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.

your soups sound great @CumbrianExile. I love soup but am very greedy so it never lasts long!

Great you need smaller size jeans @Graphista. Funnily enough I needed to find a belt for mine this morning they probably actually just need a wash but its good to think I'm shrinking

More bad luck Sunshine. You really can't have anything else go wrong now. Is your DS better after his covid?

My food for today -
B - slice melon with tablespoon natural yoghurt + chia seeds
L - chicken salad with lentils
D - veggie chilli (will make meat version for DH & DS) & spoon wholegrain rice

Hi @buzzofthebumblebee. DS2 is better now thank you and has tested negative so he can go back to school on Monday. Should have been tomorrow but test and trace are ridiculous.

So I woke up today with a delightful sickness bug from my children! If I don't lose this week I will be disappointed 🤣

I know it will be false though, now that I've stopped being sick I am starving, but all I want is crisps!

Well done @graphista on the losses. I love it when my jeans get loose 🙂

Thanks for all the congrats!

I have 2 pairs of primark jeans that are a size 16 and are quite old so probably shrunk too! Before all this I was thinking of chucking them. Now I'm gonna keep me cos I reckon early next year I should fit back into them!

Measurements wise since I started all this I've lost :

3" off bust
2" off waist
2.5" off hips

To those starting out/lot to lose/struggling to stay motivated cos the scales aren't giving positive results I defo recommend doing measurements too

@SunshineCake1 oh bless you! Remember it's not unusual to get low mood when sick too, I've been more tearful lately too.

@buzzofthebumblebee one of the pairs I got yesterday is a tad big but I love the colour and style and they didn't have them in next size down so I've bought them anyway and will wear with a belt initially and then as I get smaller (hopefully) I may get them taken in. In the past I'd have had my aunt do this for me (I don't have a sewing machine and jeans are hard to do!) but she's not up to this anymore health wise so I'll need to get a high street seamstress on it. It'll still likely be cheaper than a new pair and I do really like them. They're a lovely fit on my bum! Make me look like I actually have one! 

@CumbrianExile oh bless you! That's no fun! Though as you say possible silver lining of weight loss.

I've gone from squeezing into size 20's and a 22 being a better fit really to a flipping size 18! I'm well pleased with that!

Have to keep it up though! And I'll admit I struggle in autumn/winter as I want aaaaalllll the stodge! Especially as I feel the cold. Already struggling to want to eat fruit as it tends to be a "cold" food. I'd normally err towards pies and crumbles for fruit this time of a year but I dread to think what the cals were!

Anyone who has low cal warm fruit ideas I'm all ears.

Any stodge subs/tricks also gratefully received.

Today

Meal 1 - Quorn cottage pie with carrots, satsuma, small multipack pack of butterkist popcorn (only 85 cals!) I've bought it for potential cinema trips but couldn't resist a taste

Meal 2 - jacket potato with cottage cheese and smoked paprika

Rarely have a 3rd meal but usually have a snack of some kind.

Today's snack likely to be - Carrots and hummus, some kind of fruit, cup of tea

Warm fruit puddings you say @Graphista?

Baked bananas are delicious. Not the lowest in calories, but nice as an occasional treat. Just make sure you use bananas that are properly ripe, otherwise it won’t taste anywhere near as nice: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chocolate-baked-bananas

I also used to make a warm fruit compote, but can’t find the recipe at the moment. This one looks a bit like it, but must make a huge amount judging by the calories! I’m sure it’s easily halved/ quartered or whatever works within your calorie allowance:

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/10-minute-winter-fruit-compote

Baked apple is another classic. I prefer to use eating apples, but this recipe uses baking ones. Easy enough to change though:

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/baked-apples

Baked pear. This recipe is lovely. I make jt without the ricotta and honey, but add the tiniest drizzle of Amaretto 😋 It’s pretty low calorie that way

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/easy-baked-pears-amaretti

I’ll stop now…but could go on for a while 😂

And on the stodge front, this is currently my favourite:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/pasta-e-fagioli/amp

I don’t have a slow cooker, so I just cook it for a long time. It can be frozen or kept in the fridge for a while, as long as you don’t add the pasta. You can add that when you’re reheating.

The miso is a bit of an unusual ingredient. It works well in here, but not essential at all.

@Crazzzycat thanks for those! Yes I think hearty soups need to be made and I had completely forgotten about baked apples and bananas I can definitely do those. But I may keep choc to a minimum and no ice cream and instead use some sweet cinnamon

Not a fan of pears really

The fruit compote looks good except I've no micro so I'm wondering how/for how long I could do it on the hob

Morning ladies,

Hope you're well! Glad the kids are OK @SunshineCake1.

I didn't post yesterday, time slipped away from me. Went swimming, walked there and back and didn't feel as wiped out as last time so that's an improvement.
When I got home I cracked on with lunch then the housework and I also did a little stock take for the fridge, freezer and cupboard so I can meal plan better today.

The bootcamp guy called me back yesterday (phew!) so I'm starting Monday at 6.30am!

He also has his partner phoning me for a chat about nutrition, they have meal plans and recipes which look good but more calories than I'm on now but I guess I'll have to increase my intake slightly anyway.

This morning weight is 14.3 so 1lb down from last week, total loss this year 35lbs!!

Only time I've ever lost that amount of pounds is when I lost my purse!

Happy Friday ladies x

Happy Friday All

Where has the week gone 😯

Popped on scale and 1.4lbs have gone from the gain on Wednesday.

Good luck for Monday @Youdoyoutoday 👍. A massive congratulations on your loss so far this year 👏🥇🌟

@Graphista your menu looks tasty 😋

Menu
Meal 1 - Kale, red pepper & Halloumi stir fry.
Meal 2 - Savory mince and vegetables
1/2 apple/peanut butter.

Enjoy your Friday

Thank you 😊

Congrats on your loss you and to yours too the Real. I have dropped 1/4 lb from Weds which is good, but feeling really blugh today. Couldn't find any clothes to wear, having a fat and frumpy day. Found 5 pairs jeans I would loved to have worn, but all a size 30 waist. Not a chance. Even the 31's are too tight : (

Part of me feels like caving in to the constant craving for food comfort, but the rest of me is thinking that I have to be strong, stick with it, and I'll soon be back in nice clothes feeling happier about myself. Why does it take SO LONG to shift ?? 6 weeks in and I've lost 9 1/4 lbs, but still feeling rubbish. Sorry folks, don't mean to be grumpy, but I can't help it today.

Congratulations on the losses @TheRealHousewife and @Youdoyoutoday - also good luck with the boot camp. I keep looking at those and being tempted, but I don't feel brave enough to do it!

Feeling much better today thankfully so back on track. I should have gone swimming this morning but thought I had better avoid that just in case (don't want to be spreading anything about if I can help it) but I will go for a walk later if I can get out.

9lbs off in six weeks is fabulous in my book @buzzofthebumblebee! Take heart.

Founder member of 🐢🐢🐢club who will have 1/2-1stone to lose again once I'm allowed to run...

Well done on those losses @TheRealHousewife and @Youdoyoutoday

I also think a 9 lb loss in 6 weeks is pretty good @buzzofthebumblebee, but totally get why you might be feeling a bit blugh. Weightloss is such an emotion roller coaster! Some days it’s easy to focus on all the positive changes you’ve made, the weight you’ve lost etc etc. On other days all you can see is that you’re not quite where you want to be!

I’ve read somewhere that giving yourself (small) rewards for all your hard work can help with long term motivation. I haven’t tried it myself, but it might be worth a try if you find the motivation doesn’t come back as quickly as you’d like? I think the trick is to not reward results (numbers on the scale), but effort (e.g. x number of days sticking to plan)

@buzzofthebumblebee 9lbs in 6 weeks is great!! Don't forget you've also maintained that loss too!

Was having a good day then I got the munchies.... I've had 2 crackers with peanut butter, an apple, a stick of celery and a biscuit!!

I know there are far worse things I could have munched on as there is a ton of chocolate in the cupboard but why does happen? Going about my day all fine then I get an urge to literally feed my face! I drink water first incase I'm thirsty then munch something crunchy like celery or apple, or today both, but nothing seems to satisfy the craving!! It's so annoying but at least I didn't raid the chocolates!

Thank you all - I know I sound dramatic, but having an off day and for all the effort so far I imagine I should wake up one morning a size 10.

As munchies go @Youdoyoutoday, that is serious restraint. Well done!

Pay @buzzofthebumblebee. That's nothing. You should have seen the strops I had last year. Felt like the only one not losing and when I did it was hardly anything and then I would put it back on and take it off numerous times. Hence the 🐢🐢🐢club. BTW @Puffalicious. Come back !!

I was ignoring the fact I had been diagnosed with numerous food intolerances, ill with covid, dh had had a heart attack just before I was poorly so I'd done everything for six weeks and had kids and animals to look after.

You've all got this.

Just checking in for October, ( where do the weeks go!) Weight loss not going well here unfortunately, I'm only maintaining, it seems everytime I say I'm going to lose, something unexpected happens and my focus is totally taken away, I'm aiming to be more conscious/ mindful of what I eat this week and go back to IF even a small loss would be something!!

Maintaining is still a win as it isn't a gain and you know what is going on. It will come off.

Happy Saturday!!

Still the same on the scales this morning, 14.3, so great news as I'm really looking forward to date night tonight! Dinner out with my wonderful DP and no baby faces to wipe, feed or hear moaning from!! Can't wait!! However, I'll have to think of some things to talk about as all I do these days is mumsnet, swim and mother small people!

Enjoy x

Thank you @ sunshinecake1, hope you're starting to feel better!

@TheRealHousewife thanks I try (menu) though having a lazy few days cooking wise

Today

Meal 1 - Wholemeal rolls with veggie pate, banana, cereal bar

Meal 2 - is gonna be a pot noodle as I had a bad night and slept until quite late and I'm feeling really tired again post viral nonsense I think. I'll add some extra veggies to it for nutrition

I'm giving myself the "weekend off" cooking and chores wise and hoping come Monday I'll have the energy and motivation (plan is to kick my own arse somehow) and get back into usual routine (with health issues I usually have a routine of one major and one minor weekly chore per day so that all I need to do is spread across the week so eg laundry one day, bins another etc it usually keeps me on top of things so I don't get overwhelmed/need to do a blitz that knackers me!

Why does it take SO LONG to shift ??

Old ww leader used to say it didn't go on overnight it won't come off overnight which is true but it can be frustrating

9.25 lbs is a good loss!

@Youdoyoutoday there are much worse binges you could've done!

I'm another that strops at myself! I'm way harder on me than I am on anyone else. Most of the day I'm going "oh ffs graph what did you do that for you idiot!"

And sometimes it's a full on very cathartic rage!

Like @SunshineCake1 I forget to give myself a break for being sick/disabled/having achieved what I have.

My mum has her moments but where she is good is she congratulates me on my "little victories" and reminds me that while others might find x easy to do I have to do it through chronic pain/depression/lack of physical stability (I'm kinda wobbly on my feet these days) etc

@Tuirseach maintaining is still an improvement on gaining! Again apparently plateaus are normal and healthy on a weight loss journey

I'm very slowly feeling better but definitely not close to 100% of my previous COVID normal maybe 50-60% it's the tiredness! I'm sleeping for 8-10 hours a day (admittedly not all in one go but that's been the case for me for 20 years) which is insane for me as I'm normally 5/7 hours

Hi all, I think I posted a couple of moths ago but then lost the thread, so can i join in again please?
Wow @Graphista that tip about the carrot batons with salt is genius!