LOSE IT! March 2022 🌼

[TheRealHousewife]

WOW 😯 Where did February go … 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 fast and generally eat twice a day.

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

February 2022

Useful link if you’re unsure where to start:-

NHS Weight Loss Plan

More links to follow.

Welcome @Mreggsworth. It sounds like you have very sensible ideas and plans. I was 14 stone in October 2019 and almost got to ten and a half in August of last year. Sadly I was then poorly and broke a bone so I'm now just over 12 again and very fed up. I'm only five foot four as have lost two inches so while I think I look okay ish in the mirror the numbers tell a different story and so do my thighs when I sit down . I'm going to take inspiration from you and do better.

Well done @Wizzwazzwas! You are doing great .

You did great @ImALittlePea resisting the takeaway. Star of the day for you too .

Hope you don't suffer @SingaporeSlinky! Take it easy. If you catch his eye I would smile like you would anyone else.

Lunch - home made seeded bread with home made Chinese crab and sweetcorn soup.
Dinner - cod stew with celery and peppers. Maybe rice for the side. Both new recipes for today.

You are very thoughtful @Crazzzycatm I struggle reading how much weight everyone is losing and how fast when I think I have done well if I lose a pound as I aren't losing anything even though I am back to running and walk the dog at least once a day and sometimes twice. I have been shopping five times now and not bought any sweets, chocolates or biscuits so pleased about that. Just slowly eating the aforementioned treats to get them gone. Can't just leave them in the cupboard.

I did a few hours in the garden yesterday and a couple today. Just hope I haven't just pulled up a load of flowers as I think I might have but dh is sure they were weeds.

Hi
I have just joined i'm trying to lose weight but always give up when i see no move on the scales currently trying to do 1400 vals and aerobics dvd.

I seem to be gaining alot of weight around my chest, useally when i am due on i blow up my chest goes bigger that my tops dobt fit me however i am not due on but my clothes are so tight around my chest, gas anyone else experienced this?

Hi all it's been a while (waves) @SunshineCake1 I'm with you cheering on my fellow tortoise. I think with everything life has thrown at you you're doing so well to have maintained! You're so active too and eating really well so that has to pay dividends. Re the treats ... could you give them to a neighbour or someone?!! Just a thought as that's what I would have to do, I have to foolproof my surroundings or it's game over.

@Bettyronnie32 welcome, your plan sounds great. I have another mantra: if it's working keep going, if it's not working yet keep going!!

I'm doing ok with many challenges, sick DC and more sleepless nights. It is so hard not to eat for energy after broken nights but I'm hoping to have dipped below the magic 11 stone this Weds... crossing everything I've got!

Hello @RebeccaNoodles 🐢🐢🐢. Not sure I have maintained apart from if you mean not lost anything for aggggeeeesss and at too high a weight! Don't want to give away the treats as they were birthday gifts. Just slowly making my way through them. Had a really healthy lunch and dinner so I think a couple of chocolates are okay.

Welcome @Bettyronnie32. Hope your weight starts to come off for you. Hang in there.

Thank you for all the encouragement ! I can’t figure out emojis or how to do your names on this iPad.

Today’s menu:
Greek yogurt, sprinkle of oats, strawberries and blueberries
Lentil and bacon vegetable soup with Stilton
Scrambled egg with smoked salmon, sauerkraut, huge pile of green veg. Single square 90% choc
Charcoal sesame crackers with cheese

Loads of tea and coffee

I also managed to cycle to work and back, and went for a short walk in the sunshine at lunchtime

Welcome newbies!

Wowsers.. lots of posts today!

I can see people posting their menus for today - I wont as I made another Pinch of Nom recipe this evening and it was pretty grim... bit sad as the first few I tried, I enjoyed and have actually made a couple more than once. But the last couple have been really disappointing - maybe I need to get another of the books as only have the red one at the moment. Doesn't help a lot of their recipes are seriously spicy and my DC are really not fans of it - I substitute a fair bit of the chilli powder with paprika but I think the meal loses something. I really really like spice, especially post Covid as I have a weird after taste these days and bland foods make it much worse.

Anyways - enough about me and my woes! Sounds like lots of healthy eating, activity and thoughts on here today so well done all. Will bottle some of that up as I head back to my office for the day tomorrow. It makes literally no difference to my day as my entire team are based at a different location but it's always nice to be amongst other adults. Got my version of a Ceasar Salad to take in with me which I'm looking forward to already.

Could you take out your portion at the point of adding spices so the children can have what they prefer and you can have your spice, @SanFranBear?

@SunshineCake1

Could you take out your portion at the point of adding spices so the children can have what they prefer and you can have your spice, *@SanFranBear*?

That's a good idea, Sunshine - not sure why I didn't think of it. I would worry the food would have no flavour as they're pretty basic recipes but there are two or three I've put off because of the spice aspect and this could mean I get to indulge.

Thanks, Sunshine - will look into that!

129.8lbs which is good for me on a Tuesday - so looking forward to the weekend away but know my weight will go up a bit so trying to get there - albeit fleetingly - before we go.
This is our first in person offer holders day as DD1's were all either cancelled due to covid or virtual and DD2 has done just one virtual up to now.
Big wave to everyone - the thread has so many posters I cannot keep up and start to read through all the new posts, need to work and then when I look back there's another 50 posts .

Morning all.

Haven't been on for a couple of days as I've not really had much to say.
Did bootcamp yesterday and swimming this morning so trying to get back in to the swing of things now the wedding date is looming ever closer! 😳

I ordered some ankle and wrist weights as I wanted to try to tone up more, to be honest, I'm not sure I'll actually lose a lot more weight in the next few weeks so my focus now is toning up and if I lose more than that's a bonus.

I'm not sure I'm strong enough to wear the weights during my bootcamp (40 minutes) so I think I'm going to incorporate some more exercise in the afternoon that targets my bingo wings!

Happy sunny Tuesday x

Happy sunny Tuesday indeed.

I've been very busy with life stuff - no time to come to say hello - but I'm back. Probably gained as was indulgent at weekend but didn't have time for exercise. But in running gear so will go and pound the streets in a bit.

Despite my best intentions March was rubbish for me to loose weight (but I have maintained - just!) but April I shall definitely focus.

Keep up the good work everyone!

Good Morning Everyone

Hi @buzzofthebumblebee, welcome back and enjoy your run 🏃‍♀️

@youdoyoutoday when is the wedding … sieve brain has forgotten 😬.

@129orbust great numbers! Yes threads are busy at moment, which is good. I’d like to think they are making a positive difference for people ☺️

@Wizzwazzwas your daily exercise sounds great! Cycling to and from work will make such a difference and then adding in a walk too = bonus cal burn 🔥 Well done 👍👏

@RebeccaNoodles wishing your children a speedy recovery!

Welcome to the thread @Bettyronnie32. Like @rebeccanoodles says ‘if it’s working … keep going, if it isn’t working yet … keep going’. I’m heavy in the bust area too and I share your frustrations with what that brings. My bust is the last place weight goes from. Changing what we eat and trying to move more does make a difference … eventually.

@Crazzzycat I’ve saved that recipe. It’s looks right up my street. Thank you for sharing.

Menu
Meal 1 - Salad of romaine lettuce, red pepper, carrot, red onion, quinoa, fried Halloumi and an avocado oil, white vinegar & lemon juice dressing. All chopped small 😬
Meal 2 - Chicken Tray Bake
Tea, black coffee, water.

Enjoy your day!

I’d love to join! I’ve been working really hard for my degree recently and put on a lot of weight. I’m 5 foot 8 and I was 196lb last Wednesday so almost obese. I’ve just been surprised with a trip to NYC in September and I’d love to lose some weight by then.

I weighed this morning and I’m at 194.8lb so that’s 1.2lb down already. I’m hoping to move more and just eat sensibly, I have exams and a busy academic year from now on so I need to be realistic. How much do we think I can lose in 7.5 months?

Last time I tried to lose weight I averaged 2.75lbs a week and I kept it off until I tore my rotator cuff and couldn’t exercise for a good 9 months as it just wouldn’t heal . I had got down to 155lb at that point.

I was hoping for 1lb a week so 169lb before I go and anything more is a bonus.

Hi everyone. What delicious food you’re all posting!

I’ve maintained this week. That’s ok, I’ve been out and about and I don’t think I should need to forgo a nice meal at a restaurant. But this does make me think - how do you stay in your calories AND go out for lunch or dinner? Any tips? I’m struggling. Even the “healthy option” and no desert or alcohol is normally more calories than I would eat in one meal at home.

Answers on a postcard please.

Day 80 - Tues 22nd March - 9s 3 & 1/4lb
BMI 21.3
BF 23.7

Not bad given I had salty food last night & downed what felt like gallons of water!

Welcome to the thread @NewYorkCityDreamer! 1lb a week would be great and over the weeks/months prove a significant amount. New York is fabulous! Lucky you 👍

Good healthy stats @8stone13 👍 You’ve reminded me to get chugging the water 💦

@pennysays staying still is ok. Happens to all of us. If I know I’m going out to eat I compensate by eating lighter in the days before and on the day in question.

@pennysays I agree, I just have to compensate the rest of the day. On Sunday I knew we were having a roast beef dinner, and a pudding, so I didn’t have breakfast and had a very light lunch, to save all my calories for the dinner.

I was a bit worried as I’m going on an all-inclusive holiday in a few weeks, and usually at the buffet, I would fill my plate, try everything, then go back and get more of whatever was my favourite. Plus multiple puddings, just because it’s there, and I can. When I spoke to one of the PTs at my gym, he said he just fills half the plate with salad, then half with a few things that look the nicest. Not just loading up with chips and pasta. Same with dessert, just pick one, and get away from the ‘I’m getting my money’s worth’ mentality. I know it’s different in a restaurant where you’re ordering a specific dish, but I try and avoid pasta or chips. Or even let whoever you’re with have some of it?

I’ve got to say I really enjoyed my salad today. It was fresh & vibrant and contained 21 different elements. Took about 40 minutes to chop everything small (not fast or dexterous) and half as long to eat 😬

Pic didn’t attach.

Mumsnet gremlins 😬

Oooo that looks yum!

Wedding is mid June, less than 13 weeks away so I don't think there's time for any drastic loss but certainly time to tone up and look great on the day in the fab (now 3rd I've bought!) dress 🤣🤣

Could I join the thread too?

I've had such a stressful few months/year and I've piled on the weight.

I used exante a few years ago really successfully so have ordered some today but I don't like it as a long term plan. Hoping it will boost me into getting started!
12 st 12.5
BMI 27.9

Welcome @CloudySunshine, @NewYorkCityDreamer and @Bettyronnie32. Apologies if I’ve missed anyone. We seem to have quite a few newbies joining us this week!

@NewYorkCityDreamer, if you’re in the overweight category, losing 1lb a week sounds pretty realistic to me. You may well lose more than that, especially at the start.

@pennysays I go out for meals so infrequently that I just write it off as a rare treat and don’t worry about the calories. I’m sure that approach wouldn’t work so well if it were a weekly occurrence!

I didn’t do so well yesterday, or most of last week really as I’m dealing with a lot of stress at the moment. I just had some bad news about a project I’m working on. It shouldn’t upset me because at the end of the day it’s “only work”, but that’s not really how my head works 😣 Anyway, we’ll have to see how many chocolate bars need to be sacrificed tonight to make me feel a bit better.

My “official” plan for the day is:

Lunch (which I haven’t even had yet!) - homemade lentil & carrot soup, pitta with cheddar and an apple

Dinner: roasted vegetables & halloumi with a honey-harissa dressing, soy yoghurt, satsumas

It’s a variation of this recipe, except that I can’t eat broccoli or onions, so my version of this recipe actually looks nothing like this 😂. The dressing is absolutely lovely for roasted veggies though:

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/halloumi-broccoli-tabbouleh-honey-harissa-dressing

I’m puzzled by the high calorie content on the BBC Good Food website. My version comes in at only 500 calories. Broccoli isn’t that calorific, is it?!

Welcome to all the new people!

I find it's another Tuesday that I'm surprised I haven't checked in all weekend.

Had a bit of difficult weekend dietwise: failed in some DIY and sort of gave up and ate sweets. And as I was completely exhausted asked DH to go get us a takeaway, and he chose a chippy so had the for lunch on Sunday, getting to close to 2000 calories for the day.

Did better yesterday, though, stuck below 1300. Have planned the same for today.

I need to make sure I don't slip again because the in-laws are coming for a week on Thursday - we'll be going on a night away, and I'm sure there will be some meals out. And I may find myself having dinner, as it is a socially weird meal to skip.

And still need to finish that DIY - more parts coming today, and hopefully we don't need to get in a plumber to have a working toilet by the time they get here! (We do have our ensuite, which the family's been using, but I'd rather not my in-laws have to walk through our bedroom to pee :) ).