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.

Don’t weigh after eating crisps @SunshineCake! All that salt just messes with your body. I’m sure it will all be gone in a few days.

I’m feeling a little demotivated at work at the moment, which makes me feel like snacking all the time 😣 Working from home is great (and a real privilege) most of the time, but I find I’m much more likely to eat crap when no-one is watching me!

Did not know that @Crazzzycat. Thank you. I'll remember that.

I'm watching you......👀

@SunshineCake you are definitely NOT useless stop beating yourself up! Well done to ds2

@swampytiggaa glad you and your mum had a lovely time and well done on the sts!

Good luck to those awaiting gcse results today

@UnLunDun no offence caused please don't worry, just giving info

@Crazzzycat if you can't resist the wfh grazing make it as healthy/low cal as possible? Are you a sweet or savoury person or both?

Well...I've lost since Monday but gained over the week. But only 0.5lb so I'm fine with that for now.

Going to sit and write out food diary in black and white and see if I can figure out what the difference was between this week and last week. Check ave cal intake I don't have the knowledge to assess other factors unfortunately.

Tv show on tonight at 10pm on channel 4 some may be interested in

"Don't diet, Lose weight"

salt is my nemesis @SunshineCake, it's a learning opportunity don't be hard on yourself.
all's well over here. pleased with my weight loss over the past two weeks 4 lbs down since july 26th over 1000 exercise minutes so far this month.

no complaints although if wishes could come true my dd needs to find ways to get along with the inlaws. ds btw did call about 24 hours after i whinned online ;), he "knew" i wanted to hear from him. i gather the whatapp, email and phone messages fell on deaf ears.

@SunshineCake - so glad your dc has the grades they need for 6th form! Well done.

Today for me started badly and has gone downhill from there. Have overeaten massively due to pre- menstrual munchies and excessive tiredness! Is it bedtime yet??

Well done everyone for losses or STS, everyone smashing it 😁

I have fallen into a sugar binge hole this afternoon after being super good all week. No real idea why either! Weigh day tomorrow. I have been exercising most days which is good, so hopefully that out weighs it.

Loving all the veg patch chat 😍
I feel you on the courgette front @sunshinecake, a hungry caterpillar has eaten mine too!

Thank you @Graphista. I have spent a lot of my life feeling useless as I must be when even my parents didn't want me so any little boost. I think it is why my running means so much to me. Thanks also for the programme information. I've set to record it.

I'll have to factor in crisps with lunch @fallfallfall! I am going to try really hard not to eat anything else today. I've set my fast app going.

Everyone has days like that @QueenMabby. Don't stress. As long as you enjoyed the food. Plan a nice evening and tomorrow start again.

Oh no @CescaCesca! Blinking 🐌. DH has put copper tape on everything they might try and climb up! I tried @fallfallfall's recommendation but the flower is currently closed.

Good Evening All

@fallfallfall I never got to make your beefy muffins! Firstly I’d taken lamb mince rather than the beef mince I should have got out. Secondly OH wanted the cold cuts & bubble squeak for evening meal. Today I made spicy lamb balls with the lamb mince 😬

@SunshineCake well done on improving your PB! 👍👏🌟🥇 Slap it’s arse, naughty snail 🐌

@CescaCesca what a cool looking hummus! Looks appetising 😋 send the hungry caterpillar 🐛 to the naughty step with sunshine pesky 🐌

@swampytiggaa your mum has a very kind and peaceful face 😊. Chippy tea looks fab!

@Graphista good plan to write it out to see what’s what. Do you use (or ever used) MFP? It can be useful. I’ll keep my eye open for the TV programme you recommended. If awake I’ll watch it 😴

Thank you Everyone for your encouraging words ❤️

Today’s Menu

Meal 1 - Mozzarella Omelette.

Meal 2 - Spicy Lamb Balls & Salad. Multi grain crackers.

Thanks for keeping an eye on me @SunshineCake! I managed to restrict my snacking to a small packet of twiglets and a few olives. Nothing too crazy!

Thanks also to those of you who responded to the question I posted earlier this week about good vegetarian sources of iron. I’ve been keeping a record of how much I’m consuming and it really isn’t looking great. I’m getting nowhere near enough. Plus most of the iron I consume comes from dark chocolate and olives! Probably best not to eat either of those in huge quantities 😄

I’m going to see if I can increase my iron naturally, but as I can’t eat things like (most) dark leafy vegetables, I’m not sure I’ll get very far. May be I should just resign myself to having to eat lots of dark chocolate every day 😋

Well I've not got around to the review as I've been writing out recipes for dd for uni - been having some fun with this and also including tips. 3 pages done think it's gonna run to about 20! But I'll tackle the food diary later. Possibly tomorrow.

Watching shop well for less on restart just now while dinner is cooking.

Meal 1 - breakfast! - Tesco "special k" with skimmed milk and sweetener

Meal 2 - ONE sandwich (I normally have 2) with Quorn ham and cheese, twiglets, cherry tomatoes, banana, and a milk slice

Meal 3 - in oven now, having a jacket potato and half a tin of chickpea and lentil Dahl (I've funnily enough never had Dahl so I wanted to try it before I try and make my own) which I'll be having with an apple and a wee choc pot for after

Total cals today inc drinks 1287 BUT I am realllly hungry so not sustainable I don't think.

But I'm thinking maybe drop 50 cals per day each week until I'm at the lowest cals nhs says I need on the calculator for minimum?

@fallfallfall glad ds got in touch

@QueenMabby I'm not a caffeine person myself but there is research that for some it can help with hormonal issues and related tiredness, just a wee cuppa/Diet Coke?

@SunshineCake I wish I could just give you a proper big hug!

@TheRealHousewife I couldn't get on with mfp remember? The info is inaccurate cos anyone can update the database and it was murder to input own figures. I've looked at similar apps and this is a problem across most of them.

I wish they did work would save me a lot of time and effort!

I’m having a lovely bottle of beer this evening 😊 I never drink at home normally but I popped to the shop earlier and 4 bottles of bitter jumped into my basket 😊 I’m still on holiday so I decided to enjoy a bottle of pedigree. Got the boychild to try it not sure he was impressed…

Thank you @Graphista. I love hugs. I have a friend who gives the most amazing ones but no idea when I'll see them again. Hopefully next month but it isn't looking hopeful. DH is very good too but we hardly get any time.

@TheRealHousewife had a good chat with dh today and things are better but I am keeping a very close eye on him. More blood tests next week as the first lot had a problem and couldn't be tested.

DS1 Skyped tonight. He looked so grown up. He's having such a great time. I'm so proud. Despite having me as a mum he has done so well and has made such a great life for himself. I was proud that I made a suggestion and he listened and agreed.

Still very tired but I'll go running tomorrow and really hope I sleep through. Just one unbroken night would be appreciated. I made cod and potato soup today with sweetcorn and sour dough bread which was very nice. Home grown potatoes with our fish for dinner. No idea what we'll eat tomorrow but there is left over soup and bread for lunch at least.

See you all tomorrow.

Sorry @Graphista I have a memory like a sieve … a real sieve is my head 😬

Puts glasses on end of nose … @SunshineCake, what do you mean? ‘Despite having me as a mum’ … You are awesome and fabulous and a brilliant role model. Repeat after me ‘I am an awesome and fabulous mum’. Repeat until it sticks 😬

Enjoy your beer @swampytiggaa …. I can’t have beer as it has gluten … can have cider though 😬

Night night all.

@SunshineCake I have a challenge for you, and I think it will be a challenge for you but I also think it would be good for you and I'll do it too.

Every day, think of 2 things you like about yourself.

I'll go first

1 my determination - I'm like a dog with a bone on some issues

2 my smile - my looks aren't great these days but I do still have a nice smile I'm told. I smile with my whole face not just my mouth

Problem with hugs is I haven't experienced human touch in almost 4 years as a result of my stupid mental illness. I am looking forward to once again being able to hug dd.

I'll tell you the positives I've noticed about you -

You're thoughtful
You're compassionate
You're intelligent
You're funny! I know you won't think so but you really are. I suspect in real life you have a quick wit.

@TheRealHousewife don't worry about forgetting the mfp thing no biggie.

If it's ok with you guys I may well write down my food diary tomorrow as I said I would and come here with questions. I need to get a handle on things as it's clearly not simply a case of calorie counting.

I think I need to increase activity - even if I'm just walking up and down my hall!

oh @Graphista i love love love Leslie Sanson. on youtube laptop or stream onto your tv. i've also been enjoying this little "workout"

it's not difficult but my hips just don't wiggle like that :( i start my day with it, it gets me moving. @SunshineCake, you have always made kind and helpful comments and some of your suggestions are super clever. doing the couch to 5k is not for wimps! decent food choices and 60 minutes of exercise, depending on the temp i may try and fit in a bike ride.

Male flower on long skinny stem. Female flower on what appears like mini zucchini.
I do rip open blossoms to get a full pollination. Even if I have two beehives in my yard.

Ugh, up with toddler at 2.30am. She has significant Global Development Delay and sleep is a real issue. Least her big sisters sleep through it all every night!
Today’s activity: going to try and manage a walk in the forest - we are blessed in that our village is both beach-side and forest-side, it’s like I’m living in an Enid Blyton book lol.
Food: B - Porridge made with water, with honey & cinnamon, L - Poached egg & spinach/mushrooms, D - Hake baked with fennel/leeks. Snack of an apple maybe.

@UnLunDun, sounds like an excellent plan, both meals and the walk.
i hope you will be able to get back to sleep and get a few more hours of rest.

@Graphista, if you are struggling with feeling hungry could you look at increasing the fibre and/ or protein in your meals? Both will help you feel fuller for longer.

From yesterday’s menu, your dinner looks good for both fibre and protein, your lunch ok-ish (but could perhaps be tweaked a little) and your breakfast looks lowish in both fiber and protein. I don’t eat cereal so my suggestions may be ridiculous, but you could for example increase the fibre by adding some raspberries, or the protein by having Skyr (or another kind of high protein yoghurt).

Even if you increase both fibre and protein, 1300 calories does sound low. What’s the lowest number the NHS calculator gives you?

Friday Weigh Day - STS!
I'll take that.

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

Hope everyone has a lucky Friday 13th!

A 1.3lb loss for me this week I've been on leave this week with DS so food choices have been tricky - I have at least moved a looooooot more than I would've done sitting at my desk all week. Need to be sensible again today and tomorrow - have lunch out with a friend today in a different city, and dinner out with another friend tomorrow. Eek. If I keep away from the wine and puddings it'll be fine.

Is it okay to join mid month?

Good Morning Everyone

@fallfallfall you seem very green fingered and so knowledgeable about courgette pollination. I’ve not had much success in the past. Odd one or two but never a large harvest. I’ll remember for next year (haven’t planted anything this year)

@UnLunDun sounds idyllic where you live! Good plan and I hope you catch up on some sleep.

@CescaCesca you’ve done great so far! You’re going in the right direction. I don’t mind sts weigh ins. Better than a gain 😬

@20FlowerPower great progress. Notable loss you’ve got there. Enjoy your trip to the City.

Have a great day Everyone!

Hi @orchidsonabudget jump right in! Any days a good day to start!

What’s your plan? Post as little or as much as you like 😊