Shredding for the wedding

[thismotherhoodthing]

I'm getting married in July. Had a baby in October and am struggling to shift the lbs. I need to lose a decent amount of weight for my dress to fit! Starting this thread as motivation. Not looking for big long explanations and discussion, more of a daily accountability check in or motivation boost- anyone want to join me? :-)

@Chocolatemushrooms that's amazing! Love your determination.

We have had family over all weekend. I pretty much drink wine all day yesterday, plus meringue and tonnes of carbs.
Feel deeply hungover today. Had three alka seltzers already lol

Back on it tomorrow! The exercise and diet that is, not the booze.

X

Well done choppies on that amazing loss!
Happy Easter everyone. I fell completely off the wagon, I was amazed how quickly I could go back to eating pizza, garlic bread, chocolate without any restraint. Anyway I got pay back as we all came down with a vomiting bug on Sunday/Monday so I pretty much fasted for 24 hours and came out of the weekend the same weight I was before. Definitely not advocating it but at least I haven't piled on too many pounds. I'm still finding the weight loss to be so slow in general though. The intermittent fasting seems to help but I think I'm going to have to start adding some more dedicated exercise time in to see a proper shift.

@failinghard haha glad you clarified that! Hope you had a fab times Meringue is low cal anyway!

I was doing ok until today and have had loads of cake and bread from the bakery with loads of butter - I went for a run but doubt it's cancelled it out haha. Will get back on it tomorrow.

@wineymummy it's hard isn't it. I think if you're fairly short it's even harder as your body doesn't need as much calories to function as a taller person. That's what I'm finding anyway. I'm getting a bit disheartened about how long it's taking me to lose 1lb here and there when others can seem to lose 2lb every week - but the main thing is consistency I guess and not giving up! Definitely look at getting more exercise in it will make a difference for sure - are you getting plenty steps in?

Ladies, what does everyone have for breakfast here? I need some inspo.

I generally have scrambled eggs with some veg (tomato, spinach etc), an omelette (mushroom, courgette, peppers, chilli, tomato etc) or chia pudding made with bananas and served with some fruit (apple, raspberry, strawberry etc). Any ideas? Trying avoid oats are intolerant.

X

im really boring - I have either scrambled egg (1 egg and 2 egg whites) with 2 Linda McCartney veggie sausages or 3 rashes of Turkey bacon.

i say this, we are on holiday at the moment and I’ve had nothing except croissants or full English breakies here. The fruit bar is amazing but I’m craving carbs so am going to roll home I think! Dreading the weigh in, but am trying not to worry about it!

how’s everyone else doing? x

For breakfast I usually have porridge or a nutribullet smoothie (I add full fat yoghurt and a few nuts and oats to add calories and protein as that makes me feel much fuller for longer). If I can wait for breakfast then I will have it later then just a snack for lunch then can have a proper dinner (hello fresh under 650 calorie selection). Ready meals really help with calorie counting but protein is the thing that keeps me on the wagon!!

weigh in today was 64kg so I’m on track for my target despite a few glasses of wine and a croissant this week! I am firmly subscribing to the view that any longer term diet (been dieting for 3 months now!) needs an 80:20 approach hahaha

Breakfast: Coffee on my way to work - milk & no sugar, then at work it's a herbal tea and home made museli (I hate raisins so make my own) that's also low in sugar.
Lunch is a salad bowl or a salad wrap and usually crisps (my downfall!)
Dinner is home cooked from scratch and I meal plan so I ensure we have chicken/fish/red meat rotating with veg each week.
I usually hit my 5-a-day easily. I drink about 2l of plain water a day, and alcohol only really at the weekend and even then, only a couple. I know all I really need to do is keep an eye on portions, and get more active. My problem is that my job is sedentary and I've a long commute so I don't have a lot of time outside of that 12hr window to exercise properly, but I need to try harder to fit it in - not just for the wedding but to build good habits for beyond as well.

I suspect I'm in peri-menopause becase I'm eating better than I ever did, but my weight has crept up regardless and I've had a few other signs too. I really want to lose about a stone - or even I don't care that much about weight, as long as I tone up and go down a dress size.

Hi all my app was playing up for a while so just catching up!

For breakfast I have fat free quark with free soul choc protein powder, chia seeds, flax seeds, blueberries and peanut butter. It's about 40-45g of protein so I find that really helps and I don't struggle to get my protein in the rest of the day through meals or snacks. If I don't have that I will have scrambled eggs with 1 egg and egg whites

For lunch I have eggs (if I haven't had them for breakfast) with either smoked salmon or ham and spinach. Or I will have a jacket potato with tuna.

For dinner I tend to have salad with either Quorn steak, chicken, tuna or salmon.

For snacks I have whatever I want as snacks should be fun! But I keep them under 300 cals in total so I don't go over my cals for the day

I've had a bit of a stressful day so I haven't tracked and have had two glasses of wine and a bagel with peanut butter tonight but that's the first in a long time so I just enjoyed it

Overall I'm down 12lbs and quite a few inches! Slow and steady wins the race (as I tell my impatient self). I need to lose another 2 inches off my waist for my wedding dress to fit

Some lovely breakfast inspo here haha! I’m off to buy quark and make museli (also hate raisins)

@thismotherhoodthing You’re doing fab then! Keep it up!

Some awesome breakfast ideas!

I am having scrambled eggs with asparagus, smashed avo and roasted toms, plus coffee with oat milk. Going to skip the bread, and I think I'll switch to almond milk so breakfast will be very low carb.

I weighed myself this morning and have totally plateaued which has bummed me out a bit. But last few weeks I have been a bit crap with socialising, drinking, and holiday. I defo feel a lot thinner though, like stomach is way flatter and feel a lot more toned so 🤷🏼‍♀️

I started increasing my HIIT work out to 30 mins now. I organised a bit of childcare so I can go swimming twice a week too, and will be able to get to yoga classes now too.

My friend who is really into fitness recommended doing HIIT on empty stomach. I am not sure I can do this with a baby and her nap schedule. But might start trying on Friday's when I have the nanny earlier. She also fasts from 8pm - 12pm, I currently do 5pm - 9pm, then work out after I have eaten my breakfast and baby in second nap.

I tried on my dress again, the back zip only goes up one third. Freaking out a bit. Going to try to find a seamstress as a back plan. I do think it's my waist that is the issue. Am thinking once I get it past half way, it might become easier to do up?

Started having apple cider vinegar in the morning with hot water and lemon, and drinking green tea across the day as good for flattening stomach apparently.

Keep it up everyone!!

*i meant 9am of course! That would be an insane fast lol

@failinghard that's excellent. I was feeling the same way but yesterday felt sooooo bloated. MIL is staying with us so we had to go out for pub lunch - tried to get the healthiest option was still ended up with a few chips. Feel like the past 3/4 days I have slipped and I'm definitely feeling it. I'm ready for her to leave so I can get back into my own little routine!

Swimming would be amazing!!! I don't have any childcare at the moment (feel like we have to take MIL out for day trips etc as she expects to spend all the time with us). But I might try this from next week as I love swimming!

I used to do fasted HIIT but found I didn't have any energy so didn't do a proper workout.

My waist is the issue too when I've done my measurements! It's hard as your body just completely changes shape when you have a baby doesn't it!

Your breakfast sounds yummy though!

My waist is also much thicker post baby :/ even plateaus are better than gains - it’s a marathon not a sprint and I think we are all doing really well in hard circumstances. I have no childcare help for work outs and partner works stupid hours so I’m still limited in that sense but my pedometer is on fire! (And the flat is a mess haha)

For me the waist-thickening is absolutely menopause linked. I was thinner a year after the baby than I am now and my diet and fitness has only gotten better since then. The only thing that's changed is my age.

My museli without raisins recipe for anyone that wants it:
170g wheat flakes
170g rolled oats (not the instant porridge sort, get the old fashioned porridge oats)
60g chopped pecans
43g sliced roasted almonds
43g chopped roasted hazelnuts
5 tablespoons milk powder
14g brown sugar (I adjusted this down as I'm reducing my sugar intake overall)
I add in a pinch of nutmeg or pumpkin spice and a pinch of salt.

That recipe fills a 1.6L tub that I bring to work. I use the red measuring spoon you get in the instant porridge tube for two level spoons of museli which is 30g, with skimmed milk.

Another thing I'm doing, don't know if it's any good, but when I pop to the loo for a wee, before I leave I do ten squats. If I do a wee 5 or 6 times a day, then that's 50-60 squats a day, and that amounts to 350-420 a week - that has to count for something, right??

I've started the couch to 5k again on my lunch break three times a week, Yoga at the weekend but also want to add in the 30 day Shred.

I've the consultation for my dress alterations in two weeks, but hoping she'll push out the actual alterations and fittings until mid or end of June when even if there's an inch or so in the difference of tone, I'll be very happy.

@Drinkingallthewine that muesli recipe sounds good I may have to try! I used to make a granola a while back with whipped egg whites instead of sugar/honey etc. It was actually really nice and really crunchy

I used to do the squats in the bathroom thing I'm gonna do it again as you're right it all adds up! Tomorrow I'm going full steam ahead until my dress try on which is 12th May. Currently about 2 inches too high on my waist so I will also be buying some huge knickers! Any recommendations welcome!

@Choppies it's so weird isn't it I feel like even when I lose lbs nothing is coming off my waist! Defo going to have to invest in some Spanx I think!

@thismotherhoodthing MIL sounds demanding, hope she took the baby for a bit so you could have a break? I feel you on socialising aspect, so hard to stick to routine and good habits. We got some friends over this weekend and going to try!

Been hardcore this week, did one 30 min fasted HIIT yesterday and actually got my PB. Couldn't believe it. I wanted to do it this morning but didn't have the energy, defo got to be in the right frame of mind.. and be loaded up on black coffee. A couple of times a week is prob all I can do.

I have also cut carbs out of breakfast, following the blood sugar diet. Still doing protein bar or shake for lunch. Then have swapped Gousto for Green Chef 3 days a week (which allows you to specify low carb) and other days I'll do a little BBQ or roast a chicken or fish & salad. Also started doing sun salutations when baby as asleep as really good for core, defo feel the muscle ache.

Been drinking green tea during the day and having apple cider vinegar in the morning too. Supposed to be good for waist line.

Weigh in tomorrow. But did measure my waist this morning and it's over an inch less than yesterday!

I am defo wearing underwear that sucks me in, already bought in and just about squeezed myself into it. Not even my underwear fits fml 🤦🏼‍♀️

Hubs to be strolled in wearing his wedding suit he bought, it fits first time and he looks great. Wish I hadn't bought this dress now, the zip the back is my sworn nemesis I swear!

@failinghard she didn't!! I don't think she's confident enough as she lives far away so has only seen her twice since she was born. So didn't really get time away. She's gone now though so hopefully get back into a bit of routine.

Well done on the HIIT! I think a few times a week is all
You need for something like that. I must start doing it. Do you have a link to the sun salutations they should amazing if love to try

I've heard apple cider vinegar is great for bloating. It's my TOTM at the moment and I've found I bloat so much more since having a baby.

I'm going to buy some underwear today - might try the Skims brand. My hubs to be is there same not an ounce of fat on him and he can eat what he wants it's infuriating!

@thismotherhoodthing I bought the Heist Outerbody. I think it's amazing.. got it in black but just bought the cream one.

If you Google Sun salutation / Surya Namaskara A then lots of vids will come up, it's really simple but take it slow at first and build up adding one extra a day.

I've had one very very light period since baby was born (apart from the huge one just have just after birth, not even sure if that's a period lol) so have no idea where I am at with that, would love to just have a really big period soon at least I can put the bloat down to that. Sadly I think I am just fat haha

Does anyone weigh in on Friday's? I lost 3.3lbs this week!

Biggest loss for a long long while 🍾

@failinghard well done that's amazing! I'm not weighing until I'm not on my period as I tend to bloat up and I don't want to get disheartened. Also I've been off track for a week or so - going to give it. Few days I think!

I just came on! First one since baby. Hopefully I can lose some of this bloat now too.
I just ate a steak 🥩 x

@Drinkingallthewine thanks for recipe!
@failinghard well done that’s fab!

im on my hen do today so will treat myself but stick to gin and slimline rather than wine or beer! Wish me luck avoiding the kebab shop!

@Choppies hope the hen was fab!

I am feeling a bit down in the dumps today. I weighed myself and had gone back up to 139lbs. I know some of it is bloat from TOTM but some of it is cause I had a week of less tracking. Ijust feel like this is impossible unless I completely starve myself which I'm not willing to do. I still feel awful in all of my clothes and I have such a mum tum whereas I always had a flat (ish) stomach pre pregnancy. It was the only part of me that I didn't mind and now it's gone!

I'm trying my dress on in two weeks and I'm pretty convinced it's going to make me feel terrible and I'll panic. I probably need to step up the workouts but I am absolutely exhausted atm as LO has stopped sleeping

Hey @thismotherhoodthing sorry you are feeling down 😒 sending hugs

My only advice is try cutting carbs and completely for a bit (and increase good fats) and see if it makes a difference. It's defo what is working for me. Typical day is eggs with some vegetables (mushrooms, spinach, toms, asparagus, peppers, avo, broccoli etc). For lunch I have a protein shake (Purition with almond milk, maybe a bit of full fat yoghurt, teaspoon of nut butter, and avocado sometimes too, can add extra cocoa powder too as no carbs).

Then for dinner I am having stuff like roast chicken/steak/baked fish and veg/salad. Also getting Green Chef meals 3 times a week for a bit of low carb / keto variety.

I have cut all fruit apart from raspberries. Then all the obv stuff - potatoes (or any root veg), pasta, rice, noodles, crackers, chips, crisps, cakes, biscuits etc etc

I have had a few lentils/beans though. Have added a bit more soft cheeses into diet like feta, burrata, halloumi, goats cheese, ricotta etc but not loads. Plus nuts and seeds in small portions. Have got rid of oat milk and just having almond or whole milk.

It's essentially keto but I am not going overboard with salty foods (like bacon or fatty meats) or loads of butter. Mainly sticking to olive oil but being a bit more generous.

I don't feel hungry tbh, and losing weight. Tried everything and it is the only thing that works for me x