@TheRealHousewife many thanks not only for the threads but also the very kind pms which led me back here
@Crazzzycat posted in error
unlike less processed food, these all tend to come in handy, perfectly portioned 100 calorie packets.
I have the same issue! Pre portioned healthier foods would be great
For anyone reading and thinking 'should I?'.. you most definitely should. This is such a welcoming, friendly thread full of support, friendship and fabulous tips! Definitely helps keep me accountable but also lifts me up when things aren't doing so great!!
Bears repeating!
Fantastic thread which I often recommend elsewhere on mn
@milkfromthesleepycow I need to stop using sugar in tea and cereal and go back to using sweeteners
@Morred welcome I've a lot to lose too, I find "happy scale" app for weight tracking (log book and graph which I find very motivational) and "my model" app which generates an image of how you look now and how you'll look at goal which I also like - I appreciate it's not for everyone
Small goals are good as they're easily achievable, I aim roughly for 1lb loss a week and set half stone goals.
@NoviceNetwork similar to you I had a wake up call last year - I'd long been fat but "healthy" then my bp went up (I've always had a tendency to be low if anything) and that's what brought me to the thread. I lost 1.5 stone last year, unfortunately personal circumstances bumped me off the wagon and it's taken me a while to get in the right headspace to climb back on but I am hoping I can clamber in now
Sending healthy blessings to you too
@echobelly if you can't keep using the noom app to track what I've done is created myself a food tracker on my phone spreadsheet app. Sheet per month, 2 columns per day. "Title" column - breakfast; lunch; dinner; supper; snacks; drinks, daily left hand column I list what I have eaten/drank right hand column the cals in the item, bottom of right hand column I "sum" the days total calories then below that an equation to calculate how many cals I've used - 1st row there - my own personal allowance (I use nhs bmi calculator as guidance, at the moment), 2nd row the Cals used, 3rd row the cals I have left (if any)
As follows
TOTAL CALS CONSUMED TODAY
CALS AVAILABLE
Cal used
Cal left
Happy to help with the formula if anyone would like to do similar?
At first there was a lot of looking up cal amounts and logging but eventually
1 the spreadsheet itself you can search items
2 you remember the ones you use most frequently - eg I know by heart now how many cals in 2 slices of the bread I use
but not sure what to do about restaurants (where I reckon you're hard pressed to find stuff under 500 cals) and a bit sad about lack of treats when out and about.
I've said before I really struggle with this!
When in town I cannot find anywhere that does a decent range of healthy vegetarian options even less so a decent range of salads! Even McDonald's etc used to do a couple they've now disappeared off the menus seemingly in favour of plant based junk!
Have a good day everyone. Don't forget your water and add an extra vegetable to your meals today. When I can go out again I am going to buy some vegetables I have never cooked with before.
Excellent reminder
I have some okra in the freezer which I've eaten before and I love but never cooked with so I need to try that (was on offer in local Sainsburys) - any tips anyone? Stir fry seems the obvious option
I kept buying fresh steam veg bags then not eating them and throwing them out so I've now ordered frozen version instead. Super lazy but I don't care works for me just now as I am still having trouble getting pans for the cooker!
Managed to get a wok hence stir fry an option
@ElderflowerTonic you're same height as me but much lighter!
Re crisps me too but I try and have carrot sticks/celery/pepper strips instead. Seasoned with garlic grinder (I pop in a wee food bag, season, hold bag closed an shake it - a bit like salt and shake crisps!) very tasty and satisfyingly crunchy, sometimes have with a mini pot low fat hummus (main supermarkets do stackers of 3 pots)
@SunshineCake I'm Heeeeere!!
@Puffalicious good to see you again too!
Very happy to rejoin 🐢 club
I'm also going to focus on improving me over the next 13 weeks; so hair, skin care, brows, nails and improving my sleep.
My hair and nails really suffered I think due to Covid, I also have dermotillomania so I've been working really hard on improving these areas too. Been cleansing/toning/moisturising at least once a day, consitioning hair and trying not to brush too hard, I've a ton of vitamins I MEAN to take daily but don't always remember will try and be more on top of that.
@SunshineCake my teeth fell apart at start of lockdown and I've not made it to a dentist yet! Highly dentophobic so I'm dreading but they need sorted - the challenge of course finding an nhs dentist!
I'm also adjusting to 1st varifocals - any tips anyone?
@Gakatsbsk welcome it's surprising how quickly healthy changes can make us feel more energised and motivated I've 4 stone to lose but even 4-5lbs and I really notice a difference
@Eesha bacon isn't great in a number of ways, fat, salt, processed, nitrates...
I'm veggie so don't eat real bacon but the Richmond and quorn rashers are quite nice I'd say the Richmond ones nicest
Avocado and hummus nothing wrong with those really, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, fibre...
Herbalife is a mlm is it not? Friend likely has an agenda and unlikely to be actually well educated on nutrition and weight loss
I agree with @SunshineCake no food should be demonised, the only food I'm aware of that is nutritionally useless are boiled sweets as they're really just sugar and water
@Echobelly digital scales are so much easier! Especially for those of us with less accurate eye sight!
@ImALittlePea so sorry about the vandalism did they catch the shits ?
It seems not so annoying
I'd forgotten curly Wurlys as a lower cal but takes time to eat option will grab some next time I'm at shop, I like them out the fridge. I'm afraid Turkish delight is my usual choc go to though I'm not a big choc person generally
@CrimsonAlligator thanks for the reminder that yeast is a good source of b vits I take a supplement as veggie but food is better and I have marmite in
@SunshineCake So sorry about scan results being unwelcome - what kinda scan? Uterine cancer related? Hopefully it's not, but even if it is the outcomes are pretty good especially if caught early.
So sorry about dd how is she doing?
She doesn't want help.
Surely the hcps should be seeing now that she isn't the right person to assess this?! They released her very quickly they don't seem to really want to sort this properly do they? I get where she's coming from but they're not all the same there are SOME good ones
@Riddlediddle Welcome - when I still had periods I could gain as much as 10lbs in the run up and then lose that + a fortnight later (I have endo)
@12weekstoloseweight welcome - my advice would be not to JUST cut out things you normally eat but replace them with something lower calorie - otherwise you get hungry/feel deprived and that's when you go off track. Drink plenty (mainly water, if not then sugar free stuff) and have lots of non carb veggies (carby veggies inc things like peas and sweetcorn so be careful - you can have these but watch the cals. Veg like carrots, celery, salad veg, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes etc are better) to fill you up
Does anyone else constantly compare their weight to previous points in time where they've been lighter or lost weight?
Yes! Which is probably very daft!
Then Covid of course added a lot more.
I lost loads with Covid as I couldn't eat! Was barely surviving on soup and water mainly
@Eesha as Per pps your friends that lost through Herbalife haven't lost that much in terms of time etc and how long have they KEPT it off for ?
@SNAFU247 Welcome
and I really can't be using 'I just had a baby' as my excuse any longer!
Yea I tried that - she's 21 now! Defo can't use that excuse any more 

I'm same height as you and every lb shows!!! I was a flipping size 8 before dd!
@ginsparkles maybe try the "my model" app and see how you would look with the weight off? Might be the jolt you need? You can change the outfit to one similar to the one you wannna wear?
@HouseofHolbein sorry about situation with your eldest. I've been on both sides of that at times. It's tough. I'm considering a 2nd ear piercing when I have the time/money and possibly a belly button one as my goal weight reward maybe a first tattoo too. Ooh! Just occurred to me that could be a good birthday gift for me! Mums been asking and I've been struggling to think of something. A tattoo could be just the ticket I know exactly what I want have for years - but not cheap
Love the piercing
@HouseofHolbein noted - hard to get head around the name changes
Now stop leaving us!!
Sorry 
. Will try and stick around properly again - it keeps me in the right headspace
I worked with someone who worked at Bletchley park at one point he wasn't able to say more than that but we had lots of conversations about is life and career and...reading between the lines I think he was something of a James Bond in his youth. He was fascinating and also an incredibly tolerant and calm person all around.
Swimming is my favourite but afterwards I’m too shattered to do much else that day.
I'll likely be scunnered for at least 2 days after! So I'm planning to go thu as I have a rest day planned Fri anyway