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 😊

Hi all can I join please?
SW 12st 3
CW 10st 10
GW 9st 12
I had got down to 10st 6 before Christmas but put some back onhave restarted healthy eating and exercising using my exercise bike/weights/walking more. Will weigh in on Wednesdays.

Well done on your walk DarlingWithoutYou 20 mins isn’t bad at all, keep going and build it up slowly.

Drybird2020 you are where I want to be! Not drinking alcohol and running regularly. I haven’t managed to give up my wine habit yet but am reducing.

Right putting it out there I will restart C25K tomorrow, no excuses.

A warm welcome @ivyjoy. Sounds like you have a plan!

@Mustard21 Cheering on your C25K 👍

Have already lost 1.5kg just by doing Dry Jan since Friday and cutting out the chocs! That speed of loss won't last, I know, but it is something. Have clipped on my little Fitbit Zip for the first time in more than a year and will try to get some steps in (it's really cold here though!)

@FatGirlShrinking

Well I think I deserve a great big shiny medal today. Took DD to the opticians this morning which she doesn't enjoy much, she did great so as a reward I took her into Tim Hortons to get a donut for the ride home. I didn't buy myself one, I got a skinny cappuccino. Not even one single solitary little Timbit passed my lips, even though they were staring at me and being all tempting.

@FatGirlShrinking all I want in the world is a tim horton's coffee and an everything bagel with cream cheese!! Not til this whole Covid thing is over though - sigh

@duckinatruckwithmuck it sounds like you need some quick and easy daily solutions which you don’t even need to think about for a couple of meals.

You could maybe keep a measuring cup inside a box of healthy cereal for quick breakfasts? And some calorie counted ready meals with frozen veg for lunch every day? That would only give you evening meals to plan for each day and might take some of the decision load off for the first few weeks until you are more in the swing of things.

First day back at work after 3 weeks off and my 5.30am weigh in made me heavier than I was mid-morning on 1st Jan Ah well, Friday is weigh in day and that won't be too early! Today I fasted until I got home around 5.30pm and then I'll have a veggie stir fry for dinner, no noodles this time (as they are 4x the calories of the veg and tofu!)

@StarfishExpress during first lockdown I went into Costa withdrawal, back when I went into the office I was a 2 a day large Costa latte drinker. Then they closed them all and being in Leicester none re-opened till July time. It was a dreadful dreadful time! 😂

Now I earn a free Caffè Nero every week through my Vitality health insurance and very rarely go into town so can't redeem the blinking things. Whenever the opportunity strikes to combine a necessary appointment like the opticians with buying a giant coffee I make sure to take it!!!!

It's good to read about everyone's motivation and resolve👍

Today is a fasting day for me. I'm doing alternate days this week to get back on track, and next week I'll go back to 5:2.

I had a big run earlier (6.5k, big for me!) and I'm just eating some soup as my last food of the day. Almost excited to weigh myself in the morning 😂

@Drybird2020

It's good to read about everyone's motivation and resolve👍

Today is a fasting day for me. I'm doing alternate days this week to get back on track, and next week I'll go back to 5:2.

I had a big run earlier (6.5k, big for me!) and I'm just eating some soup as my last food of the day. Almost excited to weigh myself in the morning 😂

Good luck for the morning

Hello everyone

I was awake at 1.40am so thought I would go for a run when I woke for the day but I went back to sleep after waking at half six until nine. I will run tomorrow and can't wait to go.

Had left over fish pie, tender stem broccoli and a few of the kids chops for lunch and then home made seeded bread and homemade smoked fish and potato soup for dinner.

Awaiting an humongous Asda shop 8-9pm and dh has been doing DIY.

Fretting about schools and how it is going to work with dd as they are insisting she be on camera and she won't like it even if she is awake. She's back to front with her sleep pattern and the hospital seems to have forgotten about her. .

Good day here with some delicious meals.

We had the Pinch of Nom halloumi and smoky bacon hash for lunch which is about 350 calories but absolutely delicious. For dinner I had a small portion of homemade spareribs with some boiled rice and peas. Feeling well fed! Also went out for a long walk after lunch. I’m feeling a little sore from my weights workout yesterday but not too bad and hopefully will be up for another session tomorrow.

Hope everyone else had a good day.

This weekend has been a write off for us - one very minor injury (me ) and one random illness (DH).

So I've not even weighed in although I was already up a couple of lb the other day. Onwards and upwards next week I guess, when I'll be back in to work. I'll keep my head up even if it's worse on the scales tomorrow 🤣

And as soon as my stupid injury is better I can get to some other exercise. 🙈

That's not so good for DD @SunshineCake, hope the hospital get back to you and you can work something out for school. :( At least we were told last year that Scottish DC are at home for at least the next 2 weeks. Sounds like chaos in some areas (cheers Boris + co ).

Not too bad today

Crumpet for breakfast...but thats the last of them and i don’t usually have breakfast

Half hour walk, finished the smoked salmon with a bit of cream cheese and two biscuits

Couple of coffees and a becks blue

Just finished omelette and beans, did have a piece of bread and butter

But thats it...so deffo cutting down and thinking about what I’m eating

Thank you @Galvantula. I'm quite happy with kids doing online school but don't see why they have to be seen on camera if they are getting the work done. No one knew that dd was doing all her work at night and she is one of the bright ones so can be trusted to get the work done but atm she is feeling the pressure and will just give up .

Hi all,

Brilliant to hear how well everyone is doing. Was out on the park for 3 hours with DC3 today- even though I met my sister and sat down for a cuppa for a while- surely just standing in -2 uses calories?!. Pond is frozen so slid all over it for a good 45 minutes, brilliant fun.
Made homemade soup last night (tomato
courgette, pepper and basil) which was amazing when I got home. Made 4 huge portions, logged in recipes in MFP and it works out at only 165 calories per massive portion. Result. I could live on soup, seriously. Meant I could splurge bit on crusty bread and butter- was soooooo worth the calories.

I am trying to cut down my food intake, I know logging it is the only way to make myself do it properly. Tomorrow the DC are back at school - for however long. I'm feeling anxious which usually means I turn to biscuits or wine.

I am watching Bake Off whilst meal planning for the week. Fingers crossed for a positive week ahead.

Can I join?
I'm back to work tomorrow and after a nice but indulgent Christmas I need to reset otherwise my lovely, and even my not so lovely, clothes will not fit me and I will be sad.
I'll weigh in tomorrow morning but suspect I have around 20 lbs to get to the 132 I would like to be. I have given up on getting back to 119 which was my weight in my 30's and first half of my 40's.
I am only 5' 2" so extra weight really does show and being on here will make me accountable.

oh @FatGirlShrinking, you need not go to timmies for everything bagels my dear friend...COSTCO sells them bulk for cheap.

all is well over here, weight stabilizing 150.4 so down from the 1st (most likely salt/water).
i'm increased my exercise intensity back to the dreaded level that breaks a sweat.
@Puffalicious, big soup fans here as well. though the current one involves cream and unlikely to be my usual lower cal type. dh made it, a recipe from a friend involving sauerkraut and pork from spareribs.
i've got all the ingredients to make a jamie oliver minestrone as soon as there's room in the freezer.

Better day yesterday and good scales this morning (isn't it awful how 10 seconds on the scales in the morning can really change the way you feel about yourself for a least the first hour of the day?). Good walk, don't feel up to starting C25K today (I'm able to talk myself out of EVERYTHING) and then not a great supper. But back to work tomorrow so back into a routine, drinking more water, and hopefully finding an exercise grove for the new term...

fallfallfall love minestrone, I'm always making it as my 3 DS love it. Only problem is there's never any left for freezing for me!

I had a good day today. I’ve eaten healthily and haven’t felt overly hungry. I struggle with comfort eating. Eating is my response to pretty much any emotion and I’m trying to start this year by just eating when I’m hungry and trying not to snack unless I am genuinely hungry.
Today I had ready brek with oat milk, chopped up apple and cinnamon for breakfast. For lunch I had a salad with avocado and a tiny bit of vegan cheese (I’m doing veganuary) I was annoyed I’d run out of salad dressing so used some sriracha instead and it was so delicious. I’m not usually a salad person but it was so nice! For dinner I made roast cauliflower, sweet potato with lentils and carrot and red cabbage slaw. One of my issues is also portion control I serve myself far too much food so I am being careful to stick to smaller servings.

Feel like I’ve made a good start and looking forward to feeling healthier and more energised!

@NoJetter I love roast cauliflower, your dinner sounds lush.

Good day for me, I'm doing dry January which I think is really helping. Evenings are the time whe I would usually start binging nibbling and its much easier not to when I'm not drinking either. Had 2 sausages and 2 small slices GF bread for brunch, a protein shake for mid afternoon snack, and then 1/2 a sirloin steak with stir fried courgettes, sugar snaps, red pepper and spring greens, and a drizzle of caramelised garlic amd paprika dressing. It was delicious and surprisingly filling (I really piled on the veg). Tomorrow I'm having the leftover steak and veg for lunch, will have a cheese and red pepper omelette for breakfast and lemon chicken with veg for dinner.

So after some serious over indulgence I'm back on the straight and narrow from today. I feel so awful, sickly and sluggish, and I'm looking forward to changing this.

My aim for this month is to weigh 95kgs or less when i weigh in on the first of February.

Must get more exercise too!

Best of luck to everyone joining in, it's good to read all your posts.

Morning all - it’s so nice to see such positive stories about how well you are all doing.

My efforts are nowhere near as admirable as others but I’m now on Day 4 of no sweets, chocolate, snacks and having reduced portions at meal times.

Chocolate and biscuits are my absolute weak spot so I know it sounds pretty pathetic but I’m really proud that I’ve stayed away from them considering there are so many temptations lying about from Christmas.

We had one of our favourite family meals last night and although it was difficult to only take half of what I normally would, I still did it.

I have even been saying “No” to my usual bedtime got chocolate which I usually love.

I have also stopped putting sugar in my tea which although makes the tea taste far less pleasant as least I know that reducing sugar intake can only be a good thing.

I don’t drink alcohol so at least that not something I have to worry about cutting out.

I’m currently on my period so I haven’t weighed myself due to associated bloating and weight gain, but once it’s finished I will be on the scales to see what my starting weight is.

Well I say that, but I don’t actually want to see what I weigh so my husband will look for me and write it down. He will also be taking my measurements (whatever that means) and be writing those down too without me knowing them.

The plan is to then repeat the weight/measurements monthly and my husband to simply tell me if I’ve lost any weight (and how much) or removed a few centimetres off my stomach

I think if I knew my weight and measurements it would probably just make me feel quite sad and demotivate me