February - lose 7lbs per month thread

[JessJonesJumps]

Welcome to the 'lose 7lbs per month' thread. Our usual host @cricketmum29 is having a little rest for Feb but we can follow her good example and continue to give each other support and inspiration and I'm sure she'll drop in when she's feeling well.

All are welcome to join, there's a really good mix of diets and methods and everyone is really helpful.

Previous thread is here: Jan lose 7lbs thread

I started last year and I'm so grateful to all the support and kindness throughout the months Jan was about maintaining for me but finger's crossed February will be about losing again.

Oh sorry for the duplicate posts!

@cricketmum84, sending you my best wishes. You must be feeling mentally and physically drained with it all. Let's hope the process of finding answers speeds up now.
No change in weight here but feeling a bit lighter so if I can stay focused over the weekend, Monday might show another loss. Happy Friday !

@shreddergodo sorry about you knee! I have injured my calf and shin I was running 3 times a week and doing a functional fitness/circuits class twice a week so its been hard going to nothing intensive. Hoping the physio will clear me for at least walks next week. I am exactly the same with calories I obsess over them and end up eating way more than I would because i'm just constantly thinking about food and adding up calorie counts in my head etc. I had a mild eating disorder as a teenager so I wonder if its a hangover from that.
@NerrSnerr clothing is a great motivator I have some jeans that used to fit me perfectly a couple of years ago and i'm hoping to get back into them by winter (not in the uk so winter here is june/july) I can currently get them on and do them up but it is very very uncomfortable.
@cricketmum84 hope you get some answers soon, everything crossed for you that no permanent damage has been done

@cricketmum84 fingers crossed for answers soon and the best possible outcome
@Windowboxer welcome!

I’m 9st12 agin today as expected, which is a good thing.

Been monitoring my calorie intake for a few days instead of just exercising. First time today that the scales have shown under 10 s (just) in a long time. I was butt naked and it was first thing in the AM but I’m taking that as a win.

Would you guys mind sharing what things you do to keep yourself motivated?

Some great losses already! And welcome to the new posters! It's great the thread is so busy.

I have been exercising every day so that's positive but my scales are being temperamental so I don't know what I weigh. I might try popping some new batteries in and see if that makes a difference. in the scales although I feel like I need new batteries too

@Onesmallstep67 I agree being menopausal makes it more challenging. I'm peri-penopausal and the months where my TOTM is late or very short, I find I gain and hold weight.

@cricketmum84 I'm sorry you're being passed from pillar to post. I hope you get answers soon and that the damage isn't permanent. You must be exhausted with the stress of it all

@AIMD you asked about motivation. The months I've been most successful, I've created a storyboard/dreamboard and put it in my diary with photos showing my weight loss to date; and photos of what I want to achieve eg yoga; drink water; eat more salads; sleep better. I'm also motivated by clothes I had a dress I wanted to fit into for Christmas so I bought it early and hung it where I'd see it every day as a reminder to exercise and watch what I was eating. Being more flexible has been a big motivator for me too. I can do so many more yoga poses now than I could when I started.

But there are posters who have lost much more than me and achieved their goals so hopefully they'll share their tips too.

Great to see some good losses here, well done to everyone. I am down 1lb to 11st 6lbs, pleased with that. Know what you mean about summer clothes being a good motivator NerrSnerr - hoping to be able to pick up some smaller size clothes this year too.

Day 5- I still haven't weight. Maybe I'll do it tomorrow in stones etc because I feel a bit afraid of the number for some reason, I don't want to disappoint myself into stopping if that makes sense.
@Foresttheout I also had a bit of an eating disorder when I was younger and it was miserable. it's taken me a while to trust that I won't go crazy again enough to be able to start all this again. I'm doing 16:8 and trying to eat a moderately low calorie diet but def restricting carbs do about 20%-30% of my daily intake and making sure I have at least 60g protein... and the calories come later... I don't want to weigh every cup of grated carrot I just don't have the motivation and as you said, I'd probable end up overeating afterwards!

@AIMD For motivation I: write about my 'why' a lot- the things I picture myself enjoying and doing when I have reached my target weight and don't feel tired all the time. These involve feeling better naked with my OH and also wearing nice clothes. I also tend to use food as a bit of an emotional crutch but it's like 'fake happiness' to eat chocolate. and I see to be able to experience more 'real happiness' when I'm not numb from being full of sugar all the time... I also buy myself treats- I've treated myself to a cosy jumper and jacket for the end of the month.

By that I mean, I might weigh tomorrow in stone and pounds instead of kg which is what I've always weighed in (I'm a nurse and we use metric in hospital so it just started being my reference).

@NerrSnerr That's a good shout, getting rid of the 'bigger' clothes we have as a symbolic : that's not who I am anymore!
I also need some clothing motivation. I also bought myself a skirt and a really nice jacket for the end of feb. Very excited to wear them!

Oh, can I join? I'm two weeks in to low carb intermittent fasting. I work in kgs.
Starting weight: 119kg (18/1/2021)
Current weight: 114kg
Target weight: 68kg

@shreddergodo
I know what you mean about food = happiness. I do that too. I used food as a ‘treaty’.

I'll join please I started low carbing in January and have been up and down!

SW 16st 1lb
CW 15st 5lb

Total lost in January was 8lbs

GW 12st 7lbs

Welcome @ILoveAnOwl looks like you're making brilliant progress a lot of people do great on low carb, sadly I don't have the will power.
@shreddergodo I was similar for a very long time I ignored that I was creeping to overweight because I didn't trust myself. I am also doing 16:8 but only about 4 days a week as I drive early morning the other 3 and I struggle if I haven't eaten. It seems to work better than calorie counting.

@AIMD I'm another food as a treat person I'm not sure it's a mentality I'll ever get out of so I try and work with it and reduce the size of the treat and be careful what else I eat if I know I'll be having something high calorie later.
Weighed myself this morning and have lost 0.5kgs this week (helped by a migraine meaning I didn't eat for 48 hours so I'll probably put it all back on) now at 71.5 and being so near to 70 is very motivating

@Foresttheout @AIMD
I'm trying to find other kinds of treats that make me feel way better in the long run like something creative or watching my favourite YouTube channel that I find inspiring (usually home improvement stuff). I feel like I think the food treat will make me feel good but it only does in the moment and them I'm left a bit 'empty' in the heart if that makes sense.

I also feel like, because my mum was really strict about food, that I have the scarcity complex like I think I'll never have enough chocolate or that it won't ever be possible to eat it again...

Still haven't weighed... I don't get it. I'm afraid that it will disappoint and that I'll fall off the wagon as a result.

Right I WILL weigh on Monday morning and that will motivate me to have a great day today and tomorrow!!!! Don't let me know weigh on Monday guys!

I have been weighing in daily, but am feeling a bit deflated this morning as my weight has gone up 2lb, even though I’ve been sticking to my diet and exercise. I know this is probably normal fluctuation but can anyone give me ideas of how they keep motivated when this happens?

Morning. I'm trying to post every day to keep myself accountable and in the right headspace. I'm really pleased generally with how the week has gone. Over a kg lost but this is my first week back on it for ages so that's to be expected.
I find with dieting that it has to be almost my sole focus. My plans for the day revolve around what I will eat and what exercise I will do. I find when I am dieting I have lots more hot drinks as if to compensate for less food. I also find that my need for 'something ' can be sometimes be helped by a bath or shower. Or brushing my teeth. Or 20 mins on the exercise bike. I am far from being on top of my weight loss but these are just things that have worked for me this week. And in general in the past.
My biggest challenge is always the desire to just eat something in the evening because that's what I always do - did. And I find that sometimes I am not hungry but have something anyway and then I feel more hungry and carry on! I need to override years of not listening to my body and using food for comfort or a boredom buster.
Have a lovely weekend everyone.

@Smarshian, how big a fluctuation is 2lb for you? Are you close to your goal weight or have you been losing for a while? I would probably just try to put it to the back of your mind. It will go again. Try to focus on the long term aim. I've not been watching what I eat for ages but previously when I did there were many times when my weight fluctuated. Usually I knew that it was hormonal or a bit of overindulgence, even just by a glass or two of wine or a takeaway. It can be difficult which is why some prefer weekly rather than daily weigh ins. I find daily keeps me motivated although seeing the gain isn't great for morale when you have been trying hard.

@Smarshian 2lb can easily be hormonal fluctuations. It does seem very unfortunate when you stick to your diet but this happens. My advice is to keep going. Make sure you drink plenty of water too. It will go back down so don't undo your progress.

@Onesmallstep67 I find that I focus on my diet a lot too. I am hoping that it changes as I get closer to my target weight and need to maintain. I don't want to have to think about it too much forever!

Can I join please?! A bit late to the party!
CW is 11.2 st
GW is 10st for now
I've upped my dog walks to 2-3 miles a day (more if I steal the husband's evening dog walk) but I've gone from a steady pace to making sure my heart rate is constantly in fat burning or aerobic so I know it's actually doing something.

Hi all. I have been off the wagon on Friday and Saturday and woke up this morning, had a big breakfast this morning thinking I'll start again tomorrow but I decided enough is enough and went for a walk and will do more exercise later so I can end up within my calories.

Hope everyone is ok and you're feeling ok @cricketmum84.

Afternoon all, I hope you're enjoying your weekend.

I weighed myself this morning, rather than tomorrow as we might be staying up to watch the Super Bowl so who knows what time I will surface tomorrow I have lost 2lb this week.

I spent this morning finishing my assignment and this afternoon will be housework followed by a bath. Oh, and a roast chicken dinner.

Hi all, can I jump in on this thread. I've got 4lbs to go before I drop below 16st which I really want to try and hit this month. That's my target. Then I can be excited about being back in the 15s and set my next target. 4lb seems doable. January didn't really happen as we lost a family member to covid so was just bleurgh. Trying to move forward now and ifnl I can break this barrier will be really happy. At my heaviest I was 17st 4lbs. That depressed me, so I have lost a stone, although it has taken me a long time. But that weight has stayed off. So time to restart and get below the next one!

Just put my roast dinner in my calorie counter.....that was a shocker!