LOSE IT! April 2021

[TheRealHousewife]

Hello & Welcome 😊 WOW 😯 April came around so fast. The sunny Spring weather and easing of Lockdown brings so much joy and promise for the coming year.

This thread is for those of us who enjoy healthy eating, exercising and feeling motivated to reach (or maintain) a healthy weight/bmi. The members of these threads are inspirational, supportive and happy to share their progress (the ups and the downs).

We all know 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.

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 light 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.

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 😊

Useful Links

Useful Tips For Lockdown Weight Loss

Free Recipes

Free NHS 12 Week Plan

MFP

How drinking more water helps you lose weight

Depending on what diet you're following, would planning in a 'fakeaway' fish and chips for yourself be an option? Not going to work if you are low carbing but could be done on most other diets I should think.

@SunshineCake Don't think of it as a 'failure' - think of it as a holiday that you've enjoyed before you get back on the wagon tomorrow.

Thanks @Arbadacarba. Still hate myself though but also had the panic when dh said to get the scone myself... That he's now brought me.

Come on @SunshineCake you know how it goes, 1day of eating something nice is not a failure, it's just food. Sometimes it's healthy, sometimes it's not. As long as the majority of what you eat is good stuff then you're winning.

Got a txt message from the Drs this morning that they had spare doses of Pfizer that needed using up, so DH, DD and I hotfooted it down to the surgery, joined a humongous queue and DH and I are now the proud owners of vaccination cards. Feel like we've won a prize, so happy!

Oh and had my cataract lasered away yesterday so it's been a weekend of medical stuff 😂

Thanks- good suggestions. I heard the washing up liquid trick years ago and had forgotten!

I stayed in the front room and had my own healthy meal- soup- and was pretty full so resisted (mainly- i had 3 chips that DS3 came in with fpr me soaked in vinegar as he knows I love them like that!). Calorie counting so I could, in theory, plan for some chips next time and have my own plain fish.

Sunshine you DO know it's just food- you're always telling me that. Please don't hate yourself: you're fabulous.

Congratulations HalfShrunk on vaccines and removals. Great results.

If you can bear to take the batter off the fish, you've eliminated the worst although best! bit.

Arbadacarbra I often do that with one slice! Easier when it's batter but when it's breadcrumbs (we get a mixture of batter and breadcrumbs both and a mixture of haddock/ cod- we have a great chippy!) I cannot resist!!!!

Our little dog was a great repository for fish batter - wolfed it down before I had time to miss it - but sadly he passed away last year. I haven't had fish and chips since last summer (it's something we only have on day trips or holidays, no decent chippies for miles around where we live) - I'll have to gird my willpower in future or else have them as a planned treat.

Thanks everyone. Still can't get the right amount in my lunch which means I struggle more after tea at times. I've been rather emotional since Philip died plus had some wine which doesn't happen often and that can give me the munchies. They weren't so much of an issue but knowing I had scone and cream I just couldn't be bothered to fight it. I will run tomorrow. I wanted to go today as don't like two consecutive days off but walked with a friend instead.

Normal service will resume tomorrow.

Hi all, quick check in as I should be working!

Weight staying steady despite some treats this week, happy with that.

I've got better over the years at trying to balance the treats with eating a bit better on other days to compensate over the week. It reduces the amount of times I just go "fuck it" and eat more (a bit anyway!).

Still sticking to being back on the MFP logging which is helping.

Just need to find a way to work in a bit of exercise... One day. I used to do a fast walk round the streets after taking DC to school when I could, might try it again.

I had a bit of a wobble yesterday, as I’ve been getting a bit stressed at the thought of going back to work after a two week break. All I want to do is eat!

I’m feeling quite pleased with myself that, after eating 3 packets of pop chips, I regained control and resisted the bar of chocolate that’s in the house. I think today will be a bit of a challenge again, but at least I’m prepared for it now. Yesterday kind of took me by surprise 😱

Also, I finally weighed myself. I’m glad I waited 6 weeks before doing that, as the figure I saw on the scales would have been seriously demotivating at the start. At this point, I’m merely a bit shocked, but at least I can reassure myself with the thought that I’m already actively tacking the issue and that, so far, it’s all been relatively easy. I can do this! 💪

I’m glad I waited 6 weeks before doing that, as the figure I saw on the scales would have been seriously demotivating at the start.

I use this tactic too. I have a period of cutting down a bit before weighing myself and officially embarking on a new way of eating. It is still a shock to see your weight in black and white, but remember that it's the last time you'll be that weight and it will be downhill from now on.

Hi @Galvantula you have inspired me to make Saturday my last day for extra treats. The downside of being @Puffalicious' star pupil and only weighing once a week, means I feel I have loads of time to work off the treats. I could lose more weight if I had less treats! 💡

You've got this @Crazzzycat. Lots of positives there.

I ran 7.11km this morning then walked the dog, and I'm about to walk her again, so I'm getting the exercise in. Going to change my routine though as I don't like missing two days consecutively. I'm walking to the post box as extra exercise instead of waiting until I go past it for another reason, just to get a few extra steps in.

Thanks for the positive vibes @Arbadacarba and @SunshineCake! I reckon there’s little point feeling bad about it. Better to put that energy into changing things!

Had a wobble today and ate a slice of bread and butter (bread is a complete no-no on the plan I'm following as well as this being a snack rather than part of a meal). It was a response to anxiety, I think, as my husband has a hospital appointment tomorrow and I was feeling depressed. Not a very effective response as now I feel annoyed at myself as well as worried.

Trying to draw a line and move on!

@Arbadacarba as long as you enjoyed the bread it doesn't matter. Have a thank about something you would like as much as bread, and is allowed in your plan, so you know what to have next time you need something.

New discovery today. I was making Yorkshire puddings and Nigella suggested for vegetarians mix the egg and milk with whole grain mustard and grated cheese and then the flour, cook, etc and it was delicious. Can't say it was healthy and no clue about calories but it was a bit like a flat bread so very versatile as well as being delicious.

@Arbadacarba I am currently having a glass of wine and some kettle chips - it is ok.
We are having roast chicken with all the trimmings in 45 minutes - totally fine.
This is what makes it sustainable long term x
Back on it on Monday morning - onwards and inwards.

@ShakerMakerGirl how are you doing?

Thanks @SunshineCake and @132orbust . My go-to healthy tinned fish snack was out of stock in Tesco when I went the other day, but my husband's taking the busted soup maker back to Asda in the next couple of days so I'll ask him to pick some tins up while he's there.

Roast chicken dinner here too, which thankfully is allowed on my plan (apart from Yorkshire puds and stuffing which I can live without). There'll be plenty of chicken left for tomorrow which should keep me on track.

You ARE my star pupil Sunshine and I think the extra days to work off the treats is the best thing about weekly weighing!

Had a very strange 'not hungry at all' day , even when doing the weekly shop, which usually makes me ravenous. Then decided my body wanted Easter egg way past my 7pm deadline- so I had it. Not as much as I usually would have, so that's good, and I enjoyed it. Back on the business tomorrow.

Duh I wish my iPad didn't hate me so much. Should have been the UPSIDE of being....

I went running today. Was a bit slower. I actually sulked when I looked down and saw I was running at 6 minutes something. I can do five so six feels bad but when I started I would never have imagined I could do six minutes so need to get a grip. I've decided to go back to every other day running as I think that is a compromise. Emotionally I want to run at least two consecutive days but my knees are saying no some days plus I don't like missing two consecutive days so I'll plan for every other but it is subject to change.

Hurray for bonus Easter Egg! Glad you had it @Puffalicious and enjoyed it. I just had leftovers and then a mince pie I'd made yesterday.

Thanks to all who replied to my question about whether they allow themselves little sweet treats every day/every now and then/never.

I think the most realistic for me is to allow myself a treat most days, but to log it and track it within my calorie allowance.

I have been using MFP as a PP suggested which has been a real eye opener for me. I have clearly been consuming way more calories than I realised and I think many more of those calories were coming from fat than I was aware.

I am going to calorie count for now and once I start to see a loss, start to have a look at what all this Macro stuff is about. Anyone got any good resources about Macros?

Feeling happy.....stretching every morning, having a good, gradual declutter and taking more care of myself at bedtime.....instead of just flopping into bed (sometimes fully clothed 😳🤭) I'm getting myself into pjs, washing face thoroughly, brushing teeth and using a NEOM pillow spray which is just lovely. I recommend.

Like you pianoMFP showed me I was consuming far more calories than I ever imagined. I've stuck to using it daily and I'm almost at the 2 stone goal (1 to go). It has really been a revelation. I definitely have treats most days, counting them within my allowance and it's been fine.

I've also been using a pillow spray. I had two and alternate between a Sanctuary one and the other from Botanics, sometimes I use both. When I wake in the night and smell them it does help me but I don't know whether it is psychological rather than actually sleep inducing. I've had broken nights 5/7 of the last week and was so tired I went to bed at half two. Would have been okay except I had a really bad nightmare . I think it is a mix of long covid and menopause so a bit fed up.

Every time I shower I've been using body cream, current favourite is a soap and glory that smells divine and it makes such a difference. I'm also using face moisturiser and eye cream morning and evening and after years of not feeling like I deserved it, it is nice to realise it is okay to look after myself. My hair is still a mess though and doesn't get brushed every day .