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.

@Dashel A tiny bit but I have a long way to go 😊

Thanks @Dashel.

Finished the day with 23 calories to spare on my target so a success after a shitty day!

The scales are showing an increase of 0.4lb at 10st 4.4lb.

Yesterday I got to 18k steps I did a 5k GFWR first thing and a 3k one after work one. I also did a JW back and shoulders weights session and had 1500 calories.

All I can think is just keep swimming. It is disappointing to not have a loss, I’m tired, I’m achy but I have done my GFWR already and I’m just going to keep swimming and hope tomorrow brings a loss.

Have a good day everyone and try and stay positive

Hi, can I join in? I've got loads of weight to lose - just under 10 stone - but I'm starting with a target of 3 stone by summer time-ish as that will get my BMI under 40.

I've been at it 1.5 weeks so far and have lost 5lbs so I'm happy about that, but mostly I'm pleased that it hasn't been too hard. I'm doing calorie counting with MFP and my main strategy is to make really nice food with loads of good stuff, not ban anything (just portion control it), and not make myself eat anything I don't like or boring 'diet food'. Also eating 3 meals plus snacks.

I'm being quite careful with it all because I've had binge eating issues for years and the best way to avoid binging is to not restrict or skip meals. I'm going for slow, steady loss really so I don't sabotage myself, and I'm in it for the long haul to properly change my lifestyle.

(To be clear I know 5lbs in 1.5 weeks is not slow, but it's mostly water weight like you always lose to begin with! I'm aiming to average 1.5lbs loss a week)

Good morning, can I join too? I’ve been reading through all your messages and I can see you are really supporting and motivating each other. I haven’t been brave enough to get on the scales yet - will do so at the weekend. Over the past couple of years I put on quite a bit of weight (during that first lockdown) but managed to lose it the year after. I did this by low carbing which seems to work for me. Unfortunately the last year has been really difficult and the weight has gone back on. I really want to look slimmer for my holiday in August. I’m away for a few days now and so restricting the types of food I eat will be difficult- that’s why I’m going to start at the weekend. I have been doing dry January which I’m really proud of but it doesn’t seem to be having any affect on how tight my jeans are 😫 - probably as I’m eating more junk!

Hi @SweetPeaGirl & @Teaformetoo Welcome 😊 This is a lovely group. Sounds like you both have a plan and I'm sure the weight will come flying off! Well done on 5lbs off @SweetPeaGirl

One thing I like about this group is everyone has slightly different plans but we all have the same goal - to lose weight (/get healthier) 🙂

Only update from me today is actually my husbands, he has lost 10.5lbs in 2 weeks! So proud of him! He has a lot to lose and struggles with diets.

Have a good day all!

Morning all

Had a really productive work day yesterday so feeling a bit more positive this morning that there isn't such a hill to climb today.

@WutheringShites86 well done for reigning in the comfort eating and coming in within calories! Sleep deprivation is pretty much the worst thing for me to trigger mindless snacking - second only to a momentous hangover but thankfully I don't get many of those these days.

@Isyesterdaytomorrowtoday sorry the scales aren't moving for you. If it were me I would look to shake things up a bit in the short term, sort of like a re-set. For me this usually looks like logging my calories religiously for a week or two and being really strict to record every morsel that passes my lips. I know it's a complete pain, but for me it really helps to focus my mind on what I'm eating, what a healthy portion looks like and what snacks I can have without derailing myself. It doesn't work for everyone though so ignore me if you feel that isn't helpful advice for you.

@Dashel Just Keep Swimming! Bitter experience tells me there's often no sensible correlation between the effort put in and the result on the scales. You are doing all the right things so you just have to trust the process and you'll get there in the end. The only thing that might possibly help is an exercise rest day - I've found in the past that if I really go to town on exercise my progress actually slows a little - a bit like my body's gone into shock and is preserving its energy. I know it feels a little counter intuitive though. Whatever you decide - you've got this and we're all cheering you on.

I've weighed this morning and...drumroll please.......I'm in the 10s 😀10st 13.4lb to be precise so only just squeaked in but I'm taking it. Just need to stay in the 10s for a bit now.

I've done an Olivia Lawson 45 minute standing cardio aerobics workout this morning which to be fair wasn't much more energetic than her walking workouts. There were a few moves that were verging on high impact rather than low but they were easily modified if necessary.

My cat has her vaccinations later so I will need to take a break from work this afternoon to take her to the vet for that so probably won't manage to fit a walk in today so going to focus on staying within calories instead.

Have good days all.

@SweetPeaGirl and @Teaformetoo welcome! It sounds like you both have plans in mind and as @Gemzee says, we all have the same end goal - to lose weight and get healthier. Look forward to hearing all your updates.

@Gemzee Fantastic loss for your DH - whatever he's doing it's working!

Welcome to @SweetPeaGirl and @Teaformetoo 😀we do try our best to support, encourage and make some constructive suggestions to each other. This is can be a frustrating enough journey and personally I will take all the help I can get!

@SweetPeaGirl you may have been carrying extra water weight from Christmas/ New Year but 5lb is a huge loss and some of it has to far! Hopefully taking it sensibly will prevent any reoccurrence of any EDs so please be extra careful!

@Teaformetoo I have gone completely dry apart from on holidays and special occasions for roughly 9 months now and it has made a huge difference. Plus when I do drink now I get tipsy easily so I don’t even need to drink as much. I love a snack but I’m really trying to cut that out as much as possible. It’s too easy to think oh it’s only 100 cals and then before you know it you might as well have an extra meal.

@Gemzee MrG is smashing it! I know DH looses much easier than I do which is totally unfair. Also whilst I am whinging, I have always struggled with proper push ups, I have never been able to do more than 5 full ones and that was only for a few months when I was at my fittest. DH can not exercise for a year and still do loads 🤬 I know men have more upper body strength but it’s so unfair!

@bigdecisionstomake I probably do need a rest day, various bits hurt. I will leave the weights today but keep the walking. Congratulations for making it to the 10s! I think that is epic! Good luck with the vet visit,

Hi guys and welcome to the newbies!

Well done on getting into the tens @bigdecisionstomake! That's great news.

You are doing so well with your exercise @Dashel, a rest day might be what you need.

No improvement on the sleep front for me unfortunately but it's a beautiful crisp and frosty morning here and that has lightened my mood a bit.

Does anyone else feel like they don't want people to know they're trying to lose weight?
I prefer to keep it private and I think it possibly comes from being bullied about my weight as a child and not wanting to let people know it might be something that bothers me. I wouldn't say it's shame as I don't particularly care what people think, it's more like it could be perceived as a weakness or vulnerability and used against me. Obviously I know people will notice I'm losing eventually. Do I sound mad? 🙃

I made it to the gym 6am this morning. SO pleased. Being trying to do this since 1at Jan

Been to the gym a few times month but goal is to go 6am week days due to work.

I hope I can keep it up !

@encoreunfoisnumber2 congrats for making it to the gym! Hopefully it will become a new habit.

@WutheringShites86 I have been open about being on a diet, but I think it’s whatever you are comfortable with. You don’t sound mad at all and tbh if I had been bullied for my weight I would probably feel different.

I am not sure my rest day went well tbh. I did a GFWR early yesterday, went for a lunchtime walk. Then I met DH after work who asked me to help him pick up some stuff for work so more steps and then we got home he talked me into another GFWR as he hadn’t hit his step count.

So I finished on 20.6k steps. I went over calories at 1800 but I was so hungry. Unfortunately this effort did not translate well to the scales and my weight has gone up to 10st 4.8 🫣 I definitely have a bit of DOMs in my legs so that probably doesn’t help so keep on swimming! When we do the GFWR workouts we do really go for it to make best use of the time so I’m hoping this gain is the DOMs. I am going to try to take it easier today though.

Morning all

Another cold and frosty day here.

@WutheringShites86 I rarely tell anyone I'm trying to lose weight unless they directly ask. My mum knows I'm not happy about the weight I gained last year and am trying to do something about it but never brings it up unless I do. She is unfailingly encouraging if I do talk about it though bless her. DP obviously knows so that he doesn't keep putting temptation in my way. His diet is terrible (multiple take aways a week, chocolate, snacking etc...) and he's incredibly picky about what he eats so although we do try to eat at the same time we rarely share the same food - I tend to cater for me and my youngest son who still lives at home and he sorts himself out. Annoyingly, DP rarely puts on weight and then when he occasionally does he just eats barely anything for a couple of weeks and drops a stone - just like that 😖

I haven't mentioned it to anyone else. I think this is part fear of failure (hence coming on here for the accountability rather than looking for it in real life) and also fear of judgement. DPs family in particular can be really judgy about weight/health issues and I've therefore tried to disguise the weight gain last year in front of them and similarly wouldn't tell them I'm trying to lose it now.

@encoreunfoisnumber2 well done on making it to the gym yesterday - building new good habits is a great start to being healthier.

@Dashel Realistically I don't think you can actually be gaining fat while burning that amount of calories so it is likely to be water associated with DOMS I would have thought? Either way keep at it - I know it's frustrating!

I have STS this morning at 10st 13.4lb and I'm happy with that 😀. I looked at the scale through my fingers as I was worried I would have re-bounded to the 11s and it would derail me. I'm happy with a STS for the next few days if need be, as long as I don't go back up again. Then I need to start putting some distance between me and the 11s if I can.

I was going to do Day 5 of CGs Christmas series but when I looked it was a cardio workout and her cardio is far too high impact for me so I swapped it out for an Olivia Lawson 30 minute full body workout with weights. It was all compound moves e.g. a leg and an arm move together which isn't my favourite style of training, I prefer CG or JW's approach of concentrating on one move at a time. It worked ok though although I did drop one lot of squats at the end and replace with an abs move as my hip was starting to get painful. Will be interesting to see if I'm sore tomorrow.

Have good days all.

Morning all! Just checking in, it’s still freezing and snowy here but I’m heading to the office and getting off the bus a few stops early to get some steps in once in town as the paths will be clear there.

DH has also decided to lose some weight and has weighed this morning so I think that will help me.

Feeling a bit more positive today!

Thanks for your replies @Dashel and @bigdecisionstomake. Perhaps I'm not so odd then 😊

I know lots of people say not to eat back exercise calories @Dashel But it makes you hungrier! I tend to eat them but I have my calories on mfp set as sedentary so I'm not over estimating.

6am gym going is very impressive @encoreunfoisnumber2!

I feel I've had a workout pushing DD's pram through the snow to nursery this morning, it was hard going.

I have a DP who can eat anything he likes and stay slim @bigdecisionstomake so I know exactly what you mean. Well done on your STS weigh in.

Hope having a diet buddy at home helps you @Isyesterdaytomorrowtoday

@Dashel 😂😂😂 2 stone. I want to be healthier not a pile of bones!!

Hello all, looks like some amazing progress going on here! I'm sorry I ditched out so early, I had a couple of not so great weeks but managed to maintain at 12st 5lbs. However I've just got my BFP after 6months of trying so my focus is more going to be on healthy eating and not piling on too many pounds now rather than significant weight loss. I'll still be around and dipping in and out of the chat though as you keep me focused!

Congratulations @Maraudingmarauders! What wonderful news.

I was losing weight when I got pregnant with DD and carried on using mfp set at maintenance calories which I found really helpful to ensure I wasn't over eating. Doing this I only put a stone on towards then end of pregnancy and after the birth I was actually a few pounds lighter than pre pregnancy!

@bigdecisionstomake I am keep going don’t worry, I may have had to have an Options hot chocolate but at 46 cals I can work that into my calories no problem and it was well worth it on this cold day! I am glad you remained in the 10s you will be further into it soon. Sounds like you are going to have a productive day!

@Isyesterdaytomorrowtoday I am so pleased your DH is onboard, it should make it so much easier for you.

@WutheringShites86 im trying to stick to around 1600 calories at the moment. I don’t think the weather helps as I’m sure we are programmed to stockpile fat for the winter. Have you tried putting that workout in MFP? 😊 I bet it was hard going though. I know I would have loveD to have inputted some of our DIY tasks

@Maraudingmarauders congratulations on your wonderful news! Do stay with us, you can log your exercise and keep you on track for not eating loads of junk and just chat away. I hope your pregnancy goes really smoothly without morning sickness or anything like that.

I haven't checked if mfp gives extra calories for pram pushing @Dashel but funny you mention DIY, it does have painting and decorating as an activity because I logged it once!

Congratulations @Maraudingmarauders!! What lovely news!

@Dashel DP has been back at the gym for the first time in three years for three weeks now - he's already full of "tsk, these people who only go to the gym in January" like he's a regular he has a good 10 stone to lose but I know would lose it way quicker than I do if he puts his mind to it. Grrrr.

@WutheringShites86 and @bigdecisionstomake I don't tend to tell anyone either - maybe one friend who I met at SW anyway years ago - if the DC ask I say vaguely "Mummy's trying to get fitter and healthier" or something similar. That said I have yet to make any serious effort this year

@WutheringShites86 lol I will remember to add some of our projects. When the better weather comes we have two patios to lay so that involves me making a lot of cement….. All I can think is of all those calories that will be burnt 🤣

@LibbySarjeant Oh no that must be annoying. If he stops going I would be tempted to point it out. I know I would to DH and point out the cost. Men usually loose quicker than we do… feel free to moan about it as much as you need.

So I am a happy bunny this morning, I finally have my loss 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

I weighed in at 10st 3.7lb my new lowest ever weight. I was 10st 3.9lb before I hurt my back in December and then caught Covid and it’s taken about 5 or 6 weeks to get back to it. I can’t exercise like I used to, my back can’t cope with weights if they are too heavy and my lungs are still a long way off being normal. But I’m focusing on what I can do and not what I can’t and this is working. I will get back to other things eventually and hopefully I will be able to use heavier weights in a few months.

Yesterday I managed 16k steps and 1600 calories. I did two GFWR workouts one before and one after work and I did a 20 min Yoga with Adriene workout.

DH has said that he will be away for two nights next week so might need a bit of extra support then please. He will leave early on Monday and be back late on Wednesday. I am hoping that if I meal plan and prep over the weekend it will help. But please kick my butt if I need it or don’t post!

I hope that everyone has a really great day!

Morning all! No updates from me (weigh day tomorrow), just popped on to say hi and keep up the good work all.

Congratulations @Maraudingmarauders

Yay well done on your loss @Dashel ! 🎉

Good stuff @Dashel! 👏

Morning all

*Waves at @Gemzee 👋

Whoop whoop, fantastic loss @Dashel - all the sweeter for having to wait for it for a bit I should think. Amazing to be the lowest you've been since starting this - well done! Great motivation to stay on plan next week when DH is away too as you won't want to undo all your hard work.

Amazing news @Maraudingmarauders congratulations! Please stay on the thread and keep us updated every now and then with all your news.

@LibbySarjeant feel free to moan about how unfair it is that your DP loses weight with barely any effort - I think we're all in the same boat so we can moan about them together. Mine never seems to put any on in the first place despite eating all the junk food available - I keep telling him it'll catch up with him eventually.

@autienotnaughty that makes more sense - I'm assuming 10 stone is your target weight rather than the amount you want to lose. Let us know how you're getting on and how you're going about it.

I tend to eat my exercise calories @WutheringShites86 because they make the difference between being hungry or not pretty much. I'm on a 500 a day calorie deficit which means that without exercise I could only eat 1327 a day according to the app I use (probably due to my age and the fact my job is sedentary). If I do at least 300 calories of exercise in the morning, after background calories are subtracted, it usually gives me around 250 extra to eat which takes me to between 1500 and 1600 calories a day which I find much more doable.

@Isyesterdaytomorrowtoday great to hear you've got a diet buddy - hopefully it will help you to both keep motivated.

I've had another small loss this morning so I'm now 10st 12.8lb. I'd still like a little more distance between me and the 11s before I'm confident that hormones or a day with too many carbs won't bounce me back there but it's good progress in the right direction so I'm happy 😀

I was looking for some new walking workouts on YouTube and found a channel called Grow With Jo so I've done a 20 minute de-bloat workout this morning which I enjoyed (I'm not particularly bloated just picked it because the length suited me) and then went back to an old favourite, Jessica Smith, for a 15 minute 1 mile walk and talk. She used to be prolific on YouTube several years ago and I used to do her workouts very regularly. She's had a break for a couple of years with pregnancy and a new baby but has just started putting new content on again. Some of her old stuff looks a bit dated now but it still does what it says on the tin so I might re-visit her a bit more from now on.

Have good days all.