🍁LOSE IT! October 2022🍁12 WEEK COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS 🎄

[TheRealHousewife]

Hello and Welcome

Following on from the LOSE IT! September Thread here’s October’s Thread.

Dare I say it’s officially the 12 Week Count Down to Christmas 🎄😬 There is still time (for those who want to) for a complete body/mind/fitness overhaul before the festivities and family get together commence 🥳 Plus, who doesn’t want to start 2023 feeling more energised, fitter and svelte!

Jump right into October! 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!

Good morning from the west.
141.7 this am!!
that’s still overweight for a 5’3” woman but getting oh so close140.9 is the top limit to the normal range. Muscle, bone, hydration have been in the middle of the normal range for a while.
certainly not celebratory but had a carb heavy breakfast of a cheese biscuit, and baked beans. Some blackberries from the garden and a bit too much grape jelly.
lunch will be halloumi and swiss chard
supper salmon and zucchini
my inner thighs are feeling the sumo squats and I’m really looking forward to todays cardio workout (the walk at home series new video called wednesday Higher Burn).
@mumsy2015 i eat pretty clean/low process partially because I have easy access (a small productive garden, hubby who cooks and bee keeps on top of close ties to some local organic farmers due to the bee keeping, home ec in the 70’s didn’t hurt either).
well done everyone, even if it means refocusing.

So I've decided that I'm not calorie counting this time around (I know that calories in/calories out is what works). Instead being mindful of portions and what I'm taking in. Every time I've counted it's either ended in a binge and giving up/obsessing.

Adding a lot more veg and upping proteins is what keeps me full so im sticking to that!

Hmmm just looked at this mornings weigh in on fancy scales- apparently I've lost 4% body fat and put on 8% muscle in a week.

Given that that's unlikely I may put some new batteries in it. Will be SO pissed off if it's been giving me the wrong weight!!!

Hello ladies, am I too late to join? I've been low-carbing for about a month but this is another attempt after losing and putting on several times since around March.

In March I weighed 91.5kg
Current weight is 80.8kg
Goal weight 65kg

Would love to chat and perhaps swap meal ideas :-)

@milkfromthesleepycow i get tons of fluctuation based on how hydrated i am. when i was losing weight at a faster pace those reading were wildly up and down.
they were very helpful at the during sections where weight loss stalled out, during those times i could see muscle mass increasing, weight stable, and water increasing (which i was working on).

Waving to @fallfallfall … enjoy your day! I’m off to bed now. It blows my mind to think we are all in this together from all corners of our planet 🌎❤️

Good Morning All

Hi @TheLastStark Calorie counting isn’t for everyone and it’s important you find your own path that works for you as you’re more likely to maintain those kind of diet/health changes. I remember right up into my late forties/early fifties my body had a very healthy metabolism and equilibrium that (on reflection was quite magical and I took it for granted) that saw me within a healthy weight range/bmi no matter what I ate or drank. Admittedly I was very active prior to my SCI. Alas autoimmune diseases and disability have reduced my physiological ability to maintain a healthy weight without cc.

Hello, sorry I forgot to post yesterday, but I did weigh myself:

SW 12st 10lb
CW 12st 11lb
GW 11st

so a gain of 1lb.

I’m not demotivated, I’m trying to be kind to myself and am focusing on habit stacking so that it feels doable - hitting my steps, short run 3x week and cut out the snacks to start with.

i know if I go straight in with calorie counting I’ll be more likely to fall off the wagon as I go in too hard and it’s never sustainable.

Hi @Vikki7Welcome to the thread. Apologies I missed your post. Never too late :) What kind of things do you enjoy eating? Whats your plan? Do you have any health/dietary concerns?

@ImALittlePea i really enjoy a cooked brunch, very tasty! Don't forget its healthy to not ban foods and everything in moderation is ok.

@Jammymare weight never comes off as we expect. You might platuea for a few weeks then have a refreshing whoosh. Id up the water, fibre and protein. I like your idea of habit stacking! Its a great idea. Not heard that phrase before.

Habit stacking - is that where you add another new habit onto an existing one? Like if you get up and put the kettle on first thing, you add taking a vitamin pill to that habit. That's how I've done any successful change in my life, so can attest to its greatness 😛 My current one is having a glass of water while making a tea or coffee.

Also happy to report that I didn't fall off the wagon yesterday when eating medicinal pick 'n' mix for my migraine. Had some fruit and cheese, then a hearty meat and two veg type dinner, and that was it. Wonderful to not feel controlled by sweets.

Forgot to weigh in yesterday so did it this morning and a little disappointed to see I’m up to 9st 9. So have put on half a stone since losing 1.5 stone at the start of the year.
Clearly the chocolate habit has caught up with me again. At least I’m still hitting the gym, so maintaining my strength, but I can see my tummy has gotten rounder and my legs aren’t as slim as they were before summer.

Time to get serious.

SW 10st 7
CW 9st 9
TW 9st 2

It is so encouraging to see people's progree and effort on here.
Day 17
SW:143.2
CW:138
GW:126
4.6lbs in 17 days.
I am very pleased with this as we went out to the best steak restuarant on the planet for their burger night. I prepped for it by just having some of our home grown veg for launch with a little sauce but did think I might be up a bit this morning but another teeny small loss so all good.

Absolutely @TheRealHousewife everything in moderation. I ended up having homemade chips with cheese and some Quorn nuggets last night. And four celebration chocs 🙈

Today's meals:
Lunch - don't know?! Cant decide between a simple salad (don't have anything to add such as chicken) or cup-a-soup with the normal accompaniments.
Dinner - veggie curry (if I find the time to cook it!) and rice.

Beautiful autumn day here so have had a nice morning stroll with the youngest ☺️

(I went for the cup-a-soup)

OK feeling a little bit proud of myself, made good food choices for breakfast and lunch (porridge and honey followed by a veg-filled stir fry). Had a few squares of chocolate for a snack.

Still recovering from a cold so debating whether or not to do some HIIT, might just add in some yoga to tide me over.

Hello 👋 so I have another question for you wise people! 2 days after the HIIT/weights workout and legs still feel SOOOO painful!- going down stairs: OMG!! 😂 I know from all of your reassurance that this is normal and will subside. My question is: can this affect what the scales say? It's not adding up giving what I've been eating etc. I should be 1 or 2 pounds lighter. Can this "leg inflammation" or whatever it is cause an small increase (or lack of a loss if dieting) on the scales? It's really getting me down 😢

@Millie2008 you can get DOMS - delayed onset muscle soreness. You can also hold onto water as the muscles heal/recover.

DOMS This might help explain it better @Millie2008

@TheRealHousewife - oh thank you so much; have just read up on DOMS and that makes a lot of sense- is def what is going on! Ok, I won't despair about scales just yet...

@Millie2008 recovering muscles retain water. some say potassium helps flush the buildup, so eating a banana is often suggested. this also happens with cardio exercise.
speaking of cardio i loved loved loved yesterday's walk at home workout!! i will do the new one for today not sure what it will focus on.
b: oatmeal with fresh fruit and honey, measured out and just over 250 calories
l: leek and broccoli soup under 200
s: turkey pot pie i'll have to be conscious to not overdo the portion size on this more so due to the top crust but i have veggies to use up so it will be loaded.
i'm really grateful that thanks to some persistent nudging i've entered in my database some common meals that i routinely have (mostly breakfast options and soups) because it eases the burden of the weighing and constant counting.
but without having done it, my vison of a serving or portion on certain items was way off...the pumpkin seeds ohhhhh those yummy pumpkin seeds ;)

@Millie2008 no scientific answer to offer but I always find my weight fluctuates when I've done a hard week of weight training. Muscle soreness is almost certainly doms you should find as you exercise more you don't experience it everytime only when you've really pushed yourself. Drink lots of water, hot baths with Epsom salts and deep heat or even ibuprofen if needed.
Last week I had such sore glutes I could hardly get on and off the toilet often question why I do it to myself

Thanks for the advice as always :-)
@Allthegoodnamestakken - yes!! That is totally me!! I have to put my hands on the toilet seat before sitting down 😂 This better have been worth it! I'm hoping tomorrow things will have calmed down a bit.
B: full-fat natural Greek yoghurt, strawberries and a sprinkle of muesli base
L: humous with carrot and celery sticks
D: tuna nicoise without the potato
Dinner at 5pm so will now attempt to fast until 9.30am (post school and nursery runs). I managed this today (having eaten at 5 last night) and found it really hard- really shaky and feeling quite sick from 6am until I ate. Hopefully body will get used to it

Hi - may I please join? Need accountability and for inspiration.
This can't be the third year in a row that I will not have one of my favourite frocks to wear for Christmas. 40s with a nice mum-tum.

I have no specific plan at the moment so need to work on that too.
But in the meantime, I hope to start with less processed food, no unhealthy snacking etc. Quite straightforward simple stuff to start with! Need to go back to the gym too twice a week but got a mental block (I keep telling myself I am tired, which I am, but perhaps it has become an excuse...). I do think sleep is something I need to work on too, not getting enough if I am really honest with myself.

SW/CW: 58-59 (give or take as scale moves each morning thereabouts!)
GW: 52 (or rather: back to size 8, as I have a whole wardrobe still waiting for me!)

Morning...

SW: 104.7kg
CW: 70.3kg
October GW: 69kg

Feel like I really don't deserve to see such a decent loss this week, almost half a kilo! I have eaten everything salty, sugary and in between although did have a better day yesterday. Back on it as of today as feeling a bit better (although throat still pretty sore!)

I'm hoping to get out at some point this weekend for a significant walk as haven't managed that for almost a week - never thought I'd miss it but I'm finding that even though 'you can't outrun a bad diet', I make such better choices after I've worked up a sweat.

Hope you feel less stiff today, Millie - you'll soon get into the swing of things. RealHousewife, fallfall and Allthegoodnames talk such sense! Your body will thank you as well - exercise is soo good for you, not just in terms of weight loss!

Welcome, dressforchristmas - I hear you loud and clear on the sleep front.. now jve increased my work hours as well as picking up some overtime, I am getting to bed so much later and yet still up at the crack of dawn.. its taking a definite toll! Here's hoping we get a hold of it soon as feeling properly rested is so underrated - it's am amazing feeling!

Sorry to not namecheck everyone but I wish everyone a happy and healthy Friday.. we've so got this!

Meant to add, I'm now a healthy BMI, according to the NHS - can't quite believe it!