Six week blast - any takers?

[SexyTimeNotGenderTime]

I've been eating like a pig over the last month - not just loads of food, but also terrible junk food. I've had to take some time off exercise too. I've also been drinking like a bloody fish.

I've put on nearly a stone, I've lost a bit of toning, and I generally just feel a bit naff and flubbery.

So, I started a six week blast on Monday to get things back in order.

My aim is to lose about 10lbs (4.5kg) by Friday 1st July.

My 'blast' will entail:
i) Calorie counting so I'm not eating more than 1,200-ish per day
ii) Eating more healthy food and getting more fruit/vegetables in there
iii) No alcohol
iv) Two or three exercise classes per week

Week 1 has gone well so far - all three and a half days of it
I've not exceeded 1,200 calories on any day.

I've eaten more healthy food and where I have had a 'treat', I've had it in moderation (like two biscuits rather than a whole half-pack) and I've really, really savoured it.

I haven't had an alcoholic drink (this hasn't been too hard given its been weekdays - Friday night will be the test).

I did exercise classes on Monday and Tuesday nights, and I'm booked on for military bootcamp on Saturday morning.

Anyone want to join my six week blast?

Got this for tea tonight.

I started the NHS weight loss 12 week plan, last night was class three. I've lost 12lbs in 2wks. No fads, very doable OP.

That's brilliant, well done 🤩

Hi OP I have a lot more to lose than you but I also started on Monday and have been sticking to 1200 calories a day. Also trying to incorporate some light exercise and trying to stay away from alcohol. I'll join you for the six weeks but hoping to lose a stone.

How's the weekend gone for you both? I find weekends the hardest for keeping will power!

But I've stuck to 1200 calories both days, no alcohol and did a bootcamp class yesterday morning. Go me!

I've prepared a healthy lunch (oily fish, rice and greens - 400 calories) to have cold tomorrow. I find it easier to prepare lunches the day before or at night because then I avoid the temptation to just pig on crisps.

I'll weigh myself in the morning and see where I'm at 😬

Hi please can I join?

I got married in march and I am still about 6/7 pounds heavier from that and the honeymoon but I’m finding it hard to get in the zone! I would love to lose them in the next 6 weeks! The annoying thing is that I know how to do it it’s just hard sticking to it!

My plan will be-
1700 calories a day with a buffer of 200 on exercise days (but only to be used if I’m starving)
5 days of exercise a week- if I can make one of those the park run that’ll be good as I’m a bit scared of it!
100g protein per day minimum and at least 20g fibre

How are you feeling today op?

Hey @Thestoppedfan

Of course you can join!

Apart from Park Run, what kinds of exercise do you have in mind for your exercise days?

I find that I need lots of variation in exercise otherwise I get bored and don't bother. I also have to do classes outside of my home because I just give up on YouTube workouts

I do military bootcamp on Saturdays which used to be brilliant but the instructor has changed and it's not as good now. It's still exercise but I'm a bit 'meh' about that one.
Then I do boxercise on Mondays and a circuits class on Tuesdays. I love both of these.

I didn't get to weigh myself this morning - I woke up late, jumped in the shower and snaffled a cup of tea before I remembered. Dammit!

I see a PT on Wednesdays and he sets me workouts, they are mainly weights with a HIIT style finisher- he always gives me 3 to do in the week so I’m going to try and do them without making excuses! I know what you mean about having variation i get so bored if I do the same thing over and over!

Aw that’s annoying about the instructor it makes such a difference having one that you like!

I am trying to fill myself with water as I’ve already had my breakfast and my stomach is rumbling as though I’ve not eaten for a week 😂

A PT sounds great. Someone I go to bootcamp with used to have a PT. Her PT had a brilliant idea for making sure you get variation in home workouts.

Her PT showed her about 60 exercises. He told her to write them all down on pieces of paper and put all the pieces with leg exercises on in one bag, all the arm exercises in another, all the abs/glutes exercises in another, all the cardio in another.
Every other day she had to pick two pieces from each bag in turn. So start with abs/glutes (or whatever), then arms, then legs, then cardio, then back to abs/glutes, then arms, then legs, then cardio. That was her HIIT workout for the day - 45seconds on each exercise, 15second break in between each exercise, 2 minute break between the end of one 'set' (i.e. all four) and the start of the second.

I find sparkling water is actually really good for filling up!

So far today I've had a handful of cashew nuts and a square of chocolate. I'm off for fish and salad in a minute.

Just checking in. I found the weekend hard because I was out with friends on Saturday night and ended up drinking a lot however I did stick to diet mixers and stayed on vodka which is better than wine, so at least that's something! However I'll have been on this diet a week tomorrow and every other day I have a stuck to it and kept to the 1200 calorie limit, so hoping I lose a couple of pounds.

To fill up I also like sparkling water! I recommend plain rice cakes with cottage cheese, I think a rice cake is 30 calories and then depends on how much cottage cheese you use, but this has been my go to snack this week.

For dinner I've had roast chicken breast with herbs, rice, and roasted veg and will have some fruit later - always get hungry in the evening!

Morning!

Sounds like you did your best at the weekend, @InFiveMins

I weighed myself this morning... 0.8kg off since Thursday last week. Woohoo!

I worked out last night but didn't work as hard as usual. We were put into pairs and it was the first class for the lady I was paired with so I couldn't go as hard as I normally do.

But tonight is boxing which is always an absolute killer, and should burn some serious calories.

Tonight and last night's tea is/was tofu chilli (about 400cal) followed by a couple of 70cal biscuits with a brew. I'm at a bit of a loss for lunch today though. Hmmm.

Welldone OP, that's a great loss. I have more to lose than you so I'm calculating it as how much percentage of my body weight I've lost and I have lost 3% so far so I'm happy with that.

Now in week 2 and not having too many cravings. Still sticking to 1200 cals a day. Hoping to start doing some proper exercise soon - probably go on some walks over this jubilee weekend to start me off!!

I'll join if that's OK.

I've basically being doing what you describe in the op for the last four weeks. I reckon I'm 10lb down, didn't get weighed at the starting point.

Been eating LOADS of slaads, eggs etc. No alcohol. Loads of sparkling water like mentiones above.

Need to shed another 8lbs really, to be comfortable.

Re. Boxing. I used to do tons of martial arts, it'll flipping melt offa ya!

😂

I'm too knackered for that these days, I'll do some biking tomorrow hopefully

Sorry I've been AWOL for a while, totally lost track of days with the long weekend!

Welcome @mackthepony

How's everyone getting on? I weighed myself on Thursday and I'd dropped 1.4kgs. Woohoo!

How's the long weekend gone for you all? I did hours and hours of gardening on Thursday which must've been a few hundred calories. Then yesterday was a street pub visit but I was very good and only had two diet cokes 😇

I skipped military bootcamp this morning because I was a bit "meh" about the instructor but my buddy told me a different guy lead the class who's absolutely brilliant. Kicking myself I am 😭

I’m a third of the way through the Blast today. So I thought I’d check in.

I’ve lost 2.7kg (5lbs and 15oz, just shy of 6lbs) so far. I’m expecting a bit of an inevitable slow-down over the remaining weeks but I’m over half-way to where I wanted to be by July 1st so I can afford a slow-down. I’ll still stick to the plan (1,200 calories, no booze, exercise etc.) but I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep up losing 3lbs a week.

I feel healthier in myself. I feel less tired. I have more energy. My skin looks great. And I’m starting to get back feeling confident in some of my favourite clothes. I’m even back to wearing my Sweaty Betty leggings which I’ve avoided for months because of the muffin top they gave me.

Here’s how the goals are going:

Calorie counting so I'm not eating more than 1,200-ish per day
Yep, I’ve managed this nearly every day. I think I went over this amount last Wednesday because DP turned up home early with some cakes. But I reckon I was still around 1,600 so still pretty good.

Eating more healthy food and getting more fruit/vegetables in there
Yep, I haven’t had a ‘junk’ meal for two weeks. Every meal’s been freshly made from scratch with healthy food and lots of vegetables. I’m getting through about six bags of ready made salad a week and I’ve developed an absolute obsession with cous cous. I’m addicted.

No alcohol
Not a drop has passed my lips. I got a Laithwaites delivery last Thursday, I went to the pub last Friday and I was given a bottle of wine for cat-sitting on Saturday. I didn’t give in. They’re all waiting to be enjoyed in July.

Two or three exercise classes per week
Week one I managed three. Week two I managed two. At the start of week three (today) I’ve booked myself up for a boxing class tonight, a circuits class tomorrow, and military bootcamp on Saturday. I’m hoping its not the crappy instructor for bootcamp but, regardless, I will go and work hard. I’m considering an early morning circuits class on Thursday as well – it feels like a long period between Tuesday and Saturday.

How’s everyone else getting on?

Hi 👋 also a third of the way through, weighed myself this morning and lost 3lbs in this last week, so I'm happy with that!

I've stuck to 1200 calories a day although some days I haven't quite reached it and then I've had a headache which hasn't been good. I do think I need the full 1200. So I'm trying to fill up with fruit and make sure I do reach 1200 calories.

No alcohol here this week. Not done much exercise as tired after work but will do my best to fit more in this weekend.

I can't say I feel like I have more energy or am less tired - I have had moments of feeling really tired and I think that's been when I haven't been eating enough. It isn't deliberate - I work in a busy office job and even when I wasn't dieting I would usually skip lunch but then make up for it later 🙄 I need to make sure I have a small healthy lunch and that will be my goal this next week.

I'm also feeling better in my clothes - I feel they are getting a tiny bit looser and a bit more comfortable.

Looking forward to see what the next 4 weeks brings!

Hey @InFiveMins 🖐

Congratulations on the 3lb weight loss last week, that's absolutely brilliant.

Making sure you eat a small, healthy lunch sounds like a really sensible goal for this coming week.

I get into really bad habits of skipping lunch too. It's nothing to do with being too busy, I just can't be arsed to go and make lunch. But I've started preparing a little bit extra each night then having that for lunch the next day and it's really helped get me into good habits.

I've done two fitness classes so far this week. There was only me and another woman at circuits class last night so I worked extra hard - no hiding place. I'm aching today but I feel great.
In my infinite wisdom, I've booked an early morning circuits class tomorrow as well. Why?!

My plan is to weigh in on Friday morning, hoping for a few hundred grams off.

Stay strong, stay focused and good luck 😘

At the risk of just shouting into the void, I'm still going to keep updating this thread.

Yesterday I was a bit of a greedy pig. DP bought home cake (150cals) and I had a horrible meeting which I consoled myself about with a Double Decker (210cals). So I went about 350 calories over my intended limit. I was probably hitting about 1,600 yesterday. Ooops.

But, I did an early morning circuits class this morning which was absolutely brilliant. Properly amazing. A really good balance of cardio, strength, legs, arms, abs. I loved it. I feel a million dollars and I feel like I've made up for yesterday.

I'll weigh-in Friday with the caveat that my period is slowly arriving and I retain water quite badly during my period. So no huge hopes. But we'll see.

Hi @SexyTimeNotGenderTime 👋

How did the weigh in go on Friday? My next weigh in will be Tuesday so keeping everything crossed although I am at a friends birthday party today and whilst I'm not going to drink, I'm worried I won't stick to my calorie limit.

I went slightly over yesterday as I also had a slice of cake - so just hoping today doesn't set me back further!!

Not done any proper fitness but hoping to go on walks this weekend try and shift an extra few calories before weigh in day!

I'll keep updating the thread with you - let's keep going not got too much longer to go! X

Hey @InFiveMins

My period arrived on Friday morning with gusto so I actually gained 300g. But I retain water and I bloat like an absolute bastard during my period so I take it with a pinch of salt.

I'm planning on weighing myself this coming Friday when my period should be gone and I should be back on an even footing.

I found the weekend challenging, a friend showed up unexpectedly with wine and food on Saturday night. I think I went to about 2,200(ish) calories. But I'd done a bootcamp class on the morning so that helped a bit. I think I probably made up for Saturday on Sunday, so yesterday I was back to the Blast. I was disappointed in myself that I drank alcohol but it was only two glasses of wine.

How did your weigh-in go this morning?

Hi!

The weigh in didn't go very well - I stuck to the diet all week other than one day where I went slightly over with a slice of cake...and I haven't lost anything 😢 at least I haven't gained, but feel a bit disappointed not to have lost anything. Not sure how or why! Hoping that when I weigh myself next Tuesday I've lost a pound or two!!

Good luck for the Friday weigh in, fingers crossed for you! 🍀 🤞🏼

Sorry I dropped off the face of the earth!

I am back and only 3lbs lighter- it’s slow and steady though so I am really happy with that I would like to lose another 4lbs.

Ive just caught up with the thread and well done for keeping up with it. I share your love for cous cous I love the ainsley Harriett ones. Have you tried bulgar wheat? That is also awesome.

Ive kept up with the exercise and would like to say I feel better for it but I am currently soaking in a bath of radox haha but I feel stronger and my 5k runs aren’t hurting quite as much. Im still scared of doing the park run so im going to aim to get the confidence to do it by the end, my PT has offered to run it with me but im not sure I need more witnesses to my demise haha.

Im struggling a bit with variety this week. I am trying to up my protein so my body isn’t quite as sore but getting very sick of chicken! Have you found any good recipes?

@InFiveMins sorry to hear that- sometimes that happens to me and then the following week I will have lost more I think our bodies like to keep us on our toes! Also I think a slice of cake here and there helps us stick to it in the long run (maybe I need to stop telling myself that haha)

Hi @Thestoppedfan 👋!

I feel a bit better today about the lack of weight loss this week. Focussing on my next weigh in on Tuesday and hoping I've lost something then!

3lbs is still a loss so you've done great! Hopefully you lose the next 4lbs over the next couple of weeks.

What's bulgar wheat? Never heard of it before! I'll Google it now!

In terms of recipes I haven't really been very adventurous to be honest. However I have got the Pinch of Nom book and have made a couple of dishes from that, might be worth having a look at some of their online recipes for inspiration?