⭐️LOSE IT! MAY 2023 COUNTDOWN TO SUMMER⭐️

[TheRealHousewife]

⭐️Open to previous members as well as new members⭐️

⭐️LOSE IT! April 2023 Countdown to Summer⭐️

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!

Keep us posted on the bloods @AutisticLegoLover I'm glad you're able to talk about it on here. You have a really healthy lifestyle and I think an MOT is going to reflect that.
That conversation at school was a lovely boost. Sometimes it's the unexpected little interactions that make your day IME. I had a similar experience with a lady in the post office who I've known for years but hadn't seen since picking up Christmas parcels. Her enthusiasm about the weight loss was kindly meant and she was so sweet. Nice to be told I look "amazing "😆
For got Wednesday weigh in! So I did a Thursday:
SW 88.8kg
GW 74kg
TW 74.8kg
So I'm down 1.3kg and 0.8kg to go before I leave. That's 9 days so we'll see!
And well done @ImALittlePea that's fantastic. Go you:)

I love reading about pounds being lost, trousers fitting better and nice comments from strangers! Congrats everyone.

I've just had a broccoli soup from the supermarket, I added more fresh broccoli and some cheese. It was really tasty.

I was feeling moody this morning, it might be PMT. The scales weren't kind this morning so that added to the bad mood. Anyway a tasty and warm soup has helped me feel less grumpy.

Congratulations on the successes for this week! I'm doing a WOT instead of a WOW and as predicted have maintained. Which after a weekend of eating and drinking out, is probably acceptable!
Working on less snacking is going well. I have found myself saying "NO" sternly, while looking into the fridge when I'm not hungry!

Good Morning ❤️

Apologies for missing yesterdays WOW. I was up and out early and was absolutely shattered when I got back. Hospital check ups tend to do that. On the upside I’ve lost some of my holiday gain already and I’m hoping to see the rest off by next week.

A massive well done to @ImALittlePea @AutisticLegoLover and anyone else who has lost! In time (if you don’t already)you will all see and feel the benefits of healthy eating and being mindful of moderation & portion control 👍

A belated welcome to the thread @Doorydoor @FaeWings @reabies The ladies on here are none judgmental, inspiring and supportive… in a word awesome 👏

Menu
Meal 1 - Veg & Lentil soup. GF roll.
Meal 2 - Chicken tray bake with onion, carrot, new potatoes and lemon. Raspberries & small amount of fresh cream (run out of the Greek stuff)
Tea, black coffee & Water.

Exercise
Session 1 - Hand weights
Session 2 - Yoga

Have a good one whatever you’re doing! x

SW: 11st
CW: 10st12
GW: 9st7

Ooh Thursday has treated me better than Wednesday.

I'm having a shopping day with a friend today so I'm hoping lunch will be soup at a little cafe somewhere.

Tea will be a small helping of sausage casserole

Exercise will be walking up and down a hilly market town.

Hope you all have a great day!

I keep missing WOW as everything is a bit crazy at moment .

Sw -79kg
Cw- 77.5kg
TW -69kg

I have really upped my water in take this week, Though it has came with it down sides 🤣🤣.

Yesterday I had
B - 1 slice of toast and butter, Along with a cup of tea
Lunch - 2 hard boiled eggs, A pear, Cup of tea
Dinner - Home made chicken curry with vegetable rice
Snack was curly wurly bar of chocolate

Ahh thank you everyone for the many cheers! I wasn't really expecting to make that 2st mark, in honesty I was quite accepting that I'd likely hover just above it, so to get it was such a boost yesterday! To top it, I've had a large amount of compliments/comments in the last few days about having lost weight - I know there has been discussion about whether this is a nice thing or not, but in the context and relationships with these people, it has been lovely for me. I think now I'm dressing more for summer and less in the baggy jumpers, it's more noticeable too.

Yes I do agree with that about some days with extra calories being just what the body needs sometimes @AutisticLegoLover and also, I really did focus and made super good choices off the back of that too.

@Citygirlrurallife I mis-wrote what I meant a little 🤦‍♀️ it's just that I instinctively feel that my most natural/easy to maintain weight is a little bit higher. I've been mulling over my maintenance point for a while, as I've hovered around the same weight for a while, and pre second baby my natural weight seemed to lie at around 9st 10lb, so just a couple of lb above where I now am. I am definitely going to try and maintain where I am now, but I just have a feeling that being under 9st 8lb may be a touch more difficult than I'm willing to put the effort in for 😂 I'm SO much happier and healthier than I was at the start of this journey, and I certainly won't become complacent again; I feel like the changes I've made I've made sensibly, slowly, and there is no need to change them. If I can keep myself around the -2st mark then bloody brilliant!

So on that note - maintainance. How? 😂 I'm thinking I may just carry on with that I'm doing for a few weeks to be honest, as I'm quite happy with my balance, and see what happens with natural fluctuations.

Yesterday ended up a bit different to planned due to plans changing, so meal updates:
Lunch - last minute lunch with a friend - chicken caesar salad and a shared small bowl of chips
Dinner - jacket potato with a small amount of cheddar
Over 13k steps!!

Today:
Lunch - cup-a-soup special
Dinner - out for dinner so who knows. Have avoided birthday cake so far though 🤩 and will hopefully avoid bread
Weight today - 4oz up on yesterday, but still 1lb down Vs last Friday and most importantly still under the magic 2st point. Probably won't weigh tomorrow, but going to stay on plan tomorrow and work tomorrow night so may weigh again Saturday morning.

Sorry I can't tag everyone - snatching ten minutes in between visitors for DH's birthday to post quickly - but I'm cheering on everyone who has weighed regardless off the outcome!

@ImALittlePea ah I get you! Yeah I’m the same - years ago I trained for a huge bike ride and got down to 129lbs (frankly far too thin for me) and then thought I could maintain at 131lbs but it was miserable. I think 135/136lbs is much more realistic

Morning all. It's been a funny week this week and I've been feeling extremely tired first thing and in the evening. I actually felt ill with it last night. I've done a lot this we though and my diet hasn't been the best. I've walked 56 miles and done lots of gardening for my mum in the past 7 days and I don't think I've eaten enough to sustain that. Must do better. I have a day off today and will have some rest as well as get lots of jobs done.

Weight remains pretty static at 54.7kg.

We are off to the beach tomorrow and I'm very much looking forward to that big ice cream! The cheap pub we usually eat at has changed its menu and dc will be fine but my usual has disappeared so I might end up with some weird chips and corn on the cob combo. I won't want a big burger which seems to be the only veggie option now. I'd rather get something from M&S and eat on the beach but dc love the pub. We will do the M&S on the beach for dinner before heading home.

Hope everyone has a good day. Don't forget the 🍾 especially now it's warming up.

Hello all
quick check in, been a very busy week with hospital visits and work
as a result food has not been great. Maintaining at 61.5 kgs but no loss
got a party tomorrow so will be back on it and looking for a loss next week
have a fantastic party weekend @ImALittlePea you deserve it!!!!
would love to see a pic of the dress!!!!!

@ImALittlePea have a fantastic time 🍾🍾🍾 for real this time!

Do others here take photos of yourselves? I have been really fed up with the scales the last two weeks. I guess I'm just impatient. On an intellectual level I can understand that weight loss isn't linear and hormones can effect things. But my goodness I've really been on and off the damn scales, sort of hoping for a miracle! My food seems on point and I've been using my will power daily. Anyway, I've been taking photos of myself trying to see if I'm getting closer to wearing my jeans. And it's so surprising! I honestly think I can wear my jeans out and sit down in them, and the photos are my proof! Ultimately I just want to be able to wear the clothes in my wardrobe and my photos are showing me that over two weeks I've gone from not being comfortable in my jeans to feeling like I can wear them out. So I guess in two more weeks, if I keep on keeping on, I'll perhaps fit into a few more things.

@DownUdderer I fear the camera. I always look fat in photos so no but your idea sounds a good one. I get terribly bloated due to a combination of endometriosis and IBS so my clothes can vary in how they fit despite being the same weight.

Today is beach day! No other reason I'd get up at 6am on a Saturday 😩 It's 3 trains to get there but us our favourite place and I'm looking forward to that ice cream very much. Normally I'd be looking forward to a variety of things on our beach trips like a Starbucks Frappuccino and cinnamon swirl at the station, sweets from M&S, a fizzy sugared drink, pizza and chips or a halloumi flatbread and chips for lunch or dinner, chocolate chip shortbread, a profiterole dessert from
M&S and a sandwich for a beach picnic for dinner, hot chocolate and a cake from the cafe on the beach, and some crisps in addition to the ice cream. And some rock!The thought makes me queasy now. I've no idea what to have for lunch or dinner. Whatever I chose it will not be all that anyway.

After today I'm on a mission to shift that final bit of weight. It's annoying me now but I have eaten more than normal quite a few days this week.

Have a great day!

I can't bare to look at photos 🙈🙈 Makes me feel so much worse.
I have downloaded an app today to keep daily track as I think if I can see it in front of me it will be more helpful.

Started intermittent fasting again on Wednesday as I have pervious done this and it really helps me stay on track, Had to stop when I got pregnant and just never had the push to start again.

Anyway Yesterday I had

L- 2 boiled eggs
D- was mince meat along with salad.
3 harrybo sweets
2 litres of water and 4 cups of tea

Today, I'm planing on fasting to about 3.30pm and then having chicken fajita salad.

I also could resist and weigh myself this morning and down to 76.6kg, That's 2.4kg total loss in 19 days 😁. May be slow but I'm so proud of myself.

Hope everyone has a great day x

That's it @Citygirlrurallife I'll have to see how the coming weeks go with sticking to what I've been doing. It's a balance between looking how I want, making healthy choices, but also life being for living and not wanting to live under self imposed restrictions forevermore.

Having said that - without continued effort it'll be too easy to pile it all back on! Which is just unfair, isn't it.

Thank you @Ninjachicken and @AutisticLegoLover, annoyingly I'm not feeling amazing today but I'll plough on regardless. Very excited though, it's rare to get so many of our friends and family together.

Enjoy your beach day @AutisticLegoLover! I hope the choices you make are delicious 😋

Re photos - I don't take specific progress/weight photos but I am quite a prolific snapper of life in general. I like the memories popping up and it's nice to create an occasional side-by-side of me at different stages of size.

I've just had a bowl of spinach and ricotta tortelloni with tomato sauce and a sprinkling of cheese. Got the remainder to nibble on pre party, felt the most sensible choice to have a well lined stomach without too much bloating 😁

Pressed send before wishing everyone a happy and sun filled weekend! 🤦‍♀️❤️

Hello All, hoping you will take me back! I completely fell off the wagon the last 6 weeks and feel like i'm back where I started 9 months ago. Saw a group photo of myself from a few days ago this morning and cried because I look so awful in it. Mainly from frustration that I did so well and then just let it all slip for no real reason other than laziness with planning food.
Haven't dared get on the scales yet but I plan to do so in the morning and I will see where I am starting from although the thought of it is making me feel sick.

Today has been not so great. Available food choices have been poor and I've missed my yogurt lunch. I ordered a side portion of chips and ate half. I feel fat and frumpy and dc are not being very nice but my ice cream was delicious although I found it very sweet. That's unlike me as I love sweet stuff.

@ImALittlePea sorry you're feeling fab 
@Allthegoodnamestakken welcome back! Personally I've always found the fear of what the scales might say worse than knowing the actual nm er even if it's not good news. Whatever they say, we will be here to support you. It's been quite quiet lately here with a few regulars MIA who I hope are doing ok.

Morning all.
My mindset has changed greatly if yesterday is anything to go by. Things I didn't eat/drink but would normally do so on our trip to the beach:

Fizzy sugar drink
Frappuccino
Cinnamon swirl
Take away sandwich
Chocolate profiterole dessert
My own big bag of sweets (shared instead)
Doughnut from Krispy Kreme
Big pub meal
Stick of rock or two
Chocolate chunk shortbread

I'm calling it a big win.

I'm having a bit of a rest today. I've walked 63 miles this week and am tired and not feeling too great.

Hope everyone has a lovely sunny weekend wherever you are.

Hi all, have been AWOL for a bit, combination of stressful work stuff and busy home stuff. Had a gorgeous weekend away last weekend with lots of lovely stuff, but also lots of walking and dancing so not too bad on the scales this week. Still haven't broken the 10st mark. Just up and down between 10 and 10st 4. Very frustrating, but I guess it is sort of maintenance?!
Haven't caught up on previous posts yet. Hope the sun is shining on you all and you are having a relaxing Sunday.

I'm actually down a pound! Woohoo! In two days I'll have been trying to lose weight (this time around) for a month so that'll be a good time to assess how I'm going, and where I want to aim for!

Today I had sushi for lunch, yum quick and easy and tasty. Last night I had salmon, quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

@DownUdderer well done!

@Remindmeofababe sounds like a lovely maintenance week.it's good to know that our normal fluctuations are relatively stable around our ideal.

Well, I've finally reached my ultimate goal weight and a whole month early! Actually I've surpassed it weighing in at 54.25 kg this morning! That's 8 st 7lb and I'm telling myself to be happy with that. I've lost 2 stones and 4.5 pounds in total now since last September but with a commitment to it since 9th January this year. Now for maintenance.

Hope everyone has a great week!

@AutisticLegoLover glad your beach day went well!
I braved the scales this morning and am 68kg so a gain of 3kg from my lowest weight and 2.5kg in the last 6 weeks. Feeling really angry at myself as I was stuck at 68kg for so long last year and worked really hard to get my weight lower and now I am back there again.
Trying to work on being less angry because I am an emotional eater so all it will likely do is drive me straight to the biscuit tin.
Plan of action is back to intermittent fasting, 9pm-1pm I know this will be awful the first few days but that my body will eventually get used to it again. Also trying to get back to some form of meal planning, so much easier to slip into a takeaway or dinner out when nothing is planned
Lunch - homemade tortilla pizza with salad
Dinner- Grilled chicken + steamed veggies with homemade sweet chilli sauce

Congrats @AutisticLegoLover thats brilliant and also despite D.C. attempting to ruin your long awaited beach day seems like it proved to you your habits have massively changed - good sign for maintenance!

understand your frustration @Allthegoodnamestakken ive been doing the same bounce for 2years and it’s so so annoying! I’m also back on IF, doing 16:8 but trying keep it under that, and 2-3 fast days a week. Mainly because I’m on hols in France next week so need a buffer, and I have a deadline of end of June to lose the last 2Kg before another holiday. Then I’ll work on realistic maintenance

I’m also a meal planner and there’s a great ongoing meal planning thread in the food section, come and join us!

Good Morning All

Did you all get some sun yesterday? First lovely warm summery day I’ve enjoyed this year ☀️ Joyous it was!

I’ve enjoyed reading all your updates. Well done to you all for your commitment to yourselves! Your mind and body will be thankful ❤️

Menu
Meal 1 - Halloumi, red pepper, kale, carrot, onion and butter bean stir fry.
Meal 2 - Salmon with spicy cauli rice. Raspberries. Apple. Pecans.
Tea, black coffee and water.

Exercise
Session 1 - Hand weights.
Session 2 - Walk.

Heres to a positive week and more sunshine ☀️