Anyone keen for a 6 week challenge?

[NoNameNellie]

I do well with shorter goals and am hoping to focus on shifting some weight and being more active.

Anyone else care to join and see how much weight we can shift (sensibly!) in the next 6 weeks?

People are welcome to join anytime, I personally will be counting from Monday 7th until March 22nd. I was hit pretty hard by lockdown and am the biggest I’ve ever been... I’ve already managed to shift a little bit of weight, now looking to tackle my long term eating habits and sedentary lifestyle in the coming period.

I’ll be sticking to the following :

1. No snacking.
2. 5 fruit/veg per day, protein source at every meal.
3. Trying to hit 10,000 steps a day.

Other than that, I’m not following any diet in particular, I’m trying to change my habits for the long haul. And of course, being comfortable in summer will be an added bonus!

In these 6 weeks, I’m hoping to shift 8-9 pounds, as well as losing a couple of inches off my belly and bum.

Any takers?

Just checking in. It’s been a long week so far! I think starting weight was all water and PMT as scales down a couple of lbs in just couple of days - now just need to loose some real weight!!! Feeling a bit under weather with sinus infection - but sticking to it so far even though all I want is comfort food and to curl up in bed with huge bar of chocolate!! Prospect of aubergine couscous thing for dinner is not very appealing!! Anyhow posting here to remind myself re commitment and to stick with it!!

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl Nice work with the steps! 10k as a recommended amount seems crazy to me now that I’m actually tracking - it seems I hardly ever get there! But I went on a hike today and managed 25k steps! Done enough for two days now

@RunnyPaint thanks for checking in! An ok day for me - good in terms of physical activity, not great in terms of eating. It’ll be good to get back to my routine next week and have the eating back under control!

Checking in...

Food today:
Breakfast - Strawberry meal replacement shake
Lunch - Chicken and vegetable soup, Light & Free Blueberry yoghurt
Snack - Alpen Light cereal bar
Dinner - Broccoli and leek soup, thick slice of bread (no butter)

Exercise:
30 minute walk (wasn't particularly brisk but was nice to get some fresh air)
45 minute gentle yoga class

I'm still feeling under the weather after the Covid vaccine last weekend, so am not hugely hungry anyway which is helping. I'm planning on eating the same as the rest of the family in the evenings once I get my appetite back, just being careful about portion sizes.

Week has been FAR too long @Readette

Breakfast - eggs and spinach
Lunch - chicken salad wrap
Dinner - prawn stir fry
I'm having a Pepsi Max as I'm premenstrual and I just want sugar and junk and wine.

Dance workout
Kettlebell workout

I've got my bed turned down ready for me, soon as the kids have settled I'm filling my hot water bottle and that's me out.

@ChonkyChook

Week has been FAR too long *@Readette*

Breakfast - eggs and spinach
Lunch - chicken salad wrap
Dinner - prawn stir fry
I'm having a Pepsi Max as I'm premenstrual and I just want sugar and junk and wine.

Dance workout
Kettlebell workout

I've got my bed turned down ready for me, soon as the kids have settled I'm filling my hot water bottle and that's me out.

My period turned up early so I’m in rage and pain but I’ve taken your tip and have treated myself to some Pepsi Max to feel like I’m getting the sweet treat my uterus craves 😁

I'll fill a hot water bottle for you too, @Fembot123!

@ChonkyChook

I'll fill a hot water bottle for you too, *@Fembot123*!

Thanks 🤩

Oo can I join please. Have baby weight/lockdown weight to lose. Breastfeeding so not cutting back too much on food just trying to eat more healthily so have given up sweet treats and alcohol for lent and taken up using our exercise bike. Aiming to do 10 mins on it every day. I don’t have a lot of free time so that feels doable at the moment and then will see if I need to up my game a bit over the coming weeks. Weigh 10 stone 12lbs and would like to lose 1-2 lbs a week.

No AF here but I did a yoga workout with DS1 and now my stomach muscles are groaning. I have terrible diastasis recti from carrying enormous DTs, a C section and subsequent ops... I forget that all the muscles there are still torn and play up from time to time.

It was a kids yoga video

I keep having to eat later than I'd like as the DC are just so much of a pain when I'm trying to cook dinner. Still, only 2.5 weeks and they'll be back at school! please, please, oh please

This time is a real struggle but if we weren't making an effort to become healthier we'd still be getting more unhealthy & would be feeling more miserable!

Totally inspired now to get a body brush & need something else in my Amazon basket anyway. Is it only me who feels I can't put them to the bother of just sending me 2-3 items?!!

Tomorrow I plan to get the dc on board again in the morning with Ote Mabusa's dance youtube class. Not sure it really counts but it's a close as I'll be getting to exercise!

Love to have the weekend but weekend eejit needs to rein in the junk food! 😬

@Fembot123 ah no, that sucks! Are you feeling better today?

@Sunshine1235 welcome ! 10 minutes a day is a great goal - anything that forms exercise is as a regular habit is great.

Still on holidays here so eating is a little difficult. But I’m trying not to overeat and at the very least have sensible portions and get plenty of movement in. It makes me realize how many calories I was eating before - I was seriously underestimating my daily intake. No wonder I piled on the weight !

I checked my weight today: 70kg. I'm pleased, but I I need to exercise.

Well I'm redacting my 3lbs weight loss recorded on Monday (knew it was too good to be true!) and settling on 2lbs instead. Well, technically it's 1.6lbs but rounding up. I blame midweek takeaway, pancake day and AF showing up which never fails to pile on 2lbs.

Yesterday I knew I'd be having a salt-heavy dinner so I kept a jug of water with ice and lemon on my desk all day to make sure I kept drinking enough and save having to go to the kitchen to fill up my pint glass (via the snack cupboard ) It seemed to help pretty well except the inevitable multiple trips to the loo

Well done for all the losses, anything however small is a victory.

I’ve done well with exercise but food has been a bit dodgy this week. Need to be back on the veg next week!

I’m feeling really good in SlimmingWorld and seem to be naturally reducing portion size of carbs. Last week I made a pasta dish and ate so much as I was really craving it. This week I had probably 2/3 of a serving and was then satisfied. I’ve upped my exercise but hoping to go back to work next week (I’m shielding but so bored) and I tend to cycle. It’s a 30 mile round trip and I love it.

I’ve walked a lot today.

I’ll be happy with a 1lb off this week. I normally do silly fad diets, lose all the weight then put it back on as soon as I’m back on food. I’m trying to change the way I eat now.

I was 4.5lb off week one so if I can do 9lbs over the 6 weeks I’ll be happy with that 😊

Nice work everyone! Keep counting those little victories and don’t let any set backs discourage you! Fluctuations and normal and will happen, the important thing is to try and make changes for the long term!

Do you tend to meal plan for the week? I normally map out each day, but was a little thrown by a friend who says she just buys what she likes and then throws together whatever she feels like that evening!

I’m off for a food shop tomorrow, if anyone has any delicious ideas to share!

@NoNameNellie I am a planner too, I dislike cooking but have always liked planning, especially when trying to be super healthy. I actually do a 6 week menu plan so it's literally that long before I have to think again 🤣 Did some salmon pieces last night cooked all in one with loads of mangetout, corgette ribbons and peas (cooked in a bag with a splash of white wine and zest and juice of an orange) then served on spinach, so tons of veg. Extra side of rice for kids and hubby. Super tasty and easy! It's been an ok week so far, some definite snaccidents but have upped my steps, added an exercise class and stuck better to my healthy eating. Interestingly now starting to find there are things I really don't miss actually, kids had pasta for lunch while I had a salad, and I just didn't miss it which I take as a good sign 🤞

@ElvenDreamer I'm in awe of your 6 week plan. I struggle to do one week!

I've been finding chicken/fish/omelette & roast veg is a staple for me with a lot of soup for lunch. Easy & fairly quick. A lot of roast onion & pepper this week with mange tout which I bought as the pack were reduced but forgotten how nice they are & no prep which is great. Been eating raspberries as they're no prep also.

Was ok last night snack wise. Try to keep on course this eve. Up early so I'll be tired early & eat less!

Any snacking ideas that are low cal would be great. If anyone has a Lidl nearby I've recently discovered their little silverskin onions which are delicious! I bought a jar for all the family & now they think I'm weird(er). I love seeded oatcakes with (the amazing fresh from Lidl), pesto. But that's not exactly diet friendly. I made fresh bread & butter with dc yest so must try to avoid that today too!

This post was sponsored by Lidl! 😂

I’m feeling down this morning. I just can’t seem to get the weight down. Hopefully it’s just a bit of a plateau I can get past. I keep telling myself that giving up would just mean I gain so even maintaining my current (too fat) weight is better than the alternative. Sorry to bring things down!

@CarlottaValdez I know the plateau feeling, been on one for about 2 weeks now but just in last couple of days I can feel things starting to change again so really glad I didn't give up. Hang in there xx
@buckeejit I used to plan weekly and found it a real faff, it's actually been easier to do it in 1 six week hit as weird as that sounds, I started doing it around 2 years ago as an experiment and it just worked for me. (6 weeks because its loosely half a term and when kids actually in school I can tailor it around school meal plan which is a 3 week rotation)

Nice Slim-fast shake for breakfast.

I’m a meal planner too. I do it in a Sunday evening mainly because I hate having to think about what to cook through the week when it’s busy. Sometimes we’ll go rogue if we fancy something else. It’s much easier to stick to healthy eating and not waste stuff from the veg box. I do a lot of batch cooking for freezer too.

I’ve had plateaus too @CarlottaValdez
and it’s so frustrating. I think it just takes a bit of time and patience. Have you tried measuring in case you’re losing inches even if your weight is steady?

We’re doing Saturday night chinese fake away this evening and I can’t wait. Today I am going to hit the five a day veg target today!

Thank you Elven I know you’re right it’s just so disheartening.

I love the idea of six week planning. I do a week at a time and feel like I’m always doing it so can certainly see the appeal.

I made the big mistake of weighing myself during my period 😭😭😂

@Fembot123

I made the big mistake of weighing myself during my period 😭😭😂

Wipe that number from your head! It doesn’t count. It’s an aberration. It’s not representative of your real weight. Mine is always up 1-2kg.