⭐️LOSE IT! March 2023⭐️Get Ready for Spring Edition⭐️

[TheRealHousewife]

⭐️Open to previous members as well as new members⭐️

Spring is right around the corner so it’s time to embrace a fresh new month, fresh new start, fresh new habits. Jump right in to reset & refresh to become a healthier version of yourself. These threads are for those who’d like to lose and those who wish to maintain whilst eating a healthy varied diet.

As no one size fits all, members need to follow their own way of eating. This thread aims to offer guidance, support and a bit of hand holding.

We generally have WOW (weigh on Wednesday) day each week. However post and share your progress as often or as little as you prefer. Do what works for you.

The important thing is not to think of it as a diet (based on deprivation and unsustainable) but more a way of life (sustainable & enjoyable).

I calorie count based on a lower carb Mediterranean diet. I intermittent fast and eat twice a day. Im a long time healthy eater and overall I’ve lost over 3 stone. After having been on the wrong side of 12st Im now hovering around 9st. I had a blip a couple of years ago when my thyroid went wonky but now back on track.

Are you in😊 What food plan will you be following? What do you want to change and why?

Feel free to share your own links, tips & recipes

@AutisticLegoLover oh yes there is no way that it's fat or anything long lasting we packed lunch, only 1 restaurant meal. i certainly didn't drink my water
but struggled to get 2,500 steps and 10 minutes of exercise.

I’ve struggled with having no snacks today. I really, really fancied some chocolate but managed to resist. I ended up cleaning the bathrooms to distract myself. Why though? I’m glad I resisted now of course, because it would have been a brief few moments of enjoyment (and let’s face it, it would have been for taste, not hunger). Now I’m happy to be under my calories for the day instead of annoyed to be logging 200 empty calories on MFP. But why does it take so much willpower to resist? I’m not hormonal, not stressed (well a little about the secondary school place thing). It takes so much energy not to give in!

I vote for allowing chocolate within the daily allowance. That's what I do. Not now at the moment though with it being Lent. It is annoying that not much equals so many calories. It depends on your willpower but how about a couple of mini eggs? 33 calories for two eggs and you get the chocolate hit but not many calories.

I don’t think I’d be able to stop at 2 though. The other day I got 2 biscuits and thought I must just have the 2. Then I went straight back for 2 more. Then logged it and was annoyed, because I’d essentially eaten back all the exercise calories it had taken me about 2 hours to burn off!

I know it’s not that simplistic, and the exercise is good for me anyway, but in terms of pure calories in vs calories out, I’d cancelled them out.

It's a pisser for sure, I know exactly what you mean. You are a fairly low weight though so cut yourself some slack. I can't remember your numbers/goals or how tall you are but remember that life is for living and it's too short to deny ourselves all the good stuff. Balance is key and an over day or a day you eat all your exercise calories every now and again isn't going to make much difference in the long run

Working a night shift- I always find it tricky to not over eat / eat too many meals.

So for B I had the yoghurt/fruit/little bit muesli.
L: dahl and rice and veg
D: venison meatballs, mash and veg

then I’ve just had my break at work and had a mini wrap with homous, cheese and pepper/carrot sticks.

so over all it’s one too many meals but could have been worse. Both main meals were small despite being “proper dinners”

Hello All
checking in again to try and get myself back on track, my work situation got so bad the Dr has signed me off as I couldn't actually get myself there without a resulting panic attack. I have since negotiated with them that my notice period will be reduced and I just need to finish up projects and I can work from home for the bulk of it. 2 weeks left of the reduced period and I can't wait to be out of there. It has destroyed my mental health entirely.

Yesterdays eating wasn't to bad, oats for breakfast, boiled eggs for lunch and stir fry for dinner. I did have a mid afternoon full fat coke though. I also made it to crossfit for the first time in almost 2 weeks so feeling good about that.

Morning all.
@Allthegoodnamestakken that sounds really tough. The last contract I had I went off sick for my notice period because they made being there impossible. I have no regrets. It's great you got to a class and that will hopefully give you a boost.

B: usual porridge
L: Greek yogurt, berries and honey-it kept me nicely full from 1-4.30pm. Not that long I suppose but better than my usual lunch.
D: cauliflower soup and a crusty roll

Walking should be around 10 miles today.,

Have a great day everyone.

Morning all and Happy Birthday @TheRealHousewife

Sneaky pre weigh in check is showing a little loss so hopefully that will stay for tomorrows official weigh in!

Tricky day today as no time for tea which generally leads to bad decisions when I do finally get home. Plan to combat it is fruit, lots of fruit!

Hope everyone has a fabulous day!

Autisticlegolover - do you walk as part of your job or do you do it as a hobby? Wondering how you find the time so walk so far! It’s very impressive

Hi everyone !!! Got back from holiday last night!!! Ended up staying an extra day. I have had a fantastic time but it has been disastrous diet wise.
happy birthday @TheRealHousewife 💐 and thanks for the march thread 😁
it looks like everyone has been doing so well. I am completely out of the mindset after 9 days away and the family visit before that so going to meal plan etc today and try and get back to it.
going to weigh tomorrow and go from there
i will catch up on the February thread later today
i have missed it while away and looking forward to catching up on all the news
have a great day everyone !

Happy birthday @TheRealHousewife I hope you have a lovely day! it is very well deserved.

@Todaypicard I walk because I don't drive. Ds's school is over a mile away. I'm a carer for my mum and age lives over a mile away.

Thank you @AutisticLegoLover I agree I can’t deprive myself all the time. I’m just in the position you were before holiday, wanting those last few pounds off. I will relax more when I’m back. As always, I wish I’d started a few months sooner, so I didn’t have extra Christmas gain to lose too. But we are where we are.

Exactly 9st 4 this morning, so the last few days of very low calories (about 1000) have at least worked. This week I’ve done 3 gym classes, 3 days of gentle spinning and then today a long walk of nearly 3 hours. I’m at 19000 steps so should be about 22000 by the end of the day.

Happy birthday @TheRealHousewife 🥳

Bought some apple skyr from Waitrose which I love, so will have that with granola and some berries.

Dinner I’m making Clodagh McKenna’s dish I saw on This Morning a few days ago, an asparagus, leek and cheddar filo tart. Kids probably won’t like it, but I got a bag of salad and a tiger bloomer to serve with.

Hi All!!

I couldn't help but weigh myself this morning! I wanted to stick weighing only on Monday! Started IF on Monday so I'm only 4 days in and I have lost weight.

Pretty proud of myself!

SW- 165lbs
CW - 162lbs

Aim is to start some form of exercise from next Monday! I've been eating well and only the odd low calorie lentil crisps or chocolate bar with my cuppa.

My snacking in the evenings has totally stopped because of the fasting. And I actually don't feel hungry, I've realised I snack so much because I get bored!! So I've also started to read a little whilst waiting for the kids to fall asleep!

Have a great day all!!

Afternoon all. Sorry for the lack of input - DD hasn't been sleeping the last few nights and I feel like I'm in the throes of the newborn days again 🥱 compounded tiredness is just wicked, isn't it. She's developed a minor temp, cough and cold today so not expecting it to get any better just yet either 🙁

Anyway, as far as my sleep deprived brain can tell me, I've stuck to my plan for the week. No snacking, no wine, normal lunches and dinners. Managed over 10,000 steps yesterday (including a shift at work) and turned down some free pizza while on shift, so I'm happy with my resolve there. May skip my class tonight as I'm desperate for some rest, I know it'd probably be good for me to go though so I'll see how I feel after a nap (sleep while they sleep, right? 😉)

Dinner tonight was going to be risotto, but we may opt for tortilla pizza instead. Need things to be a bit on the easier side this week 🤷‍♀️

Oh - and happy birthday (again 😂) @TheRealHousewife 🎊💐

@TheRealHousewife happy birthday! Hope you have a lovely day.

I've just had my second bowl of Greek yogurt with raspberries and strawberries and honey. I'm not sure the berries add much taste wise but the honey certainly does and I really enjoy it. I'll try granola next. It would certainly save me a fortune in berries. I don't eat honey normally except to roast carrots and parsnips and medicated sweets. I was against Greek yogurt for no reason other than I'm stuck in my ways 🤣 Im glad I gave it a go and have significantly dropped my sugar and upped my protein. It leaves me feeling very full too. Result!

It's the dodgy cauliflower soup for dinner tonight. The recipe said the nutmeg is not discernible. I used half the amount it said. They lied. And I don't like nutmeg. Bastards. I'm going to add some cheddar cheese in the hopes of making it better. I tweak all my recipes and I'll be tweaking the nutmeg out next time. The dc are going to look like I'm trying to poison them when they taste it I'm sure. Ah well. There's wraps as back up for them.

Tomorrow is falafel Friday. I might just have the one pitta instead of my normal too.

My tip for snack attacks are jumbo snackajacks. The caramel ones are perfect for sweet cravings and only 51 calories each. The salt and vinegar ones are 42 calories and suit crisp cravings. They are very satisfying I think. I had some this morning instead of my elevenses of crumpets or oatcakes. Less calories.

Happy Birthday @TheRealHousewife 🐝💐🎂

I was the same as you @AutisticLegoLover I had such a mental block about greek yoghurt, but now I much prefer it to all the others! Just plain, or with some berries (pomegranate is my favourite) - so filling!

Afternoon everybody, and may I join the chorus of happy birthdays for RealHousewife our lovely thread manageress!

Following along the posts with interest but have even less brain power than usual 🤪 as similar to you LittlePea we have had some disturbed nights over here.

I've got DP on board with me not eating sugar now, but he's just come home with cinnamon buns and biscuits for himself, the bastard! 😂 I'm dreadful for avoiding something when I know it's in the cupboard so we'll just see how the next few days go.

Breakfast - 2x rye toast, butter, Vegemite, tea.

Snack - coffee

Lunch - wholewheat pasta with peppers and peas from the freezer (+ olive oil and salt, so easy and tasty)

Snack - ryvita, houmous, tea

Dinner - tbc after I rummage past all the cinnamon buns and sweets...

Oof, my determination is really falling off a cliff this evening... Felt faint on school run, DS thankfully gave me his snack (an apple) and then I had some crisps and a couple of haribo when I got in. I just want something comforting and easy for dinner, and my thoughts are increasingly going to the dark side of takeaway. But it's weigh in tomorrow so I'm going to try with all my might to refrain. Has anyone got any inspiration (meal plan or motivational)?!

@ImALittlePea I passed the Chinese takeaway tonight and was tempted but knew I had soup for tonight all ready prepared so I told myself no. I had a big glass of water when I got in and bathed the bread rolls. Soup is heating up then I will enjoy with 2 little bread rolls, no butter. Just think how cross you will be with the resultant water retention tomorrow if you cave. Have it Friday night instead then the water retention has loads of time to vanish before next Friday.

Thank you for keeping me distracted in the pre tea slot when I normally pick at bits from the fridge.
Today's food
Breakfast: mixed berries, Greek yogurt(full fat) and walnuts
Lunch: Curry and rice left over from yesterday's tea
Tea: steak & potato wedges, mushroom, brocolli
Snacks: DD's bit of bacon and egg she didn't eat for lunch

I managed to avoid a pre-tea nibble as well. Normally pick up some chocolate rice cakes on the way home from the gym as DS has a snack, but I knew dinner would be ready when we got back. Some excellent will power all round given it's so near to the end of the week...