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.

I think I'm relieved and worried in equal measure @Graphista as I haven't got a way to release the main thing on my mind yet.

Thanks @TheRealHousewife, I ended up having a couple of hours snooze at lunch and it’s a good job I did as ended up unexpectedly doing a 70 mile round trip to the vet this afternoon. He gifted me a magnolia and a Himalayan Rowan for the garden which was lovely, I promised him a clipping of my sea buckthorn next time I have to go lol. Love chatting with other gardeners.
Tomorrow’s food: B - porridge, L - mushrooms sautéed in lime, wholemeal toast. D - pizza made with a beetroot base and I’ll shove loads of veg on it…try not to miss cheese…

@TheRealHousewife I am very much looking forward to seeing dd but also very anxious as I don't deal with being out of my routine well at all. She is being very accommodating and flexible for me as she understands the issues very well.

@SunshineCake can you release it here? Would that help? I understand the complexity of feelings around certain life events. I wish you had a good therapist I think you could do with one at the moment. But I know they are hard to find

I can't post about it. I did have a very good therapist and I do think about seeing her again but I can't face it. She wouldn't judge. She would understand but she would worry. I think it is an unsolvable problem with the only solution being what I don't want to do.

I've woken up with another headache and stomach pains but at least my covid test was negative. Missing DS though. He came home last night and had to go back an hour later as the roads were being shut and he wouldn't have been able to get back without a long detour, so with that, me being ill and the weather predicted to be too bad to do what we had planned he went back. Didn't even get to hug him just in case. Hopefully I'm right in thinking he said he will come home next weekend.

So another day in bed and my levels are 93 which isn't great.

Thankyou @SunshineCake, the frustration is real. Sorry to hear you're having a rough time recently, really hope you feel better soon!

@Graphista yep that is definitely a good idea. I do meal plan each week but i could be smarter about it for sure. Well Done on your loss 👏🏻

@unlundun you've just reminded me my chocolate honey never came in my online shop 🤔 maybe OH took it out or they just didnt deliver it! Outrageous either way 🤣

I'm going to go back to the meal plans i had when i was calorie counting next week, see if it helps make a difference.

Hi everyone,
Can I join your thread please? I've really been slacking off on exercise, self-care etc, and this thread seems so supportive!
I don't have much to lose, probably about 8lbs, but it's the final 8lbs so it's a really long slog. I lost 20lb two years ago and have managed to keep it all off so I know how to do this! I just need to buckle down for this last bit.
I've decided I'm going to weigh in the 1st of every month and just make healthy choices with an eye on not bingeing, and some gentle movement every day (walking, yoga). I want it to be sustainable.

Welcome to the thread @TrueRefuge. Keeping things sustainable is always a good plan!

I’ve spent most of the day so far sorting out my wardrobe. It’s not exactly been the uplifting experience I was hoping for. thought I had lots of nice size 12 clothes in storage, but on closer inspection 90% turned out to be smart office wear. I started working from home long before COVID hit, and am unlikely to ever return to that kind of environment.

So now I’m left wondering how many smart work outfits I really need and how many of the clothes I was so looking forward to wearing would be better off in a charity shop where they might actually end up getting bought by someone who has a use for them! Also, I have so many gaps to fill and not sure if I should make a start with that now, or wait until I’ve shifted more weight. Too many first world problems to deal with in a single morning 😂

I hope everyone else is having a good Saturday? The weather here is just so weird. It’s like we’ve been living in a cloud for the last week. Anyone else blessed with lovely weather like this?

Welcome @TrueRefuge.

It is a great thread and we chat about anything and everything.

I sorted out my wardrobe a few weeks ago @Crazzzycat and put it all in the roof. Not ready for it to go even though most are too big.

Thank you both! Weather here in the capital is grey and rainy! Oh well.

How’s everyone doing? August is flying by! I’m being extra mindful as id really appreciate to maintain my loss so far for this month (prior to sudden gain). A bits gone whoosh and I’m hoping the rest will follow over this coming week. Fingers crossed!

Welcome @TrueRefuge, jump right in. You’ve done great so far and like you say, you know what you need to do 😬

@Crazzzycat I totally get the wardrobe thing. I’m the same. I took some items to the charity shop before C19 and need to get back on it. It’s so cathartic to shift and sort.

@UnLunDun I hope the family pet is ok! Yes it’s great to buddy up with a gardener and do swoppsies.

@Graphista it’s lovely to read your dd is understanding of how situations affect you. Wishing you well.

In other news I want to share a lovely thing that happened today. Our online shop was delivered by a lovely lady. The last time she’d actually delivered to our address it had snowed really badly and she couldn’t reach us down the Lane. When she rang to tell us my OH went and fetched it from where she was stuck (which is what anyone would do). OH told her to stay with her van. When he came in with the first load id packed a fresh from the oven Ginger & White Chocolate Cookie to take her. She’d never forgotten, hence she presented us with a bunch of roses. How utterly lovely. Brough a tear to my eye.

We had planned to go to the garden centre today (my first trip out after self isolation) but the heavens have opened and now cosy settled on the sofa 😊

Menu

Meal 1 - Mozzarella Salad. Guacamole.

Meal 2 - 2 Heck sausages & veg. Pimped up bisto gravy 😬

Enjoy your Saturday ❤️

What a lovely delivery lady.

Another day in bed. Not doing well. Can't work out which is the most pressing, my physical situation or mental health. Plus I'm just so miserable.

When I laid down to rest and ended up under the covers the cat, she's three, came up the bed and kneaded on me to check I was okay ❤️

@TheRealHousewife you were lovely and your delivery lady too, the world needs so much more of this.
@SunshineCake I’m sorry you are struggling so much, you’re in my thoughts.
@TrueRefuge welcome, the thread is very supportive. Sounds like you have a great, positive plan.

@SunshineCake therapist might come up with a solution you hadn't thought of? Mine does that sometimes

Hope you get to see ds and hug him soon

@CescaCesca thank you. I know of old that if I deny myself the foods I love altogether I just end up caving and getting loads and chugging them! I'm less of a sweet tooth more of a savoury. So rather than denying myself crisps/nuts/cheese/savoury crackers I buy in the low cal options and limit how much of them I have.

Eg I get the 6 pack of twiglets rather than share bags or tubs and have a wee bag occasionally. I have pistachios in (nuts are healthy but calorific) and just have 25g at a time and not every day. I've switched to lower fat grated cheddar and am having 30g as opposed to the 50/60g I used to have but even this i have maybe once a week as it's still quite high cal, I have cottage cheese in too

Sweet side of things - meringue nests are relatively low cal for a pudding type thing. You could have with just fruit (strawberries, raspberries... with a little granulated sweetener sprinkled across or for something a little more indulgent instead of cream have it with yoghurt or fat free creme fraiche. Plain yoghurt is good but if you choose a low fat low sugar fruit one you should be ok. Eg a meringue nest with 100g strawberries and an activist no added sugar peach yoghurt comes out to :
Meringue nest - 51 cals each
100g strawberries - 30cals
Activia peach yoghurt 55 cals

That's 136 cals for what looks and feels and tastes like a properly indulgent pudding

I also like the muller light chocolate fix layered puddings which are just 69 cals each

@TrueRefuge welcome and well done on your weight loss so far

You and the others who are further along the journey need to give the rest of us tips!

Sustainable is something I've been thinking about, I'm getting a bit fed up of the constant weighing and measuring and I'm starting to err towards choosing items which are already calorie counted for ease.

Any guidance or advice on this would be greatly appreciated. I want to avoid portion creep and keep losing but it's a pain weighing and measuring all the time

Clothes - I had a thread in style and beauty this weekend as I was desperately trying to find a flattering comfortable dress for the meet up with dd. Well I have! But my goodness I'm out of the loop fashion wise! And clothes retailer wise - and price wise! I used to be a primark girl, but primark don't do online delivery. I've mainly been using Next but their site is being a pain on the delivery side of things and the last time I ordered from them the delivery got all messed up! Anyway long story short I now have 3 new dresses to choose from, a lovely new pair of trousers that actually fit length wise (apparently I'm "very short" these days), 2 new bras, new socks and new tights. There is also a new skirt which is lovely but a little on the neat side, I can wear it and it looks ok (and has pockets!) so I'm going to keep it as motivation to keep losing so I can get to the point I can wear it AND eat in it.

Yesterday's meals were:

Meal 1 - veggie fridge raiders, small pack twiglets, banana and a milk slice

Meal 2 - pasta, peppers, mushrooms with pesto sauce, cherries and muller choc pot

Meal 3 - cheese thins and mushroom pate, carrots and humous, banana, ww biscuit

Went a wee bit over cals yesterday, I've dropped limit to 1550 for now I'm gonna drop to 1500 in a couple weeks if I'm losing ok

Today

Meal 1 - Quorn & cheese sandwiches, small pack twiglets, banana, milk slice

Meal 2 is going to be stir fry made with Quorn steak strips, mange tout and baby corn, black bean sauce and wholemeal rice (or possibly a rice and quinoa or other cereal mix I'm not sure what I have in)

IF I have a 3rd meal I'll be more careful. Stress and munchies got to me last night.

I'm only 1.25lbs off first target of 5% of start weight off so I would like to hit that by the end of the month at least albeit this is later than I had wanted.

But...it's all headed in the right direction and I'm happy with that

Hi everyone
Joining too if that's OK? I hope everyone is ok and keeping safe. I have lost 2 stone recently.
Sw 14st 11lbs
Cw 12st 11lbs
I have a goal of losing 11lbs taking me to 12 stone.

Really want to join this thread to kick start my weight loss and get to a healthy weight. Long time lurker on various weight loss threads and I've been losing and gaining the same 3/4 lbs and can't seem to keep the consistency that really gives you weight loss.

CW:12s7/8 at 5ft 4, size 12/14
GW: 10s7 but would take 11stone and I'd be a size 10/12.

Struggle to maintain consistency due to lack of sleep with DD 11.5 months and being in the house/breastfeeding hunger. Due back to work in 2 weeks and want to feel better in my clothes and kick start it all. Hoping that more routine and being able to eat an adult lunch rather than lunch with DD will help .

I’m late to this party but would love to join. Went to a wedding today. New outfit - thought I looked good (for me!). Two ladies congratulated me (separately) on being pregnant . I had my second baby almost a year ago!!! Wake up call I think. Help!!

I’m scared to weigh myself !!

Welcome all newbies 👋🏻 😃

@GalaxyGirl24 we are in similar positions! My youngest turns one next month and back to work end of Sept. I do feel like the BF hunger & hormones are messing me up a little bit, and my body holds on to the fat! Or maybe I'm using that as an excuse 🤔🤣 anyway - we can do this!!

@sunshinecake - thinking of you 💐

@therealhousewife - what a lovely person you are!! How nice 😊 I love roses!!

@Graphista thankyou for your ideas 🤩 even when I plan often its the willpower/motivation to stick to it that lets me down! I find a reason to binge - emotional/tiredness/boredom/stress and also "oh well ive messed up the day now - might as well carry on!!" is a regular thing 😒😭

@Hyppogriff That's just rude on their part! Never ever congratulate someone unless they mention it, surely that's rule no 1! 🤦🏾‍♀️ I'm sure you looked lovely.

@CescaCesca Definitely agree re the hormones although I am not using the excuse a bit much as she's eating 3 meals a day plus water, and only breastfeeding 5 times a day so surely I can't be burning that many calories now. I've eaten a lot of crisps today as I'm knackered (went out for a couple hrs in evening yesterday). Trying not to beat myself up or demonise crisps as then I crave. Going to try pull the day back with good choices for lunch and very very light tea

Thanks for the welcome ! I’m in a similar position being back to work in September too - would ideally like to lose a bit before then if possible! I have such good intentions but never seem to be able to stick it out since my second baby was born! I’ll be really good for a few days / a week and then blow it and then give up - need to figure out how to break that cycle! And finding the time to go out and exercise seems really hard (my husband seems to manage it just fine!!)

Last night was a definite kick up the bum tho!! Took some ‘before’ photos today to try and compare in a few weeks!

@GalaxyGirl24 I am breastfeeding still and have a 10month old. So in a similar position to you. Not due back to work till November hopefully.
Forgot to mention I am 5ft 7 target weight is 11st 6.
@CescaCesca thanks for the warm welcome.

@TheRealHousewife Thank you for the warm welcome (and everyone else too!) and welcome to the other new joiners!
I stayed away at a hotel last night and out for lunch/dinner! Had a great time. Much wine was consumed and it didn't agree with my stomach so I was sick.... So feeling pretty ropey today. But got a healthy dinner planned: roast butternut squash and chickpea warm salad, with a quinoa base and mint and coriander soya yoghurt dressing. Yum!
Just got back home so planning to spend the rest of the afternoon prepping dinner, chilling on the sofa and gearing up for a positive week. Feeling really revitalised after a night away from home with DP; it's been much needed!
How is everyone else's Sunday looking?

@Graphista the weighing can get really tedious. I tend to cook everything fresh (I'm mostly plant-based). I don't bother weighing veg every time I cook, nor fruit, but I kind of "guesstimate" (say I'll measure peppers in one dish of the week if I've got the scales out, and then I know that generally in a dinner portion it's say 40g of peppers). Then when I next cook a dish with peppers, I'll log 50g from MFP just to be on the safe side, leaving room for margin of error. I can't be weighing everything.

The only other advice I can give is think of calories over the week rather than the day. So if I'm aiming for 1500 and I eat 1600 today, then I'll aim to eat 1450 for the following two days. It's moderate compensation that prevents bingeing.

But really, weighing is tedious, but as/once you reach goal, it will all become a bit more instinctive and you'll be able to eyeball things. And the results are SO worth it.

Welcome to all the new people on this thread 🤗

@Hyppogriff, when I first started on my weightloss “journey”, I too was too scared to weigh myself. So I didn’t! Instead, I took a waist measurement and spent the first 4-6 weeks just focusing on building better habits. When I finally stepped on the scales, I did not like what I saw, but at least I could reassure myself that I’d already started turning things around and that doing that wasn’t half as difficult as I expected it to be!

@Graphista, when it comes to weighing things, do you weigh absolutely everything? I can imagine that getting a bit tedious. I often don’t weigh things like fruit and vegetables, but roughly guess how many calories are in my portion. That works for me (possibly also because I don’t eat particularly starchy vegetables)