Diet For Summer Challenge

[Dashel]

This is a continuation of the diet for Christmas challenge that was undertaken in 2022. Thank you to @OhFatty for starting that.

It is a group of us wanting a supportive environment to loose weight in the long term. Hopefully the posters from the Christmas challenge will sign up again and new members are welcome.

We each have our own way of doing this and there are no rules other than being encouraging to everyone and cheering on successes.

@bigdecisionstomake sounds like you were pretty restrained but I hope you enjoyed it regardless. Definitely keep on swimming! Even when we get to targets there will be weekends away, Christmas and holidays where good intentions go out the window and we should enjoy them and then worry about them afterwards. I hope you were ok after all the exercise.

@encoreunfoisnumber2 I hope you feel better and aren’t rushing back to the gym too early. Toast is so good when you are ill or with a pot of tea.

So the physio appointment wasn’t great, I have been told to get a doctors appointment to get a scan as she is worried about my symptoms and it’s better to be cautious. But the bad news is that she doesn’t think I will be ok with a diving tank in ten weeks 😭

I have been working so hard for this holiday and we were both looking forward to diving. I know it’s a first world problem but it’s been my focus for months and my reason for getting up at 6am to go for for walks or do GFWR . We were due to pay the balance on Saturday so we are going to see if we can move it until later on in the year when we were due to be on a cheaper holiday and do a cheaper non diving holiday in ten weeks time.

I am trying to see the positive that I will have longer to shape up but I now have to be careful of what I do again which is so frustrating

Sorry for the whinge I am just fed up of injuries and frustrated.

I hope everyone is having a great week

Morning all

Happy for hump day today, yesterday was another stinker at work and it looks like today might well be the same.

Sorry you've been under the weather @encoreunfoisnumber2 tea and toast is my go to food too when I'm unwell, there's nothing better. Move on past the chocolate bar, it happens to us all every now and again and it's done and can't be changed. It sounds like you're getting back on track now but don't go too fast in case you put yourself back again.

@Dashel I was thinking about you yesterday after your morning post as you sounded really fed up. The news from the physio must be really gutting and I hope you manage to get the scan sorted soon so that you can either rule out anything serious or get some treatment if there is something that needs medical attention. I'm so very sorry you may have to postpone the holiday, perhaps the wisest option though if you won't be able to do everything you'd wanted to do while you were there. I'm guessing it's a load of admin you could really do without at the moment though.

Feel free to whinge away to us all here, we don't mind at all. I absolutely get the frustration with being physically limited but for now the important thing is to find out what is going on and get better. If you're inclined to carry on with the diet remember weight loss is 80% nutrition so can be done with little or no exercise at all...but if it was me I might want a few days to lick my wounds first before getting back on it!

My scales are stuck on 10st 9.4lb again this morning - getting a bit bored of that number. Aside from the unknown quantity that was the meal out on Monday I've been within calories every day (including the extra 100 I'm allowing for my activity level not being quite accurate) so I know I'm doing all the right things. Just got to be patient - does anyone know how to do that please? 😂

I've done an Olivia Lawson 5000 steps for weight loss workout this morning (actually got me around 4500 so not too far out) followed by Day 17 of CGs Christmas series which was Deadbug abs. Touch wood my hip seems to have settled down to the standard level of day to day discomfort for now but I'm going to keep a close eye on it and try to avoid doing anything to overstretch it again.

Hope all those who are off for half term are having a lovely week and sending positive vibes to all those with injuries currently.

Have good days all.

Morning everyone!

Thanks very much for your kind wishes re my back and exercise @Dashel and @bigdecisionstomake

My back was feeling up to it but my plans for fitting the work out into my day looked to have got scuppered by various work and family things, but then luckily I found a window for it after finishing work. I really enjoyed it and I’m not feeling too sore today.

My DH and I also managed to make it out for an impromptu Valentine meal last night. We don’t usually celebrate it much, other than a card, but he travels for work a lot and is often away on Valentines Day but wasn’t this time, and then our DC ended up having a sleepover with their friends last night, so it felt like the stars aligned and we grabbed the opportunity to go to one of our local gastro pubs. The food was amazing and I really enjoyed two glasses of wine and a single gin and slimline tonic. And even better, with my best estimation for putting it all into Nurtracheck, I stayed under my calories for the day too. Plus we walked there and back, which took an hour, so I hit over 10k steps for the day.

@Dashel I’m really sorry to hear the update from your physio appointment and the impact it may have on your holiday. It sounds like swapping your holidays around will be best for you to get the most out of the diving one, but so disappointing as you say. I hope the Dr appointment can get things sorted and get you on the path to being fighting fit again. You’re doing amazingly well, even in the face of things like this being thrown at you. I think you should feel hugely proud of yourself and your focus and determination.

@bigdecisionstomake so frustrating for you being stuck on that number. I’m bouncing around an annoying number to, just going up and down, for the last few weigh ins, but I’m just going to keep on trucking. And tracking! I’m sure yours will start going down again really soon. Can you see from your weight record that you have a pattern developing for how long you stay at one weight, then having a whoosh eventually? Well done on the exercise but yes definitely keep an eye on your hip and how it is feeling.

@encoreunfoisnumber2 I hope you feel better soon, taking care of yourself while ill has to be your first priority. Put the chocolate incident out of your mind. My mantra for doing things this time round is that I can’t stuff up unless I actually quit. As long as I keep on going, I’m doing just fine.

One thing that seems to be helping my mindset this time is that I haven’t put a time limit or fixed time goal on myself, or set target weight loss for the week / month / by a set time etc. It will take as long as it takes and my only goal is for the overall weight loss trend to be downwards. We have a lovely holiday booked for the summer and previously I would have had a set weight that I wanted to get to by then. This time, I just want to be less than I am now - hopefully a reasonable amount less mind you! - but just ‘less’ rather than ‘x amount’. That way I don’t feel like I’m failing if I don’t get to a certain weight by e.g. 1 March etc, and it keeps me focused on this being a long term thing and making it sustainable.

I'm here reading but not posting too much.
Done a home workout Mon-Weds (today) and have kept up with my squat challenge daily. I've also added in a small amount of weights.
I currently ache a lot but pushing through.
Really hoping for sts on scale on Friday, I am on at the moment so may gain this week - we'll see I guess.
@Dashel I hope your dr/scan appointment goes ok, it sucks but at least once you know what it is you can work on recovery.
Hope you're all doing well 😊

Hi everyone,

Thank you very much for your kind words. I really needed them.

@bigdecisionstomake I am sure you will have a woosh soon and loose a fair bit of a sudden. Be careful of the exercise as you don’t want to push your hip too much. I am not giving up no way - I am licking my wounds though and feeling sorry for myself, but this is another set back that I will get over eventually.

@imustbepatient that sounds a perfect Valentines Day. DH was working on his laptop last night on the sofa next to me, but not exactly romantic! I think it’s really important to enjoy those special moments and treat them very differently to eating calorific junk food at your desk.

@Gemzee I hope that you are enjoying half term and fingers crossed you get a good result on the scales.

I was lucky enough to get a doctors appointment today. I have to have a scan as expected and he thinks there is some sort of nerve damage as my reactions are slow and the pins and needles in my arms, legs, bottom and spine. I don’t think there is a quick fix tbh. Hopefully it will just be a trapped nerve and no further damage to my discs.

In the meantime no weights whether it’s dumbbells or shopping, stay hydrated and be careful. Walking is fine and yoga or Pilates or stretching has been encouraged.

As a result of this we have moved our dream holiday to September. We loose a swim up room but have saved money and it gives me longer to tone up and loose weight. I offered to go but not dive and DH said that would not be fun and also if I’m in pain then, it’s hardly fun.

We are going to book something else for then, which will be short haul and relaxing with no diving. So something to look forward to and a big reason to keep going and not make my back worse.

I am still doing my steps and got to 19.8k yesterday and I had a real woosh myself this morning going from 10st 2.6lb to 10st 1.4lb which is just under my lowest weight from last week which was 10st 1.5lb. I have no idea if it will stay low tomorrow with inflammation and god knows what else so we shall see. My aim for this week is just to carry on as best as I can.

I hope that everyone will have a better week.

Morning all

That sounds like a lovely Valentine's evening @imustbepatient don't you love it when everything just comes together like that unexpectedly.

I've looked back at my weight record (nerdy spreadsheet at the ready) and it looks like the last plateau I had, when I bounced around between the 11s and 12s, lasted 9 days before the whoosh came. I first hit the 9s on 9th Feb, so 8 days ago, therefore crossing my fingers for a whoosh any day now!

Well done for keeping up with the daily workouts and squat challenge @Gemzee I quite like the achy feeling after a good resistance workout as it makes me think I'm doing some good! Crossing my fingers for you that you get the result you want tomorrow on the scales.

So glad you're not giving up @Dashel - I had a feeling you wouldn't, you've shown amazing tenacity and fortitude so far against the physical challenges you've had. The amount of steps you're getting in is epic and we're all cheering you on.

Sorry you ended up having to move the holiday but at least you've still got it to look forward to, just a bit further away. I love that you can find some positives and hopefully you'll be able to get something short haul booked to fill the gap.

I have seen a tiny downward shift on the scales this morning, down to 10st 9.0lb - the same weight I was exactly a week ago. I'll be really glad to see the back of the 9s now!

This morning I did a 30 minute March Across America with Jenny Ford followed by a 10 minute toned arms routine with Mad Fit. I've managed to get a post lunch walk in every day this week so am meeting my steps target too although it's quite wet here today so not sure how that will work out later.

Have good days all.

@Dashel so sorry to hear about your holiday. A little longer to wait but the wait will be even more so worth it.

@Gemzee keep going, you've got this💪

@bigdecisionstomake well done on the loss, every bit counts.

I've been back at the gym this week, found it harder while still feeling poorly. I'm now almost out of the 12 stone marker. Today I weighed in at 12 st 1.8lbs (after a poo !). I've lost a stone. I have never lost this amount of weight before (but fortunately I have never really needed to). I just want to see 10 stone on the scales before my holiday. Even if it's 10 stone 13.13lbs LOL. I haven't seen 10 stone at least 10 years, if not more. Holiday is in May half term

@bigdecisionstomake thank you. I was 11st 7lb at my heaviest ever weight and I have worked so hard to get down to 10st 1.5lb that I can’t face putting that back on and then having to loose it again. I am not feeling positive but I will keep going. I hope you woosh tomorrow, sometimes to try and encourage it, I cut the carbs and drink extra water.

@encoreunfoisnumber2 Congratulations on your huge loss. That is fantastic and I hope that you managed to smash your target and feel better soon.

I can’t believe how much I have lost either and I have never managed to get under 10st 10lb in previous dieting attempts. I started posting on the dieting for Christmas challenge in August last year at 10st 11. I had already lost some before then and I think the support and accountability has really helped me, that and having this holiday booked. So I understand your determination to get to your target.

My weight STS this morning which I’m pleased about. I managed to get my steps in yesterday and I managed a gentle GFWR workout this morning. I am having dinner at a friends tonight so hopefully that won’t be too bad. It’s our anniversary this weekend and I’m away with work Monday to very late on Wednesday so it’s going to be hard to keep the calories down but I will do my very best. I won’t be using it as an excuse to comfort eat.

I stayed the same on the scale today, I'm actually really happy ... especially as me and my husband had an impromptu night in the pub last night (my son stayed at his cousins overnight). I had wine (whoops) but for food instead of the pizza I like there I had 2 Chicken small plates (much less cals and hardly any carbs).
I am happy 😊
Hope you are all good today, happy Friday!

Morning all

Well done on the loss @encoreunfoisnumber2 a stone is amazing 😀To lose another stone by May half term should be doable if you put your mind to it - you've got this 💪

@Dashel I didn't realise you had had such a big loss so far - that's epic. I can see why you wouldn't want to lose any ground at this point as it would be sooooo frustrating having to lose it all over again! Hope you had a lovely time last night and enjoy your anniversary weekend 😍

Congratulations on the STS @Gemzee just goes to show you can maintain while still having nights out and making good choices.

Not a happy bunny here unfortunately. I was getting dressed yesterday and in one of those freak accidents that you wouldn't believe unless you were there to see it I was putting my jeans on with my bad hip leg raised and DP managed to knock into me pushing my leg across my body and the hip into a position it definitely didn't want to be in. The pain was excruciating at the time and although it has now settled into a gentle throb I've definitely pulled the groin muscle again as any side to side, knee lifting or bending forwards movement is really painful. The glute and lower back muscle on that side are also niggling although not as badly.

Yesterday I couldn't even manage my afternoon walk as weight bearing on it hurt too much but it's settled a little overnight and I have walked this morning for 45 minutes. Obviously no weights or movement other than flat walking for a while now though again except possibly some arms if my back is ok with that. I just feel so frustrated after only just being able to get back on the exercise properly after the last problem with it. Yesterday it really took my mood down badly and although it's a little better this morning I'm still struggling a bit with it.

For the first time since starting this I really felt like giving up and eating a bar of chocolate yesterday....but honestly, the thought of coming on here this morning and telling you all made me not do it - so thank you for that 😀

The scales have STS this morning at 10st 9lb - I will be happy just to hold onto that number for a few days I think now, while everything (hopefully) heals a bit.

Have good days all and Happy Friday!

Right, I'm now wondering if my digital scales are broken or if I'm ill and don't know it. The stone weight loss is good but I have never lost this amount, ever.

I've STS this morning at 12st 1.8lbs. This is good BUT I've not done the gym in 48 hours. Last night I had x2 pan au chocolates and x2 maryland cookies and a small bag of sweet & salty popcorn plus a 450cal microwave dinner plus lunch and breakfast which was x2 slice ham and poached egg and chicken for lunch.

I'm eating as little carbs as possible, not drinking, gym every day when I can, tracking calories, eating lots of protein, barely any junk/sugar. I don't drink fizzy drinks so it's tea and water only for me.

My digital scales link to an app, surely they are not wrong ??

This seems too good of a result to be true ....

sorry to hear you're in pain @bigdecisionstomake I hope you are feeling better today. Huge well done on resisting the chocolate bar.. I always think of how much pleasure it will give me for a few minutes compared to how much effort it would be to work it off.

and I've not noticed any difference in my clothes either :-(

@bigdecisionstomake I am sorry sorry about your hip. I wish we could magic away all injuries for us all. I would try and see if physio helps. It hope you get better quickly. I think we both need to listen to our bodies and rest more than we want to and do less than we want to.

I know it’s so hard but please keep going, less weight is probably good for our joint problems. The weather will get better and lighter and it will be nicer to walk outside and I know you won’t want to go backwards either. We will cope with our injuries- somehow, but we will cope and progress. Sometimes a STS feels like a victory.

@encoreunfoisnumber2 it is possible you have lost water weight from DOMs but gained it from the carbs in the pan au chocolate and biscuits maybe? Honestly I think sometimes our bodies are just nuts. My body doesn’t look different to me and it took a while to see the difference in clothes. Have you tried your tightest trousers on? Whilst I think there is room for error on the scales I can’t imagine it would be a lot.

@itsasecretnamechange I try and think like that, but sometimes it’s so easy to give in. Sometimes I compromise and get a tiny treat.

I STS too. I managed to get to 15k steps yesterday and it was a busy day at work so some of them I did when I got back from my friends house.

My back is really sore and I have the most random pains and pins and needles. I am being a lot more careful with movement but still getting my steps in.

Morning all and thank god it’s the weekend!

I am not sure how but this morning I weighed in at 10st 0.8lb 🤯I don’t get it but I won’t complain.

I got my steps in yesterday but gently, I even had wheatabix for lunch as I was rushed. So lots of carbs.

I tried on some of my work trousers from pre covid and even the ones that were uncomfortable and tight at my heaviest, I can get both arms down with room to spare. I have never been in a position of giving clothes away because they are too big before so it’s a bit odd. Part of me is clear out your wardrobe now! The other part is saying keep them, you might need them again.

I have a different job now so don’t need so many formal clothes as it’s only a few times a year I would wear them and last time I needed them I wore dresses. I really need some jeans though as they are also too big and normally I wear them loads and I wear them to our local office which I tend to go to every week. I now wear jogging bottoms at home as they have an elasticated waist and fit better.

Sorry for the clothes talk, DH finds it funny I’m living in joggers as they fit the best and with my back so bad and a work trip next week, has suggested we go clothes shopping. Which I’m feeling apprehensive about. Getting in and out of clothes can be a bit awkward to start with at the moment

@Dashel I find clothes getting looser more exciting than the scales going down 😊
Amazing! Well done!! Enjoy your shopping.

Morning all and I second the sentiment - thank goodness it's the weekend!

I'm sure your scales aren't broken @encoreunfoisnumber2 As @Dashel says weightloss is full of the unexpected - some good and some bad. Take it as a win and remember you've put the work in to get there. Don't worry about the clothes thing for now - if you ate a lot of sugary carbs you may be a bit bloated so that may explain it but the way your clothes fit will change eventually. I'm 10lbs down and not really noticing a difference yet.

Thank you @itsasecretnamechange it's feeling a little better today but still definitely not right. Where the chocolate (and wine) is concerned the accountability of this thread is really working for me and helping me stay on track.

@Dashel I love the idea of just being able to magic injuries away. I have a love/hate relationship with leg days at the best of times but I know that working those bigger muscles really helps with calorie burn so I find it so frustrating that I can't do it at the moment.

I'm definitely going to keep going - I'm determined to shift this extra weight, even if I end up doing it without exercise but I do much prefer how my body looks when it's a bit more toned so would dearly love to be able to pick up the weights work again properly.

So sorry that your back is sore too - we both need to take it easy I think. Huge congratulations at the whoosh on the scales and down to the 0s - that's fantastic! The 9 stone somethings really are reaching distance now although if you're anything like me no doubt there'll be some bouncing around to do first!

Clothes shopping today sounds like a lovely treat for all your hard work although I know what you mean about trying things on - I look like I'm about 90 at the minute trying to get my legs into jeans without hurting my hip, and as for putting socks on - DP actually offered to do it for me yesterday as I was struggling so much.

I'm still 10st 9lb today (yawn!) but what with everything I'm ok with that. Would be nice to sneak a tiny bit more off for weigh in tomorrow but having pasta for tea so I suspect it's not likely.

Hip is feeling a bit better but still quite painful, compounded by a bad night's sleep as I found it difficult to get comfortable. I've walked for 45 minutes this morning and done an arm workout with FitbyMik. I did manage a walk yesterday after lunch but overdid it and spent the evening in quite a bit of pain so I might give the extra walk a miss today.

Have good days all and enjoy the weekend.

Morning all

I ended up having to work for a good chunk of Saturday so the weekend hasn't panned out as hoped so far. Fingers crossed today will be better as I'm off to my parents this afternoon to discuss plans for a family holiday in June so if we can get something booked that will give me a target to focus on weight loss wise.

Weigh in this morning wasn't the best - I've had a small gain to put me back up to 10st 9.6lb. I'm not going to beat myself up about it as broadly I have been doing all the right things. My calorie intake for the week was 3400 under maintenance. I usually try to be 700 more than that due to my activity level not being quite accurate on the system I use so overall I was in deficit by around 2700 which should have at least given a half a pound loss.

Weekends are always more carby for me and I did a big spaghetti bolognese last night which, although I weighed and measured my portion carefully, probably didn't help. I also had a 200ml glass of wine - my first at home since starting this - so that won't have helped either. Add in the hip injury and possible inflammation there and the resulting reduced exercise intensity and overall I can't get too worked up over it. I'm as sure as I can be that it isn't actual fat gain so hopefully it will wash away in the next day or two.

Just got to keep swimming!

On a positive note my hip is starting to settle and whilst the groin muscle is still not allowing any sideways or knee lifting movements, just simple weight bearing walking is now almost painless. I've managed 75 minutes this morning and am hoping that I can get back to slightly more energetic workouts very soon.

Hope everyone's weekends are going well and Happy Anniversary @Dashel 😀

Just realised I didn't do my scores on the doors:

Week 7
Initial start weight 11st 5lb
Final target weight 9st 11lb
Last week's weight 10st 9.4lb
This week's weight 10st 9.6lb
Gain this week 0.2lb
Total loss so far 9.4lb

Hi all.
Confession time .. I fell off the (alcohol) wagon 😔 I drank Thurs, Sat & Sun (a lot of wine) - I'm disappointed in myself but I have to move on to a new week.
The positives of last week are 4 workouts, a couple walks and I kept up with the squat challenge.
I've just done a 30min cardio workout & I'm back to work so my steps should be higher than last week.
I am away Fri - Sun this week and plan to eat & drink what I like but need to stay on track Mon - Thurs.
Hope you all have a good day!

Morning all

@Gemzee I'm afraid I'm going to keep you company with a fall off the alcohol at home wagon. I worked on Saturday for a good chunk of the day then had a client texting me yesterday asking for stuff to be done that 'couldn't wait' until this morning. I was so fed up I had a 200ml glass of wine on Sat and a 250ml glass last night. Back on the wagon today.

Glad you can pick out the positives too though, I think that's a really sensible and balanced approach to weightloss and I'm going to take a leaf out of your book. I ate well all weekend, avoided snacking and was careful about portion sizes. I had a couple of treats (fruit loaf and butter - yum!) but made sure they were calorie counted and recorded in my food diary.

The scales have been kind this morning, despite the alcohol, and I am back down to 10st 9.0lb. Kind of happy to see it again after the gain yesterday but a definite feeling of deja vu!

The hip was feeling stiff and a little sore this morning but I've thrown caution to the wind and done a 30 minute Olivia Lawson walking for weight loss followed by last Fridays CG full body workout. I modified both fairly heavily to allow for the hip but actually, by the end, it was a feeling a bit easier as I was very warm and sweaty. It remains to be seen how it holds up for the rest of today once the muscle cools down and stiffens again. I think I'm just frustrated with only being able to walk although I'm whispering that quietly because I know I'm not the only one in that position.

On a positive note, I now have 10 days booked in France with the family from 17th June so there is my interim target. It's unlikely to be a bikini kind of holiday but I would like to be able to comfortably get into all of my summer clothes which I couldn't last year. DP and I usually do something just the two of us that involves sun, sea and sand in September so that will be the bikini target. Currently my calorie tracker app says I'll be at target by May 27th but that assumes a steady 1lb a week loss and I think the reality is that won't happen. If I can get to an even 10 stone by 17th June though I'll be happy, and then lose the remainder prior to September.

Hope you have a good few days away with work @Dashel

Happy Monday everyone.

Evening all. There must be something in the air / water / time of year as I drank more on Saturday than I’d planned to as well. Not as much as I likely would have done in the past, but still more than I’d intended. But, focusing on the positives, we had planned to order in pizza for the family gathering that were round, but in the end I decided I’d rather cook a really nice beef and black bean chilli with brown rice. Which was far nicer, much healthier and helped balance out the wine. And the crisps. And the peanuts…

So I’m feeling ok, to be honest. Not jumping on the scales for the first part of the week (again 😂) but it all felt like a normal approach to life in a sustainable way, but just being more mindful about things.

We have a quieter weekend coming up this next one too, which should help even things out somewhat!

Well done to everyone on your scale and non scale victories. We are all just chugging away and will get there for sure.

Morning all

Your beef and black bean chilli sounds delicious @imustbepatient better to focus on that rather than the wine and snacks! You have to have some down time occasionally and this is a new week. I think you're right - balance is key for this to be sustainable in the long term!

I could not be more balanced as I weighed in yet again at 10s 9lb - sigh. It is now 14 days since I hit the 9s and 13 days since I was first exactly 10st 9lb. That will teach me to miss out the 10s 😂

I think I'm going to give it the rest of this week but if I'm still stuck here after that I'm going to reduce my activity level on my calorie counting app which will take my maintenance calories down by 250 per day. I don't want to do that if I can avoid it because that will make it all a bit miserable and I would rather do it slowly and sustainably if I can - however my current pace is just too slow! I think those 250 calories (150 in reality as I currently aim to have 100 left over each day) are the difference between having a little bit of treat food each day and not.

To focus on the positives, yesterday's CG workout had some press ups in it and although I still do them with my knees down I was able to knock out 12 before needing to stop for a rest. When I started this in January I was barely able to manage 1 without collapsing and I can also tell that my abs and core strength has improved immeasurably. Weight aside, I'm very happy with that progress in my fitness.

Today I've done a 45 minute 3 mile walk with GrowWithJo followed by a 10 minute core and abs session with FitbyMik. Still not able to do everything without some modification but the hip is definitely starting to settle a bit now.

Have good days all.

Thanks @bigdecisionstomake it was really tasty!

Frustrating for you with the scales being stuck, but I’m sure they will start moving down again soon with you sticking so well at it. Great NSV with the press ups too!

I hope everyone is well this morning. It’s very dreary and rainy where I am, but I’m not going to let that derail my intentions to go back to walking my youngest to and from school today. I used to do that all the time and then illness and freezing temps last year got me into the bad habit of taking the car and parking a block or so away. We went back to walking yesterday and it was really nice, so we’ll just keep on going with that, regardless of the weather.

My scales are stuck too at the moment, or more accurately bouncing around between the same kilo. A bit annoying as they haven’t properly gone down yet so I’m still more or less at my same weight from several weeks ago. However, I have lost and gained weight a lot in recent years and I feel like this is just my body resetting itself and taking a while to get going. I’m determined not to press the panic button and start messing around with lowering calories and getting even more particular over macros. I need to give this a proper go and I know my body has form for taking quite a while to start dropping the weight.

This is the usual point when I chuck in the towel - not of dieting / lifestyle changes themselves, but just for the particular way I’m following. I get frustrated and think it’s not working so I jump onto some other way of dieting / lifestyle that I’ve read about, or leap to a more extreme version of what I was doing.

I can’t do that this time, as experience has shown me that whilst I may lose the weight (never quickly, but vaguely steadily) I just can’t sustain an extreme way of eating for more than about 9 months, after which the weight just comes back on again.

I have to find a way that suits me and that I can just do for ever after. The balanced way I am eating at the moment definitely feels like it meets that criteria. I just need the (gradual) weight loss to get underway!

Sorry, long waffle but it helps to get my thoughts down on this and I know I’ll re-read my post later and hopefully it will keep my resolve strong and keep my finger away from that panic button!

Morning all

Can anyone guess what my weight is this morning - go on, I don't think you'll need any clues....Yes, you guessed it, 10st 9lb. I think my scales have gone on strike 😂

DP did say to me yesterday, when I was bemoaning my lack of progress on the scales, that I am clearly stronger now so have probably swapped some fat for muscle. He may be right, I wish I'd taken some measurements now as I'm guessing that would be where the progress was showing if that was the case.

Going to keep on swimming this week and then review on Sunday if there's still no progress. It will be a bit depressing though if I need to restrict my calories and work out this much just to maintain my weight moving forward. Once I was at goal I was hoping to be able to eat/drink a little more and work out maybe only 5 days a week rather than 7.

I've done 2 x GFWR's this morning for a total of 30 minutes cardio and then a 20 minute Glutes circuit from CGs Christmas Series (I've lost track of what day I'm on now). I'm starting to look forward to the weights workouts now, which is a positive of this process. Everything I read seems to emphasise that the older you get the more important it is to keep your muscles toned and working so I hope I'm building good habits for my future self's health.

Have good days all.