Diet for Christmas challenge

[OhFatty]

I know it’s boiling hot and far too early but does anyone want to start a Christmas diet?

I’ve got a LOT to lose and in June I set myself a target of 4 stone by Christmas. So far I’ve lost 1 stone 3, so starting today my new target is going to be 40lbs by Christmas (although more would be very welcome 😀) My weigh day is Monday. I’ll update here every week, and hopefully some others will join me?

@TheBatwoman I feel your pain - I also have twins but they are now 7 and the greatest thing ever - all I can say is hang in there their first couple of years are so hard but get progressively better as they get each wee bit of independence. You're doing fantastic!

I am just back from a lovely mini break with hubby child free so didn't weigh in this week hit the gym yesterday and early this morning so back on it!

Hope I don't have a gain! Might have a sneaky weigh today we will see....

I am back in some gym leggings I thought would be way too small so the scales are not everything! XX

I’m enjoying the company and encouragement on here too, lots of support and advice when needed. I think the biggest challenge I face is feeling like I’m eating a certain way now as a means to an end and it’s taken a certain amount of enjoyment out of it for me. I guess that’s why it is important to adapt and include some things that you enjoy.
Overall I have been sticking to sensible choices but not calorie counting. I’m minimising carbs and trying to only eat between around 12- 8pm. I’m 2lbs down this morning after pretty much plateauing for a week so that’s given me a boost.
Have a good day everyone 🤞🏼

It’s really inspiring seeing everyone pounds down. Successfully did my first fast day in a million years on Tuesday, doing another today and just staying away from booze

i don’t have any scales but then a few of you mentioned measurements so I’m going to do that, not done it before - have measured the biggest part of my waist, hips, thighs and upper arms as those are def the flabby bits

Thanks so much for the kind words of encouragement @Julesni77. You’ve made my day. It’s just so nice to hear that it does get better. My two are almost 11 months old now and they are such happy, content, good babies usually, but between teething and increasing mobility have been so much more work recently. I’m just so tired! It’ll pass though I know.

Well done on your gym leggings, that’s great! I have a few aspirational pairs I can’t wait to get back into. Not all about the scale as you say.

Thanks for making me feel much better on a bad and rather overwhelmed day.

Well shows this thread keeps us accountable! I felt guilty about missing Tuesday weigh in so popped down and weighed today! 18st 7.4 so thats 1.5lbs down ever with a boozy weekend - I will take that and change my weigh in day to Thursday

@OhFatty for inclusion in Sunday stats :)

@TheBatwoman your so welcome, I remember those days so well, such a celebration getting them to their first birthday :)

Well done @Julesni77 it's hard when there's stuff going on at the weekend isn't it.

Are you following any particular plan?

@christmas2022 I was trying to keep it to below 2600 cals but didn't lose so roughly 2300 now - i seeing if I can achieve that without logging this week as I hate using MFP long term - I previously had great success with team rh but didn't find the logging something I could do for life - their motto is to be obsessed but I don't want to be that!

I really enjoy training and have been weight training pretty consistently for 2 years now and making great progress - I feel my weight is holding me back now so want to see if I can be as consistent nutritionally and drop weight - I don't care if it is slow as I know I must have built muscle under my fat that I would quite like to see.

I am struggling with my goal of 15k steps a day but can achieve 10k or more easily - I have noticed the dreaded middle aged spread - legs are grandish tummy is not!

Have you a set plan?

Sounds like you have a good plan in place and I agree with your approach to find the right balance of calories so you lose, but whilst also eating as much as possible!

Weight training sounds great and is something I'd like to pick up on but can't afford a PT so likely to aimlessly wander the gym without getting much done.

I've been trying to log my calories on Nutracheck which is a great app and all easy to use but I'm the same as you in that tracking and counting every calorie is a bit of a pain.

I'm kind of going up two pounds and then down two pounds and then up again so something needs to change.

Weight training is great @christmas2022. Most gyms have instructors that would be happy to show you the basics without needing a PT session. I miss it a great deal.

Morning! Really encouraging to read of losses, and also encouraging to read of set backs and still deciding to carry on. I'm terrible for just giving up when I have a bad day. I really don't want to do that this time.

Yesterday was another good day for me. Walked DD to a park and back and was fairly busy around the house so feel like I did a lot of steps- though I don't track them.

Today I'm baking so know that today will involve chocolate. But I'm also going to keep on moving and will get some exercise in this evening, probably a YouTube zumba session.

Hope you all have a good Friday!

@christmas2022 have you looked to see if anywhere locally has small group training sessions - wont be as costly as a PT but will keep you accountable and show you technique - its really hard to go it alone - I know I have tried. But the more muscle you build the more calories you burn

There are also apps that are more affordable but for me I really love training with other people - it depends on what works for you personally

@yearofthefat thats amazing and much more sustainable than starving your self! Really well done to you!

@MuddyBoo enjoy your Friday cake (and zumba!)

Morning all, I'm still on-board but not seeing much in the way of a loss. Increased my weights this week and did a 90 minute walk yesterday, hadn't intended it to be that long but I got lost...wedding anniversary today and our children have decided to cook us a 3 course dinner, as they can't be in the same room longer than 2 minutes without arguing I suspect its going to be a stressful evening! The menu consists mainly of pasta and chocolate so I'm going to do a weights workout in the lounge beforehand in preparation! Have a great weekend everyone x

I'm late to this post, but I just wanted to say OP & everyone else, you can absolutely do this!
I was convinced I couldn't lose the weight & had tried & failed many times, then I started properly only in March of this year & to date I'm just 3 pounds shy of losing 4 stone.
I've got another 10 pounds to lose until I'm at my ideal weight (I have already passed my goal weights twice I'd set on my fitness pal).
All I can say it's perseverance & calorie counting on the free version of MyFitnessPal that's helped me.
This opened my eyes to the fact that I was drinking 100 calorie coffees several times a day amongst other things.
I also walk every day - most days I'd average 8000-10000 steps, but there's been the odd day when I've not walked & there's been weeks where I've needed to be places & had to walk 15000-18000 steps.
I'm not a gym goer, I'd say if you are then you could well lose faster.
I'm on 1200 calories a day & I don't eat my calories back from exercise on a whole but there's been an odd day I have.
It took a bit of tweaking but I literally eat the same thing for breakfast & lunch every day, this helps I've found as I like these things & also I don't have to think about what I can have etc.
If anyone is interested I can share more about what food I have etc.
Best of luck ladies you've got this!

@LaTangerina such a lovely encouraging post, thank you so much. I'd be keen to learn of the food/meals you enjoyed. Did you fast or do slimming world or anything or did you just do your own plan? I would love to lose 3 stone so that I feel more like the old me again we're I could put something off a hanger and just know it would fit me 😢

@LaTangerina what a great post! So appreciated thank you for taking the time to encourage us! Nice to see also that you have the same thing for breakfast and lunch each day so that you don’t have to think about it, this is exactly what I’ve decided to do!

I’ve been making some bad choices this week and it’s showing on the scales, 3 jam donuts this morning. Awful! So no lunch for me as I now feel sick and bloated, and then will have a healthy light dinner. I’m now concentrating on trying to maintain this week 🙈 that will mean only 3.5lbs loss in 4 weeks but I am not giving up!!!

Random q but how many calories are you all aiming for? I'm not overly active but I stand all day in work. I'm fasting but I've worked out my calories will be around 1200 by the time I stop eating at 5:30pm is this enough?

Thanks ladies!
No I didn't do slimming world or anything like that, I literally just use the free version of MyFitnessPal to count calories & steps.
What happened was we got a dog, so I'm the main walker of the dog, I figured as I'm having to walk for the dogs sake (instead of forcing myself to 🙈) I might as well try sort out my eating.
I have a massive sweet tooth & used to drink sugary coffee & coffee from our coffee machine. I'd also drink squash, eventually I've switched to flavoured water (I don't like plain).
I cut down on my sugar in coffee & eventually cut it out (I do still have 2 sugars in tea though twice a day).
For breakfast I have Flahavans Quick Oats, Apple & Cinnamon - I like this because it comes with the exact amount in a sachet & a measuring cup so you know the exact amount of calories your having & don't have to think about it. I used to have it all with semi skimmed milk, now I do half milk half water.
There are other flavours & aldis own brand of porridge too.
Lunch - I have a cheese & tomato toastie every day! I switched my bread so I have the bread that's 60 calories per slice, I think this is important & helps to keep my calories down. I buy Brennans or Aldis own brand but I'm sure there are lots of other brands. No butter, and I use the low fat cheese slices from aldi that are 64 calories per slice. I have about 3 tomatoes & a big hunk of cucumber on the side.
Basically I'd stopped eating stuff like salad over the years & I do like salad, so if I do get hungry I have unlimited things like tomatoes & cucumber.
I have about 4 coffees a day with no sugar & semi skimmed milk & 2 teas a day with 2 sugars.
That usually leaves me with about 620 calories for dinner, so I usually just have a regular meal whatever I'm cooking my family. I switched things out though, if they're having chips on the side I have salad, if they're having potatoes I have sweet potatoes.
Hope that helps someone!
As for the 1200 calorie intake, that's just what MyFitnessPal set me. I'm not sure if it would be the same for everyone, I'm short & it asks you to input height etc. I'm presuming someone taller would probably get away with more calories.
Best of luck to everyone.

Just to add I've never tried the fasting, but I do eat fairly early (usually 4pm, can be 5pm latest though) and I don't eat anything after that, although will drink flavoured water. Then I eat around 7.30-8am the next morning.

Aw that's just a blip, tomorrow will be a new day!
At first I stopped buying anything that might tempt me, so there was nothing in the house. I would still buy treats for the rest of the family but intentionally stuff I don't care for 😆
I used to snack a lot & have a sweet tooth. I found if you keep a bit of dark chocolate around just in case you get a craving & have just a bit to taste it can help. Or dark chocolate chips & just have a small few.
It's hard near the start though with sugar cravings. Now I can buy literally anything for the family & not be tempted.

@LaTangerina I am the same having a sweet tooth! Good tip on only buying things for hubby and kids that I’m not massively keen on and won’t tempt me! I’m glad to hear it gets easier to resist. Thank you!

I’ve made a decision that once I have lost my first half a stone I am going to treat myself (non food related!), I might get my ear pierced for a second hole, I’ve always wanted to but people have always put me off telling me it won’t suit me. But I’m fed up of keeping people happy! This is a weight loss journey but also a confidence one too and learning to be confident in being myself 🙌 🙌 and not giving two s@&&s about other people’s opinions!

That's a great idea @hedgehog91 !

That's a brilliant idea about treating yourself to mark the weight loss.
I have to admit I went bananas buying (mostly sale) clothes each time I went down a size!
We definitely deserve it 😆
Options hot chocolate is good as well if you need something sweet, it's only 40 calories.

Yes I’m thinking some new clothes admittedly as a reward, although I’ve kept some aspirational stuff to get back into including my favorite jacket pre-pregnancy.

Definitely feel one step closer after a better food day today and managed a long walk with the twins in the buggy. Hope you’ve all had good weeks.