LOSE IT! MAY 2021 **Title edited by MNHQ**

[SunshineCake]

@TheRealHousewife has given me the honour of starting our new thread so here we go....

I can't work out how to copy her helpful links over but if you go
to thread you can look them up and also read the thread and get a feel for if this is the place for you.

We are a friendly bunch with lots of support, advice, hand holding and no judgement at all.

I am doing Intermittent Fasting and run several times a week. Others are calorie counting and walking lots. All our welcome. Post as little or as much as you want. I didn't post my weight for months and was still fully welcomed and involved.

@HalfShrunkMoreToGo is our star pupil with spreadsheets but we have all done really well and I am proud of each and everyone of you.

Here's to a good month and let's get going.

@132orbust please don't feel you have to post everyday. It is lovely when you do but this is meant to be fun and supportive, not a chore. Post whenever you want.

I had a chat with myself about the situation and while I think hormones might have played a part and I can't control those, I do feel if I can just remind myself that there wasn't anything I could do if I wasn't told, I think I will be okay. Ish. Thanks . It is hard when it is the school that has let down my child and nothing will happen there but my child might miss out on the course and place they want.

Hi @Crazzzycat. I have been having anxiety attacks and have learnt to differentiate them from asthma but it is hard sometimes. They started after a trauma which should never have happened which makes them harder to deal with as they are a reminder. I'll be okay though. Don't apologise for what you have posted. This thread is for us to use as we need and it has helped massively. Thank you.

Well done on your weight loss and there is no issue with not posting amounts. As I said before I didn't post my weight for months and not always the losses either as that didn't happen much for a lot of the time! Enjoy your new clothes.

I had another bad night with ddog so already wasn't running as was meeting a friend but after doggies antics I definitely wasn't going. I feel like a few days off might do my body good so I might take another day though I will worry about my emotional health with not going.

Just made a new lunch. Hard boiled eggs, tuna, sweetcorn, spring onions, mayonnaise and Tabasco sauce all mixed together and put in a pitta bread. Was lovely.

I am really sorry to hear about your panic attacks @SunshineCake and hope things sort of resolve themselves with your dc @Crazzzycat I hope your new clothes are lovely! I have been thinking the last couple of days that my clothes seem to fit a little better. They were definitely getting quite tight/uncomfortable but being a dress size bigger than I'd ideally like to be anyway I was refusing to buy anything in the next size above! Definitely feel like things are a bit more comfy now.
Trying to see if I've got the energy to do an online workout once dh gets home, in between sorting dd's online Brownies meeting and trying to cook/eat in my eating window. Not sure it will happen Still finding I'm feeling generally quite exhausted and like I mainly want to sleep all the time but tbh I think that's more a symptom of coming towards the end of a really quite crazy work year in teaching. I'm just done in.

Could dh cook while you do your exercise ?

I feel your pain Cocoamojo with exams up here that are not exams (but are really exams by the back door🙄) I'm marking "assessments" like they're coming off of a conveyor belt! I hit the bacon rasher crisps after school but DS2 made gorgeous fresh salmon, quinoa and green beans and cherry toms in balsamic vinegar for dinner. Incredibly delicious and I won't eat another thing.

Back to the marking ...

I have two kids doing fake exams. So stressful.

DS1 is in the same situation Sunshine doing 5 Highers. He did his first paper today and has another 10 over the next 2 and a bit weeks. Poor kids. And poor teachers!

I teach piano and I really feel for my pupils in exam years at the moment.
I’m drinking much more water at the moment (and tea/coffee/squash etc.) I’m hoping it’s is because I’m actually realising that I’m thirsty rather than hungry. Is this normal?

@SunshineCake and @Ionacat yes jackfruit is very bland and so can take any flavouring you want.. it makes me think about palm tree hearts, which was popular in the 80s when i was growing up! Jackfruit is easy to shred or cook, just try it!

Good luck to all the teachers, you are amazing! I did my PGCE some years ago and couldnt take the stress and all the admin!). You are truly superstars!

I weighed myself this am and i have nearly lost 1kg compared to last week so thats great. My clothes fit more comfortably and i feel much better for it. I am going to look for a yoga class in order to tome up a little bit... presumably we can resume yoga from the 17th of may?

Feeling good this morning. Weighed myself and nearly 2 lbs down from last Thursday. Did my belt up 1 hole tighter. It's a nice feeling.
I didn't manage to do exercise yesterday.... it is partly motivation but partly also just fitting it in....my dh works long and unpredictable hours so I do nearly everything kid related during the week on top of working 4 days (and looking after my youngest on day off) Last night to preserve IF I managed to eat by 7pm, but hadn't had time beforehand to exercise, and afterwards felt too full/sleepy. Morning exercise is a no go as I'd have to be up at 5.30 , I've tried it before and just hit snooze!

I know I ought to prioritise it though. Maybe just need to be more flexible with the IF, i don't know.
Have a good day everyone and to all the teachers and parents of exam kids. It's not easy right now.

Could I join please? I'm struggling with my weight after losing quite a bit of baby weight easily fairly soon after my pregnancies, but now I'm 37 and no longer BF it's crept up on me. I'd love to not have to buy a new summer wardrobe. Kiddos are 8 and 3, and I haven't BFed for 18m so I think I stacked on an extra 7-8 kilos in a few months of stopping BF, and it's stuck around for the last year or so, with a bit of lockdown weight on top of that.

Will go and put batteries in the scales and face up to the reality of where I am I think.

This thread sounds so supportive and realistic.

Hello everyone

I don't know the science @Ionacat but it is known that we often think we are hungry, as a species, when we ate thirsty. I drink a lot of water and find it really does work when I think I am hungry to take a drink and then I'm fine. Sometimes I do it to distract me from eating and that works well too.

Well done @tostaky on your weight loss.

Excellent weight loss there @CocoaMojo. You will find a routine that suits. I'm lucky that DH is on stand by for the school runs and with one child going in later I usually can run when I want.

I only did 4.5 km this morning so that I could get back as I wanted dh to do the painting rather than the school run but the times were okay and then I walked the dog. No weight loss since last week but instead of being upset I just figured next week I'd have a decent loss 🤞.

I have been thinking about @fallfallfall - saw you on another thread. Hope you are okay. Also @MrsJonesAndMe and @HalfShrunkMoreToGo and our leader @TheRealHousewife.

Welcome @BrioLover. Lovely to have you with us.

Hi @BrioLover! Welcome. Sounds like you are in a similar position to me, same age, similar aged kids (mine are 7 and 4). I can't use 'baby weight' as an excuse anymore

Thanks @SunshineCake! dh's working hours are so unpredictable it's the routine that I find hard. Running is about the only exercise I sort of enjoy, but find it so hard to fit it in; so I go through these sporadic bursts of doing online workouts instead (which I can sometimes do when the kids are watching the telly etc) but it never sticks cos I find them so boring

Would it help if you put running on the list of things to do ? housework list - shopping, ironing, running or the self care list - hair cut, dentist, run.

You have to value yourself.

I’m down to 12st 6 which I think is 3lb. Very pleased, and also I was very restrained today as I was in the office and lunch was provided - didn’t overdo but had some flapjack.

Fab news for all the losses or maintains! I also am carrying baby weight and my youngest is also 4 so can’t use that excuse anymore.

Hoping DH will be back soon so I can go for a run as after being in the office all day, I need some fresh air!

Well done @Ionacat. Great stuff on your loss and good lunch decisions. I hope your run goes well. I will go tomorrow but go back to my usual run. For some reason my feet took me a different route and what is so annoying I could have run one of my usual routes, got the 5km done and been back for the school run. Tomorrow I'll do seven km hopefully.

Well done on those losses @CocoaMojo, @Ionacat and @tostaky! It’s hard to find time to exercise Cocoa especially if you have younger kids. I don’t have any useful advice, but you have my sympathy!

I had a non scale victory today, as my new clothes arrived and all fitted perfectly! Next on the list is some new jeans. Losing weight is turning out to be expensive

I have had such a nice stir fry for dinner!!! It was worth waiting for it instead of snacking!!

For lunch i often have a slim fast or Huel shake and i find it really helps with being busy /not having time for lunch and no meal prep. But i wonder how healthy they are... i don't understand the ingredients list!!!

Ive also received my results of my blood test (part of a "lifestyle assessment" from DP's private insurance) - and i am red everywhere, obese class 2, blablabla... i did that blood test a month ago so i feel i have made quite a lot of changes since (ie. no wine during weekday, smaller portions, no more pizza on fridays). The report says do more exercise ... i dont know where to fit that though

Great news on the clothes front @Crazzzycat!

Well done for the no snacking @tostaky. Keep that in mind if you have a difficult moment in the future.

I feel I am gearing up to sort my wardrobe as I just want clothes that fit properly but make me feel good. Too many of my things are about comfort and warmth and not about looking that great.

Day 129
SW:151
CW:136
GW:132
I know I don't have to post every day but I don't want to lose focus as I have set myself a goal date and on that date I will decide where I am, whether I am happy there, how I want to live my life going forward. But first I have to get to 132 and these last 4lbs are somewhat of a challenge to say goodbye to... Anyway out and about at 9am to make a further dent, I hope!

Doggy had us up twice again last night so feeling the tiredness. Still went running and then walked her and then when dh gets back we are off to look at paint for the hallway. Have had a pain in my head on and off since I set off with the dog and also feel sick and think I would faint so going to try and drink extra water today and also have a decent lunch.

Carry on the good work everyone !

Morning all,

Well done on all the losses- great news.

I've gained 1lb this week. I'm not that surprised as I have been snacking a little more than I should have this week. I think I was too excited to get over the 2 stone mark, but a bit of a wake up. Still just on the 2 stone, so don't feel too bad.

Trying not to eat my feelings this morning. Received the much waited for ASD diagnosis for DS3 yesterday. It's not anything we didn't know but a melancholy has settled over me overnight, which is not like me. I think this news coupled with his adhd and epilepsy has brought it home just how hard life will be for him. Maybe it's just because it's my day off.

Hugs to you @Puffalicious. Any decent parent would want their kids to thrive, so it’s totally understandable that getting this diagnosis and realising the potential implications will take some getting used to. Getting a diagnosis has been life changing for my DSs and for my DH. But that didn’t mean that we didn’t have to go through a process of making sense of it first.

@tostaky, I hope you use those blood test results to spur you on! Those were for the old you. Like you say, you’ve already made a lot of positive changes. Continue to build on that and you’ll create a brand new you!

@SunshineCake whenever anyone mentions headaches and feeling dizzy when they’re outside at this time of the year, I have to ask, could it be hayfever? I have terrible hayfever. I don’t really sneeze, or have itchy eyes, but I definitely get the headaches and dizziness which disappear after an antihistamine...

You’re so close to your goal @132orbust! What’s your goal date?

A pound is nothing @Puffaliciousn I won't tell you what dh says when I say I have out a pound on but don't fret, it will soon be gone and nothing wrong with a celebratory snack!

DH and I have been through a really difficult time with DD and DS2 in a not too dissimilar situation so I feel for you. It is so hard and frustrating as I know I felt like there was nothing I could do. I really hope you get the support you all need. My friend has just had an autism diagnosis for her four year old grandchild.

I don't think it is hay fever @Crazzzycat as dh and dd has it so I have seen how they are. I think it is possible I have an allergy as I do get runny eyes and nose but today I think was just lack of sleep , running, I hadn't eaten or drunk anything either.

In other news we may have chosen our new paint colour so hoping we can get that done today or tomorrow.

Have a good afternoon everyone.

Still thinking of you @fallfallfall @MrsJonesAndMe and @HalfShrunkMoreToGo.

Thanks CrazyCat and Sunshine for the kind words and support. We adore him but life can be super difficult. After 2 neurotypical DC it's a completely different life for us all since he arrived. The older DC can struggle at times, particularly DC1 who is such a great kid but can be emotional and get frustrated and I think he thinks DS3 is priority when that's not the case. We're a very positive little unit, so I'm sure we'll take it as it comes.

Thank you. It helps.

My goal date is the 20th August, the week before hols @Crazzzycat and by then I would like to be as close to 125lbs as possible.
I am thinking by that time I will know:
Is it viable to get there?
If so, is it sustainable with a reasonable standard of life?
Is it something I can surpass and by how much?
I have mucked around losing and gaining the same few lbs for a few years now but this time is different for me. I have been really shocked by how things can slide if you take your eye off the ball, as I did at the start of lockdown in March 2020, once in your 50's and it is not for me! I did not look nice in my clothes and I felt like a blob. Additionally, I have two friends whose daily life, happiness and choices are impacted by their weight(and in one case her children's lives too) and a decade ago we were all slim. I will never be 102lbs again and nor should I be at my age but can I be 124lbs and maintain, 119lbs or even less? This is the time to find out and I'll be right here keeping you all posted as I go and gaining inspiration from everyone's efforts.
Onwards and inwards - how far inwards is yet to be decided
Mammoth post but there it is