⭐️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!

Hey @TheRealHousewife
Happy Monday to you too.
I think I could best be described as "maintaining " the last few days. Had great intentions of dropping a last kilo before the Big Trip but I'm so tired and a bit anxious. So I just feel that adding another stress to the mix is daft.
Anyway I haven't gone nuts. I did have some white toast earlier as I was making it for DH and couldn't resist the Marmite.
I was ravenous a couple of hours later and remembered this was how I used to feel. That blood sugar spike and rapid dip. No wonder I've lost weight since I cut that kind of thing out!
Hope everyone has a good week:)

@AutisticLegoLover blimey, you've done so well! Sorry your kids were being grumpy. Always seems to happen when you've planned something special for them doesn't it. Used to drive me bonkers.
@Citygirlrurallife theres a coincidence: I land in Paris next week!

Morning all
massive congratulations on arriving at your goal weight @AutisticLegoLover and early as well!!
welcome back @Allthegoodnamestakken i understand your frustration. I often gain and lose the same few kilos.
enjoy France @Citygirlrurallife and @Weatherwax13 i live in France and the weather has been sketchy but the forecast for this weekend is lovely and sunny

back on plan today after a weekend off, not feeling as motivated as I would like and I am having a lazy morning. Meal planning and shopping for the week though

Food today:
L: miso soup
D: maybe eggs

have a good week everyone

Hi @Weatherwax13 I totally get you caving to white toast and marmite … used to be one of my favs! So tasty! Give yourself whatever you need if you’re feeling fragile and a bit off it ❤️

Apologies I missed your post @Allthegoodnamestakken Of course you’re very much welcomed back. Pleased to see you 😊 I understand why you feel like you do and that can be overwhelming. Try not to think of it as a diet, more a life style change where you eat to nourish and sustain your body and soul. Enjoyable healthy food that allows for a slight calorie deficit as that is when weight loss happens. Sustainable ways of eating are key. Be kind to yourself.

@Ninjachicken I love a miso soup myself … enjoy!

I am so hungry today! I’m on CD 25 so my period is due within the next 1-3 days. I know I can take it a bit easy now and I need to fuel my body, but I feel so guilty about it. I‘ve done so well the past two weeks and I don’t want to put it all back on now.

Any advice to keep me on the straight and narrow?

Huge congratulations @AutisticLegoLover on hitting your target! Sorry your beach day wasn't quite what you'd hoped.

Welcome back @Allthegoodnamestakken I echo @TheRealHousewife it's totally natural to feel frustrated at yourself but treat yourself with kindness ❤️

Glad to see you OP, have you been on holiday again? I hope you had a lovely time if so!

Ooh I love a bit of marmite on white @Weatherwax13 but like you, I definitely feel it with my blood sugar spiking and crashing. Reserved for weekends for me!

The big party was a huge success! Felt amazing, had loads of lovely compliments, drank far too much and danced all night. Took DS on a charity fun run yesterday morning somehow 😂 and then we had dinner out at a country pub. And a hair of the dog or 3 😬🍾🥴

I've had this ongoing cough now for most of May but yesterday my chest started to feel tight. This went on overnight and I feel achey and tired, so I think it's taken hold as a chest infection. Off to the docs shortly, hopefully I'll get something to help. DH doesn't go back to work until tomorrow so it's felt like another weekend day, getting back on top of choices from tomorrow...

Lunch - normal
Snack - crisps
Dinner - getting takeaway after docs

Need to get a meal plan curated for the week.. what is everyone else having?

@web

Not sure what the @ web is about??? 🤷‍♀️

@Ninjachicken I didn't know you lived in France ! We're coming for two months to do our last "research " trip before moving permanently next year.

Another marmite on toast lover here, can’t say I’ve ever noticed a crash bug maybe that’s because when I have it, I maintain it and have several pieces!!!

Sounds like glorious weekend @ImALittlePea

@Doorydoor every month I binge the night or two before my period, never realising that it’s incoming! Then I have to be super careful when I’m one because it wreaks havoc with trapped wind and overbloating but I have such limited willpower against wind and carbs. It’s miserable. Having said that it appeared yesterday and I had none of the usual Pre-symptoms (I’m a few days early this month) but what was supposed to be a FD yesterday was a lie so day instead just because I felt so weak and had a lot of driving to do, so paid attention to what my body needed rather than focusing on a summer bikini ready body

Today ended up much the same but still came in at around 750cals so not too bad. Limited exercise due to pains, but had an asparagus, tomato and watercress salad with Tahini for lunch, cauliflower and parsnip tagine on lettuce for dinner and a home made ginger biscuit made to my dear departed grandma’s recipe

I meal plan each week so the rest this week is:
Celeriac, potato, spring green and this isn’t bacon gratin
thai lentil soup (fast day)
quinoa and tempeh “meatballs” and spaghetti
out to the threats so prob grab something at the southbank food market

Thank you 😊 I've just changed MFP over to maintain weight and it's putting my maintenance at 2070! I've eaten 1800 today and didn't finish my dinner. Just a normal dinner of a burger, a few chips and peas and sweetcorn. I ate the peas and sweetcorn first and left half the chips. Next time I won't bother with the burger bun.

I need to catch up properly later.

Blimey @AutisticLegoLover 2070 calories? I don't think you'll ever be able to manage that now!

@Weatherwax13 that was adjusted for my new weight too! I walked 70 miles last week so it's based on me being very active I think. Tdee calculator puts my maintenance at 1958 with moderate exercise 3-5 days a week.Heavy exercise 6-7 days puts me at 2180. So 2070 is almost the average of those 2. I felt stuffed on 1800 yesterday so it's unlikely I'll be eating 2000 a day. I know it is said that weight loss happens in the kitchen but personally the walking makes a big difference. In the school holidays I don't walk half as much and put on weight then lose it again once the school run restarts.

Off to catch up now. Have a great day!

Am I the only one who doesn't like marmite? Hot buttered toast though, that's amazing especially if it's proper homemade bread. My beloved KitchenAid is currently being repaired and once I have it back I'm going to make bread. I used to make a loaf most days along with regular pizza dough. I can't knead dough as well as Kit does. Nor can I make cakes as well without her superior mixing and beating skills. It's not been a bad thing for weight loss though.

@ImALittlePea I'm glad the party was great and that you felt great. You must be really pleased and you deserve that happiness after all your hard work. Is that you at your ultimate goal now?

@Ninjachicken you live in France, that's cool! Dd wants to visit to try out her French. She has her French listening GCSE today. My French is rubbish but it suffices for my solo trip to Paris many years ago. The veggie food options were so limited but I'm going back 20 years and things might have changed.
@Weatherwax13 I can't imagine moving countries. You're very adventurous! Hope things are settling for you on the family front.

@TheRealHousewife how was your break? I know you've been maintaining for some token now-how easy do you find it? What's it like compared to when you were losing weight?

@AutisticLegoLover you're amazingly active. You put the rest of us to shame👏😆
The France move will actually be the second time I've emigrated. I'm a Londoner in Australia. Been here 17 years. I was a trailing spouse so this move is for! Mind you I took the last move in my stride. Doing it again at 50 - and by no means fluent in French - it's going to be far more scary.

Good Morning All

@Doorydoor If your body is hungry and you have that knoring hunger I’d say eat something. I hung high fibre, high protein, moderate fat. You’ll feel better for it. ❤️

@AutisticLegoLover Massive congratulations on hitting your target 👏👏👏 You could try what’s suggested by your app to maintain but I’m a big believer in that we each know what works for us. For example all apps put my calorie requirements far too high and I’d horribly gain. Re maintaining:- Im not intending to maintain 😬 I need to lose another 7-14lbs but I refuse to do anything drastic. Previously I did the Fast 800 which was successful for losing, but it coincided with some pretty drastic hair-loss 😮. Overall I weigh less than this time last year and hopefully I will repeat that pattern in the long term. I’ve health conditions and disability that are making this last segment of my weight loss very difficult … but I won’t give up. Our time away was lovely thank you. Nothing of note to report as we didn’t really do anything other than short walks, drinking coffee/tea and eating nice food (not too much, or so I thought 😬)

@ImALittlePea It sounds like you had a ball! So pleased for you! You really deserve some special and memorable times, you’ve worked so hard for so long.

@Weatherwax13 How exciting! France 🇫🇷 Lovely place to live or so I’ve heard. And you’ll have @Ninjachicken for a neighbour. Frances energy prices are so low too in comparison to the rest of Europe! Are you up for a visit 😬 J/K

Menu
Meal 1 - Home made minestrone soup.
Meal 2 - Prawn Stir fry. Apple. Walnuts.
Tea, black coffee & water.

Enjoy your day!

@TheRealHousewife thankyou, I am trying to be kind to myself, have had a delicious lunch of cheese and mountains of fruit and fresh raw veggies so trying to switch my mind back to how this is nourishing me as well as being lower calories.
@ImALittlePea glad your party went well!
@Weatherwax13 good luck with the move! I am also abroad initially as a trailing spouse but managed to find work here, moves are always so stressful particularly when they're far but such an adventure as well!

@TheRealHousewife sorry! I thought you were maintaining but I've obviously got mixed up

I'm at the GP for my blood tests today and worrying about the results. I'm sure it's just a change of diet and after effects of covid along with IBS but I'll worry until I see the GP with the results next week.

Still at SW but not surprised as last week was a very high sugar/carb week because I was away with work so ate out several evenings.

Ah it really was a glorious, happy weekend 😁

Unfortunately we've crashed back to earth a bit since, I spent all night sat up in A&E as the GP was concerned about the chest tightness and wanted to rule out cardiac issues. Thankfully nothing and I've got some antibiotics now, but feeling crippled with tiredness. So any getting back on plan will have to wait until tomorrow - curve balls can't be helped eh.

That's such a high level for maintenance isn't it @AutisticLegoLover!? Even with your regular step count being so impressive! Everything crossed for your blood results ❤️

@Ninjachicken I'll join @TheRealHousewife and come and visit for some French France fromage et pain 😉 I bloody love France, we spent a few years holidaying in a friend's cottage in the very south and used to drive down, such a beautiful country.

@Weatherwax13 it sounds exciting, and I can imagine it'll be nice being closer to 'home' for seeing loved ones too.

Sounds a delicious lunch @Allthegoodnamestakken

Bearing in mind the above, my last 24hrs have been:

Last night's dinner - small chicken shish kebab (with salad and a spot of ketchup) and half a portion of chips
Overnight snacks at hospital - cheese sandwich, caramel latte, tea, twirl, apple
Lunch today - beans on toast with cheese. Dad's leftover crisps
Dinner tonight - cheese & onion crispbake, hash browns, peas, green beans and sweetcorn

Imagine I'll be in bed before the kids tonight 😂 meal planning can wait until tomorrow!

Oh I meant to say in terms of plan for now - I'd love to try and maintain my current weight. I do think losing any more and staying there isn't the right choice for me, for health/appearance/effort. I need to work out what my tdee for maintenance would be at 9st 8lb. But first off, I imagine I'll gain this week, and then again over half term, so I'll be back on the losing track before I realistically have to switch mindsets 🤦‍♀️

I contracted auto immune conditions 3 years ago...I started off on a mega high dose of steroids...I didn't overeat but didn't get much exercise in and put on 2 stone plus the moon face which h8as now thankfully gone...I'm now much better and down to a tiny dose- 1mg as opposed to 60mg per day but I can't seem to lose the stone which is hanging around like a kangaroo pouch on my belly. I'm only eating a small breakfast - toast usually - if at all and an evening meal. I could cut down on the few biscuits but apart from that not sure what to do...I also have osteoparosis so need to have a reasonably decent diet for bone health. Any suggestions please..

@ImALittlePea ugh. That sounds really tough. Hope the antibiotics kick in quickly.

@ImALittlePea get well soon!

I actually saw 54.5kg dead on this morning on the scales. I like to see the exact number otherwise I don't feel like I've hit my target. Daft when I'm actually below the target but that's the way my mind works. It happened with my 60kg target back in February and now with this one.

I've just done an online grocery shop with the intention of making better meals. Dd says she will try tofu again. I love tofu but haven't made it in years now. There's a Cambodian restaurant near us and their tofu dishes are amazing. I can't remember the name but it's tofu with noodles and carrots and there's crushed peanuts on top. The portions are huge so no way I'd eat even half now. I've just remembered they did take away during covid so maybe they still do and I could get a take away for my birthday and see if the dc like it. It's one of the nicest meals I've ever had and I am very hard to please when it comes to eating out.

So, wow day tomorrow. I might try and weigh weekly now and see how I go. Less constant vigilance.

Sleep well, see you for morning weigh in.

Get well soon @ImALittlePea . Good luck with maintaining @AutisticLegoLover . I've never been successful with maintaining, I just go back to old habits! I think I just put my head in the sand!

It's my one month-iversay today, I'm pretty pleased with where I'm at. Perseverance and consistency is the key for me. And actually having one or two treats to look forward to at the weekend has kept me going during the weeks I've wanted to throw in the towel.

I've always eaten good meals, it's literally the snacking that has pilled on the pounds. Just learning to tell myself no has worked this month.

I wore my old jeans today, and I could even sit down in the car with them on! For a while there they wouldn't even zip up and then I couldn't sit down in them! Actually my bigger jeans had started to cut me in half, so I had to give myself a shake.

Thanks for the support over the last month! Keep on keeping on! I love reading everyone's updates.

@DownUdderer that's a great non scale victory! Keep going and hold on to the feeling it's given you. A while back I tried on all my dresses and discovered that they all fit. Then I tried on other things in my wardrobe I'd not worn for years like favourite summer tops and trousers and some T-shirts. It felt amazing.

WOW today of 54.2kg or 8st 7lb. I'm still in shock that I've passed my much coveted 9st 3lb which is what I was before and after having ds 8 years ago. I've not weighed this since my 20s.

Hope everyone wowing has scales that behave and show your hard work.

Have a great day!