Nourishing November

[Octopus37]

Right here's the new thread. Thought I would find a kind title as October has been a challenging month for so many and at the risk of sounding pessimistic, November is likely to be to. I'm starting at 9st2.75, my aim for the end of November is to get into the 8s.

Hello everyone. Just a quick check-in as I've just started my extra work and next week is going to be crazy busy. I've decided I really can't be bothered counting calories this week and next, so I'll just try and be sensible and see where I get to at the other end.

BIG HUG HoneyBadger. I'm sorry you're feeling low. Just come on here and moan all you want. Mental health is first priority.

I'd like to share my newest discovery: frozen blueberries. About half the price of fresh (£2 for 400g). They aren't full of pips that get stuck in your teeth like other frozen berries, and you can eat them straight from the freezer. Mix it with natural yoghurt and you can nearly imagine you're eating ice cream. Or just put them in your packed lunch and they'll be defrosted by lunchtime. (In a separate box otherwise everything else will be blue).

Frozen fruit is generally brilliant I agree.

Great idea! Off for my walk. Just thinking how I looked forward to this time all summer and how much harder it is now to head out. We should give ourselves great credit for keeping on keeping on and give ourselves a break too. Totally different story at the moment.

We're all doing well not to bury ourselves in biscuits, chocolate and wine at this point to be honest!

We really are. Ended up doing my interval training instead, delighted and not feeling like the caramel slice I'd often get from the nearby bakery. Not right now is another handy mantra for me, feels less restrictive and recognises I really don't feel like it after running.

We've gone from fully open to closed to two year groups due to staffing in a day following another outbreak in another year group. One of those year groups being ds's so have to deal with his remote learning and him being home alone whilst I work.

I'm going to be so fat by Christmas but hopefully alive and not having had a nervous breakdown.

O bless you HoneyBadger you are doing so well with everything. Feel for you regarding the remote learning had a Son of a similar age. Take good care of yourself. I'm not managing to diet at the moment its eating to keep going at the moment if it makes you feel any better. At least its the weekend

Yeah I just can't manage dieting at the minute. Dragging a reluctant 13yo through remote learning again is going to be interesting lol.

Thanks. It does help that it's not just me struggling with dieting in these 'interesting' times

Oh that is such a pain for you Honeybadger.. The last thing you need. Definitely give yourself a break. What in trying to do the majority of the time is eat as much as I want of half decent stuff, so have seconds of your dinner etc and it might feel better while still not feeling restricted.. Keep posting x

I'm not sure I could manage remote learning again. Sorry you're dealing with that!

My extra work is in another school which I'm really enjoying but terrified I'll suddenly have to self-isolate and let everyone down after I stepped in. A couple of weeks ago the whole of year 1 at my kids' school (3 forms of 30) was off for 5 days after one child tested positive. I'd be gutted if that happened to one of my kids' years and I had to drop all the work I've just taken on.

Morning all, awake since 5am about to go back when the dc woke.

Anyway 8st10.75 on scales so very pleased and feel exercise efforts paying off. I'm not logging these days either but after all those months I have a very good idea. Interesting to see some changes sticking, when I started weighing 25g cheddar for pasta/omlettes it seemed tiny and now I see it's more than enough.
Goals: 2.5L water, one before and after each meal, 10k step minimum, early bed.
B: mushroom, tomato and cheese omelette, delicious and many coffees
L: lentil, roast veg and hallloumi. Tinned lentils recommended by someone way back was a great shout.
D: something easy for a Sat.
Staying with my biscuit pushing dad tonight but plan to stay clear. Walk this AM and another run in morning. Hope everyone has a relaxing Saturday!

Well done Heygirl. Ate fish and chips last night, 9st2 this morning. Have decided to try and change the way I eat. I sometimes feel vaguely hungry at breakfast time, but not starving. I definitely get hungrier as the day does on and no matter what I do, I want to eat for Britain about 4, 5 o'clock and dont manage to stop it. For example, I was out working yesterday, ate breakfast, then something for lunch, ate some Cadbury snowbites on the way hoe (yes it was a bag from Poundland) and I still couldn't wait for my tea, so ended up eating loads of bombay mix, I had a headache and just couldn't physically wait to eat. I have therefore decided to forego breakfast and maybe eat lunch later, as it would appear that earlier calories are to no avail, I still get desperately hungry. Will let everyone know how it goes. Happy Saturday

Well done @HeyGirlHeyBoy
DH hit his goal today so he's delighted.

Great for him Idontmindmarmite

Hello all, can I join you? Bit late to a November thread but I could do with some accountability. I'm hoping to lose approx a stone and have downloaded mfp to start logging today. I've used half my calorie allowance already and feel I've barely had anything!! I think I need to get wiser with more filling choices sharpish. Can certainly see where I've been going so wrong!

Welcome heartbeats to a really helpful and supportive ongoing monthly thread!

Octopus good idea to change it up, I find even a half hour in the morning can get proper hunger going. Maybe an idea to have a planned fruit and but snack mid afternoon also? The snowflakes only set us up for more unfortunately, as I know to my peril.. Lunch demolished here but not feeling great today, if I could get away wihj it I'd take to the bed..

Welcome Hertbeats0708! Yes the first few days are tough while you're getting used to it. Just think of it as being a learning experience. Useful filling foods I've found are sweet potatoes (which take 5 min in microwave), potatoes and overnight oats. There are online articles online for other filling foods. Also drinking a big glass of water at the beginning of each meal helps to eke out the meal for longer.

Thank you for the warm welcome!
I used to love overnight oats, will add to the shopping/ideas list. I'm noticing it's all the cups of tea that are adding up (milk, no sugar). It's my boredom breaker I think. Will try getting back into the herbal tea!
I didn't want to have to go back to counting calories but clearly winging it isn't working as I've been shocked by just how it all adds up. I can see how I've gained weight which is part of the battle!

Unless you're really going overboard with milk it's surely not it? And you could switch to low fat or semiskimmed, tho full fat keeps you fuller longer. If you'd rather not count cals, do you want to post a typical day and we'd have a good idea cals wise what to keep, what to downsize? If helpful.

Mmm overnight oats, I haven't had them in a few weeks, going to make a deluxe lot for tomorrow!

So today for example I've used 250 calories so far on milk! I do use semi skimmed too but don't mind skimmed. Out of a 1200 calorie allowance though that seems ridiculous.
I'm finding the calorie counting a pretty shocking but much needed wake up call. I can see that the crisps I had with my soup for lunch fulfil nothing nutritionally or hunger wise, they're just a habit that wasted 100 calories. I know this stuff in my head but seeing it written down brings it home more.
My biggest bugbear with mfp is that I cook from scratch a lot so it's a bit of a guessing game but I'll work with it for now!

You might find lose it better.. Is 1200 a realistic budget for your weight and activity level? The tea is probably something that might help you avoid snacks say so you might decide it's worth this cals or a lesser number of cups? Definitely ditch the crisps with lunch. Try eat as much as you can of healthy stuff.

With lose it you can input recipes and repeat meals as you go also, editing them where necessary. I prefer it.

You're right that cal counting can show you where maybe one or two things are throwing your whole day and all you effort!

Thanks @HeyGirlHeyBoy I'm not sure on the budget, I've optimistically opted for 1.5lb a week loss but if I end up falling off the wagon in a few days because it's too restrictive, I'll change it to 1 or even half. I'm not in a rush to lose it, when I think about it, so maybe slower and steadier would work out better?!
The crisps have irrationally annoyed me today, I could've had so many other options but it was pure habit!
I think you can input recipes on mfp (you used to be able to) so I'll have to find some time to add my regulars!