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

@TheRealHousewife and

@buzzofthebumblebee

bless you for thinking of me

I am having a dreadful time! Can you guys help?

A major stressor in real life has sent me way off track food wise. I'm either out and about in unfamiliar places and stuck with only McDonalds type places to eat from, or I'm having cake cos I'm so anxious and it's light and filling and bumps the blood sugar up (usually doing this when haven't eaten with anxiety and sugar drops massively) or at home I'm too wired and busy to cook/concentrate on cooking so I'm mostly having snacky things or microwaved stuff (mainly outta tins)

Any ideas that may help?

@Graphista, may I suggest soups. Make a few varieties ahead of time package individually? Some varieties might lend themselves better to your needs (creamed no chunks vs hearty). If cake is your go to, make and bring muffins lots of low cal sweet or savory. To lower the muffin calories I find using the vegan trick of flax eggs both brings the count down while keeping the muffin moist as well as subbing apple sauce for butter.

Thanks I'm really not up to making stuff at the moment but I might get some fresh soup.

I’ve signed back up to the Walk at Home site and dh is helping to improve my streaming abilities.
I realize I can reach my Apple Watch challenges IF I’m consistent every day for the rest of the month.
47 minutes till supper and I’m ready to eat my arm, hot tea to the rescue.

Ahh @Zalen it sounds as you have been through a lot over the last few months Now it's just you, it's YOU you can be prioritising (and your DS). MFP is great - I used to swear by it - but it depends on what the 1400 calories (or whatever your daily limit is) are made of!

So relieved for you on your results @SunshineCake1 - but still a big worry that they don't know what's up. Hope the medics keep at it until they find out what's wrong. And sorry for your friend (but don't take it all on your shoulders ...)

And so sorry @Graphista to hear you aren't in a great place at the moment. Food is usually the 1st thing to give. Sending you lots of love. You know what to do - but perhaps you need to ride this wave of stress and hope you get into a better place to refocus again soon? All very well me saying eat salad not cake but it's no help is it? Have you got good support network to chat to? Take care

Morning all 🙂

Day 24 - Tues 25th Jan - 9s 2lb
BMI 21.2
BF 23.4

No change on the BMI or BF & my actual weight is back to pre-fry up levels 😀

I ate less yesterday & felt better for it. One thing I learned years ago (but seem to have forgotten until now 🤔) is that I don't like feeling full. I also quite like having calories left in the bank as it were, knowing I have something to look forward to. Anticipation is half the thrill & all that! Yesterday was more like that & I felt better for it.

I'm making broccoli & cauliflower cheese later, it's an old failsafe Delia recipe & I'll make it with strong cheese & less of it. Also making a fruit crumble. I love making a summer fruit crumble in January, it always tickles me to have it in deepest winter 😀

Good Morning All

Your menu sounds tasty 😋 Are you able to photo/screen shot Delia’s recipe. I’m always on the look out for a good Cauli cheese recipe 🙏

Hi @fallfallfall pleased to read you’ve started exercising again, hope the boob feels better soon!

@buzzofthebumblebee 😬 I’d use the whole head (if small) like you but perhaps a full pack of bacon might beat me 😳😬 22lbs is a great overall loss! 👍👏🏅

@SunshineCake1 sorry I missed the post about suspected cancer, pleased to read it isn’t that!

Sending ❤️ @Graphista If you don’t fancy prepping … What about getting some of those ‘fresh’ soups in. They can be filling and nutritious as well as comforting. I’d add some extra beans/lentils too to up the protein. Or what about scrambled eggs with grated cheese & a splash of double cream in, quick and tasty. If you try to up your protein earlier in the day it can help satiate you and knock cravings on the head that come stalking you later in the day. If you really need cake and a small slice doesn’t satisfy you, you could say to yourself ‘I won’t have cake today but I could have it tomorrow’ and see if you can ‘park’ the craving. Then repeat each day. < Not wanting to sound bossy 😊 after I wrote my response I saw fall offered similar advice. Great minds 👍

Menu
Meal 1 - Chicken soup with butter beans.
Meal 2 - Nut roast carrots broccoli leeks turnip
Tea, black coffee, apple, pecans.

@Graphista, in your situation, I’d forget about the calories and line up some really easy, minimum prep meals. When you’re going through that much stress, I think it’s more important that you feed your body well than that you come in under a certain amount of calories (although it’s possible to do both!)

TheRealHousewife and fallfall have made some good suggestions. I’d also add things like falafel in a pitta/wrap with some salad, baked beans on toast/with a jacket potato made in your new microwave, a quick stir fry with preprepared veg, preprepared vegetables for roasting with some microwave rice. Also have some healthier snacks in the house, e.g. carrot sticks with hummus, yoghurt, your favourite fruits (if you have those!) etc. If you still want that cake, have it, but you may be less tempted if there are other easy options around?

I don’t know about fast food places, but if you Google for example “healthier options MacDonald’s UK” that may give you some ideas for what to order and what to avoid?

Look after yourself

I’m glad to see you back too @SunshineCake1. That’s good news on the all clear, but it must be frustrating to not have definitive answers. Please don’t feel that you don’t have anything to contribute to this thread though! You’re always so supportive of others and that is more than enough of a contribution 🤗

@TheRealHousewife I don't think I can, it's an old recipe for just the cheese sauce that came from Delia's Complete Cookery Course - I just do it from instinct now! It might be online though...

@buzzofthebumblebee I like your approach of just cutting all the crap out, it certainly takes out the decision fatigue that we go through each day.

I do get tempted by stuff but sometimes just a look at the calories can put me right off it. I can make a chicken salad for 1 of the chocolate bars my DP devours!

Got to the swimming pool this morning, took an omega 3 tablet this morning before going. I did swim well, I beat my PB again, laps in 40 minutes. Not sure if that was the omega but I'm happy to keep taking it before a work out.
Also had a good night's sleep which is a rarity, got to bed by 10.30 which is an improvement on the past few weeks. Will aim for 10pm tonight as I have bootcamp in the morning.

Happy Tuesday 🌞

Weigh-in this morning 17st 0.2, so 0.8lb down on yesterday, happy with that, although it will probably be back tomorrow as today is the day I cook without the Gousto. My son has requested meatloaf, so probably not the healthiest option.

This is also the day that I'm mostly in long zoom meetings for work so less chance to nip off to the kitchen and grab a snack, so that is a good thing.

Great news @SunshineCake1 but hope you feel better soon!

@8stone13 that’s ok. I found this Delia Cheese Sauce Recipe online. I could adapt it for celiac by substituting corn flour for the flour. The thing I find when doing cauliflower cheese is sometimes my sauce goes watery. I try to use dry cooked Cauli but it still seeps water 🤷‍♀️

@Zalen a loss is a loss, well done 👍👏

@Youdoyoutoday you’ll be making the Olympic team soon 🏅Well done!

@TheRealHousewife I cook the cauliflower (& broccoli) then just add it to the cheese sauce at the last minute, throw grated cheese over the top then oven bake it. Mine never goes watery - I wonder if there's something else I'm doing without even realising it 🤔 It would be useful if I could work that out!!

Hi all,

Sending love to those having a tough time. @SunshineCake1 great news on the all clear, I'm sure your friend appreciates the support. Sending much strength your way.

@Graphista I find myself at McDonald's sometimes with DD. A hamburger is actually fairly low (263 cals) or I have the chicken salad or wrap. I would also echo @Crazzzycat about not worrying so much about calories and more about planning some quick simple filling meals, to help you not to snack.
I swap cakes for smaller treats, a small pack of Cadbury fingers, or a little fudge bar can be less than 100cals

For me, I'm struggling too. DD is having anxiety about my dad's death. So whilst dealing with my grief, I'm trying to stay strong for her. But her goes today :
Lunch out with a friend so having a baked potato
Dinner scampi with salad
Snacks just had an apple bar and will have some yogurt and fruit later.

I might be allowing the Cauli to cool too much before (in my attempt to dry it out I put it on a tray) but will do it more speedy next time @8stone13 👍

@TheRealHousewife Honestly I'm really not the best cook - I'm under confident more than anything - so I hope it doesn't sound like I'm bigging myself up as a domestic goddess by saying mine doesn't go watery as nothing could be further from the truth 😬

I'll watch what happens when I make it tonight & see if there's anything useful I can report 😀👍🏻

Watching with interest @8stone13 👀😬

This is a nice cauliflower recipe, made it yesterday for lunch and have the leftovers again today! So nice to have a hot lunch instead of a chicken salad.
www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/baked-cauliflower-pizzaiola/amp

It has taken me until today to drop another 0.2lb to 131.4lbs - at this rate I should get to 129 by July!
It is so cold in London that I am not getting out much. Went for a walk with my chum last night but it was only 66 minutes according to my Fitbit so just over half of what we would normally do.
We will be having a takeaway tonight as DD2 finished and submitted her History coursework yesterday so I'll fast until then to balance things then have whatever I fancy.
Glad there was good news for you @SunshineCake1
Onwards and inwards.

Well done all on the losses and maintaining.

Good to hear you have been given the all clear @SunshineCake1, you must be relieved. Hope they figure out what is going on for you soon.

@Youdoyoutodaywell Well done on your personal best. I take Holland and Barrett's own brand, currently with vitamin D. I can't take it in the evening as it attributed to my insomnia.

Todays meal

Breakfast Salmon eggs and asparagus
Lunch Tuna and cheese wrap
Dinner Beef Stew with kale and brocolli

Exercise T25 total body circuit

See you all for weigh in tomorrow.

@Graphista are there any days during the week that you would have the time and energy to make some batch meals for the week? I think the meal planning in advance would help and saves time during the week as you just need to defrost and reheat.
Also, for days when you’re out and about, the soup is a good idea. Warm and comforting if it’s from a flask, and you could take a roll or something in a plastic pot. I make a lot of pasta salads for the kids school lunches, it would only take you 15 mins at the weekend and then you can fill a container for days when you’re out, rather than heading to McD’s.

Thank you everyone for your good wishes. They are very much appreciated.

Thursday is when I will hear from the GP about my blood test results and also seeing another doctor for more tests. In the meantime I am waiting for a doctor to ring about my son as he has been having trouble sleeping for much longer than dh and I knew and given his sister has an incurable sleep disorder I am rather stressed.

I didn't go on the treadmill this morning as felt so exhausted I was being sensible by missing a day. I did walk the dog with dh and will take her out this afternoon.

Still trying to support my friend. Her husband is livid but I'm not scared of him and if he threatens me again I will call the police.

Oh goodness @SunshineCake1, when are you going to get a break?

So pleased you made it out swimming @Youdoyoutoday, and another PB! I LOVE swimming, but I have long thick hair which is too much of a faff to dry every time. I usually go running on hair wash day. Maybe I should go for a swim instead next time?! Make a nice change from running! Hopefully the short break will mean you attack bootcamp with gusto tomorrow too. It's when you least expect it that you have a good session!

I've been thinking of you @ginsparkles having to deal with grief, clearing out, and now your daughter's grief too. I have put off sorting out my mum's stuff for too long. I think once you're in the midst it will be OK, but the whole anticipation is just sheer dread. Lots of yummy comforting meals (and no biscuits - they will do you no good!).

And incase you think I'm such a greedy guts @TheRealHousewife, the pack of bacon was for 3 of us, of which DH and DS had the lions share! I probably had 1/2 cabbage though. That's OK greedy!!

I had a sneak nip on the scales this morning in anticipation of WOW tomorrow, and think things may finally be moving. I'll jinx it now !

@buzzofthebumblebee thank you. I picked her up from school a little early. We have had a big cuddle under a blanket, eaten a cupcake, shed a couple of tears and are now watching some trash tv.

I really just want all the house selling and sorting done now.