LOSE IT! July 2021

[TheRealHousewife]

Hello and a warm welcome to new & established members. July already! Lockdown easing and an end in sight! Hallelujah! Let’s embrace the summer and extending freedoms feeling like our best selves.

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 reap the rewards. Better mental health = better choices. It becomes a healthy cycle.

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. Personally, I rarely drink alcohol and keep sugar to a minimum. I try to not overload on carbs etc, include a protein source with most meals and aim to glug enough water. 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. We generally have WOW (weigh on Wednesday) day each week. However post and share your progress as often or as little as you prefer. I’ve weighed daily at times and weekly at other times. Do what works for you.

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

June 2021 Thread

NHS 12 Wk Weight Loss Plan

Fast800 Recipes Free Content

Benefits of Water to aid Weight Loss

MyFitnessPal

Evidence Based Weight Loss Tips

The Psychology of Weight Loss

Afternoon! Another busy day at work so I’ve managed 18k steps and closed all my activity rings.

Not really feeling hungry this evening. Had some sad news which has taken away my appetite 😢 friend from my running club died on Monday from the pancreatic cancer she was diagnosed with last autumn. Fucking cancer. Seriously considering a large G&T but not sure if it will make me feel more sad.

Thanks for the advice Crazzzycat. I do have a calm.com subscription. I haven't used it in a while, so must get back into it. I have resorted to lists before. It's just silly things though like when will I brush my teeth/shower/change bedding. I used to be on medication that totally wiped me out. My brain hasn't caught up with that yet, that I'm no longer on it. I also used to suffer badly with depression and the most I did was brush my teeth daily. I can see writing that down I need a mind re-set!
Can I ask you where you got your cross trainer from, and if you recommend it? I was looking at Argos, and there three cheapest ones (That I could afford.) all say they are noisy. I live in a first floor flat and it wouldn't be fair on the neighbours.

Hi all - just catching up. Today’s win: 9km hike v hilly - equivalent to 95 flights of stairs achieved!
Today’s failure: large sandwich for lunch and massive pizza for dinner.
Also, I have to stop eating so much fruit for breakfast as it makes me so bloated it’s uncomfortable.
So sorry to hear about your friend swampytiggaa 💐

@SunshineCake sorry dd is ill hope it is resolved soon

@Crazzzycat I also struggle with seeds and nuts. I love them but they're so calorie dense! I have a smoothie maker type blender but been afraid to use it weight loss wise as I know smoothies can quickly become too calorific. If anyone can point me in direction of good recipes I'd be grateful

@CarolinaWeeper veggie eating out options are pretty good these days, I remember when I was lucky to get an omelette or a salad!

Cous cous needs to be flavoured well. If I'm making it (I use it a lot) I'll add soy sauce, herbs and spices, make it with stock, add Henderson's relish... perhaps you didn't use enough spice also when did you add the spice?

@swampytiggaa so very sorry for the loss of your friend. Cancer sucks!

@73kittycat73 you can get noise reduction mats for such equipment being used in a flat

Had a busy day, shattered and got another busy and stressful day tomorrow but I'm well within cals so hopefully see a loss tomorrow maybe even a good one? After a week of sts and then only 1lb loss despite being "very good" let's see

Nsv - fitting back into an old bra! I'll take em where I can get em!

@73kittycat73, I bought mine years ago and I’m afraid I can’t remember where I got it from. It’s a Reebok and it’s a little bit noisy too. I absolutely love it though. It was tough at first. When I did my first session back in April, I struggled to do 15 minutes and pretty much everywhere hurt afterwards. I’ve been building it up gradually and these days I actually look forward to my cross trainer sessions! There’s something a bit hypnotic about the movement and it’s not unusual for me to completely lose track of time. It’s weird!

So sorry to hear about your friend @swampytiggaa. That is such sad news.

Well done on climbing those hills @QueenMabby. I live in a very hilly part of the world, but the most I’ve ever done in a single walk is about 80 flights of stairs. May be I should set myself a climbing hills goal once these temperatures go down! 🤔

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a loss for you tomorrow @Graphista. I have no idea about smoothies, but found this on BBC Good Food. May be worth a look?

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/smoothie-recipes

Thanks anyway Crazzzycat. I've been looking on Amazon this evening and have my eye on a few. Will have a better look tomorrow.
Well, it's just gone 1.30am and I can't sleep. It's too hot.
Graphista I think I figured out another trigger. I was lying in bed reliving an abusive memory (Had an abusive upbringing.). Realised I feel like I 'deserve' a treat after all I've been through. I think that's quite a big one as I haven't craved anything since discovering it.

So sorry for your loss swampytiggaa. I hope you are copingOK?

I'm so sorry @swampytiggaa 😢 💐

@graphista smoothies can be a bit of a minefield! I have attached a good recipe I have tried before and is only 262 calories, I know you don't get on with certain foods so sorry if no good. I also attached a page from another recipe book I have about how to build a balanced smoothie which I find quite useful.

@Crazzzycat thanks for the crossed fingers! Seems to have worked!

13 stone 5.5lbs! That's a 2.5lb loss this week and half a stone in total!

3lbs off my first target of 5% of original weight loss.

Needed this boost.

Not been this weight in some years. Remind me of this when I'm flagging? I have to stick to it even when I'm getting sts and small losses - even gains!

@73kittycat73 we have a lot in common! But I think it was discussed on previous thread that many of us with difficult relationships with weight/food have trauma/abuse in our backgrounds. When I did ww a lot of the other members it was true too. Not always childhood abuse, sometimes dv or traumatic loss etc.

@CescaCesca thanks. I've never tried protein powders not sure how they would work on me as I'm so inactive. The only thing there I can't have is chia seeds I think.

Well done on that loss @Graphista

If you can eat dairy and are looking for a good source of protein, it may be worth trying Skyr yoghurt? It’s very filling, yet relatively low in calories.

@73kittycat73 it’s really good that you’re starting to work out what your triggers are. I’m sorry for what you went through. Abusive childhoods really are a gift that keeps on giving 😔 I understand that feeling of feeling like you deserve a treat when you feel low/ triggered. But you deserve so much more that, like a healthy, happy life where you feel good about yourself. I know it’s very easy for me to say this, but may be it’d help to keep reminding yourself of that bigger goal?

Congrats on the 2.5lb loss and getting to half a stone Graphista!
I ended up not getting to sleep until about 8am this morning. Slept till 11amish.
Can I hire you as my own personal guru Crazzzycat? Yet again you have come through with some sterling advice.
I understand that feeling of feeling like you deserve a treat when you feel low/ triggered. But you deserve so much more that, like a healthy, happy life where you feel good about yourself.
I really like that. I will try and remind myself of that fact when I am flagging.

Sorry for your loss @swampytiggaa. .

Only ran 12km this morning as was too hot.
NSV new shorts are a 8 and a 10 but no way am I proper eight. I'm about a pound off healthy weight so I'll take that.

In other news DD just snapped at me and I don't like DH.

Lunch now, stir fry with loads of veg plus extra from home chucked in.

@73kittycat73

Thanks anyway Crazzzycat. I've been looking on Amazon this evening and have my eye on a few. Will have a better look tomorrow. Well, it's just gone 1.30am and I can't sleep. It's too hot. Graphista I think I figured out another trigger. I was lying in bed reliving an abusive memory (Had an abusive upbringing.). Realised I feel like I 'deserve' a treat after all I've been through. I think that's quite a big one as I haven't craved anything since discovering it.

I can relate to that. I lived with abusive foster parents and one of the things were I never got fed properly. Lots of times they would all go out for dinner and leave me at home without a meal. I'd count the slices of bread in the hope there were enough to not notice if I had a couple. The heart sinking if there were only half a dozen less. A couple of years ago I would hate myself for being hungry and tell myself up yours to the abusers, if I'm hungry I would eat. It took a really really long time to realise not only do they not know whether I am eating or not, they wouldn't care if they did. I was only hurting myself by getting fatter and thinking of them. That was more than a bloody light bulb but a damn factory of them.

Well done on your loss @Graphista. Keep going!!

I'm so sorry swampy and sorry to hear all these abusive childhoods

Well done on your loss graphista

So sorry that you had to go through that SunshineCake. That was beyond despicable of them. I understand where the 'Up yours, I'm going to eat!' came from. I'm glad you reached a light bulb moment. That's a huge achievement in itself.

Thanks @73kittycat73. Sadly it wasn't the worst thing that happened but our minds don't really keep a score. If it hurts, it hurts. I wish I could get off the Earth for a bit and just take a break from life.

I'm so sorry for everyone that has had difficult pasts. I too suffered abuse as a child that I've had to work through as an adult, I've sort of made peace with it but if I'm brutally honest with myself, what I've been doing to my body in terms of eating a whole load of junk and almost zero fruit and veg has been pretty abusive anyway......and I've done it to myself!

I had a good long chat to a friend last night and also to DH about being unhappy with my weight and other things and they were both really supportive. I'm feeling positive and in the right frame of mind so onwards and upwards!

@Graphista thank you for the tip about the cous cous, adding soy sauce is a great idea. I added some dried mixed herbs, cumin and paprika to the dry cous cous then made up with water......it was definitely under-seasoned so I do need to try a proper recipe next time I think.

Sorry....that photo was the salad I had last night. Chicken tikka breast with salad, light salad cream and some mango chutney.

Weigh Day for me and I'm up 1 lb 🙃
I think I knew that was coming.
I'm going to be on best behaviour for the last week in July to try and make some progress. I've STS for 3 weeks now and now a gain. It feels like I'm stuck again as this happened for weeks on end with hovering around 10 st 2 lb to 10 st 0 lb, and now I'm doing it again at 9 st 12/13.

SW: 12 st 1 lb
CW: 9 st 13 lb
GW: 9 st

Good Morning All

A warm welcome to new comers 😊👍

Sorry I’ve been away from thread … I’ve been in a melted puddle of total inertia.

In other news, I put new batteries in electronic scale and it rewarded me with a gain. A substantial gain! Me feels it’s water due to the heat as I haven’t eaten as much because it’s been too hot! I’m not going to sweat it, I’ll remove the scales from the naughty step (where it’l have had a chance to think about it’s actions) and weigh again next Wednesday 😬 Plus I have definitely upped my veg/salad/seeds/pulses intake! Have several meat free days too!

Menu
Meal 1 - Chicken salad. Conference pear.
Meal 2 - Stir fry with quinoa. Strawberries, raspberries, Greek yoghurt.
Water, water, water! … and some salt.

I’ll catch up properly on thread when I’ve been to my rehab physio appointment. On glancing I can see some difficult stuff has been shared and I’d like to read it properly ❤️

Enjoy your day Everyone!

PS @CarolinaWeeper that’s my kind of food 😍

@CarolinaWeeper, I don’t generally eat couscous, but I do eat bulgur wheat which is similar in terms of preparation.

I usually add a little bit oil to the pan first (about a teaspoon per person), then some garlic, smoked paprika and chopped parsley. Add the grains and stir them around so that they’re coated in the flavoured oil. That bit is important to stop the grains from sticking together. Then add stock (2x the weight of the grains you put in) and cook for 10 minutes.

It’s personal preference obviously, but I much prefer bulgur to couscous. It has a firmer texture and a little bit more flavour. It’s also full of fibre and a source of protein and all kinds of vitamins and minerals. It may be worth giving a try if you get bored of the couscous?

@TheRealHousewife and @CescaCesca, when the weather is like this, I agree that any number on the scales (especially increases) need to be taken with a giant pinch of salt. I’m sure it will go down rapidly once it’s cooled down a bit.

@73kittycat73, I’d love to be your personal guru 😄 I’m just glad my words helped a little 🤗

@Crazzzycat thanks. I'll look at skyr yoghurt I've muller lights in at the moment I need to use first but next shop

@73kittycat73 thank you. I suffer terribly with insomnia days upside down etc. At one point this year I did get it sorted but then the universe conspires against me and I'm back to it! So frustrating I generally fall asleep around 4-5am and wake "properly" (I wake several times during sleep cycle mainly as I have tv streaming to sleep to and when it goes quiet when the streaming stops periodically - why does it do this?! - the silence wakes me) around 1/2pm. Never feel totally rested. And of course they won't prescribe sleeping pills these days even temporarily!

Only ran 12km

That's a damn sight further than me and thank you too

So sorry for what you went through with those foster parents

I'm not surprised many of us have experienced neglect, abuse, trauma. My mum shows love through food, not particularly demonstrative otherwise. Just how she is. So that has affected my relationship with food probably.

Gahhh posted too soon

@CarolinaWeeper sorry you went through abuse too 

Cous cous does need a lot of flavour! Lemon or lime juice can be added too (but a tiny bit at a time as too much ruins it) I always have in bottled lemon and lime juice I love it flavoured with lime coriander and cumin

Salad sounds yummy.

I've lighter than light Mayo headed my way hope it tastes ok

@CescaCesca ahh bless you that's disappointing for you. I know it gets harder the closer to goal you are cos you're needing a lot less cals at that point to maintain that weight. All I can think to suggest is increase exercise/activity if possible, increase fluids?

@TheRealHousewife sorry you've had a gain that's annoying. But get back on track you say you've not been eating much but do you track your eating? I know if I don't I'm very vulnerable to underestimating/portion creep.

Also seeds can be very calorie dense.

I think my loss is at least partly due to a VERY active week as I had to give the flat a good sort out in prep for a landlord check thingy. Not something I CAN do every week nor would I want to. I'm knackered! Plus I'm really bloody sore now! I'm having to walk sideways as walking normally bloody hurts!

BUT I am planning to create a daily routine both for the mh stuff and for physical health/fitness including those YouTube exercise videos. Need to get new trainers old ones don't fit these days (feet can get swollen due to health issues)

Speaking of health - I have a nsv too - bp is right down!

I've always had naturally low bp but it's been rising lately and I wanted to get a handle on it. Systolic down 30 diastolic down 20 so back in a healthy range.

I'll take that!