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

Hi all, I have been trying to work out what I should be eating, it’s so hard? I did my BMR and TDEE and it’s so confusing

My BMR is 1647
Sedentary activity 1976

I am trying to be more active so light exercise it could be 2200. Am I cutting 500 a day from that? I think I might cut too much as I am averaging 1400-1500 a day and didn’t lose very much in 2 weeks
I see lots of people saying you should eat more to lose more?

I am 95kg and need to be about 73kg to be in the normal BMI range

Hi everyone and welcome to our newbies.

@TheRealHousewife! OMG are you okay? Seven stairs is a lot to fall down as I know myself having slipped down half a dozen on my back. If you need hospital you should go. Don't take any chances.

I did an experiment today and weighed myself before and after my two hour run. There was a 2.8lb difference and I'm shocked by that as I didn't get that hot so not sweating out lots of water and no way could I have burnt off that much fat. Won't be able to run tomorrow as have to take the cat to the vet and DS1 is coming home and want to be here.

I'm doing a week of proper IF 16-20 hours and I'll see what happens on Wednesday.

Thanks for the calculator link, @TheRealHousewife. I just had a look and I'm currently six pounds off a "desirable" weight so that will be my next goal but I won't get it done in July.

@Menora the eat more to lose more could be because some people really don't eat enough and seem surprised how much they can eat and still lose. If you don't eat the right amount you can't lose weight. Many of us have had experience of feeling like we've eaten loads, not being on it as much, and have lost weight.

SW 14 stone
CW 10 stone 13
NGW 10 stone 7.

I bought some more sports socks today as the ones I bought are great so wanted plenty and also a new running top. Didn't need it. Wanted if. DH said just get it. Bought a ten. Eek. Hope it isn't too tight and I'm not kidding myself.

@swampytiggaa - a running question. My inner left foot burns a bit at the top, no blisters, any ideas what is going on and what I need to do? I don't think it hurts when running but does later and it has been a few days now. Thanks.

Wow, I didn’t understand the names of most of those calculators so picked the ‘ideal healthy weight’ one and it said 8s 7lb for my height 5’ 5” 😳
I checked the NHS BMI calculator as I couldn’t believe that was healthy and apparently 7s 13lb is the bottom of the healthy range. I actually can’t believe that - I’d be emaciated.

Crazy isn't it @Sparticle - I checked the same one and mine said my ideal weight would be 7st 7 I'm 5ft 2. I did the same and checked the NHS BMI calculator as was pretty shocked- and bottom of healthy weight for me would be 7st 1 ! I def wouldn't be healthy at that weight!

My DD16 is 5ft and she’s 7stone, she is tiny! She looks about 12 😂

Ooook

Well, not such a good week weight loss wise

1.5lbs gain 

Just been reviewing my spreadsheet I'm using to track food/cals and I averaged 1575 cals per day this week whereas I averaged 1467 per day last week.

I've also been eating later and been eating much less healthily if I'm honest - no point not being right? The only person I'd be cheating is me!

BUT I'm still 3.5 lbs lighter than I was at the start so I'm taking that as a good start and going to try and improve from now on.

I think I've had a slow start due to a stress wobble mid month had me reaching for the chocolate/alcohol

Messed up last weeks grocery delivery (now had a delivery from Asda yesterday with lots of healthy items plus I hope I've got the Tesco order right this week!)

I also need to not be eating so very late - that goes hand in hand with the crap sleep pattern - not being helped tonight by noisy neighbours who've been fighting since mid afternoon and are STILL at it! 

I think I need to consider some targets too - thoughts? Suggestions? I think something small and achievable

@CocoaMojo I am all about the quick and easy!

I do like cooking but with my mh and disability I need short cuts these days!

Just to give you some ideas these are the things I tend to have regularly (I'm vegetarian btw but most things can easily have meat added)

Pasta with veg and sauce - whatever pasta I fancy, veg (I tend to favour peppers and mushrooms myself but each to their own) and my own homemade tomato based sauce - a batch lasts me 3 - 4 meals I keep leftovers in jar in fridge but I'm thinking a batch would do your family. To be honest it tastes better the longer it's had to "marinate" but it's fine on day of making too :

500g Passata
3 tbsp tomato purée
3tbsp lazy garlic (told u shortcuts!)
Dried oregano, basil and parsley to taste
Generous addition of garlic Grinder (I love garlic)

I just mix it all together, smell/taste as I go to get it how I like it, then once the pasta and veg are cooked and drained etc add the sauce and heat through

As I say generally tastes better the longer it's had to absorb all the different flavours

Or pesto - I mix with a little creme fraiche or similar so not using as much of it/lower calorie count

Stir fries -

Either I have vegetarian - so with Quorn chicken pieces or steak strips

Or just vegetable - peppers, mushrooms, mange tout, baby corn, courgette, tenderstem broccoli? Spring onions or frozen diced onion (shortcut), thinly sliced carrot, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, whatever your preference

I use fry light and good non stick pans help

I just fry the veg/quorn, then add some micro rice (cooks fine this way with a splash of water) which I'm now having half what I used to and stashing leftovers in ziplock bag in fridge and have within 2 days. Or I have straight to wok noodles have halved them too or some Cous cous again half what I used to. With the cous cous once it's prepared I add a splash of soy sauce to moisten and stir that through.

Sauce I generally have Sachets at the moment BUT I make my own sometimes too - just make up a mix of soy sauce, tomato purée and whatever spices/herbs/flavourings i fancy usually garlic and ginger. I don't follow recipes per se unless I'm making satay sauce as I find it tricky to get the balance right with that.

Casseroles - more for winter but these are SUPER easy and don't require you to hover over a hob! You can bung it in and go sit while it cooks! I tend to batch cook these as it's easier with it being just me. Quorn pieces or steak strips, suitable veg (generally root veg but also things like squash, aubergine, courgette, sweet corn...), stock, flavourings as I fancy or sometimes I will use a packet mix if I fancy a particular flavour. I just bing it all in together, stick in the oven and it's usually ready about the length of a streamed drama episode  about 40 mins BUT may need longer with meat I wouldn't know

Chilli - I use Quorn mince, tinned tomatoes, tomato purée, garlic, smoked paprika (I love this!), mild chilli powder (I can't tolerate very spicy food) and coriander - serve with rice or cous cous

Stroganoff - I am guided by this recipe

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/mushroom-stroganoff

Except I:

Use lazy garlic, frozen diced onions, smoked paprika, Henderson's relish instead of Worcestershire sauce, and I just use whatever rice I have in
Or have with cous cous or tagliatelle - carbs will take any flavour really

Ratatouille is also super simple to make -

This recipe is ok

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/ratatouille

But I don't have the wine vinegar and again use lazy garlic and frozen onions

Hope that helps with some ideas?

@TheRealHousewife oh crikey! That's a shocker! Hope you're not feeling too rough tomorrow what a horrible thing to happen! So easily done!

The pasta and stir fries take about 20 mins, others take a bit longer but I don't think anything takes longer than maybe 40-45 mins - and most are one pot wonders - or I make them one pot wonders! Save on washing up too (which I also struggle with)

@sparticle - I agree when I've been the lower end of my supposed healthy weight bmi wise people were genuinely worried I had an ED!

@Millie2008 I'm also only 5'2"
I say we're not fat we're under tall

7st 1lb is about half what I currently weigh! Now I know I'm obese but I have been very slim in the past and I haven't been anywhere near that weight since I was a teen! Before I had boobs!

Day 179
SW:151
CW:134
GW:132
Another 0.25lb off
2lbs to go.
I'm getting close but then it is Friday so I suspect it will go up a bit over the weekend.
DD2 off to do two very important exams today as suspect there outcomes will determine predicted A Level grades for UCAS next year. Bad luck to have them both in one day. My usually chilled 'child' has been stressed this last week like I have never seen her before. I am now also feeling nervous and when i am nervous I can't eat so I'll be mainlining tea until 4pm. DD1 has really supported her this week and is also feeling it. I'll keep busy - wash some floors, change the beds - doesn't really help but at least the house is nice at the end

Ouch! @TheRealHousewife I slipped on the stairs about a decade ago and now I always hold onto the banister - no exceptions as it really scared me.
@Graphista it's only one week and a great downward trend overall. I'm a shortie too - hence my rather miserable BMR of 1276. I used to be 7st 2lbs at Uni - I will not be aiming for that again.
@SunshineCake how lovely that you will see your son today. Hope his exams have gone well. I only have 2 to your 3 but I feel like someone is always preparing for exams or doing exams or waiting for results and we have many more years of it to endure.

their outcomes - good Lord I am losing my marbles. I swear I didn't type that.

Good Morning ladies

Thank you for the kind words. @132orbust I was holding the hand rails both sides but I wasn’t looking where I placed my feet, misstepped. 3 or 4 stairs on the flat of my back then flipped over for the last 3 and landed on my front. Took the wind out of me. I was lucky with face as my glasses caught a blow and broke but face is ok. I’m not doing well with glasses, broken 2 pairs recently. Bruising coming out all over now.

Went to a&e, which quite frankly looked like a war zone. No social distancing, people laid on the floor, some stood, many like me in wheel chairs. Staff kept wheeling us closer together to get more in. Anxiety through roof! After a couple of hours Consultant on duty addressed the waiting room and said hospital had no cubicles, beds or staff to see anyone for another 8-12 hours (Some people had already been in there 8 hours!) and If you felt up to it then best to leave! I went home. Very sore and in pain this morning, but I’m sure nothing is broken. I’ll see how I go. I hate to think how emergency services would cope if we had a major incident in the area.

Well done on your losses @132orbust @SunshineCake (nice for you to see the 10s) and anyone I might have missed.

The online calculators are a bit of fun really and common sense is needed 😬 Whenever I do the calories required calculator to lose weight, they always give me far too high a number! When I eat what they suggest I gain.

Anyways have a great Friday Everyone!

I meant to Thank you @Graphista for the lovely recipe you shared 🙏 I think I’ll give it a try.

@TheRealHousewife sorry to read about your fall and bad experience at A&E, hope you're able to rest your foot for a few days, get well soon.

I bought new batteries for my scales and re-weighed this morning. I needn't have bothered with the battery, weight yesterday was correct so my stats are now:

SW 134Kg
CW 79.6Kg
GW 75Kg
Loss so far 54.4Kg/119.7lbs

Still can't believe the loss last month but I do find that one month I don't lose much then the next I do. I don't care as long as I'm losing!

Thank you @Elle200. You are doing awesome. You’ve lost so much. Well done, your health will be very thankful. 👍👏🌟🥇

For those who like motivational stuff see attached photo from Action for Happiness.

@TheRealHousewife, that all sounds horrendous. I hope you recover soon

Well done on that loss @Elle200. Can I ask how long it’s taken you to get to this point? That’s such an impressive amount of weight to loose!

@CocoaMojo, I find the BBC Good Food website really good for getting some inspiration. I haven’t checked calories, but you may find some good ideas here:

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/healthy-family-recipes

They also have recipe collections for under 400, 500 and 600 calories. Worth a look, if you’re stuck for ideas

Hope you feel better soon @TheRealHousewife my daughter stuck her foot down a hole in the lawn and landed badly on her knee. Took her to a&e after a couple of days when she still couldn’t weight bear and fortunately we got sorted in a couple of hours. She has soft tissue damage and hopefully will be better in a couple of weeks

@SunshineCake I’m sorry I can’t help with that foot pain but it sounds unpleasant 💕 I think I have arthritis starting in my left foot so I generally have sore parts. Hope it passes tho.

Thank you both @TheRealHousewife and @Crazzzycat.

It's taken almost two years if I think back, like many I had a few false starts and little relapses, but I do think that my attitude to food has changed at last, only taken forty odd years!!

Not sure about my health improving even though I do feel much better, I was diagnosed with breast cancer again in June and am having a double mastectomy at the end of July. No idea of prognosis yet and am worried as I have two secondary school age children.

Anyway, I'll definitely cope with the anaesthetic and recovery better now I'm lighter!!

Thanks @swampytiggaa. I think it is too much long runs. It feels okay today but then I've done 25km on the exercise bike as opposed to pounding the streets.

Sorry to hear you have cancer again @Elle200. Must be terrifying. I hope the op goes well. One of my oldest friends had it at 29 and she is thankfully still here and will be 50 next year.

I've been pulling up a load of grass I did nor grow and is supposed to be flowers and will go back to it now I've had a lovely lunch and once I've pegged the washing out. Got to keep busy. No time for thinking.

So sorry to hear your news @Elle200 so much love to you! Keep posting to let us know how you are if you feel up to it 💕

@SunshineCake I think my knee issue is down to overdoing the running recently. It’s a reminder that I’m not as young as I used to be 😢

Have a little run with a friend this afternoon and a 10k in the morning after work 😊

Hope the gardening keeps your thoughts at bay 💕 can you drown them out with music? Tends to work for me as long as it’s 80’s crap and loud 😂😂

@132orbust - for dd2 try Bach rescue remedy drops. I suffer terribly from anxiety always have. This was a godsend during finals!
I had one day I had 4 exams (my own fault to a point as 2 were optional modules)

Yea I know I am getting there slowly 🐢

Tesco seem determined to sabotage me! The ONLY fruit available this week? Apples! Which I'm not a huge fan of! I'm gonna have to do ANOTHER extra Asda delivery.

@TheRealHousewife that sounds so painful. As well as usual painkillers you may want to try some arnica cream and/or a Bath with geranium and lavender oils to speed healing.

I'm hopeless with glasses I now stick to £5 supermarket ones!

A&e sounds horrific. Last time things were that bad on a regular basis was just before new regs were brought in on drs hours and staffing ratios.

I hope you like the recipe - though I'm not sure it quite counts as a recipe as it's very basic. For an arrabiata type flavour add some chilli flakes, for puttanesca add some chopped olives and capers

@Elle200 I must admit I struggle with kg as I'm old and so think in lbs and oz still 

So glad you translated the overall loss for us. That's amazing well done!

That's a great photo op I've screenshot it as so many good reminders for mh.

No23 applies to my favourite quote or whatever you call it

This too shall pass

Everything - good and bad, becomes past at some point.

@Elle200 so very sorry you're dealing with breast cancer. My mums had it twice now, my ex mil 4 times (so Dd is kinda buggered with it being on both sides of family, also 2 people with ovarian cancer my side who fortunately survived it) I really hope you are getting all the help and support you need and that the surgery goes as well as possible. That's a hell of a thing to cope with, in awe of you also tackling weight loss at the same time. Please take care of yourself

Ok I'm going to join. I've been feeling really fed up and eating to make myself feel better. I have restarted c25k and am on week 6, so feeling good about that. Running 3 times a week. Most days I get around 10k steps. I'm going back on MFP and am going to aim for 1200 calories per day.

SW: 13stone 7lbs
GW: 11stone 10lbs (healthy bmi)

Just feel really flat.

Welcome Golden2021

Well done on the running, I couldn't drop to that amount of cals so good luck with that how are you planning to manage this? There are so many options

I need I think to sit down and work out some small achievable goals.

Nhs site says 10lb initially which is 5% of start weight. Thinking to aim for achieving that by end of august as thats 3 months of weight loss and is not even 1lb a week so very much 🐢 pace but that should make it very possible

Going to work out how many lbs I need to lose to hit overweight rather than obese and also uppermost healthy weight to set goals for those too.

19k steps done then forgot to wear my Fitbit for my run 😱 so another 6k there

4 bottles of water drunk (3 litres) plus 6+ cups of green tea

Food
Oat and barley bread toasted with philly and cucumber (2 slices)
Small piece chocolate cake
Left over chilli with jacket potato and cheese
Cream scone
Possibly some chocolate 🍫

Early night because I have work at 4am 😱 then a 10k run afterwards 😊

Not a bad day really!

Welcome @Golden2021. I was 14 stone in October 2019 and I'm just under eleven now having crept up after a bad week or so.

Well done @swampytiggaa. I might have to miss my run tomorrow as going for a walk with a friend then clothes shopping with dh for dh. I will go on the bike once home and then do a long run on Sunday.

My foot is burning a little but not too bad. I have my new sports socks now which are so soft and comfy plus I'm a dab hand with the Vaseline and plasters.

Head not too bad but I'm fretting a bit. Friend who is amazing and knows it all is away for the weekend and while I know I could text if I needed I am not going to as she's on a break. Being stupid really as I'm a grown woman but just feeling unsettled.

Really happy that DS1 is home and DS2 has finished school until September.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts, will keep you posted as and when xx

Eugh had a total binge day today if I fast tomorrow will it make up for it? Don't even know why I did it