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 😀.

Good Morning All

Warm welcome to @Patrickstarr @Italiangreyhound & @burninglikefire. The ladies here are supportive and encouraging! What plan do you have? What changes are you making?

@FatGirlShrinking I’ve been where you are. It’s frustrating and can get hard but I found once my headspace was in tune it was easier. You can do this!

Today is a fast day and my menu is home made cauliflower soup with bean chilli & quinoa later. Then of course water water water 💧. I was rubbish getting it in yesterday ... good suggestion from @SunshineCake to download a water app. I’d better go look ....

Have a good day whatever you’re doing 👍

Well done patrickstar at losing over a stone this year. No mean feat this year especially.

So I have stopped losing as quickly as I was, after putting on a bit last weekend.
I always find that. That I lose really quickly the first few weeks then it plateaus.

I think partly that I had a big blow out last Friday with A LOT of calories in so it must have taken my weekly average up a lot too.

And with one thing and another I have done the school run by car more this week. So didn't get my 5 miles walk Monday and Tuesday.

And, I have eaten my meagre exercise points a few times this week. Even though mostly it has been healthy foods.

But I am okay with it. I still have lost 1lb this week which is what my goal was, a lb a week. I want this to be a long term plan, not a quick fix.

And, I do feel better. My clothes fit better and my scientific belt buckle test is still going well. I went easily to the tightest hole on Wednesday then back to the 2nd when I ate.

I'm also aware that I must have been a lot higher in the summer when I didn't dare weigh myself so I've probably lost more than I am recording in the long run.

Starting weight 13st5
Todays weight 12st13

Plan for this weekend...
Not quite so much of a blow out on Friday. A little blow out .

Making sure I get moving more next week.

I've had a shoulder injury this last month which isn't great in my line of work so I treated myself to a massage. I am also on a dry thread so no alcohol now for nearly 4 months. With that and trying to lose weight I have decided to treat myself to other nourishing things, like massages. So I have another booked for next week.

I also keep thinking that when I need a treat or to comfort eat that i can fo other comforting things. Like have a bath. It's my go to.

@FatGirlShrinking I wanted to say those are great posts you made on that other thread! You have come on such a long way and it’s great that you’re sharing your success to inspire others! Awesome, Well done you 👏🥇⭐️

Joining in after linking through from another thread. Dropped down to 10 stone 7 in lockdown 1. Gained it all back and more when lockdown ended, went back to old habits around "treats" and just lost all control.

I'm 5'4 and currently pretty much dead on 12 stone. My target is 10 stone. Despite getting so close a few months ago, for some reason it feels totally out of my grasp!

I'm doing 16:8 with variations recommended by the app I'm using. I'm also trying to cut down on carbs and sugar (mixed success!)

@Breathmiller a massage sounds heavenly. I've never ever wanted to do anything like it but I actually really fancy a day at a spa at the minute. Sauna, swimming pool, massage, facial, it all sounds really wonderful to me right now.

🥰 thanks @TheRealHousewife

Booked to get my hair cut on 5th December. It hasn't been done since before the first lockdown, it's grown about 6 inches and is in desperate need of some TLC! No idea what to do with it though, my face is a different shape now so I might just go crazy and tell her to do whatever she thinks will look good. It will grow if I hate it.

Welcome @EvelynSalt and jump right in. Well done for getting back on it. You’ve done it once and you can do it again. Personally I find if I break my goal down into bite size chunks it helps. I use apps as motivation. Happy Scale allows you to do just that. It’s very motivating when you reach a mini goal, bringing you closer to your main goal. For me, how I eat is a way of life and I try to adhere to healthy eating with the odd treat from time to time. Good luck 🤞

@FatGirlShrinking 👍❤️

Morning everyone and welcome to new members!

I’m not weighing this week due to period week so am just trying to keep off the chocolate and maybe manage a run. I also have to allow some calories for the orange juice that I take with iron tablets on these weeks to stop me feeling dizzy.

Hope all are well!

85kg and seriously need a kick up the bottom! 4 weeks to Christmas, I should aim to be below 83kg I think! I love food so much! Any hints and tips on curbing the urges would be welcome

Hello everyone.

I’ve just found this thread and was hoping to join you all?

I’m currently 10st (weighed last Friday), 5”2 and need to lose about 1.5st. Started this week going for a walk most days and doing LMOD about 4 days a week and also sticking to 1200-1400 calories a day.

@Ilovesugar the only way I've been able to control the urge was cold turkey. I found once I got past the first 3 days of really low carb, just the carbs in green veg and berries, I stopped feeling so hungry, but those 3 days were brutal.

The first 3 days I was constantly hungry, belly rumbling, mouth watering hungry. I knew logically that I wasn't because I'd had a big plate of meat and veg, but my body wanted sugar.

I got through it by grazing on veg and drinking lots of water. Once it passed I no longer felt ravenous and didn't crave sweets or bread at all, I felt good. I then started to eat more normally and reintroduced limited, healthy carbs having granary bread and fresh egg wholewheat pasta instead of refined white bread and pasta.

It also gave me a huge loss in the first couple of weeks as sugar causes you to retain water, so I lost the better part of 1 stone in 2 weeks, obviously that dropped to more normal levels in the weeks following.

I have put on 7lbs since March due to lockdown. I still work out 3/4 times a week and walk 10,000 steps per day but without my cycling commute, my calorie needs must have declined a fair bit...meanwhile I am bored and depressed, like many, so am eating/drinking more. I drink once or twice a week and counted my calories for the week, I eat 1950/2000 per day. I'm 25 and have gone up to 9.5 stone which is not where I want to be, although I appreciate I'm not overweight.

It is nice to see this thread.

Unfortunately for me, I am quite food obsessed and lack willpower - food is a massive comfort for me. I am struggling to find a 'diet' suited to someone like me with an emotional attachment to food.

Today I did a 2 hour walk with the pram which is the most exercise I have done for a week or so. Its freezing out there! But was nice to get out and move.

Nice to see lots of new comers 😁
Welcome All! We can do this!!!

A warm welcome @Ilovesugar. As well the good advise @FatGirlShrinking has shared there are quite a few links in the first post that you might find helpful.

@CarbsafterMarbs warm welcome. Jump right in. What’s LMOD? I’m sure I should know but brains mush at mo.

@LucyRivers167 a warm welcome. Food, mood & emotions are very entwined. Once you’re in the right headspace it becomes easier. This might be useful. Try to not be too hard on yourself. If you over indulge, brush it off. Everyday is a fresh start.

@CescaNicole that’s a decent walk, well done 👏👍⭐️

WARNING!!

This is not a delicious mug cake, this is a mug of tough sponge that tastes like banana flavoured medicine. Took 1 small bite and chucked the rest in the bin.

@TheRealHousewife LMOD is Les Mills On Demand. It’s hard but I love it and the different varieties of workouts on there.

@FatGirlShrinking I was looking at those in Tesco this evening, I’m glad I didn’t buy any now after seeing what you’ve said about it.

[quote CarbsafterMarbs]@FatGirlShrinking I was looking at those in Tesco this evening, I’m glad I didn’t buy any now after seeing what you’ve said about it.[/quote]
When I made up the mix the smell gave me a flashback of that banana amoxicillin they gave out when you had an ear infection as a kid but I decided to plow on and cook it up anyway. Tasted exactly like it, even the slightly chalky texture. Bleurgh!

Hi all and welcome to all the newbies.

I feel I am eating more chocolate these last couple of days but also think my period is due. I went running at 6.25 this morning and it was rather chilly. I need to get some kind of light so that I can be seen but I also want to hide as scared of someone grabbing me. It is horrible to feel vulnerable being out in the dark just because I am a woman. I was a bit slower today but still scored elite and ran almost 6km.

Everyone is doing so well and I love how supportive and friendly this thread is. My biggest change is not eating after I have had my dinner and I can't remember the last time I had breakfast.

Now trying to work out when I can do the shopping as we are in tier three. Dd is upset as it doesn't look like she can see her boyfriend over Christmas and she hasn't seen him in months. It is horrible when one can't make something happen your child wants.

@SunshineCake we're tier 3 too, although I'm in Leicester so that was a forgone conclusion 😆

How about some reflective strips rather than lights, that way you'll be seen by cars with headlights but not massively visible to everyone else.

I sat my husband down a few months ago as we have a 6 yr old girl and he was saying how weird it was that so many women online and on tv were talking about being vulnerable and he couldn't identify it with his experiences.

I pointed out that:

• no matter how much we bulk and train a woman will never be as strong as an average strength man
• it's socially acceptable and normal for women to have their bum or boobs grabbed by strangers, all of us could recall at least once where it's happened in a pub or bar.
• it's still normal to be jeered or catcalled by men in the street, no one even blinks when it happens, they just laugh or ignore.
• while he and his mates were doing rugby in PE the girls had self defence lessons in my school. Focused around how to get away if someone grabs you by the neck or arm.
• sexual attacks and mugging are over 90% perpetrated by men
• he got talks about making sure he wore a condom, I got talks about always having my phone within reach while out, carrying my keys between my fingers while walking alone in the dark, never taking a drink from a stranger, walking with purpose so it looked like I was due somewhere....

He was really really sad about it, he couldn't relate through personal experience and hates the idea that our daughter may ever feel unsafe as a woman.

@CarbsafterMarbs lol ... I was thinking it was Long Meal Only Day ... if only 😬

@FatGirlShrinking looks radioactive ☢️ Think of the cals you’ve saved 😬

@FatGirlShrinking thank you so much for your advice! Wish me luck, I think I will have to try cold turkey. I have no self control!
Maybe if I start tomorrow the OH can help look after the kids at the weekend when I’m grumpy and fed up / craving sugar! I shall keep you posted on Monday ekkkk

Going to join in with you all! I’m 12 weeks postpartum, managed to put on 3 stone during my pregnancy . I’ve lost 9lbs in the last 6 weeks by calorie counting and more recently by doing 16/8. Hoping I can keep it up but my willpower isn’t the best at the moment, especially with 2 under 2.

I was 12 st 8.5 at 6 weeks postpartum, currently 11 st 13.5, and hoping to get back to my original weight of anywhere between 9st 7lb and 9st 10lbs.

So I end 3 weeks of calorie counting at..
Starting weight 13st5
Today 12st11
So that's a loss of 8lbs. Which I'm happy with.

The trick (once again) is not to put it all on again over the weekend. I do wish i could get my head round just having at least one weekend where I keep to it and that would give me a push on.

Out of interest I have always wondered what those who do MFP and 5:2 do? What do you log in on your fasting days?
I don't do intermittent fasting but yesterday I had a really long busy day and didn't quite make 1000 calories. (I'm not saying that's right for me but it was one of those days - i certainly don't often have the problem of eating too little)
I did have a very small breakfast, porridge for lunch and came home late from work and had a Wicked Kitchen meal. I was only at 800 calories but felt full after it and to be honest too tired to eat anything more. I had 2 chocolate covered rice cakes and that took me up to 950 but MFP doesn't allow you to log in under 1000.

I know in the grand scheme of things it's not a big deal, i can either lie and add a few more if i want my MFP record to stay constant , I'm aware it makes no actual difference to my weight. Or I can eat extra calories because i don't want to dip under 1000 but that seems daft.

I'm just intrigued what people who do intermittent fasting and log on MFP do?

Hi @Pippinstar, we have such similar stories! My youngest is 12 weeks today, 2 under 2, and 3 stone on during pregnancy 😊

We can do this!! 💪🏻

@Breathmiller I just don't close my diary it still tracks you, you just don't get the message saying 'if every day were like today in 5 weeks you would weigh....'

Yesterday like you I was just really busy all day so after my dinner I had had a total of 666 calories. I decided to blow a load on chocolate digestives with my coffee but could easily have just stopped at 666 and been done for the day.