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

Thanks @Fembot123

Another good meal from this week was I used a portion of leftover lentils and mixed in a couple of spoons of flour and an egg. Formed into patties and fried. We had them with flatbreads, tzatziki and sweet potato wedges.

They felt like a good alternative to beef burgers (but maybe only to someone who's not had a beef burger for a year and can't remember how good they are )

Your food always sounds so tasty @neverenoughchelseaboots What recipe do you use for dhal? I need to boost my veggie repertoire.

Food today was:
Coffee
Egg and toast
1 chicken leg, baked potato with cheese and chives, sweetcorn and homemade coleslaw
Snack just now of crackers and Philadelphia (oops)
1 whiskey with water (random drink I know but I've developed a taste for it because my DH drinks it )

I don't count calories but I reckon this evening pushed me over 1200

I had half a can of Heinz baked beans and two slices of whole meal toast for lunch today (total 312 calories). I was really surprised at how much that filled me up. Highish sugar in the beans I know, and high carb in the bread. But I am calorie counting, and that is a fairly low calorie lunch for something so filling. I wasn’t at all hungry until five hours after.

@WellTidy

I had half a can of Heinz baked beans and two slices of whole meal toast for lunch today (total 312 calories). I was really surprised at how much that filled me up. Highish sugar in the beans I know, and high carb in the bread. But I am calorie counting, and that is a fairly low calorie lunch for something so filling. I wasn’t at all hungry until five hours after.

That sounds just the ticket, low cal and filling. My scales told me this morning I’d lost 7 pounds since yesterday, thought I was a medical marvel until I took them off the carpet and put them on wood.

Fembot that’s hilarious! I do hope my scales aren’t always telling me that I’m 7lb lighter than I really am though. That would be a shocker.

I am blaming the beans on toast on a 1 and a half lb gain between yesterday morning and this morning. Drat. I know I shouldn’t weigh daily, but it does keep me accountable.

5'4 and 63kg. Age 45. Motivation: Covid and extra weight, also long term effects/risks for body, joints etc. I don't think extra pounds doing my knees any favours.

Have CFS so have to be a bit careful with exercise (recent 30 min run/walk made me feel ill for 2 days after). I'm low carbing so have cut down my bread and sugar a lot these past 2 weeks and trying to eat protein and veg.

I think WFH and less walking to work has made a negative impact.

Need to try and do 30 minutes at least of some exercise a day.

Ladies, I haven't been posting because I haven't been strict with the diet and I'm not losing anything at the moment. However, I've made a significant gain-I've gained a job.
Similar to what I was doing before so I'll be on my feet more and have a routine again. I'm going to start back with the 16:8 properly on Monday and set a goal of 10st for 17th March.

@WhistlersandJugglers

Ladies, I haven't been posting because I haven't been strict with the diet and I'm not losing anything at the moment. However, I've made a significant gain-I've gained a job. Similar to what I was doing before so I'll be on my feet more and have a routine again. I'm going to start back with the 16:8 properly on Monday and set a goal of 10st for 17th March.

Yay! Well done 👍

That's brilliant news @WhistlersandJugglers

@SwimmingOnEggshells I usually do the below, I have a couple of other bookmarked but this one uses all stuff that I tend to always have in so no special purchases needed:

1 tsp olive oil or coconut oil
2 onions diced
3 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh ginger peeled and grated
½ finely chopped red chilli (or 1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes)
½ tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp coriander seeds
½ tsp mustard seeds
2 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp garam masala
1 cup (200g) dried red lentils, uncooked (rinsed and drained)
1 can (14oz/400ml) chopped tomatoes
1 can (14oz/400ml) coconut milk
2 cups (500ml) vegetable broth/stock
Salt and pepper
Juice of half a lemon
2 handfuls fresh spinach washed

Cook the onions in the oil until soft, then add the garlic and chilli (fresh finely diced chilli or dried chilli flakes).

1: Lightly grind the cumin seeds, mustard seeds and coriander seeds in a mortar and pestle.

2: Add the ground spices, as well as garam masala and turmeric to the pan, stir and cook for 1 minute.

3: Add the stock/broth, canned tomatoes, dry red lentils and coconut milk, stir well and simmer.

4: Simmer until thick, about 20-30 minutes.

5: Add the spinach and lemon juice. Stir to wilt the spinach

@neverenoughchelseaboots

That's brilliant news *@WhistlersandJugglers*

@SwimmingOnEggshells I usually do the below, I have a couple of other bookmarked but this one uses all stuff that I tend to always have in so no special purchases needed:

1 tsp olive oil or coconut oil
2 onions diced
3 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh ginger peeled and grated
½ finely chopped red chilli (or 1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes)
½ tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp coriander seeds
½ tsp mustard seeds
2 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp garam masala
1 cup (200g) dried red lentils, uncooked (rinsed and drained)
1 can (14oz/400ml) chopped tomatoes
1 can (14oz/400ml) coconut milk
2 cups (500ml) vegetable broth/stock
Salt and pepper
Juice of half a lemon
2 handfuls fresh spinach washed

Cook the onions in the oil until soft, then add the garlic and chilli (fresh finely diced chilli or dried chilli flakes).

1: Lightly grind the cumin seeds, mustard seeds and coriander seeds in a mortar and pestle.

2: Add the ground spices, as well as garam masala and turmeric to the pan, stir and cook for 1 minute.

3: Add the stock/broth, canned tomatoes, dry red lentils and coconut milk, stir well and simmer.

4: Simmer until thick, about 20-30 minutes.

5: Add the spinach and lemon juice. Stir to wilt the spinach

🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤

Hi, I'm new and I've enjoyed reading this thread :-) I'm 5'1 and currently 135lb. I start to feel comfortable at around 125lb and my aim is 115lb. All was going well until this lockdown, I'm homeschooling my 2 primary school age children and not moving much. I'm calorie counting with MFP but I'm finding it so hard as unless I'm more active, even on 1200 calories I don't lose very much at all. I can't see 115lb being achievable. Today I've fallen off the wagon because I felt headachy and just reached for the biscuits. If I mention to friends I do 1200 calories or less, I get lots of comments that I'm not eating enough Are you all just upping your exercise?

@Method

Hi, I'm new and I've enjoyed reading this thread :-) I'm 5'1 and currently 135lb. I start to feel comfortable at around 125lb and my aim is 115lb. All was going well until this lockdown, I'm homeschooling my 2 primary school age children and not moving much. I'm calorie counting with MFP but I'm finding it so hard as unless I'm more active, even on 1200 calories I don't lose very much at all. I can't see 115lb being achievable. Today I've fallen off the wagon because I felt headachy and just reached for the biscuits. If I mention to friends I do 1200 calories or less, I get lots of comments that I'm not eating enough Are you all just upping your exercise?

I wouldn’t mention it to my friends 😄 seriously though I do 16/8 so tend to take on less calories as I only have lunch and dinner. The food is 80% of what will help you lose weight but definitely add some exercise for tone, metabolism and both mental and physical health.

Laughing at your scales on the carpet @Fembot123. I have an old analogue scales that consistently puts me at 1/2 stone lighter... I like to stand on it when I'm feeling delusional

That recipe sounds really good @neverenoughchelseaboots. I had been googling recipes and Madhur Jaffrey uses Mung beans and I think I'd have to go to a specialist shop to get those around here so I'm pleased to have a red lentil version, thank you.

@WhistlersandJugglers High five on the new job and big congratulations. That's a lovely boost! When do you start?

I'm back to my pre-Christmas weight...FINALLY. Now at 125 3/4lb so just under 9 stone by 1/4lb. I'm amazed I managed to lose anything because I had a few slip ups this week - nearly half a Camembert eaten after a very stressful episode of The Serpent (anyone watching?) and then last night I necked half a decent sized bag of jelly beans in about two seconds flat. It was like a great famine was imminent and if I didn't eat the jellies there and then, I'd never eat again.

And welcome @Method, yeah don't tell anyone about 1200. Most people would have a conniption at the thought of it. Weirdly I only started to lose weight when I had to stop exercising because of a sore knee. I think I was over-calculating my exercise. But of course if you can exercise all the better, just don't do what I did!

Great news on the job @WhistlersandJugglers. It is weigh in day and....I've stayed the same! Getting under 9st 3lb is proving difficult. I did weigh less than that five years ago but time and the menopause have made it a tougher task. I need to exercise more (actually do some at all!) And drink less wine.

I’m trying to stick to under 1000 calories (still got a stone and a half to lose, lost 12lb to date) and my mum is absolutely aghast and worried about my health. Proper worried. So I don’t mention on it any more. She is 5 foot 6, and has been overweight for about 35 years. So she obviously eats in excess of 1000 most days, and I wouldn’t dream of ever mentioning it.

The Sinner was really disturbing! I have binge watched It’s A Sin and I found that really traumatic too, it is staying with me. May need to rewatch Bridgerton for balance!

I'm up today at 9st 0.3lbs but I'm sure it's an anomaly as I've been steadily creeping around the late 8st 12s all week and woke up this morning really bloated and apparently 2lbs heavier 🤷🏼‍♀️

@SwimmingOnEggshells The Serpent! I've stopped at 2 episodes, it's a funny one, it's clearly excellent but not very pleasant to watch. I think I might revisit but not sure when.

@Method

In response to the question of whether people are just upping exercise. I actually looked back over what I've changed the other day and broadly it's:

Nov 2019 - 10st 7.
Stopped pre-packed foods.

Jan 2020 -
Stopped eating meat apart from special occasions

Mar 2020 -
Started to get exercise at home

Sep 2020 - 9st 10
Started on here and was generally more mindful of portions etc
Started running
Introduced more non-pastry and cheese based veggie meals

Christmas - 9st 3lbs

Now - 8st 13lbs
Stopped drinking wine every day.

I've never calorie counted but incrementally changed habits. It's been slow but I now see small, pretty consistent progress.

I'm comfortable that what I'm doing now is liveable long term rather than 'trying to lose weight'. But it's slow and who knows if I'll be able to keep it off.

When I watch something stressful I have to stick on an episode of Friends after. It's my tv equivalent of rainbows, care bears and my little ponies

Plateaus can be demoralising that's for sure, but I try to keep reminding myself that if I give up I definitely won't lose weight so try my best to slog on :)

After I posted earlier I went to the loo and then weighed myself again before my shower and I was magically 1/4 lighter! so I'll log 125.5 for today.

@SwimmingOnEggshells

When I watch something stressful I have to stick on an episode of Friends after. It's my tv equivalent of rainbows, care bears and my little ponies

Plateaus can be demoralising that's for sure, but I try to keep reminding myself that if I give up I definitely won't lose weight so try my best to slog on :)

After I posted earlier I went to the loo and then weighed myself again before my shower and I was magically 1/4 lighter! so I'll log 125.5 for today.

😂😂☺️ Yay!

Re the weighing scales, I’ve found one place in my kitchen where they are very consistent and also the lowest! Unfortunately right in front of the window overlooking the whole of our close. So on weighing day I strip off in the kitchen with the blind pulled down and as the lighting in our kitchen is poor, shine a torch on the display. My husband thinks I’m bonkers! He doesn’t “ get” the importance of small differences in the numbers!

Wanting to join. Been low cal for 3 weeks but slipped up this week with dad's lockdown birthday so ignoring the scales in denial :(

never that’s a really inspiring story, thank you. I was 10st 13 and a half lb when I started. Very overweight for my 5 foot 1 height. Now 10st 1lb, but would love to be under 9st. The weight loss is slowing but I can see now how I need to introduce different things if I am to get there. And I really really want to, as I have some many clothes that I would fit into if I could. All clothes which I’ve barely worn and really like. I was buying what was essentially a whole new wardrobe every time I gained half a stone, as that seems to be a clothes size for me.

@WellTidy

never that’s a really inspiring story, thank you. I was 10st 13 and a half lb when I started. Very overweight for my 5 foot 1 height. Now 10st 1lb, but would love to be under 9st. The weight loss is slowing but I can see now how I need to introduce different things if I am to get there. And I really really want to, as I have some many clothes that I would fit into if I could. All clothes which I’ve barely worn and really like. I was buying what was essentially a whole new wardrobe every time I gained half a stone, as that seems to be a clothes size for me.

Wow, well done welltidy ☺️

Well tidy, that’s interesting about your mum. My late mother was very tall and extremely well build. Very very overweight all of her adult life and blamed rationing during the war for her love of large,regular on the dot of 8,12 and 6, meals every single day plus tea and cake at 4 and a big supper of crackers and cheese before she went to bed. She was constantly telling me I was too thin and tried to get me to eat “ comfort” food every time I visited as an adult.
Looking back she had a very bad relationship with food. Subconsciously I have tried not to be overweight all of my life because I saw what it did to her health, joints etc.