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 all, I’ve just weight in at 11st 2.75. On Saturday morning i weighed 11st 6.75 so apparently I’ve lost 4lb in 4 days. Or my scales are broken. This must be the mythical whoosh that I’ve heard about.
Today’s my first fitting for my wedding dress and I’m too nervous for breakfast, so maybe I’ll see an even lower weight tomorrow? 🤣

Enjoy the dress fitting @Jammymare (especially after that 4lb loss bonus!!)

I hopped back on the scales today and apparently I have lost the 2lb that I'd gained on Monday I'm not usually a fan of weighing daily but that had annoyed me, perhaps it was just extra toast water weight. I've Shredded for the last few days which frankly has nearly killed me, but maybe it's done some good...

Atomic Habits is a Kindle 99p deal today @ManxRhyme so I have invested, and am only slightly miffed that I've already paid the library 80p to reserve a copy

Ooh I hope your fitting was good @Jammymare!

I haven't weighed this week, had ups and downs in terms of sticking to cals but will weigh tomorrow. I've decided for August to make things even more idiot-proof and am going to specify cereal for breakfast and a tin of soup for lunch. It will sound bizarre, but I seem to lose weight really easily when I'm eating soup every day 🤷‍♀️ I've been resisting because it's summer but you can eat hot food in summer, right?

Having a mixed week mental health wise too, so trying to be kind to myself and do nice things. I bought a cream that helps with the kind of bumpy spotty skin some people get on upper arms, so applying that with vigour! I also did a face mask yesterday that was bright pink!

What does everyone else do for self-care?

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl that's a good deal! I read a library copy too, on someone else's recommendation.

@Jammymare how did the fitting go? Describe the dress!

@olliepollie I use a sleep face mask most nights in lieu of moisturiser. Current fav is a rose one from last years beauty advent calendar. Is the cream you have ameliorate? I've heard good things about it. My current form of self care is exercise, eating well and sleeping (hah! That's not happening atm). 2/3 ain't bad.

Good thinking with the self care @olliepollie, hope the cream works well! I'm getting my hair done next month - cut and de-frizzing treatment - not too expensive via Groupon and worth it for my otherwise massive hair 

I snapped the deal up pretty quickly @ManxRhyme! The other habits book has been useful, hopefully this one will too. I'm all for making life a bit easier if you can find a routine that works for you and stick to it...

Morning all! I’ve been MIA for a while on here as life has been hectic and I’ve just not had much scrolling time.

@Jammymare hope the fitting went well! How exciting.

@olliepollie self care for me is exercise. I love lifting weights, I also do hot yoga and I walk for an hour listening to a podcast most days. It’s a mix of the physical activity and alone time that does it for me. I have introverted tendencies so I HAVE to take time alone, especially over the past year where we’ve all been stuck at home a lot of the time!

I do love a massage every now and then too. But it’s expensive and not something I can do each week, maybe once every six weeks.

I’ve been staying at my parents for a few nights and so at the mercy of their lunches and dinners. They are old skool so it’s been sausage and mash, spag bol, fish and chips. Also been fairly sedentary as they are getting old now so like sitting down and chatting. I was surprised this morning when I stepped on the scales for the first time since Monday and I was 11st 13lbs 4oz.

I’m not losing at the moment, I’m hovering around the same weight but if I can get through August and not gain anything back I will be very happy. After the past year I’m saying yes to all social occasions and trying to catch up with people as much as I can.

I think the next fat loss push will have to wait till the Autumn but I’m ok with that. I am training hard at the gym and will keep going with that.

@ManxRhyme I have the Cerave one - can't afford ameliorate but I have also heard good things. I also bought a load of face masks from Primark so working my way through those.

What's happening with your sleep? No sleep is hard!

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl a hair appointment is exciting! Is it like Brazilian blow dry type thing? Always think that looks so sleek!

@BasinHaircut nice to see you! Your point of view on your weight sounds very balanced, and I know what you mean about making the most of socialising. How did you get into weights? I would like to do some weights exercise but a gym is a bit daunting as I don't know what I'm doing and I also have a birth injury so have to be careful about that.

Feeling particularly dowdy right now, a lot of my clothes have stains and holes 🙈 so I think I'm going to go into new look/peacocks today and pick up a couple of blouses. I have done the charity shops but no real joy there, although I will have a final look before getting anything new. It feels quite painful to spend £15 on a blouse, I know that's ridiculous but tight budgets here at the mo.

@olliepollie I started doing body pump years ago. A lot of people knock it because it’s more cardio really than resistance training but if you’ve never done any weights before it still works a little bit. I did it all the way through pregnancy and never gained any weight!

Then a few years ago I joined a little local gym that does this over 30’s women’s thing where you got 1 group PT session per week as part of that which is where I started getting a bit of a taste of ‘real’ weight lifting.

There was one particular lad PT there that was much more hardcore than the other PTs and so I always booked into his sessions and he wasn’t too popular (as he was savage ) so sometimes you got a solo PT session. Anyway long story short he got sacked from that gym and me and a couple of friends I made there left with him and started hiring him for group PT directly.

Me and 1 friends till see him once every couple of weeks and in between I go it alone. It’s taken me years to get to the point I am now, as in confident to go in alone and know what I’m doing. I’d wanted to do it for years before but if I hadn’t clicked with my PT so well I’m not sure I’d ever have managed it as I, like you, didn’t know where to start. It was fate really. I’d tried other trainers before but a lot of people assume women want to ‘tone up’ (I fucking hate that saying) but I wanted to get strong and a lot of shitty PTs out there would never put a heavy weight in your hand and assume you want to pump 2kg dumbbells which achieves fuckall!

Thanks for all the good wishes re dress fitting, I was having nightmares about it not zipping up, it’s a little snug but it fits!!! (Photo attached for @ManxRhyme hopefully better than a description!)

My weight continues to do funny things on the scale, I really do think my scales may be broken, I’ve never had losses like this before. Fully expecting to spike back up any day now.

@olliepollie sorry to hear your feeling down, a hot bath always seems to be recommended for self care, but I find that I just lay there stressing with my thoughts, much better to get out in the sunshine with a book (shame the sunshine has disappeared temporarily). I read something interesting that you are more likely to keep up good habits if you do something healthy first thing in the morning as it plays on our sunk costs way of thinking, so maybe making time for your skin care first thing will have more lasting affects on your mood?

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl good work with the groupon voucher, hairdressers are so expensive now. I was really lucky to know a someone who would do a cut an colour for £30 from her home on her days off from a salon, but she has moved away now.

@BasinHaircut I’ve been listening to the EC method podcasts about weight training as it’s not something I had considered before. Still not sure I am brave enough to sign up to the gym, but definitely adding some body weight exercises into my usual running and cycling routine. The science behind it is pretty astonishing, makes you wonder why it’s not more widely talked about

@olliepollie yes, I have the Brazilian keratin treatment - it's come down such a lot in cost (and time taken) since I started having it 10 years ago, but is still a bit more expensive than a usual haircut etc. Groupon is my friend in this respect hope you find some new reasonably-priced clothes on your travels; I'm wearing out my 'fat' clothes rather than buy new ones so they definitely look a bit tatty, but I find that even ebay is working out quite expensive nowadays?! Postage always seems to be £3+ even for a top. Never mind, when I'm a size 12 or even a 14 again I'll have my old wardrobe to fit into, which will feel like an entirely new one as I've been away from it for so long!

I'd like to do more weight training @BasinHaircut, a PT sounds like a great idea! If you've ever read The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl she's really keen on weight training. I used to do it often when I was a gym member, that'll have to wait till I have more spare time and money though.

Beautiful dress @Jammymare! You must be getting very excited now!! Yes, I had a 'normal' cut a couple of months ago when the hairdressers finally reopened as I was so desperate, and it cost me more than it will do to have cut & keratin treatment with Groupon

2lb off for me today (in two weeks), last weigh in before we go on holidays at the weekend. It marks the half way point of my weight loss journey, 25.5lb off, 24.5lb to go... I've come a long way but there's still a lot to do!

Well done @ClaraTheImpossibleGirl you’ve passed the half way mark now!

@Jammymare dress looks lovely! I also love the EC method, I love those 2 they are great. I am tempted to sign up for a round or 2 later in the year.

@Jammymare that dress is a dream! So elegant! I love the colour too.

@olliepollie I'm prone to insomnia and despite my kids being in school now the youngest still doesn't sleep well. So I don't sleep well. I keep working on it though.

@BasinHaircut sounds like you really know what you are doing with weights! I've just been doing some strength training with dumbells at home, because time is at a premium and I don't have the time to go to the gym. I've shocked myself with how much I love it though. I feel so much stronger and can now do actual pushups, which I have NEVER managed before. Used to have to do the girly ones on my knees 😬

I bloody love it @ManxRhyme. Makes me feel so good. I’m very fortunate to have the time to go to the gym but I do prioritise it (it’s in everyone’s best interests that I get to go, mood-wise ) and I absolutely cannot motivate myself to exercise from home so I’m very jealous that you can do that.

I’m hosting a little bbq/party today for family. I will not be sticking to calories or anything like that. I haven’t been for my daily walk since Tuesday either, and yesterday was my first gym session since last Saturday due to being at my parents’ house. But normality resumes tomorrow!

Well, until a week on Monday when we go away camping…….

Like I said, if I can not gain anything back during August I’ll be well happy. Our camping trip should be nice and active though so hopefully should be ok.

Well done @ClaraTheImpossibleGirl! Such an achievement.

Also find that about eBay - and as a seller I know you can get most single items of clothing posted as a large letter (£1.50-ish) rather than a parcel so it does really put me off bidding.

Have a fab holiday 😊

Push-ups are hard @ManxRhyme I can barely do the half ones on knees, so must feel great to do full ones. Are you using hand weights or kettlebells? I've had some hand weights for about 20 years but they are mostly ornamental 🙈

Camping sounds amazing @BasinHaircut - it sounds like you're a seasoned camper? Are you headed to the coast or somewhere forest-y? DH is really keen but a masochist who wants to effectively lie on a groundsheet and Bear Grylls his way through. I need earplugs, a camp bed and a blackout.

Beautiful dress @Jammymare! Looks fab. And hopefully the scales are telling the truth, well done! I do quite like a hot bath, but also yes find it's better to be outdoors.

Well, it's 1 August. It's my heaviest and most bloated time of the month so I'm ignoring the scales this week. I'd like to lose 2kg this month, and if the next 3 weeks go well I hope that will buffer my holiday at the end of Aug. With any luck it will dry up a bit so can get out and about later. I'd quite like to go for a big long walk with DS in the backpack.

I think I may also ban myself from the corner shop. I seem unable to leave without a packet of salt and vinegar crisps as well as what I've gone in for...

No not a seasoned camper @olliepollie, we went a couple of times last year but that’s it. We don’t have much kit but do have air beds going to the Norfolk broads so we have a full day of canoeing planned, and then a day at a theme park so lots of rowing and walking. Just have our fingers crossed for the weather really.

We are on holiday now and the weather looks dismal! I have already broken and had crisp and biscuits at lunch. And dinner last night was pizza as we got in too late to get anything half decent. I think I was hanging on for so long for this break that the crappy weather just finished me off. Going to try and do a bit better food wise from here on.

Hope your weather is better on the other side of the country @BasinHaircut.

@olliepollie just dumbells. I had some 3kg ones but recently upped to a 5kg pair. It seems to be doing the job, my arms are less flabby. I may get heavier weights in the future but don't want to rush it.

So sorry the weather is rubbish for you @ManxRhyme. It's so disappointing while waiting so long to get away. Do you have things planned that are going to be ok if it's a bit damp? Hope it brightens up for you.

I'd like to see a bit less flabbiness of arm! Need to do a bit more at home pilates 😬

Your Norfolk hol sounds fab @BasinHaircut, love an outdoors hol.

Well DH has been in a massive grump all day so we haven't been for a walk. I did some vigorous hoovering instead 😂

Morning all. I’ve just been back and read my original post on what was going to be a 6 week blitz. This would be the start of the final week of those 6.

I wanted to go from hovering around 12st 1-3lbs to 11st something in that 6 weeks. This morning I am 11st 13lb on the nose and I’m hovering between 11st 13-something and 12st 1lb exactly over the past week.

I’m happy with that. I’ve certainly had more social occasions to navigate than the 4 I mentioned in the OP and although I could have done ‘better’ I have actually lost some fat, even if it’s only a couple of pounds.

This week I have 2 meals out (Chinese and Indian so v salty and will see that on the scales) then another BBQ on Sunday, then next week I’m camping so I need to remember to relax about the numbers I see in that scale as they will go up.

In between all of that though I’m going to eat well, get my walks done and 3 weights sessions and 1 yoga class.

@ManxRhyme hope the weather clears up for you. It’s meant to be better from today I think.

Well done @BasinHaircut you set and achievable goal and you hit it, you must be pleased with that?

I think we’ve been locked down for so long that social interaction takes priority over any diet. I’ve certainly had a blow out this weekend with a free bar at a friends wedding and resulting in a mini pork pie and chocolate binge for medicinal purposes yesterday. NO REGRETS!!!!

Start 161.5
Today 157.5

4lbs gone would like to get to 150lb in the next 6 weeks

Well done @BasinHaircut! You've done really well, and fat loss means so much more than just weight loss.

Weather has held improved for now. And we've had a good couple of days on the beach between rainy episodes so I'm feeling much brighter. Foodwise have also done better, if a bit more relaxed with the carbs and sweets. And I've kept up with the exercise although DH did raise an eye brown then he unloaded the car and found my dumbells in the boot.