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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

LOSE IT! November 2021

420 replies

TheRealHousewife · 27/10/2021 16:53

Hello & Welcome

October has flown by and now November is upon us! The outside temperature is actually warmer than this time last month, so feels quite unseasonal. Still have bumble bees and lady birds in the garden 😮. I for one do look forward to cosy nights by the fire and prepping for the coming festive season.

With just 59 days until Christmas there's still 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 October’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. The important thing is not to think of it as a diet (based on deprivation and unsustainable) but more a way of life (sustainable & enjoyable).

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

Blood Sugar Diet based on Mediterranean Recipes

Intermittent Fasting

MFP App also available.

25 Tips to lose weight & improve health

The Science behind sleep & weight gain

Holistic approaches to Eat Sleep Move Be

The Importance of Fibre

The Importance of Water for Weight Loss

LOSE IT! November 2021
OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
Graphista · 19/11/2021 00:17

Just looked up the meat allergy thing. Symptoms and pattern fit (I also could never wear wool or leather used to drive my parents nuts with this as non leather school shoes used to be quite hard to find but even with socks on my feet and even ankles would get red raw!) but...I've never had a tick bite! I've certainly never been in USA or aus and been bitten by their ticks that are strongly believed to cause this issue which is weird. Purely genetic seems to be considered unlikely yet I have all the symptoms if I eat red meat or wear wool/leather

An uncle of mine in his house used to have a sheepskin rug (''twas the 70's!) the other kids could lounge about on it fine. If I went anywhere near it I'd get hives!

TheRealHousewife · 20/11/2021 09:37

Good Morning All

@SunshineCake1 Well done on your home made parsnips, it’s lovely to grow ones own produce.

@murmuration it’s fantastic that work accommodate your health needs! That’s a really good employer you have there. You’re making fantastic progress too 👍👏⭐️🥇

Great to hear you’ve whooshed @DownUdderer 👍👏🙏. For me they are rarer than chicken lips 🐔

@jellyrolly I understand you being disappointed in gaining in spite of doing everything right. Hormones do have a lot to answer for. Hopefully it’ll soon reverse.

@Graphista fantastic result showing in your graph! Marvellous results 👍👏🥇⭐️ I think progress of .9lbs a week is excellent and week on week makes a significant difference. You’re doing great 👍

Menu
Meal 1 - Halloumi, kale, carrot, red pepper stir fry.
Meal 2 - Pan fried salmon & broccoli
Walnuts, 1 satsuma, white tea, 1 coffee with cream, water, water, water 😬

OP posts:
buzzofthebumblebee · 20/11/2021 11:54

Hello everyone.

All rather quiet on here - it's a very busy time of year.

10k steps for me yesterday, plus roast squash, tuna and spinach salad lunch, and home-made thai prawn red curry for dinner - light on rice and heavy on the veg - baby corn, mange tout and red peppers - with couple glasses fizzy wine. So all good.

Scales still erratic, but seem to be firmly in the 11s. Can't quite believe I've made it. Now need to stay here. Thank you all for support.

MyAnacondaMight · 20/11/2021 12:29

Well done everyone on your progress. And welcome to the 11s @buzzofthebumblebee !

Week 2 weigh in for me today, and another 2lbs off:
SW: 11st 8
CW: 11st 1
TW: 10st 0

Trying to stay motivated with mini goals, which are:

  • 10st something by December
  • 10st 11 by Christmas (half way!)
  • Run 5km without stopping by 1 Jan.
Rachel4545 · 20/11/2021 12:39

Hello,

Can a newbie join in?

CW:14.8
TW: 10 stone but first whatever gets me back into my size 14 jeans.

Currently feeling a bit down hearted. I’ve tried really hard all week and eaten an average of 1600 calories a day, been for walks everyday and I’ve lost 0.5 of a pound.

Youdoyoutoday · 20/11/2021 13:07

Welcome @Rachel4545

Don't worry about how fast you're losing weight, Rome wasn't built in a day, just keep going and it will happen.

I got on the scales this morning and I'm 14.2 so 2lbs off my last weigh in, 11th Nov.

But I first hit this weight on 16th October and I have to admit, it's getting a bit tedious. This after doing bootcamp 3 times a week and swimming 2 times a week and eating 1200 and 1400 calories a day.

At least I've maintained my total loss so that's a win and my body shape has definitely changed so that's good too.

I wish it was easier but I know I have to keep going, I can't give up after slowly losing 2 stones and 8lbs so far this year.

Onwards and downwards! ❤

TheRealHousewife · 20/11/2021 13:13

Hi @buzzofthebumblebee i find the threads do peak and trough at times as people get busy, especially this time of year. Fantastic step count and well done on making the 11s stick.

@MyAnacondaMight great loss and progress. Your mini goals seem doable, you can do it!

A warm welcome @Rachel4545. Well done on your loss! It all adds up! Its positive you have some goals to aim for. Perhaps add in some smaller ones too and that way you'll feel empowered and motivated to carry on when you reach them. Weight loss isn't linear and weight doesn't always leave us even when we feel we are doing all the right things. Did you decide on 1600 cals because its less than what you usually eat or have you used an online calculator? I only ask because it might be not enough/too much for your needs. Weight loss is dependable on many many variables such as height, build, age, activity, exercise, illness, meds, stress, sleep quality, hormones, diet etc. Its rare for two people to be the same. When you weigh can also affect the number on the scale. I find first thing in a morning after being to the loo but before ingesting anything. How often you weigh is personal preference but its important to weigh at the same time of day each time (am). You can do it Rachel, if that's what you want :)

OP posts:
TheRealHousewife · 20/11/2021 13:16

Crossed posted with you @Youdoyoutoday. Well done on this weeks loss. Overall you've made awesome progress by losing 2stone 8lbs!!!

OP posts:
SunshineCake1 · 20/11/2021 15:06

Hurray for the 11s @buzzofthebumblebee. We all love to celebrate dropping down to a new lower stone. Can be just a half pound loss yet somehow it feels so much more. Your curry sounds lovely. I've had cauliflower cheese - from my bargain box and a small slice of homemade sesame seed bread for lunch and dinner will be home made veg soup, again from the bargain box.

Well done @MyAnacondaMight. 2lbs off is great. I forgot to weigh myself today. Was planning too as ate very little yesterday and wanted to see if it had help, especially after a run in the morning. I'll wait until Wednesday now.

Welcome @Rachel4545. A loss is a loss which means it is a win. We have all been downhearted when we feel we have done well and not had a bigger loss but there is more to what you are doing for your well being than just weight loss.

Keep going @Youdoyoutoday. I feel your frustration. I'm having to lose the same stone a bit again after being poorly and eating too much chocolate.

Youdoyoutoday · 20/11/2021 17:50

I have another chat with my bootcamp coach on Monday so it will be interesting to see what he says.
I've logged everything as honestly as I can and if I'm honest, yes I went out Thursday so not the norm, but I can't really see where the problem is food wise.
I exercise 5 days a week and I don't log the exercise on my MFP so I'm not having extra calories. I'm sticking to 1400 per day and every day this week, bar Thursday, I've had less than that so I must be in a deficit each day!!

But let's see what "mansplaining" my coach comes up with this Monday 🤣🤣

Youdoyoutoday · 20/11/2021 17:59

I sound a bit negative but just because the scales aren't moving as much as I'd like, my body has really changed for the better.

POSITIVE - I've lost loads round my waist and thighs and I'm stronger, I really notice it when swimming.
POSITIVE - My skin is looking the best it ever has.
POSITIVE - My jeans are baggy, I'm now on to the pair I never thought I'd get in to and still be able to breathe!

So for those of you that are new to the group, let this be a lesson, non scale victories are really important, it's not all about the weight!!

SunshineCake1 · 20/11/2021 18:56

I hear you and feel for you @Youdoyoutoday. You should see the threads from last year where I had constant strops. Not saying you are! Are you measuring with a tape measure? I had the scales saying no loss or an increase but the tape measure was more positive.

#Honorary member of the 🐢🐢🐢club.

Graphista · 20/11/2021 21:02

@TheRealHousewife thanks so much. I sometimes feel I could be making swifter progress and then remind myself it's still progress!

@buzzofthebumblebee throw your 11's this way please? Well done and on the 10k steps

@MyAnacondaMight well done on 2lb loss

@Rachel4545 welcome firstly 1/2 off is still a loss so that's a win!

But if you wanna do better tell us what you're doing just now and we may be able to help?

My first thoughts are have you checked the min number of cals you're meant to be having? You say an average of 1600 cals but I've found unless one is fairly strict/literal and doesn't go above - certainly the Max cals for bodily functions - then one finds weight loss...tricky

What has worked for me is calculating cals on nhs bmi page

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/bmi-calculator/

It'll tell you a range of cals and to err to lower I've tried to stay no more than 100cals per day more than the lower number

Also - are you measuring and weighing and Including everything?

Most common culprits people forget to inc are drinks, table sauces, and cooking ingredients (eg cooking oil)

People either don't count them at all, forget or they estimate how much they're having of them and generally massively under estimate.

Certainly at the start until you get a good handle on things it's really best imo to weigh and measure everything.

Drinks can be a real bugger for being higher cal than you think. Especially takeaway coffee type drinks (not just coffees but frappes etc) seriously even medium of certain ones can easily be over 400 cals a cup! That's 1/4 of your daily cals!

Personally I also do "negative weighing" as in i base cals/measurement on weighing the container of x food item before and after use and using that measurement for cals...so that every spoon lick, every cooking taste is counted! So if anything I'm over estimating how many cals I've had - another ww thing

That said one thing I don't weigh is low cal/non carb veggies. This is because they are healthy, filling and aid absorption of nutrients from other foods and keep you "regular" but I don't have tons of them either.

Removing foods/cutting portion sizes is but one step, to avoid cravings and nutritional deficiencies these are imo best replaced with lower cal options rather than the "simply eat less" option.

Also I agree with op that smaller more achievable goals can stop you becoming disheartened and provide a boost/motivation. I started at nearly 14 stone with around 4 stone to lose, that's a mountain! I use the happy scale app and I've broken it down to half stone goals much more palatable - you can't eat an elephant in one meal!

Also take body measurements to hopefully get you some nsv (non scale victories) I measure once a month and...usually...find I've lost inches even if I've not lost lbs that week. Notice how your clothes are fitting, how your body feels too. Like op and I think a few others I am disabled and while the weight loss doesn't make a huge difference it has helped a little.

Weight loss is dependable on many many variables such as height, build, age, activity, exercise, illness, meds, stress, sleep quality, hormones, diet etc.

Exactly. The nhs one takes into account age, sex, height, race and activity levels (I select inactive)

I'm also on meds that inc appetite and decrease metabolism hence why I err to as few cals as is considered healthy/necessary

@Youdoyoutoday the rate of weight loss slows as you get closer to a healthy weight. Think of it more on terms of % of your body weight 1% of 15 stone is gonna be more than 1% of 11 stone right? But it's still a 1% weight loss

Onwards and downwards!

Adding to the glossary Grin

@Youdoyoutoday is the 1400 cals what you've always done or is that recently calculated? Remember as you lose you need fewer cals, think I started on 1600/1650 Ish and now at 1400 and if I had 1600 every day I'd be gaining! Just a thought

POSITIVE - My skin is looking the best it ever has.

Yes! My skin is looking much better too. I'm needing to use much less concealer when I apply makeup and my eczema isn't nearly as bad as it usually is this time of year.

non scale victories are really important, it's not all about the weight!!

Definitely

3 cheers for tortoise 🐢🐢🐢club

DownUdderer · 21/11/2021 04:44

I'm trying to drink heaps of water.

I'm hoping for a good week. I'm finally feeling better after getting the lurgy from the kids!

Youdoyoutoday · 21/11/2021 08:30

I was on 1200 calories a day as that's what Noom suggested but my coach said that's low so to go for 1400.

I wish I'd done proper measurements before starting but I only ever measured my waist and I've lost about 7 inches this year.

TheRealHousewife · 21/11/2021 09:29

Good Morning All

Pleased to read you’re feeling better @DownUdderer 👍 Water is great and I myself sometimes have to really force myself to drink it. It used to go down easier than it does now. Once I’ve glugged I feel instantly more refreshed.

@Youdoyoutoday my goodness 7 inches is fantastic! 👍👏⭐️🥇Waist to height ratio is used as an indicator for health/wellness etc.

I’m with you @Graphista in the 🐢🐢🐢 club 😬☺️

Menu

Meal 1 - ?

Busy day, just off out and not entirely sure what we’ll have when we arrive back. Have some salmon in the fridge so might have Pan fried Salmon again.

Have a good day ❤️

OP posts:
Youdoyoutoday · 21/11/2021 11:01

Yes but my waist was 50 inches, I continually looked pregnant/bloated, it was horrible.

My height is 5.6 so I should have a waist size of 33 inches so I have a long way to go yet!

buzzofthebumblebee · 21/11/2021 13:19

Keep it up you & you'll get there soon enough, especially if on 1400 a day. I agree 1200 is too low.

I had compliment about weight loss yesterday ! That was nice. I have a big do to attend next weekend. Looking forward to choosing something nice to wear & feel good. Daily life is so much easier when there is more choice to fit in my wardrobe! I ignore sizes though, vanity sizing & all that.

Have a good day everyone!

SunshineCake1 · 21/11/2021 17:10

Hi Gang

All I drink is water but I don't like the tap stuff so I buy sparkling. I feel bad about the amount of plastic but I recycle everything.

Hope you have had a good day @TheRealHousewife. Enjoy your salmon.

Congrats on your compliments @buzzofthebumblebee.

Dh and I took the dog to a new place today, we've been with the children years ago but first time with the dog. She had a great time and we'll go back again next week as it has several routes and I want to do the heritage one. Too scared to weigh as feel I have made good choices and I've certainly eaten a lot more veg so if I haven't lost I would feel a bit down. I decided I would run again before I weigh. I did 5km this morning and knocked off 6 mins 7 seconds off my first post illness 5km Shock. Today was my fourth run.

TheRealHousewife · 21/11/2021 19:22

Evening All

@SunshineCake1 thank you. OH ended up ordering himself an Indian when we got back. I declined and have had cheese on gluten free seeded bread followed by chocolate ice cream and a few pecan nuts. Kitchen cleaned and closed now. I regret nothing 😬. Salmon will be cooked in am for OH lunch time sandwich tomorrow.

@buzzofthebumblebee that’s lovely to be complimented. Enjoy choosing your outfit and go and have a blast.

@Youdoyoutoday that’s 17 inch reduction 😮 Awesome!

Enjoy your evenings x

OP posts:
DownUdderer · 22/11/2021 03:03

I'm feeling like I'm making good food choices. During lockdown I was just snacking non stop so I'm glad to have been able to knock that on the head.

I like to plan what I'll eat each day, that way I feel in control. If I have to make a split second decision about what to eat I think I would too easily have something that takes me off plan. I don't mind choosing to have a treat ahead of time, but I want to regain control on impulsive snacking or mindless snacking.

I eat a late breakfast and an early dinner then I stick to fasting after my evening meal. I've also avoided buying any of my favorite chocolate or crisps.

buzzofthebumblebee · 22/11/2021 07:55

Glad you are in control Down. I get exactly what you are saying too.

Hurrah for your run Sunshine. Bet it feels good again, after so long. Sadly I'm still off exercise due to my knee. Don't know if it's anything serious. But very mindful of calories since I can't burn-off - but I seem to be able to walk pain free, so trying to do lots of that. Another 10k yesterday.

So much going on, juggling various demanding client projects I feel like I'm buzzing internally. Awake before 5 going through to do list. Know the adrenaline is good for metabolism - the only plus side - so I need to be mindful I don't set myself up for a crash. Deep breaths.

buzzofthebumblebee · 22/11/2021 07:56

HOPE EVERYONE HAVE A GOOD WEEK WITH LOTS OF WILLPOWER !!

SunshineCake1 · 22/11/2021 08:00

I'm in bed with the dog. Contemplating going for a run as my MH isn't great. Would like a day on my own Sad. Dh said last night to take a day in bed if I wasn't feeling well but I feel I need to just be alone bit worried it will be too much to do two consecutive days but I'll take it easy if I do go. No idea what I am eating today other than salad.

Crazzzycat · 22/11/2021 09:03

Morning all! I’ve been away on a city break for the past few days. It’s always hard to make sensible choices when away. I did try my best, but was by no means perfect.

So imagine my surprise when I hopped on the scales this morning to find my weight was down to 77.8 kg. That’s the lowest I’ve been since I’ve started and a loss of 2 lbs this week. It makes no sense at all, but I’ll take it! I was so excited I moved the scales all around the bathroom to double and triple check 😂

I hope everyone else has been having a good weekend. I will read all your posts later.