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

Bridgeton may reduce your stress levels but could set your hormones/libido surging

@purplegirl13 I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you're feeling okay both mentally and physically. xxx

Ok, yesterday was a write off but I start afresh today. I need to keep myself busy and distracted. Job hunting continues.

The covid test came back negative but knew it would as it's been too soon after exposure to show otherwise. I will continue to self-isolate and test again if I need to. Just hoping the next 10 days are smooth sailing and asymptomatic.

I only had coffee and pizza yesterday. Started watching a foreign language tv show (which is keeping my focus as have to read the subtitles).

Weighed in today and it showed a 1lb loss from last week, so I'll take it.

Today:
B - coffee with syrup (last have a tiny bit of vanilla syrup left)
L - homemade red lentil & chickpea soup from the freezer
D - leftover pizza

I am also starting 30 days of yoga today so wish me luck! The lack of outside space whilst I self-isolate is going to really affect my mood :(

@cathyandclare decided to save Bridgeton for when my mood gets low

Good to hear you're hanging in there @purplegirl13, you have some good strategies in place which is half the battle I think.

I had a slip up with my 16:8 yesterday; I had my usual soup for lunch with some smoked salmon (no bread, it was a bit strange), then tortellini for dinner at 6pm but by 11pm I was STARVING. There was no way I was going to sleep with the thunderous grumbles coming from my tummy so I had a yoghurt and could then sleep.

Today it's been coffee for breakfast, will finish my lentil, tomato and coconut soup at lunch and then it's cottage pie for dinner. Monday to Friday I'm pretty much ravenous the whole time but it seems to be the only way I can lose weight? I don't count calories but I might calculate yesterday's to see how much it amounts to.

@SwimmingOnEggshells yes, I always feel a bit better if I've got a plan as it can help keep the anxiety at bay.

You might not be eating enough? or maybe not enough protein?

I think I naturally do 16:8 (but this isn't working as I'vestarted waking early). I am going to start having greek yogurt for breakfast.

I only had coffee this morning and I am starving now, I know this means my planned soup for lunch (without bread) won't feel like it's enough, and I'm prone to not thinking clearly about my choices when hungry

urrgh...my mum has tested positive

Oh no :( how is she feeling? @purplegirl13

I think you're right - my dinner was too carb heavy yesterday. Definitely part of the problem.

That soup sounds lovely @SwimmingOnEggshells I'll have to give it a try. I'm not that into soup but I'm am so boooooored of our lunches.

Going to try a few new evening recipes this week, so if good I'll share them. Lentil fritters is up tomorrow with sweet potato wedges. I don't really calorie count so I'll check if they are actually healthy first before I share!

The one good thing about having such a serious vice (the wine!) is that I have something that can be cut and make a substantial difference rather than marginal gains.

I realised this morning that I am 0.4 lbs off losing a full stone since lockdown first began. I'm really hoping to be there by Friday.

I've been thinking a lot about drinking habits and have a clear and resolute plan for after dry jan ends. However - I feel I've lost weight in recent months because I've not been in environments like the office with tons of biscuits etc. So I'm concerned I haven't actually changed my habits or mentality with food, just not had the same opportunities for greed as before.

It's playing on my mind and I'm trying to thing about my triggers and what I can do to stop it going back on.

Ultimately I eat like I'm not going to get the chance for that treat again. If I go to an event with a buffet I pre-eat so that I'm not so stressed by wanting everything when I'm there. I was a terribly fussy eater and lived off next to nothing for about 20 years and have been making up for lost time ever since.

Sorry this has been very long! It's just having examined my behaviours and made such progress with drinking mentality it's got me thinking about the future eating and my health in general.

@SwimmingOnEggshells my mum didn't sound too bad this morning - mentioned she had a high temperature Sunday/yesterday and that it was lower but not quite normal today. I spoke to her at 4pm and she sounds worse, body aches and pains, tight chest (which she didn't mention earlier) so I'm not sure if this is a development or she was playing things down earlier. She has COPD so I'm quite worried and there's nothing I can do but wait and see.

@neverenoughchelseaboots I think we have a similar mentality when it comes to wine and food. I have found changing the narrative sometimes helps, so it's not that I 'can't eat' the biscuits/cakes in the office (when we used to be there!) but that I don't. So it's a decision you're making, not one that is forced on you. The 'delay, not deny' is working well for me as well.

I don't have this 'willpower' that people speak of, if I know it's in the flat (ice cream etc) I will eat it.

It is slightly easier to control what is in my environment because it's just me, but I imagine it's much more difficult when there are snacks in for a partner/children.

@purplegirl13 hope your mum is ok, must be a big worry for you. Like you say there's nothing you can do but wait and fingers crossed she'll come out the other side ok.

I have realised that I have quite a lot of willpower but only if I am setting specific targets - ie doing a 6 week stint of eating healthy / exercising every day and weighing / measuring myself at the beginning and end of the 'challenge'. If I told myself I was eating healthy for the next 3 months or whatever I probably wouldn't be half as good as what I am at the minute! 6 weeks seems quite attainable to me whereas months isn't...

I may set myself another target at the end of these 6 weeks depending on how I do!

Good reflections @neverenoughchelseaboots - hopefully your habits will change permanently. I know having a drink in the evening can easily become a habit for me. Re. cutting a vice, I remember years ago a friend stopped drinking Coke and she lost a stone! or a family member who just cut out biscuits with his tea and lost something like half a stone

But seriously, a stone is so impressive @neverenoughchelseaboots, have you gone down a dress size? You must be so pleased to see progress happening.

@purplegirl13 oh your poor mum, I hope she makes a speedy recovery. It's such a scary time at the moment. Hang in there

Things are a bit with my food today: I stuck to my soup for lunch but ate about 6 slices of extra cheese I cut for the DCs lunches, then had cottage pie for dinner as planned but about an hour ago I had a hankering for a cocoa so I made one on skimmed milk. Not ideal but not the worst either I suppose.

@Wargghhhh my progress is painfully slow so I reckon I'm here until the summer at least. Soups every day for lunch for the next 6 months kind of makes me want to cry but I try not to think about it

@SwimmingOnEggshells oh dear lol! one day at a time... when I was doing 5:2 I had poached egg on toast every day which is really low in calories but definitely filling. Could you maybe try alternative options for lunch so you're not as bored?!

I'm ok, didn't sleep well and spent most of the day in bed. I just need to get through this next week and hope for the best.

@SwimmingOnEggshells I would love the recipe for lentil, tomato and coconut soup. I am doing the same as you and having soup most days (have a stack in the freezer). Your food intake yesterday seemed ok but are you having enough of the soup to fill you up? Do you need to add more protein at lunch? I mean I'd have still eaten the cheese but I wonder if it's because you were hungry, rather than the cheese just being there?

Can you break up the soup lunches with salad instead for a couple of days, or have eggs like @Wargghhhh suggested?

The soup recipes that I've been enjoying (some of which are in the freezer)
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/red-lentil-chickpea-chilli-soup

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/mushroom-soup

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/carrot-coriander-soup

www.gimmesomeoven.com/slow-cooker-black-bean-soup-recipe/

cookinglsl.com/easy-tomato-feta-soup-recipe-low-calorie-low-carb-keto/

Today:
B - nothing (didn't walk up until 11am!)
L - large salad with goats cheese, houmous, veggie 'kebab' pieces
D - steamed veg, veggie sausages, a few mozzarella sticks
plus a large sugary cappuccino this afternoon.

That red lentil, chickpea and chilli soup looks good @purplegirl13. Hope your mum (and you) continue to feel okay/get better. I won't list my food today it as was a carb fest - if I lose in Friday I'll be surprised....

Is there a covid news update from you @purplegirl13? I hope things are turning out not too bad. Also is there news from all the Shorties Group?

I am so saddened by the covid news, the weather and floods and a fair bit of distress I am hearing about outside my home. I am keeping our household a bit cheerier with cakes and chocolate and tasty meals, but everyone seems to be feeling more and more disheartened.
Diet-wise am doing the 16:8 and making healthier main meal choices but still nibbling at bits I shouldn’t (chocolate cake with buttercream), eating too many carbs and drinking the old vino. Oops.

Good morning fellow Shorties,

I have been for another test this morning(on the advice from my GP). I've been hyper aware over the last few days and trying not to read too much into low-grade fever, tickle in the back of my throat etc

My mum doesn't seem to be doing too badly (fingers crossed) although a fall the other night hasn't helped. I'm in a better place mentally and am hoping she starts to feel better soon.

Eating wise, I'm trying to make sensible options and balance out the more calorific meals.

Yesterday:
B - kefir yogurt drink
L - large salad with goats cheese, and veggie 'kebab' pieces
S - veggie sausages rolls, and then some dark choc
D - lasagne, green veg

It's a tough time for all of us and be kind to yourselves, especially if you need a pick me up piece of cake or a glass or two of wine. Don't use it as an opportunity to write off what we are trying to do, but don't beat yourselves up either x

Happy weigh in day - good luck! I'll weigh in next Friday

Very glad to hear things are still looking okay @purplegirl13 - I'm keeping fingers crossed for you and your mum that it stays that way and starts to improve. x

I've hit goal weight!
Start - 9st 10.8 lbs
Target - 9st
Today - 8st 13.8lbs

And that's over a full stone since lockdown first begun (10st 0.4lbs)

I want to tell everyone I know but haven't because I'm aware weight chat is ultra boring for anyone else. It's so good to have a band of shortie comrades to share the highs and lows with here.

New target is 8st 10lbs. It's only 4 lbs but 8 and half stone seems wildly unachievable seeing as I could never get there 10 years ago, pre-child, in my twenties with a personal trainer and not drinking much. So it seems like I'm setting myself up to fail if I set that as the next goal.

Hope everyone else is doing well, @modernfemininity it sounds like you've got a good balance between healthy meals and cutting yourself some slack at a really tricky time. I'm so hoping for some more optimistic news in the world in the next few weeks.

@neverenoughchelseaboots That is great news!!

Setting a goal of a few lbs at a time seems like a sensible option

Wahey @neverenoughchelseaboots! well done, that's an amazing weight loss and I'd say you've lost it at a perfect pace as well. Much more sustainable that way I think.

@purplegirl13 eek, it does look like you're getting some symptoms doesn't it? I'm hoping you don't get any worse. Let us know the results of your test

I agree on the news @modernfemininity it's so depressing. The deaths in the UK and here in Ireland are grim.

As for me, well I really took my foot off the pedal this week and I'm now over 9 stone again - 1/5 lb gain on last week putting me at 9 stone and 1/5 lb. I'm feeling a bit down at the moment, I'm terrible at homeschooling and work is being neglected so badly, plus I'm waking in the middle of the night a lot, worrying about everything and anything. Sigh. Onwards we go...

Homeschooling sounds incredibly tough and homeschooling plus working is way, way beyond anyone's max capacity- so don't give yourself any other goals or restrictions @SwimmingOnEggshells

I'm incredibly lucky that DD can still go to pre-school and it's all outdoors (brrrrrrr 🥶) so hopefully with a reduced risk. But talking to my friends about what their days are like with children at home and work to do, it sounds absolutely unbearable.

I know it's easier said than done but you can only do what you can do.

Well done on reaching your initial goal @neverenoughchelseaboots. I can report a small loss this week so things still going in the right direction. Today I'm 9 stone 3.6 lb as against 9 stone 4 lb last week. My initial goal of 9 stone 2 lb getting closer

great news @neverenoughchelseaboots you've done really well!

I'm in a bit of a slump today, trying hard to keep positive but my husband and I are both self employed and we're just not earning enough money at the minute. Hoping things will look brighter in April - holding on to that thought!

I am still doing my 20-30 min workout every day and eating sensibly but sticking to my fortnightly weigh ins so another week to go for me.

I gave up drinking about 18 months ago, but the urge to neck a glass of wine is strong at the minute! I won't though!

Hope you start to feel better soon @purplegirl13 and that your mum's symptoms remain mild.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Well done @neverenoughchelseaboots, that's incredible. Well done everyone else who's keeping on keeping on. It's always so slow in us shorties and there are lots of weeks where we go back up a bit.

Thinking of you and your mum @purplegirl13.

I've lost a pound in the last week, which takes my total to 7.1 lb ( important not to forget the .1) It's glacially slow at the moment but trying to stick to it. If I get to a stone off I will be thrilled.

I had a Zoom call with friends and wore a new dress from the Whistles sale. It's an 8 and rather ..ahem...snug, I hope it will be the perfect fit by Easter!

Thank you everyone, for your good thoughts and wishes. My test came back so I'm cautiously optimistic and will continue to self-isolate for another week (until the 14 days are up). My mum is absolutely drained of energy, still has a high temp but no worsening of cough/breathlessness (which to me, are the signs to worry about).

@Morningmaeve good on your loss. Definitely going in the right direction!

@SwimmingOnEggshells I wish I had some lovely helpful words, but it's a difficult time for everyone so don't beat yourself up for slipping this week. I think for a lot of us, food is a comfort and we are all needing a bit of that right now. So if you gain, or don't lose for a few weeks that is OK. These are not normal times.

@neverenoughchelseaboots I shivered when I read your DD goes to pre-school outside. Brr, but as you say, reduced risk. I feel for anyone having to homeschool and work right now.

@Wargghhhh I hope you feel a bit better this weekend, and your mood improves - get out for some fresh air today if you can. Absolutely hold on to the thought that things will improve - it's what will get us through the next few months. What workout are you doing?

@cathyandclare good news about the loss, and every .1lb definitely counts!

and now for the weight loss chat....

Start: 10st 8.8lb (1st Jan)
Current: 10st 6.6lbs
Target: 10st 4.8lb

My ultimate target is to get to 8st7 but for now, I am setting a loss target of 4lbs every 5 weeks, which should be manageable if I stick to the calorie counting and walking (once I can).

I'll settle for 0.5lb loss each week. Losing 2 stones feels unachievable but this group (who get it) will hopefully keep me on track x