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.

@Loveprosecca welcome and well done

@GalaxyGirl24 welcome when the kids are little it's really hard to have a routine and eat well - I love my crisps a bit too much too. I have in twiglets and Tesco version of frazzles multipacks which are lower cal than other crisp type snacks, but also I use carrots as a substitute - BUT what I do is get carrot batons, place them in a food bag and season the carrots (garlic grinder, smoked paprika whatever I fancy flavour wise) hold the bag closed at the top and shake the bag (kinda like you'd do with salt and shake crisps) and have those instead of crisps. They're surprisingly tasty and give you the crunchy, salty kick that crisps do

@Hyppogriff welcome I think you need to face the scales - might not be as bad as you fear I was less than I thought I'd be. I agree with galaxygirl you never assume someone is pregnant! I learned that lesson the hard way when younger, serving a customer in a shop I worked in she had a VERY pronounced belly the rest of her was very slim so it seemed a no brainier - she was dealing with ovarian cancer poor woman, I felt so shit! She was lovely and said it happened to her all the time because that was honestly how it made her look, she was due to start treatment that week. She was very young, this was in the 90's and I still think of her and hope she survived. But yes I learned then NEVER to assume pregnancy and comment. I later came across another lady with similar presentation which I didn't comment on, she was involved in a hobby group I was in, turned out she had a bowel condition that caused her abdominal swelling. Is it possible they were muddled and thought you were pregnant now with the recently born child? (Probably grasping at straws)

Regarding exercise I struggle as disabled, but you don't have to go out to exercise. I remember when my dd was little I'd do exercise videos (yes I'm that old) these days it'd be YouTube. You can use cans of food as weights for exercising arms and have an exercise mat and pop baby in playpen or baby bouncer (exercising together!) while you do shoulder stands etc I remember using the arms of the sofa to lean on to do reverse tricep dips! This was very effective too - ex mocked it one day and I beat him in an arm wrestle!  don't underestimate long walks pushing a buggy either.

@CescaCesca hope the ideas help. Know what you mean about the temptations though

I think planning and preparation is the key. Plan and buy in healthy foods and drinks - and drink plenty! Thirst is often mistaken for hunger plus drinking first fills you up and triggers the "full" receptor in your brain quicker.

Even eating out most places you can check calorie content of menu items online especially chain places. Get salad dressings on the side etc. Veggie options tend to naturally be lower cal and low fat.

@TrueRefuge I don't weigh what would have been "free" veg on ww but weigh calorific veggies like potatoes. I don't weigh "individual" fruits like apples but use the average cal content, but weigh things like grapes.

Re cals over the week I think you're right I think that's why I still got a loss despite last weeks wobble cos I had other days where I was WAY under cal count as I can't eat when anxious. So it balanced out over the week.

The problem with eyeballing especially for me is portion creep. I THINK I'm having a reasonable amount of say pasta, but when I check I'm having more than I thought.

@Crazzzycat I don't weigh everything, I don't weigh bread slices or Quorn slices and similar just use the average cal amount given by manufacturers. I weigh pasta, rice, cous cous, potatoes (unless frozen jackets - which I can't currently get hold of which is annoying), portions of dip, sauces/spreads (eg Mayo) although I'm getting a bit fed up of that so as I know now that a scraping is never more than x grams on bread or crispbreads or crackers then I'm just basing on max amount so prob overestimating

So not everything but it is a faff doing it for most things

Thanks for the advice, I really need to re educate my palette as I used to enjoy snacking on healthy stuff but since baby I've been a bit tooooo kind to myself and eat rubbish. Really wanted to start a couple of weeks ago but I find it hard to deprive myself of cake and treats on special occasions. We've had 4 birthdays, and an anniversary. I really want to kickstart a couple of lbs weight loss by my daughters bday start of sept but that's only 13 days away but I suppose I could try 2/3 lbs off.

Hello! I'm about to scroll back and catch up. Life and injury have both gotten in the way of my weight loss journey but after a few days completely laid up I'm out of bed and moving around again. I will weigh in tomorrow and assess the damage and have a physio programme to get back to full mobility (at some point).

I had a feeling sorry for myself day where I ate several pieces of brownie and a packet of biscuits.

A side step in the road of weight loss.

Looking forward to catching up with everyone's week

:) hello. guests have left and my birthday has passed.
back to basics tomorrow .
my friend and her dh who stayed for 3 days is a big time walker. so lots of steps to offset some portion control problems and an excess of "treats".
welcome to the the new faces.

Have woken up with a new batch of motivation - thankfully!!
Meal Plan:
B: Berry Smoothie
L: Sushi
D: Sausage Pepper Pasta

Avoiding snacks but if i want some I have some low cal options in and all the birthday chocolates have gone, so that's good.

Did a 25 min cardio workout this morning, so that's a good start to the week. I think Im going to start a yoga or pilates training plan and do the stretches in the evening 🤔 and I'm also going to add more strength workouts in again as I've favoured cardio more recently.

Ive also had my eye on a dress for christmas time, but it has been out of stock for a few weeks, and at 6am this morning when i was in a sleepy haze just woken up with the baby, i got a notification saying it was back in stock but only in a size 8, so impulsive i ordered it .
I will see when it arrives but i am hoping its as lovely as i think it will be and i can use it as motivation to get there by christmas 🙈
If its too ambitious i will send it back 😂

Good Morning All

I’m a bit behind this morning and not read the previous posts (I will later 😊)

On point weekend eating so I’m pleased about that.

Menu

Meal 1 - Chicken stir fry

Meal 2 - Tray bake with Mediterranean vegetables, quinoa.

Water, water, water 💦 I’ve gone right off it and really need to force it down. Perhaps I’m inadvertently taking in more water by eating all the veg I do so I’m never thirsty enough to just drink extra water 🤷‍♀️

Enjoy Your day!

NSV for me today, a pair of jeans that wouldn’t get past my thighs a month ago now do up! Easily too.
Today’s food: B - banana, cinnamon, f/f yoghurt, L - marmite on toast D - mixed beans & salad

Weekly weigh in for me and I’m down 0.8 kg/ almost 2lbs. I’m getting very close to my big goal (to get to a healthy BMI). Obviously that’s really encouraging, but also presents a challenge for me.

I’m very goal driven and as long as I have a clear goal, I’ll just keep going until I get there. Nothing can stop me! But once I get to my goal, I tend to feel really lost. It’s not just weightloss related. It’s a general pattern in my life!

At the moment I don’t have a clear picture of what I want to do next and that’s a little dangerous for me. I’ve noticed over the past few weeks that I’ve already started to develop a bit of a “what am I doing this for anyway” attitude to my diet, which I expect to get a lot worse once I hit my goal Not sure if any of that makes sense to anyone, or if I’m just rambling! But I need a new plan! Urgently!

@UnLunDun, well done on your NSV! That’s great progress

@CescaCesca, I’m glad you got your motivation back! I’m sure getting into that dress will be a great incentive!

@Crazzzycat thank you. I get what you’re saying completely, maintaining rather than actually obtaining the goal can be hard. Could you maybe change terminology in your head to a further goal: “being healthier now I’m at a healthy bmi” and look to increase steps walked each day (eg)? That way, even if there is a little back step in your eating habits it will be offset by the exercise and overall win win. Could even look at reducing your blood pressure figures as a goal? Hope that makes sense lol

Morning everyone! Great to see lots of posts on a Monday as we head into a new week! Everyone sounds like they're doing well
So funny @TheRealHousewife, I have just installed a water reminder app as I struggle too! I think it's the all-too-frequent hot drinks I make, I definitely feel better when I drink more water so really want to get on top of that.

My plan today is:
L - Overnight oats (my usual lunch) with kiwi and frozen blueberries
D - Healthy Mexican tofu bowls with black beans, sweetcorn and homemade guacamole
Plenty of water!

Yoga on my lunch break as I didn't get to sleep till late so slept and dozed until 08.30

Thanks @UnLunDun! I’m glad it makes sense to someone else!

I’ve just had a chat with DH and he’s suggested that I set a not particularly ambitious goal of where I want to be in six months time, but don’t treat it as an end goal. So if I hit it before that time, the goal will be to maintain it.

I think that could work, especially as that will take me up to a year of living a healthier life. So hopefully by then it will all be second nature 🤞 I like your idea of having other goals in addition to weightloss too. I’ll have a think about that.

Well I am going to have to put an end to the weight loss as I’ve just had a positive pregnancy test! 3kg away from my goal weight as well it’s very early on so fingers crossed but will continue to eat healthily and keep walking as much as I can.

Lovely day here for a change just taken my boys to the park to run off all their energy. Planning to make a halloumi and vegetable traybake for dinner tonight.

Seems like I'm feeling better at just the right time after four days in bed ! Congratulations @MarmaladeToastAndAMarmaladeCat What wonderful news.

That's as much as my brain can compute atm but I'll try and be back in a bit. Just one thing. I still don't have a plan. Just to be less fat! Don't stress too much about the end goal. Live life. You are all doing fabulous.

Congratulations Marmalade
😃😃😃😃 So exciting!!!!!!

Hi
Popping my head back round the door.
@SunshineCake I’m so sorry you’re still not feeling right. Sending 💐.
@MarmaladeToastAndAMarmaladeCat - many congratulations on the pregnancy! What lovely news.

Welcome newbies! If I have one piece of advice it’s to take weight loss easy. Weight did not go on in a month and it won’t come off in a month either. If you try and go too hard too fast it won’t be sustainable and too much restriction often leads to binge. Use a tdee calculator to calculate your energy expenditure and then reduce by say 15% to get an achieveable deficit - so if weight maintenance calories are 2000 a day for example a 15% drop would leave you with 1700 a day. Plus do 10000 steps and that should be enough for slow and steady weight loss.

In final news my dbro is doing well in hospital after his transplant - I’m currently staying with my parents for a bit so no deficit in calories for me - my mum bakes!!

Congratulations @MarmaladeToastAndAMarmaladeCat! What wonderful news Wishing you all the best for a smooth and happy pregnancy!

A Massive congratulations 🥳 👏🌟 @MarmaladeToastAndAMarmaladeCat that’s fabulous news!!!

Congratulations @MarmaladeToastAndAMarmaladeCat! How lovely!
@SunshineCake glad you are starting to feel a bit better 💕
@Crazzzycat I’ve set myself some long term goals. So 15k steps minimum 2 litres of water and fasting 16:8 for me. Oh and I’ve given up biscuits. I reckon if I stick to that it doesn’t restrict me too much but keeps my weight under control 😊

lovely news @MarmaladeToastAndAMarmaladeCat :)

Spoke too soon.

Turns out I have what I had last year that kept me in bed for fifteen days. Long time members will remember. Just so fed up.

@GalaxyGirl24 it does take a bit of a shift doesn't it to get back to healthier options. I started slow and gradually changed things partly to use up the food I already had in too (I live alone now) nothing wrong with small steps

@toppocket sorry to hear you were laid up wishing you a full and speedy recovery now.

@fallfallfall lots of walking is good wish I could. Don't be too basic or you'll just crave what you're denying yourself

@CescaCesca send some motivation our way we could all use it 

Low cal snacks just in case a good idea

A size 8 dress for Christmas?! Good for you! I'll be happy if I'm in a 16 by then! (Started out being honest prob more 20/22 than the 18 loungewear I'm wearing!)

@TheRealHousewife good weekend for you that's great. I need to up the water!

@Crazzzycat well done on the loss! And on almost being at goal.

I agree with @UnLunDun maybe look at new goals to motivate? Bp down, heart rate down, maybe even get a cholesterol check done?

@TrueRefuge water reminder app sounds exactly what I need! I tried to do something via calendar/alarm clock but it didn't really work for me recommendation?

@MarmaladeToastAndAMarmaladeCat aww congratulations! You can as you said still eat healthily and keep within a healthy range while pregnant I'm sure your midwife can advise. How exciting!

@SunshineCake I'm not one of those that was around last year but I am sorry to hear you're so unwell and wishing you a speedy and full recovery too 

@QueenMabby glad your bro is doing well must be a relief for you all. I know all too well what it's like having a mum (and grans!) that bake. My grans have passed but mum is still here though we don't see each other often.

I've had a busy day one way and another and got another busy day tomorrow and wed. So a busy week. Hoping that offsets the cals midweek.

Today I've had so far sandwiches with vegan ham and cucumber (I'm foregoing the cheese this week to save some cals for the blowout)

Thinking a sort of cous cous salad for dinner tonight - cous cous, Quorn sliced fillets, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, peppers with a low fat lemon and black pepper dressing

Trying to keep it as low as possible for the week either side of the blowout. But wed being the blowout and thu weigh in day I'm not going to be thrown if I get a gain, will just draw a line under it and start again next week.

Really wanna hit that 5% loss this month if I can.

But more important to enjoy and not stress with the meet-up with dd.

part of my brain agrees with you, the part that loves the treats in my pantry. but i know that i over indulge and can come up with loads of clever reasons why i should eat xyz.
B: chocolate oatmeal with a cut up peach
L: one slice of toasted/buttered rye bread with half an avocado
D: special fried rice (which will be made of mostly cauliflower rice and a small 1/4 portion of mixed wild grains)

@MarmaladeToastAndAMarmaladeCat congratulations, what lovely news.

@SunshineCake I really hope you feel better soon.

Weekly weigh in and I'm another 1lb down so seem to be doing this slowly and steadily. I'd really like to have a concerted effort though as I'm a bridesmaid at a wedding in October and by far the biggest one so would like to feel less self conscious. I tried my dress on yesterday though and do really like it as it's a flattering style so that's a positive!

Yesterday I did a walk with the DC and had vegetable soup with some bread and butter for dinner. Tonight's dinner is pasta and meatballs but I'll make the meatballs out of lower fat sausage meat and make the pasta sauce by blending a lot of vegetables.... I've got a tin of tomatoes, two peppers, an onion, an aubergine and half a head of broccoli to blitz into a sauce.

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

Good Morning Ladies

A very warm welcome to the new comers.

@SunshineCake sorry to hear that, hope you feel better soon! ❤️

@CarolinaWeeper 👍👏🌟 great progress!

@fallfallfall can I come to yours … your menu sounds right up my street 😬😋. My sprouts have started 😊. Previously I think I’ve used too many for the jar. I used a tbsp like you say you do 👍

@Graphista I’m cheering you on towards your goal of 5% loss👏👏👏

Menu

Meal 1 - Omelette
Meal 2 - GF Burrito made with chicken, guacamole, spicy salsa and salad. Small portion fries.

Water, water, water 💦

Morning! Toast and marmite and a yoghurt for me for breakfast. Off for a walk in a bit - my steps have been dreadful recently. Need to sort that.

Well done on your loss @CarolinaWeeper.

@Graphista Rooting for you for that 5% goal!

@TheRealHousewife - love the sound of that burrito. May have to steal it!