🍁LOSE IT! September 2022🍁

[TheRealHousewife]

Hello and Welcome

Following on from the LOSE IT! August Thread heres the September Thread!

The start of autumn is the perfect time to overall your way of eating in readiness for the change in seasons. Summer was gone in a flash and now the days are getting fresher; I for one like the cooler climate 🥶 < OK not that cold 😬

Fresh new month, fresh new start, fresh new habits. Jump right into September! Reset & refresh to become a healthier version of yourself! Being mindful, planning ahead and few tweaks here and there it’s not impossible!

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 a 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). It’s a journey, not a destination.

I calorie count based on a lower carb Mediterranean diet. I intermittent fast and generally eat twice a day. I try not to drink calories and have very little processed food or sugar. I meal plan, set my intentions daily and exercise most days.

Are you in?😊 What food plan will you be following? What do you want to change and why? You can do it, if you really want too!

@SanFranBear @MirandaWest send the liquorice all sorts this way- they will gather dust here. In return you must take all of my raspberry ruffles!

My weekend has been so so - not as bad as they usually are (with alcohol, takeaways and junk food), but not as good as they could have been (as alcohol and chocolate was still consumed!).

I'm hoping I've done enough for a loss this week as also tried to get back into the swing of exercising more regularly. I was getting better Pre the summer holidays but have slipped completely into doing no exercise at all (using various excuses, but really if I wanted to, I'd find the time & motivation!).

Fingers crossed that once the kids go back to school, I'll be able to reset my routine with work, school, diet (as in healthy eating aka slimming world!) and exercise!

I don't post much on here but very much appreciate reading what you guys post as it's definitely inspired me and helped keep me more on track than off this past week. Thank you!

Well the pizza last night was very much enjoyed 🤦‍♀️ and I've amended my no takeaway pledge to no takeaways for the school term. So six weeks abstinence upcoming as opposed to the one month planned. Makes me feel better about the early slip up at least!

I know I'm ready to reset, even though it hasn't seemed, and truthfully doesn't 100% feel, like it. I think I'm just so touched out and exhausted from the summer that mentally I don't think anything counts until tomorrow - both kids at childminder or school, DH in the office (unusually for a Monday) so it'll be my first day totally on my own since July. I love my family, of course, but this holiday has been long (anyone else feel like it's been a LOT longer than six weeks?!), hot and intense and I'm looking forward to a few hours without any of them in the house 🤣

The assault course was flipping brilliant @TheRealHousewife - I resembled a tomato for at least an hour after though! 7yo made it round four times (would have done more if our slot hasn't finished) but I could only do three. Felt very much put in my place 😂

Boot fair today went excellently. Made a tidy profit, took a lot of unwanted leftovers to charity on my way home and a small amount left (about 1/5 of what I took) to store ready for next spring.

Lunch was a Greggs cheese ploughman's sub roll meal deal thing 🤦‍♀️
Dinner is homemade spaghetti bolognese.

And wine. But my steadfast midweek rule starts again with gusto tomorrow so I'm ignoring the unnecessary calories today 😬

Ordered some ketoketo bars - not tried them before so fingers crossed. I quite like the Huel ones but wanted some more choice. Anyone tried ketoketo? Or can recommend protein/choc bars that are low carb and also taste decent?

@Purplecatshopaholic I like the nakd bars.

I wish I had more self control. Went to restaurant and was abot to order a salad (like my friend). But then realised that I djtn want to pay £20 for a salad that I don't really want. So had what I wanted instead. Unfortunately I enjoy things that have all kinds of bacon and mayo. I know that occatonak meal doesn't matter etc. But would be really nice to actually enjoy the healthier stuff. Like I'm making some curry tokorrow. Will have tons of chickpeas and it will be fine. I just know paneer is better! I was very jealous of my friend who really enjoys eating salads!

@TheRealHousewife , yes focus on reality vs the fantasy of worrisome events.
all is well enough today. ds left, and the guest room and guest bath ready for more visitors. i tried the wake up and walk 1 mile walk...it's fast paced right from the start and used the seven loop band.

food choices better than the two previous days but exercise not where it should be YET. nor is the home organization which causes me stress. most is bee keeping supplies as we are getting ready to bottle.
plan: cottage cheese and blueberries for breakfast
lunch: soup (and i might need to make this)
supper: salad with some protein added in
i need to step away from the mixed nuts...and do 45 minutes of exercise.

@Rewis do you make your own salad dressing? and do you have a mandolin? you can cut mayo calories significantly by mixing mayo with plain yogurt and eventually subbing yogurt for it all together with the right seasoning. i have seasoning salt that is similar to bacon flavor and will use it to make croutons but honestly one crumpled up strip of bacon is not horrible in the whole scheme of things.

DD has made it up and out, will be rousing DS shortly and then normality will return! Miss the holidays already 😞

One of my lighter days today and am determined to stick to it as won't be able to walk like I've been doing for the last few weeks for a while. I'm away this Wednesday (although will try to WoW before I head home that evening) and out on Friday night at a party so will need to be much more mindful of what is going in. I did decide I won't be drinking on Friday though - more a budget and childcare decision but won't hurt re empty calories either!

Didn't realise you kept bees, fallfall! I find that completely fascinating and would love to know more, if you don't mind sharing and don't find it too boring to talk about... do you have just one hive? What about the Queen - does she get special treatment? Do you have those big, cool white all-in-ones with a mask?

Right - happy Monday everyone! May your weeks all start out as fabulous as you are

@fallfallfall I actually don't like mayo. It was kinda just a spur of the moment example 😃 my main complaint is that I want to enjoy the healthy stuff. Like I want to go to a restaurant and go "man, I'd kill to have a salad right now. Hope they have some with chevre. It would really hit the spot on saturday night". But that has yet to happen. I do like a salad (and other healthier options. I know salad is not the only one) and healthier replacements but its just not the same.

Good Morning Everyone 😊

Really enjoyed my chicken roast dinner yesterday and later on had an apple and a spoon of peanut butter so not an OMAD day. Didn’t have meal 2.

@fallfallfall Pleased to read your anxiety had ebbed away. I flipping hate anxiety … I’m sure it’s connected to falling hormone levels too. I’ll have a look at the 1 mile walk vid. I have bands too. I’m doing something right as my apple app says my walking steadiness has improved. I’m thrilled! May we have photos of bees & honey 🍯 … rubs thighs … and step away from the nuts 😬🥜 👍

@SanFranBear You can do it! It’s good you’ve planned ahead for your change in routine (walking) and up coming events 👍

@Rewis you ordered what you knew you would enjoy and enjoyed it! That’s ok in the scheme of things and on balance not problematic 👍

@Purplecatshopaholic In regards to health bars have you considered making flap jack or a version of it. You know exactly what is in it and it’s nutritious and filling. I have a recipe if your interested. I worked out the cals and is about 100 cals a small square. Keeps for weeks in an airtight tin. You’ve reminded me to make a batch to take away with us next week.😬

@ImALittlePea thats a great idea … no takeaway term time. You could turn it into an end of term treat … just the one 🙃👍 Enjoy your alone time, it’s important to be able to recharge and reset yourself ❤️

@JacquelineCarlyle You're very welcome. Posters post as little or as much as they like, no pressure. Setting your intentions and forward planning could help you get back into a routine 👍

@MirandaWest @SanFranBear Our household has gone to no sweets or chocolates in. My OH has some health issues and he finds it’s easier to totally abstain as he is unable to moderate his intake. It works.

Menu
Meal 1 - Soup (from freezer) GF thin. Pear. Hazelnuts.
Meal 2 - Oven baked fish and vegetables.
Tea, black coffee and water.

Exercise
Session 1 - Short Walk.
Session 2 - Hand weights.

Hi, can I join? I’m fatter than I’ve ever been. None of my clothes fit me. A size 16 is too small. My summer holiday ended up being spoiled a bit by my size as every time I caught a glimpse of myself I just wanted to cry.

I haven’t weighed myself as I prefer to measure my waist which is about 39cm!

My goal is 30 cm and I’ll be doing 1400 calories during the week and fasting at weekends. Plus running cycling and yoga.

Hope I can stick to it this time - my problem is not losing weight but falling off the diet wagon and putting it all back on and more!

Ooh! That's amazing @MirandaWest !

For years I didn't know anyone who shared my birthday then about 20 years ago a male co-worker told me he shared mine and then about 5-8 years after that I found out Pink shared our birthday too! We can do virtual drinks / on the day!

yes!

Welcome to the thread @Byebyebigbelly It’s a shock when we glimpse ourselves. I remember several years ago when we considered buying a sports car. My other half took a photo of me sat in the driving seat. The resulting photo and the image of a great big fat potato with a tiny head sitting stuffed into the seat will haunt me forever. It galvanised my resolve to take the blinkers off and get real about healthy eating. Im a solid 3 stone down since that day. It took about 3 years too as I have under-active thyroid and a spinal cord injury. But I was determined and I never gave up. Even when the scales weren’t budging I carried on. Firstly you need to stop seeing it as a ‘diet’ as that’s where it starts unravelling when you go back to ‘normal’ eating. You need to change habits and find a way of eating and exercising that will be sustainable long term. I ban nothing (apart from gluten as celiac), full fat everything but less of it (exception is Greek yoghurt and Longley farm cottage cheese as those products don’t replace fat with sugar. I calorie count (when needing to lose you need to create a deficit), intermittent fast eating 2 times a day, eat a Mediterranean based diet, plenty of protein, fibre and healthy fats. That wasn’t a prescription, I’m just explaining what works for me. We are all different and you have to find what works for you too. Any questions? What’s your plan?

@CrimsonAlligator - I've luckily mostly been the same as you. Had takeaways only a handful of times in my life (under 10?) and most prompted by boyfriends/family in the past.

I now rarely order them as I just don't find them as good as e.g. cooking for yourself or eating it.

Good point re the associations with Friday night takeaway.

I must admit on weekends - I mostly ditch the blueberries/yogurt/granola and have toast with peanut butter and marmite or scrambled eggs. The other weekend I had half a pink grapefruit though.

Not going to bore you with all Saturdays meals:

Sunday: Breakfast - peanut butter and marmite on vogel toast
Lunch: pack cheese Nairns oatcakes with lettuce, a few cherry tomatoes, cucumber crudites and Minestrone slim a soup
Snacks: whole pack of vanilla wafer biscuits, 1 x Babybel light and 1 x Marmite cheese (small). Apple and cheese (1 small slice cut in 4
Dinner: quarter Quiche Lorraine, small baked potato, large salad with beetroot and grated carrot.
Drinks: green and normal tea with skimmed milk
Exercise: Walking fast for approx 1 hour in two cities (returning stuff to shops, buying PF trainers, charity shop runs and returning blister pill packs to Superdrug for recycling).
Did one high intensity chair cardio work out and PF exercises. I feel the burn today from the chair one. Tried a Joe Wicks cardio low intensity with yoga but by god that man irritates me!

Monday: Blueberries and fruit and fibre cereal with milk

Happy Monday everyone!

Thanks TheRealHousewife - that’s all great advice! I’m trying to tell myself that I’m depriving myself of nothing but poor health and low self esteem. I’m probably not far off the menopause and I know that it gets harder to lose weight after that so am determined to shift it now - I’m so tired of steeling myself before looking in the mirror and knowing that the best I’ll think is ‘I don’t look too horrendous in that’ rather than actually liking what I see!

I don’t drink alcohol and my main problem is sugary snacks between meals and after dinner. My meals are generally quite healthy. I’ve been strict about not buying anything like that as I know if it’s in the house I’ll eat it.

i would love to train myself to be someone who just eats fruit between meals and doesn’t crave sugar. I tell myself that I gave up smoking 18 years ago and I was more addicted to cigarettes than sugar so I must be able to do this too!

Morning all, sorry fell off the thread a bit as I have been so busy. Also haven't been feeling well, I have felt like i've had a low level hangover for a week now. Thought it was perhaps my body adjusting to the lower calories but even over the weekend when my calorie intake has been plenty high enough i've still felt rough. Only things i've wanted to eat have been carbs. There is a flu going round here so hoping its just a weird manifestation of that. I am also going on holiday on the 10th so really hoping to be back to 100% by then. Particularly as its quite an active holiday rather than my usual lounge by the pool style.
Lunch today is halloumi, rice cakes, cherry tomatos and some fruit
Dinner I haven't decided yet

Hi everyone! I'm still here and still on the wagon. I have tonsillitis so feeling a bit sorry for myself. Had one of those Skyr corner pots for breakfast which was nice and a nutri lean ready meal for lunch and some pineapple after. I am using the nutracheck app and it's well worth the money. I often find my fitness pal gives wildly varying calorie choices for the same item?

I am adding in some exercise gently, took DD a walk to the library for rhythm and rhyme today and I'll take DS swimming after school, I won't get the opportunity to do lengths or anything but I'm sure being active with him in the water is better than sitting on the sofa.

Afternoon!

YAY to it being Monday!

Feel a bit pissed off as my first morning to myself in two months ended up being super stressful. But I managed to get on top of things that needed doing, and also on top of my stress, and I'm currently sat enjoying a cup of tea in a cafe in town on my own, just people watching. Heaven.

Also feel very pleased with myself that I didn't allow the stress this morning impact on getting back on track; I went eye to eye with the cookies but I refrained 😁

Lunch was a cup-a-soup with veggies and a dairylea triangle
Dinner will be crushed newies with a spinach lattice thingy and vegetables. Hoping Aldi have some greek yoghurt today so I can have a bowl with pomegranate after.

I hope you're feeling better soon @Allthegoodnamestakken

@Slightlystressedbride was thinking about you this morning - how long until the big day now?

Hope you all have a happy, healthy week.

Ah bless you @ImALittlePea ! Thanks for thinking of me.

It's a week on Saturday! I'm determined to get into the 9-stone something by then although dress doesn't need it, it's more a target now to prove to myself I can!

I've had a right faff with my dress, it needed some seemingly minor adjustments to the shoulders but it's a bit like whack-a-mole where doing that then lifted the boning up and it was actively painful in places until the seamstress had one last go this weekend. It's empire line so actually waist-stomach is fine (happily I can eat as much as I want on the day!) Corset is still "a firm hold" around the boobs now, far better than it was, but I think I'll be channelling my inner Elizabeth Bennet on the day and not taking any really deep breaths! Hence also trying to lose a couple more pounds before just in case it makes it a tiny bit looser. It does look lovely though which is the main thing!

Has anyone ever done one of those body wrap things? Wondering if it's worth trying just to suck out a few millimetres....not that I'll have time in the days before!! Still got a lot of jobs to do!

Enjoy your relaxed Monday and well done on resisting the cookies!!!

Went to hot person gym today for a strength training class. It was a bit more diverse now. I mean every man and woman still gorgeous in their own way but not exclusively skinny bitches (/s). There is this older woman who does the strength training and then continues with bodybump. You go girl!

I know we are not suppose to look at other people but I have to say that the young woman infront of me was entertaining. She was quite fit but she didn't do any of the things that the instructor did. It's one thing to modify certain things but she kinda did the same muscle groups but totally different from what the instructor was doing. Like more difficult. And in final stretches everyone is doing light stretches standing up. She is on the floor going hard at it. Good for her, but I was a bit entertained

Busy few days so can't namecheck, but well done everyone. OK here, no snacks or sugar, or wine. I did succumb and had a G n slimline last night though, which I was disappointed about, but actually I shouldn't really beat myself up about it though? Food generally OK. Lots veg & protein, small portions carbs. One day at a time though.

Wedding dress sounds fab @Slightlystressedbride - when's the big day? How very exciting for you!

Well done staying strong today @ImALittlePea despite the stress. And for taking a moment out for a cuppa.

@TheRealHousewife this is the first 36/300kg

@fallfallfall that looks amazing! Is it quite hard work keeping bees? I'm now daydreaming about a small hive at the bottom of the garden. Im not sure our chickens would be in favour 😂

Good Morning Everyone 😊

Oh my giddy aunt @fallfallfall that looks so golden & delicious 😋😋😋 That is superb honey 🍯👍

@Rewis Whats a hot person gym. Is it that it makes you hot as in temperature or is it that everyone who goes is’hot’ as in very good looking with a great physique?

@Slightlystressedbride That’s triggered a memory … About 35 years ago I underwent a ‘body wrap’ treatment where you are meant to lose inches. I was wrapped up like an Egyptian mummy … and I couldn’t breathe as it was so tight so asked for it to be removed before time was up 😬 Hope you have a stress free week in the run up to the wedding!

@buzzofthebumblebee You diet reads fine 👍

@ImALittlePea Well done on swerving the cookies, not always easy if feeling stressed! I love people watching too … not with binoculars you understand, just sat in cafes 😬

@DustinsHat @Allthegoodnamestakken Hope you both feel better soon!

@Byebyebigbelly You're very welcome. I’m the same, I rarely drink and I never add sugar to foods. I keep my protein intake high which is satiating and reduces the need to snack in between. If I do need something it might be a few nuts or a sliced apple and peanut butter. I rarely have baked goods (apart from a healthy version of home made flap jack). You’ll find your groove soon I’m sure. Give yourself time if you’re trying to completely overall how you eat.

Menu
Meal 1 - Mediterranean 3 egg omelette. Side salad. Apple. Walnuts.
Meal 2 - Mini roast chicken dinner with leftovers from Sunday.

Tea, black coffee, water. My water intake has slowed so making a concerted effort to drink more!

Enjoy your day!