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.

@SunshineCake I'm sorry you're unwell. It sounds rotten. I hope you're able to take it easy and be kind to yourself. @Graphista the app is imaginatively named "Drink water reminder" (Android), there were loads on the app store and I just picked the first highly rated one. It's served me well so far!
Been out for a good walk this morning which was lovely. My focus this week is tracking the 30 plant-based foods over a week and in Day 1 I did 15! But I know it will peter out over the week. Tonight's dinner is tikka tofu Indian spicy rice (packed full of veg) with a side of grilled savoy cabbage with fennel seeds (a new experimental dish as I have the cabbage left over).
Keep on keeping on everyone!
PS I'm in the app so sorry for the lack of paragraphs. Why is the app so basic?

Haha and that last emoji was meant to be blush, not gin! (I don't like gin...)

@MarmaladeToastAndAMarmaladeCat congratulations!!!!

Love seeing your meal ideas as it’s giving me some inspiration!
I know I need to take it slow and have some slow long term goals. But I also am the type of person that if I don’t see some sort of visible results in 3-4 weeks I may give up

• does anyone else have that ?

Means I may have to do a bit of a lean3-4 weeks before settling into long term healthier choices .

I had GD when I was pregnant and ended up being the healthiest ever after that baby was born after following low carb diet.

@Hyppogriff I'm the same - if I don't see something happening pretty much straight away I go "what's the point" and stop prematurely

@MarmaladeToastAndAMarmaladeCat congrats! I can't remember - did you say you were trying?

@TrueRefuge that's a truck load of veg! Well done

Did 18k steps yesterday and stayed within my cals. Bought some dark chocolate with orange to indulge in after dinner and stuck to 2 squares which was a win. It's 2pm now and I've done my 10k already, including a gym visit at lunch and had a light lunch consisting of sushi and diet coke.

Chicken breast, salad and wedges waiting for me for dinner tonight :)

My goal was to hit 72.1kg at the end of Aug but that's not going to happen now - I'll be happy to reach 73 though! That would make it 2.5kg in 5 weeks so a fairly sustainable 0.5kg/week. I keep thinking it's 18 weeks until Christmas and that if I keep this up I'd be ecstatic to reach 66kg.

@Juno231 Thank you! I'm also including the other plant-based stuff like beans, pulses, nuts, oats, flax and chia (the latter 3 I have every day in my overnight oats but they only count once for the week, so once I hit 20-25 it will be harder to increase the count). It's really nice to have a goal that is not looks/scale-related though, and it is encouraging me to make healthier choices (e.g. snacking on watermelon instead of less healthy options....!)
Is your dark chocolate and orange the Green and Black's with almond, by any chance? That is my favourite, except I've now got to the point where I can eat a whole 90g bar in one sitting! So I've got in some very dark 90% plain Lindt which I can tolerate about 2 squares as it's so rich. Sounds like you're doing really well overall - keep it up!

I think it’s totally normal to want to see results @Hyppogriff. I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately about how people develop new habits. The first few weeks of building a new habit are a huge drain on your mental energy levels. It gets easier over time, but I think it’s exactly because the first few weeks require so much energy that a lot of people just want to see results fast!

I realise I don’t often post my meals, mainly because there’s a lot of repetition! Anyway, here’s my meals for the day. I’m experimenting with zigzag dieting this week (where you eat a lot one day and much less the next day). I think it’s just going to leave me feeling extremely hungry, but we’ll see! Today is a lower calorie day...tomorrow I have to somehow eat 2300 calories. Not sure I remember how to do that anymore 😂

Lunch - Spicy bean wrap with a side of pickles & Quorn pepperoni. Packet of Twiglets & a kiwi

Dinner - Roasted vegetables with halloumi and bulgur wheat + a nectarine

Snack - small piece of dark chocolate

Another day in bed. Plan tomorrow is to take heavy duty painkillers as soon as I open my eyes and hope they work enough to get me out of bed. I think it is as much psychological as physical.

my tuesday evening was a total fail. lots of trips into that darn pantry :(
needless to say the scale this am was again a wake up call to rein in these odd choices i make, and the idea that i can have just a few nuts, or seeds or...what ever i fancy then stop is unrealistic for me at this time.
3:30 and so far so good for today. but i really really want to put in a solid week of effort.

@SunshineCake I hope today is a gentle day for you.
I’ve changed weight day from Thurs to Weds, have lost 3lbs this week. Also had to do my watch strap tighter and DH says my tops are looser though I don’t see that.
Today’s food: B - shreddies & skimmed milk, L - beetroot salad, D - wholemeal pasta with red lentil sauce and nutritional yeast instead of cheese.

@fallfallfall it's a new day today xx

Managed another 18k steps yesterday and a session at the gym at lunch. Drank 3.8 litres of water too without a problem - I must have been so dehydrated this week. I've lost 1.1kg of bloat since Monday so clearly needed that water boost.

As for today - will try and go for a walk at lunch to get my steps up. Got a 90 min exercise after work too. Food wise... had natural yoghurt and rolled oats for breakfast. Not sure what's happening for lunch and dinner yet but I do want to stick to my 1200-1400 cals!

Good afternoon everyone and thank you for your kind messages. I took the heavy duty drugs at six and have got up showered and dressed. I'm still in the bedroom as don't feel ready to leave the room but I'll try later to go with dh to walk the dog, otherwise I'll try tomorrow. My weight is the same as last Wednesday but down since the weekend. I haven't run since Thursday of course and won't until I feel much better. I still aren't sleeping well and have had really bad night sweats. My nightshirt and shirt was properly damp. Not had that before even when I have had night sweats. Hormones are hard!

Good Afternoon All

The scales are the same as last Wednesday. I was worried when I gained a lump and very happy now it’s toddled off 😬

Working on trying to lose another 1lb before 1st September.

@QueenMabby passes burrito … here ya go 😬

@TrueRefuge is fine 😋

@Crazzzycat posting meals is optional but I feel people are generally interested and inspired 👍

@fallfallfall don’t be hard on yourself, looking after the 4 puppies 🐶 will be burning extra energy.

@UnLunDun great result! 👍🌟👏

@Juno231 great step count! And all that water 💦. Well done 👍👏

@SunshineCake lovely to read you’re up and showered. Baby steps ❤️

Menu

Meal 1 - Oats, pecans & milk. Drizzle of honey.

Meal 2 - Chicken Tray Bake with Mediterranean vegetables (peppers, courgette, red onion, squash, carrots, broccoli)

Enjoy your Day … what’s left of it 😬

Thanks @TheRealHousewife

Being out was weird and I had to come back early. Back in bed. Headache back. Can't take anything until 6am. Feeling awful tbh.

Its a bit ridiculous ambitious @Graphista, but i need something to kick me into gear!!

Sorry you're poorly Sunshine

Well done on everyones losses ✨

Hello! Yesterday was a non snacking success. I hope I can replicate that today.
I’m at the farmers market and this week our honey sales have gone well. Part of yesterday’s success was delivering jars after dinner, so I was not bored.
@TheRealHousewife, the puppies have been returned to their kennel! They were fun work but definitely work. However it was nice the help the community.

@SunshineCake so sorry you still aren’t feeling well 😢 please keep posting and hopefully things will be better soon 💕

I had yesterday off so I relaxed by walking 7 miles to get some breakfast then 7 miles home 😂😂 did 31k steps. Tea was aloo gobi traybake off the Tesco website which was lovely.

I’m sticking with the fasting which is stopping me from overeating in the evenings.

Today I have done 25k steps including a 6k run 😊 had toad in the hole and veg for tea.

TMI I have a bit of an upset tummy this evening. I’m regretting not buying softer loo roll if I’m honest 😂😂 really hoping it’s an overdose of veg rather than a bug but I’ll see how I am overnight.

@SunshineCake hope you’re feeling a bit better!!

So far ok this week! May brave the scales tomorrow for a beginner weigh in !

@SunshineCake, I hope your not down and out much longer. Speedy and full recovery wishes coming your way.

Thinking I may not hit my 5% goal as I think I gained a stone today tomorrow will tell the truth!

But... I don't care! I had a lovely day with dd that filled me spiritually

@fallfallfall ohhhh I understand the temptations. What helps you to limit your intake of less healthy/more calorific foods? Normally what helps me is filling up as much as possible on healthy/less calorific foods first. It kinda creates an obstacle to how much I can eat. But as I have stomach issues anyway I think I'm sort of using that to my advantage? Everyone has different things that work for them.

@CarolinaWeeper well done on the loss! Nothing wrong with slow and steady the 🐢 club welcomes new members (hope the founding members don't mind my saying so)

@TrueRefuge downloading app as I write thank you

I think I'll try that plant based challenge again as I felt more satiated the weeks I did it and had good losses. My stomach was calmer too. I think herbs are the key - fresh ones.

@Hyppogriff - perhaps also look at non scale victory (nsv) based goals ? Take body measurements - you can sometimes get an inch loss even when you've had a gain. If you can afford to get a home bp monitor and check weekly and aim to reduce your body? I have to do this because of a med I'm on now and I've already reduced my bp by 30 points approx both ends (systolic and diastolic), my bp monitor also checks heart rate and I've managed to bring my resting heart rate down 20 points roughly as an average. Do your clothes fit better? Are you feeling less puffed out going upstairs/running for a bus? Exercise goals? (Step numbers is the obvious one but there are others you could do) just some ideas. I've just bought a set of rings today and I prefer to wear them on middle fingers, don't like wearing rings on forefingers or little fingers. At the moment only a few fit but they are something that will really show when the weight loss is starting to show and I can't kid myself with!

Also what I found I needed to learn was - the weight didn't go on overnight...it won't come off overnight!

I say do that beginner weigh in, know what you're dealing with and start to tackle it - plus it may not be as bad as you fear, wasn't for me.

@SunshineCake I'm
So sorry you're still suffering, glad the painkiller plan worked a bit 

@UnLunDun well done on the great loss!

@CescaCesca nothing wrong with ambitious as long as you avoid setting yourself up to fail - something I struggle with in several areas of life

@fallfallfall oh my you're a honey farmer? Probably a very good thing I don't live near you! Lived near a honey farm at one point as a child and learned the difference and to be able to pick out the subtle flavours I am in awe

@swampytiggaa that aloo gobi tray bake looks right up my street. Is it very hot spicy or flavourful spicy?

@Graphista, I never crave things enough to go out of my way. I won’t hop in the car and get a calorie rich item. But if nuts, certain cheeses (Camembert), cookies or cakes make it into the house I’m doomed. So the trick is not to buy any. The problem comes when I have guests come over, I’ll buy stuff for my guests and end up with loads of leftover stuff I love.

Yes my Dh’s hobby is bee keeping. 40 hives although only 3 in our back yard. Expecting 550kg of raw unpasteurized mixed pollen honey.

It’s flavourful rather than hot I thought.

If you do it I suggest part cooking the cauliflower and broccoli like the potatoes just to soften them quicker 😊

Been a bit MIA so catching up on all of these messages.

@SunshineCake I hope you're feeling much better soon! And @MarmaladeToastAndAMarmaladeCat Big congratulations !!!!!

I'm really struggling to keep to my calories. I just feel hungry all of the time!! And it probably doesn't help with me being on Mat leave And having social plans most plans plus 4 birthdays this month so lots of cake which I cannot say no to.

Back to work after a year off in 1 week and will hopefully be too busy to snack! Plus it wont be baby eating routine all day so I can have adult food without picking at her bits too. And less time to see friends, I have 10 days to my daughters 1st bday and I'm so disappointed in myself that I've not lost the weight I wanted.

Hi everyone

Sorry I am being so rubbish at replying but you are all doing great anyway.

DH rang 111 as I couldn't stand another 12 hours without pain relief. He was only talking to them for about four minutes and they said to take me to A & E . I felt upset I'd had to leave the kids and drag him out, especially as he had to sit in the car. At least two patients were not happy they couldn't have their partner and parents and the other their wife there but it's to keep us all safe.

I got triaged by two lovely people and felt so stupid when my sats were ok. My temp was still up by down in its high of 37.8. I was then sent round and saw a consultant who diagnosed tension headaches/ migraine. Can't remember what type of migraine. He gave me new tablets but dh couldn't get them until today as all chemists were shut at midnight. I've got six which I think is wrong as I was sure he said I needed more. Have to ring them if it hasn't gone in two weeks and I'll be referred to neurology. My orders from dh are to stay in bed.

My dog is limping intermittently as well. Dh isn't taking her for a walk so he can see how she does with a rest.

38.7 my temp was