LOSE IT! August 2021

[TheRealHousewife]

Good grief, I’m sure the year is speeding up! July has passed so quickly!

This is a space 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

LOSE IT July 2021 Thread

NHS 12 Week Weight Loss Plan

Fast 800 Diet & Fitness Plan

Water Intake & Weight Loss

MFP

26 Evidence Based Weight Loss Tips

The Psychology of Weight Loss

😬. Better than reaching for the snacks.

Holding steady here. Upping my water intake as I feel a bit dry and sluggish.

Am hitting the treadmill again today and maybe another ab workout - a friend recommended Tom Daley but I think you need abs already to survive it?!

Welcome @Livingoffroyalities and good luck shifting those pounds. Summer holiday is a tricky time to lose weight. I'm currently resisting the biscuits my daughter made...

Thank you @Crazzzycat @QueenMabby and @toppocket. DS1 has gone and should be back to his flat shortly. The kids have no idea I'm struggling and we haven't told them about dh. Makes it more lovely that dd is being nicer tbh. She's obviously grown up while away and appreciates what we do.

Sorry to hear you have been through such a difficult time @toppocket. I hope your dh continues to stay well.

To be avoiding the chocolate is a huge win @QueenMabby. DS1 made me more cookies before I went and I will be having them later! Currently doing a home made corn and shellfish chowder for lunch.

I only know of spinach for iron off the top of my head @Crazzzycat. I do take lots of supplements though.

Welcome @Livingoffroyalities. My initial thought was if you have to buy sugary treats for the children - at least until you wean them off as we all know no one needs them - could you buy ones that you don't like so you aren't tempted. Or, get the kids involved in baking their own. When we I bake I use 1/3-1/2 sometimes less of the sugar the recipe states and it's all my children have ever known. When dd bought a brownie at school she was shocked how sweet it tasted.

@Crazzzycat dark greens (broccoli, kale, spinach etc), pulses (lentils and chickpeas) all have plenty of iron. If you're struggling then remember if you have something high in vit c first it really ramps up the absorption rate. Oh and one cup of cooked oats is 20% of your iron RDI apparently!

Giving happy scale a try. Thanks

@SunshineCake you sound drained and in need of support and respite. Could you go visit the friends that are far away? Or have a wee weekend away just you?

We all need to recuperate at points. I slept until 5pm yesterday which is nuts but I needed it! After a very stressful week with little sleep. Feeling much better as a result.

@QueenMabby resisting the biscuits and choc at that time of class as a nsv

@Crazzzycat I need to get back into taking my supplements! For now I'm having an actimel daily, I have vitamin d, b complex and vitamin c supplements there which I must get back in the habit of taking again.

Iron wise I tend to try and get in dietary ways as that's the best and iron supplements do tend to block me up so I prefer to avoid them. Veggie not vegan so eggs are a good source of iron, wholegrains, nuts, green leafy veggies (herbs are especially good for this), dried fruits, beans and lentils.

But the main issue most people with anaemia have is they forget/don't know to have the iron rich foods with vit c rich foods or supplements and vitamin c also helps vitamin d work more efficiently

@SunshineCake - low vit d levels can influence mood/mh too - that was my main reason for taking a high dose supplement which I need to get back to (I checked with gp if safe to do so)

Might be useful to you? Also helps energy levels and immune system. It's also particularly important for runners for bone and muscle strength.

@Livingoffroyalities welcome. You're right to tackle it before it becomes a huge amount to deal with wish I'd done that. What meds are you on? I'm on 2 which slow my metabolism which doesn't help matters. We will do our best to encourage and listen.

Sorry, have been reading and keeping up but then running out of time to reply!

@SunshineCake you defo sound like you need a break. I'm glad your daughter is being lovely and supportive. How old is she?

@toppocket well done for the exercise, especially contemplating an Ab workout! I really like the HIIT workouts on YouTube, my go-to is with someone called Amy I think? Lots of ab work included.

@Elle200 hope you're recovering okay after your surgery

@Crazzzycat we're sad bastards and have a meal spreadsheet. We have meals categorised and then we do a random number generator depending on what kind of meal /main ingredient / cheap or low calorie priority we have. It even just helps having all the meals in one place to browse quickly. We can add to it and include the recipe link so it's easy to find.

Doing okay here. I weighed this morning and I've not lost any more but I've maintained the 1.5kg (3.3lb) loss since last Sunday. Happy with that. Hoping for at least 0.5kg off by next Sunday.

I'm already on vitamin D.

I have Thad bad chest pains today. Two short episodes but the last one was when walking home and I've felt off ever since. Dh busy a d not being very attentive. Even when pointed out to him. I'm shattered and can't be bothered to do anything. I did do the meal plan though.

Dd was 18 recently.

Maintaining is still good.

@SunshineCake, chest pain should always be taken seriously. i sure hope you were able to get it assessed.

I have it a lot and sometimes I think it is anxiety, sometimes it is literally when I think of certain things and other times I have no clue @fallfallfall. I'm going to get up and go running now. I need to be on my own.

Hello everyone! Sorry to hear that you are struggling @SunshineCake 😢 hope your run makes you feel better

@Livingoffroyalities I’m in a similar position… been working on getting my weight down before it creeps up to on unmanageable amount.

I’ve been having some success with
15k steps each day
3 litres of water
No biscuits
Restricted chocolate
Trying to add veg or salad to every meal

I’ve been doing this since February and I’ve lost 12lb so it’s very slow but it’s all habit for me now 😊

In other news after my week of inactivity due to my bathroom being fitted I weighed myself to assess the damage. 9st 8lb 😱 my lowest weight in years! I’m sure that will creep up over the next week as I’m off work and going up to see my mom for a couple of days 😊 but I’m really pleased and amazed that even subconsciously I’m being sensible with my food etc.

@SunshineCake I hope you are feeling better soon.

Weighing day today and I've maintained. I was relieved it wasn't a gain to be honest as I was really good all week then went totally off plan over the weekend. We were at a children's birthday party yesterday and I had pizza and cake. I suppose if anything it's teaching me that I can maintain my weight by balancing out high calorie days with watching what I eat the other days but the problem is I have a lot to lose!

SW: 14st 5lb
CW: 13st 13lb
GW: 11st

Well done on that loss @swampytiggaa! It’s great when making better choices starts to come naturally.

You’ll get to where you need to be @CarolinaWeeper. Staying the same is as almost as much of a positive as losing!

I had my weekly way in today -79.8 kg. That’s a loss of 1.1 kg/2+ lbs. I’m not sure how that happened, as I spent half the week eating crap and going way over my daily calorie allowance. I didn’t expect a loss, let alone one big enough to get me into the 70s.
I’m pretty pleased with that ☺️

Hi ladies! Weighed myself this morning and I'm a whopping 1.5kg heavier than I was on Friday. Water weight for sure but I think it confirms for me how important it is not to just weigh yourself once a week... If I'd only weighed myself last Monday and again today then I'd think I'd have gained 0.7kg during the week when actually I haven't.

@swampytiggaa well done on reaching your lowest weight in years!
@CarolinaWeeper maybe you're just bloated from the weekend like I am and it's a hidden loss!

Lots of water for me today, aiming for 10k steps and for an at home exercise class after work.

Having this for dinner if anyone needs any inspo:
www.hairybikers.com/recipes/view/all-in-one-spicy-pork-and-rice

Hi All
My little cheat week is well and truly over, starting afresh today! Was supposed to wait until Friday to weigh but had a sneaky look this morning to assess the damage - and I'm up 2lb. So 9 st 13 atm but feeling positive. I've just cooked a recipe which was supposed to have Buckwheat & Bulgur wheat in but i didnt have any Buckwheat 😅 so used normal oats instead - it was ok! Haha!

Sorry to hear you're having a rough time @SunshineCake.
Well done for your loss @swampytiggaa!

@juno321 that Spicy Pork recipe is a weekly staple in this household 😋 its sooooo good!! Cant go wrong with Hairy Bikers really!

meanwhile on the west coast my fingers are puffy and i know i'm retaining fluids but i don't know what from???
yes i did some good cardio but i can't put my finger on what food would give me an overnight 2lb gain :( and NO i don't have any hormones to screw me up.
i know it will pass but had hoped for a much nicer way to start the week.
lots of exercise happening here and i hope good portion sizes and combinations...
maybe i'll sit in the hot tub today and see if that helps.

Good Evening All

Sorry I’ve been absent over the weekend. I was out Saturday and had family over yesterday. Friends been today and only just gone. It’s felt a ‘normal’ few days and no mention of the C word 😬. It’s been utterly delightful.

Some great graphs being posted, well done ladies!

Menu
Meal 1 - Gluten free sandwich and salad. Belated Birthday cake 🎂 I regret nothing.
Meal 2 - ???? Totally don’t fancy anything. Perhaps full of cake 😬Ummm 🤔.

Enjoy your Evenings

@Juno231 I'm living in hope that it's bloat..... I'm due on and that's usually the time of the month I feel most bloated and heavy. Meals today:

Meal 1: poached eggs on toast
Meal 2: Chinese duck with pancakes but my own recipe with no skin on the duck. Cucumber and spring onion.

Hi

Not feeling very chatty. Sorry to let the side down.

Dd been to doctor. Results not good but doctor said not unduly worried. Will have more tests next month.
DH not feeling well at all. He doesn't know why. I keep asking what I can do and he says nothing . Blood tests done privately today. Probably be at least Friday before we know anything then it will be a case of trying to get a doctors appointment. I'm worried about him. And us.

@SunshineCake no need to be chatty. Just check in if you can 💕 we are your friends even if we can’t actually be with you.

Thinking of you with love 💕

Thank you 😥@swampytiggaa

Ah @SunshineCake - it does sound like you’re having a really rough time of it. Hang in there and we’re here if you need us. No obligation to be chatty though. 💐

Well done to those with losses (a few I know but am too tired to scroll back!). I’m not expecting a loss this week. I feel really tired and my back injury is refusing to go away so I’m only walking (snuck two very minor jogging episodes into my walk today but regretted it later…) and am letting myself eat up to my maintenance calories to stop myself just going overboard and mainlining all the chocolate. I think I’ll call a physio in the next couple of days as I’m struggling with not being able to exercise.

Have bookmarked the hairy bikers recipe upthread - thank you!

@SunshineCake ❤️

Happy scale seems to be what I was looking for so thank you to @toppocket and @Juno231

@SunshineCake sorry the vit d advice was of no use

Chest pain could be anxiety but it also could be your heart/lungs reacting to stress you've a lot going on. Could be worth getting checked over

Hope Dh's issues are resolved very soon.

Doesn't matter if you're not feeling chatty we're here whenever you need support. Would you like to say what dds thing is? We might be able to help?

@swampytiggaa well done on reaching your lowest weight in years!

@CarolinaWeeper maintaining on an off week is good going. If you haven't already read the article linked upthread on plateaus

@Crazzzycat well done on your loss!

@fallfallfall how's your salt intake been? In all this I've been reducing mine as part of overall being more healthy (as well as losing weight I was wanting to get my bp down) salt is a common cause and it's in far more than you would think! Most processed foods have added salt.

I did a mid week weigh in - ignoring my own advice

1.75lbs on

I've been eating healthily but I've been eating ALLLLLL My cals!

Also haven't been active prior to weigh in but I've had a busy day today so hopefully that will help and have a busy day tomorrow and wed too. But less so than today.

I have trainers now so really no excuse not to get off my fat arse and do SOME kind of activity. Yes I'm restricted by my disability but I can do stretches and low impact stuff if I adapt it and seated exercises

@Graphista, i'm really sensitive to certain salts. yesterday i did have a quarter portion of cheese filled tortellini pasta (the tiny ones mixed in our green salad as the chicken portion was again small maybe 100gm between the both of us so i bulked up the salad with the pasta).
but i also need to keep track of my water intake? it may have been too low for a few day enough to throw off my electrolyte balance??
i really did put in some good exercise yesterday.
dh made bacon and eggs for breaky
lunch was a fresh corn on the cob
supper will be a toasted tomato sandwich with bean sprouts and cucumber...salt intake will be through the roof ha ha ha
we went for a car ride to a good sized farm and picked up some fresh produce (case of tomatoes, 5 lbs of beets, 5 lbs of blueberries, cucumbers and garlic).
i'll make up some tomato soup tonight the rest of the tomatoes are already in the freezer.

aiming for good portion control and no treats

Right I've had my week of over indulgence and as of yesterday I'm back on itI'm not weighing until the end of the month as I'm due on anyway and don't want to be disheartened but I'm determined now. New goal will be 9 at 7 by Christmas. Won't know until end of month where I am but was 9 st 10 a little over a week ago. Sunshine I'm so sorry things are hard atmwill read through thread properly later. Well done everyone!