LOSE IT! October 2021

[TheRealHousewife]

Hello & Welcome

September has flown by and now October is upon us! There's a definite autumnal chill in the air and this change in seasons is a natural transition that we echo in our day-to-day lives'. I for one look forward to cosy nights by the fire and prepping for the coming festive season. .

With 86 days until Christmas there's plenty of time to svelte up for the Christmas holidays. A part of my Christmas prep includes dropping a few extra lbs ‘to make room’ for a little foody extravagance… and a Baileys or two 😬

Carrying on from September 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 😊

I will add links on my next post.

Well done on your loss @buzzofthebumblebee.

I'm claiming a NSW as I didn't weigh myself and I did a full fast yesterday. Would have been one today too but dh gave me a bit of chocolate for later and I then ate it so the dog didn't take it while I wasn't looking.

I so loved seeing my dog have her lovely long walk that we used to do most days but I was shattered after ten minutes and got teary after twenty. We did it though. Took 1 hour 20 instead of fifty minutes and I'm not doing much else today. Were considering a trip to one shop after lunch but I'll see how I feel after I've eaten as dh will drive and carry everything. I have realised I can't exercise and walk the dog on the same day at the moment. I have faith it will come.

Good Afternoon All

Feel zapped with this heavy cold. Throat feels sharp and gravelly. Sneezing and headachy. Appetite not brilliant.

Menu
Meal 1 - Mozzarella Chicken & salad
Meal 2 - ? No, not a secret, I just don’t feel like anything.

@SunshineCake1 great to hear you’re improving👍

@fallfallfall my menus are usually 2 meals a day, occasionally 1 (OMAD). I believe IF certainly helps to regulate calorie intake. Sending support.

Thank you @buzzofthebumblebee 😊. I don’t feel it’s peaked yet as each day progressively worse.

Enjoy your day Everyone x

Sorry to hear you are still poorly too TheReal, with the worst yet to come. Heavy colds are just rotten, literally. Hope you can snuggle on sofa with a lemsip max. Counter-productive to try and plod on with work etc.

Talking of work, I seem to be procrastinating .... best get back to it!

Sorry to hear you are poorly therealhousewife I will join you in feeling rough-I have Covid and feel terrible

Glad you are starting to feel better sunshine-I haven't read the whole thread as feel to poorly but hope everyone is well and well done for keeping with it

So sorry to read you are still suffering @TheRealHousewife. It really sucks being I'll and I hope you are better very very soon.

Oh no @joysmoy66! Hope it isn't too serious. Have you had a jab or two?

Double jabbed but really rough unfortunately. Worst is nausea

I must do better at posting!

Sorry all

Sunday was

sushi for lunch thanks to Tesco delivery (that was messed up with their IT crash over the weekend - anyone else know about this?/affected by it?)

But I have been in the habit of ordering too much so I need to be more mindful of not getting the same every week even if I don't need eg more tinned tomatoes!

(Seriously I have 8 tins at the moment )

Dinner was vegan sausage rolls, carrots and hummus and fruit and yoghurt so a sort of picnic tea

Monday

Meal 1 - vegetable stir fry with wholemeal rice

Meal 2 sandwiches

Today

Meal 1 was a breakfast/elevenses of sorts (up early for me) my daily Actimel, a banana, yoghurt, cereal bar and mini malt loaf

Meal 2 soup and toast with marmite

Meal 3 is gonna be pasta with veg and home made tomato and herb sauce (which is already made and in the fridge from last time I made pasta)

I'm thinking I may do a casserole or tray bake tomorrow defo casserole if I've any Quorn in the freezer to use in order to clear some freezer space.

@buzzofthebumblebee I need a push! Been gaining this week when I've hopped on the scales hoping for a sts tomorrow!

I've soup heating just now, tinned I'm afraid I need to clear the freezer down a bit to make room for home made soup. Too many ice lollies in there that

A i daren't eat due to calories

B I don't wanna eat cos it's bloody freezing!

@SunshineCake1 glad you're on the mend - as with weight loss slow and steady wins the race 🐢

Walking the dog IS exercise it's just not super exercisey!

@TheRealHousewife sorry you've been the next skittle to fall! We're dropping like flies! Wishing you a full and speedy recovery. Are you sure it IS a cold! My Covid started with a sore throat, headache and very snotty nose!

@fallfallfall ohhh I love ghoulash!

@joysmoy66 so sorry you've been struck by Covid! What helped me very very slightly was lots of lozenges and hot tea. Other than that just hunker down, plenty fluids and lots and lots of rest

Thanks graphista hunkered down under a blanket on the sofa.

@Graphista, so do I, it’s a good recipe. Very very meaty…so a heavy protein meal.
Breakfast: buttered toast, baked beans and 1/2 orange
Supper will be beef and barley soup
I’ll be trying to steer clear of the fresh biscotti dh made. Company/card making this afternoon

@joysmoy66 you do right bed would be even better seriously as much sleep as possible

Hope all who are under the weather you feel better soon 

@fallfallfall I do a veggie version but love the flavours!

Pasta sauce seemed iffy and didn't really fancy pasta again (been in a bit of a rut lately) I want to batch cook some chilli and make some soup but freezer kinda full can you help me clear it? It's only a wee one

I have
4 nut cutlets - this used to be my "with chips" thing. I can't be trusted with chips in the house! So now I have them with mash or jacket potato, roasted veg or something like sweetcorn. Baked beans are tricky for me

Red onions - received as a sub keep forgetting I have them!

Spicy peanut burgers 339 Cals each!! - another sub, wary of the cal count and don't know how spicy they are. Not sure what to have them with

Steak strips 1 portion left I've just used 2 for a casserole. Use them for stir fries, casserole, stroganoff, ghoulash (not made the last 2 in a while, hard to get carraway seeds sometimes not sure why - that reminds me I need some)

4 sausages - usually have with mash and roasted veg or something like carrots or corn, sometimes with ratatouille and jacket potato, my usually sausage casserole is I fear too calorific -

Sausages, baked beans, herbs, Henderson's relish, bit of marmite, tinned tomatoes, some smoked paprika (you all know how addicted I am to that!) but...I normally have it with a herb crust created by sprinkling stuffing mix across it towards the end of cooking and I usually have it with lots of buttery mash. I think I'll have to do a "dummy run" in my calorie spreadsheet to see just HOW bad it is. I can maybe reduce the amount of beans, switch the mash for jacket potato?

3 portions frozen grapes love these in summer not so much now it's cooler

White onions - so handy! Use this a lot and like to always have some in

Butternut squash 500g - planning on using this for soup but that'll be with carrots and onions plus stock of course and I think half the pack will still be plenty to make 4 portions for me.

I've always frozen it wondering how long it would be good for in the fridge do we reckon? It's the onions that can make it turn but it's not as nice without especially as I caramelise them (just noticed when I give the recipe on here I've been forgetting to say I caramelise the onions!)

3 x quorn mince - usually chilli, bolognaise sauce, stovies kinda thing would like to make a big batch of chilli if I had the space

5 x jacket potatoes - these are tricky! I love them but Tesco don't always have them so I tend to grab them when they're available and then they end up clogging up the freezer! Even though I take them out the box and into freezer bags dated as they fit in then

Ice lollies - well there's a saga!

Strawberry and lemonade helter skelter - 52 cals x 6

Mini milk - 32 cals

Also ice poles but only a few are in freezer. I'm prone to sore throats/tonsillitis so like to always have a box ready to go just in case

I have 3 drawers in the freezer.

Top one is a very shallow one that I could fit in the ice lollies and ice poles BUT I've NEVER defrosted this freezer properly and I kinda don't know how! Because it's a fridge freezer so I feel wary of turning off the fridge too (and for how many hours?) there's also an ocd issue around this drawer and I would want to empty the whole freezer and clean it all properly if defrosting especially that drawer. I have a hairdryer I MIGHT be able to use to help it along I just feel like it'll be a "big job" and I keep putting it off

So anyway, that's where I'm at

Think I'm looking at a significant gain tomorrow

Think I need to drop what I'm allowing myself calorie wise (I went back to 1550 after being ill and maybe allowed that to go on for too long). Online calculators seem to be saying I need to be around 1400 cals but I think I'll find that too hard.

I've averaged 1519 cals per day across the month

Thoughts? Ideas? Tips?

SW - 13 st 2
CW - 12 st 2

So a loss of exactly 1 stone in 8 weeks since I joined this thread 1st Sept.

Really need another stone off. I'm 5'7" and a generous size 14. A size 12 will be healthy for me.

No top tips on defrosting freezer Graphista. Last time I did it, I put everything in bags in fridge, left freezer door open, towels in & under and tray to catch drips. Then attacked the big chunks of ice with a blunt knife. Am sure that's not how it's supposed to be done ... ; )

Good Morning All

@Graphista This might be useful in regards to defrosting your fridge/freezer. Your average cals don't seem to high but i don't know how tall you are. If you can feel satiated on 1400/1450 give it a whirl. If I go over 1100/1200 I gain! I seriously would be several stones heavier if I didn't do what I do. In regards to tips I definitely recommend meal planning within your calorie goal. I use fast800 (£10 per month) and MFP. Upping water intake can aid in feeling fuller too, especially if you have a large glass half an hour before meals. Also I avoid sugar and sugary products. Sugar is in everything from tomato ketchup and bread. Eating more whole grains, vegetables, protein and less processed foods help with this. Sugar messes with blood sugar/insulin levels and cause cravings. Curb the sugar = curb the cravings. Seems easy written down but I know the struggles in real life are very real and change might not come easy. When I've come round a bit (keep needing loo) I'll look at your contents of freezer and try to come up with some ideas :)

Thank you all for the well wishes. Keep going hot and sweaty today so might be on its way out. I've had later flow test negative results and haven't been around anyone diagnosed with covid recently (aware they may be asymptomatic and not know they have it)

@joysmoy66 Sorry to hear you've caught covid. I hope you don't get anymore ill and wishing you a speedy recovery!

Menu
Meal 1 - Soup (out of freezer so it will be a surprise)
Meal 2 - ?

When appetite is on the wain I struggle to decide what to have although I do have something.

WOW - Exactly the same as last Wednesday and have been both lower and higher weights within the week.

Hoping it posts as taken me ages to finish this post as kept needing loo :(

Well done @buzzofthebumblebee!! That is really impressive. Sadly I am in the 🐢🐢🐢🐢club so can only dream of losing a stone in eight weeks. Really pleased for you.

Will read and see if I have ideas later @Graphista.

I have done 20 minutes in the bike. On the easiest level and it went okay. Tomorrow I will walk the dog then Friday will do the bike again. I think I will need two weeks of slow biking before I can even think about running. Can't wait to get out though.

@buzzofthebumblebee great progress 👍👏🌟. That’s a really solid loss! I feel proud for you 😊

Thank you to all of you for your support. As I said right back at the beginning of Sept when I joined, I was so inspired by your own weight-loss journeys, and by your continued positive threads @TheRealHousewife.

I actually can't believe I've done it, as I have spent the first 9 months of this year drowning sorrows in wine, crisps, cake, biscuits and chocolate. An all-or-nothing approach is the way to go for me really. And whilst I have the odd craving, I actually love the taste of savoury stuff much much more now! And enjoying the running too.

Thank you all again, and sending best wishes to everyone poorly.

Hi @Graphista I use red onions the same as white onions.

I didn't see mushrooms on your list (don't know if you even like them) But the below recipe is rather tasty, nutritionally balanced and come in at around 300 calories. Recipe is 2 serves so leftovers for another day or half the quantities.

Ingredients
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, peeled and diced
2 tsp ground paprika
2 garlic cloves, minced
12.4 oz button mushrooms, choose an assortment, cleaned and sliced
4.2 fl oz vegetable stock, (see Notes)
4 tsp tamari sauce
4.2 oz broad beans, (see Notes)
0.25 cauliflower, cut into florets
0.5 broccoli, cut into florets
1.8 oz alfalfa sprouts - (I didn't have these and used finely chopped carrot)
sea salt
black pepper
1.4 oz plain full fat Greek yogurt
Method
Heat the oil in a frying pan and sauté the onion for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the paprika and garlic and cook for a further minute.
Add the mushrooms and continue to cook, stirring frequently, for 4-5 minutes.
Pour in the stock and tamari, bring to the boil and then simmer for 4-5 minutes.
Meanwhile, steam the broad beans, cauliflower and broccoli for 5-6 minutes, until tender.
Take the mushrooms off the heat and stir in the yoghurt. Season to taste.
Serve the stroganoff with the steamed veg, topped with the alfalfa sprouts.
Notes
Store leftover stroganoff in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat and serve with steamed vege.
Batch cook and freeze in portions for up to 2 months. Defrost and reheat before serving with steamed vege.
Broad beans can be found in the freezer section. Cook according to packet instructions.
If following a gluten free diet, please check the label of the vegetable stock to ensure there are no sources of gluten.

Quorn Recipes

Roast Butternut Squash & Cashew Nut Soup 2 Serves @ 450 Calories

Ingredients
400 g butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and chopped into 1cm (0.5 in) chunks
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp dried sage
0.5 onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tsp curry powder, mild
40 g cashews
700 ml vegetable stock, (see Notes)
20 g pumpkin seeds
sea salt
black pepper
120 g plain full fat Greek yogurt
Method
Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas mark 6. Place the butternut squash in a roasting tin and toss with half the oil and the sage. Cook in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until tender and golden.
Heat the remaining oil in a saucepan, add the onion and garlic and cook for 4–5 minutes until softened, stirring frequently. Add the curry powder and cook for a further minute, stirring.
Add the roasted squash, cashews and stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
Take off the heat, and using a hand blender, blend until smooth, adding the yogurt and a little boiling water to loosen the consistency if needed. Taste and season.
Ladle the soup into a bowl and serve sprinkled with pumpkin seeds.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat and serve.
Batch cook and freeze in portions for up to 3 months. Defrost and reheat before serving.
If following a gluten free diet, please check the label of the stock to ensure there are no sources of gluten.

Oups sorry missed the recipe title off for the first idea @Graphista. Its Mushroom Stroganoff. In fact its what I'm going to do for my Meal 2 today :)

Well done buzzofthebumblebee! Thanks therealhousewife. Feeling a little better today. Well done on the bike sunshine-take it slow and don't overdo it. Sounds like you have a sensible plan

Iirc red onions are better for us than white.

I've admitted defeat for today. Just done a little bit of tidying but I'm shattered and in a bit of pain. Feel quite tearful as well. Can't bore you all with why but it's horrible feeling this way.

Unrelated but just also been filling in the form for my breast clinic appointment next week. Made it feel real.

Tomorrow I hope to walk the dog so that is something to look forward to. Feeling proud I still haven't been on the scales. Old me would have expected to have lose loads after my longer walk .

Good Afternoon All

Here’s November’s Thread

Hope to see you all on the next thread 😊

@buzzofthebumblebee  yea I don't think that's how it's supposed to be done but it's fairly close to how I normally do it!!

Well done on excellent loss stats! I wish defo in 🐢 club

@TheRealHousewife thanks for the link. It's such a faffy job I hate it! But it's starting to get hard to open the drawers and I need the space! So I am thinking of tackling in the next week or so - need to run down contents a bit first. Plan is to do it the same day as I make the soup, chilli and traybake and then it'll all be clear and ready for it! That sound a plan?

I'm 5'2" so I really can't carry excess weight!

Most of the calculators inc nhs have around 1400 cals as minimum which I would not manage! I think I COULD with some planning (I tend to eat and THEN record the cals used these days I need to go back to plan first and THEN eat and adjust what I'm having if it's too calorific)

I don't like plans where they tell you what to eat I like to choose for myself the whole lot

I haven't been drinking enough - need to rectify that not just for weight loss but also general health

I think I need to cut the refined sugar down a bit more too especially of an evening

@SunshineCake1 thanks no pressure just new ideas always welcome

@TheRealHousewife I love mushrooms! The only things I don't eat are meat etc as veggie and sprouts

Anything else is fair game IF I can get it for more "exotic" items as I live in the arse end of nowhere, where the "cuisine" is stuck in the 70's!

Is that tamarind sauce? Wouldn't be able to get that here what would be a good sub?

Mushroom Stroganoff is something I love I use the bbc good food recipe which I've tweaked a little but some good ideas in there for tweaking to make it lower cal too and always good to try new recipes

The 2nd recipe is quite similar to my own butternut squash soup but with the added protein of the nuts might be a bit more filling/satiating.

Iirc red onions are better for us than white.

Really? How come? I like both I am just used to buying white, happy to buy red too

Right to end off October

Very disappointingly after losing 5.5lbs last month

WOW - 12 stone 10.25lbs

• gain of 2.25lbs on last week

Which means for the MONTH I have lost the grand total of...

1/4 lb!!!

Which is utterly pathetic!! < with myself don't worry

@Graphista Personally I wouldn’t plan on batch cooking the same day as freezer defrost. It’s a faff and you’ll have enough on. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself. Could you not batch cook the following day by which time you’ll have a roomier freezer awaiting your cooking. Good idea to run the contents down first 👍. You are a full 2 inch taller than me 😬. I know what you mean about every bit extra shows. Best to end the month on a loss (no matter how small) than a gain. You’ve still got several days left of this month … a bit more might go by the way side 😬

Feet up with a nice cup of tea @SunshineCake1 🫖 Hope everything goes ok next week.

You may be right on the batch cooking. I'm just wary that certain items won't do well out of the freezer while it defrosts but are ingredients for batch cook...maybe ok to defrost and leave in fridge for the following day?

It's not often I come across someone shorter than me!

There's a friend from school and one of my aunties...that's it!

Every other bugger towers above me! Dd is over 6' and slim we look a right mismatched pair! Add in that she has COMPLETELY Different colouring to me and I reckon a fair few people have doubted biological parentage! In fact a few have even said so!

Then she speaks and the socialist, feminist, Glaswegian sarcasm comes out and it's like

"There I am"