LOSE IT! December 2021

[TheRealHousewife]

Hello & Welcome

WOW 😯 This year has passed far too quickly and December and the festive season is all of a sudden upon us with about a 4wk countdown to 2022. Don’t panic, this isn’t a quick fix promotion; it’s more a slow & sustained way of eating. 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.

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.

I for one want to start the brand New Year feeling fit, healthy & vibrant with hope that we are all in for a better year! Eating right, getting outside, moving more will all aid in bolstering up your immune system and promote positive mental health.

I’m not one to be a Ba Humbug about festive treats and mulled wine but I do remain mindful about my choices without undue deprivation. Life’s for living and we’ve had too much of that taken away over the last 2 years not to embrace the family & friends celebrations.

Come and join us. On these threads I find members are supportive and inspiring in equal measures. We offer guidance, support and a bit of handholding. Share as much or as little as you want.

Official weigh day is Wednesday aka WOW but it’s not compulsory. Currently I weigh a couple of times a week but at others I’ve weighed daily. Do whatever suits you.

Jump on board, this time next week/month/year you’ll be glad you did. What are you going to change? What are your goals? How do you intend to do it?

Useful Links
LOSE IT November 2021
The Blood Sugar Diet
The Importance of Fibre
The Importance of Water for Weight Loss
Intermittent Fasting
MFP
Healthy Christmas Recipes

Hugs @SunshineCake1 - sorry to hear you are struggling. Hang in there.

Totally get it buzz about not knowing where to aim - I thought I knew where I was going until I learned about set points and now I'm wondering if I should be heading to that too-skinny me of my 20s. As the next sticky point up is still pretty overweight. Although maybe it's not too skinny anymore - I was a gymnast and heavily muscled, so perhaps less muscle and more fat will mean I won't look so bony.

I've not kept up here as work has just been frantic. I thought it would let up - in fairness, it has, now I'm only working until 6-7pm instead of 9-10pm, but I'm not sure I can keep this up. Next week DH is away (assuming he's covid negative and can get on a plane!) and so I'm not going to be able to pace as well as I want since I need to get DD from school. I've arranged her to go to a friends house one afternoon, but that day I also have to work 9-10pm (a virtual event in the states) so it won't be the half-day off I normally get. Then she got a birthday party invite for the weekend, when I normally sleep, so I'll not get that break either. I'm worried about how I'm going to make it through these next two weeks until the holidays. Still so many tasks to be done before Christmas...

I've actually weighed myself each day for the last week, and I'm not sure I'm happy with that. I stayed the same weight for 5 days which was disappointing and then lost one pound on Tuesday. So I guess 1 pound down is really 1 pound down. Realised I'd done my maths wrong last week - I was only 4 lb not 6 down from the week before. So more believable. So anyway, here is my delayed report:
SW 14 stone 2
CW 13 stone 5

I'm really struck by how much of my eating is about habit. I totally want to snack while I'm cooking, not because I'm hungry, but because I'm used to it. I've started having crackers and cheese after lunch if I've got more calories left (as its the end my eating for the day), and now I totally want it after my meal even if I don't have more calories left! I need to somehow break this habit-eating and pay more attention to my body.

Disastrous day generally.

Breakfast: 3 Jaffa cakes, glass of juice
Lunch: 2 sachets of porridge oats made up with juice
Snack: Glass of smoothie, fibre one bar
Dinner: 2 slices of pizza and lots of Italian salad with dressing

Hideous day, only exercise was one 40 minute walk. I'll start afresh tomorrow!

That doesn’t sound too terrible to me @Pickles89. Not the most nutritiously sound day, but you’re unlikely to have put on lots of weight from that. Tomorrow is another day, and all that.

@murmuration that does not sound like a sustainable workload at all. Is there any hope of it improving in the short term? A pound in a week is pretty good, but I understand your frustration.

Thanks @Crazzzycat It just seemed like all carbs and sugar. Anyway, today's been a bit better food wise:

Lunch: Half a normal tub houmous, v. thin small piece of bread, cucumber, 2 feta and spinach parcels, half glass juice

Dinner: Tin of Heinz spring vegetable soup, thin slice of bread with butter, banana, yoghurt, fibre one bar

Only had one walk though

Anyone got any fun workout/HIIT youtube vids they can recommend? I get bored very quickly, I want something that makes me smile as well as sweat!

@Crazzzycat unfortunately not, although I will take a Christmas break. I’m hoping by the days right before Christmas I can get a lot done. One problem is I’m often in meetings much of the day - for example yesterday I only really got started on tasks at 5pm! But everyone is overworked. Management are doing the best they can to reduce workloads but there’s stuff that just needs being done - and management includes me at a lower level. One of the things I’ll need to finish Mon (as I didn’t even get to it Fri) is something to enable a lot less work for a lot of people in the new year. Also because of my disability I need my holiday or I’ll completely crash. I know many are planning to work through the holiday (we’re closed for 11 days) to catch up. I just can’t do that, so everything needing done by the new year needs doing these next two weeks. I just hope I make it through.

DH’s predeparture test was negative, so he’ll be away for a week and a bit! I will have to be careful as there are meals just me and DD like that I don’t eat too much of them. :)

Small breakfast today as getting fish and chips lunch for DH’s last day home.

It’s very quiet here, I hope we haven’t all succumbed to mince pies already?

I’ve managed to stay on the straight and narrow so far, but have a feeling next week is going to get a bit harder as I have a few pre-Christmas parties on the horizon. I’ll just have to offset it by doing lots of exercise.

DH bought himself a rowing machine, which is something that I’ve wanted to try for ages. I think that will encourage me to increase the exercise this month. I tried it for 10 minutes yesterday and am aching all over now, in spite of being reasonably fit and spending lots of time on the x-trainer each week. Clearly this is working different muscles 💪

I’m here, and still on the wagon. Week 5 weigh in today for me.

SW: 11st 8lbs
CW: 10st 10.4lbs
TW: 10st 0lbs

I’ve basically spent the last week in bed with a cold, but seems that’s a good thing for weight loss! 1.5lbs off this week, past the hallway point, and at my target Christmas weight. Although now I’m wondering if I can see 10.9 or even 10.8 by Christmas.

Going to a wedding next weekend so that’s a good motivator to stay focused for the week ahead. Keep up the good work everyone - there’s still some pounds up for grabs before Christmas.

I'm still here with no mince pies though I might have had a few pretzels last night!

Going back to bootcamp on Monday as I'm actually missing it!!

@SunshineCake1 how you getting on?

Hi all I'm still here but struggling so don't want to bring the thread down again.

Thank you @Youdoyoutoday for the shout out. Had an awful row with dh yesterday, we sorted it then had a nice day but this morning I woke up and panicked I would be back to worrying about the stuff I have been worrying about for ages. Had an anxiety moment.

I have run four times this week, done rubbish at fasting after two really good ones and have put on two pounds of the five I lost last week.

Hope you feel better @MyAnacondaMight and enjoy the wedding.

@SunshineCake1
I think you're doing too much. If I was you just carry on eating sensibly, keep up with your running and stay off the scales. You've had a rough couple of months, you've mentioned thing with DH aren't always great so maybe concentrate on getting your health and mental health in the right place rather than the scales. I don't want to be harsh and sorry if it sounds that way but some things are more important than weight. Don't go mad stuffing your face with chocolate just leave the scales out for a while.

I know it really gets me down if the scales aren't showing any progress and you've read all my moany posts about it.

And we are here for you to offload if you want

Thank you @Youdoyoutoday. I didn't run Thursday or Friday as I felt off after my booster on Wednesday. Much as I want the health and weight loss benefits of running some of the time it is about mental health benefits. I hadn't been eating much while I was away as I just didn't feel hungry. Don't know if the emotion of being away. I have started having lunch again which has made dh happy and less worried but I have to admit I did enjoy the control aspect of not needing two meals. I just wasn't hungry.

I suspect dh and I will be okay. We had a really difficult time just under six years ago and I am almost okay now. I'm just going through my own stuff as well as menopause so it is a lot. I have to so eat to the doctor on Monday because of more irregular bleeding when I'm not having periods then this morning I felt a large lump in my arm pit which was terrifying.

I'm sure I'll be okay and I will find myself again. Surely my bad luck is all used up soon??

Oh no! I hope it's nothing serious!! Thinking of you but don't shy away from us, shout out if you need us or just writing stuff here can really help off load!!

Take care xx

Thank you @Youdoyoutoday. I just wish I was brave enough but it terrifies me that someone might know me on here in real life and that anything I lost stays here for ever.

@swamptiggaa where are you? And @fallfallfall @ Puffalicious @HalfShrunkMoreToGo

Hello All

Just popped on to say sorry for my absence, I'm not very well. Hoping you're all ok and getting organised for the festive season! Take care x

ps my iPad won't load MN and im still not receiving notifications and I don't want you thinking im ignoring any tags I might have had. x

I was wondering where you were @TheRealHousewife. Hope you feel better soon.

Im sorry to hear so many are feeling poorly. Hope everyone is on the mend!

We had a very busy week last week with appointments but i did weigh in mid week with a 1lb weight loss! Sunday morning here now and time to meal plan and prep some quick things for the week

Breakfast: 1/2 glass juice
Lunch: Egg and cress sandwich, whole head of romaine lettuce, fibre one bar
Snack: Pack of twiglets
Dinner: Risotto, small glass of smoothie, banana and yoghurt, fibre one bar

Only one walk today.

Morning everyone. I'm back now from busy few days on my work project.

Just a quick one from me for now (as house in a tip !!) but wanted to say a big hello, keep with it those not poorly, and for @TheRealHousewife - please take good care, and hope you are feeling better soon. You are always so positive and supportive for all of us, wishing you well

You - that is GREAT that you are missing bootcamp!! That is real progress. Crazzy - the rowing machine will be finding muscles hidden away. A good calorie burn too. I don't last long on machines as I get bored, so hope there is a TV or you plug into a podcast or something.

Well done on your loss Murm. Sounds like you have a stressful week on your own ahead. Break it down into small chunks, don't plan on being wonder woman for the week. Just get through, mindful eating.

Sunshine - also worried about you. Lots going on. Don't let it control your food. Sounds like you could do with some good talking-therapy to help process everything, and to support yourself. To have so much swimming around in your head with no proper outlet to process isn't good.

Off now for walk with dog. Will catch up more later!

@TheRealHousewife feel better soon!!

@buzzofthebumblebee I'll be off to bootcamp in the morning it will probably kill me after a week off. Strangely enough though, I've noticed that my belly is much flatter this week, its like a week off has let my body recover and reshape.
But I'm looking forward to the next drop in weight as I suspect I'll plateau again for a while.

Thank you @buzzofthebumblebee. Sorry for worrying you.

I went for a run today. Not really sure why as I didn't feel like it but then I realised I didn't want to do anything at all. For the first time since I was poorly I ran 6km. Nothing to write home about in terms of how fast I used to be able to do but I did it.

I weighed and measured my tummy. My tummy is the same size as when I was a stone lighter. I don't get it .

I didn't want to eat but a short while ago I felt light headed so I did eat something. Currently trapped under the dog so can't have anything else but dh has made an apple pie as I just really wanted one.

Hope everyone else is okay.

I'm eating chocolate. Not had enough proper food. Feeling very hormonal. I need a pass and will try to stop hating myself.

Breakfast: Half glass juice
Lunch: Half tub houmous, mini pitta, cucumber, 2 spinach and feta parcels, half glass juice, fibre one bar
Dinner: Parsnip and sweet potato falafels, glass of juice, banana, yoghurt, fibre one bar

Only one, very short, walk. Not doing too well exercise wise! I'm working solidly at the mo so it's hard to fit it in!

I've been eating snacks non stop over the weekend and on Friday. I'm trying to be good today. I'd better weigh in tomorrow morning. I'm down in the dumps and I don't want to be.

One walk is better than nothing @Pickles89 as you've has the fresh air benefit as well.

Hope you feel better today @DownUdderer.

How are you doing @TheRealHousewife?

Our DD has been told she has to self isolate for ten days and she was due to come home, picked up by DH, at the weekend. She has underlying health issues so I would rather she was here for us to look after if she has the virus, she's not had the jab, but we need to find out if she is allowed to come home.

I have to stay in all day waiting for a call from the doctor which I should get before 6.30pm so no run, dog walk, meet up with my friend.

Dh is poorly but we both had negative LF tests last night plus we have had both jabs and a booster plus our flu jabs but I know that doesn't mean we can't get either virus.

Hope everyone is okay.

Hey all, could I join you for the second half of this month???
I've been losing weight for just over a year- slow and steady.

SW: 13st 6.5lbs (Oct 20)
CW: 11st 4.5lbs
TW: 11st 0lbs