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.

Morning. Thanks for birthday wishes. I also missed the weighing window by drinking a lot of water when I woke up.

Ds has agreed to try steak with pepper sauce for my birthday dinner. So much nicer now he's more willing to try new foods. It's thin cut steak so shouldn't be to challenging for him. I've bought fancy chocolate orange deserts and I am allowing myself beer for my birthday so all bets are off today.

I'll try and make up for it tomorrow with a busy fasted day at work.

I fancy making sauerkraut given my recent cabbage obsession. Good for bowel biome as a bonus.

Could be marmite but obviously the darker days effect our mood and endocrine system too.

Happy Birthday HoneyBadger, enjoy your Birthday dinner. Good that your Son is trying more new foods. Also wanted to thank you for the probiotic recommendation think it is helping, made lentil hotpot last night and my stomach isn't too bad, have been taking them for 2 weeks. Weighed 9sts0.5 this morning, DS2 off school with a sore throat and a cold, feel a bit similar so just feel like eating comforting carbs but have decided not to worry about it. Marmite, as others have said this weather and current situation doesn't help with PMT, try and be nice to yourself.

Maybe I should look at Light boxes again.

I felt the same as you earlier but my post didn't post!! I got a boost from my fitbit stats which said I walked over 100000 steps last week which I'm thrilled with. All healthy so far with food today but just want to eat and eat. Had a hill to climb with some work stuff earlier and managed it so I have survived. Hard to think energetically and positively at the moment!!

Wow Heygirl thats fantastic. 9st1.75 for me today, probably not enough steps or water. Will aim to do a bit better today.

Morning all! Hope you had a lovely day yesterday Honeybadger.

Can anyone recommend a decent step counter? can't see how I'll get long walks in around work / kids but would like to start tracking my activity more.

Yesterday I went over 1300 but I wasn't off the rails - just hard to stick to a low amount!

B oats, blueberries, almond milk,
L muligatawny soup, chocolate brownies (someone baked at work & I couldn't resist!)
D scrambled egg, bacon, beans, toast
S coffees, hot chocolate before bed

More like 1500 again

Have a great day everyone

8st12 for me, that's OK I ate a pound of granola bars I'd say, couldn't fill myself last night (not hunger) Will keep going.

Morning everyone. My weight has wavered a lb the last few days but is back to where I want to be. My mood was so on the floor yesterday but interestingly, it didn't occur to me to overeat. I have sweet treats built in to my meal plan and that was enough. Mood is better today. It's a rollercoaster! I'm exhausted! Happy hump day. Keep on keeping on. November is a tricky month. Dark, hard work, staggering on to Christmas. Usually after Christmas we have the summer to look forward to and get in shape for.

Weight is up and I'm finding it hard to care enough. Definitely getting too many alcohol calories but it's what is making life bearable at the minute. Really don't think I can do work as it is and no life outside of work and cut back further on food and drink.

Hopefully everyone else is doing better than me

Hang on in there HoneyBadger. Sometimes you need to do what you need to do, food and alcohol are fun and comforting lets face it. Just try and count it in and keep talking, easier said than done I know. Life is tough at the moment especially for teachers. Try to take it easy where you can, easier said than done, but hang on in there. You are doing so well to be maintaining. 9st1.25 this morning for me, so so, DS2 has to self-isolate for 2 weeks as there is a case in his year. Its a case of working round him and home schooling again not great but at least I can leave him for a bit whilst I nip out and do some work. Nearly the weekend

Thanks octopus. Ds's year group haven't been effected yet at our school and I haven't been a close contact so we haven't had to isolate. Hope it goes ok.

I stepped on the scales dressed this morning and it said 14:4. Regaining and need to stop. Birthday was very foodie

Honeybadger and Idontmindmarmite I have been feeling very similar. 8st12 this AM. I think I'm going to keep up my simple habits of water intake, 10k steps and 3 healthy meals but go easy on myself also. If I could get down two pounds and maintain till Jan I think I'd be in a good position to step up again with spring and summer in mind.. As I said last week I know one good week would put me back in a good place but the comfort of extra food too strong at mo. I'm finding a bowl of sugar free granola, my own stuff, and Greek yoghurt a lovely filler and not awful but still a few hundred calls. I'm eating generally more I know but the drive is running on low at mo so I'm happy enough with that. I won't go over 9 that's my limit and I'm taking thé JS this is for life not be a certain date approach and being calm and patient about it all. So that's my navel gazing for today!
B: 50g granola, banana and 100g Greek yoghurt
L: as B with chopped apple instead (no facilities at work, fridge/micro etc)
D: shepherd's pie with beans and veg
Early night, 10k step minimum and 2.5L water. Keep going everyone. You're not messing up unless you're giving up!

Is anyone thinking about how they might do damage limitation for Christmas? I'm hopeless and spent a month after my holiday getting back to my pre-holiday weight.

I think I'll just hope not to go overboard at all this year tbh. The way Christmas is going to be is just like a quiet family break so I'll just keep an eye. Unfortunately I have really noticed that eating junk in company is no pleasure at all, it's the lone sugar injection that is my poison/relaxation, teamed with some phone time, not so healthy. So I will just try to keep as I'm doing over Christmas, hopefully not too naive. As I say I'd love to get down a little first and be in that positive zone where somehow it all seemed easy! (September)

@IDontMindMarmite

Is anyone thinking about how they might do damage limitation for Christmas? I'm hopeless and spent a month after my holiday getting back to my pre-holiday weight.

This is why I'm despairing a bit at the minute. If stress levels and situation mean I'm already slipping back into bad habits and surviving on food and drink as my 'keeping going' mechanism then by the time Christmas gets here....

I want to say out loud so to speak on here that EVEN if I totally fuck up and gain more weight back over the next month or so I am still going to post and connect and not think that that means it's all over and fuck it.

Times are pretty hard at the minute. I'm sorry if i'm not being very supportive to others and I genuinely think well done to those who are doing well but I'm not in the same place personally.

Definitely keep posting Honeybadger, I know I was out of the thread for a month or more and it didn't help but a breather can be good too. Try not to worry about actual Christmas yet. I have just had my solo food and phone time but chose a 200cal flapjack, not bad at all. Dinner had and Greek yoghurt gone so I'm done for today and pleased with that. 12.5k steps in bag.

HoneyBadger keep posting, times are hard at the moment. Also one day at a time dont worry about Christmas. Heygirl put it perfectly, you're not messing up unless you're giving up

I'd better give the JS the credit on that, tho he says it slightly differently It's a good mindset tho isn't it? I was thinking of you all earlier, I had to go to the shop for a few things to tide us over and that's the type of occasion when solo with a small window of time I might grabbed some biscuits or bars but I just thought 'just keep going' and I didn't buy anything, bar the flapjacks for us all. Going to log out of interest to see where I'm at.

Also anyone with a sluggish digestive system, throw a few goji berries on your breakfast, not too many. They're yummy and high in iron too.

It is so hard at the moment. A lot of friends I've spoken talk of this low level constant feeling hanging over them, it's like a fog of stress / worry. I'm also finding the kids are very challenging - think they're also struggling without necessarily realising. Everything is different this year, no nativity, no birthday party, not seeing friends and family...

Keep posting Honey. Small steps. Getting through is enough. I think do what you need to do, give your body what it needs and be kind to yourself.

Today my body needed biscuits apparently

B banana, 2 chocolate digestives, 2 malted milks, coffee
L muligatawny, swizzels fizzers
D hard boiled egg, some kids pasta, a few nuts, most of a pomegranate, Greek yogurt pot, hot chocolate (I have no idea wtf this dinner was but I'm tired so best I could do!)

Think I'm addicted to sugar...

Ooh just under 9st 13 this morning which is 2lb loss this week. Just need to keep straight for the weekend!

Happy Friday all! Xx

Well done Hangover, sometimes the body does indeed need biscuits. 9st1.25 this morning, One day at a time

Well done hangover! I'm down a pound also, 8st11. Very pleased and feeling slim! Gives a boost.
Goals: 2.5L water, 10k step minimum, glass water before and after meals, no junk.
B: granola, mandarin and milk
L: lentils, roast veg and hallloumi
D: fajitas
Happy happy Friday!

Congratulations losers and maintainers
I'm trying out some new recipes for Christmas, also trying not to get carried away!