LOSE IT! December 2020

[TheRealHousewife]

Hello & Welcome

Roughly 4 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. In October/November I didn’t really lose but did maintain. I’m hoping to see a loss this month which would 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

MFP

Intermittent Fasting

Mindful Eating

Drink Water

Meal Planning

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 😬

hello :) so a week on and things are looking up (the scale as well although ever so slightly)
so 146.4
BUT, my mood has improved and i'm doing more physical activities.
i'm doing an easy leslie video (burn to the beat miles 1 and 2) plus a bit more walking the dogs around the block twice a day type things.
i need to get on board with NO SNACKING between my meals.
the food part will come into line this week i expect, as dh has purchased a fancy piece of fitness equipment and had me take baseline measurements. currently lots of salt and carbs (bread and potatoes) on the menu.
positive thoughts everyone!!

oh @SunshineCake, mother daughter relationships are so complex. virtual i'll sit at your kitchen table listen, make you a cup of tea (sadly i don't know how to make coffee at all).

A water is fine and thank you. DH actually stepped up and has a few words. She's still being a spoilt madam but I'm hopeful she will grow out of everything.

They do, but don’t expect much before 25 @SunshineCake.

Eight more years? Bloody hell. Mind you, she always says she is going to uni next year and not coming back.

20 lengths swimming this morning, slowly but did it and it was easier than the first time. No time for breakfast before work so have had an accidental IF day!

L: lentil mushroom and spinach bolognese (Lloyd Grossman packet) with cauli rice
D: steak with broccoli, asparagus, sprouts and cabbage (DP cooked! He had a pile of mash on his plate as well tho)

Didn’t drink so much water as work was so busy.

Good Morning Everyone

I’ve been under par for several days. My body certainly does not like the cooler/cold weather.

I had a jacket potato with Branston baked beans yesterday ... bloody lovely. I was still in my cal allowance but carb count was much higher than normal.

@FatGirlShrinking your post about your costume being loose made me giggle ... hope you managed to contain yourself 😬

@SunshineCake Congrats on your 100th run 👏⭐️🥇🎉. I get the feeling about being sick of cooking. There is just no respite. I spend half my time prepping, cooking and then cleaning up the kitchen. I might follow your lead and plan for a takeout at some point.

@MawkishHawk a warm welcome. Good on you for being on the register, you’re a star ⭐️. Well done on making lifestyle changes too ... 20 lengths is impressive 👍

Hi @fallfallfall pleased to read you’ve seen a positive change. I really enjoy LS vids too. Still gets your hr up but very doable!

Today’s menu: - Lunch = hot & spicy chicken soup. Chicken, leek & mushroom pie with a medley of steamed veg. When I say ‘pie’, its mostly filling with a small ‘lid’ of gluten free pastry, I know, I know my carbs will be high .... if will power permits I’ll give the lid to the dog 🐶😬

Have a good day everyone.

Had a bad first week but lost 0.6lb which I guess is something. Finding it hard to motivate myself to exercise when it’s so cold. I like the LS videos but feel a bit embarrassed to do them when family are around. I do miss having the house to myself occasionally. I think I will try using my Paul McKenna app again- tried it a few years ago and it does help I think.

@Onthebrink67 well done on your loss! Keep going, even if small little steps.

I find it much harder to keep on track during the colder darker months. I’m sure we are programmed to crave carbs when the seasons change! They are so comforting, like a big warm foody hug 🤗. ATM my carb count is through the roof, which sees me maintain or gain, even if within cal allowance. My body grabs water if I have too many carbs.

Hi everyone

Another really busy day. DH took dS2 to school so I could run and then took DD in later so I could walk the dog. I then went to the post office to send my friends presents and went just at the right time as by the time I was done the queue was out of the door. Quick shop then back in to get stuff for a poorly neighbour. No clue what I've done this afternoon other than wrap presents, school runs x 2 and eat dinner cooked by superstar DS1. Got a bit of a headache now so tv and then bed. Had a terrible nights sleep last night so hoping for a better one. Decided not to run tomorrow as hip was sore when walking the dog so registering my 1.2 lb loss today.

Oct 2018 - 14 stone
May 2020 - 12 stone 9
Today - 10 stone 12.6

Happy me .

Hi Mawkishhawk glad you liked Landsend swimwear- you're right about it being practical rather than pretty and impractical. I also find sports brands unflattering with bulges in strange places: I just want to swim! I've seen a woman at my pool wearing swim leggings, so you'll get them online I believe.

I'm mid yucky period so not holding out hope for loss this week, I'll be happy with maintaining. Keep it up everyone.

Ps Sunshine cake- amazing losses. I'm realistically aiming to be where you are this time next year.

well done on weight loss @SunshineCake, and the bathing suit find @MawkishHawk!
oh @Puffalicious, those darn periods do eventually end, hope is on the horizon.
more energy more focus and less snacks over here (because they've al been purchased and not replaced).

Good loss @SunshineCake

My WOW update

Start of this weight loss journey was 233lb, BMI 35.4

25/11/2020 - 192lb, BMI 29.2
02/12/2020 - 190lb, BMI 28.9
09/12/2020 - 187lb, BMI 28.4

Loss this week - 3lb
Loss this month - 5 lb
Total loss since starting - 46 lb

Oh @FatGirlShrinking, I’m so happy for you!! Well done

Thank you @fallfallfall just realised I'm only 1lb off losing 20% of my starting body weight, so hopefully by next week I'll be a whole 1/5 smaller than I was.

Amazing how the numbers play out

Please can I join?

Started at 11st 01lbs on 22nd November

Weigh today at 10st 11lbs

So 4lbs down ........

Upped my steps

1200 calories ish a day!

Want to get down to 10st xx

Impressive @SunshineCake congratulations, do you have a goal you must be nearing?

And @FatGirlShrinking that’s really inspiring losses too. Well done.

I had a difficult day yesterday, despite Monday eating well, swimming and getting 8 hours sleep, yesterday I woke up feeling exhausted and hungry, but that kind of sicky hungry where you don’t feel you can actually eat anything. Went to work and it was full on from the start, so didn’t have time for lunch until 2pm (cauli rice and veg chilli from a tin), then work went on and on ended up doing a 13hr day and didn’t get home until 9pm, quickly scoffed what I could scrabble together which was a Jamie Oliver Mediterranean quinoa packet which I stir-fried with some egg and a tin of peas and carrots, bit weird but there you go! Our fridge/freezer isn’t working at the moment we’re waiting for it to be fixed, hence all the packets and tins right now. Fingers crossed work is less mental today and I can get out to the supermarket this afternoon for some fresh food for tonight. But this morning again I feel tired and heavy in all my muscles, my various injured joints are all playing up. Think I might take some flu tablets, so the paracetamol/caffeine can carry me through! Don’t really feel like eating breakfast and might just head into work early to get a jump on the day.

I need to look for recipes for breakfast bar/flapjack/muffin type things for mornings like these. All the ones you buy are sugar bombs though, so it’d have to be homemade and perhaps frozen. Once we have a working freezer!

@MawkishHawk sounds like a hard day.

For low cal, packet/instant treats I like the FibreOne bars, they've just bought out a cinnamon drizzle cake bar which is (excuse my french) fucking delicious! 87 calories, only small but amazing as a pick me up, indulgent tasting treat.

I like egg muffins as a freezer staple. Just use a muffin tin, grease it and pour in beaten egg to each cup, plus whatever additions you want - cooked onion, peppers, cheese, mushrooms etc.

Bake for about 30 mins or until the egg is set and you basically have a whole load of little omelettes that you can freeze and take to work for breakfast, lunch or whatever. They defrost really quick and can be eaten cold or blitzed for 30 seconds to warm up.

If you have a microwave at work, you could also take the ingredients for scrambled egg and make that fresh. Just chuck everything in a cleaned out jam jar in the morning, it doesn't matter if it gets shaken up as you want the eggs beaten anyway, then blitz for 30 second increments, stirring inbetween until the egg is the way you like it.

Could you get some crackers or such for your work drawer just in case you need something to tide you over? The aldi benefit cereal bars are about 70 calories and they do a cherry bakewell one which is lovely.

Hey Everyone

Well done on all losses 😀👍🏻
@fatgirlshrinking you are doing so well and very inspiring!!

My weigh in today is still 10 St 12 lbs so maintaining but that's what I'm aiming for in December.
I'm measuring my waist everyday too to make sure the dress fits in 2 weeks.

I did do a workout on Sunday (30 mins body pump) so me putting it out there into the universe did help 😁 especially impressed with myself as that day was awful! Lots of things went wrong and then we had an unintended 2 hour wait in the cold for santas grotto! Not fun. Not worth it 😅
Anyway thoroughly enjoyed body pump! It's my facourite!
Quite jealous of all the swimmers on here - Ive always love the idea of swimming but I never really enjoy it as much as I'd like. Same as yoga! I really want to enjoy it....

For me it's hard to keep a diet. It lasts for me not longer than 3 days. But with two kids, I'm losing weight even faster than when I work out at the gym

Good Morning All

Bloody well done @SunshineCake awesome, consistent progress👍⭐️👏🥇🎉

@RobiN0963 I believe diets don’t work. They just don’t. As soon as you deviate from the ‘diet’ you gain. That’s why this thread is mainly about healthy habits and mindful meals 😬. Losing weight is 95% about what you eat and not about exercise. Exercise tones and builds stamina, food builds and sustains the physique.

@CescaNicole not long now! So exciting 👰🏼.

@FatGirlShrinking great tips about eggs/muffins/scramble etc 👍 Thank you for sharing ⭐️ Fabulous progress! 20% ... 😯

@MawkishHawk sounds like you’re trying to power through whatever ails you. Admirable but try to take some time for self care such as finishing work on time, getting some fresh foods, long soak in bubble bath, early night etc. Take care.

A warm welcome @nodtik. Jump right in!

Keep going everyone ... you’ll be glad you did 😊

Hi everyone

Thank you for all the well done's. I appreciate them very much. I have to admit, blushing, that I am proud of myself and it is an amazing feeling not to hate myself anymore.

Congrats to everyone for all your exercising, weight loss and good food choices @MawkishHawk @FatGirlShrinking @fallfallfall @Puffalicious. @TheRealHousewife. Sorry for doing it that way I am in a hurry but didn't want to forget.

Current goal is to get my BMI to not overweight. I have about 7-8lbs to get there.

DD didn't even get into school today and now can't go back until January. He younger brother will be miffed.

Welcome to @nodtik.

I 💜 the egg muffins, thanks!