My weight loss diary - 16:8, cutting out crap and drinking more water!

[MickeyMouseShithouse]

I’m using MN as my own personal blog/diary for my weight loss - Feel free to join me, chat, check in, lurk.. Whatever!

So here goes nothing..

Entry 1:

New Year, New Me.. amiright? Not really, more of a ‘New Year, Same me but in a much healthier and banging body’.

After having two children I’m now at my heaviest - which is something like 11st 6lbs (and that was pre-Christmas period!) I’m likely heavier now but my scales have died so I can’t weigh.. which I’m actually quite pleased about.

Ive chosen the 16:8 diet, I’ll eat from 8am - 4pm. I think this will work well for me, and for us as a family - as my partner is very slim and doesn’t need to lose weight, or cut down carbs ect, which had always been a big reason to why my diets have failed - because it’s not maintainable as a family unit (unless I faff with cooking two different meals)
So whereas my partner works full time the only meal we really have together is dinner; so now I’ll cook for him and the children but I’ll be fasting, I’ll just take a glass of water to the table at dinner time!

This diet for me isn’t about watching the numbers tick down on the scales necessarily. Of course it’s nice to see the numbers reduce - but ultimately as I’ll be working out alongside healthy eating I’m expecting some muscle to build. So instead of watching the scales I’m watching the mirror. I’ll take weekly photos to compare and hopefully start seeing a change.

If I like what I see in the mirror then what the digits say doesn’t mean anything to me.

For some personal background if you’re still reading; I’m lazy. I hardly exercise, I’m not someone who goes out for daily walks/jogs ect. - I think I would like to and I would enjoy it but I have social phobia disorder and generalised anxiety so getting out isn’t the easiest for me. - I’ll take the kids to the park or shopping but that’s about it.

That said, I’ve brought a treadmill. My minimum goal is to get 10k steps in every single day, whether that pottering the house while I clean, going out to the shops, running after the kids or using the treadmill, 10k steps is my bare minimum goal. I’ll likely have a gentle jog in the mornings, then check how many steps I’ve done by the evening and top up once the kids are in bed.

I’ve brought a blender which I’ll make smoothies with in the mornings.

I work mostly from home, so snacking is hard to control when the cupboards are right there! I’m going to stock up on carrot sticks, low fat hummus, chicken pieces and nuts to have as snacks through the day.

I really need to whip my arse into shape, I have to have my wedding dress fitted in April so I’m hoping to make a pretty big, yet maintainable change by then.

The Facts:
Current weight: 11st 6lbs
Height: 5ft (on the dot)
Goal: Slim down and firm up, but in numbers I’m hoping to lose 2st minimum by May.

Morning,
Yesterday managed a 17 hour fast then a 4.5 hour eating window.
Lunch - 3 p.m. - handful of peanuts
Dinner -7:30 p.m. - 2 sweet red peppers stuffed with minced fish
Pork and onion stir fry

Endless cups of black coffee and tea during the fasting times.

11,000 steps including half hour of Zumba and a short walk in the neighbourhood.

This morning went against my better judgment and weighed myself. Still stuck at 77.5. The scale just won't shift from that number. I have to cut back drastically on the calories. In the past I have had to reduce it to about 600-700 calories a day in order to see the numbers move which is pretty drastic and unhealthy. I will start logging calories again on MFP today.

I have an appointment with my Dr. today to arrange for thyroid function test.

Have a great day!

I used to weigh myself every day, but an determined to only do it on a Friday...however I dont feel any different so suspect the scales havent chnaged!.
Thats a really low calorie diet, isnt there a 'thing' about not eating enough calories, especially with doing Zumba workouts aswell?

Yes, that is really low calories. I am not eating like that now, but in the past have noticed my weight only goes down when my calories are really, really low. Even 1200 - 1500 calories (which I am eating now) just keeps my weight from increasing which is frustrating. Anything more and I start gaining. I am trying to figure out why this is, hence my visit to the doctor. I am also 51 and perimenopausal which might be having an effect.

Today hasn’t been too bad, I’m having ‘the night off’ tonight but still fasting. I had cous cous and tuna with a banana for lunch - for dinner we’re having bbq pulled pork brioche burgers and sweet potato fries.. so definitely need to get on the treadmill and run this off tomorrow!

Yesterday was going really well. Nearly 18 hours of fasting, then broke fast with pork curry (we eat a lot of pork in this country) and cauliflower rice, and then for some reason went all bonkers with eating. Ate some leftover Christmas cookies, some of my daughter's Christmas candy and popcorn...argh! I absolutely lost control. Of course that meant I woke up ravenous and ate a couple of sausage rolls at 5 a.m. Now let's see if I can get a grip on today :) Good day everyone!

@EasternEcho I feel you! We eat a lot of pork in our house too. Although not strictly diet related I am trying to cut down on certain meats. I’m trying to stick to mostly chicken and fish but will occasionally have minced beef for a chilli. Then have pork/steak/lamb on occasion..

Speaking of lamb. I’m booking myself a cheat day on waters Sunday because there’s no way I’m missing out on a lamb roasty!

This morning breakfast was avocado on toast and a metabolism aiding super blend tea. I’ve got a bowl of goji berries and almonds waiting for when I get peckish.

I’m going to dig out my dumbbells in a little bit too and start working on my arms.. my arms are horrendously wobbly at the moment and I don’t even want to book our wedding photographer at the pure fear of seeing my arms in photos!

@MickeyMouseShithouse I absolutely love lamb! And mint jelly to go with it. Would definitely cheat for that :) I too, was just thinking today about starting on weights. I am going to dig up some Bodypump videos on Youtube.

I have totally failed at this this week so going to start afresh next week. I've still got this horrible cold virus thing (had since Christmas) and it's not killing my appetite. Just not got the motivation to think about eating carefully. Will weigh myself tomorrow and start properly.

@everyonebutme - My family and I too have been having one blasted virus after another since late November. I hope you feel better soon. I too seem to have failed, because despite the fasting and the 10,000 steps a day .... my scale tells me that I have GAINED weight this morning. I feel so discouraged.

Ok, the demonic scale tells me that I have gained a a kg today. I just don't understand how but I weighed at the same time, same place, with nothing on...so don't really have an idea. Well, I'll soldier on today and see what happens next week :(

Slipping, cheese and chests:

I’m slipping, I’m trying not to but it’s so hard!
I’m going to try and set timers for my faster, and daily reminders on my phone.

I’ve brought a new water bottle that holds 2L so I know I’m getting enough water a day - I’m terrible for drinking water and can easily go an entire day on just one cup of tea.

TEA! I can’t stop putting bloody sugar in my tea! I drink earl grey, I love it and I used to have it without sugar but once I started that was it, can’t stop. Ugh. I think I need to stick to the herbal teas until I’m having less sugar cravings.

Cheese.. I ate a bloody ton of cheese last night.. accompanied with cured meats, bread, chutneys and chocolate. I hate myself today, cheese doesn’t agree with my lactose intolerance anyway.. but it tastes just so good..

Chests, by that I mean the mounds of fat attached to the front of me. It’s always been my biggest flaw/insecurity - but now I’m on the treadmill I hate them more than ever - I’m a 34H and it hurts to run! I was rejected for a reduction years ago before I had children.. I am thinking about visiting the GP again now I’ve had my kids.
I’ve been looking into decent sports bras, and also decent running trainers.

I really, really need to get on top of this slimming down and getting healthy malarkey - time is starting to run out for dress fittings so I need to kick myself up the arse and get a move on.

You need to use the App Fastic it’s free and great for motivation @MickeyMouseShithouse

@RoseBucket
oh thanks for the tip, I’ll go check it out now!

Hi all, was hoping to join! Been doing the 16/8 for the past week and it has been going well. I thought it was going better than the scales have told me though, but I suppose these things take time!

Is it ok if I join you. I started 1st January but gave up on the 2nd.

Managed to get back on it yesterday, I'm so depressed with my fatness.

Sorry, posted too soon.

My plan is to stop eating everything in sight. I'm way out of control. Had a good day yesterday and today so hopefully I can keep it up.

Also trying to drink more water and to take vitamins everyday. I would like to say that I'm going to start exercising, but that probably isn't going to happen anytime soon so I'm not kidding myself. Just trying to get my eating under control.

Weighed in yesterday at 12st 8. I'm huge for my 5'4 height.

Only 0.1kg lost again. Better than putting on. I really need to put more effort into eating healthily and exercising. 40 mile cycle ride today, but also huge roast dinner at the pub!

Of course, the more the merrier.

I went to the cinema with my sister tonight.. which means we had McDonald’s after 😩😩

tomorrow is a new week.. I’m going to drink a shit ton of water (but not too much), I’m going to work standing up all day, sit down for lunch, regularly get on the treadmill and eat accordingly!

@SusanPerbCallMeSue a 40 mile bike ride, that is seriously impressive.

I celebrated my 2lb loss last week with a dominoes pizza and sides on Saturday!!! Today started well but our fridge/freezer and gone bust so tea has been a mash of frozen crap food before it thoroughly defrosts 😥. Ive cut myself off now though as im into my fasting time!

Good morning,,

It has been up and down with me. I am basically managing a decent fasting window, but binging at night. I need to work on this. I am being quite good with exercising, more than 10,000 steps every day and I've started doing Tai Chi in the mornings when I wake up for 20 minutes. I find this better for me than yoga, where I lose interest after 2 minutes. I am focusing on physical fitness and strength and I think weight loss will follow. At least I hope so :) As I write this, I am at 15.5 hours fasting so let's see how long I can make it. Not getting on the scale for a while.

Have a great day!

@EasternEcho sounds like you’ve got a really good routine going! That’s motivated me to get off my arse and onto the treadmill this morning. My goal today is 10k steps minimum!

Morning all, I'm on day four of diet torture. I am just concentrating on ditching all the crap food and eating healthy foods only.

I'm trying to drink more water, I'm not a fan as I prefer Diet Coke 😁 but managed two small bottles yesterday. Also remembering to take vitamins daily.

I have a new large mirror in my lounge that I keep having the misfortune of seeing my full length fatness in all its glory. It's quite a shock. In my head I'm not that fat but the mirror tells a much different story.

It's pretty depressing not having copious amounts of chocolate every night in front of the tele, but more depressing seeing my body in the new mirror so I'm glad that I'm trying to do something about it finally.

Have a good day all.

@MickeyMouseShithouse I hope you have a good workout! :)

@DoYou I know the feeling. I have a mirror in the hallway I have to pass each time I leave the bedroom which I consciously avoid looking at. But it is hard to avoid catching a glimpse of myself in shop windows and having a double take! :D

Hi all, I'd love to join if that's ok!

I started the 16:8 on 2nd January (after a huge Chinese New Year's Day) I find weekdays so easy but as soon as the weekend hits it's much harder to stay within my eating hours.

I am 5'5 and my weight on 2nd Jan was 13st7lbs which makes me obese

However I weighed myself yesterday 16th Jan and I am now 13st1lbs which is a 6lbs loss! Still in the obsess category, however hopefully not for long!