Vanity pounds to lose - any takers?

[PrincessConsuelaBH]

So I have approx. 15lbs to lose to get back to my comfortable weight and for my clothes to fit! Thanks to lockdown and a toddler that still doesn't sleep meaning I rely on sugar to get me through the day...

I'm aiming to break it up into 3 5lb mini goals so I don't feel like it's unmanageable before I ever start

Nothing faddy, just planning to make better choices with my food, plan more, and move more too. I have some short-ish term goals that I'm hoping will be enough motivation for me to shift the weight 👶🏻

Anyone want to join? I'd be happy to keep a list going (if there's not too many of us!) to record our weights and losses if anyone would want that too.

Happy New Year from me too! It was a very low key one here. We still have four of the six bottles of wine I bought for the whole Christmas period left over and neither of us fancied one at new year!

This is the first year I’ve put nothing on over the Christmas holiday-I’m down 0.3kg on my original target today which is a nice buffer.

I like the idea of maintenance/keep going chat. I’m going to keep focussing on eating well and exercise. It’s a double whammy Zumba and hiit class day which I suppose is a good start but it very much feels like a Monday and I’m not that up for it!

Yes, I am down 300g from my last recorded weigh in on 14th Dec.

Can't say I have been holding back on the wine, though!

I am now very happy with my shape and overall figure. Would still like to lose a bit on my stomach.

But mostly will be concentrating on keeping fit, getting fitter, and toning / muscle building, maintaining weight and eating healthily.

Are you still running, PurpleDaisies?

I might tentatively start - the beginning of C25 looks easy peasy. It's my ancient knees I am concerned about.

I haven’t been running as much @RainingBatsAndFrogs, it’s been so wet or icy I’ve needed my walking boots! The c25k is really good though. I’d definitely recommend it.

In a fit of enthusiasm I’ve booked for three hiit and two Zumba classes every week. I’m trying to support two friends who are running them and hoping it won’t kill me! I’m planning on adding some yoga stretching to try and combat the aches.

Today I’m stuck at home with no car (MOT and service) so I might try cooking something nice or going for a walk.

I can’t remember who thought up the packs of butter as weight loss but I like visualising 300g down as a whole pack and a bit down!

That's a good lot of exercise, PurpleDaisies, and will help you feel upbeat and motivated.

It's me who thinks in packs of butter! And this morning, after a day of good exercise and sensible eating the last couple of days, I am now down two packs of butter since Mid Dec. Begone Muffin Top!

I am SO looking forward to the better weather. But at least I can see the difference in the evenings staying lighter a little longer.

Congrats on the packs of butter, @PurpleDaisies and @RainingBatsAndfrogs. Really ace you've been keeping up with exercise too.

I've just been so cosy and lazy and unmotivated for the last few weeks. I did 30 mins on the cross trainer today and had a good walk. But I ate 3,000 calories!

But never mind. I'm resolute that tomorrow I will eat proper, planned meals, have them tracked, and aim for a deficit!

Thanks @BrimfulOfBaba! It’s period time again and I’ve been eating for Britain. It’s always a nightmare taking painkillers that make me feel nauseous so that means eating constantly to stop myself throwing up. Pringles work best. I’m pleased I’ve got that little pack of butter buffer this time!

Today is better than yesterday so I’m going to cheer myself up with a walk in the cold (bloody freezing but gorgeous sunshine here) and hopefully Zumba tonight. I’ve discovered the 15 minute deep stretch in Les mills is actually quite like a chill out relaxing session so that was a nice alternative to hiit when I was feeling rough yesterday.

How’s everyone doing?

Badly

I have been trialling eating truffles as an Olympic sport, and with the readjustment of exercise (weather, not replaced gym time) I have crept up a bit.

But not enough to threaten my new clothes size, and if I show a bit of grit I can get back on track. I did a shop for the week for healthy meals, and the truffles are all snaffled, so onwards.

PurpleDaisies, I hope the Pringle Cure worked and your period cramps have calmed down.

Have a great day and a good week everyone.

I have been trialling eating truffles as an Olympic sport

Oh this made me laugh! I’m feeling fine now, thanks. I’ve found this week hard as well-maybe because it’s not the first week after new year any more so the enthusiasm has worn off, and it’s a bit grey, and it’s a bit crap at the moment in general. I’m up a little bit this week on last week but less than a pack of butter so that could be worse.

We’ve got a hello fresh box coming on Thursday with three healthy(ish) meals coming so that will be good. Tonight is a hiit Zumba double whammy. I suspect tomorrow might be lying on the floor for most of the day...

Have a good week all! Xx

Ooh which truffles @RainingBatsAndfrogs? The discovery of Monty Bojangles set my goals back quite a bit!!

@PurpleDaisies that sounds like a healthy week indeed!

Right, I've slipped a lot but am totally ready to start afresh. I've rescheduled my wedding dress fitting for late March rather than early March, but I cannot afford any more weeks-long breaks.

Today I'll be doing yoga as I need a stretch following some circuits yesterday. I'm aiming for 10,000 steps every day, meeting my calorie deficit every day, and do use the cross trainer 3x and to do all 3 BBG workouts. I will try not to snack unless I am actually hungry.

Not brave enough to weigh myself yet, I will do so in 2 weeks.

Today's food: vanilla skyr with berry granola and blueberries. Lunch will be tofu and veg red curry with a grain mix, and dinner needs to be quick today so will be shop-bought ravioli with tomato sauce. If I have calories spare, a slice of toast with garlic butter on the side...:)!

Good luck, ladies!!

PS half considering a separate thread for calorie counting. If anyone wants further accountability over WhatsApp/Instagram, let me know. I badly need accountability!

A box of CO-OP Prosecco truffles (very nice) followed by a box of James Cadbury chocolate truffles - also very nice.
Now I have discovered a 400g bag of leftover Celebrations, so I am not out of the woods yet! aaargh!

Your new start sounds really good Brimful - great stuff!

@RainingBatsAndfrogs do you remember the truffle that used to be in Celebrations? Gorgeous. And now you've put me in the mood for some Lindt Lindors!

I have the biggest chocolate craving now! I had some amazing salted caramel booja booja almond chocolate truffle things fof christmas. They were gone in one sitting (aka 10 minutes!)!

Love the sound of your tofu red curry @BrimfulOfBaba

Because of tonight’s classes, eating is a bit tricky. I was supposed to have a big lunch but forgot. Think it’s going to be an emergency stir fry at 830 when Zumba finishes.

BrimfulOfBaba yes I do!

When I was losing weight steadily but surely I had my choc consumption fully under control! I wasn't even too bad over Christmas. I have fallen off the wagon.

I need to get my good habits back. Quickly!

@BrimfulOfBaba good luck with your target - end of March is a very achievable goal. I think calorie counting can work, but it doesn't take into account the calories burnt when the body metabolises the food or calories not abosorbed and eliminated. For example 100g of almonds and 100g of chocolate may have the same calories but the energy used by the body to use the almonds is greater, the satiety better so you don't feel hungry as quickly and a lot of the fibre is never absorbed so the calories are actually a lot less than on the packet.
Sorry I'm really boring on the subject having recently read the David Ludwig book Always Hungry.
Having said all that I'm still eating too many almonds and have discovered some Christmas chocolates that I hid in November so I'm still not losing any weight. Definitely need to get back on track, fasting and eating low carb (and reducing red wine and chocolate!)

Thanks @Jemenfouscompletement! Will try not to put too much stock into calorie counts, and rather use the days totals as a bit of a guide. I can't abide being hungry and always put my satiety ahead of calorie goals! Will check the book out.

I definitely need to ease back on alcohol following the festive day-drinking joy. As well as health goals, it does leave me feeling a bit down the day after.

I have my healthy eating mojo back!

The chocolates are all gone, I have done some long walks and have eradicated the backsliding couple of pounds.

This has shown me how addictive / habit forming eating chocolate and sweet stuff is. When I was in full swing with my healthy eating someone sent me some truffles, and I was really good, eking them out one a day, and didn't crave more. After a couple of weeks of Christmas eating, an open box of chocolates was a vanished box of chocolates!

Fantastic @RainingBatsAndFrogs! I like it when most of the Christmas stuff has gone-it feels like a proper new start. Well done for getting rid of those extra pounds too. That’s what I’m really going to focus on this year...keeping little gains under control.

I’ve had a big tofu and veg stir fry and noodle for lunch (Zumba is an awkward time for eating tonight so dinner is going to be beans on toast or soup). Really delicious except I’ve somehow managed to get chiu chow chilli oil in my eye. Damn you adventurous new ingredients!

Oof @PurpleDaisies that's got to hurt! Sounds like a bloomin' delicious lunch!

Yay, @RainingBatsAndFrogs! I completely feel you, when I'm eating well, I love it, but when I regularly eat all the choc, cheese and crisps, that's all I want to do despite feeling sluggish.

Back on track with exercise, started a new challenge on the Sweat app as someone else I know is doing it too, which feels like accountability!

Well done Brimful.

It's good to have an exercise buddy.

There was a programme on BBC1 last night about home exercise that demonstrated that people who use an app or online contact do more sessions and work more intensively than people who work out without any support.

I haven't tried an online programme or app yet - maybe I should. I am good at long brisk walks, less good at anything else, now the gym is closed.

Hi all, nice to see you still here and doing so well! @PurpleDaisies great food ideas as ever. I love Thai food. @BrimfulOfBaba well done on the exercise accountability

I'm doing pretty well, down 3 pounds since I last posted and enjoying my food. At the risk of sounding woo I've got the Paul McKenna app, inspired by another thread, and found it SO helpful. A big part of my challenge is mindless/stressed snacking and it really helps with that, I also like that nothing is banned

I also got to 5k but very annoyingly have an old hip injury that's resurfaced, so going to have to rest it for at least another week then start again. It's frustrating as I used to run quite a lot (half marathons even) but have to be more cautious now. It's hard to think of a cardio alternative with pools etc closed. @PurpleDaisies do you have an online Zumba you'd recommend?

Anyway just wanted to say hi - well done to everyone taking care of themselves in these awful times, it's no easy task..

@Jemenfouscompletement good point about calories, I have some smoked almonds that I'm going to have as my next treat (prob have some sugar but better than crisps!)

@RebeccaNoodles one of my local instructors has moved her class online. I’ve been doing that. I also like the sh bang classes on Les mills-they’re pretty similar.

We had a hello fresh box this week as a lockdown treat. Dh has just done their roast cauliflower and jasmine rice Thai green curry meal for dinner while I sat on the sofa. It was really good and an actual sensible portion compared to his default setting of “feed four hundred”.

Thanks @PurpleDaisies - that's nice if you're able to support someone local, I'm sure it helps keep you accountable. I'm only vaguely aware ofLes Mills but will check it out. I suppose there's always brisk walking too, better than nothing!

How’s everyone doing this week? I’m up a bit on last week (one pack of butter!) but still under the target I aimed for before Christmas. This weekend was a bit of a blow out when dh bought the world’s biggest bag of Doritos to go with refried bean tacos on Saturday night and I’ve been picking at them ever since! Absolutely worth the calories-it’s been so long.

Tonight’s a Zumba night. I can’t really be bothered but I’m sure when the music gets going it will be fun.

I weighed yesterday as I am away working this week. I am down on my pre-Christmas weight, so happy with that.

Will struggle to exercise properly this week and have already been eating chocolate and really good local cheese... I’ll try and stick to stnsuble portions.