☀️LOSE IT! April 2023 Countdown to Summer☀️

[TheRealHousewife]

⭐️Open to previous members as well as new members⭐️

Summer countdown starts here! The holidays are 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!

Not sure of target weight, but my 10% target takes my to 9st10 so will go with that for now and see how I get on.

I'm adding strawberries and raspberries to my cherry compote for the fibre to see if that helps the constipation issue of late. The mixture smells delicious but is very runny so I've trying to reduce it down. Tomorrow is the day I'll be back on track with healthier eating and back to lots of walking. Roll on routine!
Hope everyone is having a good weekend. The weather is no longer looking as good for the week ahead which is disappointing. Thunderstorms forecast and lots of wind. I love a good storm.

Welcome to the thread @Retsina24 I'm a shortie too 😬 5ft on a very good day 👍. You're doing the absolute right thing in allowing yourself to get fitter and healthier. Just 10% reduction in one's weight is said to improve health markers significantly and extend one's life! Personally I don't see the healthy way I chose to eat as a 'diet', more a way of life. I do sometimes go off piste or have something I consider a treat but mainly I really enjoy eating fresh nutritious food.

@AutisticLegoLover this is where rhubarb comes in handy, not many calories, full of fiber and vitamin c, and people are often thrilled to give the stuff away. it freezes really easily just cute into 1inch sections.

I love rhubarb but it's not as high in fibre as raspberries and not available frozen as far as I know. I'll look out for it though and get it as a change and stew it and freeze it stewed perhaps.

I am ready for normal service to resume. I have felt unsettle digestively this last week and have realised that my usual diet does not upset my system like junk food does. I feel bloated and uncomfortable. My salt intake will be a fraction of what it's been this week. That will shift some water weight for a start. Lots of l

Lovely walking to do and lots of fresh air and plenty of water although I have been good with my water this week.

Here's to a good summer term!

I’ve never posted on any of the weight loss chat pages but I really need to hold myself accountable somehow. I managed to get down to 10st 2lb for my 40th but in the couple of years since then I’ve crept back up to 11st 10lb. Long covid didn’t help plus working from home. I don’t usually eat too badly at meal times but I’ve normalised snacking and I really need to stop. Going to get started tomorrow.

Morning all and welcome to the new comers!
The Easter damage is actually not too bad and I suspect a pound of it will be gone by Wednesday as it will be due to all the salt I've had.
Oats and chia are soaking for breakfast. Lunch is Greek yogurt with cherry and berry compote, dinner is butternut squash soup and 2 petit pain. Snacks will be apple, grapes, homemade oatmeal raisin cookie. The cookies are full of oats and raisins which I like to think help cancel out the sugar. They are very filling so one is enough unlike store bought biscuits.lots of water and at least 8 miles of walking today too. Let's do this.
Hope everyone has a successful money!

Morning all,

I just realised that I have a pattern of posting - basically I only do it in work! At work I get in early for a coffee (and read this) and we have two breaks, where I can login and catch up. On the 4 days I'm not in work I read along but never get a chance to reply (apart from that very short message to @TheRealHousewife about her amazing spider visiting me) But just to say I'm still cheering you all on when I'm not about.

I'm surprised that I'm sad that holidays are over. It was busy and the routine was all over the place but I really enjoyed a bit of 1:1 with my DS and had a good time with both of them (mostly in softplays which I think most other parents hate) on the days when I'd usually just have DD. It's nice to see them get a bit of extra time together as DD is in nursery and DS is in school they are apart quite a lot.

I've been better with my eating too. I have been drinking my 2lt bottle every day (although I forgot to bring it to work this morning which I'm gutted about) and it's been helping loads. I've enjoyed some really quick and easy meals after a bit of research as I was spending too much time cooking (so not getting round to cooking the complicated meals) so did salmon egg fried rice and smokey beans with eggs, avo and pitta chips. Both under 15mins and the kids ate some of both meals which is a massive win in my eyes.

Welcome to the new posters @Differentusername and @Retsina24

@greenspaces4peace I had rhubarb on the weekend. I forgot how much I enjoy it. I even grow it in my garden but forget to use it.

This weekend I've also discovered some great treats that fill me up and don't make me feel guilty.
Freeze some clementines - then put them in food processor - clementine ice
Frozen strawberries in food processor with some plain yogurt - strawberry sorbet
Mandolin sliced potatoes on the thinnest setting on some greaseproof paper in the microwave for 5 mins - crisps (I like unsalted crisps best anyway)
I also tried 'nice cream' for the first time (frozen banana in the food processor) which was also a winner
All better than chocolate/ cakes/ biscuits and I actually found them more enjoyable than chocolate/ cakes/ biscuits.

Todays menu
Breakfast - crumpet and a clementine
Lunch - Green Thai Lentils with sweet potato
Dinner - Packed lunch (as DS has swimming and a dance class so I run about like a loon!)

Have a great week everyone!

Sorry for the brain dump!

Morning everyone! Back from holiday and I weighed in this morning at my lowest ever 9st 0 3/4 😎
I’m not going to get too excited as my body clock is all over the place and I’m not even sure what I ate or drank yesterday with a red eye flight, but it was a lovely little welcome back from my scales 😂

I know you ladies have enjoyed dog and cat photos in the past, can I offer a clue as to where I’ve been?

Will try and have a little catch up on the thread later.

Morning! I’m here for some accountability while I lose about three stone. I was 9 stone 7 and very happy with that before the year from hell hit me, I stopped running, was in a bad car accident and had a ton of awful family stress so here I am.

I’ve lost 4lbs so far (I’m about ten days in), have been working out and started back running. As far as food goes, I follow a low fat vegan diet.

Happy Monday

Welcome to the thread @teethiepegs . Sorry to read you’ve had an awful year. Hopefully things will soon improve for you!

Welcome to the thread @Differentusername . The posters on these threads are so lovely and supportive. I’m sure you’ll soon find your groove.

@SingaporeSlinky Welcome back darling ❤️. Absolutely fabulous post holiday weigh in 👍👏. Lovely photo!

@AutisticLegoLover Pleased to read your happy with your weigh in. I’d love some successful money 😬

@Lionnose Great post! Well done on your water intake!

NHS 12 Tips to Help You Lose Weight

Shared a useful link for those who are recent members to the threads.

Menu
Meal 1 - Protein mix starter. Vegetable soup
Meal 2 - Spanish omelette & salad
Tea, black coffee, water.

Right everyone we are half way through April so let’s make it count. If the scales haven’t been kind so far there is still 2 weeks left to see some positive changes. 👍

NEWS
I read an article today in Science Focus that reinforces 3 of our mantras. It states the 3 rules behind every way of eating to lose that works are:-

• They explicitly restrict calories (not all are equal)
• They are high in protein
• They are high in fibre

We all there are more facets to weight loss which the article covers but these 3 are key. It also says long term restriction is difficult to maintain and that’s where exercise is useful once at goal; maintains weight and increases fitness/wellbeing.

@SingaporeSlinky Wow, I love your photo and I'm really jealous. Wherever it is I want to go!

Welcome @teethiepegs will be interested in your menus as my DH has just been told he has high triglycerides and needs to reduce meat consumption and go low fat, and myself and my two kids are dairy free (one is also soy free). I will be following with interest to see if I can pinch some ideas of what we can all eat!

@TheRealHousewife Thanks for the tips. I needed a bit of a talking to and although you didn't 'give me a talking to' the tips were enough to keep me going. I am feeling a bit down about DH's recent diagnoses (about the triglycerides) we only found out this morning (well we knew last year but this was the second test to be sure) and I find trying to feed all of us a nightmare already, now trying to find a new bunch of recipes that we will all eat and that will help him with his health was the straw that broke the camels back this morning. I ate my pot of chocolate and fancied going down the emotional eating path but reading your post reminding me that there are 2 weeks until the end of the month helped. I want to loose. Even if it's only 0.2kg. I want to be down at the end of the month so I will stop. Pick myself up and download a book about lowering triglycerides with a diet plan and hope I can find something we will all be happy to eat in it!

Amazing photo @SingaporeSlinky - Costa Rica?

I'm back from my long weekend away. Indulged, far too much. But fresh start today. And yes @TheRealHousewife , 2 weeks is enough to make a difference.

@Lionnose The British Heart Foundation website has heart friendly recipes 👍. Hope you're both ok considering ❤️

@buzzofthebumblebee welcome back. Im treating the next 2 week as a bit of a blitz in that I'm totally on it I take wise and I'm trying to move more, back permitting 👍

Hi! I've decided it's time for me to join for some friendly accountability. I've put on 2 stone in the last year and have been technically trying to lose it since Jan but the scales are not budging

I've made some healthy diet changes in the last month and am on the way to a proper exercise routine so I feel so much healthier. And I know all the warnings about training increasing weight but improving tone (not that I'm doing enough to warrant this!) and how easy it is to overeat calories even with healthy food.

I've also been on ADs (low dose) for a year so wondering if this might have affected. But I am very much a believer of CICO so can't quite think this is the reason!

I know I need to be ultra strict with measuring my calories for a couple of weeks to prove to myself I can do it again, but I'm feeling a bit dismal with the scales not moving! To be honest normally I would just eat very little for a few days to give me a kick start, but with fitness and healthy eating a priority too this seems designed to tip me of those wagons!

Anyone have any wise words?

Afternoon all!

I can't remember when I last posted, possibly Friday?? Weekend was typically busy, very enjoyable etc 🍾 (<-- both water and wine)

Ooh I'd like some successful money too please @AutisticLegoLover 😁

Welcome back @SingaporeSlinky huge well done for a positive post-holiday weigh in! Lovely pic too 🥰

Sending good wishes @Lionnose a medical diagnosis for a child takes time to sink in. I don't have any particular words of wisdom other than to have faith that you'll find your groove with it and all the dietary changes needed soon ❤️

Big wave to the newcomers!! I personally find my biggest step forward with weight loss and management was when I started following the 16:8 eating window. I'm not super strict with it, but dropping breakfast has, at the most simplest level, reduced my daily calories in, and also curbed my appetite overall - I very, very rarely need to snack now my body has adjusted.

I started the week with a dance class this morning 💃 I really want to make the last two weeks of the month count! I'd actually just like to lose the holiday gain of 2lb - any more would be an absolute bonus, but if I can get rid of those I'll be very happy.

Today's meals:

Lunch - cheese, spring onion and red pepper omelette, with a dressed side salad
Dinner - not sure just yet, which is danger territory! Possibly the last of the chilli from the freezer with chips, or baked potato with something from the freezer and veg.

Have a good week lovely losers!

Quick check in to say the scales showed 129.8 this morning so I have just about got back to where I was at my lowest on the post lockdown journey.
Am going out for a trot with my chu tonight to try and keep it going.
Will catch up with the thread this evening.

Stupid autocorrect! I'd love some successful money too but sadly my money fails.

So far so good today

Thanks for the welcome!

Todays food has been

Breakfast - sweet potato and strawberries

Snack - two oranges and two rice cakes

Lunch - homemade veg sushi and a green salad

Dinner - veg stir fry (baby corn, mange tout and courgette) and air fried potatoes

Calories stuck to.
10.5 miles walked.
Good fruit intake.
Good veg intake.
Lots of 🍾

Early night plus good skincare before bed with my book and it will be a good day.

Really enjoying reading all the tips and successes (and the realities that it's not perfect all the time 😂).
Day 1 today for me.
Positives: Stuck within my calories and drank lots of water. More veg and fruit than I've had in ages.

Oops: more sugar than I should have had (according to MFP). I did put sugar in my morning coffee and had some yoghurt with dinner.

A good first day though. Plus I've made lentil soup for tomorrow so already got a healthy choice sorted. I'm off to bed now so I'm not tempted with evening nibbles.

I read that it's good advice to weigh daily to monitor progress. Do any of you do that?

Welcome to the thread @getagriplove . For inspo you could read back over this thread and there are over 5 years of previous threads 😬. Not wanting to repeat what I and others have said In recent days there are links that been shared too👍

@Retsina24 Well done on your first day! How often you weigh is up to personal preference. I sometimes do daily (especially if I’ve recently gained) but mostly do twice weekly. We have WOW once a week which is weigh on Wednesday👍

Just reading through the thread this evening and it is always so motivating.
@AutisticLegoLover and anyone else who is interested I swear by two kiwis at lunch and two tinned pears after dinner for a healthy digestive system.

Morning all. Just over a pound đown this morning. That will be the fluid retention diminishing thanks to not eating anything salty yesterday. Another pound to go and I'll be back to my lowest weight.
Oats and chia soaking. Lunch will be yogurt and fruit compote, dinner to be decided.
Have a great day!