LOSE IT! May 2022

[TheRealHousewife]

☀️THE SUMMER COUNTDOWN THREAD ☀️

Fresh new month, fresh new start, fresh new habits. Jump right in to reset & refresh to become a healthier version of yourself in time for a Sizzling Summer!

As no one size fits all, members need to follow their own way of eating to LOSE or MAINTAIN. 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?

Benji's right, Sunshine - you're inspiring in holding onto your focus despite everything else. I take my hat off to all runners - its not something I can do (knackered my knees attempting C25k a few years ago) but it's such a good, free way to get a whole body workout. Well done for keeping it up!

DS is unwell at the moment so am stuck in the house a bit but he'll be heading to his Dad's tomorrow and I can hopefully head out for my Walk on Wednesday. Got a nice route planned, round a slightly different but if coastline so hoping the sun comes back out.

Food wise, I've managed to stick to my goals since Saturdays slight excess (and I still haven't had any alcohol) so hopefully the willpower lasts the week. I was going to make a Balti last night but due to DS's illness, it was plain chicken all round which was no doubt, better for me - just less fun!

Hope the numbers start heading downwards again for you, Puffalicious - sounds like you're doing everything right so hopefully you'll have a whoosh soon!

I need help. I just can't keep focus. My will power has vanished.

Partly I think it's because there's not a huge amount to loose, and when I look in the mirror I am not that unhappy with what I see. But the scales and my pretty dresses tell me I need to sort myself out.

I'm tired, and I'm de motivated. But I really really really want to do better. I have a holiday in 3 and a half weeks. I lose and gain the same few lbs over and over. Someone kick my arse please!!!!

Good Morning Everyone

Sun is shining which makes a refreshing change ☀️ Makes me want to be out there pottering but did too much in recent days and need to rest up.

Youre very welcome @pennysays I second that we need more of @HouseofHolbein cat photos 😍. Pleased to read your hormones are settling!

@Puffalicious I stalled terribly (plus started losing hair) when my intake was consistently around 1000. I have upped to around 1100-1200, not losing hair but I’m maintaining. I’m I am near goal so not sweating it. Perhaps increase protein, fibre & healthy fats which will satiate, maintain muscle mass and your gut will love you for it and I’d try to not drink calories. I know it’s hard, but you can do it.

@ginsparkles I can’t kick your bum 😯😬However reset your mindset about why you want to lose, what’s realistic to lose, visualise how you’d look at goal, meal plan and shop accordingly … why not try a few different recipes that you really enjoy and look forward too. I try to eat nutritious yet (what I find) delicious foods/meals. What are your favourite nutritious foods? Don’t forget the water 💧. When I up the water I always see positive change, feel better and more refreshed. Sometimes our cues get mixed up and we are really thirsty rather than hungry. Good luck 🤞

@SanFranBear sorry to hear your ds is poorly. Hope he feels better soon! Well done on sticking to your goals 👏

@SunshineCake well done on your loss 👍👏Slowly getting there!

@Flowers111 you’re welcome. Yes early days for you, baby steps will get you there!

Menu
Meal 1 - Mushroom soup. Raspberries & kefir yoghurt.
Meal 2 - Tuna stir fry.
Tea, coffee, water.

@ginsparkles OMG - I could have written your post. Dig deep girl. You've got this. Meal by meal, day by day. No sugar. Zilch. That will stop some cravings and reduce the general puffiness. Grab a drink anytime you think you are going to eat - change it up. Slice lemon in hot water. herbal tea. anything to stun the tastebuds . Bikini-type holiday? even more reason to restrain now

You girls are ace!

@TheRealHousewife I know you are so right, I tell myself that each day, start out so positive and then hit the rails.

@buzzofthebumblebee not a beach this time, but there's an outfit I would normally wear on this holiday (we take vintage vehicles across to Normandy for D Day) and I darent even try to see if it fits!

Ok day by day, meal by meal. More water, I CAN do this!

Today
Ham sandwich on seeded bread with cherry tomatoes, with chick pea crisps and a low fat yogurt.
Dinner of spiced lamb stir fry with noodles.
I haven't even packed a cereal bar or chocolate today, just two apples.

@ginsparkles maybe we can motivate each other? I don’t need to lose much just enough to keep my very expensive jeans fitting nicely 🤣🤣

I’m back on to IF. I’m upping my water intake. Actually considering going cold turkey on chocolate because I have no off switch currently. Same with biscuits.

c’mon gin we can do this!

We've lost our sun today @TheRealHousewife but glad it's gone to you!

Frightened to talk too sternly @ginsparkles - I seem to have scared off a lovely new poster the other day with my ramblings ... I was feeling so positive and motivational too. Hope I don't come across as a bossy boots. not nice if I do - apologies.

I did 10k run sunday morning too - but unlike @HouseofHolbein I didn't end up upside down in the pub !!!! I'm about to go out again now for another run. I'm carrying quite a lot of angst and it helps me be less shouty - in theory ; )

B - yoghurt, berries & seeds once I get back from run
L - leftover roast veggies & grains & roast cauliflower
D - no idea. I seem to have carrots and not much else in fridge.

Hang on in there @SunshineCake1 - you're doing brilliantly

And a HUGE hello to everyone else I'm not tagging - but reading all your posts

@ginsparkles Hang in there! I know how you feel, as I also felt like that in the past when I get closer to target. It's far easier to just keep going now that you're on the right track and in the right habits, than it is to give up and then have to start all over again (well...that's my experience anyway!). It's all about habits!

Day 2 of diet for me. I stuck to my 1,200cal yesterday and managed to get out for a 3.5k run. Need to get back up to a nice comfortable 5k (I can do 5k still now, but it doesn't feel like good so I'm trying to work my way back to it!).

Looking forward to your WOW photo tomorrow @SanFranBear - do you walk alone? listen to audio books / podcasts ? just curious (nosey!). I hope your DS gets better soon.

@HouseofHolbein absolutely up for motivating each other! I have done IF before but have a tendency so be badly behaved on non fasting days, so am sticking with counting the calories at the mo.

@buzzofthebumblebee definitely not to stern! I know your right. My head knows this stuff, I just need to do it!

@SNAFU247 I think that's the problem. I was doing really well, in good habits, gym etc. then it's been a catalogue of disasters for a few years, broken back, change of job, lockdowns, dad got ill and died suddenly, long covid. So I have got out of the good habits and man is it hard to get back into them again!

Anyway. Today is my eldest child’s birthday. She’s 29 😱 sadly due to her mental health we haven’t spoken for a number of years. I used to get abusive messages from her until I put a stop to them now I get occasional abuse via the other kids who get asked to pass stuff on to me 🤷‍♀️

mostly I deal with it but obviously today is hard. Sad that things aren’t different.

so anyway I’m going shopping with number 3 she’s going to spend some of her wages 🤣🤣 we’re going to have lunch and she’s getting her ears pierced. I’ve booked in for a midlife crisis piercing as well.

I’m going to enjoy my day out 😊 but first I need to get out of bed 🤣🤣

@ginsparkles i go for 16:8 fasting every day. Just getting back into it… so I don’t eat after 7pm or before 11am. It’s been hard because I work slightly odd shifts so I’ve got out of the habit but I’ve tweaked my times to this so it should work 🤞

altho I do have one cup of tea with milk in first thing otherwise I struggle to function 🤣🤣 apart from that I drink black coffee or green tea or water.

@buzzofthebumblebee You never come across as bossy or hectoring at all to me, I find you very motivational 👏🏻

@ginsparkles I think I'm in the same boat in some ways - I'm ok with where I am & when I'm just wfh I feel fine in my hoodies, I just need to remind myself that I'd feel amazing if I lost the last few lbs & looked great in my summer dresses!

Tues 10th May - 9s 3 & 3/4lb
BMI 21.4
BF 23.9

Stats down a bit but I did a lot of walking yesterday & ate very little. I find these days that I get hungry in the evenings & even if I have something small & light then to top me up it seems to slow the losses. Not sure what to do about it as I can't sleep when I'm hungry 🤔

Oh & @ginsparkles the vintage vehicles going to Normandy for D-Day sounds amazing - I won't say too much but I'm involved in WW2 heritage - please feel free to say more about what you do 🙂👏🏻

@HouseofHolbein hugs for today it must be hard. Enjoy the shopping trip and the piercing!!

@8stone13 ... yes that's exactly it! In my day to day clothes I feel fine, I'm in a size 10 and should be ok. I'm very tall so adding a few lbs other people can't really see. But I'd love my dresses to fit better for the lumps and bumps to be less obvious. I think I need to up the exercise and get more toned as much as anything else.

@HouseofHolbein ❤️ Sorry to read that. Sending a loving hug. Enjoy your day with your other daughter and I’m sure you’ll rock your piercings you groovy chick you 😬.

@buzzofthebumblebee I’ve sent the sun ☀️ back your way 😬 Cloudy here now and looking like rain. Where is our spring? You never sound bossy, only helpful. I’m sure it wasn’t your post that shoood anyone off, life happens. She might return.

@SNAFU247 Well done on sticking to your plan 👍

@8stone13 Good stats as per 👍. Keep going …. 😬

@ginsparkles Taking vintage vehicles over to Normandy sounds awesome! My OH would love to join you, he loves anything to do with the WWs 😄 I bet you look so elegant what with being tall and willowy.

Will read everything in a minute as need to shower but

Run 6.11km
Walk with the dog 1.5 hours
Get on scales. Gone up. Rubbish.

I’ve just committed to a half marathon end of June. It’s run around woolacombe and croyde if anyone knows there? I should have done it last year but ended up deferring and wasn’t sure I wanted to do it this year but I might as well 😊 apparently it’s really hilly and horrible 🤣🤣

Always takes a day or two for exercise to show on the scales for me 😊 good amount done today tho!

What a lovely and kind thing to say @Benjispruce4 Thank you so much. I went on my run and by the end of the road I was thinking this is not going to go well. I really wanted to run more that 5km to celebrate my two years of running but wasn't hopeful. Halfway down the road I changed my mind so ran my third idea and that went better. So pleased I ran. You were right. Did me good.

Thank you @SanFranBear you are so lovely and I always look forward to your messages to me. I am proud I have stuck to fasting properly for several days now and have also stayed off wine to join in Dry May to support all those doing it. I am hoping I will have my own whoosh soon. I thought of that after my sulk. I think bad days food wise and good days food wise take a couple of days to show on the scales. Is that the same with everyone ? Sorry your son isn't well. Hopefully nothing serious and also, your coastal walk sounds blissful. DH and I would love to live nearer to the sea. We are about 45 minutes from a beach and some days it feels too long but part of that is it is a difficult drive with narrow roads.

<hands @ginsparkles lots of will power> come on girl! You have this. Every good thing you do now gives you an extra new food to try and enjoy on holiday...I second @8stone13 that tour D-Day trip sounds amazing and I would love to hear more and see photos.

@8stone13 a lettuce sandwich before bed is meant to help with sleeping. With some warm milk.

Thank you @TheRealHousewife but shame I only kept it off for five minutes

@buzzofthebumblebee who did you scare off? I thought your long post was excellent and very motivational. I am envious of your 10km run. I can't believe I regularly used to run that and more but I did six today so slowly getting back. For your carrot mountain - soup? Or a lovely carrot mash ? Sorry you are feeling angst . Anything I can help you with?

Well done on your running @SNAFU247 and your good food choices.

<hug> @HouseofHolbein sad to read about your dd. I have hope for you as a friend of 30 years has just had her eldest daughter come home after refusing to talk to her for four years. Enjoy your day with your other dd and are you sure about your midlife crisis piercing??. Enjoy! 🤣at you signing up for a marathon!!

drink water time

Thank you. I hope so. I have just told DH that once I've eaten the chocolate in the cupboard no more going to Aldi and buying six bars at once as sugar is the killer. I eat a lot less chocolate than I used too but really it is the sugar isn't it causing my weight gain.

Thank you @SunshineCake and bless you for being so lovely when you have so much on yourself.

Your reward is this ...

I’m only doing a half marathon @SunshineCake 🤣🤣 even I’m not insane enough to sign up for a full with a month’s training time 🤣🤣

That picture is amazing @ginsparkles Thank you.

I forgot to post my stats for the 2022km in 2022 challenge. I am on 921.95 km. running, treadmill, walking the dog and sometimes other little walks are added.