30kg to lose. Who else is in this ballpark?

[trytopullyoursocksup]

That's ambitions - I am 51 and it's taking me to my 21 year old weight. (On the other hand, when I weighed that - or anything lower - I was never ever satisfied)

Is there anyone else in that kind of region? I am seeing a lot of threads from the people with around a stone, or a stone and a half to lose

@JaneLockland I gave up years ago - DS1 is autistic and would happily eat un-sauced pasta daily from here to eternity. However, this has led to me being “picky bits” and it’s all to easy to have picky healthy and then accidentally eat half a pound of cheese and and and because you’re “only picking”.

I’m a freak of nature because despite being the size of a small house I’ve no aches or pains related to that. But it’s only a matter of time - I should imagine when menopause kicks in that’ll rip all the oestrogen out of my body and instantly transform me into an old lady.

My eating is going well with the double whammy of low-carb and jag and I noticed yesterday my new dress fits much better and my coat not as snug. Even the cheap pants I bought in December aren’t quite as determined to cut my thighs in two.

I’m still ever so impressed with you swimmers. My stupid bloody job gets right in the way of doing nice stuff like that.

“eat well, make time for exercise” they say. At no point do they offer how to fit this around y’know looking after small children ensuring they don’t die AND sitting at a fucking desk waiting for death. And people are SO judgemental if you leave young children home alone at night so you can go out and “do a class”. 😉

Good morning. It's pretty quiet on this thread - do you think maybe this is too small a group to feel active? I think I might move to the "losing weight for summer" one - anyone want to join? or is there particular value in having a small group - in which case speak up! and I'll stay!

I did ok yesterday, dealt with the hangover without too much damage I think and swam a few lengths in the evening. I am quite happy about the hangover in a way, as I used to have a disgustingly high tolerance for wine and once would barely have noticed the impact of having had a few glasses. That's a healthy physical response and a reminder not to do it again.

Ex asked me to take the kids an extra night, which I had penciled in for study. I thought "Oh I guess I could" and then I remembered my resolution to be badass and did nothing. just stopped, thought about it, did something else. After a few minutes I thought: I don't have to, and I have allocated that time to something else, and I need that time, and I am going to say no. So I did.

Unfortunately, without being able to stop myself somehow, I said I was working which kind of implies I am will be physically elsewhere. My next step that I will aim for is not offering excuses, not implying slight falsehoods as if I need to justify why I am not at his disposal. I am just busy, that's all.

c25k w5d1 this morning. That shit's getting real!!

Hello @DressingForRevenge !
Welcome @JaneLockland !

Family eating is such a minefield. I am so sick and tired of sanctimonious pundits waffling on about the family meal being the root of good eating habits etc etc. YES, FOR THEM. It's like a kind of average, you put food on the table that is better for the people you live with than them taking a fiver to the chicken shop, but much worse for you than catering specifically for yourself.

And yes, making time to exercise. WFH is the reason I can get a run in, in the mornings, and I love it, or that aspect of it. But senior management at my work place are getting very grumbly about WFH and strongly implying that soon people will be expected to show up as default. that's alright for rich men with wives and a reasonable commute from their expensive house not too far from the office. I am sick to death of them bitching at us about it. So what I am supposed to knock 10 years off my life just because it makes you feel good to see lots of people sitting at desks? (that is what being able to exercise or not basically means)

I like the smaller group tbh. We’re all about the same age, same goal - I loathe the “omg I’m so fat does anyone know how to lose 5oz” type stuff. 😉

im not going back to the office and they can’t really force me. My building had no lifts and guess who’s lost their mobility AND has an office on the top floor? Sticky-wicket disability-wise… plus it’s 2 hours each way so fuck that.

My manager has gone in every day since they were allowed back in (mid 2020?). I suspect he enjoys the quiet and lack of home bollocks - bet his wife is juggling 1000s of balls.

I like the smaller group but for me it's because I have a serious amount of weight to lose and I can't identify with anyone who has less than about 4 stones to lose. Preferably more!

I would like to exercise more but I can't fit anything else in my day.
I can do a bit on weekends if I'm not running Mums Taxi etc

I have been trying do some stretches in the kitchen as I'm very stiff and achy.

I like the smaller group of people in similar position too. I've been very busy with work and DH away this week so not been able to check in much, but mid next week it eases and hopefully I'll be able to check in a bit more.

I'm feeling like 14:10 intermittent fasting is working well for me. I've been more like 15:9 without even thinking about it. There is only so much food you can eat in a smaller food windowtoo! If I was eating 7am to 9pm, I'd be having snacks as well but I'm eating 10.30am, 2.30-3 and 7-7.30 and I find even when I'm peckish I can tell myself it's not too far to the next meal. Whereas 7am, 1pm and 7.30pm is too far apart and I snack. And breakfast at 7am somehow makes me hungrier than not eating, maybe it's activating that bit if my brain that loves food whereas if I go longer without that bit isn't doing overtime?

Hello
I would like to join in please.
I have already lost 12 KGs since starting in May last year but took a break over Dec (Hols, Christmas etc). I have another 20 kgs to lose and then I will be at my ideal weight.
currently doing IM and walking and low carb.
I do a Sunday morning weekly weigh in

I'd love to join in here too!

I started about 2 weeks ago with a goal of losing 70lbs (31kg). Ideally that would happen by the end of the year, but I'm keen to avoid putting hard targets on it and instead focus on how I can achieve a balance where I am not as fat but do not feel very restricted in what I eat.

I have been eating 2000 kcal over the last 2 weeks - the recommended target for someone of my size who is slightly active and aiming for 1.5lbs a week. I actually do a fair bit of walking and would like to get back to yoga and running too. It's about overall health for me. I've tried to make those healthy calories, whilst still making sure I enjoy what I eat.

I've also been trying to log what I've eaten and what I weigh in the hope I can determine my own TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) based on my data, rather than relying on generic formula online. This is a lifelong battle for me (at least from aged 15 to my current age 42) and I really need to take some time to understand my own body, I think - in order to make it fitter and stronger.

Anyway, I am 6.5lbs down so far which is a fair start.

Hi @Amisillyornot and @SeventyPounds / welcome! And well done on your weight loss so far, very inspiring for me to keep going.

Just took 10 mins out of my working day to go for a brisk walk and now eating some broccoli soup which has kept me going for lunch this week. It's a Michael Mosley Fast 800 recipe from The Times, coconut milk, ginger, broccoli, coriander. I added chilli for a kick too. It's yummy and filling and not many calories for a big bowl.

I really like the smaller group consisting of people with similar amounts to lose. It has been helpful.

I had a much better food day yesterday.

I made myself a 3 egg cheese omelette for lunch and that kept me going.

I'm not calorie counting and still having standard family meals but the day time constant grazing is better.

I will need to get stricter soon though.

Another half pound overnight. 7lbs down so far.

I like to think of that as 10% of the job, so 'all' I have to do is do the same thing again 9 more times to get to my goal

I had an omlette for lunch yesterday too. They really are pretty useful for bridging the gap to dinner. I'm also eating normal family dinners but with a healthy twist if I can. So it's scampi for tea today, which I will have with a few (weighed!) sweet potato wedges and salad.

Today's a bit of a sedentary day, though - lots of desk work and not much time to get out walking properly. I am determined to start running again when I get a bit lighter, so that I could always fit a short run in on a day like today and feel I'd done something.

I'm tired this morning. I think it might be time to tweak something. I am not sure that the breakfastlnessness is really ideal any more now. I'm feeling low energy and a bit depressed.

@DressingForRevenge DTS1 also has 'mild' ASD - apologies if that's not the correct term! - essentially he doesn't qualify for any extra help at school, EHCP etc but is very limited in the food he eats, is a very poor sleeper and has other related issues. And if he doesn't eat regularly he will have an absolute meltdown so yes, I completely hear all the "you must find time to eat well, look after yourself, do exercise etc" but he's often not asleep till gone 10pm and I am utterly shattered. He needs a good routine (and lots of exercise!) to keep him anywhere near calm, but that too impacts on my available time.

Incidentally my last office was only built in the late 1980s and still had no disabled access, incredible really! There were a couple of steps up to the front door and revolving door, neither of which would be suitable for a wheelchair. It's since been knocked down for housing, I think partly because of the £££ involved in making it anywhere near suitable for current DDA regulations.

@trytopullyoursocksup I prefer a small group but then my brain has turned to mush since having the DC, the less people to remember the better and my goodness, the guilt around family mealtimes... I envisaged that we'd have lovely ones round a table (like the ones in Bread but less arguing, preferably!) but DTS1 is just a nightmare at mealtimes, he will physically gag if people are eating things he doesn't like. BIL & his wife used to be very sniffy if we let him watch his tablet for a bit at dinner time once he'd finished eating, just so we could have 10 minutes' peace to finish too - now they have a toddler they do exactly the same!

Well done on your great starts @Amisillyornot and @SeventyPounds

I'm immediately put off by anyone agonising over a few pounds left to lose @RedDoughnut! I love an omelette too, recently invested in an omelette maker as I'm so terrible at making them. An excellent healthy option, I thought - then I realised it makes lovely toasties too

I have approx 20 kilos left to lose, lost 7 already. Previously lost 43kg so I know I can do it. Ds is autistic and doesn't sleep, which doesn't help as I am so tired I crave junk food.

Sorry to hear you're feeling tired @trytopullyoursocksup - I was really inspired by your earlier words about doing this in a loving way (to yourself) and hope you can find a tweak that works. I also think it's great you recognise that you are tired - so often I don't until it's been ongoing for so long that I suddenly realise.

I am aspiring to really know and listen to my body so your post resonated with me a bit.

Lovely posts from everyone. 🥰 @JaneLockland thankfully he sleeps, but his brother doesn’t. Bugger. He’s just becoming a teen and I am so over the meltdowns when I try and emphasise the importance of soap/deodorant. 😔 entirely draining.

My office is an old Victorian building, so nowhere to put a lift even if they wanted to.

im also a massive fan of the humble omelette- throw in veg, walk away for 10 minutes, throw in eggs.

I was feeling very “slim” this morning, so pulled up my jammies to admire my flat tummy in the mirror. I think the mirror must be distorted because it wasn’t a flat tummy staring back. 🤷‍♀️

Im going to have egg Mayo for brunch and then some sort of cabbage/mince/curry thing this evening.

The saxenda is definitely making it easier to resist not eating Jaffa cakes when the children are “challenging”.

im still doing no exercise and have a horrible feeling I’m headed for another relapse (MS). So al I can do right now is keep my head above water food-wise and see what happens.

I have ZERO tolerance for those whining about a few pounds. Fucking amateurs! I could put on a stone in a week! 😉

Hello All and thanks for the words of encouragement (sorry too many to tag)
I went for a walk this morning for 45 mins before work and clocked in 5000 steps. I will try and do another one after the school run as had lots of carbs yesterday. The intermittent fasting does help. I do the 16:8 from 6 pm to 10 am but I always try to overdo it by an hour or so and try to drag it till noon sometimes.
Hope you all have a lovely day xx

Morning! So many replies to read <waves>

Another omelette fan here! I have just eaten a masala omelette for my breakfast - tomato, red onion, coriander and a few spices. I don't make it very often but I don't know why as its not actually more difficult than a regular one and I reckon I could eat it every day!

@trytopullyoursocksup I'm sorry you are tired. It makes managing everything else so hard. You've had a tough few days with work which will always have an effect on energy levels. Definitely look at a few tweaks and just try to get through today as mindfully as possible - tiredness is certainly the danger zone for me in terms of raiding the cupboards without stopping to think.

Busy day in front of my computer. Going to try and do a 10 min kettlebell workout over lunch time. DH still away which is making all the family logistics (3 DC) harder and the house is getting messy and stuff isn't happening that probably should, but trying very hard to not stress about that and just focus on what needs to be done. Poor bloke will be mega jet lagged, and is walking into a frazzled wife and a bomb site on Saturday

@DressingForRevenge I've recently been seeing a lot of people saying that food is the key to weight loss not exercise - that's more about getting toned, being stronger, feeling better etc. I know from my own experience of weight gain that I've let food go well before I would let exercise go and the weight piled on. The exercise perhaps helped the decline and helps my state of mind but it can't counter too much food.

Given I think the focus for all of us is losing weight, I think you're right to focus on keeping your head above water on food. Exercise will happen when you have time and space for it. Keep going!

@Itsonlyagame uurrrgghhh the non-sleeping children... I actually got DTS1 to sleep by 9pm today which was great for him, but takes a good two hours of 'calm down' time beforehand and DP is bloody useless with the whole process. When DTS1 was smaller he'd often be up during the night and then bounce out of bed before 6am, only to have a massive meltdown by 8am as he was so tired. I needed A LOT of sugar to cope with him

Apologies if I've missed this @trytopullyoursocksup but do you take a decent vitamin/ supplement? I take a multivitamin and an extra iron supplement and find they really do help with my tiredness levels. Perhaps it might help you get through a low patch?

@Blacktreacle if I can find the time to eat properly then it massively helps with my energy levels and motivation to exercise... but finding the time to meal plan, shop, cook and even eat a proper meal can definitely be tricky!!

Do you find the Saxenda useful @DressingForRevenge ? I'm at the point now where I'd consider anything! And it's not only mirrors but photos that lie, by the way - my DC took some photos at one of their activities where I thought I looked, you know, ok - only to find this knackered looking, dumpy woman showing up in the photos. Can you guess who it was?!

Hi, can I join please.

I started calorie counting this Monday as I really need to lose a few stones. I've ordered new scales and thinking that I will weight on the first of each month. My nemesis are carbs and wine. Plus I am a grazer/snacker. My exercise is pretty much none existent maybe a walk or two a week for a hour and a half. Looking forward to a summer where my thighs/creases don't get red and sore.

@JaneLockland the meal planning! It takes so long.

Before I could sit down with a cuppa, know everybody's schedule so when needed to be quick dinners, when needed to be something that stays warm so they can all eat whenever and when it could be a nice dinner.

Suddenly chuck in somebody who is calorie counting very carefully, for the first time ever, while she gets a handle on the portion sizes she should eat, but knows she couldn't survive on rabbit food, but doesn't want to be cooking completely different food for the family and it's a bloody nightmare! Taken me today feels like hours the last two weeks. I have worked out that one family favourite that we have weekly can easily be adapted for me without any loss of flavour to them so that feels like a win!

My other win this week was accepting that I should just have a big pot of soup for lunches. So 4 days this week has been the same homemade soup. I would normally want variety every day but this is healthy, filling and tasty so I haven't minded at all actually. Not sure all soup recipes are so nice I'll want them 4 times in a week though!!

All the other meals have required too much planning though.

I tell you what though, I'm physically eating so much less that I'm hoping we'll notice a big shift in our food bill soon. That's almost as big an incentive as the weight loss at the moment

Welcome MzMarple!

I so know what you mean about the summer. One day I'd like to wear a dress without having to wear cycling shorts underneath. It's one of my dreams for this summer. I wear trousers 95% of the time and would so love to be able to comfort wear a dress without getting sore.