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.

@fallfallfall I can’t find my book reference (had a quick look in my last 2 purchases but can’t locate what I want) but I’ve found This which explains the concept better.

Also on scanning my books it reminded me about ‘set point’ weight and how we can change it up or down depending on how much insulin we release in our bodies with our diets. It’s all so complicated and very interesting 🧐

@TheRealHousewife glad to see you feeling a bit perkier! Yes we have a shower at work but I should have mine available tomorrow evening and tbh I’m surviving with a pits and bits wash down 😂😂 fortunately I don’t have to worry about my hair as I’ve got a grade 2 all over 😊

Although my hair does need a trim but that’s definitely waiting until I can shower the annoying bits off 😂😂

I went off plan in a big way yesterday. I think it was just because I was feeling so tired! I kept reaching for snacks, and not really realising I’d done so until I’d eaten half 😳

I’m not going to worry about it though as I know a single day off plan is not going to make much difference. But I think it definitely demonstrates @TheRealHousewife’s point about just how important a decent night’s sleep is. I was so hungry yesterday and clearly didn’t have enough energy to be mindful of what I was eating, or to have a bit of willpower!

Unfortunately getting a good nights sleep is not always under our control and last night wasn’t much better, so we’ll have to see how today goes 😣 I’m glad you had a better night sleep @TheRealHousewife. Do you find magnesium makes a big difference for you?

On a more positive note, I managed to hit my 30 plant food target in less than three days this week. I didn’t even put that much effort into selecting vegetable rich meals, so I think it’s just becoming a bit more of a normal way of eating for me, which I’m very pleased about!

This is what I had yesterday. It was a bit different, but really nice! I replaced half the aubergine with chickpeas and also added some quorn chicken. Ten+ different plant foods 😋

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/smoky-aubergine-tagine-lemon-apricots

I hope you get your bathroom sorted soon @swampytiggaa! It sounds like one of those things that is totally worth it in the end, but a complete pain while it’s being done

@Crazzzycat I’ve lived with an 80’s bathroom complete with carpet for 11 years now. I’m so excited that it’s all gone already! Today it’s starting to go back in 👍

I bet you look super cool with a buzz cut @swampytiggaa 😎. I’d love the freedom of short hair but I’m too old & ugly to carry it off tbh 😬

@Crazzzycat sleep or lack off massively affects appetite … something to do with ghrelin and leptin hormones affecting the regulation of appetite. Getting a regular full rested nights sleep is so beneficial for a myriad of bodily systems. I find magnesium does help my sleep and and my joints and muscles too. This Piece summarisers the benefits of 10 different types of magnesium and what each one is good for. Well done on your 30’s ! I agree its about making it a way of life and second nature. My diet is predominantly plant based now and I do feel somewhat better for it or rather my insides do 😬

I’d love some good sleep! I’ve recently started on HRT and while the oestrogen part of it is fantastic and gives me energy and makes me feel so much more like myself the 12 days a month I take the progesterone just kills me. I feel like lead and sooo tired. It’s really hard to keep going AND not to overeat on those days. Have a week left but determined not to let it beat me! Once I’m through this three month cycle of it I’ll chat with my gp I think and see if there are any other options.

I have a Night Out tonight! Actually not a whole night but a trip to a local wine bar with some friends. I’m not a big alcohol drinker - I find it wrecks my sleep and makes me feel crap so it’s something I can take or leave usually. Will have a limit of 3 glasses of wine and then I’ll leave I think. That’ll be about 300 calories if I stick to a 125ml glass. It may put me over my calorie target for the day but it’ll be worth it for the socials!

Not the best photo sorry @TheRealHousewife but most pictures of me are before during or after running when I’m wearing a buff to protect my ears 😊

Fabulous @swampytiggaa, absolutely fabulous! You totally rock it! 😍👍

@QueenMabby hormones are very influential in regards to appetite/metabolism/losing weight etc. Unfortunately. How lovely to be going out! Go out and have fun! It’s good for the soul! 🍹

I love it. Best haircut I’ve ever had. First thing I did when first lockdown was announced was get the clippers out 😂😂

Just a quickie but I read soup that is drinkable is better for us trying to lose weight than a chunky need to use a spoon to eat one.

Also, lost my gold star as while I waited I did have the doughnut in the end.

@TheRealHousewife thank you

Not sure where I am with my 30 plant based need to review my food diary to check

@swampytiggaa you look AMAZING! No way I could carry that look off I suit my long hair that my mother disapproves of for "my age" 🙄

I do cut mine myself though but I've been doing that for years for a combination of reasons, cost but also because I've never found a hairdresser who does it as I like they always cut too much off and do the layers weird, I have wavy/curly hair so it can be tricky

So plant based count

1 grapes
2 satsuma
3 carrots
4 wholegrain rice
5 quinoa
6 bamboo shoots
7 water chestnuts
8 peppers
9 mushrooms
10 baby corn
11 nectarine
12 Apple
13 Apollo lettuce
14 lambs lettuce
15 red chard
16 grated beetroot
17 tomatoes
18 cucumber
19 melon
20 cherries
21 strawberries
22 parsley
23 basil
24 coriander
25 garlic
26 black pepper
27 rocket
28 baby red leaf
29 mizuna
30 spinach
31 onions

I did it!

@Graphista my mom hates my hair. She can’t understand why I cut all my pretty hair off. Tbh it was a horrid frizzy mess which I wore scraped back most of the time and I hated it.

@TheRealHousewife!!!! How can you say that? I have seen you and you look younger than me and you are very very pretty. You have a a lovely smile, gorgeous coloured hair and I feel so sad you'd say that.

I'm still really nervous at bedtime but last night was better. Shame the cylinder pump started making a racket at 4am and woke us up. Luckily I did get back to sleep and slept until 7.50 . I have been running but not done much else since joining dh for the end of the dog walk, put on two wash loads and wrapping up some presents. Worrying about dh who isn't well. Need to get motivated but just want to sit and watch the olympics tbh.

Just checking in as i had a NSV today - went out with the family today for a park/beach day and its the first time in about 3 years i havent absolutely hated how i appear in the photos!! In some of them i think i look quite slim! The weightloss is finally showing in my face 😅 woohoo 🥳
Shame im taking 10 steps back with my birthday week of treats 🙈 but once this week is out the way definitely back on the hypothetical wagon.

Well done for your 30 veg Graphista!
Also think you rock the buzzcut swampy! I'd love to do a pixie cut one day but I'm not brave enough just yet!!

@TheRealHousewife, ummmm you are not ugly you are kind thoughtful and helpful therefore can not be ugly, OLD...ummmm i'm 64 this month my mom is alive and well and says old doesn't start till 95. so you have a while to go. and i will happily help you with this vision if you want (i love clothing) currently debating the white sneaker trend?? am i too late?? will they look like orthopedic shoes on me?? or worse old nursing shoes from the back of my closet??
@swampytiggaa, great cut for you!!! i have the worst frizzy hair at the moment, weather and exercise has it looking like cotton candy.
all is well in the kitchen today, i've had my one slice of bread with breakfast (toast and tomato) and supper will be the chicken and salad. lunch will be veggies and hummus.
@CescaCesca i reached the low 140's and felt good and thought i looked good and that's when i let up...lost the long game. but i understand those looking good and feeling good moments :) well done. Happy Birthday, i'm an august gal as well.

@swampytiggaa I am so jealous, I wish I could pull off a very short haircut.... I'd love the lack of hassle but think my face is too round and I don't have enough of a defined jawline to pull it off. You look great!

Tonight's dinner is veggie fajitas. I haven't eaten all day as I didn't have a moment to even stop at work so I'm absolutely ravenous!

Evening All

@Graphista fabulous variety there. Well done!

@SunshineCake nope, not removing the star, you are worth a million stars ✨ ❤️ Thank you for the compliment.

@fallfallfall Thank you for your kind words ❤️. I have white platform trainers … I love them! And they are very comfy and give me a couple of inches of safe height (unlike high heels which I’m no nervous about).

I suppose I feel ugly because I’m unsettled in life at the moment. Really dislike where we live, have no useful purpose (apart from these threads. Previously, before becoming disabled I worked a zillion hours as a child protection social worker) and in recent years most of our family has died. RL friendships have fallen by the wayside. I’ve even volunteered some hours to Citizens Advice and they turned me down as I couldn’t commit to fixed hours on fixed days each week. No flexibility.

Need a real life shift. Everyday I wake up and make a conscious effort to find the good and positive in everyone and everything, just to make the most of life even if it isn’t the life I’d bargained for. It is what it is. I know it will get better in time.

I’ve changed my meal for tonight as OH fancied spag bol and that wetted my appetite. I’m having courgettey with mine rather than gf pasta 🍝

I think I’ll tot up my veg/plant intake so far this week and see how I’m going. I found @graphista list inspiring.

Enjoy your evenings.

@TheRealHousewife you sound so lovely and like someone I would like to spend time with 😊 oh and no one is ugly we are all incredible 💕

Thank you everyone for the compliments about my hair really wish I’d done it years ago. Husband cuts it for me so it’s easy maintenance which is a bonus

My eating is shit this week especially with little exercise. Not been at work today so I’ll struggle to hit 10k steps. Never mind. Any weight gain will come off when I get back to my normal routine 👍

Fabulous attitude @swampytiggaa … secret to a happy life is not to sweat the small stuff 👍 ps thank you 🙏

@swampytiggaa but it's your hair not hers, you're the one that has to live with it.

The frizz/curl thing is why I have mine long the weight pulls the curls down so they look better IMO

@TheRealHousewife I too refuse to believe you are old and certainly not ugly! Someone as kind as you are will not be ugly!

Plus I don't believe anybody is. Everyone has something about them which is beautiful.

You and I have very similar lives/issues at the moment.

I wasn't even really trying with the 30 plants I'd just bought too much salad and a ton of herbs that needed eating so as they didn't go to waste.

Well, after the week I've had (stress, comfort eating, no exercise and very little of ANY activity) I expected a gain especially as I went over my cal count a few days...

2.5lb loss!!

I wouldn't recommend huge amounts of stress as a weight loss tool but it seems to have worked for me this week!

13 stone 3.75lbs

@Graphista I tried growing mine but my hair is so fine it just got frizzier and more rubbish as per this photo. I normally tied my hair back but it was a total pain in the arse.

Plus when I was little my mom always insisted I had really short to thicken it up which obviously didn’t work so I take no notice of her 😂😂

Your hair is very similar to mine, I wear it to about 4" below bra strap length? Tied up often but not always. It's in a plait today but that's mainly the muggy weather.

People tend to think those of us with curly hair have thick hair, I definitely don't! And it's thinning with age too.

Also very grey which I am getting fed up with. I've a box dye there to do which I need to sort out

Excellent loss @Graphista! Hope you have a good loss next week but no stress.

I'm struggling tonight but my NSV is I haven't eaten all the chocolate or don't anything else nor good for me.

DH not well. Worried.

@SunshineCake thank you. What's up with your dh?