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?

Good Morning 😊

Thank you everyone 🙏 I’m ok and doing the best I can everyday. That’s all anyone can do. Pleased to read you’re getting into a routine and carrying on too @SunshineCake. Great to read dd returned home safely.

Stunning photo as usual @SanFranBear and thank you 😊 Well done on the walk 👍

@ImALittlePea definitely a win to be curbing crisps. Tweaks like that can really make a difference, especially over the long term.

@Graphista Thank you 🙏 In regards to connecting with new people… is there a community centre or church nearby that hold meet ups, coffee morning etc. just an idea.

A warm welcome to the thread @Canteloupez I have my own way of eating too. Lower carb, protein at each meal, calorie count and an eating window of generally 12:00 - 19:00. I also don’t have low fat anything as the fat is generally replaced with sugar which I try to avoid. I have a controlled portion of the real thing 😬

Apologies if I’ve missed anyone, the thread has moved on quite a bit.

Menu
Meal 1 - Big green salad with boiled egg, grated cheese and boiled new potato.
Meal 2 - Nero, sweet potato, carrots with chicken fillet.

Enjoy your weekend!

That is excellent resisting the banana split @Puffalicious . Well done!

@Graphista I don't calorie count as if would drive me nuts. I cook from scratch the majority of the time and when I make soup or a stir fry I just use what I want and having to weigh everything would just spoil cooking for me. Intermittent fasting and running is my main thing, though I haven't had chocolate since Sunday and I am doing dry May as well. That's easy as I don't drink lots but if I hadn't agreed to do it I have had a couple of times where I might have had a drink. I have salad as much as possible and if I cook lots of vegetables to fill up.

Emotionally I am struggling. Keep dreaming and it is upsetting me as I can't do anything about it. Can't tell dh it all but he said it was just menopause when I said I thought we should separate and I'll go along with that even though I know there is a lot more to it. I'm going to go for a long run once I've got out of bed and DS1 will be home soon.

Thank you @TheRealHousewife . I've been thinking of you and sent you a WhatsApp yesterday.

Well done to everyone. You are all making such good decisions and progress.

Right, need to get up and get running as my mind is trying to sabotage me again.

The other things I’d say @Graphista is that I am quite strongly motivated by health. My DM died with breast cancer so I’ve read lots on the Mediterranean diet, IF and calorie restriction which appears to reduce risk. That’s more important than my scale reading but the pair go hand in hand. I’ve mentioned before but Dr Lei is quite inspiring. Eat your kiwi fruit! 😀

drwilliamli.com/food-as-medicine/

Hi all, I haven't posted much as weight loss has been incredibly slow. I do find when I'm quite stressed, weight sticks to me even if I'm not necessarily eating much more. I'm starting to eat breakfast later ie around 11, then dinner about 6pm.

SW 26th March 94.8
CW 21st May 91.7
Goal weight 83kg

I'm 5ft 6, doing 15k steps a day and trying intermittent fasting

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7450381/amp/Dr-WILLIAM-LI-details-diet-disease-fighting-stem-cells-working-efficiently.html
Apologies for Daily Fail link but an easy read. He’s also on a DR Rangan Chatterjee podcast.

Morning all! I’ve not posted much this week as I’ve been feeling a bit crappy mentally. Just a few days back at work was enough to make me realise that I’m just not coping as well as I should be. I fear that yet another conversation with my manager may be required ☹️

@Graphista are there any craft groups you could join? Like a knitting, or crochet group?

I’m a calorie counter, but weirdly don’t find it that tedious. I guess some of it depends on how you cook? I cook everything from scratch, but have set amounts of what goes in to every individual recipe if that makes sense? The recipes are all saved in NutraCheck so that I don’t have to enter everything individually either. So all I need to do is follow the instructions in terms of quantities and then I just add the meal to my NutraCheck diary with a single click.

I'm also a calorie counter and find it quite satisfying logging everything as I can keep a good eye on what's going in. Left to my own devices means I wildly underestimate and even though I'm trying to be more mindful, I don't seem able to portion control or make the best choices.

Sorry to hear work is rubbish for you, CrimsonAlligator - I'm lucky at the moment in that I quite enjoy my work and have a really supportive manager but I think we've all been there at some point. Are there any opportunities for a lessening of responsibility or a sideways step - or is it the job itself that is just too much? Whichever, I hope you're able to find a way forward! Work is such an integral part of our lives, whatever it is, it needs to be something that brings some sort of pleasure.

Graphista - I don't know of they do NextDoor up in Scotland but you could always post on there (or similar) to see if people would like to get together for a common interest ie book club, wine tasting etc? I started doing virtual murder mysteries during lockdown and found some lovely friends. There's also Scotsnet on here (under Other Stuff in the Talk menu) who might have some ideas?

Sorry you're finding it so slow, Eesha - sounds like you're doing all the right things. If funds stretch, maybe try and find a nutritionist to have a chat to, they might have some ideas on how to kick start a quicker loss for you?

Health reasons is predominantly why I'm so determined, Benji - although looking better is also a consideration. But it's amazing the benefits of being a healthy weight brings.

Sorry your dreams are disturbing you, Sunshine. And that you don't feel you can talk to your DH... hopefully as things ease with DD, you'll feel better able to relax which will feed through to your dreams. Bad sleep is utterly miserable - I feel like inwake up every half hour at night at the moment (definitely peri linked) and I don't have half the stresses you currently do. Big hugs!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, too - RealHousewife. And everyone else, of course, but got to shout out to the Captain of our ship.

I'll be doing lots of washing and hoping the sun stays out, likely some cooking/baking and generally trying to catch up on sleep. Only a week until the next half term (how quickly has that come round) and we're away for the second half in a tent so need to build up my stamina!

Welcome to the 🐢🐢club @Eesha . If you had been on here last year you would have seen me having strops on a daily basis as I wasn't losing anything. Hang in there as even if the weight doesn't seem to be coming off your tape measure might be kinder and you will be making good choices which will be helping your health.

Thank you for the info @Benjispruce4 . My paternal grandmother died of cancer. She had breast cancer then six years later lung cancer which spread and she died. I will have a look at the link later.

@CrimsonAlligator <hug> sorry you are feeling sad and I am also sorry you didn't post. We would have all helped and supported you as best we can. Hopefully you can sort the work situation. My brain is letting me down so I can't recall what you do.

Thank you @SanFranBear. My dreams aren't about DD, they are about something completely different and I just don't know what to do. I am sure it will sort itself out. Just how I do not know.

The natives are getting hungry so I had better go and serve up.

Thanks for the replies guys

I'm gonna experiment for a week having 3 meals a day with plenty veg but sensible, keep any snacks healthy and to absolute minimum and plenty of water. Little to no alcohol (which is normal for me anyway) weighed in today - 13 stone 6.25lbs which is 1/4 lb off start weight (this time around) and 1/2lb off last weigh in I keep hovering around this point.

I attended a local church a few weeks back and the people were lovely but much older, I'd like to meet people closer to my age. I've joined Meetup app but most events are city centre and not local to me, which is fine for doing the things but not for meeting locals. Fitness classes I'm hoping will be useful for this as well as fitness...but women tend to go to these WITH a friend and don't really chat to others or hang about after.

@SanFranBear I'd forgotten about nextdoor I'll try that too - tried again it's mainly city centre stuff supposed "neighbours" are several train stops away

I'm also doing LOTS of laundry this weekend need to catch up - it's getting stuff dry that's hard! Especially bedding and towels

My fourth wash load is nearly finished @Graphista . It is loads as DD has hers from being away and I have been running twice in two day. 8km yesterday and 10km today.

I am back in my needing a snack at 3pm again but I am holding off as much as I can. DD wants chips from the chip shop for tea so we have said yes but only for her and her younger brother as dh and ds1 had lunch with me and we don't want another big meal. Turning down chip shop chips is a big deal. I suspect we will have a few but definitely not a full portion. Thinking about them is making me feel all greasy . I think I will go with a salad sandwich with grated cheese as I feel like that.

Only 70 cals in 10 almonds @sunshine and loads of nutrients and would be a good post run snack.

Apparently the oleic oil in them, reduces hunger. 😋

I didn't have my 3pm snack but did have a small cereal bowl of chips. Annoyed as I should have had something proper. I'm waiting for dh as he's playing with DS but I think I will make a crumpet as I was going to have crackers and cheese and can't be bothered making a sandwich. All bloody carbs which I don't want but I'm tired and just want the easy option.

OMG and WOW but on Sunday! Just hopped on scales and I’ve had a 2lb whoosh!! Absolutely delighted. Had a family gathering last night and I opted to drive so had a small Prosecco then sparkling water all night. I’m normally a party girl so it was quite enlightening watching everyone else but great fun.
Yesterday’s meals were:
B-half a small avocado on seedy toast
L- 2 baked chicken thighs(skinless) , 2 kiwis
D- At party- Veg chilli on half a baked potato, guacamole, sour cream and a few nachos.
3 of DH’s McD’s fries when we got home.
SW-10 st 4
CW-9st 10(just)
TW-9st 7

Just remembered I had a whole grain rice cake with a tsp of peanut butter between lunch and dinner.

Well done @Benjispruce4

Good Morning 😊

Thank you for sharing the links @Benjispruce4 I echo your sentiments about the benefit of eating well and reducing health risks 👍 What a lovely weekend surprise. Decent whoosh you’ve had there! 👏🏅

Hi @Eesha Well done on your loss to date 👏 Stress can affect weight loss, something to do with levels of cortisol/belly fat. Can Stress Affect My Weight ?

@CrimsonAlligator Hello you, I hope the work situation improves soon! I don’t mind calorie counting either, in fact I quite like working my menus out to be cc allowance 😬

@SanFranBear Thank you 😊 Camping ⛺️ You hard core camper you! Here’s hoping you’re bestowed with good calm weathers!

@Graphista Well done on your loss! It is difficult to make new friends as an adult and I agree people generally attend keep fit classes with friends. I think here perseverance is the key. Keep turning up, keep smiling and showing interest and it will happen for you im sure. You’re lovely ☺️

@SunshineCake You're welcome ❤️ Well done on swerving chip shop chips! That takes some strength! I’ve not seen your what’s app message. I archived a few message streams that had become inactive so I might find it in archives.

Menu
Meal 1 - Roast Chicken Dinner, broccoli, carrots, green beans, cabbage, roast potato, chicken onion gravy.
Meal 2 - Berries & kefir yogurt. Pecans.
Tea, Coffee, Water.

That is a great whoosh @Benjispruce4 . Congrats.

Sorry, @TheRealHousewife but I didn't swerve the chips from the chippy. I just had less of them.

Today I woke up and had bad pain so took pain relief then walked the dog as needed to be alone. Then everyone except DD went out and I spent hours cleaning, washing, pegging out, hoovering and ironing. Just eaten once today. Hoping for a good run tomorrow and some weight off this week.

Hey all. 1lb off this week. Happy with that- 5lbs in total since re-focussing.

Not sure next week will be any good as I've had a nibbly week. Birthday brunch today was delicious but calorific! 😱 But it was worth it.

Good luck for the week.ahead all.

New win for me, managed my period and it’s horrendous symptoms without over eating / binge eating.

Feeling so much better in myself

Well done @Puffalicious and @Gakatsbsk 👏🏻
B- poached egg on toast
L/D- roast chicken, roast Mediterranean veg and parmentier potatoes, fruit salad and small scoop of ice cream.

Hello all, I’m still here! Up 1kg this week and saw photos of myself today and though that my progress is going in a different direction than I would like.

im exercising a lot, which is great and certainly getting stronger but eating to compensate and that’s not helping. I need a better solution to manage my hunger after exercise. I actually need to get better at planning so I have protein rich snacks in the fridge to eat when I’m hungry and to cut out the dinner time carbs which I simply don’t need. Need to go back to:

porridge for breakfast - and no eating my child’s toast

salad for lunch

stir fry stuff for dinner / vegetable based dinner.

an oat bar or something before training but stop eating peanut butter on toast and handfuls of nuts instead of a proper meal.

@Gakatsbsk well done on managing period bingeing. I find that such a challenge.

Good Morning 😊

@pennysays Well done on getting back on it, I’m sure you’ll soon see results👍

@Gakatsbsk Fantastic NSV in not Period binging!

@Puffalicious Well done on your consistent loss! 👏

The only message I could see was ‘How are you’? @SunshineCake Was there more? Day at a time, doing ok generally ty. I hope your pain has subsided.

Menu
Meal 1 - Salad with fried Halloumi cubes.
Meal 2 - Roast chicken & veg Bubble & Squeak (yesterdays leftovers)
Tea, coffee, water.

Last full week of May. I’m hoping to maintain my loss so far this month or even chisel a bit more off 😬Come on ladies, push through it! Imagine how you like to look and feel this time next week/next month 😊👍😮

Good morning! How are we all?

Well done @Benjispruce4 !! Fabulous Sunday wooosh!

Today is minisparkles 10th birthday, so there has been cake and sandwiches! I darent step on the scales!!!

Funny thing, I'm wondering if I obsess about the number too much. I bought new clothes for my holiday, from the same places I normally would, size 10 still, expecting them to be too tight, too unflattering, but they all fit. The same as they would before. I bought a pair of dungarees thinking they would make me look huge, but aside from a little tight around the middle (but bloated from cake and sandwiches! Plus new denim which is always tight the first wear) .... they look fine, we'll actually without being big headed, they look nice. Am I worrying over nothing? It's it possible the number on the scale is due to age/hormones and is actually my new normal?

I'm currently sitting a stone more than I would normally be, but everything fits. I struggle with this a lot. My brain is saying that number is too high, but then I see myself in the mirror, and put on the clothes I have worn for years and think why am I stressing??

No point to this ramble really! Just venting.