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.

Thanks @TheRealHousewife for the spangly new thread!

I'm gonna need a kick up the arse I think!

@Curlypop welcome you'll get loads of great support and advice here. My Tuppence worth is don't just cut out what you WERE eating but replace it with something else - something healthier and less calorific obviously and hopefully more filling and nutritious. I think this is why you keep "starting" but can't stick at it - because you're being too strict and not providing your body with an alternative.

Eg for me it's:

Crisps and similar snacks - I have carrot batons and celery sticks or at a push lower cal options like twiglets or frazzles but only on occasion. A SMALL portion of pistachios sometimes. With the carrot batons I "season" them with garlic grinder, smoked paprika or black pepper or a combo depending what I fancy. Gives you the "salty" hit and crunch you get from crisps etc but much lower cal and very nutritious. I pop a handful or so in a food bag, season and shake like salt and shake crisps.

Biscuits/cakes/chocolate/sweets - I have fruit, low cal cereal bars, pot of low fat/sugar free yoghurt, pot of mullet light choc pud

Meals - it's the same old advice I'm afraid as you usually get, reduce the portion sizes of the more calorific elements (carbs mainly I don't believe in cutting out or low carb but we often gradually become used to having fat bigger portions than we need) and protein and bulk out with veggies which tend to be much lower cal and watch the sauces!

Drink plenty of water - I struggle with this too but trying to do better.

@HappyBus again welcome. If you're a natural late night snacker (as am I) then my advice would be not to try to resist that but plan for it so that what you're having for late night snacks isn't very high cal but vlc - kinda thing I have inc cheese thins with cottage cheese, veggie pate or Veggie deli slices on (but I limit to 6-8 thins), low cal fruits (satsumas, apples etc) and if I want something sweet then a low cal cereal bar or choc pot. Drinks are limited to water or tea (I drink earl grey with no milk and sweetener so zero cals)

@SunshineCake1 you and I need to give ourselves a break at the moment! We've both been knocked sideways by illness - you with glandular fever me with covid - and it takes time to recover and we need fuel to do so. I'm STARTING to have a TINY bit more energy but I'm still totally wiped! I'm aiming to get back to eating/cooking how I was pre COVID but if I don't completely stick to it first week or so of October I'm not gonna beat myself up about it! The important thing for us is recovery and health.

@MrsSith welcome to you too
While 6.5lbs is a great loss it's really not sustainable to lose weight at that rate and you're less likely to keep it off. Apparently 1-3lbs a week is the ideal but we often lose a lot at the beginning and that fails off rate wise. Great start but don't be disheartened if the rate slows a lot.

My stats -

Start weight - June 5th 13 stone 12.5lbs (194.5lbs or 88.22kg)

Current weight 12 stone 9.25 lbs (177.25 lbs or 80.4 kg)

Target weight I started with was 9 stone 10lbs (136lbs or 61.69kg) by 28/7/22 as that would take me into healthy bmi but actually I feel it's been going so well I may aim for a lighter target nearer the time (but still within healthy bmi of course) my thinking is I now feel it's achievable AND if I am a wee bit lighter "normally" then holidays etc won't be quite so stressful.

Right I'm off to have meal 1 which is half a tin of Mac cheese half tin sweetcorn and a small portion instant mash then I am tackling the MOUNTAIN of dishes I have from being ill (I have no support network to speak of so it has rather built up! I've been soaking/doing odd bits as needed but the kitchen needs a proper sort out and mh wise - I have ocd for the benefit of the newbies - it is driving me NUTS!) it IS going to knacker me a bit but at this point the benefit to my mh outweighs that.

Sorry meant to show loss so far on my journey -

1 stone 3.25lbs or 17.25lbs or 7.82kg

I'm very happy with that in 3 months. Equates to roughly 1.5lbs a week.

Good Evening All

Hi @Graphista you’ve done brilliantly, well done! You’ve been losing nice, steady & consistently! 👍👏🥇 The positive impact on your health will be significant.

@swampytiggaa All the best for your marathon on Sunday! 🏃‍♀️

Posted pic of evening meal. I changed the veg. Too tired to make cauli rice (and other half working late) so had extra cabbage, carrots, green beans & broccoli along with the Chicken in cream, onion and leek sauce.

Enjoy your evenings!

Thank you for the kind welcomes and the fantastic advice. I like the carrot sticks with spices idea.

@swampytiggaa, good luck with your marathon. How long do you think it’s going to take you to walk it? It sounds like a massive challenge 😯

I had a good day yesterday. I even managed to resist the delicious chocolates DH bought me earlier in the day! I just had one, but that does mean that there’s still some lovely chocolates in the house...Talk about temptation!

My plan for today is:

Spicy bean wrap for lunch, with pickles, twiglets and a satsuma
Roasted vegetables & halloumi with bulgur wheat

My plan for today is to go downstairs . Enjoy and good luck @swampytiggaa.
I'm hungry already. Only 3+ hours until I can eat.

I’m sure that’s a challenge in its own right @SunshineCake1!

I forgot to mention in my last post that I hopped on the scales this morning and was 2lbs lighter than the day before! I think it’s just my body stabilising itself after four days of excess, rather than actual loss of fat, but it’s a great start to the month! 😀

I'm down! Tided away my dog's toys and a couple of other bits and I'm done for a bit now. Clock watching until I can eat .

Well done @Crazzzycat!

@TheRealHousewife is a cheat but I buy in frozen cauli rice as I can't be bothered to make it. Its so handy to have in. I do make most of our meals from scratch but if there's a cheat to be had, I'll use it. I also use the fast 800 diet recipe book as it's just easier than figuring out the calories myself.

@swampytiggaa good luck for tomorrow

@SunshineCake1 take it easy

I've managed to stay at 14.4 this morning but I reckon after a couple of days it will go back up.

Determined to get back to couch to 5k this week as I've really slacked off this past week. We've also organised a date night for next Saturday night to a Turkish restaurant so that is my motivation to keep myself well behaved so I can splurge a little more next Saturday night.

Happy Saturday 😊

Work today so I’ve done 15k steps already. Put a wash load on washed up yesterday’s dishes and cleaned the kitchen floor. Now I’m eating kettle crisps and drinking tea. Tea is going to be chicken balti with rice and naan.

Reckon tomorrow will takyus at least 7 hours which will be a long time out in the rain 😭😭 starting off at 7am 😊

I had a really rough Thursday and ate out of frustration. So so obvious behavior. Friday slightly better. I need to step on the scale.
Both without and with my suitcase…

Hi! Can I join in? I have been promising to lose weight since January and I am running out of excuses for myself

Not sure on my final target weight, at the moment I just want to get to a point where I am happy in myself again, but I am aiming for 1.5 stone before Christmas which is just under 2lb a week. To be honest, I will be happy with a stone.

SW 14st8.6
TW1 13st

@therealhousewife Your chicken looks fabulous.

Good luck with the walking marathon @swampytiggaa hope it doesn't rain too much.

@fallfallfall. It's done now. Forget it. Start again tomorrow.

Welcome @CumbrianExile. We'll get you there.

Thanks @SunshineCake1, I need to remind myself of that regularly. Literally each bite since the unpleasant encounter, which was a 1.5 hr wilderness hike being lectured and yelled at for historic colonialization (excuse the spelling) practices. Personally attacked for…transgressions made 300+ years ago.
By a friend! Seems I’m single handily to blame for racial injustices.

What???!

No friend btw. Or maybe a thick one.

I have eaten a stupid amount of chocolate this week. Can't even be bothered to feel bad tbh. Given a few weeks ago I would have given anything not to wake up I'm taking the fact I am still breathing as a win. My MH is still shit as I still am struggling but fuck it.

I’ve eaten curry rice and naan. I’m going to be farting for 26 miles tomorrow 😂😂

@SunshineCake1, she’s extremely well read and researched her passion is First Nations. Thursday was national truth and reconciliation day and she was not interested in my or my families history, which isn’t First Nations but was brutal thanks to Victorian ideology. It was rough. Food for thought that led me directly to food out of frustration as I couldn’t really express my views which are part of a “ pink bubble” (her words) that I live in apparently. Im still frustrated and exercise might help.

She might be well read but she has no class, self awareness or social niceness. Sorry. I know she's your friend.

Hi Everyone

@Crazzzycat 👍 like you say any loss is great to see 😬

@Youdoyoutoday I’ll keep a look out for the pre riced cauli 😬. I also use the Fast800 recipes on some days, like you say all the working out is done! Sending you motivation to do the Couch/5k 😊

@fallfallfall how awful for you! I hope you’ve calmed down and your nerves have settled. Sending a hug ❤️

@swampytiggaa great step count 👍 We’re having a curry tomorrow as we had roast chicken today, so will use the left overs. The carcass and some spare chicken will go to make spicy chicken soup for early next week.

@SunshineCake1 great you’ve progressed to going down stairs👍 Baby steps ❤️

A warm welcome @CumbrianExile you’ve come to the right place. Your target seems achievable and a nice steady weight loss… have you a plan in mind?

Menu
Meal 1 - Oats, milk, honey.
Meal 2 - Roast chicken and vegetables.
Conference pear

Enjoy your evenings … just watching strictly … anyone else?

Good luck with your walking marathon tomorrow @swampytiggaa farts and all !!

Good - 5km run this morning, no breakfast, lunch out but had fish & veggies, fizzy water
Bad - dinner sausages & ratatouille, plus prosecco. Will prob finish the bottle too. But an emotional day. Scattered my DM's ashes who passed away earlier this year.

Tomorrow - out for roast beef dinner with family. I will enjoy but not over indulge

I’m drinking gin before an early night. Fuck knows what my weight will be like over the next week or so 😭😭 but then I’ll start training for a 10 mile race in early November so it’ll come off again 😊

Yes to strictly @TheRealHousewife loved the tango

B: one slice of toast, boiled egg, cherry tomatoes
L: Swiss chard, asparagus spears and halloumi (cooked/steamed in olive oil). 1/4 wedge of a sugarcrisp apple.
Supper will be a green salad with pasta bits
Theirs a palm leaf pastry on the counter. My aim is to steer clear of it till dh and I can share it after supper.