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?

Forgot to add that I only managed slightly over 5000 steps today... it’s actually really hard to get in! Does anyone regular manage 10,000 steps?

I actually think I do on a work day, but as a teacher I’m on half term break at the moment. I’ll have to try and keep my phone on me one day to heck if I’m managing the 10,000 on a teaching day.

I have managed to exceed 12k steps for the second day in a row, but I find it harder on days that I am working, as I have a sedentary job and WFH. Today, I managed to get DD out for a longer walk than usual, in the lovely sunshine.

I've also done a short HIIT workout today, and my only snack was an apple. We did have bangers and mash for dinner, though... (with green beans and cauliflower - extra info for the veg enthusiasts).

It's lovely reading the updates from you wonderful lot. You are really helping to keep me on the right track here.

I've found a Grease themed dance workout on YouTube and that with some kettle bells is my Friday sorted.

@RunnyPaint

Glad to hear it’s helping you keep on track! Me too, it’s good to have a little community to discuss with and to keep me accountable!

@ChonkyChook That workout video sounds fun! I’d love the link if it’s on YouTube please !

Looks like she does loads of musical workouts.

Wish I had thighs like her, she looks so good.

These videos really re-enforce why I'm doing this. I don't just want a lower number on a scale, I want health, fitness, to look absolutely banging in leggings

I did a run this morning so feeling pretty good

@Carlotta, well done for the run! Is it not a winter wonderland where you are? I'm too nervous to run in the ice, so will start again next week when it's due to be warmer.

It’s Hiit again for me this morning. My legs are already aching from last night. Can’t really be bothered but I’ll be pleased when it’s over.

It’s bloody freezing here and I’m amazed anyone has been out running. Well done @CarlottaValdez. I love that video @ChonkyChook. Thanks for sharing.

I’m SW London. It’s cold but not icy anymore, just a little bit frosty

I mean I say run but it’s just couch to 5 k - I’m week 4 so just short intervals still!

@CarlottaValdez

I mean I say run but it’s just couch to 5 k - I’m week 4 so just short intervals still!

That counts! Couch to 5k is brilliant.

Couch to 5k is brilliant. I did it about 5 years ago and have been running fairly regularly since then. My knees are better for it as the muscles around the joints built up slowly over the course of the programme.

We've had more snow overnight so today's exercise will be a trek out for sledging purposes. I've just finished my yoga class so am feeling a bit spaced out and chilled (metaphorically).

Well I had a bit of a fall off the wagon day yesterday, I'd been planning my days with military precision and then something that was supposed to happen in the morning didn't and threw me out completely, then my fitness app completed its 30 day cycle and I hadn't got the next plan ready...all rubbish excuses but long story short I ended up grumpy, picking at stuff and then concluded the day with 2 massive gin and tonics. Not my finest hour! Back on it today though, done a 15 mins work out, eating healthily. I've got this, I think!

@ElvenDreamer - 2 gin & tonics is fine, there's not many calories in it & you stopped at 2. For me that would be most reserved!

I'm planning a G&T tomorrow eve but knackered today. Have done 10k+ steps all week & stayed on plan. Really hoping for a decent loss on Monday- I will need to remind myself of this frequently over the weekend to stop snacking 😬

Another one here who's usually well over 10K steps but is struggling to make it at the moment! TBH when the DC are at school two journeys there and back + a bit of housework in the middle sees me at 10K, then if I take them to the park/ shops etc I'm on 12K. Now however... even when I do PE with Joe, another workout and a walk I'm only on around 8K, which isn't really enough for me. It's brass monkeys here though and the DC have enough with one short walk per day, it's even too cold for them to play in the park for long.

Thank you for the workout link @ChonkyChook! I love dancing but am terrible at it. No-one knows when I am at home though

Utterly exhausted today and have given in the home schooling fight for now, DP's working this weekend which means no break for me, and we have next week to catch up on the many things we haven't done anyway. Currently resisting the temptation to lie on the sofa snoozing with and ...

I know I'm a bit late to the party but would love to join in. Managed to lose the last of the baby weight last year (baby was over a year at that point and weight was showing no signs of departure ) but have managed to pile about half a stone back on since Jan (lost a bit when I had Covid and couldn't taste but then overcompensated when I got it back )

Really like the idea of having a goal in mind time wise, like the thought of fitting into my pre-pregnancy cropped jeans by the time it's warm enough to dig them out!

Goal is to lose about 10lbs to get me back to my happy weight where everything fits. Anything beyond that would be a bonus. My downfall is needless snacking so going to try and curb that with plenty of water and decaf coffee/tea during the dangerous 3pm lull of energy... I lost the weight by going low carb last year but don't want to do that this time as I got a bread machine for Xmas and I luffs it!

Glad you like it @ClaraTheImpossibleGirl. It's the only opportunity for dancing for me since having kids so I like to have a laugh with it. Can't be on with po faced instructors.

I did kettle bells today too and got a walk in.

Breakfast - wholemeal toast and peanut butter.
Lunch - hummus and veg.
Dinner - soft taco with veggie chilli and salad.

I'm tempted for another walk to hit 10k steps but I'll end up walking to the shop for wine and I'm not breaking. Sparkling water and lemon for me. Weigh in on Monday. ⚖️😭

You’re all doing so well!! @ElvenDreamer good on you, one day off is ok. We all have days we’re we eat a little more than we need, or where we have more sugar/carbs/fat then is necessary. Accepting these days is what will make our changes sustainable in the long run!

@RunnyPaint couch to 5k is brilliant, I did quite a bit of running a few years back as I entered a 10k fun run in a fit of madness, then realised, oh shit you have some work to do! Unfortunately I’ve lost it all since... I’d love to get back into running, but there’s a high of -2 and a low of -9 where I am at the moment 😂 running can wait until spring!

Food not so great for me today. Had a lot of errands to run and left the house without breakfast and of course fell prey to a large caramel donut

Lunch was leftover dumplings and Asian slaw, didn’t overeat so that was a miracle in itself —god I love dumplings— then have smacked on malteasers...

Brrr! Where are you @NoNameNellie? I am in NE England, right by the coast, so we rarely get snow to worry about, so this is a lovely change for the local kids, even if it does stop me from running.

Dumplings and Asian slaw sounds lovely. I've managed to resist chocolatey snacks, but did have pie for lunch. The booze and crisps have been the biggest culprits for my weight gain, so going cold turkey on those for at least this month should help.

@PhoenixBlaze, I don't get on with low carb diets as I get too hungry, then give in and eat everything in the house - and I luffs my bread machine, too!

Ok, I got me a secret weapon today, a mood tracker journal. Chose this one deliberately as there's as section for noting down your food, figured it would be handy to track patterns of what food helps, when I'm emotional eating and why etc.

Breakfast- Banana, plain yoghurt and a drizzle of honey
Lunch - mushroom, spinach, onion and cheese omelette
Snack - apple
Dinner - 2 veggie sausages, soft boiled egg and spinach
2 litres water
30 minute dog walk and 15 minute workout with dumbbells
Feeling good 😊

Hope everyone else has had a good week too. Determined not to overindulge this weekend but will be having the M and S meal deal tomorrow night

I've got snacking problem. I'm trying to be below 1000kcal and then I'm snacking. Perhaps I eat too little. But if I eat more, my weight stalls.

Just checking in to report a 2lb weight loss as I started last Friday at 157.4 and was 155.4 this morning ! Very pleased as I did have a few lapses (think deliveroo steak/chips/pasta and rice combo and banana and choc chip muffins while baking with my girls) so overall very pleased with the loss ! Looking forward to an even better week as no home school stress to deal with and then having to reward myself with a nice dinner 😬

One thing that really helped me I think with staying on plan most days in the past week was that I batch cooked a big pot of chicken and vegetable soup on Sunday evening and had it for my lunch in the week. So I essentially didn't eat till 12pm, then had a bowl of soup with one whole meal piece of bread. It was brilliant and saved me from having random and unhealthy things for my lunch.

Hope everyone is having a lovely chilled Friday evening !