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

How's it going with me you (didn't) ask? I've had 6 hamburgers this week. And Chinese. And Chicken nuggets. I've also had about £200 worth of wine and cocktails in veer gardens. So this week has gone great. Thankfully I'm going to a guide camp next week so I can reset!

@TheRealHousewife I am so sorry to read your message. I'll text you tomorrow as it is a bit late now. Don't make any decisions or stress right now. Just try and rest and I'll talk to you tomorrow. If it's related to what we discussed a few weeks ago I have understanding of it. I'll help .

I can say nothing to ease you right now. Only Realhousewife we are all thinking of you and sending strength.

@TheRealHousewife I am so sorry to hear that. I'm only a recent joiner to this thread but you've been so helpful and encouraging, I can just tell you're a lovely person. I hope you have some real life support and when you feel like coming back to this thread, we'll be here.

So sorry to hear that @therealhousewife 💐
Sending you lots of hugs and love

So sorry therealhousewife

I have messaged our esteemed leader but she hasn't read it yet. Hope she's okay.

I went on a run today but didn't go all out after my pace max of 3:56 yesterday. Ran about 10km. I made a big buffet for lunch and now just watching some of the Olympics and planning a quiet afternoon. Might take doggy for another walk in a bit.

Hope everyone is okay. Keep your fluids up!

Ah @TheRealHousewife that sounds tough. Sending 💐 and unmumsnetty hugs.

So sorry to read your news @TheRealHousewife. Look after yourself during this difficult time 😔

@SunshineCake give her our love and kind wishes

I'm having a chilled day.

This weeks meals so far

Thu

Falafel, toast and pate (stuff needed using up)

Friday

Meal 1 Quorn sausage rolls

Meal 2 "chicken" salad using Quorn roasted sliced fillets (like precooked chicken pieces)

Saturday

Meal 1 pesto pasta with veggie bacon (reduced fat pesto)

Meal 2 ham, cheese and cucumber sandwiches

Sunday

Meal 1 - scrambled eggs with veggie bacon and cherry tomatoes mixed in and a dash of Henderson's relish on toast

Meal 2 I think might be baked potato with cottage cheese and salad

Message passed on @Graphista.

I'm going to try hard to stick to better IF until Wednesday as not always doing the full 18 hours and fat burning only happens in the last two. Not running tomorrow as my triathlete friend said to have a day off. I might go on the bike instead mental health depending. Can't risk if getting bad again.

Not had a brilliant food day today, had light cream cheese on toast mid morning intending to then not eat until dinner as we were having a roast. Ended up going on a walk with DH and the DC then stopped at a bakery as it was lunchtime and DC were hungry and I ended up having a veggie pasty. That's my downfall, losing willpower in the moment.

Dinner was a roast but I did boiled potatoes for myself instead of roasties and had no meat. Tried to fill half my plate with veg and had carrots, peas, broccoli, kale and brussels sprouts.

May have a G&T later.

@SunshineCake thank you

@CarolinaWeeper I think it's more a case of you not planning? If you had planned where the walk was going to incorporate somewhere healthier to get something to eat from that would have worked better for you? Or simply choosing somewhere better to eat?

Was it only high cal things the bakery did?

A pasty is going to be higher fat and higher cal than say a sandwich or a roll, even with filling. Generally, again, veggie fillings tend to be lower cal too egg Mayo is weirdly usually a fairly good option

@Graphista yes you're right really that I didn't plan. The only option they had in were meat or veggie sausage rolls, pasties or pies (it's a small bakery attached to a farm shop.)

That said I'm happy this morning as I've lost 4lbs in my first week so feeling positive.

SW: 14st 5lbs
CW: 14st 1lbs
GW: 11st

Final week of July. I'm hoping I can drop a bit more weight. Currently in bed feeling dreadful, emotionally and physically. I wasn't going to run today anyway but no way I could. I will have to get up as I need to take dd out around 11 but I feel upset that dh will have to walk the dog without me as I'm just so exhausted.

Hope everyone is staying focused and feeling good. Encouragement, support, friendship and kindness will all get us where we want to be. Don't forget your water.

Time for my weekly update. I hit all my exercise and nutrition goals this week, in spite of the heat and not feeling that great mentally. Nothing like what others on this thread are experiencing, but just not a great week mentally.

On the plus side though, even though I let some of my healthy habits slip (who needs sleep, right?!) I wasn’t tempted to eat crap food or overeat. The thought didn’t even occur to me. I think that’s a real result!

I quickly stepped on the scales this morning and I’m pleased to report that I’m still losing. In fact, I’ve now earned my 3 stone loss badge. I’d have a little celebration if I normally worked in stones and lbs, but I don’t. I work in kilos, so I’m holding out until I’ve hit that magical 20 kg loss 😄

Have a good week everyone! And I hope you feel better soon @SunshineCake. It sounds like you went through hell and back over the last couple of months, so give your body and mind all it needs to recover

Well done on all your successes @Crazzzycat. Brilliant ones, the emotional/mental achievements are even more important than the weight loss I think.

Thank you for your kind words. I am going to try and get up and showered. DH has said he'll take dd to her appointments but I need to be ready in case she wants me.

@CarolinaWeeper great loss! I wasn't having a dig just hopefully suggesting a helpful way around things

@SunshineCake thanks for the water reminder needed that

Sorry you're having a crappy day hopefully it will improve

@Crazzzycat that's excellent news definitely worth celebrating regardless

@Graphista oh don't worry I didn't take it that way at all.

Well done everyone on their victories both on and off the scales.

The end of my challenge list is:
27. Linseeds
28. Apple
29. Mushrooms
30. Spinach

Yay I made it 😁 surprised but enjoyed that!! I am going to try keep a running list each week so I can stay motivated to eat more plant based. I have chosen a Sushi bowl recipe for lunch this week, so seaweed is on the new list 😋
I am also going to try a Beetroot Hummus to dip carrot sticks and cucumber in as a healthy snack. Will see how it turns out.

Well Done for the loss Carolina, I too lose willpower in the moment! I am terrible for that. But that's a great loss!

Well Done too crazzzycat 🥳

Hope you're OK Sunshine and Realhousewife

I'm feeling rubbish. Negative covid test which is good but something is wrong. Dd fainted after her blood tests so had to stay at the doctors for an hour and half and missed her actual appointment. She's currently sleeping. I really want to walk the dog as haven't left the house, want some fresh air and it does me good but dh isn't letting me. I know he means well but I don't like being told what to do. Plus he's busy so she might not get out for her second walk if I don't take her. Ate a whole bar of chocolate. Having veg stir fry for dinner. Still feeling really sick so wondering if I should eat at all.

Somehow I missed your update this morning @CarolinaWeeper. Well done on that loss!

@CescaCesca, well done to you too! I’m planning to keep a weekly list too. I’ve found it a really good challenge to encourage myself to eat a greater variety of fruit and veg AND to stop me from being too focussed on the numbers on the scales. All pretty positive I’d say!

@Graphista, I noticed I didn’t answer the question you asked a few days ago about the 30 plant based foods challenge. Herbs and spices do count. A lot of them are surprisingly high in nutrients, e.g. you only need a sprinkling of parsley to meet your vitamin K needs for the week! Grains count too (rice, wheat, oats etc). When it comes to processed foods, I guess it depends on how processed. I personally would count the chickpeas in shop bought falafel as chickpeas are still recognisable as an ingredients in that, but I wouldn’t (for example) count the vegetables that went into the making of a stock cube, or a shop bought sauce that’s been processed into a more uniform gloop. I think the main thing though is to make the challenge work for you. If it gets you to eat a bit more fruit & veg, or explore a few new plant foods then I think it’s already a success, regardless of whether you make it to 30 or not.

Therapist has set me a challenge to go out again before next appointment in 2 weeks - eeek!!

@SunshineCake maybe eat bland/alkali foods? That's what settles my stomach

@Crazzzycat that's really interesting about the herbs and spices. I've fresh basil in this week I'm making my way through.

And wholegrain rice would count? Had that last night with stir fry

Ok so far this week (weight loss week which starts on a thu) :

Clementine
Nectarine
Banana
Melon
Rocket
Baby spinach
Basil
Cucumber
Tomatoes
Peppers
Carrots
Strawberries
Baby corn
Mange tout
Garlic
Wholegrain rice

Does houmous or falafel count? Both chickpea based

So that's 17 if the houmous/falafel counts?

Very very hot here so thinking salad (rocket, spinach, basil leaves, cucumber, tomatoes, mushrooms (would take me to 18 for sure), peppers) with cottage cheese (which I usually sprinkle with smoked paprika - 19 - and garlic grinder which is garlic, salt and black peppercorns 20) and Quorn ham for dinner

Frozen grapes for after 21

This is easier than I thought!

Might well encourage me to eat more herbs etc too as I often forget but more flavour in your food makes you less likely to crave less healthy foods apparently.

Asda delivery later in week as difficulties again with Tesco delivery inc only 1 short dated milk

So I may add some fresh herbs to that, maybe get some kale...

I've already got more and different salad leaves on the order, could get some parsley and coriander?

Think I'll struggle to hit 30

Is there a link/list of the challenge suggestions?

Not rabbit food

Not deprived

This is how u do salad under 150 cals inc dressing.

Looks very nice, @Graphista.

Good luck in getting out before your next appointment. We're all behind you.