LOSE IT! September 2021

[TheRealHousewife]

Hello & Welcome

September has come around so quickly; children getting ready to return to school and Christmas around the corner (116 days). A time when summer is starting to fade and an autumn chill is in the air. Changing seasons is a natural transition that we echo in our day to day live’s. I for one look forward to cosy nights by the fire and mentally prepping for the coming festive season.

A part of my Christmas prep also includes dropping a few extra lbs ‘to make room’ for a little foody extravagance… and a Baileys or two 😬

Carrying on from August’s Thread 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

NHS Free 12 Week Weight Loss Plan

On-Line Plan

Water Intake & Weight Loss

Tips

The Psychology of Maintaining Weight Loss

@Elle200 so glad to see you back! Hope you are treating yourself very kindly 💕

Weighed myself for first day of the month 😊 still 9st 7lb. Woohoo.

Going out for a 10ish k run tonight 😊 so I’ve eaten my main meal early… Cornish pasty with baby new potatoes and veg. Followed by 4 chocolate digestives. I’m not eating anything else now until tomorrow after work (after 10am)

Had a lovely meal yesterday I made cannellini and spinach stew which is in the vegetarian section of Tesco recipes. I’ve made a few of the Tesco meals and they’ve all been brilliant.

Currently observing from the sidelines and hope to join in properly in the next week or so.

Starting the month at 148.8…aiming for a 5lb loss this month.
Market day today.

Thank you for the welcome everyone. Some amazing losses already, and great advice. I'm not following any particular diet - just eat sensibly, loads of protein & veggies, small portions, cut out sugar and most carbs, and aim for 1400. Plus exercise 3-4 / week. And cutting out the wine.

Amazing admiration for those who are on here despite illness, recent surgery, and disabilities. It's hard to stay strong when life throws you lemons.

Back from dinner, they didn't have the lots of veg option so I got a vegan pizza, are half, plus a glass of prosecco. Not a great start to my lots of veg plan. I also had a biscuit at a playdate this afternoon

Still, it's 7.30, I'm done eating for the day , won't be eating out tomorrow, and have booked a yoga class for tomorrow evening. Baby steps...

Hopefully I'll be reporting back tomorrow, glowing after a wonderfully healthy day.

Will weigh myself next Wed, after a week to take the rough edge off the number

Sorry to be rubbish. You know how I love to reply to everyone.

Still got a headache. I am exhausted. Basically doing nothing but walking the dog and I made tea aka putting freezer stuff in the oven and warming up vegetables. Dh and I have properly fallen out. Going for blood tests tomorrow but I don't know why I'm having them. Hoping they are to do with menopause. Planning on trying to run again from Monday. At the moment it feels very alien.

@Angliski welcome, 12 stone by Christmas is a good aim. I wouldn't manage that with the way I'm going!

5lbs lost in June, 2.75lbs in July and 1lb in august!

If anyone can help me figure out where I'm going wrong I'd be grateful. I wasn't even counting every calorie in June! I wasn't counting fruit and most veg cals nor fry light... I'm puzzled!

Any ideas to "kick start" my next phase would be good.

Admittedly august has been more calorific with seeing dd but that was only 2 days.

I think it might be I am mistaking tiredness for hunger - an old bad habit of mine. Anyone else do same?

I now have some ACTUALLY comfortable "gym shoes" so I can do some gentle/low impact exercise which I've not been doing every day. If I managed even 3 days a week of exercise I'd be well pleased!

@Elle200 GREAT to see you back. Hope you're recuperating well and not overdoing it and being kind to yourself and your body.

@Marylou2 welcome and well done. What exactly is noom? I never know what all these apps do

@TheRealHousewife hope you know I wasn't having a dig. We all hit tough patches

@Window1 welcome and jump in any time this is such a lovely supportive and non competitive thread

I must reluctantly admit I may actually be considering looking at my sugar intake. I don't consider myself a sweet tooth I'm more savoury driven but I must admit I do eat sweet/sugary things a few times a day and I think I now need to look at this. But I'm kinda scared to as well. Anyone been in similar boat?

@SunshineCake I'm so sorry you're having such a rough time I honestly just wanna reach in my phone and hug you! Was the falling out about something serious or was it a case of fractious tensions flaring up? Either way I hope it's resolved soon for you.

A poor first day here….DH poorly, much dashing about….sensible eating all day then an evening crash including chocolate brioche, a beer and some crunchie rocks. It will be easier once the kids are back in school 😁

@Marylou2 - that's a fantastic loss

SW (Oct 20): 13st 6.5
CW: 11st 6
GW: 11st
Amount lost in Sept: 2lb

2lb down for me today. Haven't weighed since Monday, but I'll count it all as a Sept loss

So so interesting to read all the stuff about stress and weight loss.

Does anyone know how eating affects sleep? I've been waking really early and wondered if it was because I hadn't consumed enough the day before? Zzzz

@youdoyoutoday

Step count is definitely something i need to improve too but I find my motivation to exercise is literally non existent!

Does anyone have any tips on self motivation?

It's probably silly but I usually take a picture of myself and edit it so that I'd look thinner and just how I want to be and then I print it out and stick to the mirror or to the fridge or everywhere I could. It actually helps you to see the results you can achieve and if you have different photos then it gets even more realistic and it's easier to stay on track. You can use any photo editor like or a special body editor (like Photoworks) and there are also free programs for that like Photodiva and Picsart. Just make sure it looks natural and you set a realistic goal, then it would be easier to believe and motivate yourself.

Hello, please could I join you?

A bit about me:

I'm currently 14st exactly and would really like to get to 11st. I've always struggled with my weight but during lockdown I comfort ate and got almost no exercise and the weight crept up. I want to reset and have finally got to a place in my mind where I'm ready to lose the weight.

I'm mid 30s and have two DDs aged 4 and 2 and I want to set a better example for them than I'm currently doing. My plan is to watch my calories and build in some gentle exercise....more walking, yoga and swimming when I can.

Thanks for the welcome therealhousewife as suspected am up to 10 st this morning. Actually a little surprised it wasn't worse. So 4 lb to go. Welcome to all the newcomers!

Welcome to the thread @FireworkParrot!

That’s a good loss @HolaVida. Well done!

@Graphista, according to the internet, you can expect a bit of a weightloss plateau when you’ve lost around 5% of your body weight. Everyone is different though, so some people hit it earlier, some later. If I were you, I’d keep doing what you were doing when you just started losing weight, when I think you were eating a few more calories than you are now?

Re. sugar, I haven’t made a conscious effort to reduce it, but it sort of happened naturally once I started to sort out my diet. From what I’ve read, insulin spikes are a major factor in weight gain, so I don’t think it hurts to eat less of the stuff.

My plan for today:

Breakfast - overnight oats with raspberries, banana and a teaspoon of homemade cashew nut butter
Lunch - spicy bean wrap and pickles, packet of twiglets
Dinner - roasted vegetables, halloumi and bulgur wheat

That adds up to quite a lot of calories, but I’m planning to spend an hour on the cross-trainer today, so I’m not too worried about that!

I would be very happy to receive your hug @Graphista . I went to my blood test appointment and wasn't allowed to have it . No one seems to know what doctor ordered the test or why so I'm none the wiser. Apparently someone will look into it.

Ive just prepared a lasagne for dinner. It is DS2 favourite and we haven't had it in ages. We've just discovered that dh bought a roast chicken yesterday and I bought one today. So roast dinner on Sunday and chicken with wedges and salad later in the week .

DH came in with a lion bar, an offer of a hug and a request can we be friends. We've talked. We'll be okay.

I really want to start running again but not sure when. I'm thinking it will be carnage. Still got a headache . Two weeks now. It's not unbearable, just frustrating.

@FireworkParrot I was 14 stone in October 2019 due to illness and I am now 11. You'll get there, as I did!

@CalmConfident we all have difficult days, let it go move on, start again

@Sweetener12 I remember there being a website YEARS ago that you could input data on your height, weight, measurements and it produced a silhouette of how your body looked now and then you could also produce a silhouette of how your body would look with the weight loss. I've been looking for something similar so thanks for the links although they seem to only do minor alterations and I've a lot to lose

Just googled again and I found the one I used to use (or one extremely similar, can't remember name as it was like 18 years ago I last used it - pre smart anything!)

modelmydiet.com/women.html?cb=197360262149

My data results pic attached

@FireworkParrot welcome I think a lot of people gained lockdown weight. I'm sure you're a lovely mum setting a great example to your girls already

@joysmoy66 I think even limiting the gains is a success

@Crazzzycat yes I was wondering if I've maybe cut back too much too soon for my body so debating upping the limit very slightly see what effect that has. I'm also thinking to try and make myself have 3 meals a day rathe than 2 I know the fasting thing works for some (I was kinda doing it without meaning to) but I'm not sure it works for me

I think I do need to cut the sugar or at least refined sugar even more too, perhaps not have after a certain time of day? Cos I think it may be contributing to my dreadful sleep pattern too

Plan for today:

I'm going to do a quick calculation see if I'm better having toast or cereal or something else as my breakfast (at the moment I hardly ever have breakfast and I think I need to) I have healthy/low cal cereal and wholemeal bread in. I think I also need to consider "alternative" breakfasts (for me) like eggs, yoghurt etc - what kinda thing do you guys have for healthy breakfasts?

Not a fan of porridge (despite being a scot) so I don't think I'd like overnight oats

So...plan is

B - something low cal to be decided

L - ONE small sandwich, cucumber sticks and hummus, sugar free yoghurt, fruit

D - vegetable stir fry NO pudding (I think I need to break the mindset that I "should" have a pudding) but will still have fruit

I also have a large bag of green beans that I bought as part of a "3 for 2" deal. But I'm kinda bored of them and would appreciate ideas to use. I normally have them either in pesto pasta or stir fries but there's a lot of them and I'd like another way to use them please

@SunshineCake that's frustrating. Not sure if you knew or if it is the reason yours didn't go ahead but I saw on the news the other day there's a shortage of test tubes and accompanying equipment currently. Seems to be a Brexit/shortage of hauliers issue as the American manufacturers produce in factories in Uk but need eu based materials to produce and there's difficulty getting them. So the nhs is limiting blood tests to urgent/life threatening issues for now.

Glad you and dh ok

You've done stupendously well to lose 3 stone! Again - tips for we newbies?

I feel like I still have SO far to go that it feels unachievable

I've used that model my diet thing before can't say it did much for motivation! Just made me feel sad.

3lbs off today so I'm officially at my lowest weight years! 😀

SW: 16 stones 11lbs
CW: 14 stones 11lbs

Thanks graphista you are right I will count the limiting a positive will move on slowly

I havent tried altering photos to what I want to look like but I do think taking progress photos monthly helped/helps me to stay motivated and to see the changes. If i was brave enough I would post mine but I dont want them on the internet forevermore 🤣 granted I have had two babies recently too so my progress pics from beginning to now have changed a lot and some of that will just be my body naturally recovering.

Also even if you're not up for taking progress photos, I also found any photos with me in - with the family for example - helped motivate me too. I was only just looking back at holiday photographs from 2019 last night, and we were saying how much my face has changed etc. Its helpful.

Aside from that, I saw this post on IG so wanted to share in case it helps anyone. Its by the author or Atomic Habits - which ive only half read but is a brilliant book and i find it applied in this whole weight loss world.

the scale is moving in the wrong direction despite decent exercise choices it's all about my meal planning so so so disappointed this am.
now i'm leaving for four days, long hours sitting in a car and camping :(. i need to stand firm on better food options.
i started with eating half my breakfast and saving the other half and believe me there was nothing wrong with the half size portion! it was a man made meal meant for a working man.
healthy foods though just a bit too much.

I've halved dinners before, plated up like normal then scraped half in to a tub to have for lunch the next day. I also didn't feel like I'd only had half a meal either.
I now use a smaller plate and fork for eating unless I make a salad as I'll use a large plate.
I also have post it notes in the kitchen cupboard to ask my self if I'm really hungry or bored, drink water or do something off my little to do list to distract myself.

My big thing is I need to stop drinking, I went out last night, feel like death today so when I go out again tomorrow for dinner with friends I've set myself the challenge of not drinking by organising a family day out on Saturday which involves driving 60 miles and screaming kids so not great with a hangover!!

I also berate myself as I know if I'd cut down drinking sooner, I would have lost more weight!! Tut tut at myself!!

Thanks @Sweetener12

I always tell my DP off for taking bad photos of me but I believe that is actually how I look and my selfies, when rarely taken, are very staged and posed so as not to include my double chins!

I'm dreading my wedding photos being hideous!!

Good Afternoon Ladies

Hi @Graphista … having a dig about what? You never offend and I much respect & like you 😊 I’ve been playing about with your simulator 😬

@Window1 Hello, you’re very welcome to join in but feel free to stay on the sidelines if that’s where you’re comfy. There’s always plenty to read 😬

@fallfallfall Did you go to market to buy stuff or sell your honey? Either way I hope you had a good day there. Portion sizes are my downfall. I think I’m eyeballing them accurately but over time they just get bigger. I’m best measuring. It’s not a chore for me.

@CalmConfident whoopsie moments are all part of the journey 😬 It will get easier, I promise 👍

You’re welcome @joysmoy66 … the last bit is always the toughest and most stubborn.

@HolaVida great result 👍🌟👏

A warm welcome @FireworkParrot I think everyone succumbed to comfort eating/treat eating to some degree with the shock and stress of the pandemic 😷 You’ve come to the right place. Just imagine the positive changes you could make by this time next month and the resulting weight loss. You can do it! 👍👏

@SunshineCake pleased to read you’re friends again with dh. In regards to running 🏃‍♀️ perhaps just a short familiar route? Baby steps. ❤️

@youdoyoutoday you’ve done great losing 2 stone already. Awesome 👏👍🌟🥇

@CescaCesca I blummin hate my photo taking. 😆. Not photogenital at all. I like the quote you posted.

Hoping I’ve not missed anyone, apologies if I have.

Menu
Meal 1 - Cabbage, carrot, onion, red pepper, chilli, green lentil & Halloumi stir fry.

Meal 2 - Sea bass, broccoli, carrots, 3 small baby potatoes skins on.

Might have Greek yoghurt if still hungry.

Enjoy your evenings :)

Funny you mention drinking You. Alcohol is one of my many downfalls, mainly in the habitual snacking that goes along side it. Even one sip of wine makes me crave crisps or something to munch on. So I'm restricting my intake, at least during the week.

I met up with friends last night, and decided to drive. Saved myself calories from 2 + glasses wine, and if not a pud, then snack when I got home. Felt so unsatisfying though. But slept well & clear head this morning. So there was a plus side?! A bit like your quote Cesca.

Sorry about your non blood-test Sunshine, and even more so your continuous headaches. Frustrating to not be able to go out for a run.

I knew about the tube shortages @Graphista but if a GP says I need a test then surely it isn't for the nurse to refuse? That's not what happened as she couldn't do it without a form but then said they wouldn't test for menopause status because of the shortage.

I have no real tips or clue! I lost a stone and half relatively easily as I stopped eating everything I was intolerant too. Not much left tbh! Then intermittent fasting and running is what I have been doing since. IF is brutal in that one has to fast for 16 hours and it is only in the last two hours that fat is burned away. That's where I am going wrong as sometimes I have a little something 7-8pm and then I'm stuffed.

You will get there. For me, losing slowly 🐢🐢🐢 means, although there is lots of losing the same half stone multiple times, I am keeping it off. I've lost 3.5 stone but have solidly kept off three.

Well done @youdoyoutoday. 2 stone is amazing.

That's tough @fallfallfall but you have seen what you can do better and will be fine. We've all done so well.