6 week blitz starting tomorrow

[BasinHaircut]

I’m simply starting this thread for myself as a diary.

I’m hovering around 12st 1-3lbs ish. I’d like to hover at 11stones-something in 6 weeks time, so nothing major.

All I’m going to do is the following:

1. Stick to under 1600 calories per day
2. Walk for an hour each day
3. Resistance train 4 times per week

I should be able to do this easily but I need some accountability (with the food!) so here I am!

I have 4 social occasions during this time that may lead to not sticking to 1600 calories on those days but I am ok with that. I will just do my best on those days, accept what they are, and not let them lead to throwing in the towel altogether.

If anyone would like to join me they are very welcome!

Morning folks - I completely agree @Jammymare re:scales. I like your approach of weighing every day because you really can see the downward trends.

I hopped on the scales this morning, feeling hopeful, and I'm half a kilo heavier than I was this time last week, and then MFP told me I am heavier than I was two months ago! Which feels really depressing. I had one 'day off' on Saturday but I didn't eat loads. And yet. I do feel like giving up. But it's a bit pointless to give up because I really do need to lose weight.

This weather makes me feel puffy and bloated and I sleep poorly. Bleurgh.

I too weigh every day. I was back at my starting weight yesterday after my indulgent weekend, but half of that is back off again this morning.

It’s interesting to see what happens to the scales in different scenarios.

I know I need to make a bit more effort with tracking and sticking to calories if I want to see any further downward trend though. Need to get back into the swing of it as I’ve just stopped tracking the past week.

Ok so I tracked today and I’m going to end on 2,000 kcals. Fail! all decent food but basically had lunch, brunch and breakfast. Whoops!

Went on the sweatiest school run ever and got an ok-ish gym session in.

Think time of the month is not helping me today but I’ve actually tracked food so better than I’ve been for the past week in that respect.

Ah time of month definitely is not our friend on the scales either @BasinHaircut! We'll done for tracking - better to know.

Well yesterday was a flop for me. Fell firmly off the bus. Into a vat of ice cream But I read once that Beyoncé only ever allows herself one day to feel sorry for herself then gets back on track (😂) so I've tried to channel that and done a 15k cycle this morning while it's slightly cooler so I've had a good start.

I can definitely see how daily weighing gives you a trend but I think it might be better for me to weigh more infrequently as I find a 'bad' result hard to get over. Is

Hope everyone has a good day!

What a lovely positive attitude @Jammymare! Very encouraging

I have a 30 minute C25K run scheduled for tomorrow @BasinHaircut but I'm already a sweaty mess after walking the DC to school so no idea if I'll manage it! It's times like these that I regret giving up my membership to the air conditioned gym...

@olliepollie who'd have thought Beyonce has off days!! she always looks amazing unlike me but good to channel her attitude.

I'm not eating huge amounts but it's not been great nutrition-wise as it's just too flipping hot to cook/ eat 'proper' food, unless you're DP who can still demolish a massive plateful I had toast and jam for dinner yesterday and it may even be the same for today. So I may be under my calorie allowance but am eating far too many carbs!

@olliepollie the heat definitely makes me feel bloated too, it doesn’t help that my ankles swell up sitting at a computer all day either.
@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl I attempted a run at 6pm yesterday and gave up after 15min it was just fat too hot. But this morning I got up early and went out on the bike, still hot but not in heat stroke territory.
@BasinHaircut good work getting back on the tracking habit. My problem is I eat something naughty and then I don’t want to track it because it will put me over the calories and then I give up! I guess it’s a form of lying to myself?
But I have meal planned well for this week and this hot weather means salads are more appetising. 1,754 on Monday and 1,515 yesterday, on track for 1,552 today too if I don’t snack after dinner

@olliepollie I recall watching something many years ago about Beyonce being very fond of fried chicken, but she works out and works hard to counteract that. That's pre JayZ and early days of post Destiny's Child though (showing my age here!).

I have been stuffing my face with ice cream too. I have kept up with the workouts though, had a standing fan blasting directly at me the whole time. Advantage of doing HIIT I suppose.

I'm scared of the scales. They've not budged so far and I don't want it to demotivate me.

@ManxRhyme and @olliepollie I think I read something similar about Beyonce (showing my age too!) where she was saying that she's not naturally slim, she works out hard and often, but still enjoys occasional treats like fried chicken. It was refreshing to read and let's face it, she looks bloody fab even when snapped on an 'off' day!

I went for a run today @Jammymare after dropping the DC off - thought I'd better make the most of my last free time for a while - it was soooo hot though, and that was at 8.30am. The weather is due to break here tomorrow so no doubt I will then moan about it being too cold/ wet/ depressing

Neither I or the DC wanted dinner last night as we were absolutely melting, we had sandwiches and a couple of snacks instead. DP came home and said "oh yes, it's far too hot to eat much". He then proceeded to eat: 2/3 of a large crusty loaf (with plenty of butter), a large pack of ham, a large slab of chocolate, half a tub of hummus and a bag of crisps. It was like watching the hungry caterpillar at work! I offered fruit/ veg/ salad but no, he just munched through that lot. He doesn't have an active job and had had a normal sized lunch, hadn't gone hungry... he then said again that he could do with losing weight

Anyhow, I decided that I owe it to the DC to try to have at least one parent who's as healthy as possible, and signed up to the (expensive but extensive) health & nutrition programme I'd been undecided about for ages. Then I also booked tickets to take the DC to see PE with Joe live on his tour!! I mean I will claim it's for the DC but you know who's most excited really

Hope everyone has a good day!

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl best of luck with the programme! Sometimes when you've forked out that much what you've actually done is signed a contract with yourself using cold hard cash to make the change!

I think you may be right @ManxRhyme haven't even had chance to look at it yet - but it did give me the motivation to do my (very hot and sticky) run earlier!!

@Jammymare I'm completely the same about eating something naughty and not wanting to track it... or anything else that day 😬

@ManxRhyme well done on the HIIT and great idea about the fan! I'm going to do that tomorrow when I cycle. Also scared of the scales. They are not moving but given my food intake this week that is not surprising...

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl good luck with your programme! Is it a specific kind of eating or more about balance etc? Sometimes it really can be the magic bullet. I often think that about having a personal trainer or doing 1:1 Pilates. You'll have fun at PE with Joe, that man has supernatural energy.

Well despite my pledge to only have one day feeling sorry for myself I have just carried on with my terrible week. I think on one level I've been really conscious of how this weekend will be very food-heavy, so have given myself licence not to bother. Also have been derailed by the depressing scales reading. And someone I know is pregnant, and I want to be, and have wanted to be for over a year now, so that has bummed me out.

I've also got into the headspace where instead of thinking 'I could be 2-3 stone down by Xmas' I'm thinking 'I can lose 2-3 kilos this week!' which isn't very pragmatic. I know intellectually that the best way for me to lose weight is slow and steady but I put a dress on and just think I'm gross and need to lose weight fast.

I've taken the day off work tomorrow because I'm so gloomy this week so I will exercise and run some errands and try to be kind to myself, have a bath etc. I have to pull myself out of this funk.

@olliepollie sorry you are feeling so down. That's a lot to sort out mentally.

I mentioned previously about reading the habiit book by James Clear. If this is a lifelong change then what we are trying to do is form good healthy habits. So it doesn't matter if the exercise is lacklustre or we ate - - a tub off-- an ice cream, that's the exception. We eat healthy and we exercise because we are healthy people and that is our norm.

You are cycling, you are showing up and you will be fine. Big, big hugs.

That book sounds interesting @ManxRhyme, it's the sort of habit I try to cultivate too! If I tell myself often enough that I enjoy running, walking, aerobics etc then at some point I will, or that's the theory

It can be really hard to pull yourself out of the doldrums @olliepollie, for you. Honestly, at the beginning of the year I was very down, the biggest I'd ever been and almost resigned to staying that weight as I'd tried for over a year to do something about it and been completely unsuccessful. I signed up to a short weights/ exercise/ nutrition course with a local aerobics teacher for some initial motivation, made the DC join in PE with Joe during the hellishness of lockdown and generally tried to turn things round slowly. I did however have to resign myself to the fact that it would take a year to lose all the weight I need to I'm six months in now and have lost half what I'm aiming for - not super speedy but getting back into exercise has really motivated me.

I'm waffling a bit now but what I'm trying to say is: please find a way to make a start/ keep going that works for you, realise that it won't be a quick fix but you'll feel better for it very soon, and keep us all updated on your progress!!

Have to admit that I haven't looked at Super Duper Program (not its real name!) properly yet, but will report back when I've had chance. And yes, Joe has loads of energy, how he can be so perky every day I have no idea - perhaps he'll let us into his secret!

Thanks @ManxRhyme and @ClaraTheImpossibleGirl

The book sounds really interesting @ManxRhyme, I will check it out. I was in quite a bad headspace the first lockdown and had some CBT and it sounds a bit similar to those principles. (Good) habits are powerful things.

Thank you for sharing your experience @ClaraTheImpossibleGirl, it sounds like you used to be where I am now and the progress you've made is so encouraging to me I do rather enjoy the cycling (mostly for the mental health benefits) and have got back into Pilates which I've always loved.

Well today is another day, and I think even if this weekend is heavy on the calories I will try and eat slowly and mindfully and aim for smaller portions. I am really looking forward to my meal out tonight! And as well as chores and exercise I'm going to visit all the local charity shops and see if I can hunt out a couple of new blouses for myself.

Really, thank you for the encouragement. One foot in front of the other.

The book is Atomic Habits by James Clear. Can be repetitive at times but there's some sound advice in there.

How has the weekend been for everyone?
I’m up 2lb on the scales, but I’ve lost 1/2inch from my waist 🤷‍♀️

Is it too late to join in? I've just stood on the scales for the first time in a year and it wasn't good news...

@Jammymare well done on the inch change! That's my favourite place to lose, around the tum. Funny how the scales work though

I actually ended up the week lighter than at the beginning, which was ridiculous considering the chocolate and ice cream consumption. I've had a big weekend though, restaurants and birthdays, so I'm not getting on til Friday to give me a chance!

@MotherOfSuburbia you're welcome!

Happy Monday,

Weight is being very stubborn;

Start 161.5lbs
Week 1 159.5
Week 2 158.5
Week 3 158.75
Week 4 159.5

My calories last week averaged 1,700 per day, going to do my best to reduce to 1,600 this week. Trying not to be disheartened as seeing some movement in my measurements. Keep on kicking on.

I've been doing this for two months now and have lost.... Drumroll... 4.5 lb

Oh well, at least I haven't gained more! Well done on the inch change @Jammymare and the weight loss @olliepollie!

We are on holiday next week. I haven't decided yet how I'm going to approach food!

@ManxRhyme my weight is coming off veeeeery slowly too! My consolation is that I do feel better for losing the stone and a half that I have done. Still a long way to go for me though... I reserved the Atomic Habits book at the library and am reading The Power of Habit at the moment, as it sounds like a similar premise! I also read Memoirs of a Former Fatty recently, which was quite short but interesting; I'm a sucker for a 'fat to fit' book anyway but she describes using her HR and coaching background to help her lose weight, there's a few tips in there I might use.

We go on holiday soon and I have no idea how to handle holiday food either - partly because we're camping for some of it and partly because DP always wants to have long, heavy meals that neither I or the DC are interested in - should be fun

I'm up 2lb as well @Jammymare although I think mine is because I haven't been well at all for the past few days, have spent most of my time lying on the sofa eating toast and feeling sorry for myself... I had earache which turned into a cough and temperature (thankfully not Covid though). Managed to run tonight for the first time in days and have finally graduated from C25K

I'll join you on the Friday weigh in @olliepollie to see if I've managed to lose the 2lb!

Welcome @MotherOfSuburbia

Well done on the C25K @ClaraTheImpossibleGirl! I stayed stuck on week 2 for 3 weeks then gave up previously. I've upped my weights today for my workouts, and I'm feeling it. It is still half of what the programme recommends but I don't think I can manage more.

Welcome @MotherOfSuburbia!

Had a very healthy dinner of red rice with a chicken stir fry then a cup to tea and nothing else. I think I'll aim to at least keep fasting for the holiday. And be low carb ish.

Thanks all. So good to read your stories to spur me on. Only day 3 here of cutting down to 1300 kcal & no snacks. A looooong way to go but getting pretty worried about diabetes etc if I carry on as before.

@MotherOfSuburbia 1,300 calories and no snacks is hardcore! Putting me to shame.