From lockdown to wedding!

[PerpetualStudent]

So, after being engaged for 7 (yes SEVEN) years me and DP finally decided to book a small registry office wedding in mid July. I’m super excited.

Problem is, I have put on just over a stone of lockdown weight - I was 10st 4lbs (my 5’6” body’s ‘happy weight’) in March 2020, now I’m 11st 6lbs - I haven’t been that heavy since I had my last DC 3 years ago! I’m quite apple-shaped and carry it mostly on my tummy, I only have about 2 pairs of trousers that still fit me!!

I’ve been getting back into exercising and watching what I eat since the new year but NOTHING is shifting - I’ve in fact put on 2 pounds!!

I’d absolutely love to be back at my happy weight by my wedding.

I’m not a fan of fad diets at all (have had issues with disordered eating in the past so have to be careful to stay level headed about it all) and I also have 2 young DC and don’t like the idea of having to make myself separate meals to them all the time.

But I obviously need to try something different/more to get this weight shifting!

I currently do between 3-5 short yoga or HIIT workouts a week, plus a total 4 miles cycling on school days doing drop off/pick up. My exercise is slightly limited by ongoing pelvic floor issues - running used to be my thing pre-DC but I’m having to build back up to it very slowly (I’ve had PF physio in the past) I can only do a couple of miles ‘safely’ on a good day!

My diet is mostly home cooked food which I think is fairly healthy. Today for example:
Breakfast: muesli, alpro yoghurt, oat milk and chopped fruit.
Snack: half slice of home-baked sourdough with peanut putter
Lunch: homemade veg and lentil soup, another half slice of sourdough. Slice homemade banana bread for afters
Snack: 3 whole meal crackers with vegan cream cheese, banana
Dinner: will probably be a tomatoey rice one pot dish with veg and beans
Evening snack: mint tea, few squares of dark chocolate
Drinks: 3 coffees, pint of berocca, water

That’s quite a virtuous ’Monday’-ish day looking at it - we also get fish and chips once a week from our visiting van, and crisps and wine deffo creep in more towards the end of the week! We’re also not totally vegan/veggie BTW, but try to go low on dairy/meat for eco reasons.

So, having shared what feels like my life story - who has some advice, inspro, suggestions for me?! How can I get the scales moving and this tummy shifting?! Is losing a stone by mid-July achievable? If so, how?

Hopeful bump

Hello @PerpetualStudent!
First of all, congratulations on your wedding!
I’m in a very similar boat - my wedding is in August, and I have a stone to lose.
Am doing a similar amount of exercise to you - 2-3 times per week with a personal trainer, and swimming about every other day too.
Been doing this about a month, and any weight loss is quite minimal (it’s all on my tummy too), but starting to see inch loss/toning on my waist.

Maybe we could be virtual weight loss/exercise buddies? I’d say a stone off by mid July is def achievable, BUT what immediately stuck out for me in your post, was the number of snacks you’re having.
Your normal meals sound fine, but you could easily cut calories by leaving out all the unnecessary stuff, eg 3 additional snacks a day, plus dessert? Peanut butter on sourdough = loads of calories, etc

What you’re having for breakfast, lunch and dinner sounds healthy, nutritious and filling, so the snacks shouldn’t be needed.

Maybe try just cutting all of that, limiting alcohol and takeaway, and see how you get on? (I know it’s easier said than done, btw!)

Also, maybe the very fact that you make mainly home cooked food is lulling you into a false sense of security of thinking that the snacks, takeaway and alcohol isn’t too bad (I def do this too), but in reality, you’re just adding way more calories than you need.

Hi @tigerbear congratulations on your wedding too! Definitely up for a virtual buddy!!

I really hear you on the snacks - even writing it down I was like ‘ahhh, that’s what’s going on!’ I’ve always been a bit of a grazer (and try to have smaller portions at meals to make up for it) but during lockdown working from home I’ve definitely got into the habit of a substantial morning snack and nibbling on things throughout the afternoon to keep my energy/mood up! So I’ll try knock that on the head!

What sort of stuff do you do with your personal trainer? I’m determined to build my stamina up with exercise! Pre DC I was a massive Les Mills fan and would do multiple classes a week of Pump, Combat, plus Zumba and also running. I have the Les Mills app now but I struggle to do a 30 min combat class consistently - it’s so frustrating!

That’s great you’re seeing results in toning, even if it’s not showing on the scales yet. I’ve always read that muscle weighs more than fat, so if you’re toning that bodes well for future weight loss in my book!

Firstly congratulations on your upcoming wedding 😁💐🎉

Agree with pp about the snacks. Also I'd recommend that you download either MFP or Nutracheck and input everything you're eating. It will mean weighing and measuring but even if you only do it for a few days it will give you an idea of what you are consuming in calories. Losing a stone by July should be doable.

Hi @PerpetualStudent, how are you doing today?
I’ve just seen my PT, so feeling quite energised!
In answer to your question about the kind of exercise I do with him, every session is different, and I think that’s really important, to keep motivation up and not do the same things each time.
It’s a mix of cardio, weights, and boxing (which I love, to my surprise!)
If funds allow, I’d def recommend seeing a PT - I’m not very motivated these days when it comes to working out alone, and never push myself. Seeing the PT, I know I HAVE to just get on with it (plus I pay upfront for several months in advance, so there’s no question of not doing it). Also, seeing him every few days means that I keep track of my eating more, as it would be such a waste of time and money to eat loads and sabotage it all.

Have you got your dress yet?
Mine has been in the wardrobe for 2 years, having bought it at a sample sale.
I have my first fitting in 3 weeks, so the pressure is definitely on to be able to get into it (and get it zipped up!) by then.
I’m dreading it - it’s a very tight fitting dress, so I’ll be mortified if I can’t get into it

Hi @tigerbear PT sounds like it’s working great for you :) The issue for me isn’t so much cost as time, I live really rurally so getting to a gym would be a hefty time commitment! Especially with kids and (over) working from home. Les Mills On Demand has been good for still being flexible but challenging myself - I think I’ve got to used to doing little 10-20 min HIIT workouts from YouTube which are hard to make a difference with weight loss-wise. Also, like you say, paying for something deffo helps motivation!

Good news from me is I’ve dropped 2lb this week (back to where I was before Xmas, at at least in the right direction!) I’ve also lost 1/2 inch round my waist - I deffo think it’s from changing up/reducing my snacks - I’ve swapped the mid morning toast for 1 caramel rice cake and am being much stricter about afternoon snacks and it really feels like I’m making a difference!

I’ve also been watching portion control - I’ve got into the habit of letting my DP plate me up with piles and rice/pasta/potatoes and/or going back for seconds - again figuring because it’s all ‘healthy’/homemade it’s ok. But I’m now playing up for myself, and leaving the second helpings as a default.

I haven’t got my dress yet, I’m having quite a small registry office do so I’m going quite casual - this is my dream dress www.thereformation.com/products/winslow-dress?color=Navy but it keeps going in and out of stock! I’m currently a ‘large’ in their sizes, but would love to be able to fit a ‘medium’ so I might order both and see how close I am then return one!

To PP who suggested MFP - it’s a really good suggestion and I’ve used it before, but honestly (sorry if this sounds extreme) I find it really triggering of my old disordered eating issues so I’m trying to do without it for now.

My DP is away for work this week - always harder to stay healthy and fit workouts in when I’m on my own with the kids, but feeling determined to stay strong!