Trim down in advent

[FurrySlipperBoots]

This isn't a heavy duty 'weightloss' thread, but more for those who'd just like to trim off a few pounds/tone up a bit before Christmas. If you don't want to be facing nothing but sit-ups and soup throughout the month, but are trying to be sensible with portions and doing something active every day, this is your thread!

My personal goal is to be down to 9.13 by the 22nd (the 23rd is my dad's birthday so the treats start then!) from a starting point of 10.4. It's not really a starting point in that I've lost 3st since March so it might not be easy to shed more at this point, but I'll see what happens!

My approach will be to keep a diary here of everything I eat so I can't be sneaking in extras absent-mindedly. I will be counting calories (rounding up or down to the nearest 50) but I can have up to 1500 a day. I'm going to try and up my exercise too, which has definitely slipped since being back at work!!

So anyone else who just has a handful of pounds to go, or even if you have more but just prefer the 'slowly slowly catchy monkey' approach, please feel free to join me!

I am with you op. Well done on your stunning achievement so far! I am permanently about half a stone / 10 lbs overweight which doesn't really bother me but I want to really enjoy food this Christmas so would just like to offset that if that makes sense. I also find that if I restrict (e.g. have fish and chips but have a lite bite fish and just a few chips) I actually enjoy it more than a massive portion. Win / win! I am also doing more family meals meaning I eat earlier and less. And trotting back from the school run (I cannot reasonably call it running but it's getting there).

This sounds perfect. You’ve done so well so far.

I’m already in the healthy range but I’m a couple of pounds over my happy number. Literally a few pounds!

I’m not counting calories but just focussing on eating more vegetables and less junk food. I love exercise but can get a bit lazy. A thread to keep me on track and share some ideas and support is great. I like the relaxed approach.

Yay, glad you're joining me!

What I've eaten today:

Breakfast: 1/2 glass juice - 50

Lunch: Air-popped corn - 50
Celery and cucumber - negligible
Teeny scrape of Philadelphia - 50
Flat bread - 100
Pe and spinach dip - 50
Raspberries - 50
Cake bar - 100

Dinner: Mushrooms and onion - negligible
Peas - 100
Pasta - 300
Houmous - 100
Cheese - 100
Pear - 100
Cake bar - 100
Yoghurt - 50

Total: 1300

I had a dog walk today too, about 40 mins.

That sounds nice! It was a day of mainly leftovers for me.

Toast with butter and marmite for breakfast and cranberry juice.
A lot of coffee and a soreen apple mini loaf thing mid morning then lentil moussaka filling with grilled courgettes and a pitta bread for lunch. Dinner was gyozas, Kung pao sprouts with cashews, veggie sausages (sounds weird but lovely) with wholewheat noodles. I’ve just had a crumpet!

I went out for a 4mile walk. I was in the couldn’t be bothered mood but went anyway and really enjoyed it.

Today:

Breakfast: 1/2 glass juice - 50

Lunch: Air-popped corn - 50
Lettuce and cucumber - negligible
Red pepper dip - 100
Flat bread - 100
Banana - 100
Cake bar - 100

Dinner: Winter vegetable soup - 300
Cheese - 100
Pear - 100
Cake bar - 100
Yoghurt - 50
Raspberries - 50

Total: 1200

I've not really had any 'exercise' today, just an hour of walking around town. @PurpleDaisies I'm impressed you went for a 4 mile walk! It's getting motivated to just step outside that's hard isn't it?

An hour of walking around town could definitely count, especially if you were carrying shopping bags.

It was a HIIT day this morning and it was bloody awful. Forty minutes of torture but definitely good. Much shorter walk today because I misjudged when it was going to get dark. I’ve got a swim booked tomorrow...if I can move! You’re absolutely right about the walking. I can never really be arsed but once I get going it’s great.

Today’s food has been really nice. Toast for breakfast, spiced cabbage with mango chutney in a chapatti wrap for lunch and butternut squash, tenderstem broccoli, red onion and pine nut pasta for dinner. Plus a soreen cake bar thing and some marmite biscuits.

I was really pleased that a pinafore dress I bought a few months ago fits really nicely now instead of being tight across my hips and stomach.

Hey can I join? 👋

I have gained about 7lbs since the start of August when I stopped doing my HIIT exercises 😩 I have been pregnant twice in that time and miscarried both times so also trying to be kind to myself before TTC again in the New Year!

I'm small and struggle with my disproportional waist to legs (my waist is small and my legs and bum is massive 😂) hoping to get back into the HIIT workouts and loose a few pounds before Christmas!

All are welcome @bez91. Sorry to hear about your miscarriages. It’s such a tough thing to go through, physically and emotionally. Fingers crossed things work out for you after Christmas.

Today I’ve done a Les mills barre class which was bloody hard. My legs are burning. Totally forgot it’s Zumba tonight when I loaded it up. Oops.

@PurpleDaisies It's so satisfying when your clothes start to fit properly again! My ultimate 'goal' dress is a size 10 satin number at the back of my wardrobe. I don't suppose in reality I'll ever squeeze into it again, but it's motivation! I would definitely have 'phoned in sick' for that zumba class! It's making me feel tired just reading about it!

@bez91 I'm so sorry about the miscarriages - how horrible! As evil as HIIT workouts are though they do release endorphins so a good choice if you're having a low day. I'm trying to get my arse in gear with them again. Maybe tomorrow...

Today:

Breakfast: 1/2 glass juice - 50

Lunch: Twiglets - 100
Cucumber and red pepper - negligible
Red pepper dip - 100
Flat bread - 100
Banana - 100
Cake bar - 100

Snack: Porridge - 250

Dinner: Gnocchi - 300
Broccoli - 50
Butter - 100
Plum - 50
Raspberries - 50
Yoghurt - 50
Cake bar - 100

Total: 1500.

Done nothing at all today, beside a few quick starjumps in the loo at work! Tried to take the dog for a walk when I got home but it was pissing it down so barely got halfway up the road before she voted with her feet! I'm going to try and make up for it with 2 lots of exercise tomorrow!

We have the same taste in food @FurrySlipperBoots. I love gnocchi and twiglets (not so much together!). I’m trying to picture you doing star jumps in the loo and admiring your dedication.

Yesterday was great for exercise, not so good for food. Dinner was alphabites and fake chicken nuggets after Zumba in my living room. Not too bad for calories but not exactly top nutritionally!

Today it’s take away day-first time in 5 weeks. Somehow that became our routine during lockdown one when there was nothing open and we’ve stuck to it. I’ve had a good week and I’m determined not to feel guilty. HIIT this morning. Aiming for whole class with the heavier dumbbells.

Keep positive everyone.

I find it tough to stay under on my calorie goal some days as I like us all as a family to eat at the same time and I really can't be doing with having to cook separately for myself so we all have the same, so a 1345 calorie total today so not too bad.

Did treat myself to a G&T and a few Jelly Babies!

@PurpleDaisies Are you a veggie? I am! I think that makes things easier actually, as veggie 'fake meat' products are less calorific than the 'real' versions.

@bez911 I think it's important to allow yourself treats. When I was losing the initial weight during lockdown I posted on here and someone was shocked and horrified that I was having 2 cake bars a day - the fact is if I'd deprived myself of them I'd have thought 'Fuck it!' and been back to wolfing a packet of biscuits at a time a week later!

Today:

Breakfast: 1/2 glass juice - 50

Lunch: 3 falafel - 150
Houmous - 100
Cucumber and red pepper negligible
Banana - 150

Dinner: Risotto - 600 (eek!)
Pear - 100
Cake bar - 100

Total: 1250

I've had 2 'powerwalks' with the dog today, about 40 minutes each. Generally been rushing around 'doing' stuff as well, have barely sat down!

Yes @FurrySlipperBoots, vegan now. It’s interesting-I put a fair bit of weight on going veggie when I swapped lean meat for loads of cheese, and then again when went vegan eating too much vegan junk food. In some ways it’s easier in that you have to be a little more organised with what you’re eating and in other ways there’s just as much temptation, but just different things to before. I’m lucky in that I really like vegetables!

Today was chip shop take away day and I really did enjoy it (with a glass of wine too). I did HIIT this morning and a short walk, and up until the industrial quantities of chips eating had been ok.

It sounds like you did well today @bez91, especially on a Friday night. I agree that treats are definitely important. Impressive power walking furry. Hopefully we’re going for a wander along a local seafront tomorrow if it isn’t too wet.

Yesterday:

Breakfast - 1/2 glass juice - 50

Lunch: Cottage cheese - 50
Sweetcorn - 100
Red pepper - 50
Flat bread - 100
Grapes - 100

Dinner: Cold leftover gnocchi - 200
Mayo - 100
Celery, spring onion and lettuce - negligible
Banana - 50
Cake bar - 100

Total - 900

Had a short dog walk, around 30 mins, but no other exercise

Oh, the cottage cheese was 150, so 1000 cals in total for the day.

Today:

Breakfast:1/2 glass juice - 50

Lunch: scrambled eggs - 300
Peas - 100
Toast - 150
Butter - 100

Snack: 1/2 glass juice - 50

Dinner: Sweet potato - 100
Broccoli - 50
Banana - 150
Yoghurt - 50
Cake bar - 100

Total: 1200

Just the tiniest dog walk today, about 15 minutes.

I weighed myself earlier and supposedly I've lost 2lbs, though it's only been a week and we all know these things fluctuate so who knows! 2.5 weeks to go!

@FurrySlipperBoots 2lbs! Well done, you're so disciplined with your daily calorie intake.

I had a slump over the weekend, still suffering from the MMC surgical procedure last week and my energy took a nosedive so had a bit too much sugar. Although much better today;

Breakfast: nothing

Lunch: carrots, cucumber and hummus - 78

Dinner: - teriyaki salmon, broccoli and brown rice - 538

Snacks: half a muffin - 160
Peanut bar: - 125
Half a granola bar - 74
Drinks - 62

Total: 1037

Did my first HIIT workout in a while which was 109 Cals

Today:

Breakfast: 1/2 glass juice - 50

Lunch: Sweet potato crisps - 150
Cucumber and celery - negligible
Houmous - 100
Flat bread - 100

Snack: Grapes - 100
Cake bar - 100

Dinner: Ravioli - 300
Peas - 100
Veggie sausages - 50
Cheese - 100
Head of lettuce - 50
Pear - 100
Cake bar - 100

Total: 1400

40 minutes power walking.

Today:

Breakfast: 1/2 glass juice - 50

Lunch: Cottage cheese - 150
Sweetcorn - 100
Red pepper - 50
Flat bread - 100

Snack: Banana - 100
Cake bar - 100

Dinner: Winter minestrone - 300
Flat bread - 100
Houmous - 100
Cheese - 100
1/2 glass juice - 50
Cake bar - 100

Total: 1400

No official exercise today but I did walk around town for about an hour.

Yesterday was my sister's birthday, so while I had a nice healthy breakfast and lunch of:

Breakfast: 1/2 glass juice - 50
Banana - 100
Cake bar - 100

Lunch: Air popped corn - 50
Houmous - 50
Cucumber and celery - negligible
Flat bread - 100

I ruined it with a big greedy pizza followed by a bigger greedier bowl 2 bowls of chocolate birthday cake and Phish Food with squirty cream!

Ah well! I made her take all the rest of the cake and cream home so I wouldn't be tempted by it today at least!

And I have an hour's dog walk yesterday too!

How's everyone doing?

Today:

Breakfast: 1/2 glass juice - 50

Lunch: Shop bought cheese & onion sandwich - 500
McCoys cheese & onion crisps - 150
Raspberries - 50

Dinner: Falafel - 200
Lettuce, celery and green pepper - negligible
Houmous - 100
Yoghurt - 50
Banana - 100
Cake bar - 100

Total: 1300

About 40 mins dog walking.