LOSE IT! November 2020

[TheRealHousewife]

Hello & Welcome

Roughly 8 weeks to Christmas 🎄. We all know it’s been a strange unsettling year. Unprecedented. Nonetheless we all deserve to feel the best we can, be the best we can and strive to be as fit and healthy as possible. Not only will you look great in your finery, you’ll be (to a degree) improving your immune system and your ability to fight infection should you get one. In addition, if we eat right, get outside, move more your mental health will heap the rewards. Better mental health = better choices. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

Me personally? In the main it’s been a way of life for nearly 3 years and I’ve lost over 40lbs. I had a bit of blip at the start of C19. After all my hard work I just started eating with impunity. Before I knew it I was10lbs up in a few short weeks! I needed to get back on it and COVID proof myself 😬 I calorie count, log via MFP app, Intermittent fast, eat-low carb Mediterranean style aka Fast800 Plan and try to stay well hydrated. Due to some unfortunate circumstances in October I didn’t really lose but did maintain. I’m hoping November will see me firmly in the healthy BMI bracket.

There are so many enjoyable lifestyle options out there without the need to resort to extreme measures. Whatever way you choose, it needs to be enjoyable & sustainable for the long term. This is a long term commitment rather than a quick fix. I also rarely drink alcohol and keep sugar to a minimum. I exercise by doing walking vids & strength sessions with lite weighs.

As no one size fits all members need to follow their own way of eating. Nonetheless this thread aims to offer guidance, support and a bit of hand holding.

There is no shaming, competition or harsh words to be found on this thread. We are in this together.

Useful Links

How to lose weight

The Fast Diet

Mediterranean Diet

My Fitness Pal

Intermittent Fasting

Mindful Eating

Meal Planning

Drink Water

Nutrition & Mental Health

Jump right in! If you’re not too shy, post a bit about yourself 😊. How do you plan to do it? What do you want to achieve? What excites you about your future self? Together, we can create a whole new you!

You’ll be glad you got on board this time next month 😀.

Straight to the naughty step for you @Nosuchthingastoomuchcheese. Not for eating the chocolates but for beating yourself up about it. You wanted the chocolates. You liked the chocolates. You can't do anything to change those calories so just smile that you had a treat and if you feel you need to have an extra walk tomorrow or less roast potatoes, chips or whatever.

Tomorrow is a new day. Think positive.

Ok @Nosuchthingastoomuchcheese how many chocolates and what else did you eat today?

It's not a disaster, it's a blip, do you still want to continue, do you still want to work on losing weight?

If you don't that's fine, come back to it in a couple of weeks.

If you do, why? What are your goals, what motivates you?
If you can have a firm picture of that in your mind, a style of clothes you want to wear, a feeling of lightness, an activity you can't do currently.... that will give you something to focus on.

Then just start again tomorrow.

I just found the scrap of paper I did my measurements on at the beginning of September, did them again today and I've lost 15 inches in 2 months, 3 off my waist, 4 off my hips, and then bits off of thigh, arms, bust.

I'm 41 lb less than I was at the beginning of August which is the weight of an average human leg.

This is the kind of stuff that keeps me going, I like the numbers. I also love that I can run with my 6 yr old.

Morning lovely, new pals! It's a good morning- another 1.5lbs off. It's coming slowly but that's fine. Period too, so I'm delighted.

I definitely think I can see a small difference even with my total of 6lbs so far and my appetite has definitely shrunk. I CAN do this, thank you so much for all your support, it makes a real difference.

fatgirlshrinking I love that you can run easier after losing a whole human leg. 😂

Puffalicous I can feel a difference after just 4lb loss. Just a feeling of lightness and not so heavy belly first thing in the morning. So I can well believe your 6lb loss feels good. Well done.

I took really ill at work last night (period and menopausal hemorrhage - mid teaching) and have taken today off which I NEVER do as it's my own business and I hate taking time off. The trouble is to not sit on my bum all day and eat.

I haven't weighed myself because i don't have the energy to get undressed and dressed again yet.

But I have managed a healthy breakfast after a much needed lie in.

Does anyone have any favourite ideas for meals?

For breakfast today I have had
2x Gf toast with a tablespoon of houmous on each. And a roasted pepper between them and some spinach. Nice and filling but not too heavy.

Yesterday I had porridge made with water and salt. With cashew nuts, prunes and maple syrup.
If I'm working first thing (I have an active front facing job so don't like to be too full or bloated ) then I have a juice. Then have porridge or soup at lunchtime.

If you eat breakfast what are some of your healthy but nutritious favourites?

Sorry to hear this Breathmiller you must feel crappy. Please take time today to be still and let your body recover. Curl up and watch a favourite programme with a herbal tea and hot water bottle- we need to nurture ourselves sometimes. X

@Breathmiller eggs are a fantastic breakfast food, healthy, filling lots of protein to keep you full and a medium egg is only about 65cals. I usually end up having them at lunch because i never feel like eating in the morning but my faves are.

Fake full English - 2 fried eggs (low cal spray oil), mushrooms (loads, seasoned with black pepper and salt) and wafer thin ham flash fried for a few seconds to get that bacon crispy feeling.

Spicy scrambled - 2 eggs, small bit of grated cheese, peppers sliced small, spring onions and a sprinkle of hot sauce

Veg omelette - mushrooms, peppers, onion - cook till soft then set aside. 2 eggs whisked and poured into hot pan with a tsp of butter. I use a pan with a metal handle so I don't need to flip it, can just pop under the grill for a minute to brown the top. Veg back on then fold it in half.

Boiled egg with asparagus spears instead of toast for dipping

Thanks Puffalicous yes a day on the sofa is in order. I can catch up on some admin on my computer too, so it won't be a wasted day.

fatgirlshrinking these all sound great, and really nutritious. I should have mentioned that I am vegan. (And gluten free to add to the mix. )

Sorry you are poorly @@Breathmiller, lot of rest and looking after yourself, sounds necessary.

When I’m having breakfast, which I’m trying not too as I am giving intermittent fasting a go, I like a spinach omlette. I make it with one egg, some egg white(I buy a carton of it) and a sprinkle of low calorie cheddar.

I’ve also discovered kings mill crust less bread. It’s only47 calories a slice!

@FatGirlShrinking, boiled egg and asparagus is a great idea. I might have that for lunch!

@Breathmiller,ignore my suggestion, I am vegan cooking illiterate!

I weighed myself this morning and was 15 stone! This is down from 16.5 stone at start of Sept, am delighted.

Just have to hold it steady and keep going. Have homemade chicken stock so am going to make some of sort or spicy, Thai-inspired soup for dinner tonight.

Hi, sorry so quiet and not joining in much. Low mood, exhausted and in a lot of pain. Was still 10.1kg down this week so doing OK.

Catch up again soon.

Congrats @slightlybonkers.

Sending calorie free cake to @MrsJonesAndMe. Hope you are okay.

@MrsJonesAndMe feel better soon 🌸🌼

@Breathmiller I have now realised how any-vegan and gluten free my diet is as really struggling to think of any food. All I can really come up with are varieties on porridge using oat or almond milk, oat and/or chia seeds and various flavourings. I used to do overnight oats/Bircher muesli with stewed apple, raisins, cinnamon, ginger and a bit of nutmeg. It's like apple pie porridge. Other good flavours are a spoon of peanut butter and some cocoa powder or chocolate protein powder, frozen berries, cherries and cocoa (kind of like Black Forest gateaux)

@slightlybonkers brilliant weight loss!!

These sound lovely fatgirlshrinking
I do love porridge but bizarrely I can't get with the overnight oats thing. I love all the flavours you have chosen though.
One of my favorite hot porridge breakfasts is with stewed apple and pears and cinnamon. And I LOVE cherries but had forgotten about having them in porridge. Lots of great ideas. Thanks.

I hadn't really meant everyone had to think hard about vegan and gf for me particularly, i know I'm an awkward bugger. More that it could be good to give ideas generally for healthy options and someone might be inspired

@Breathmiller if you don't already apparently chia seeds are a good addition because they don't add any flavour, but do add a lot of fibre which both fills you up and keeps you regular. Must admit though I bought some to make chia pudding which diet forums seem to go crazy over and I thought it was bloody horrible. Don't mind adding a few to porridge though as barely notice they're there.

I have been having sheep's yoghurt this week in the morning, apparently higher in protein so more filling. Could you try a vegan yoghurt with berries, figs, nuts and seeds? I have also been trying to have 2 herbal teas before I eat anything so between 8 & 11.

DH bought me this Xmas shirt as a gag gift today, it's horrendous but festive.

tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/Christmas-Red-Safari-Animal-Print-Shirt/137937961-MultiColoured?searchTerm=:newArrivals:department:Women:type:Shirts&searchProduct=

Most importantly he bought size 16, and it only bloody fits!!!

3 months ago a shirt in a 22 would have been snug, today I can wear a 16, I'm made up!

fatgirlshrinking ahh...yes! Frogspawn dessert. i tried that a few times too. What were they thinking? A little in porridge might not be bad though.

Yes, i love soya yogurt and berries, seeds and nuts. I sometimes make a smoothie bowl, especially in the summer. Whizz up berries, banana amd soya yoghurt really thick and top with lots of yummy toppings. Could get quite calorific if you're too liberal but super healthy. Great for summer.

I also love vegan sausages. They are usually lower in calories and surprisingly tasty. The tesco plant kitchen (or is it plant chef?) Cumberland ones are delicious. My meat eating family will happily eat them.

I also like a cooked breakfast sometimes. Loads of veg . Onikns, spinach, musrooms. Asparagus, aubergine, tomatoes. My dh is a dab hand at making me a healthy vegan cooked breakfast at the weekend.

That shirt is fab!
And a 22 to a 16 is AMAZING!! Well done.

What i love about calorie counting and not cutting out foods ,(anymore than i do already with vg and gf) is that treats qre still allowed as long as they are within my calories.

So, although i do try to keep the base of things healthy, I had enough calories today to have a vego bar (chocolate hazelnut thing) and a wham bar. My soul needed something like that after being ill.
So a day of rest today catching up with admin from my bed, healthy food and a treat to finish off the day. And still within my limit.

No exercise though. But that's okay. I needed to rest.

I lived in China years ago and I would often eat veggie noodle soup for breakfast. I still do it now, with a small amount of ramen loads of spinach and green bean and a boiled egg. Obviously for vegan remove the boiled egg 😀

Mmmm. Delicious. I love a bowl of noodles and greens. Wagamamas do a great rice noodle vegan bowl with loads of veg and tofu. Its so good. I can never quite get the flavours as good though.

Do you notice a big difference in how people eat in China to here?

Evening All

Some great results being shared.

22 to a 16 @FatGirlShrinking Fabulous! 👏🥇⭐️

@Nosuchthingastoomuchcheese I’m petite like you. It’s so much harder to carry any extra weight as every little extra 1lb shows up. You can do it! Remind yourself why you want to lose, where you’d like to be by 2021. Come 2021 you’ll be pleased you did!

For those ladies having treats. Enjoy, move on, compensate. Whatever you do don’t feel guilty or defeated ... there lies the risk of total derailment and bingeville.

I’m bobbing about a couple of lbs so really I’d class it as maintaining. I’d like to get another 1/2 stone of then maintain.

I often read and re-read motivational stuff around losing weight. I find it helps to keep the snack dragon 🐉 under control.

Keep going troupers, you’ll be glad you did.