LOSE IT! April 2022 🌻

[TheRealHousewife]

Hard to believe it’s April already 😮. 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?

March LOSE IT! 2022

thanks @SingaporeSlinky. i'll need to see how this works. my dh and i are accustomed to eating our similar meals together and he wakes up famished. so the 3 low cal meals has in the past worked out well.
for what ever reason my body just isn't responding as well as in the past.
now my exercise is also rather low key, once i can ride my bike it will get a bit harder.
@TheRealHousewife, i use the 8 loop bands that they use in the Walk at Home series. i'm pleased with the new Steel City segments. Tyler does a 30 minute men's workout (15 of which is with the resistance bands) which i enjoy. as well there is a 30 video called Burn 30 that uses hand weights (i could probably increase to 2 lbs).

@fallfallfall we can put money into her bank account but we have no idea if she is spending any of it. We literally don't know anything. Where she is, if she is with someone, if she has a roof over her head, we are only assuming she is still alive if she has used some data. A friend suggested yesterday I find someone official/qualified to talk to and I thought about it today, but tbh I don't see the point. There isn't anything anyone can do. Dh and I talk and one of my oldest friends has been texting me almost every day.

any password hints stored on the home computer as to her bank log in info? my computer had stored all the passwords and card numbers (which she had not changed) so i would when necessary for safety concerns sneak a peak. the local bank branch manager was also discrete and helpful. have you checked with friends who she may stay in touch with, hopefully they are sympathetic to your pain? any hint for instagram (back in the day it was more fb) activity?

@SunshineCake1, see message above. i didn't like to your name.

Thinking of you, Sunshine - some good ideas from fallfallfall there... I hope you're able to get some reassurance somehow very soon.

I weighed in this morning and I've managed to shift another 2lbs Ever closer to that April goal which feels really in reach:

SW - 104.7kg
CW - 87.5kg
April Goal - 85kg

I did calculate that I'll still have about 4 stone to try and lose once I've hit that point but the support I get from this thread makes me feel really positive and hopeful.

My DC are going to spend a couple of extra nights with their Dad over the holidays so gives me a bit more freedom to get outside. I'd normally use those nights to head out, see friends, eat and drink like a fish and whilst I may well do that, it'll probably be just the one. I needed to overhaul my lifestyle and I feel so much better for it.

NSV - at my lunch yesterday, got a few 'have you lost weight' comments, some from people I haven't seen in the flesh for two years. Nice boost to head into the weekend with.

Thank you @fallfallfall for the tips and pointer @SanFranBear.

DH has looked through her laptop but she used a program which leaves no trace. Even typing that makes me feel we are invading her privacy. She still hasn't read the text I sent on Wednesday and she didn't answer when dh rang yesterday. She said she won't keep in touch and she rarely says things she doesn't mean.

We have no contact details for current or new friends and if she is staying with her ex he won't tell us if she asks him not too as he has ignored us before when she left without telling us. That was different as she wanted to stay with him and it was the pandemic and we said no so she went when we were out and came back a week later for school.

We could see her on instagram but she has blocked us all now.

I dreamt last night she came home, albeit for an hour to get her stuff, but after I woke up it was a while before I realised it was a dream 💔💔

Morning all! I had a terrible night sleep and woke up at an ungodly hour. Instead of trying desperately to get back to sleep, I decided to get up and get my rowing in early. That’s another 8 km ticked off ✔️

I’ve also decided that today is the day I need to tackle the chocolate issue. Giving my diet the middle finger was fun for a few days, but I can’t continue like this. I actually think it’s partially to blame for my terrible sleep over the last few days (too much sugar/ too much caffeine late in the day?)

I hope everyone’s doing ok? Unfortunately there’s a massive advert on my screen that’s preventing me from scrolling up and seeing other people’s posts. Useful! 🙄 Anyway, apologies for appearing to ignore everyone. It’s not intentional

Ooh, I can see other people’s posts now!

I’m so sorry to read your update @SunshineCake1. That must be so tough.

@SanFranBear, you’ve done brilliantly so far. Continue like this and a lot (may be even all) of those 4 stone will be gone this time next year. But the best bit is that you obviously don’t need to be at target weight to start feeling the benefits! Things get easier with every few pounds you lose 😀

@fallfallfall, I’m another one who exercises at the end of a fast. It’s tough at the start, but you do get used to it. Apparently exercising before you have anything to eat burns up to 20% more calories. That’s a significant difference. Having said that though, I usually fit my exercise in around 12, as I find exercising first thing really hard. But I’m 100% not a morning person though, so that may explain the difference

Sorry been absent all week just been quite tired. Thinking of you @SunshineCake1 with lots of love 💕

Still the same from me weight is up and down within the same couple of lbs. Trying to eat sensibly but tbh I’ve been too tired to be bothered.

Got some days off over the next couple of weeks and my hours are a bit more sensible so hopefully my attitude will improve 😊

Love to everyone 💕

Day 97 - Fri 8th April - 9s 2 & 1/2lb
BMI 21.3
BF 23.6

Not bad not bad 😀

Can’t recall if I posted yday. Did 7 mile walk. Minestrone can soup 2 plus 2 krackawheat and rana aubergine pasta with spinach, mushrooms, butter and Parmesan dinner. Treat of Lemon aragostini, cappuccino and takeaway teas with skimmed milk x2.

Run 20 mins today. Oatsosimple with blueberries and honey, baked beans on toast lunch 11 stone weight so must’ve lost some llbs!

Hope everyone’s doing well this week. Sorry to hear your update @SunshineCake1 - it must feel awful to be in limbo like this.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Just come on for a quick visit and find the threads moved on quite a bit since I last posted. 👍 to all who’ve lost and 👍 to those who haven’t but keep on going!

Menu
Meal 1 - Halloumi & quinoa salad.
Meal 2 - GF Spaghetti bolognaise.
Tea, coffee, water.

I intend to read up on thread later 😊

Enjoy your Friday!

well 156.6 this am....i will therefore continue with the am dog walk before breakfast.

Op thanks for the welcome back!

Not doing very well either keeping up with thread or staying on track eating wise. Struggling to get into a good routine. Need to get back in habit of tracking and being more disciplined.

But I have been - very roughly - eating kinda what/portions I was eating when I was losing before. Not sticking to it religiously but better than I had been.

Got a loss this week. By luck more than action I think! 1 lbs off although that’s not totally accurate either possibly a bigger loss as I’ve switched from weighing naked to weighing with jammies on as it’s bloody cold! Plan is to weigh in jammies from now on as I wear roughly the same thing always on that score (leggings and vest top or tee)

So
Sw (originally - way back when!) 13 stone 12.5 lbs

Sw (this time around!) 13 stone 6.75lbs (so I didn’t quite put it ALL back on!)

Cw - 13 stone 5.75lbs (well we’d just forgot to post)

Gw (I’m gonna be ambitious now I know from last time I CAN do this!) - 9 stone (which is about middle of bmi healthy range according to nhs)

@Harmonyrays you may not want to take my advice as I haven’t succeeded yet but when I was on track last year I was averaging losing .75lb a week and mostly keeping it off. Until it all went to pot in December for me! (Personal stuff not weight loss stuff but it messed up my weight loss progress). Apparently from all I’ve read/been told (I did ww a few years back too and lost weight then and mostly kept it off just didn’t get to a healthy weight) 1-2lbs a week is sustainable long term, above that tends to be water weight and quickly regained supposedly. It’s also common to get a big loss initially but then it evens out and plateaus and occasional small gains are not only normal but apparently show you’re on the right track as occasionally your body needs to readjust - one of the regulars (sorry I forget who! Posted a link to an article about this a few threads back) the HALT-B is a good tip as a mnemonic. I’m conscious boredom can be a trigger for me also anger

@was1969 never too late! I’ve a lot to lose too we’re all at different stages

@crazzzycat I used to be similarly ignorant to your dh i was shocked when I joined ww and discovered certain items I thought were healthy/low cal were far from! Sweetcorn and peas being the main ones! They’re basically carbs! We don’t know what we don’t know so go easy on dh? I’m sure you will

@Gonnagetgoing the thyroid thing is something I want to pursue with new dr (especially as my weight is bound to be the 1st thing they mention!) I was very slim - size 6/8 until AFTER I had dd. I remained pretty slim throughout the pregnancy and within 3 months of her birth was back to a size 8 - but then over the following 12-18 months I piled on the weight yet as far as I could tell I wasn’t eating loads and hadn’t significantly changed my diet I wasn’t suddenly scarfing whole pizzas or chippy suppers or anything! This is a pattern I’ve seen within my family on one side - all very slim EXCEPT the women who give birth and then they snap back ok but put the weight on after that initial loss. There’s a history of gestational diabetes (despite us being v slim and not sweet toothed people) which resolves immediately after birth, then the weight gain, lots of thyroid testing showing us to be within normal range but “borderline” and then once over pension age/post menopause matters worsens eventually resulting in thyroid problems and type 2 diabetes being dx BUT once the thyroid thing is treated the diabetes disappears! I’ve tried to find info on a potential genetic cause for all this because as I say it’s the medical history of several of my female relatives going back 4 generations at least that we know of.

Last time I was tested results were (supposedly)

Tsh 1.82 free t4 9.9

I say supposedly as getting the exact results was like pulling teeth! I was given the right runaround and hcps and receptionists just kept telling me “within the healthy range” so I don’t entirely trust them!

@imalittlepea don’t be so hard on yourself! Not only cos you don’t deserve it but because it genuinely serves no purpose whatsoever! Tons of research proves this especially with “fat shaming” even when we’re the ones doing it to ourselves

@buzzofthebumblebee ahh thank you

@sunshinecake hope you get good news on dd soon must be so hard I can’t imagine. I may have read and forgotten but have you spoken to police about it all? If she's an adult they can't make her come home or contact you but I believe they can let you know she's safe and well?

@sanfranbear I agree Cals on menus is very helpful I think if people don’t wanna know they don’t need to read that part do they?

@eesha perhaps now would be a good time to take up new hobbies or revisit long forgotten ones? Can help with a split and weight loss. Shakes with my ex hcp hat on I’m not a fan of, they’re not sustainable and you don’t then retrain your mind and body to adjust to real food of fewer calories plus can leave you constipated.

Hello everyone.

New to this.

Any tips on how to not eat sweet things that are unhealthy?

I’ve tried yogurt and blueberries, but really crave chocolate. I’m not calorie counting as can’t stick to it so trying to cut out sugary / chocolate things.

It’s the usual thing…at night watching TV.

Thank you.

@Graphista. Lovely to see you. We did report dd as a missing person but think someone must have told her, though we did tell her we would ring the police and had, as she went to see them. They thought she was fine so they are no longer looking for her. She doesn't want to talk to us and hasn't sent a single message since she went two weeks and a day ago. She hasn't read any text from me for a week now. Dh doesn't think she will come home. We haven't split properly since she went and are physically and emotionally exhausted. It is a living hell and I am still in shock I think. She might be safe if she is with a decent friend but she isn't well as still wants to die. I want her home. I'm heartbroken.

@OriginalFloorboards I'm not really a choc person but occasionally will crave something sweet and creamy I love mullet light chocolate fix layers it's a caramel/choc pud that comes in at just 69 cals a pot and tastes indulgent and rich. Also IF you can get them where you are - tunnocks teacakes are just 106 cals and again VERY rich and sweet tasting

Other than that as I've just been saying on another thread replace higher cal favourites with lower cal options rather than just trying to resist all together I also like cereal bars, fruit, popcorn

It sounds like she is a vulnerable adult which is a different thing to an adult with agency, can you provide evidence of this? I'm not an expert in the area but I believe that means the police have to handle things a bit differently

My heart goes out to you all such a horrendous time you're having

@SunshineCake1 sorry last two Paras to you of course

Thank you everyone. Good tips. I ride my horses 6 x a week, muck them out and all the shenanigans that goes on with them. It’s just the evening where I crave sugar and chocolate. I’m also peri menopausal, so I can’t seem to eat what I want anymore. The lovely things that happen to us as we get older!

@Graphista I questioned the police as to whether she has capacity and he said who spoke to her deemed her to be okay. I wasn't able to speak to whoever that was. He said they can do no more and if is the mental health services I need ri speak to. I can't as don't know where she is. There is no question she has had two attempts as the police have sectioned her twice. I'm distraught.

• was meant to say not slept properly, dh and I are exhausted.

Good Morning Everyone

A warm welcome to the thread @milkfromthesleepycow & @Eesha. Stopping the added sugar and taking up strength training are one of the 2 best actions you can take to improve your health as well as lose weight (along with calorie deficit) 👍. In regards to meal replacement (can be convenient if times an issue and better than falling face first into a cream bun 😬), that’s a personal choice but if time allows whole foods prepared simply are hard to beat.

Loving to ‘see’ you and you're welcome @Graphista. Yes you can do it! You’ve just had a tough time of it moving etc. I’m sure when you’re in the right head space you’ll do what you know works for you … and I see you’ve already made progress 👍😊 It seems a few of us have thyroid problems. I’m due a Practice Nurse MOT and I’ll discuss my numbers. Graph do you know what are the optimum numbers to have? I was told mine where ‘adequate’ which is very different to ‘optimum’.

Thank you @fallfallfall I’ll look into those workouts but they might be a little ambitious for me. I was right proper twanged myself when I accidentally let go of one end of the band. Profanities were uttered!

Sending a hug @ImALittlePea sorry to read life’s been a bit tough. You’ll soon get back into it once you’re feeling a bit better about things.

A warm welcome to the thread @OriginalFloorboards. There are some great links on this thread and previous threads you might find useful/inspiring. What does a typical days eating look like for you?

@SunshineCake1 ❤️

Sorry if I’ve missed off anyone … multi- tasking like mad and trying to catch up with thread doesn’t quite work 😬

Menu
Meal 1 - Avocado, quinoa salad bowl.
Meal 2 - GF Spaghetti bolognaise (didn’t get around to making it yesterday)
Tea, coffee, water. Pear.

Posted a pic of my meal prep for SB… will make about 10-12 portions.

Day 98 - Sat 9th April - 9s 2 & 3/4lb
BMI 21.3
BF 23.6

My weight has crept up 1/4lb each day this week, though I'm still maintaining a good low. I've been hungry though & felt hollow, because I've been so busy I've been grabbing food on the go, albeit it healthy food (cheese, nuts etc) it's not been enough to make me feel sated which has led me to probably eat more in stages than I would if I ate a proper meal.

I'm away to London again tomorrow, I hope it's like when I was there the week before last when I ate tons but burnt it off & came back lighter!

9st 2 today so I’m drawing a line and happy to report a 19lb (8.6kg) total loss since early January. Flying to Mexico on Monday, having exceeded my target. I feel like I’m in a really good head space with it, and will absolutely get straight back to the gym and my new normal eating routine when I get back. I’ll do my best to stick to plan while away, with some allowances for enjoying the new flavours and importantly, having 2 weeks off cooking and meal prepping! I shall start with a glass of wine on the plane, and although I’m not even sure I like tequila, I may have a margarita or two in the resort, just because I can 😀

I’ll catch up on my return, and may even start my own maintenance thread then. Thanks for everyone’s support on this thread and keep going everyone!