I need to lose 23lbs in 2023 and overhaul my life

[thenewaveragebear1983]

sorry for a long post!

I have gained a fair bit of weight in 2022, probably a stone ish. BMI wise, I’m just on the cusp of overweight, slightly over 25. I have been running now for 5 years and am cardio fit, but this year I have had a plethora of minor injuries and as a result, have reduced my miles. I do gym classes, circuits etc and dumbbells/core maybe 2-3 times a week and run 3/4 times a week.

my life has spiralled a bit in the latter part of the year. I should never have returned to my stressful school admin job after the summer but they promised me an assistant and some support which did not materialise. From March to October I did two people’s full time roles in a school of 1000 kids by myself, I was regularly exhausted to the point of tears and lived on my nerves. Towards the end, I genuinely felt broken. I left. They’ve messed me around further (long story) but I have finally made peace with it. However, I am now unemployed for the first time in my life. I feel a bit of low level depression.

Reading the salary thread today I am well aware that I have wasted many years of my life due to taking time to raise my kids. I have a first class degree and a post grad, and yet I was working on minimal pay in shit conditions. I want to feel confident and brave enough to fight for something better for myself and my family. I feel desperately frustrated but mostly because I feel this is a corner I have backed myself into and I don’t know how to get out of it.

I have a lovely family, a happy marriage, a lovely home. Things are happy there. But I feel sad inside because I feel unfulfilled in my life and feel like I’m at a major crossroads. I turn 40 next year too. My dh wants to go self employed, and I desperately want to be able to support him to do this, so as a family we can get through the initial difficult year or so to enjoy the benefits of him going self employed.

so anyway, back to my original post. I need to overhaul my life in 2023, I’m posting this for accountability and to start planning. things that have worked for me previously: strict whole30 for a month (not for everyone but I have always felt amazing on it), picking up my exercise regime, and incorporating some yoga to help my injuries. I have a bad habit of eating my feelings away and this is what has contributed to my weight gain this year plus also makes me feel horrible and bloated. I have, I think, a very dysfunctional relationship with food and I know that when I do w30 I get real clarity and peace from this so it’s very beneficial to me both physically and emotionally. I also really want a break from alcohol and will definitely do dry January if not longer.

If anyone would like to join me then please post, I would love some company!

Had a pretty rubbish week! Was ill weds and thurs. Back to work Friday, then Saturday struck down with a grotty cold which is still lingering. I managed a short run on Monday and this morning, and went to the gym yesterday. Food yesterday was nice, but terrible diet wise and I ate a substantial number of valentines cupcakes and an M&S meal deal, plus wine, with dh. Determined to have 3 decent days within calories now.

we are out this weekend, going to Birmingham and meeting friends. I don’t really want to go, it will be an afternoon drinking and a meal out. I know I will feel hideous the next day. I might offer to drive, at least back from the station. But it’s nice to go out and see everyone and when I’m actually there I’ll probably feel more like it.

job wise, last 3 days temping and then I will have 2 lovely weeks off before starting my new role. My plan is to have the mother of all clear outs of clothing and general loft/garage junk. It’s long overdue! I’ve got to sort my wardrobe out and find a capsule of things that I actually like and that look nice on me, and I need some basics and vest tops and things.

So I am officially out of the education sector! I came home, I had a little cry and now I’m looking forward to my new future.

still feel quite rubbish, still feel hormonal (now 4/5 days late which is starting to concern me a little, as I had such a weird period last month I don’t know if I’m late or not 🤷‍♀️), still feel exhausted. I am not drinking tonight, and am ducking out of a night out tomorrow because i don’t want to drink all afternoon and be knackered on Sunday.

I have been eating absolutely terribly and I feel crap. I’m just about getting away with in somehow but I’m feeling disgusting and keep bingeing on absolutely everything in sight. Just find my shopping order for tomorrow and I just need to get my head in gear and do it, I am sabotaging myself every single day.

no messing about or waiting til Monday, I am starting tomorrow and I have just got to stick to my calorie allowance, eat proper food, and stop bloody snacking

Much much better day today. 1500 calories, no alcohol, no snacks or rubbish. I kept myself really busy with lots of jobs round the house, loads of things I’ve been meaning to do for ages (like cleaning my kitchen cupboards) and sorted out 2 bags of kitchen stuff for the charity shop. I don’t want to accumulate too much before I drop it off as otherwise that becomes a chore in itself.

tomorrow, quite a busy day. I’m continuing my deep cleaning. I’m going to sort toiletries tomorrow, go through the drawers so that all toiletries fit in there and don’t live in piles on the landing. I want to choose some curtains for my new room, make a decision on the flooring, and do a bit of tidying in dd’s room as that will become my home office temporarily.

exercise wise, I will run tomorrow but not sure how long, I have hurt my hip flexor. I’ve still not come on, now 5 days overdue, so I’m really hoping for that in the next few days as I feel very hormonal. Food all sorted for tomorrow, aiming for another good day like today.

Had a ok week. I managed a few good days on track, but I have really struggled to keep my calories below 1500 most days. It has taken serious tracking and planning to keep even close, so clearly I had been eating a lot more than 1500, probably more than 2000 most days. Had my first on track weekend, no alcohol, in a long time. I went out with friends last night and didn’t drink. I do quite fancy a glass of wine tonight however, and it is Friday. I never intended to be completely alcohol free, just to not drink out of habit.

my hip is still a bit sore. I’ve done no classes this week, and run twice. Next week is my last week off before starting my new job, and I’d like to get a few decent runs in and also a few classes, but I don’t want to be injured.

my period finally came, very very late (like 10 days?) and that hasn’t helped my food intake or my mood, it was really affecting my sleep as well being so late. Feel much better now.

annoyingly, despite feeling hungry a lot of the week and feeling very “on it”, I don’t think I’ll have lost any weight this week. I still think I’m eating way too much, and I don’t eat nearly enough veg. My goal for the week ahead is:
— 1500 cals a day
—2 classes and 3 runs
— ditch the sugary treats even within calories allowance
— water, water, water
— 5 veg at least a day

in other areas I have had a really positive week. Building work is really coming along, lounge is nearly finished and hopefully will be finished next week. Curtains, lights, etc going in. I’ve Also been systematically clearing out stuff- section by section just clearing either to charity or bin, trying to clear some of the clogged areas of our house that end up dumping grounds for stuff. I’ve done about 10 bags to charity now over the week, and everywhere looks clearer and i feel a bit freer. I’ve done a few bags from the loft as well and that’s been a tougher job as everything up there has been kept for so long. But it feels quite liberating, and I’ve ditched a lot of things that had been hanging over me in my ‘eBay’ pile which was just another chore waiting to get to. Makes me realise I have spent a lot of money on things I will never use or wear and has made me realise I need to curb my spending.

starting my job on 6th March, so next week I intend to have a nice few days of exercise, eating well, catching up some sleep and continuing my big clear out.

Weigh in: 160.4lbs, that’s around 2lbs off this week.,
total loss this year = 8.6lbs

I’m really pleased with that actually, I was feeling very despondent. Determined for a good week now!

Just read your thread! Am on a calorie count thing with a bit of fasting. Have lost 1st and 1lb over three months. Well done on what you’ve accomplished so far! What’s been the highlights and challenges?

@TrollMunter I really struggled being unemployed to be honest. And currently I am struggling with calorie counting.I feel like I just can’t get into that nice rhythm where it just sort of works. Since my last post I’ve had a few excellent days and a few out of control bingeing days which just cancel each other out!

I think for calories counting to work you need to be a bit of a planner. But also plan for the unexpected. And of course emotional eating!

Yesterday was an interesting day. I had promised myself a fishfinger sandwich, (after having one as a pub lunch last week that was completely overpriced and disappointing), so I bought some bird’s eye FF and planned my delicious sandwich…. Then some crème eggs arrived and I ate one two and then ate some toast… no calories left for my delicious sandwich. Now normally I’d have just said whatever and had it anyway, but I totalled up my calories and I was just scraping in at tdee so I had a firm word with myself and said no sandwich.

a small step, but actually I need to do this more- I can have what I want, but not if I eat loads of stuff I don’t want instead!! I eventually had my fishfinger sandwich today and it was delicious and worth waiting for!

I’m feeling really really tired these last few days. As in, need a nap at 1.30 pm kind of tired. Today I just let my eyes close for 15 mins, then got up and went for a walk the long way for the school run to wake myself up a bit. Went to the gym this morning, which is an early start.

Making sure to take my vitamins and my iron tabs each day, I have been forgetting recently. Drinking more water as well, I have a 1.5l Evian bottle which I finished and have refilled so that’s prob 3l in total today.

on the job front/career change - starting on Monday, I have bought myself a couple of new things for my new WFH wardrobe, just some chino trousers and a few tops, as I really don’t want to end up in leggings every day. I only really have quite smart office type things/blouses etc and leisure things- not much in between. I’m feeling a bit anxious to be honest, I gave an induction on Monday and then 2 days in the office with my line manager, then it will be wfh thurs and Friday watching mandatory training videos. I’ve sorted out my temp home office in DD’s room which I will use until my lounge/dining room is finished.

It’s been a busy week and no time to update. Last Friday I had my tooth extracted and I have had nothing but pain ever since, I’ve developed an infection in there and so all week I’ve struggled a lot with a swollen infected mouth. Started my job Monday, Tuesday then we had snow on Wednesday, Thursday Friday. It’s been a pretty shit week to be fair, I’ve been in pain and miserable, I haven’t felt like I’ve been on the ball with my new role at all and I’ve generally felt rubbish. I’ve eaten crap and not exercised. I’m now on antibiotics that I cannot drink on, so while that should have been a great opportunity for a really healthy weekend, instead I have eaten loads of food.

I really need to shake up my diet. I am so unhappy eating like this and feeling like this. I am so tired and feel so lethargic and flat. I have absolutely zero motivation to do anything except sleep. I’m sure this is just the legacy of what has been a really difficult and draining week but right now I’m feeling really blue.

Difficult to plan food for tomorrow as I am at my mother in laws birthday, although as I won’t be drinking it should be easier to stick to plan - plus I may leave early too. But from Sunday I hope I will get back to exercising and eating well again.

i need to plan a few days food that I can actually stick to. I’m not eating anywhere near enough veg, I am really not taking good care of myself at the moment. I need to cut out the dairy and bread and the stodgy rubbish.

i’m going to give it some thought and will post again tomorrow with my plan for the week

I have had a really busy few weeks. On plan a bit, off plan a lot! However, last week I had a really focussed week and managed to lose 3.5lbs and it took me below 160 as well so I was really pleased. This week hadn’t gone brilliantly so far, I had a bit of a chocolate binge today after a busy day. The next 3 days I need to regain my focus and cut the carbs again.

in other areas, my new job is enjoyable but stressful. I feel quite overwhelmed and feel like I’m just never going to learn it all. I think it’s completely normal to feel that way and my start hasn’t been great, with my first week having a major dental infection and then my line manager being on leave for half of last week and half of this week. But I’m getting there. I fully expected it would take a few weeks to really settle in and I’m not going to beat myself up about it (yet!)

Another week has passed. It’s now just shy of 9 weeks until we go away at whitsun. I have enjoyed my new diet plan but this week I need to do it every day to see proper results!

I did weigh this morning, 158.8lbs which is really good as I haven’t actually had the best week calorie wise. Total
loss of 10lbs this year.

so this week:
m- run in the morning, meals sorted
t- rest day, need to collect my food shop
w- 6am gym class, walk at lunch
th- 6am gym class, 1/2 day holiday so probably a walk or run in the afternoon
fr- day off work, lovely long run in the morning

meals- we have lots of meat in the freezer so this weeks shop will be led by those as meals. I am going to make more effort with my lunches this week as well, I like a soup but I need to increase my veg so I’ll have salad and protein as well. I’ve been really enjoying fruit salad this week as well, making a big bowl of chopped up fruit for variety.

In old-skool mn fashion, I feel like I need some ‘princessing’ so for the next 9 weeks I’m going to really try to pamper myself a bit more- moisturising, using some of the firming/tummy toning type lotions I have, skincare, and making a really special effort with my teeth. Oh and moisturising my hideous feet. I colour my hair quite regularly now and have a cut on Friday but I need to actually style it (because it’s actually glossy and nice when I do) but working from home on teams a lot is making me realise how much better I look when I am groomed and wear some makeup!

and finally- enjoying my new job, felt like I bonded with the team a bit in the away day and I have settled in more. I have my four week review on Tuesday and I really hope I will have a positive meeting. I’m ready for her to give me more to do and more training in specific areas so hopefully this will happen.

So, it’s now 5th April. I’ve been really really strict with my food and have ended my day in deficit every day this week. I’m now 156.5lbs, total loss of 12.5 this year (on target for 23 in 23 again!). Today I’ve been hungry and craving and then realised I’m ovulating so that’s probably why. It’s been a very very long time since I’ve had such a good week consistently on track so I’m feeling really good. I’d love to lose 1.5lb this week, granted with Easter that will be slightly trickier, but I’m really determined to protect my weight loss and keep going.

I’ve been generally taking better care of myself, exercising every day and being a bit more proactive with my skin care and general self care. My hair is looking nice, I have been wearing makeup for work even though it’s WFH, and I have ordered some skin and me products for my rosacea.

jobs going well, I feel like I’ve really settled in now, I still don’t have a clue what’s going on half the time but I have challenging work to do and my work/life balance is hugely improved. Plus £400 extra a month. So all in all, a good move for me that will continue to improve as time goes on.

Annoyingly I completely lost the plot after Easter and have had a full week of eating rubbish. I weighed yesterday and I’m back up to 158 🤦‍♀️ still, it’s 11lbs down from the start of the year and that’s still overall positive so I’m trying not to beat myself up about it.

Back on track from today though. Low carb, Mediterranean plan, a bit of IF and generally not eating any junk or drinking for a few weeks. We are out next Saturday night but I’m just going to keep my head in the game.

my running and gym is going well. I’m getting a few more miles in and lifting heavier dumbbells at my classes, will continue with that regimen this week- going for a long run today.

I’m also going to do a bit more self care/grooming in the run up to my holiday, 6 weeks away. My skin and me stuff is good and I do feel like it’s working on my cheek redness.

work wise- I am really enjoying my new job. I’m hopefully going to do an apprenticeship through them which I’m really excited about as it’s some additional quals and will really help me learn. But honestly, my work/life balance is so much improved and my life is so much better now than 6 months ago. It was definitely a good move for me and I’m so glad i made the jump.

the next phase of building work starts next week so that’s also good news as we want to get that going really.

so yes, everything ticking along well in the ‘overhaul my life’ area but not so much in the ‘lose 23lbs’ - but that’s workable!

Late to the party but may I join you? I am recently 40 with at least 14lbs to lose. Put on 2lb over Easter. Going to try IF as it seems to work for me,but I need to be sensible with it too. I also had an injury last winter which hasn't healed so am having to do low impact weights at home rather than my usual exercise whilst I await an MRI scan.

Impressed with your steady weightloss, good way to do it.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/4701835-diet-failed-again-thread-three-join-us-in-a-friendly-group-who-are-very-supportive-without-any-judgement?page=31&reply=125478120

@UsernameNotAvailableNow hi, I’ve linked another thread that I find really chatty and supportive, come over there and say hi as well!