LOSE IT! February 2022

[TheRealHousewife]

A Warm Welcome to New and existing Members alike! Fresh new month, 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?

LOSE IT! January Thread 1

LOSE IT! January Thread 2

Useful link for lower carb menu ideas Free Low Carb Diet Plan

• more links to follow.

134.4lbs for me today so another 0.4lbs off.
I was supposed to be going out for a walk 'with' my chum at 9 but its foul.
@SunshineCake1 you do too much and give too much and worry too much about everyone else - focus on yourself for a while 🥰

Thinking about it, I reckon end of Feb is possibly one of the hardest moments in the year of the dieter/person who wants to lose/slim/tone etc. Jan is tough but at least it's early days, we can often see a quick drop of excess weight & water. By March the light is getting better, shops are getting spring/summer clothes in & that can be a motivator. Feb is just a drag. And end of Feb...ugh. No wonder we're all battling a bit. We've been doing this for aaaaages, it's still cold, but not yet Spring enough to put a spring in our steps. We just need to hold tight until we march into March next week.

With apologies for this cringeworthy post, I couldn't resist all the nonsense. Hope it makes people smile as much as 🙄

😀

and a lovely big mug of hot tea and a very tight squeeze.
Plenty to go around for everyone

Good Morning All

Pleased to read you’re going to see your daughter @SunshineCake1 (hope I got that correct)

@Youdoyoutoday I really enjoyed your post up thread and I hope it inspires @Rewis. Here’s to a successful 8 week programme Rewis! You can do it! 👍👏

@WhatWouldTheDoctorDo fantastic results! Well done! 👍👏🏅

Welcome to the thread @OneSwallow & @pennysays. Let’s be honest weight loss is complex and tough to achieve. Much harder than it going on. It’s far more than cico. Although calories in ultimately have to be less than what we expend to lose, there are many other variables to consider (age, hormones, illness, muscle ratio, exercise, meds etc) Sometimes we need a complete overall of what we are eating, getting a balance of macros (carbs, protein, fat) that suits our own unique physiological body type. Me personally, I’m a endomorph and only have to see cake (any carbs really) to gain. For example I can eat the same amount of calories but if they are carb heavy I gain (water weight). I will also feel more sluggish and less likely to want to exercise. Also the resulting spikes in insulin can lead to cravings. When my macros are on point I feel more energised, feel satiated and can lose (slowly). My eating plan isn’t ‘diet’ based, it’s a way of life. I rarely drink alcohol, don’t have any added sugars or sugary drinks, meals made from scratch. I realise not everyone can prep from scratch due to time restrictions. That is where the planning comes in. Write a meal plan/shopping list. Sorry for rambling, I will stop now. Oh before I forget, get the WATER in, it’s so important (I struggle). Good luck 👍 PS can you share a typical days food intake?

I need to pop out so will finish replying to thread later.

Menu
Meal 1 - Mediterranean omelette & salad.
Meal 2 - Chilli and cauli rice.
Tea, black coffee, water 😬 Pecans.

Enjoy your day!

Morning all! I just remembered I haven’t yet posted my 2022 km in 2022 update for last week.

While my enthusiasm for tracking and adding it all up is waning a bit (thank goodness for apps!), I’m definitely still putting in the kilometres. I did 61.59 last week, which brought the total so far to 478 km. With the exercise I’ve done this week, that means I passed the first 500 km hurdle! 🥳

I’m quite enjoying this challenge and am fairly certain I’m doing a bit more than I’d normally do, just to get the kilometres in. @Youdoyoutoday in case it makes you feel any better, I do exercise multiple times a day, but I definitely don’t look like I do either. I can feel the impact though, , not just when it comes to the sore muscles. I just feel so much better than when I sat on the sofa all day.

@SunshineCake1 commiserations on your weight gain. That must be so frustrating after all the effort you put in. I know it’s easy for me to say, but you did it once, so you can definitely do again. Stay strong!

@Crazzzycat I do feel better when I've exercised but I do find because I exercise so early in the day, it can on occasion just wipe me out for the rest of the day then I don't do much else. That's where I know I'm struggling.
Sometimes, I'm full of energy and get loads done around the house or get out with DD but most of the time, I'm struggling. I'm still waiting for the 'yay I've got energy' phase of eating well and exercising even after all this time.

That can be a bit of a downer sometimes too and I think why am I bothering but I keep reminding myself that it's been so much hard work to get to this point that I'd be majorly pissed of with myself if I gained all that weight again.

My DD is 2 stones and carrying her is such an effort after a while that I think 'my god, I was actually carrying 1 and half of her in my own body before'!! That's insane!! No wonder I felt worse then than I do now!!

But sleep is my major problem at the moment, I finally started taking those melatonin pills (another reason to stay off the wine) but I can't say I'm feeling the difference yet.

I woke up at 3.30am this morning and then couldn't back to sleep. And I've made a huge effort to go up to bed at 10pm each night this week then read for a bit instead of watching crap TV.

Sleep is one of the most important aspects of weight loss and I really want to get back in to good habits especially with the early mornings I have now.

Thank you everyone. Was just feeling so disappointed in myself. I just ate a bag of Colin caterpillars after jacket spud and cheese and four chelates an hour ago. Just felt so hungry. Will read all the posts now.

That's so kind of you to say @pennysays and lovely words. Thank you .

It's so easy to do, isn't it @Foreverlexicon? Seems to happen without us noticing. I will be running again soon though. I walked very fast for 56.5 minutes on the treadmill and then ran for 3.5 minutes on level nine. And got told off by dh. Then we walked the dog for about an hour and I'll get on the treadmill again tomorrow. I am really tempted to walk again this afternoon but I don't want to do too much and or get addicted. I wanted to do it yesterday as was worrying about DD.

Of course you are right @8stone13 and we all need to remember that. I was just having a low moment as actually looked horrible I felt. Sometimes the scales and how I look and feel don't always match, as last week when I thought I looked okay, but of course I had gained. I will get back to a lower number. I will.

Thank you @129orbust. Did you manage to get out to see your friend?.

@buzzofthebumblebee 💕

Not sure when I'll see her @TheRealHousewife. Will know more tomorrow I hope. She's sleeping now.

Well done @Crazzzycat. I've no idea what I am up to and of course I've lost a few days, couple of weeks really, but now I can walk on the treadmill and with the dog I will increase my total. Nowhere near your 500km though I am sure! . Thank you for your encouraging words too .

Lack of sleep is so hard @Youdoyoutoday. I was sleeping better once I started running but now I'm officially menopausal the effects have worn off. Plus I wake for a wee and if I find myself thinking of DD I struggle to get back to sleep and rarely do. Some days start 4-5am which is awful. I have the Sanctuary pillow spray which smells nice though my sense of smell has diminished a lot.

@SunshineCake1 I'm perimenopausal and feeling the effects of that plus not exercising, sleep is alluding me.

Hope your DD is OK ❤

500 km @Crazzzycat - very well done.

Every time you post your km stats, I remember I need to set aside for myself my 20-22 mins of ME time. Spent it today reading a newspaper with my lunch (saturdays - not read sundays either!). Taking time out for us is SO important. Monday was a bad day emotionally - I put on a 15-min mindfulness calm thing. It was blissful.

@SunshineCake1 - you are so full of tension & anxiety & frustration & hurt, and broken heart, and pain etc etc etc - and all understandably so. No wonder you are seeking solace in Colin Caterpillars. Don't fret. When the worm turns (!!!) you'll find your mojo and more.

Lots of love to everyone else.

As for me - 5 km run clocked this morning, and light lunch as dining out this eve. Can't wait.

I really hope you get a good nights sleep tonight @youdoyoutoday and that you find something that works consistently to enable you to get a restful nights sleep. All I know about my daughter was she was with us at 12.30 when she messages to say she was going to sleep for the rest of the day [frets].

Thank you @buzzofthebumblebee. I really feel and appreciate the care from you. I had a made up dinner of last nights left over rice, with spring onions, cherry tomatoes , mushrooms, onions and courgettes all cooked up together in my wok with beaten egg to make it like fried rice. Then a double decker but I had run MY FIRST ONE since elbow gate on the treadmill. Only 2.1km at 7 but I did it and survived. I'm excited to run tomorrow - hoping for 5km but already can feel I will get obsessed.

Well done on your run @buzzofthebumblebee and I hope you have a nice time out tonight.

nothing much to add except my calories which are under 1000 for the day (yesterday and today).
exercise a consistent 60 minutes a day.
stay focused everyone the end of the month isn't far away.
stay strong @SunshineCake1, do you need to wear a sling or anything to help support the arm? you're mighty brave on that treadmill!!

Morning all! Weighed in with nearly a 1lb loss, which I'm super happy with (target for this week was to get rid of the half term gain).

I know it's not technically the end of the month but I'm going to round up my Feb targets now as it's my last weigh day of the month 🙈

Targets for Feb:
well I've been in the next stone bracket down for 3 weeks now so I'm taking that as a success.
barring half term I've managed to stick to this, and more importantly got back onto plan after the half term 🙂
not really managed that - honestly can't work out when with the kids, house management and work. I'm sure I'll figure it out (any tips welcome!)

All this leaves me 10lb down this year and about a stone(ish) off my vague target. I'll muse over things at the weekend to come up with some targets for March.

Have a fab day/weekend all!

Good call @fallfallfall. I might put my splint back on as my arm was a little achey at times yesterday. Mostly I'm okay.

Added up my total for the 2022km in 2022 challenge - 335.87km. I'm actually only 1.13km under the average total I need to be by the end of February to make it to 2022 so I'm pleased about that.

Can't decide what to do today as it is a big day for DD. Don't know whether to stay at home and try not to stress waiting for a call or go out to spend my Christmas and birthday money to take my mind off stressing. I asked dh but he hasn't decided yet either. I'm going to get up, go on the treadmill while dh takes our son to school, walk the dog then we'll decide. No idea re food today.

Have a good day everyone and don't forget your water 💦

Well done @ImALittlePea! Your aims all sound really good.

My March aim is to definitely be in the next stone down bracket. So frustrating I am back to nearly where I was in May 2020 and upset as I don't look great. I just can not afford to get poorly or injured again.

@SunshineCake1 please be kind to yourself. You've got so much going on physically, mentally and emotionally that you've got to take comfort somehow. Remember that you have lost the weight before so no matter how frustrating it is, you know you can and will get there again. Don't let that frustration add itself to your load. I hope you manage to distract yourself today while you wait for that call 💐

Good Morning All

Ukraine 💔 Utterly heart breaking.

Well done on your 2022 quest @Crazzzycat 👍👏🏅. I’ve got a few days missing for when I was under par. Not to worry, I remain mindful of the importance of moving every day 😬

@Youdoyoutoday sorry to read your sleep isn’t good at the moment. I share your frustration as a fellow insomniac. Mine gets particularly bad if my carb count is too low. Its a tricky balancing act! There are loads of variables when it comes to sleep including hormonal health, activity, time spent out side, keeping a regular bedtime routine, foods/meds/alcohol, blood sugars etc. I hope you find a solution soon because as you say it’s very important for health, we’ll being and weight loss.

Well done on your loss @ImALittlePea. It feels great doesn’t it! 👍👏

Menu
Meal 1 - Halloumi stir fry.
Meal 2 - Sea bass and veg tray bake.
Tea, black coffee, water, raspberries and small amount of cream.

Enjoy your Day! Not many left in February 😮

@Youdoyoutoday I’ve just seen This Sleep Thread I’ve not read it all but thought it might be useful.

Thank you @ImALittlePea. Your post has really hit home that actually I am being too hard on myself as I am still coping with a fair bit as well as recently being poorly myself. I'm clearly an idiot. Honestly. Thank you.

I am pleased to announce I have just done my first 5km run on the treadmill since I fell off it. Yesterday I ran for three minutes after a walk but today was properly running and I don't fall off. I didn't collapse and k didn't wear myself out too much. Not as fast as I was outside before I had glandular fever but not too shabby a time. Has really boosted me.

I have messaged my daughter but she hasn't read it yet. Dh is back with the dog so we are going to go shopping now.

Have a good day everyone.

Love to Ukraine. It has really upset me and is only going to get worse. My children have Russian friends living here. Just 💔.

Day 55 - Fri 25th Feb - 9s 3 & 1/4lb
BMI 21.3
BF 23.7

I don't deserve those stats as I pigged out on chocolate yesterday 😬 It's been the most full on week I've had in ages - my feet haven't touched the ground, I've burnt through thousands in my business & had to sack my solicitor yesterday 😮 In truth it was the Terrys Chocolate Orange & the Mini Egg bar that got me through 😀

I didn't feel good after it though & am determined to put things right today. Mini detox Friday. Kids are away to my ex this weekend & I'm not sure if the gf is coming over - depends on whether either or both of us test positive as it seems everyone we know & have been exposed to has Omicron 😬 If she doesn't I may spend the weekend on my own in bed listening to podcasts and not eating chocolate 😀

Have a good last day of the week all 🙂

You're not an idiot @SunshineCake1, you're a human, a mum, a wife, and everything else. I'm sure you wouldn't call anyone else an idiot if they were feeling the way you are, so remember to extend the same kindness to yourself. And we'll done on the 5k!

I had a good night's sleep last night sponsored by Pinot Noir! 😀

Slight headache this morning but at least I slept from 11pm til 6.30am so I can deal with the headache.

Thanks for the thread @TheRealHousewife I'll have a read when I put dd down for a nap!

Too early to think about what we could give up for lent???

I'm definitely giving up alcohol and I'm thinking stuff that is basically just sugar like chocolate, biscuits, cakes, not that I much of that staff but probably more than I should have been doing since Xmas.

Thanks for the ⭐️ buzz! I’m glad you are still aiming to make time for yourself. Like you say it’s so important, yet so easy to let it slip down the list of priorities. Gold ⭐️ for you too, and for @TheRealHousewife for being mindful of the need to move and for @SunshineCake1. I’m impressed you managed to do all that while being so poorly.

Sorry to hear you not sleeping well @Youdoyoutoday. Do you find the melatonin tablets help at all?