could go lower. Maybe for now (with the birthday business) just aim to sustain your new weight? Then when you've done that for a month or so look again?

Today I have eaten nothing as I was busy and distracted by trying to get ds(13) caught up on maths (painful bloody business). However I have now opened a beer - rubbish I know. I guess the challenge now is to not hit the 'fuck it' button and make a plan.

What do you aim for in calories Iggle?

[Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket]

Hi @honeybadger I aim for 1500 and if it goes to 1700 that's still ok. MFP says I can loose 1lb a week on 1700. I'm 5ft 10 and quite a sturdy person!

[MonsteraCheeseplant]

God I have just realised that I wrote my height wrong. I'm 5'9.5' Not a big deal but you'd think i'd have known my own bloomin' height!

[Hangoverstruggles]

Yes HoneyBadger you're probably right. Maintain would be an achievement in itself!

I feel like I've started some really good habits and gotten more aware of calories by using MFP. Today I had a huge salad with chicken and low fat cottage cheese for lunch, and a thick veg & cannelini bean soup for dinner with banana cake and a smoothie as snacks.

I'm finding it easier on lockdown because there are just no excuses! No bbqs, parties l, drinks, lunches, days out etc. I think when we're 'released' it will be easy for old habits to creep in!

[MonsteraCheeseplant]

I'm finding it easier on lockdown because there are just no excuses! No bbqs, parties l, drinks, lunches, days out etc. I think when we're 'released' it will be easy for old habits to creep in!

Agreed.