LOSE IT! January 2021

[TheRealHousewife]

HELLO, WELCOME & HAPPY NEW YEAR! Actually that doesn’t read right with all the C19 malarkey. Strange & unprecedented times. Nonetheless, 2021 marks a fresh start and and an opportunity for renewal. This thread is for those of us who enjoy healthy eating, exercising and feeling motivated to reach (or maintain) a healthy weight/bmi. The founding members of these threads are inspirational and supportive in equal measure. I’m sure @SunshineCake & @FatGirlShrinking won’t mind me holding them up as our Poster Girls. They both did absolutely fantastic in 2020! ⭐️👏🥇

They have both demonstrated that 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 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 December I maintained; I’m hoping to see a loss this January 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 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 these threads. We are in this together.

Useful Links

Getting Back On Track

How To Lose Weight

The Fast Diet

Mediterranean Diet

MFP

Intermittent Fasting

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 😊

Another day down.
B - sweet potato, pepper and egg hash
L - roll with cheese and ham, crisps and apple and a satsuma
D - turkey Bolognese on courgette noodles
Snacks - bit of chocolate and 2 caramel ricecakes

Dog walked and did the horse.
Not the best lunch but I was in a rush. Largely just focusing on 3 healthy meals and reducing sugar. Still have too much chocolate in the house to cut it out completely but this is a significant improvement on how I’ve been eating lately

Looks good @Foreverlexicon breakfast sounds very lovely.

Feeling bleurgh and tired today, another day of rain and cold ahead of us. I just want a sunshiney warm day when I can pop out for a nice walk/jog and listen to my music and enjoy some space and alone time. Instead it will be another day stuck inside or getting soaked through and freezing if we step foot outside. Bleurgh!

I am staying dry but my diet resolutions have gone awry! I seem to be craving sweet stuff all the time. I had good intentions of eating lots of fruit ( did you know that this is the international year of fruit and vegetables?!) but instead I have been finding chocolate, biscuits etc...

I stopped on the scales this morning- 16 stone 3lbs! I can’t believe I’m this heavy; that means I gained back the 1.5 stone I lost and the same again. Disgusted with myself frankly.

BUT no point dwelling, just going to try and draw a line under it. At least being heavier means my TDEE has adjusted- 3 stone to lose now and I reckon I can do that quite comfortably on 1400 cals a day which makes all the difference compared to 1200.

Will be checking in here regularly. Well done everyone, we can do it!!

@newyearnewme21 I was 16st3lb 4 months ago, 13st1 now, you absolutely can lose it and will feel great doing it. Take your measurements as well so that when you have one of those weeks where even though you've been good the scales choose to be little bastards, you can get the tape measure out and be rewarded.

I checked my measurements last night and do bust, under bust, waist, hips, one thigh, one upper arm. I've lost 25inches over those areas since September.

I also do monthly pictures face and body which is really helpful as you just don't see the changes when you're looking at yourself every day. When you look at a body shot (never to be shown to another human being!!) and compare month on month you can really see it.

@theDudesmummy when I was starting out I also had the sweet stuff madness, one of the best things I had was full fat Greek yoghurt with pecans and a drizzle of maple syrup. The syrup is so sweet you don't need much, yoghurt was creamy and full of protein so felt satisfying and 'puddingy'. Fairly high in calories but you get more for your money because unlike a chocolate bar I didn't instantly feel like I needed another one and didn't have the sugar crash an hour later where I felt super hungry again.

Day 11
SW:151
CW:144.25
GW:132
Only 0.25lb but better than nothing as another 0.25 would be 7lbs and it would be great if I could do that in 14 days.

Thanks for that, I actually do love yoghurt, but I have just got sidetracked the last few days...I will try to get back on track today!

@HalfShrunkMoreToGo That is an amazing amount in 4 months, thank you- you are my inspo!!

I have never taken measurements before but I think I will this time if I can get hold of a fabric tape measure.

@HalfShrunkMoreToGo that's an incredible loss as newyearnewme21 said, how did you do it? I can't imagine being that small!!

Weigh in day- stayed the same but I am on my period.

Been ploughing away since mid October for a 13lb loss. I just feel like I want it to speed up a little as I have 2 stone 1lb to go!

@HalfShrunkMoreToGo is a true inspiration for all!

@Puffalicious you're doing really well, remember it took years to put the weight on, if it comes off slowly it's just more time to readjust your thinking towards food and set in good habits. Make sure you have plenty of water as that can sometimes help the scales to shift a bit.

@Elle200 the boring way I'm afraid. I always said my body was broken and my metabolism must be funky because I just couldn't lose weight, blah blah blah. Turns out I was just eating too much crap. I log everything now and stick to the calorie limit MFP sets for me. Initially that was 1690, now it's 1440. That's with the settings at 1lb loss goal per week and sedentary for activity. Then I aim for 30 mins exercise 3 times a week.

You're so kind, Halfshrunk just had a stressful week so feeling bit rubbish. I seriously need to up my water, so that's one thing to focus on. Thanks.

Felt rubbish yesterday, had to go for a covid test which luckily was negative but just was in a slump all day. Stuck to my plan but went over my cals by 100 and ended up beating myself up for not getting enough veg. I can be such a perfectionist and really dwell if I feel I’ve not done enough. I did get for a walk though.

Better day today, wasn’t hungry until midday when I had my courgette protein shake, some apple and peanut butter and a babybell. Got out for a walk and then had homemade burgers made with shredded veg, sweet potato fries and green beans. Really filling. I’d included a yoghurt for dessert in my ‘quota’ but I’m honest too full to attempt it!

@HalfShrunkMoreToGo sounds like you're on the road to real success. I've never tried MFP, will take a look later on today.

I'm also very sedentary, trying to walk more but I don't get the chance often.

Slow and steady will win the race!!

A little NSV for me - ordered some jeans that I was concerned would be too small and they both fit perfectly. Perfect around the waist and the loose style are actually loose I live in Japan and most stores (even big brands like GAP, Banana Republic and American Eagle) only go up to a UK size 10, sometimes 12 if you're lucky. So I'm pleased that I can buy clothes here that fit comfortably.

Oh that is good @TTCAbroad ! It's a brilliant feeling when clothes you're worried will be too small actually fit perfect, well done!

@SunshineCake and @TheRealHousewife are guys feeling any better?

@TTCAbroad What a great feeling when you think something won't fit and it does!

@SkeletonSkins That burger sounds wonderful. Do you have a recipe?

I hope those who have been unwell are feeling better.
I'm making very slow progress at the moment. But that is what I wanted: small and steady habit changes. I've challenged myself to walk 1000 miles this year, not including the walking I already did as part of my commute (to and from train station). So after work I've been walking along the bus or train route until dusk/a bus comes by etc. A friend also happened to add me on Strave (a running app) so she could have some accountability for keeping up running, but it is also really helping me. Cycling to work once a week has really become a habit too and I've been swimming in the sea twice since the start of the year.
Foodwise, this week I haven't bought a single snack on the way home from work (the extra walking takes me beyond the temptation) and, while I have had snacks in the evening, I've not had endless ones. I think, going forward, I will just start making dinner as soon as I've had a cup of tea after getting home. If that means it's early, I don't mind, that is when I am hungry. Then I can move from the kitchen and do something else.

Well done @TTCAbroad on those jeans - this is the main reason why I am doing this i.e. to fit properly into the wardrobe of nice clothes I have. I want to be able to wear what I want not what fits me.
Those are some great lifestyle changes there @rivierliedje which will really tone your body up as well as help with the weightloss.
So: Day 12
SW:151
CW:143.5
GW:132
I cannot believe I am typing that. I have never lost 7.5lbs in 12 days before and I am eating just a lot less. i.e.no snacks, doing Dry Jan, doing 16:8 and walking outside every day weather permitting or using the YouTube videos recommended upthread on the horrid days.
Now just to maintain over the weekend but I will be here checking in every day to keep me honest.
Onward and inwards!

Hi everyone.
I haven't updated for ages. Had an awfully stressful week, but on the plus side I have lost or maintained everyday for 2 weeks.
SW- 99.5 kg
CW- 97.5kg
GW- 65 kg

I have stopped drinking full fat coke and have 1 bottle of diet coke a day (my mum brought me a case from work that was going out of date- otherwise I'd still be drinking 2 cans a day of real coke).

With the money I have saved from not buying coke everyday I have bought myself some perfume samples ( gucci, Christina herrera and paco rabanne) and I smell amazing all the time, I've exfoliated everyday, put moisturiser and CC cream on.
I feel so much better about myself. ❤

@rivierliedje sure, this is the one we used but we used barbecue sauce instead of Worcestershire:
www.healthylittlefoodies.com/hidden-veggies-beef-burgers/

@TTCAbroad amazing achievement!! You must feel so happy! Feeling better in clothes is a real goal for me.

@Nutrigrainygoodness great work not buying the coke and using the money to treat yourself instead, I love that. Do you think you’ll continue when the case runs out?

Weight loss has been a bit slower for me this week but I’ve stuck to my diet so I’m thinking I haven’t been drinking enough. Going to work hard to drink a lot today, do a work out and get an early night.

@132orbust Absolutely amazing progress!

Some great results today. Well done.

My weigh in was today too.

SW 12-4
CW 10-13
GW 10-0

I’m another 2lb down from last week and psychologically it’s great to be in the same stone bracket as my target weight. It all seems more attainable as a result.