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 😬

Inspired by @MawkishHawk I went proper swimming this evening, as opposed to splash about with child swimming.

Managed 32 lengths in 30 minutes which I was pleased with. Proper mumsy swimming, glasses on, head out of water, breast stroke all the way but I did it.

Well done @FatGirlShrinking. That is fantastic. You speedy fish!!

that's the best kind of swimming @FatGirlShrinking! our pool is under reno's till january (and then there will probably be restrictions due to the viral stuff).
i did a 3 mile LS video :) worked up a good sweat.
the exercise definitely helps me sleep better so that is good motivation.
oh got new trainers delivered (bought online on sale) and they fit well and grip the flooring for the exercising i do.
dh's exercise equipment arrived so he will probably get onboard with less snacking and treats.

Oh wow @FatGirlShrinking that’s awesome! 32 lengths in 30 mins is pretty impressive in my book, however it’s done, at least us head up breaststrokers aren’t splishy-splashing everyone else like the inconsiderate dolphin-kickers! No one looks good doing butterfly mate, no one

Yesterday I had a John west tuna salad for lunch with veg crudités and guacamole, we had sea bass with stir fry veg for dinner, however I drank no where near enough water all day, barely 3 glasses I think, and this morning am up slightly on the scale..... I know with daily weigh-in that happens but is the first non-daily-loss since starting this health kick, I guess the honeymoon is over! Only half day at work today, then I have flu vaccination booked, home by 2pm. So less stress, hopefully. @TheRealHousewife you’re not wrong about powering through but always have done and really no other option, and finishing work on time just not possible most days unfortunately. Hopefully once my B12/iron levels start coming up I should feel less tired all the time.

My DP said last night that he noticed I looked like I’d lost weight. So that’s nice!

Morning all, well done on the exercise, great food diaries and weight loss.

Yucky period just stopped (yeah!) and a 1lb weekly loss. That's 12lbs in total. Now 13stone exactly- I just want to see that 12 something and if I really push, a stone by Xmas.

Just reflecting that I've not had the usual December treats. I love mince pies, but know if I crack them out I'll have one every day! Strangely, I've not missed the nuts/ cheese/ mince pies/ special chocolate. I think I'm definitely a person who needs to just avoid things, if I have a small piece I then want loads. Anyone else the same?

Exactly the same @Puffalicious I've been tempted by the mince pies but know I can't trust myself with a box of 6.

We do baking with DD every weekend because she loves it and this weekend we're going to do various flavoured filo parcels, so I'm having 1 of those with mincemeat in so I get something akin to a mince pie this year 😆

Afternoon everyone

Great to read such positivity.

I went running at seven then walked the dog. My friend said I looked like I was losing too much weight . I am still classed as over weight so not sure why she thinks it. I have lost 24.4lbs since May so it is obviously noticeable but I am no way too thin . I don't know why but I feel embarrassed but her comment.

Definitely the same too @Puffalicious. I think with me it really is sugar addiction. I can’t do just a little bit. It’s nothing or the whole packet. I will indulge myself over Christmas itself.

@SunshineCake I’m sure your friend is lovely really but I find that kind of comment incredibly rude, any uninvited opinion about someone’s appearance is the height of rudeness in my book. I now turn those kinds of comments straight back at the other person - make a similar observation about her and see how she likes it. They clearly think it’s an ok thing to do. Actually a good comeback to “Ooh, you look like you’ve lost too much weight” would be “Oh, do you think so? You don’t” and leave her wondering what you meant (only if she deserves a bit of mean!)

Have you guys seen this thread about loose skin after weight loss? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4102729-To-be-MASSIVELY-pissed-off#prettyPhoto I’m now wondering whether I should be adding collagen to my supplement regime to help my skin firm up as I lose weight.

Thank goodness it's not just me! I know all about the not trusting yourself with a 6 pack of mince pies! Smallest DC was after some Xmas buns as we passed Gregg's after school- their mince pies are the absolute best if anyone looking and they're vegan- and I resisted buying the mince pies. Result!

Sunshinecake it is rude but probably meant well. My loveliest friend said it once but it was after I'd put some weight on and she confessed they were a bit worried about me for a while as I was too thin. The difference here is that I was too thin at the time- early 20s, gym obsessed, clubbing constantly- and she was kind enough to not mention until I'd gained a little weight. That's different than making you feel bad. She may be a little envious. I'll bet you look fabulous, take no notice.

@MawkishHawk loose skin is one of my fears, it would be horrible to finally be slim but still hate my body because of loose skin. No idea if collagen really helps

Totally anecdotal but I lost 7st after having 2 CS and the loose skin isn't that bad, I have the usual overhang on my stomach and slightly loose skin on the insides of my thighs but nothing major.

I still feel far better for it but it's not how I pictured looking and I do joke about my starfish belly button - the health benefits far outweigh that though and those are hidden by your clothes anyway!

I didn't do a lot of exercise except walking but I did make sure to include healthy fats in my diet to maintain/improve skin elasticity.

My friend is barely 7.5 stone and wants to lose more. I have said to her she doesn't need to but maybe I'm in the wrong saying that.

@SunshineCake some people seem to not like it when people they know lose weight, I don't know if it's because they wish they could too or because they have an image of you that fits for them and they worry you won't fit that image anymore, or that they're worried you'll take it too far.

I have a really good friend, and she is amazing, but she has said a few times that I'm losing too much and should eat more. She's the most kind hearted person so 8 know she doesn't mean it badly so I just reassure her I'm eating plenty and looking after myself.

Try not to take it to heart

@PinGwyn I don't see myself ever being a crop top or bikini girl, it would be nice to not be scraping my belly off the floor as a walk though, so I'm hoping for the best and trying to make sure I keep up the exercise 😂

If anyone has experience of collagen helping please say so, and I'll happily spend a small fortune on the gold plated version and take as many as needed!

I do however as a backup plan have health insurance at work which will pay 75% of some cosmetic surgeries so I'm not totally against the idea of a tummy tuck if needed.

Goodness @SunshineCake sounds like she may have some issues herself around food/image if she is that tiny and wanting to lose weight, whilst discouraging you at the same time. I’d avoid the topic with her and just not engage if she tries to talk about it again. Just say you find it a bit personal to discuss and you’d rather not. Her comment about your weight is way more about her than you. Don’t let it affect you.

I did a lot of thinking about food this afternoon. Today is the one year anniversary of my dog dying suddenly at a young age. I got very sad and definitely would have normally self medicated with a lot of sugar. Instead I had a quinoa salad and just thought a lot about cheese puffs and cookies and trifles and jelly sweets! Booked to go swimming again in the morning.

Morning all.
Haven't posted for a week, but have just enjoyed catching up with everyone's news. It really helps.

Last Friday I was 12st 11.5
Today: 12st 10.5

So on the face of it it looks like I've lost a pound - BUT - I also weighed myself on Monday morning, and was 13st 1.5.

Basically - I think I do really well during the week, and then lose the will at the weekend. It's been a bit of a pattern for the last month or so. It's not that I'm 'rewarding' myself for my weight loss - it's just that I take my eye off the ball, and before I know it, I've had a glass of wine and a bowl of crisps. It's not even that much!

But it feels a bit a bit like I'm sabotaging myself. Anybody got any ideas for how to be moderate but also allow for something eg one glass of wine? I'm not necessarily looking to lose weight over the weekend, but I could do with not putting on 4lb!!!

Good Morning

Had really bad headache with nausea yesterday. Hum dinger it was, had to have pills. Feel much better this morning 😊

Hi @HolaVida try this website I was you. Sabotaged myself every weekend. In my instance I generally can eat what I like as long as within a calorie limit. Plus planning. Plan your meals in advance. Saves you from munching wildly on snacks whilst your looking in the fridge/freezer deciding what to have. At the end of the day the mainstay of losing/gaining is calories in versus calories out (we all know it isn’t that simple and is multi faceted & complex). Perhaps don’t weigh on a Monday. Weigh Fridays and plot progress over time. If you see a downward projectory you’re winning 😬

@FatGirlShrinking you mermaid 🧜‍♀️ you 🏊‍♀️ 👍👏⭐️

@MawkishHawk how you feeling? Sorry to hear about your beloved doggy. Well done on the shift in mindset! Healthy eating is mindset based.

Today’s menu is red pepper omelette for lunch. Veg & fish tray bake evening meal. Water, water, water 💧

Have a great day!

R.I.P Dame Barbara Windsor 😢

@HolaVida

If I know I want snacks or a big cheesy meal in the evening then I go low calorie but still filling for the rest of the day so I can splurge pretty much all my calories on the 'treat'.

I don't eat breakfast, just don't like it but will have a huge plate of steamed or roasted veg for lunch, green beans, mushrooms, baby corn, asparagus, sugar snap peas. A knob of butter on it or drizzle of oil and some seasoning. You can have loads and it comes to less than 200 calories.

Then i know I've got 1000 calories for Mac n cheese, or a burger or whatever and I've stayed within my daily limit.

I weighed myself on Wednesday but have been running round like a headless chicken this week so just got round to posting

30/11/20 111kg
8/12/20 110.4kg

I’ve kept my step count to a minimum of 9000/day and documented everything I’ve eaten on mfp even on the days I’ve gone over (most of them...) and am drinking a minimum of 1 litres of water a day which isn’t loads but it’s an improvement. Lost a bit of weight but at my size I know I’m in it for the long haul so I’m planning to work on establishing better habits first then once that becomes ‘normal’, focus on reducing calories. I know that if I just say ‘right I’m going to drop my calories to x’ I’ll give up on the first bad day.

I’m hoping next weds to be under 110kg as that would feel a bit better

You so absolutely can do this @HostessTrolley

I was 105kg on 29th July, I was 85kg on Wednesday. Doing the same as you, just log my food in MFP, do small amounts of regular exercise and just keep going. Even when I have a day or 2 over calorie, I keep logging and get back on it.

Hello everyone. I am a mum of 3 and was always naturally very slim. Even after my 1st 2. My youngest is now 2.5 years old and I had separated stomach muscles. I have found with this, and age, and poor habits, I am getting steadily fatter.
Had a shock getting weighed at the doctors last week. So I have made some changes.
No more eating after 7pm, avoid sugary snacks. And try to be active somehow most days of the week.
I decided to weigh myself once a week, and was hoping to lose roughly 1k or 3lb each week, so I would be almost a stone down by New Year.
So far so good, but the willpower is hard to find, and harder as the days go on! Good luck to all.

A warm welcome @DipSwimSwoosh, it’s great to have you join us. You’ve made some good positive changes already ... as you’ve identified it isn’t easy to be consistent. At tough times ask yourself why you’re doing this and visualise where you’d like to be in a month, 2 month etc. Not as easy as it sounds. In the event when you do fall of the wagon, get straight back on. Plenty of helping hands here to haul you back up! We’ve all been there. Good luck 👍

Thanks @TheRealHousewife and @FatGirlShrinking - really good ideas. I’m determined not to undo all the good work of the week.

Will keep checking in over the weekend!

@FatGirlShrinking - that’s amazing!

I struggle a bit more when my daughter is here, her anorexia recovery is quite tenuous at the moment so I’m kinda ‘stealth reducing’ as I don’t want to trigger her. Even small changes like mint tea instead of milky drinks will add up, I hope.

Hostesstrolley yup, small changes here too: popcorn instead of crisps, pickled onions (I know!) instead of nuts. Try liquorice tea, it's amazing, a sweet kick for 0 calories.

Hi everyone and welcome to our newbies.

I was so busy today I didn't get lunch until 2 so I did a really long time for IF.

Another night where I woke at 2.30 and then tried for ages trying to go back to sleep. Planning on having a glass of wine later in the hope I can sleep all night even if I don't sleep later.

Ran in the dark and rain this morning and then came home to a present from the cat on the doorstep, yuk.