Shorties trying to lose weight!

[SwimmingOnEggshells]

I started my fatbusting journey a couple of weeks ago and my plan is to document my progress here.

So far I've been doing a fair bit of cardio - 5 times per week - and I'm hoping this will help me get rid of some lbs. I posted a thread on AIBU looking for people's advice on only using exercise to lose weight but the general consensus is that no, I need to calorie restrict too. Boo! is what I say to that but maybe I need to face facts that I'm no longer a spring chicken and need to make a concerted effort with food too to shed anything!

Anyone want to join me?! @neverenoughchelseaboots

Current weight: 60kg/132lbs
Target: 50kg/110lbs
Height: 5'0 :(
Age: 39

So I'm going to try again from today! I weighed myself this morning and I'm 125lbs so I am down a few pounds - no idea how but I'm just going to take it! I've done zero exercise so I really need to tackle that. Planning on going for a walk this evening after work - and I'm ordering Inositol asap

Sending strength and positive vibes to all the shorties!

I am doing so badly at my own thread . The weekend wasn't great, i scoffed so many crisps and drank way too much wine. I spent the weekend catching up on sleep after staying up until 4am on Thursday night watching the US election which meant I just wanted to eat everything in sight. Anyone else get insanely hungry when they're tired?

Mid-week I do well, but I think I just un-do on the weekends, hence the snails pace progress.

@MrsAvocet don't be so hard on yourself! You're great to get out on your bike at all! I used to cycle but I had an accident on my commute one day and I never got back into it again. I'm very accident prone so I'm better off on a stationary bike where I can't do myself or anyone else too much damage!

Welcome @Parbor, 1200cals is depressing isn't it?! Literally no wiggle room at all.

Yesterday I ate: Coffee, soup and one slice of bread for lunch, chicken cashew nut and rice for dinner (homemade). I used a baking cup to make a cute little dome of rice, made it feel very fancy!

I've also started going to bed after my kids are asleep to watch tv there because if I head downstairs I'm tempted to either have a drink or snack.

Today: 55 minute intense session on the bike, coffee, Lidl med salad planned for lunch (330 cals I think) and then carbonara for dinner, eeek. My kids are fussy feckers so we eat a fair bit of pasta. Will do my best not to give myself a mountainous portion.

Can I join please? I am nearly 12 stone and 5'1. This is the heaviest I have ever been and I look huge. I am now watching what I eat.

Of course @UnicornsForLife! Take it a day at a time, try to be as consistent as possible, yet accept that you're likely to slip up from time to time. Just make sure you get back on the horse (or unicorn?!) and you can do it 💪

Welcome @UnicornsForLife !! Are you following any plan? We're all doing a variety of things. I was initially quite strict with low sugar or lactose (dairy), low grains, low fat, high protein... and lost 7lb in 4 weeks but the last 2 weeks have maintained whilst gearing up for another stricter few weeks. I'd like to get another 4lb off by xmas...more realistic than the 7lb I hoped for.

@SwimmingOnEggshells
Don't beat yourself up! You're still here and that's the most important thing!! Well done for the 55m on bike!!!

I got a new smart tracker watch which is really motivating me. It is very fancy and measures everything. I like to see my resting heart rate pattern, it's higher than I thought as my last watch was not accurate!! And I'm amazed at how many calories I'm burning. Yesterday for example, I burned 1800, 1400 of which were at rest (I'm 5ft 2, weigh 135lb). This is a LOT more than I thought my bmr was. I've not been calorie counting but now I'm tempted to!

I'm going to squeeze a circuits workout in today and carry on with my plan. I am feeling a lot more in the zone this week!!!

Have a good Wednesday everyone!

Tell me more about the smart tracker @Beroltheperil - I am tempted to get one too. I saw a chart about calories less than daily requirement needed to lose weight. It said -500 a day to lose a pound a week so no wonder that is too big an ask for us shorter folk! My daily requirement is 1400 according to my fitness pal and there is no way I can do (or want to do) 900 calories a day for a sustained period of time. I am trying to do 1200 to varying degrees of success - like you @SwimmingOnEggshells I am doing better during the week and then the wheels come off the plan at the weekend. I guess this shows I need to up the exercise in addition to watching what I eat. This week has been a mixed bag so I expect to maintain again at best. Beginning to realise I have got to commit more fully if I want to see further results....

Actually it was my fitness pal that set 1200 calories to lose weight - I got the 1400 daily requirement for my height\weight somewhere else online :)

Im following slimming world. I lost weight on it afew years ago. I know it works its just sticking to it!

I have loved catching up on your wonderful weight losses and stories and also the (familair territory for me) fallings down! Thank you so much for these posts.

I am very near my target weight now at 50.7kg. In old money, for you Imperial lot, I have lost 1 1/2 stone and am 8stone or so. I like weighing in kilos and like the 100g increments.

I weigh every day and record it on MFP and I weigh in the evening to predict the morning. Then hubby and I have a chat about it. ;) If I am a little bit up I stick more closely to leaving the 16hours between supper and late breakfast, doing the 16:8. Otherwise I try to choose carefully what I eat and it is usually low carb, like eggs. I do like sweet chilli sauce and I have a tiny bit of that with eggs or veg. It is warming.

I have done less of the 5:2 as I am eating very little as it is. Especially compared to a normal height woman my age!
Like @SwimmingOnEggshells said on the day of the US election - eating a normal portions for breakfast, lunch and dinner stops us losing, and I say that for most of us shorties it actually makes us put on weight! It is so sad and unfair.

I have lost weight by removing white carbs and biscuits and cake, and reducing portion sizes. It’s grim. I am getting used to it. I miss bread and pizza.

I say to myself “Does that Pizza/Chocolate/crisps/curry taste as good as slim feels?”

I have been dieting since June, 4.5months and although my appetite is less I still would like normal portion sizes. The HABIT of eating less is not instinctual to me!!! I want a full take out curry, not a petite ladies portion!!

I fall off the wagon all the time!! Accountability helps keep me going and my husband is dieting too which is an enjoyable benefit.

I find chopping vegetables boring and time consuming and it takes up a lot of room in the fridge. I also cook for teenagers so we have high calorie food and huge portions and meals between meals happening for skinny youths. Quite frankly it will be easier when they’ve left home!

I have a mild fear that I am quite lean now and what if I contract coronavirus?

My face has not gone wrinkly and I have fat deposits on my tum and thighs, so I actually still have one or two more kilos to lose.

I love marrow and courgettes and peppers, I do not know the calorific or carb value of veg and I just ignore it. I have, however, seriously reduced my fruit intake and do not drink juice.

Sending huge virtual hugs and pats on the backs to you ladies, all of us in it together trying to get trim before Christmas... and as an ongoing way of life! X

@modernfemininity you sound incredibly dedicated! You've done brilliantly and it sounds very well deserved . I just don't think I have it in me to change to that degree but right now I'm making better choices abs exercising mid week and whilst I'm seeing a general downward trend I'm happy. I might need to make further changes if I really plateau.

And like you, I love people's updates. I often think who wants to read about my run etc etc but actually, I do like others' posts so I'll put my updates down too.

The scales are showing I'm a bit up on last week bit after a super weigh in I'm okay with that because I can see progress in Other, better ways. Namely I've increased my running distances considerably twice this week and not had any walking breaks. I can also see a difference in my tone and body.

I've just ordered a load of workout gear in Fabletics Black Friday sale which is a treat for getting back running after 3 years.

I've just seen some old pictures of me (10 years ago) and I look so slim! It's not got me down though because I've looked objectively and should be really grateful that my skin coped with pregnancy very well and if I can tone up I'll be good. I don't have any sagging or stretch marks.

Things I'm less pleased with this week: I had a bit of wine and cake while watching the bake off last night. 😬

Thanks again for all your updates all and welcome @UnicornsForLife 👋

Such cruel ads on this thread

Yes I saw that too!! Thought they were just targeting me!!

I had a full size samosa this evening

Well today was a bit shit. I lost my job this morning, my year 13 son got sent home from school to self isolate due to Covid-19 positive cases in his class this afternoon, and this evening I discovered that I have to somehow try to isolate my chickens from other birds due to an avian flu outbreak. And I've just eaten half a packet of shortbread. Why can't I be one of these people who loses their appetite in times of stress?
Ah well, tomorrow is another day. Things can only get better. Send me some anti comfort eating vibes please. I will not add getting fat again to my woes!

Oh @MrsAvocet that sounds awful. I don't have many wise things to say but hope you're okay. xx

Thanks @neverenoughchelseaboots. I'll be ok. I knew it was coming, but still upsetting as I have been with the same employer for more than 20 years. Something will turn up I'm sure. I'm more worried about DS as he really struggles with home learning and another 2 weeks out so close to A levels is all he needs. Bloody Covid. There are lots worse off than me though.

That’s a lot to cope with in one day!!!!
When one door closes, another opens. I am sure you and your son can be a comfort to each other. Family is everything. And he probably likes any pudge that you’re carrying - sees it as comforting.

Look after yourself kindly. Maybe you will have time for more walks..and if you don’t eat whilst walking you could actually find you lose a little bit of weight.

If you have to work for a while before leaving, you can cruise through your last bit of time there.

Sorry to hear you are having a tough time @MrsAvocet - hopefully you are getting a decent redundancy package as you have been with your employer for so long and that will give you time to plan your next move. My sympathies also to your son - A levels are tough enough without this added stress...I do suspect they might cancel the exams so there is pressure to do well in the mocks too

@MrsAvocet what a shitty day!

@SwimmingOnEggshells definitely hungry when tired which is pretty much all the time so...

I’m now trying to do 16:8 because I found I was having my cereal early then having toast after the school run so basically having two breakfasts. It seems to be working so far but I spend the entire time craving my weetabix. Of all the ridiculous foods to crave!

I’m not calorie counting because I find it too depressing but just trying to be mindful and avoid boredom eating/finishing the kids food/shoving a hunk of cheese in my mouth when I’m making sandwiches. Also making my portions a bit smaller. Have also put my Fitbit back on to try to make sure I do my 10000 steps. I do easily 13-18000 in the week with the school runs and housework but weekends I have to make a bit more effort.

Oh @MrsAvocet that's dreadful. Sending you hugs. You've so much going on. Go easy on yourself and don't feel guilty about comfort eating

I've been so strict over the last few days, it better be paying off! I'm shining my halo as I type.

Speaking of fitbits @Parbor I dusted off my old one and I'm charging it up at the moment. It doesn't have HR on it but I want to know what steps I'm doing a day because I suspect I'd be lucky to get 2000 with WFH. If it wasn't for my exercise bike I'd be a complete sloth.

Food plan for today: Coffee, Mediterranean salad, Chinese hoisin pork with rice with greens cooked in oyster sauce.

I work from home too and my steps count is dreadful if I don’t go out. And I don’t go out very often.

@Parbor welcome to doing the 16:8. Not sure if it’s your first time or a repeat. FWIW my experience is that I thought I would find 16:8 so easy and to start with it was - I was eating more and I allowed milk in my morning cuppa. To lose weight as a shortie I then found I needed to cut down on portions, and the 16:8 became really hard!!! Then, of course, having read up on the health benefits of fasting, I cut out the milk in tea in the mornings. It’s tricky now.

I delay rather than deny. Equally I do deprive myself of weetabix and so I am jealous (!!) because I guess the carb load will take too many calories. I find wheat makes me hungrier and it’s easier to skip it and have a tuna salad or eggs, or left over spicy veg stew or stirfry. What I find hard is having all the lovely diet-friendly food actually available, when weetabix is soo accessible and satisfying and tasty. That’s the pain - and so I batch cook and have tubbies of leftovers in the fridge.

@SwimmingOnEggshells, your meal sounds delish!! Quite calorific? Tasty though. I would eat loads, that’s my downfall.

In a moment I will start on tonight’s dinner. Shepherds pies - one with potato topping, but for us 2 slimmers in the house, ours will have mashed swede atop. I will save some minced lamb and make a moussaka with Marrow instead of aubergine which I don’t have, and with yet more mince, mixed with beef mince, I will make a lasagne with par boiled leeks instead of pasta sheets.

I better crack on! Lots of double version cooking for me to start prepping, and then I will finish it this evening.

It’s lunch time and I feel tired. Not eaten...

I will kick myself if I get covid. People I know who have had it have lost weight whilst having it and have gained more in excess weight afterwards. They feel tired post virally and cannot exercise, and comfort eat/reward eat. It is human nature I suppose.

Waaaah! Don't tell me that @modernfemininity. I'm going to weigh the pork now and I do a little dome of rice which is 200cals I think

Yikes, I added it up, 700 Cals for dinner.

Plus 319 for lunch and 100 for breakfast. Brings me to 1174.

26 remaining...argh.

Yet to do my bike session but I'm doing that before dinner and I'm also planning on going for a walk

Morning all

Just catching up. @modernfemininity that is awesome! You are so inspiring. I love that just a few habit changes have added up to all that weight loss and that you have stuck to it despite it being grim. I think we can all agree..losing weight is grim. It's no fun at all but there is a sense of achievement when it works.

@MrsAvocet I'm sorry you're having such a rough time. How are you doing now,?

@SwimmingOnEggshells well done for having a good few days! I cant remember if it was you asking about my fitness watch...it is a garmin vivoactive 4s. I love looking through all the info it collects about my stats, heart rate, sleep, calories etc. It tracks my workouts and provides a detailed breakdown of everything. Best thing is seeing how many cals I have burned when I do my dog walks and hiit classes, then I can add a few more treats to my diet and not feel bad. But unfortunately this has led me to maintain weight yet another week!

I am burning almost 2000 a day on good days!!! Loving it.

Hope weigh in goes well for you all!

It was me asking about the tracker @Beroltheperil - thanks for the info. I can report a small loss this week but it is slow going. 9.72 this week against 9.76 the week before and 9.78 before that. So progress but very, very slow progress. I tend to let things slip at the weekend so I am going to make more of an effort to stay in track this weekend and hopefully that will get me under nine and a half stone next weigh-in. Hope everyone else is feeling positive.