LOSE IT! January 2022 - Thread 2

[TheRealHousewife]

Following on from January Thread 1

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022 🍾 🎊 🎉 🍾

Fresh new year, fresh new start, fresh new habits. Jump right in to reset & refresh to become a healthier version of yourself.

As no one size fits all, members need to follow their own way of eating. 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. 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).

I calorie count based on a lower carb Mediterranean diet. I intermittent fasting and eat twice a day.

Are you in😊 What food plan will you be following? What do you want to change and why?

Useful Link - more to follow

@SunshineCake1 .... take time for you. You have lots of plates spinning. Definitely not rubbish to us here

Weighed myself this morning and I’m practically the same as I was at the start of the year. With the amount of snacking I’ve been doing, I consider that a good result.

My plan for today is:

Lunch - A weird pasta & veggie meatball soup. It’s tasty, but a bit like having pasta with a really watery sauce. Not sure how I feel a about that. I’ll also have a pear and possibly a packet of twiglets

Dinner - tofu stir fry with satay sauce and a satsuma

I’m torn on the exercise front. I might just go wild and have a rest day! 😮

@DontWantTheRivalry

I really feel you pain but you must up your calorie intake in the right way with protein, you need it to feed your body correctly which youre obviously not doing if you're about to faint at work. You must look after yourself.

I began last year with Noom on 1200 calories per day and found that helpful as it gives you daily lessons about weight loss, why we over eat etc.

I now have around 1400 calories a day because I work out 5 times a week.

Breakfast- 150g of full fat Greek yoghurt with 100g of blueberries and raspberries with 10g of pumpkin seeds - that's about 300 calories
Lunch - salad of mixed leaves, tomato, cucumber, spring onion and 1 large roasted chicken breast no skin with a dressing made of 20g FF greek yoghurt and 5g mint sauce loosened with a splash of water - roughly 300 to 350 calories.

Dinner is anything that I'm cooking but easy on the carbs. If we have chips, I make myself celeriac or carrot chips. noodles, I use courgetti and I will have a bit of pasta if I've made a spag bol because I just plain old like it but I keep carbs to a minimum as much as I can (even though I love white bread, pasta and rice, I just can't eat them every day or I'll bloat out)

Snack will be an apple or I try to drink water and divert my attention away from food by doing something else. However if I want something and diversion hasn't worked, I will eat that particular thing and limit the portion and savour and enjoy it.

I use a smaller plate and fork as that helped me portion food, dinner plates are far too big these days.

Also be mindful of liquid calories, milk in coffee, frappa cappa calorific something from Costa, fizzy drinks etc. It all adds up especially alcohol, another of my vices!

Food logging with My Fitness Pal will really help as it shows you how many calories you're having and the break down of the macronutrients too.

The big thing is go easy on yourself! Rome wasn't built in a day!

It took me 11 months last year to lose 3 stones, it felt like forever. I bounced around on the same few pounds loads of times, I gave up drinking and lost 10lbs in a month then plateaued for 2 months even though I was working out 5 times a week!! I felt deflated, defeated and seriously pissed off but this is all part of the journey to a healthier you!!
This group really kept me going when all I wanted to do was sink in to a bottle of wine and box of chocolates because what was the bloody point of trying this hard if I wasn't losing weight??

But I had changed, my skin looks better, my thighs are slimmer, my stomach flatter, I'm getting compliments and the biggest win, I've maintained what I've tried so bloody hard to lose!!

Sorry if this is so long but I really just wanted to say you're not alone, you have to look after yourself and you will get there but it's going to be tough sometimes

@DontWantTheRivalry

It’s just so difficult and I’m feeling so deflated.

I’m 5ft 5 and weight 66kg.

The soup is from a tin.

Because I’m eating so much less I’m so lethargic all the time, I had to be sent home from work last week because I almost fainted.

I take medication for a chronic condition (started this new drug 9 months ago) and one of the side effects is weight gain so I’m just feeling like, “What’s the point in even trying?”

I honestly feel like I could cry.

My gut feeling is you aren't eating enough. If you don't eat enough you don't lose weight. Your body just holds on to every last scrap.

Should have read the whole thread. Just repeated everyone else but less useful.

I can echo others. I'm definitely the slowest on here. I could cry when people lose half a stone in two weeks but I have to remind myself we are all different.

I put a stone on through being in bed for ten weeks so no walking or running and two much chocolate as mentally I was dangerously struggling.

I lost 3lbs between Christmas and two weeks ago but have gone up two this week. Don't rally know why as even though I am having chocolate I am having less of other things and a lot more vegetables.

Not sure what is happening with the next couple of days. In some ways will be easier as DS2 feels better and will go back to school, still supporting my friend but that is no hardship though is making me very on edge at times. On the other hand supposed to be meeting one friend and I'm not sure I want to while also wanting to see another friend but not sure I can. I'm also not sleeping well so feel very tired.

I have achieved something but writing all the cards needed up until May though.

Hugs @SunshineCake1, i had what seems like a shit 4 month fog. i believe the shit feeling will pass and you will be back on in top form soon. allow yourself a break what ever that entails. from all you've ever posted you're a good and generous person and a number on the scale or the minutes of exercise is not a reflection on you.
@8stone13, i've not gone into any detail on MN since maybe october. will be brief (or try) i ended up with an accidental mammogram, which picked up a tiny tiny macrocalcification in a very very awkward spot (upper chest wall) it was awkward to pick up, it was impossible to stereotactic biopsy and needed surgical intervention as the only option to assess it. this took months to work through. i had the surgery last monday the 7th (they took out the whole of the spot) and then 10 days to find out it was "a granuloma for which the name isn't important, is a not unusual finding with the newer mammogram machines, is not cancerous, or precancerous, or related to your reduction"
during that period of waiting and organizing each step of the way i ate generously and didn't do more than get out of bed....except for the 10 days when my daughter her partner and the two grandkids came to visit.
oh sunshine i really could have used your spirit in caring for the youngest he was incredibly hard work and i wanted to wring his little neck on at least 5 of the ten days. grumpy grammy was out!
back on track aiming for 2 healthy meals a day and starting with 20 minutes of exercise daily (yes i did 20 yesterday)

Great post, thank you @Youdoyoutoday - we have very similar menus (except my salad dressing is different !!). Really nice to be reassured of what I am doing and why. And huge congrats on your overall progress. A big achievement when you step back and put it all into context? (and can I be so personal as to ask - given we have such similar daily menu - do you have a trouble with constipation? Whilst veg and seeds are all high fibre, and I drink plenty water & walk & exercise loads, I almost feel there is too little bulk to keep regular .... no need to respond if you don't want to..but I don't really know who else to ask)

Might I add - to the already excellent advice "dontwanttherivalry" - is that 5'5 and 66kg isn't much overweight anyhow ??

Sorry you are still having a tough time @SunshineCake1. You might think you are really slow, but to me you are still amazing in your total weight loss, small regain due to longish-term illness - and now still mindful . Please don't beat yourself up anymore.

Happy positive vibes to everyone else. Any thoughts of snacking tonight? Steer clear. Calories not needed, and so not worth it nor anything gained.

@fallfallfall for your newly found burst of energy. What a worry. Glad you got thoroughly checked-out and looked after. It's what should happen.

Good grief @fallfallfall you really have been through the mill. I hope you can have some time to recover mentally & emotionally now 😐 Look after yourself x

@8stone13, i looked after myself with lots of food.
just knowing the results is fine.
@SunshineCake1 for you so that you don't feel so alone i stepped on the scale...163.7 up 20lbs in 4 months. my body loves to hold on to the memory of muffins and cookies.

Hi everyone hope you all good. I’ve been healthyish today. I’ve given my resignation to HR so it’s all official as of this morning! I think leaving work will reduce my stress eating massively. Just gonna browse some jobs and have my dinner (chicken, mash n veg)

I need some advice please! I'm finding my average daily calorie intake during the week is about 900-1000, which I know isn't enough on a regular basis, although I'm rarely hungry and I'm not counting over the weekend.

I generally don't eat breakfast, but do have a cuppa. I don't like cereal and I'm trying to avoid bread, so there isn't really anything that would suit for breakfast.

Lunch tends to be 1/2 tin of soup and a satsuma, sometimes a salad, sometimes I share an omelette and beans with my 1yo.

Dinner tonight is pasta and pesto with a broccoli, green beans and peas. Yesterday was homemade veggie curry and rice. Other regulars are jacket potatoes, risotto etc.

My TDEE for a gradual weight loss is 1200-1400, but I don't want to jeopardise my weight loss by not eating enough. I know I'm going over at weekends, so does this balance out overall in terms of my metabolism, or do I need to add some snacks? Can anyone suggest good snacks if so? I'm prone to reaching for crisps if I'm not prepared, which I'd like to avoid (this is a slippery slope for me!)

TIA x

@buzzofthebumblebee thank you.
TMI but I'm very regular to the point that I don't understand why I weigh so much as I can go more than once a day most days.

That sounds like very few calories to me @ImALittlePea. How tall are you?

One of the risks with very low calorie diets is that it’s difficult, if not impossible for your body to get all the nutrients it needs from such a small amount of food. So I’d definitely look at snacks.

I don’t see a huge amount of protein in what you posted, so I’d include some more of that as snacks, e.g. some yoghurt, cheese or a few nuts, hummus & carrot sticks etc.

Well done everyone, you're all doing so well 👏

Meanwhile I can seem to make it a whole day without binging on 2 packets of chocolate fingers. I do so well throughout the day and 4pm rolls round and bam! I lose all self control.

So I really need to break it down into tiny goals, see if I can manage tomorrow without failing. Just one day, that's what I'm going to tell myself. I know once I've managed it, it will get easier as the days add up, but I really want to come back on tomorrow evening and tell you all that I have succeeded!
How do others manage to trust themselves again?

As for a little weight goal, I am going to aim for 2lbs off/be 12st 6 before the end of January. I think that's manageable right?

Thanks @Crazzzycat yes I agree it's not enough. I'm 5ft 5.

I tend to eat cheese and either greens (broccoli, peas etc) or baked beans daily, which is some protein, but yes probably not enough. I'm not veggie but I don't eat much meat, so will look into how to add healthy protein.

They're good suggestions, thank you. I'm not massively keen on yoghurt and it always ends up going off, but I think it might be worth trying to force myself into the habit of having some with fruit either mid afternoon or evening, depending on what time we eat dinner.

Evening All … come to thread and discovered my AM post hasn’t posted. I must have forgotten to click ‘Post message’ 🥴

@Raspberry12 there is research that suggests butter is better than margarine or highly processed spreads 🤷‍♀️ The butter made from grass fed cows such as Kerrygold is said to be better than other butters. It is all a minefield. I can live without butter rather than cheese (I think) as I was to reduce my diary intake. We use a lot a butter in cooking, on veg etc. A bit of butter does make everyone taste better 😋I generally don’t ban any food and advocate for a full varied diet that includes about 30 different veg, beans, nuts, herbs, spices, berries etc a week.

@DontWantTheRivalry I just want to give you a big hug! Bless ya’. Looking at your sample menu I’d suggest upping/adding veg, fibre, protein, healthy fat as per @Youdoyoutoday excellent post above 👍👏

@SunshineCake1 hope your son feels better soon!

@galacticpixels good result! 👍

@Crazzzycat yes very interesting film. I think there is a massive difference between simple carbs and complex carbs on the body and it’s metabolic functions. Complex carbs like beans, whole grains, brown rice, vegetable etc we need and they help to keep blood sugars balanced; simple carbs like sugar, alcohol, white products etc disrupt blood sugars, encourage fat storage and promote cravings, we don’t need! It’s all fascinating 🧐

Healthy Proteins

Healthy Complex Carbs

No loss for me this week.

Well done to all you ladies who’ve lost 👍👏🏅. You are doing great.

Enjoy your evening.

Healthy Fats

This is an inspiring thread. I am just about to get going with shedding some weight.

Thank you @fallfallfall. I'm going to get on the treadmill tomorrow then go somewhere different to walk the dog. DS is going back to school and I will try and make time to read and make cards tomorrow. I have 18 lbs to lose to get back to where I was before I had glandular fever .

Thank you @TheRealHousewife. He feels well enough to have eaten three meals today and will go to school tomorrow.

Thank you @buzzofthebumblebee. Sorry for being a moaning Minnie. I will try harder to be positive.

I posted earlier today about how my goal is to go outside and less take away and only drink when socialising. As I was scrolling I discovered the kfc has started to deliver (we haven't had a kfc in my town before. Exciting) so I had to order a zinger. I did go for a walk...well I ran to my office to pick up a bottle of wine. So a great start 😅

@Rewis well i'm amazed a zinger (had to look that up) only has 463 calories. in theory it could be worked into a healthy day. leave the wine corked...

@Katiepants27, building new habits is hard work. You have to tell yourself that you can do it, even if you don’t quite believe it yet.

There’s some interesting research into how people build new habits and resist temptations. Basically every time you say no to say a chocolate biscuit, that drains a bit of your mental energy. For the next few hours, that will actually make it more likely that you give in, if faced with the same temptation. That’s why a lot of people manage to diet quite well during the day, but completely give in in the evening. They’re just out of mental energy to keep resisting!

It’s a hard cycle to break, but the way to do it is to replenish some of that mental energy you lose every time you resist a treat. There’s a lot of different ways in which you can do that. It can be an alternative non-food treat, listening to some music, spending a few minutes outside, or practicing some positive self-talk (along the lines of “I’m doing so well resisting this food and putting my health first”)

Also, I’d really recommend dividing your chocolate fingers up into individual snack size servings. That can be a really good way of changing a habit, e.g. from eating a whole packet to eating a snack sized serving.

You can do this! And your weightloss goal for this month sounds totally doable 👊

Hi everyone. I weighed myself today and I lost 1kg since last week, I am now at 76kg. I am feeling a little bit lighter. I am keeping up with c25k, skipping rope, cardio (fiton) and eating within IF period. Some days I want to eat at bedtime but I just tell myself to drink water and think about the end goal.