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.

@Graphista we are here for you 💕 if there is anything we can help with tell us even if it’s just a listing ear. Happy to speak via pm if that’s what you need 💕

So sorry you have had bad news graphista hope things improve for you. We are all here for you

Found you!

Welcome to @FuckingHateRats @mofro and @gggrrrargh.

I'm another one who thought @Graphista was having 1 grape, 2 satsumas then realised...

So sorry you have had bad news @Graphista. We are all here to hold you so you don't do a runner. Well done on resisting the cheese.

I weighed so I could see start the month but I'm not logging it as I've not run since Friday, did 4.5 hours in the garden after a 20 hour fast and so I'm up because of stuff and will start the month weigh in after I next run. Was supposed to be having the weekend off but I'm stressed so might go in a minute. Neighbour woke me up before seven, then the cat was crying very loudly, dh is annoying me by still being fast asleep and by the time he wakes up and we get down stairs the dog will want feeding so I might as well destress by running.

Don't forget to come and see us @Puffalicious 🐢🐢. I miss you.

Also, where's @132orbust?

can i join in? i've lost 1.5 stone with calorie counting but have fallen off the wagon recently. need a kick up the butt as i have a good bit more to go!

Good Morning Everyone

So sorry, I didn’t mean to be flippant. I’ve just read your update @Graphista. 😢. I hope you are able to manage to get the help you need on Monday. Is there anything we can do? We can listen if that helps. Sending a hug. ❤️ On the food front, baked beans aren’t too bad. Protein and fibre. I sometimes have them on a jacket, around 85 calories - 100g. I’ve even planned them in for brunch today.

A warm welcome @mofro. Great support to be had from the ladies of these threads. Jump right in. I’ve contemplated about hiring a pt. I’m disabled but can do certain things. I’d like to be able to maximise my outcomes by doing everything I can do iyswim. I can’t really afford it though.

Menu
Meal 1 - Big Plate Breakfast = Sausage, bacon, fresh tomatoes grilled, tinned tomatoes, mushrooms, scrambled eggs, baked beans, sauté red peppers, avocado.

Meal 2 - Vegatables crudités and spicy hummus. Strawberries.

@Graphista hope you're feeling better this morning. Is there anything you can do today? I agree with baked beans not being that bad too - I often factor them into a calorie counted day.

@Graphista I hope you're feeling in a slightly better headspace this morning. I will echo that baked beans are still a healthy and fairly low cal option!

@TheRealHousewife might be trickier with your disabilities but with the pandemic online pt has become a lot more affordable - and one thing to bear in mind is that you're then not limited to a local and therefore more expensive trainer... Eg my colleague at work uses one several times a week who is actually based in South Africa so only costs her £50/month whereas in London they'd cost £50/session. Just a tip!

@headachey welcome! 1.5stone is epic - how long did that take you? Do you have much more to lose?

Welcome @headachey.

I’m starting August on 80.9 kg and a body fat percentage of 35%. I wonder how long it will take to get that down by a few percent 🤔

Thanks for reassuring me on the other thread that 35% body fat really isn’t that bad @Juno231. It seems my scales agree with you! They gave me a little graph this morning that showed that 35% is (just about) normal. It’s just that some of the websites I looked at last week gave the impression that that fat percentage was really bad. I have since found others that take a more balanced view. Clearly you shouldn’t trust Google for everything! 😥

I hope everyone is having a good day. I’m planning a walk to the beach this morning. It’s not far, but if I want to get to the bit that doesn’t get visited by all the tourists, it’s a totally different matter. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing people on the beach having fun, but at the same time I like my peace and quiet. So a long walk it is!

Welcome all newbies 👋🏻

Sorry to hear you're having a rough time Graphista, we are all here for you!!

I took my measurements this morning and so even though i started and finished July at the same weight, i have lost 0.5inch on my arms, and 1 inch on my hips and thighs. So thats a nice little NSV. My waist appears to have gained an inch but im choosing to ignore that... 🤔

Good morning, I'm hoping I may join? I am so disappointed at myself for putting the weight I had lost back on - 25lbs to lose - my plan is to do yoga, run and strength training (although I am a beginner at this), 10k steps a day and calorie count with MFP.

Does anyone have any advice about how to maintain focus when the scales don't seem to be doing what you want but you feel like you're doing everything right? I am struggling to keep the momentum going!

Welcome to the thread @DarkestBeforeDawn

What’s helped me with motivation, is to not just have a weightloss goal, but also have a nutrition and an exercise goal. Weightloss can be erratic, but by having two other goals that I do have control over, I feel like I’m winning even if the scales don’t budge.

Other things you could consider, if you’re not already doing this, is taking a few other measurements. Sometimes the scales hardly move, but you still lose inches off your waist.

Basically, whatever you do, don’t make numbers on the scales the only thing you focus on!

And if the worst comes to the worst, just hide the scales! That’s what I did last month and it improved my mindset no end.

Morning all. Welcome newbies!

@Graphista - sending support for you. Hope you’re doing ok this morning. Baby steps. Just focus on the next one thing. You can do this.

@Crazzzycat - I’ve used the wizzy scales! 10st 1.8lb (boo!) but I think they weigh a bit heavy as dh got on them too and he said his weight was high and he always stays the same (and can eat what he wants and never has to diet the bastard ). Still - will use that as my month start figure. Body fat wise I was at 29.9% which according to my scales is the high end of acceptable. Like you I was surprised it was as high as it is as I consider myself quite muscly and not particularly fatty if that means sense! I have set a goal of 25% and will see how we go! Apparently though it can be high if you are blessed in the boobage department which I am so… 🤣

Hope everyone has a nice Sunday planned. Will try and get out for a walk with dh later to get some steps in - had a rather lazy day yesterday!

@QueenMabby, out of interest do your scales give you a muscle mass percentage?

I was as surprised by that as my fat percentage. 32% muscle apparently, which is above average for someone my age, but…I am the weakest person you’ll ever meet! Even my DH couldn’t help laughing when I last showed him my arm muscles. I’ve been using weights and was proud of my progress. That didn’t last long!

For the record, he is usually the most supportive man you’ll ever meet. So this was definitely not a LTB moment. He really tried very hard not to laugh 😂

Thank you, and you're right, I need to take my focus off the scales and make it about changing my lifestyle for the better. Small steps and all...

QueenMabby i will join you on the body fat goal of 25%. My scales currently say 28.7% but started at 33% in Jan (when i got these scales) and has taken a sweet while to come down. Interesting about boobage..i guess they are mostly fat arent they 🤣
Crazzzycat my scales tell me my muscle mass in stone which i cant get my head around, i wish it did a percentage instead! 32% is impressive 😃

Welcome Darkestbeforedawn, another good thing to do is take progress photos once a month. It's a bit 🤢 (for me anyway) but really motivating when you visually see the difference, I have an album saved for when I'm about to reach for the dairymilk and emotionally binge myself into a choc coma - i check my photos to reset my motivation. I also keep a journal if you're that way inclined. I record my weight (obvs), measurements, BMI and then I change what I write with how I'm feeling each month. So sometimes I've marked off each day I've drank 2L water, each day I've exercised, sometimes calories altho i dont like to focus on calories anymore, anything like that though! There are apps but i like a paper version 🙂

@DarkestBeforeDawn - also take measurements and plan for a few NSV (non scale victories) like trying on a pair of snug jeans after a month to see how they feel, or noticing rings that are a bit looser. Every one counts!

@CescaCesca and @Crazzzycat - my muscle mass is in stones and pounds too - 6st 9.4lb. Looked at as a percentage of my general weight (10st 1.8lb) that’s 65.9% - so over twice my fat % which makes me feel a bit better!

I've got some jeans and trousers lined up which I'm going to use as a guage too.

Made a pot of pea and ham soup for lunch - lots of veg in that. Won't have bread. Still not sure what's for tea. Done 5k steps so far, will get out for a walk this afternoon and do the other 5k.

Welcome @DarkestBeforeDawn. Like @CescaCesca my scales were saying I'd gained or stayed the same but the tape measure was giving me the win of inches off so I'd take measurements so that you have something to measure against when the scales aren't playing ball.

I decided I would pay attention to my fat and water percentage numbers on my scales but since I decided that they have refused to tell me what they are .

Good run this morning. Increased my sprint length and my fastest km was 6.19 so I'm happy with that. I certainly felt front thigh muscles I never have before !

I want to jump in please. I look at myself in the mirror the other and my heart sank. But postive today. Its a kick start. I have an occasion next year (spring)
I want to be able to wear what I want and look nice in photos.

I have cut back the past week on carbs. We were at the beach yesterday and dh and kids got chips and I waited and had a veg stir fry (no carbs) when I got home so I feel I have the motivation.

Hope everybody on here is doing well

Also made a lot of veg soup for the freezer.

Welcome @Nuggetnugget and well done on the will power!

I won't name check everyone but thank you so much for all the kind messages.

I've not slept. Stomach churning. Had some tea and toast which is terrible calorie wise but calmed me a little.

Don't want to drag u guys down by pm'ing my brain farts at the moment!

I've started a thread on it under a nc in case relevant people in real life see it I don't want it connected to my usual name

Sod all I can do today cos everything shut! Will be phoning manically tomorrow.

@headachey welcome to you that's a great loss so far - that shows you CAN do it

Op I managed to resist the beans - it's not just the cals they bloat me terribly! But I love em

@CescaCesca measurements is something I could do today for start of month

@DarkestBeforeDawn welcome

On a previous thread someone (sorry I forget who) said to me and others that when scales moving slowly focus on the health benefits you'll be getting from eating more healthily. So not just weight loss but less bloating, better management of blood sugar levels, lower heart rate and bp, feeling less sluggish etc

There's also nsv - non scale victories - clothes fitting better, a compliment from someone who's noticed you're healthier, inch loss in measurements...

Eg I've brought my blood pressure down 30 points and I haven't even lost much weight! I think it's cos I've massively reduced salt intake too. It wasn't high in averages but was high for me so I wanted to get it under control

Welcome @Nuggetnugget

Loving the soup being made, soup is a big thing for Scots, any of the soup makers Scots? My mum always has a pan on the go it's habit for her now I think. It's the smell of "home" for me

I'm a Scot! Love a pot of soup. I'm going to try be more organised and make soup on a Sunday for lunches at school come Aug.

You have all offered some great suggestions, thank you! I have picked out a dress that I love but doesn't fit and hung it up as a goal!

I love/hate the idea of photos - and am going to actually take some and look at my disgusting stomach every time I think about breaking my diet. I have done intermittent fasting before which worked quite well for me, so going to add that to my plan.