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?

@Eesha welcome! Personally I’d take any advice from someone who sells weight loss shakes with a pinch of salt 😂😂 weight loss is a marathon not a sprint and if it comes off slowly it will hopefully stay off.

I’ve just run 6.5 miles round the park 😇 followed by a piece of biscoffi rocky road 🤣🤣 it’s all about balance 😭

I wasn’t going to say it, but...I totally agree with @HouseofHolbein . Please don’t pay too much attention to advice on sensible, sustainable weightloss that’s given by people who rely on shakes to achieve their losses @Eesha . I’m not having a go at the use of shakes, but people who use those, are often aiming for a very quick, short term loss. It sounds like you’re after something more long term?

Btw, I’ve put your frittata through the NutraCheck app and that comes to 360 calories. If you add a whole avocado, that’s another 250 calories = 610 calories. If you only eat two meals a day and no snacks, that doesn’t sound too bad to me, but it also depends on what is in your second meal. A bowl of curry could be relatively light, if it’s veggie and tomato based, but it could also be packed with calories, if it’s meaty and full of ghee and coconut milk.

@CrimsonAlligator Was interesting reading your link, thanks. I have plateaued lots before on5:2, for me though I normally see a quick loss of a few lbs before that starts to happen and that hasn’t happened on 18:6. I think I just got too hungry and ate too much in my eating window, though it was nowhere near 2000 cals. I’m exercising more and that always makes me hungry. For lunch I’ve had a two egg omelette with spring onion and small amount of crumbled feta. Dinner is a healthier lasagne made with lean pork mince , fewer lasagne sheets and only bechamel( made with skimmed milk) on the top layer. I’ll have it with salad while DH has chips and garlic bread. The curse of being married to a very tall, lean person that can shovel it in with nothing to show for it is tough at times.🙄

@CrimsonAlligator so my avocado is almost as many calories as the frittata!!! Nooooo.

My friend has a great metabolism so loses and gains easily. I do feel iike I'm a slightly more comfy 16 now whereas I used to be a 14/16.

Depends on size of avocado obviously. I buy those small hass ones and only eat half at a time.

Well, DS's rich chocolate cake has been made but I encouraged him not to go too overboard on the icing so it's not actually too calorific. Means I can have a couple of slices at least - as Holbein says, all about balance 😉

Went swimming

Argh... this update keeps catching me out!

Went swimming with DS this afternoon for an hour or so which means I can relax at home for the rest of today although do have Ironing Mountain to conquer later in advance of back to work tomorrow. Both DC have an extra day off but a day at a desk for me - well, the DCs table as still haven't sorted out a proper work space for WFH.

Hope everyone has had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend - seems to have gone in a flash!!

Taking delivery of a new set of scales tomorrow - digital. I've been using DH's old mechanical ones but I just don't trust them, plus I can't read the weight properly from standing and if I bend down the needle goes all over the place. So I'll be recalibrating a bit when I find out how much they've probably been out by!

Managed to stay on track despite having lunch at my sister's - just ate salad and one small pizza slice. Revived a recipe I used to eat a lot of sweet potato with spinach and yoghurt which is very filling but surprisingly low cal. Also got a small glass of Pimms at a May Day fair - it's surpringly uncalorific I found!

Hey all,

Have had an okay ish day. Made a massive pot of green veg soup last night (kale, broccoli, peas, courgette celery, spinach) and felt most virtuous after a portion for lunch then another for dinner (just really fancied it). Babybel, low fat yoghurt and a Curly Wurly for snacks.

Then...wee guy has been asking for mummy's pancakes for days, so I made a batch. They're just too good to resist, so I had one, lovely thick, big pancake with proper butter on top. 😖. I broke my IF, but it was so worth the calories (nothing worse than a treat that isn't) and I only had one (as opposed to wee guy's 4!).

I'll be saintly tomorrow.

I broke my fast too an hour after starting it due to DS1 coming home and bringing a slice of biscoff cheesecake he has made himself. So worth it and it didn't set off the munchies, plus I resisted very easily crisps that DS2 offered me so that is two nights running I have done my proper fast.

Did program 2 on the treadmill today and will try number three tomorrow or maybe just a normal run. Really want a loss on Wednesday. It has been ages !

I'm having a diet coke with no snacks, which is hard. I've already done a few laps of the kitchen looking in cupboards but I've resisted.
@Echobelly I love Pimms but I haven't had it in ages. I must buy a bottle and some low calorie lemonade.

Biscoff cheesecake is worth it, for sure Sunshine.

Laughing at the familiar laps round the kitchen Elderflower😀

Good Morning All

Weather absolutely pants for May ☔️ Hope it’s better where you are!

Thats a great run @HouseofHolbein and I totally agree about food intake & ‘balance’👍 I’m another one where nothing is banned (apart from gluten due to being celiac).

@SanFranBear totally have some cake, it’s good for the soul 😬 I too have an ironing pile that could give Kilimanjaro some competition 😅

@Echobelly Im the same with reading scale displays. I only know what I am by looking at the electronic scale app 😬

@Puffalicious I love a bit of home made soup, so full of goodness 😋 I also now want a Curly Wurly … not seen them for years!

@SunshineCake well done on swerving the crisps 👍

Menu
Meal 1 - Home made chicken soup.
Meal 2 - Pea, Feta & Herb Frittata with salad. Strawberries & cream.
Tea, coffee, water.

Enjoy your day Everyone 😊

Checking in after a fun but probably not great for weight loss bank holiday!

I did however go back to the gym for the first time since covid. Managed a 25 min session on the bike, slower than my usual and I didn't manage the rest of my usual gym session but it's a start. I also went riding on Thursday too so a bit more active again.

I have made sensible meal choices it's just the boxes of chocolates that have been upsetting the balance (blooming lovely though!)

Today is
Lunch - Salad with Moroccan inspired Cous Cous
Dinner - stir fry beef with pepper and noodles.

Have a low fat yoghurt and fruit for snacks

@ginsparkles Pleased to read you’re getting more active after having covid. It does take it out of some people so I would listen to your body (not telling you what to do) and not overdo it as it might set you back. Stir fry beef sounds tasty 😋

Morning all! I’ve had a good few days diet-wise. It no doubt helped that I hadn’t actually realised that it was a bank holiday weekend until I was well into it. I managed to avoid the “ooh, it’s a long weekend, let’s have some treats”-mindset that usually hits me 😅

I’ve already done a 45 minute row this morning and am now enjoying a bowl of Skyr, fruit & seeds. My plan for the rest of the day is:

Lunch: homemade roasted red pepper & lentil soup, pitta & cheese
Dinner: vegetable & tofu stir fry

Morning all - I've been busy this weekend, but no excuse really. Am still struggling with motivation - even though I have a do early June I need to fit into an outfit for, and a cycling thing in June. Caught up on everyone's posts - great name change Crazzy. Nice to have you back Puff. Hope things a bit better Sunshine although I doubt it - you will just be being brave.

Morning all! My plans for a run on Saturday morning were scuppered by a poorly child, but luckily he recovered quickly and we were out and about on Sunday. We had a really active day yesterday but also I had quite a bad weekend in terms of eating sensibly. Weighing tomorrow at the gym (I have scales at home but I do a weekly weigh in on the boditrax machine at the gym because I like the stats) so we'll see how things are going. I'm pleased with the increased activity anyway.

Trying to motivate myself for a lunch-time run today...

Thanks @TheRealHousewife . I haven't lost anything yet but swerving the crisps is huge for me. DS2 put some in a box for me so will have them after my lunch which will be a big stir fry if all the veg and some noodles to keep me going until dinner. I ran on the treadmill and have just braved the food shop with DH. I still look awful so didn't like the looks, and it has worn me out, but it was extra walking.

Well done getting to the gym @ginsparkles but as @TheRealHousewife says take it easy. I did too much and ended up with long covid for a good nine months. Stop before you wear yourself out.

Your meals sound lovely @CrimsonAlligator though I was slow on the uptake of your name change and still need to get used to it !

@buzzofthebumblebee you are in my gang with me so I am sending motivation. We are aiming for a pound. Low but doable so we feel we have achieved not lost. My scales say I have lost nothing but I look better than the scales say I weigh so I am taking that. Have to admit to a lot of anxious moments in the day. I am sleeping slightly better but dh isn't so I am worried about him, especially as he currently had to do all the school runs and dog walks and with the former it will be for at least another nine days. I don't really get why I feel more anxious than when dd was away. Could be that she is going away for a trip in a couple of weeks then moving out for a couple of months. Feel exhausted and anxious and I do not like it. Sorry for the moan.

@Morred think how great you will feel when you do get the run done...

Does anyone know if bathroom scales lose their accuracy over time?

damn, forgot to take my 1 off again.

Bit late to the party but better late than never, eh 😅

Much love to the regulars and a big hello to all the newcomers!!

So I ended April 1lb down overall, which I was very happy with. I've decided not to set myself a May target as such, but I'm instead now aiming for a family mini break we've just booked for the end of June. It's 8 weeks away (ish...) and I would absolutely love it if I could lose half a stone by then. That would take me down to the next stone bracket, and very close to what I expect my target weight to be (I don't actually have a target weight - I think I'll know when I'm happy to adjust to maintenance). So basically looking to shift around 1lb a week, which isn't impossible (I hope!). Luckily I don't have a huge amount planned this month - definitely not compared to last month, anyway! I will be a petitpois by then 🤗

I'm already expecting a gain this week, though. The long weekend was pretty indulgent in terms of takeaways, wine etc, and that was following a week of only being semi on-plan. I probably countered a chunk of it with a VERY busy and active couple of days Saturday and Sunday, and we had planned a long bank holiday Monday walk to a local woodland for bluebells etc yesterday. But instead we spent the day dealing with some of our property being vandalised overnight on Sunday, which meant the whole day at home and eating absolute junk out of sheer tiredness and anger all day - my dinner last night was a large bag of crisps and dip. I suppose one positive has come out of that though, which is it made me feel utterly AWFUL both physically and mentally, so I'm ready as anything to get back onto plan FULLY.

Haven't quite nailed the meal plan for the week, but today so far has been a couple of teas and 1/2 a tin of soup. I'm determined to have a less boozy month and I'm back to zero crisps, bread, chocolate in the week again.

I've got a good feeling about this month, for all of us!

Hi all, I know I am late to the party but please can I join.
Stats below:-
CW: 83.1 kg (13 stones)
Target : 72 kg (11.33 stones)

Current BMI 27.1

@ImALittlePea actually if you only lost a 1lb every month that = 12lbs over the year (nearly a stone) so as someone who’d like to lose more but the body insists on maintaining, that’s a great win, well done! 👍👏 I’ve also got a good feeling about this month 😊. Having the intention, plan and goal all helps towards getting there!

A warm welcome to thread @ShopoholicIn Do you have a plan/decided what you’re going to change to reach your goal?

@SunshineCake1 well done on doing your treadmill workout 👍

Change of menu for me … too busy to make the soup so had Halloumi, red pepper & Cauli rice stir fry instead … everything was all prepped in the fridge ready to go… right off to tackle Kilimanjaro that is the ironing pile 👚 👕

That's very true @TheRealHousewife and that kind of rate is probably the most sustainable in the longer term! I'd still like it to fall off a bit quicker over the coming weeks 😉

Oh no @ImALittlePea , sounds like you had a tough weekend. I hope you’re ok.

Does anyone know if bathroom scales lose their accuracy over time?

I’ve been wondering this too @SunshineCake . Mine comes with an app, which is useful except that lately the numbers I see on the scales and the numbers that are downloaded on to the app are no longer the same... Anyway, according to Google, scales shouldn’t become hugely inaccurate over time, but they may need to be recalibrated. There is apparently, a button on the bottom of most scales to reset them, so I guess you could try that?